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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="25931" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="billionaire">Billionaire</keyword> <keyword id="191583" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jeff-Bezos">Jeff Bezos</keyword> launched into <keyword id="41531" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="space">space</keyword> on Tuesday, the anniversary of the 1969 <keyword id="961511" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="moon-landing">moon landing</keyword>.</li><li><keyword id="875330" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gil-Scott-Heron">Gil Scott-Heron</keyword>, the revolutionary poet and soul artist, released "Whitey on the Moon" in 1970.</li><li>The <keyword id="42437" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="poem">poem</keyword> resurfaced on social media in response to the billionaire <keyword id="1891755" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="space-race">space race</keyword>.</li></ul><p>Gil Scott-Heron's poem "Whitey on the Moon" has been used in the past to <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/05/gil-scott-herons-poem-whitey-on-the-moon/239622/">critique the space race</a>. And the 1970 poem resurfaced this week in response to the recent influx of billionaires launching into the lower regions of space.</p><p>On the anniversary of the 1969 moon landing on Tuesday, Jeff Bezos, former Amazon CEO, founder of space company Blue Origin, and wealthiest man in the world, spent a total of 10 minutes and 10 seconds in space alongside his brother, an 18-year-old, and an 82-year-old passenger, according to<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeff-bezos-space-e0afeaa813ff0bdf23c37fe16fd34265"> The Associated Press</a>.</p><p>Billionaire Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, took to the sky nine days prior with two pilots, Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci.</p><p>Scott-Heron, best known for his song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnJFhuOWgXg">The Revolution Will Not Be Televised</a>," released "Whitey on the Moon" in 1970 following the 1969 moon landing. </p><p>The People's City Council in Los Angeles<a href="https://twitter.com/PplsCityCouncil/status/1417466131296657418?s=20"> posted a video</a> of the artist, who referred to himself as a "bluesologist," reciting the poem on Tuesday in response to Bezos and Branson's ventures into space. The tweet went viral, receiving more than 5,600 likes, and it was shared more than 2,400 times.</p><p>The 2-minute spoken-word piece references the financial struggles faced by Scott-Heron's family, including their inability to afford medical bills for his sister as described in the lines: </p><p>The poet also mentions his struggle to pay for basic necessities of survival such as food and rent amid rising prices, saying taxes are taking his "whole damn check." </p><p>The piece became increasingly relevant to the modern-day, as social media users pointed out the ethical concerns of billionaires focusing their money on spaceflights - rather than helping those in need on earth.</p><p>"My first thought with all these space exploration by billionaires," one user <a href="https://twitter.com/mikois/status/1417520764790591490">tweeted</a> in response to the viral video.</p><h2>Watch the spoken-word poem here: </h2>

'Whitey on the Moon' poem garners social media attention on anniversary of moon landing, Bezos's spaceflight

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="3763098" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="rock-roll-hall-of-fame">Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame</keyword> revealed its 2021 inductees on Wednesday.</li><li>According to a press release, it's the most diverse list in the history of the organization.</li><li>The six inductees are <keyword id="1056927" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Carole-King">Carole King</keyword>, <keyword id="834596" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Foo-Fighters">Foo Fighters</keyword>, Jay-Z, The Go-Go's, <keyword id="196817" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tina-Turner">Tina Turner</keyword>, and Todd Rundgren.</li></ul><p style="font-weight: 400;">The Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame revealed its 2021 inductees on Wednesday.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">According to a press release, it's "the most diverse list of inductees in the history of the organization," which was founded in 1983.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">In this year's performer category, the six honored artists include "Tapestry" singer-songwriter Carole King, the Dave Grohl-founded band Foo Fighters, iconic rapper <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/jay-z">Jay-Z</a>, "We Got the Beat" rockers The Go-Go's, the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" Tina Turner, and prog-rock pioneer Todd Rundgren.