Comforting Like-Mindedness or Dangerous Groupthink? Former Cult Member Explains the Difference

 Comforting Like-Mindedness or Dangerous Groupthink? Former Cult Member Explains the Difference 

 

Austin, TX, Jan. 13, 2022 — Radhia Gleis went on a quest for nirvana and instead found herself entangled in a destructive cult. For those tempted to judge cult followers as weak-minded and gullible, she has a new book that aims to shatter those assumptions. 

 

“I’m neither stupid nor uneducated. So how is it that I could go for so long being manipulated like that? It has a lot to do with what you want and what you’re looking for,” Gleis shared in a recent interview. 

 

A nutritionist, biochemical analyst and educator, Gleis spent 25 years under the influence of the charismatic leader of the Buddha-field cult. How followers can so easily disregard reality and fall for the seduction of narcissistic leaders forms the foundation of her powerful exposé, The Followers: “Holy Hell” and the Disciples of Narcissistic Leaders: How My Years in a Notorious Cult Parallel Today’s Cultural Mania.

 

“Narcissists have one goal, and that is to serve themselves and their insatiable appetite for self-aggrandizement, by whatever means possible, with no regard to ethics,” she writes in the book.

 

In The Followers, she masterfully draws parallels between cult dynamics and the characteristics of current political and cultural leaders; social media; and the press. Gleis says her post-traumatic stress, forever entombed in her psyche, is repeatedly triggered by events surrounding today’s political divide, prompting her to explore her past decisions through a much broader lens that sheds light on the blind spots — and dangers — of groupthink. 

 

The Followers lays the groundwork by skimming Gleis’ upbringing in Hollywood and tracing the steps of her life when, at age 14, she began to crave a deeper sense of spirituality. She spent the next 12 years searching for nirvana, and at age 26, she found what she thought she had been searching for. Gleis draws strong parallels between her devotion to a cult leader — an authority — whose damaging behavior and influence she willfully ignored, and the followers of other narcissistic authorities. She goes into detail about the characteristics of narcissists and explains the “feedback loop” that sustains the disciple-narcissist dynamic.

 

Gleis weaves together her personal experiences with reflections on a number of thought-provoking topics, including the search for a higher truth, cults, groupthink and mind control, authoritarian leaders, malignant narcissistic personality disorder and sociopathy, the American schism, and how an intelligent, well-educated person may find herself under the control of a narcissistic sociopath.

 

Author Radhia Gleis won First Place in the Nonfiction – Autobiography genre in this year’s PenCraft Book Awards for The Followers. She has earned a 4:4 star rating on Good Reads.com. She was featured in the internationally viewed movie Holy Hell, which was broadcast on CNN and named one of Sundance Film Festival’s and Netflix’s top 10 documentaries. It can now be viewed on Amazon Prime. 

The Followers: “Holy Hell” and the Disciples of Narcissistic Leaders: How My Years in a Notorious Cult Parallel Today’s Cultural Mania 

Publisher: Sage Card Publishing

ISBN-10: 1737125803

ISBN-13: ‎978-1737125808 

Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and Audible.com

 

Francis Ford Coppola’s Cinematic Masterpiece Turns 50!

 

Paramount Pictures Celebrates the 50^th Anniversary of 

Francis Ford Coppola’s Cinematic Masterpiece

 Experience the Acclaimed Classic

in Theatres and on Home Entertainment Platforms

 

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – January 13, 2022 — In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s Academy Award^®-winning^* masterworkThe Godfather, Paramount Pictures announced today that the film will have a limited theatrical release in Dolby Vision beginning February 25, 2022 exclusively in Dolby Cinema at AMC Theatres in the U.S., as well as in international territories around the world.  All three films in the epic trilogy have been meticulously restored under the direction of Coppola and will be made available on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever on March 22, 2022.

 

“I am very proud of The Godfather, which certainly defined the first third of my creative life,” said Francis Ford Coppola.  “With this 50th anniversary tribute, I’m especially proud Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone is included, as it captures Mario and my original vision in definitively concluding our epic trilogy. It’s also gratifying to celebrate this milestone with Paramount alongside the wonderful fans who’ve loved it for decades, younger generations who still find it relevant today, and those who will discover it for the first time.”

