Hard News - Ellen Page Comes Out at Time to Thrive Conference

I chose to write about the news of Ellen Page, "Juno" and "X-men" actress, coming out at a Time to Thrive conference. I found an article on the Hollywood Reporter website, complete with the video of Page's moving speech. The article started out giving the 5 W's; Ellen Page; coming out; Februrary 14th; Las Vegas at a Time to Thrive conference, which promotes the welfare of youths in the LGBT community; because she was tired of hiding, and lying by omission. It then spews out a few key quotes from Page's speech, summing it up quickly. For seven minutes, Page talks about how the LGBT community has suffered, and hints at how weird it is for her to be making a speech, only then to reveal that she herself is gay, and that she is ready for change. Change, not only in herself, but in the world. Page also admits that, "It's weird because here I am, an actress, representing -- at least in some sense -- an industry that places crushing standards on all of us. Not just young people, but everyone. Standards of beauty, of a good life, of success -- standards that, I hate to admit, have affected me." Th article then points out one of the most stand-out facts, at least to me, of Page's speech, which is that when Page sometimes reads about herself in the news it can be a trying ordeal. In her speech, she mentions that a paparazzi commented on a photo of her leaving the gym in sweatpants, asking "Why does this petite beauty insist on dressing like a massive man?" to which Page replied "Because I like to be comfortable." Not only does Page point out the stereotypes and critisim people are put under, but she also acknowledges the discrimination toward people of the LGBT community. The article wraps up nicely by saying that Page has not submitted to any interviews, but she did post a few short tidbits on Twitter. She replied to "House of Cards" star Kate Mara who asked Page to "be my Valentine" with a simple "yes please."
Not only is this a huge deal to youths in the LGBT community who are scared to come out because of the way society looks down on being gay, but it is also a step further in the direction toward equality. What makes it an even bigger deal is that all of this is because of a celebrity. The article was informative, but all it really did was quote Page's speech and recycle what she had talked about. The video, however, was a welcome addition to the article not only because it served as a source so readers knew what they were talking about, but it was just a very heart-warming, tear-jerking, overall moving speech. And I think, moving forward, things will look better for more and more youths of the LGBT community.

Obituary - Philip Seymour Hoffman

I read an obituary written by the NY Times on the untimely death of Oscar-winning actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman. The actor, 46, was discovered by a friend in his apartment after an apparent drug overdose. A syringe was found in his arm with a supply of heroin nearby. Hoffman had been known to struggle with drug addiction, and, in a 2006 interview with "60 Minutes", said he gave up drugs and alcohol many years earlier. In 2013, Hoffman checked into a rehabilitation program for ten days after a reliance on prescription pills triggered a brief usage of heroin. According to David Bar Katz, the friend who found Hoffman on the 2nd of February, said that Hoffman was "clean and sober, his old self" the week leading up to his death. The rest of the obituary summarizes Hoffman's accomplishments, which consists of over 50 films in the span of 25 years, including big-budget films such as "Mission Impossible: III", "Hunger Games: Catching Fire", and "The Savages." Hoffman was also noted for his time as a director and actor in Off Broadway shows for the Labyrinth Theater Company. The article on this well-rounded and talented actor concluded with some background information on Hoffman's life growing up as well as life with his family during his years of acting. It also added the last project he had been working on, his role as Plutarch Heavensbee in the Hunger Games movies Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2, which he had largely completed filming for, but certain steps would have to be taken to ensure his role was filled.

All in all, this obituary was a fine example. Not only was it about someone well-known, but it also followed the basic format and flow of a simple obituary. First, the obituary included the name and a recognizable title for the deceased. Next, the age of the deceased was noted, as was the time and place of death. After that, the cause of death is explained in a little more detail, clearing up any questions the reader might have. Once that information is included, some background information is added to give the reader some inside knowledge of whom they are reading about. To wrap up, like all obituaries, the survivors were listed.

To summarize it simply, here is the essential obituary information found in the article:

• Name: Philip Seymour Hoffman
• Identification: Oscar-winning actor
• Age: 46
• Day/place of death: Sunday, February 2nd/apartment
• Cause of death: Drug overdose
• Birth date/Birthplace: July 23, 1967 in Fairport NY
• Background: Actor/director/Broadway
• Survivors: Wife and 2 children
• Funeral/burial information: Not mentioned