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">In addition, the influential <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> executive Clarence Avant will receive the <a href="https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/categories/ahmet-ertegun-award">Ahmet Ertegun award</a>, which recognizes non-performers who "had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock &amp; roll."</p><div type="image" title="LL Cool J" height="1549" width="2066" msid="82574895" hostid="261"></div><p style="font-weight: 400;">Three artists will receive the <a href="https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/categories/musical-excellence">musical excellence award</a>, honoring "originality and influence" that impacted the landscape of music: "Going Back to Cali" rapper LL Cool J; keyboardist and Beatles collaborator Billy Preston; and heavy metal guitarist Randy Rhodes.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Three more artists will receive the <a href="https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/categories/early-influences">early influence award</a>, honoring artists that "directly influenced and helped inspire" the future of popular genres: German band Kraftwerk, who helped popularize electronic music; soul and jazz poet Gil Scott Heron, who <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/29/gil-scott-heron-godfather-of-rap">has been called the "Godfather of Rap;"</a> and Charley Patton, widely known as "the father of the Delta blues."</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">The 36th annual Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on October 30 and will be broadcast on HBO.</p>

Jay-Z, Tina Turner, the Foo Fighters, and more acts will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Matt Kent/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">A contractor for Facebook expressed his misgivings about working conditions using Bruce Springsteen lyrics.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>A Facebook contractor was fired after posting Bruce Springsteen songs on Facebook's internal forum to protest working conditions, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/06/27/facebook-contractor-posted-video-bruce-springsteen-lyrics-his-profile-protest-working-conditions-he-was-fired-two-weeks-later/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_source=reddit.com&amp;utm_term=.816da619e819" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to The Washington Post.</a></strong></li><li><strong>Facebook is facing increasing calls to take better care of its contractors, especially moderators whose working conditions and mental health have been the focus of recent media reports.</strong></li><li><strong>The contractor said when he was fired, he was told his choice of lyrics was considered a safety issue for the company.</strong></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><p>A Facebook contractor was fired for posting lyrics from Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, and Gil Scott Heron to protest how the company treated third-party workers, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/06/27/facebook-contractor-posted-video-bruce-springsteen-lyrics-his-profile-protest-working-conditions-he-was-fired-two-weeks-later/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_source=reddit.com&amp;utm_term=.d76c53003d96">The Washington Post reports</a>.</p><p>The Austin-based contractor posted the lyrics amid rising tensions between the company and its contract workers, as media reports surfaced about Facebook moderators being underpaid and suffering mental health issues from sifting through the deep river of disturbing content on the platform.</p><p>The fired contracter, who wished to remain anonymous, worked for an Accenture subsidiary and was not a moderator - his job was to monitor for ad scams, according to the Post.</p><p>His protest came in response to a letter placed on Facebook's internal forum, Workplace, by COO Sheryl Sandberg in May. She said contractors pay would go up to $20 per hour in the Bay Area and $18 per hour in the rest of the US. Sandberg added that on-site counselling would be available to moderators, even at unusual hours.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-content-moderator-dies-after-suffering-heart-attack-on-job-2019-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">A Facebook content moderator died after suffering a heart attack while on the job, according to a new report detailing harsh working conditions</a></em></p><p>In a message responding to Sandberg's letter, the contractor reportedly complained of unrealistic expectations, overbearing management - who he said audited workers' bathroom visits - and a lack of promotion opportunities in the three-and-a-half years he had been in his role.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Allison Shelley / Stringer / Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Facebook's head of contingent workforce Keith Wulffraat responded to the contractor's post saying his team would work to "better understand" his concerns.</p><p>The contractor then started posting Bruce Springsteen YouTube videos, including lyrics such as: "End of the day, factory whistle cries; men walk through these gates with death in their eyes; and you just better believe, boy; somebody's gonna get hurt tonight."