 

Coppola’s masterful film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel chronicles the rise and fall of the Corleone family and the film trilogy is rightfully viewed as one of the greatest in cinematic history.  In preparation for the 50^th anniversary of the first film’s original release on March 24, 1972, Paramount and Coppola’s production company American Zoetrope undertook a painstaking restoration of all three films over the course of three years. 

Every effort was made to create the finest possible presentation for today’s audiences who can watch the films using technology that has advanced dramatically since 2007 when the last restoration was completed by eminent film historian and preservationist Robert Harris.  Using that work as a blueprint, the team spent thousands of hours to ensure that every frame was evaluated to create the most pristine presentation while remaining true to the original look and feel of the films. 

 

The monumental effort included the following:

• Over 300 cartons of film were scrutinized to find the best possible resolution for every frame of all three films.
• Over 4,000 hours were spent repairing film stains, tears, and other anomalies in the negatives.
• Over 1,000 hours were spent on rigorous color correction to ensure the high dynamic range tools were respectful of the original vision of Coppola and cinematographer Gordon Willis.
• In addition to the 5.1 audio approved by Walter Murch in 2007, the original mono tracks on The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II have been restored.
• All work was overseen by Coppola.

 

“We felt privileged to restore these films and a little in awe every day we worked on them,” said Andrea Kalas, senior vice president, Paramount Archives.  “We were able to witness first-hand how the brilliant cinematography, score, production design, costume design, editing, performances, and, of course, screenwriting and direction became famously more than the sum of their parts.  It was our commitment to honor all of the filmmakers’ exceptional work.” 

 

Newly restored and remastered in Dolby Vision, all three films in the landmark trilogy will be released together with HDR-10 on 4K Ultra HD Digital and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray^™ for the first time ever.  The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set will include The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, and Coppola’s recently re-edited version of the final film, Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.  The disc set includes legacy commentaries by Coppola, as well as access to Digital copies of The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II and Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.

 

In addition to the widely available 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set, a 4K Ultra HD Limited Collector’s Edition will also be released in deluxe packaging and includes a hardcover coffee table book featuring stunning photographs, as well as portrait art prints on archival paper.  Both 4K Ultra HD sets include new bonus content including an introduction to The Godfather by Coppola, a featurette about the preservation process, photos by acclaimed photographer Steve Schapiro, home movie footage, and comparisons of the new restoration to earlier versions of the films.  A full list of new and legacy bonus content follows:

NEW BONUS CONTENT:

·       Introduction to The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola

 

·       Full Circle: Preserving The Godfather—Paramount Pictures archivists detail the incredible restoration process with archival footage showing the evolution of the film through various home entertainment incarnations as picture and audio technologies make quantum leaps over the decades.

 

·       Capturing the Corleones: Through the Lens of Photographer Steve Schapiro— In this reflective and frank discussion, special photographer Steve Schapiro shares his unique perspective and cherished memories as a witness to the making of this seminal film.  Commentary on curated archival images makes for a fascinating, never-before-seen addition to the production’s history.

 

·       The Godfather: Home Movies— An assortment of 8mm home movie footage shot in 1971 offers a candid glimpse into the production of The Godfather.  Shot on location at the Norton family estate on Staten Island’s Emerson Hill, this is the first time it’s been made available to the public.

 

·       Restoration Comparisons— Before and after highlights showcase extensive picture quality improvements to The Godfather.