</p><p>He also posted "Know Your Rights" by the Clash and "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott Heron.</p><p>He was suspended two days later, and had a phone call with Wulffraat and an Accenture HR executive during his suspension. The Post reviewed a recording of the call, in which the HR exec said his choice of lyrics was "interesting and concerning," and said others had complained. He was fired the following week, and told the Post his choice of lyrics posed a safety issue for the company.</p><p>Facebook and Accenture were not immediately available to comment when contacted by Business Insider. When contacted by the Post, Facebook referred questions about the contractor to Accenture, which in turn declined to comment.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/slack-messaging-app-productivity-changing-world-almost-didnt-exist-2015-6">The incredible story behind Slack, the app that's taken over offices everywhere</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

A Facebook contractor was reportedly fired for posting Bruce Springsteen lyrics on internal messaging boards to protest working conditions

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"The <keyword id="200545" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Smithsonian">Smithsonian</keyword> Anthology of <keyword id="6360147" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="hip-hop">Hip-Hop</keyword> and <keyword id="6359566" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rap">Rap</keyword>" features 129 songs from the last four decades.</li><li>The anthology will be paired with a 300-page book featuring relevant essays and pieces.</li><li>The anthology will be released on August 20.</li></ul><p>The Smithsonian released the track list for its anthology of rap and hip hop on Monday, traveling through four decades of the genre. "The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap" is set for release on August 20. It's split into nine discs, which will encapsulate four decades-worth of hip hop and rap into 129 songs. </p><p>In an announcement made by <a href="https://folkways.si.edu/smithsonian-anthology-of-hip-hop-and-rap-intl">Smithsonian Folkways Recordings</a>, the Smithsonian Insititute said that the goal of the anthology was to tell "the story of a defining era of <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> 'of, by, and for the people.'" The article also described it as a "first-of-its-kind multimedia collection chronicling the growth of the music and culture from the parks of the Bronx to solidifying a reach that spans the globe."</p><p>This is the Smithsonian Folkway Recordings' third anthology, following "Anthology of American Folk Music" (1953) and "Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology" (2011). </p><p>The anthology, which is a partnership between Smithsonian Folkway Recordings and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is paired with a 300-page book, designed by Cey Adams, the founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings. The book will feature essays and photos. The entire project centers on the evolution of rap and hip hop. </p><p>Those involved in the selection and curation process were: rappers MC Lyte and Chuck D; the artist Questlove; scholars Jeff Chang and Mark Anthony Neal; and early Def Jam executives Bill Adler and Bill Stephney.</p><p>The anthology features monumental songs in hip-hop from giants like NWA, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Sugarhill Gang, Public Enemy, Salt-N-Pepa, and more. It captures an excellent mix of new and old - and for some, it's also a solid mix of familiar and unfamiliar tracks. </p><p>While the Bronx is known as the birthplace of hip-hop, as this anthology indicates, some argue that "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang is the pioneering hip-hop song (Disc 1, Track 2), it's also important to note that some point to <a href="https://www.rockhall.com/story-gil-scott-heron">Gil Scott-Heron</a> as the "Godfather of Rap." Though Heron preferred the label "bluesologist," his work has been referenced or sampled by industry giants like Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Common, and Queen Latifah. His song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is featured in Jay Electronica's song "Exhibit C" (Disc 9, Track 9), but his original work is not included in the anthology. </p><p>Find the official trailer and track list to The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap below.