 

LEGACY BONUS CONTENT:

• The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn’t
• Godfather World
• Emulsional Rescue—Revealing The Godfather
• …when the shooting stopped
• The Godfather on the Red Carpet
• Four Short Films on The Godfather

o   The Godfather vs. The Godfather: Part II

o   Cannoli

o   Riffing on the Riffing

o   Clemenza

·       The Family Tree

·       Crime Organization Chart

·       Connie and Carlo’s Wedding Album

·       2008 Credits

·       Behind the Scenes

o   A Look Inside

o   On Location

o   Francis Ford Coppola’s Notebook

o   Music of The Godfather

§  Nino Rota

§  Carmine Coppola          

o   Coppola & Puzo on Screenwriting

o   Gordon Willis on Cinematography

o   Storyboards – The Godfather: Part II

o   Storyboards – The Godfather: Part III

o   The Godfather Behind the Scenes 1971

·       Additional Scenes

·       Galleries

·       Trailers

·       Acclaim & Response

·       Additional Material

·       The Filmmakers

·       The Godfather: Part III—newly remastered and restored versions of the original theatrical cut and Coppola’s 1991 cut (note: these are exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD Collections)

 

Newly restored and remastered versions of The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, and Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone will also be available together on Blu-ray^™with access to Digital copies and the new and legacy bonus content detailed above.

#  #  #

 

Different Worlds, Same Epic Energy Adventure Time: Distant Lands Return to the Land of Ooo when the Blu-ray™ & DVD Arrive On March 8, 2022

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Different Worlds, Same Epic Energy

 

Adventure Time: Distant Lands

 

Return to the Land of Ooo when the 

Blu-ray™ & DVD Arrive On March 8, 2022

 

BURBANK, CA (January 12, 2022) Oh My Glob! Get ready embark on a magical journey through the Land of Ooo and beyond when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings the Emmy-nominated Max Original, Adventure Time: Distant Lands to Blu-ray and DVD on March 8, 2022.

Binge all four specials from the limited series and explore the unseen corners of their world with characters both familiar and brand-new. Adventure Time: Distant Lands is priced to own on Blu-ray for $19.98 SRP ($24.98 in Canada) and on DVD for $14.98 SRP ($19.98 in Canada).

Based on the Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning animated series, Adventure Time, created by Pendleton Ward and executive produced by Adam Muto, Adventure Time is a critically acclaimed series that garnered numerous accolades over its 10 season run on Cartoon Network. Originally airing on HBO Max, Adventure Time: Distant Lands is among the streamer’s most popular original animated series/specials.Adventure Time: Distant Lands is produced by Cartoon Network Studios.

With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, Adventure Time: Distant LandsBlu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. Featuring all 4 episodes in high definition.

FOUR SPECIALS

1.  BMO - follows the lovable little robot from Adventure Time. When there's a deadly space emergency in the farthest reaches of the galaxy, there's only one hero to call, and it's probably not BMO. Except that this time it is!
2. Obsidian - features Marceline & Princess Bubblegum as they journey to the imposing, beautiful Glass Kingdom—and deep into their tumultuous past—to prevent an earthshaking catastrophe.
3. Together Again – brings best buds Finn and Jake together again to rediscover their brotherly bond and embark on the most important adventure of their lives.
4. Wizard City - follows Peppermint Butler, starting over at the beginning, as just another inexperienced Wizard School student. When mysterious events at the campus cast suspicion on Pep, and his checkered past, can he master the mystic arts in time to prove his innocence?

STREAMING 

Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, all seasons of Adventure Time are now available exclusively on HBO Max.

BASICS

Release Date: March 8, 2022

Presented in 16x9 widescreen format

DVD Price: $14.98 SRP ($19.98 in Canada)

1 DVD-9s

BD Price: $19.98 SRP ($24.98 in Canada)

1 BD-50

Running Time: Feature: Approx. 3 hours

Audio: English 5.1 Surround, Francais and Español

Subtitles: English SDH and Francais

Dexter: New Blood Premiere on Blu-ray and DVD On March 22, 2022

 MICHAEL C. HALL RETURNS TO HIS EMMY®*-NOMINATED ROLE AS AMERICA’S FAVORITE SERIAL KILLER

IN DEXTER®: NEW BLOOD ON SHOWTIME®

The Chilling SHOWTIME Original Special Event Series Arrives

On Blu-rayTM, DVD and Limited-Edition Blu-ray SteelBook on March 22, With an Exclusive 30-Minute Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - January 10, 2022 - Multiple Emmy-Award nominee Michael C. Hall returns as the infamous Dexter Morgan in the thrilling SHOWTIME special event series DEXTER: NEW BLOOD, arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and limited-edition Blu-ray SteelBook on March 22, 2022, from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. The 10 one-hour episodes reunite Hall with original series showrunner Clyde Phillips. Jennifer Carpenter (DEXTER) also returns to reprise her iconic role as Dexter’s sister, Deb Morgan.

Set 10 years after Dexter went missing in the eye of Hurricane Laura, DEXTER: NEW BLOOD finds him living under an assumed name in the fictional small town of Iron Lake, New York. Dexter may be embracing his new life, but in the wake of unexpected events in this close-knit community, his Dark Passenger inevitably beckons. The cast also stars Jack Alcott (THE GOOD LORD BIRD), Julia Jones (The Mandalorian), Alano Miller (Sylvie’s Love), Johnny Sequoyah (Believe) and Clancy Brown (BILLIONS®, The Crown).

The Blu-ray, DVD and limited-edition Blu-ray SteelBook will arrive in a 4-disc collection, featuring every shocking episode from the special event series, along with an exclusive 30-minute featurette that takes you behind the scenes with the cast and crew. The collection highlights the following:

 *2008-2012 - “Dexter”, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

● Why Now? - Dexter Morgan is back: Hall, Phillips and Carpenter are here to tell you what to expect.

● Dissecting DEXTER: NEW BLOOD - Deb is Back - Deb returns as Dexter's conscience while he navigates his new life. Hall and Carpenter dive into their roles as Dexter and Deb Morgan in DEXTER: NEW BLOOD.

● Dissecting DEXTER: NEW BLOOD - The Kill Room - Get a behind-the-scenes look at Dexter's kill room.

● All Out on the Table - Spoilers ahead! Go inside the making of DEXTER: NEW BLOOD as the cast and crew lay it all out on the table to dissect their characters; reveal exclusive behind-the-scenes moments; and break down the emotional finale.

The eight-season run of the original DEXTER premiered in the fall of 2006 and starred Hall as Dexter Morgan, a complicated and conflicted blood-spatter expert for the Miami police department who moonlights as a serial killer. The show became one of the most acclaimed series on television, earning multiple Emmy nominations for best television drama series, as well as a prestigious Peabody Award in 2008. It twice was named one of AFI’s Top-10 Television Series.

For SHOWTIME, DEXTER: NEW BLOOD is executive produced by Clyde Phillips (who helmed the first four seasons of the original DEXTER), Michael C. Hall, Scott Reynolds, Marcos Siega, Bill Carraro, John Goldwyn and Sara Colleton.

 

 Episodes:

● Episode 101: “Cold Snap”

● Episode 102: “Storm of Fuck”

● Episode 103: “Smoke Signals”

● Episode 104: “H is for Hero”

● Episode 105: “Runaway”

● Episode 106: “Too Many Tuna Sandwiches”

● Episode 107: “Skin of Her Teeth”

● Episode 108: “Unfair Game”

● Episode 109: “The Family Business”

● Episode 110: “Sins of the Father”

The DEXTER: NEW BLOOD DVD, Blu-ray and limited-edition Blu-ray SteelBook are presented in widescreen format. The DVD offers English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio, and the Blu-ray and Blu- ray SteelBook offers English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD. All formats include English SDH subtit

PARTY ON! IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE 30 EXCELLENT YEARS

 

Relive the Hilarious Exploits of Wayne and Garth with a Limited-Edition Blu-ray™SteelBook® on February 1, 2022

 

 

Celebrate the world’s most endearing slackers when WAYNE’S WORLD arrives in a Limited-Edition Blu-ray SteelBook on February 1, 2022, just in time for the film’s 30^th anniversary. 

 

Originally released on February 14, 1992,WAYNE’S WORLD marked the feature film debut of Wayne and Garth, the wildly popular characters originated by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey on “Saturday Night Live.”  A hilarious send-up of pop culture, the film also features Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, and Alice Cooper (we’re not worthy!). 

 

Directed by Penelope Spheeris and written by Mike Myers and Bonnie Turner & Terry Turner,WAYNE’S WORLD follows Wayne and Garth as they try to promote their public-access cable show.

 

A hit with both critics and fans, WAYNE’S WORLD ultimately earned over $183M at the worldwide box office and spawned the sequel Wayne’s World 2.  A double feature of the two films will also be available on Blu-ray with access to digital copies on February 1.

 

The WAYNE’S WORLD Blu-ray SteelBook includes access to a digital copy of the film.

Directed by Robert Redford, the Academy Award®-Winning Classic Arrives in a Newly Remastered Blu-ray™

Newest Addition to the Paramount Presents Line Debuts March 29, 2022 

with New Interviews 

 

 

Robert Redford made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed drama ORDINARY PEOPLE, arriving on Blu-ray as part of the Paramount Presents line March 29, 2022 from Paramount Home Entertainment.

 

Winner of four Academy Awards®—including Best Picture, Best Director (Redford), Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Alvin Sargent), and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Timothy Hutton)—ORDINARY PEOPLE was hailed as “an intelligent, perceptive, and deeply moving film” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times) and “a powerfully intimate domestic drama” (Todd McCarthy, Variety).  

 

Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, and Timothy Hutton give powerful and moving performances as a family being torn apart by tragedy and the unrelenting pressure to maintain a façade of normalcy.  ORDINARY PEOPLE marked Hutton’s first film role and his performance not only earned him the Oscar® for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, but it also made him the youngest person to win in the category.  

 

Remastered from a new 4K film transfer overseen by Redford, the Paramount Presents Blu-ray is presented in collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments.  The disc also includes new interviews with Hutton and Judith Guest, author of the novel upon which the movie was based.

 

Bonus content is as follows:

• Swimming in the Rose Garden— In this new featurette, Best Supporting Actor Oscar® winner Timothy Hutton reflects on filmingORDINARY PEOPLE and the intriguing approach director Robert Redford took to create a feeling of isolation on set.
• Feeling is Not Selective— Acclaimed American novelist Judith Guest discusses her novel and the process involved in adapting it for film.
• Theatrical Trailer

Yellowstone Season 4 Arrives March 8, 2022

 Cable’s #1 Megahit Series Returns

YELLOWSTONE

SEASON 4

 

Blu-ray^™ & DVD of Latest Season Arrive March 8, 2022 
with Never-Before-Seen Interviews and More 

              HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Who shot John Dutton?  Fans can unravel the mystery and dig deeper into the rich history of the Dutton clan when “YELLOWSTONE” Season 4 arrives on Blu-ray and DVD March 8, 2022 from Paramount Home Entertainment. 

From Paramount Network and 101 Studios, the Emmy^®-nominated* “YELLOWSTONE” continues to be a massive hit, with the fourth season premiere drawing 14+ million viewers in the U.S. to become the most-watched season premiere on cable since “The Walking Dead” in 2017.  The show has also spawned a prequel series entitled “1883” starring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, which premiered on Paramount+ in December.

            The “YELLOWSTONE” Season 4 four-disc Blu-ray and five-disc DVD sets include all 10 hour-long episodes from the fourth season, plus over four hours of bonus content including making-of-featurettes, behind the scenes clips, never-before-seen interviews with cast and crew, and more.

Written and directed by Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water), ”YELLOWSTONE” is an engrossing family drama that follows the epic story of a multi-generational family that controls the largest contiguous ranch in the U.S.  In Season 4, the fates of Kayce, Beth, and John Dutton are unknown as Rip and the other wranglers wield their own brand of justice to take revenge and defend the Dutton legacy. Jacki Weaver, Piper Perabo and Kathryn Kelly join the cast in guest starring roles in the impressive ensemble that includes Oscar^®-winner Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Jefferson White, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham and Gil Birmingham with Will Patton.

“YELLOWSTONE” is co-created by critically acclaimed, Oscar^®-nominated screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Wind River, Hell or High Water and Sicario), and John Linson.  The Paramount Network original drama is co-produced by 101 Studios.  Executive producers for “YELLOWSTONE” are John Linson, Art Linson, Taylor Sheridan, Kevin Costner, David C. Glasser and Bob Yari.