</p><h3>Track List</h3><h4>DISC: 1</h4><ol><li>Fatback - King Tim III</li><li>Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight</li><li>The Sequence - Funk You Up</li><li>Kurtis Blow - The Breaks</li><li>Funky Four +1 - That's the Joint</li><li>Spoonie Gee Feat. the Sequence - Monster Jam</li><li>Treacherous Three - The Body Rock</li><li>Blondie - Rapture</li><li>Grandmaster Flash - The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel</li><li>Afrika Bambaataa &amp; the Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock</li></ol><h4>DISC: 2</h4><ol><li>Grandmaster Flash &amp; the Furious Five - the Message</li><li>The Fearless Four - Rockin It</li><li>Cold Crush Brothers - Punk Rock Rap</li><li>Herbie Hancock - Rockit</li><li>Afrika Bambaataa &amp; the Soulsonic Force - Looking for the Perfect Beat</li><li>Run-DMC - It's Like That</li><li>Whodini - Friends</li><li>Cold Crush Brothers - Fresh, Fly, Wild &amp; Bold</li><li>T. La Rock - It's Yours</li><li>The World's Famous Supreme Team - Hey! DJ</li><li>Newcleus - Jam on It </li><li>Utfo - Roxanne, Roxanne</li></ol><h4>DISC: 3</h4><ol><li>Roxanne Shanté - Roxanne's Revenge</li><li>Fat Boys - Fat Boys</li><li>Doug E. Fresh &amp; MC Ricky D - la Di Da Di</li><li>LL Cool J - I Can't Live Without My Radio</li><li>Schoolly D - P.S.K. 'What Does It Mean?'</li><li>Run-Dmc Feat. Aerosmith - Walk This Way</li><li>Beastie Boys - Paul Revere</li><li>Ultramagnetic MC's - Ego Tripping</li><li>Ice-T - 6 'N the Mornin' </li><li>Kool Moe Dee - How Ya Like Me Now </li><li>LL Cool J - I Need Love</li><li>Eric B Feat. Rakim - Eric B Is President</li><li>Mantronix - King of the Beats</li></ol><h4>DISC: 4</h4><ol><li>Stetsasonic Feat. the Rev. Jesse Jackson &amp; Olatunji - A.F.R.I.C.A</li><li>Jazzy Jeff &amp; the Fresh Prince - Parents Just Don't Understand</li><li>Audio Two - Top Billin'</li><li>MC Lyte - Lyte As a Rock</li><li>Big Daddy Kane - Raw</li><li>Marley Marl Feat. Master Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap, &amp; Big Daddy Kane - the Symphony</li><li>MC Lyte - I Cram to Understand U (Sam)</li><li>Tone LŌC - Wild Thing</li><li>Rob Base &amp; DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two</li><li>Jungle Brothers - I'll House You</li><li>N.W.A. - F*** Tha Police</li><li>Public Enemy - Fight the Power</li><li>The Stop the Violence Movement - Self Destruction</li><li>Too Short - Life Is... Too Short</li><li>Slick Rick - Children's Story</li><li>3rd Bass - the Gas Face</li></ol><h4>DISC: 5</h4><ol><li>Queen Latifah Feat. Monie Love - Ladies First</li><li>Public Enemy - Bring the Noise</li><li>De la Soul - Me Myself and I</li><li>Biz Markie - Just a Friend</li><li>The D.O.C. - It's Funky Enough</li><li>2 Live Crew - Me So Horny</li><li>Digital Underground - the Humpty Dance</li><li>MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This</li><li>Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby</li><li>Brand Nubian - All for One</li><li>Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks on Me</li><li>A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario</li><li>Black Sheep - the Choice Is Yours</li><li>Salt-N-Pepa - Let's Talk About Sex</li><li>Yo-Yo Feat. Ice-Cube - Can't Play with My Yo-Yo</li><li>Naughty By Nature - O.P.P</li></ol><h4>DISC: 6</h4><ol><li>Dr. Dre Feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg - Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang</li><li>Ice Cube - It Was a Good Day</li><li>Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back</li><li>Arrested Development - Tennessee</li><li>Digable Planets - Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)</li><li>House of Pain - Jump Around</li><li>Positive K - I Got a Man</li><li>Pete Rock &amp; C.L. Smooth - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)</li><li>UGK - Pocket Full of Stones</li><li>Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M</li><li>Cypress Hill - Insane in the Brain</li><li>The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By </li><li>Eightball &amp; MJG - Comin Out Hard</li><li>Common Sense - I Used to Love H.E.R</li><li>Da Brat - Funkdafied</li><li>Nas - N.Y. State of Mind</li><li>Craig Mack Feat. the Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes - Flava in Your Ear</li></ol><h4>DISC: 7</h4><ol><li>Beastie Boys - Sabotage</li><li>The Notorious BIG - Juicy</li><li>Gang Starr Feat. Nice &amp; Smooth - Dwyck</li><li>Warren G Feat. Nate Dogg - Regulate</li><li>Snoop Doggy Dogg - Murder Was the Case</li><li>E-40 Feat. Suga T - Sprinkle Me</li><li>Goodie Mob - Cell Therapy</li><li>Coolio Feat. L.V. - Gangsta's Paradise</li><li>2Pac - Dear Mama</li><li>Mobb Deep - Shook Ones, Part 2</li><li>Method Man Feat. Mary J. Blige - I'll Be There for You / You're All I Need to Get By</li><li>Foxy Brown Feat. Jay-Z - I'll Be</li><li>Lil Kim Feat. Puff Daddy - No Time</li><li>Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Tha Crossroads</li><li>Wu-Tang Clan Feat. Cappadonna - Triumph</li><li>Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See</li><li>Master P Feat. Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Fiend - Make 'Em Say Uhh!</li></ol><h4>DISC: 8</h4><ol><li>Missy Elliot - the Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)</li><li>Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)</li><li>DMX - Ruff Ryders' Anthem</li><li>The Roots - the Next Movement</li><li>Mos Def - Mathematics</li><li>BG - Bling Bling</li><li>Dead Prez - Hip Hop</li><li>Eminem Feat. Dido - Stan</li><li>Outkast - Ms. Jackson</li><li>Nelly - Country Grammar (Hot Shit)</li><li>Ludacris Feat. Pharrell - Southern Hospitality</li><li>Nas - One Mic</li><li>50 Cent - in Da Club</li><li>Lil Jon &amp; the East Side Boyz Feat. Ying Yang Twins - Get Low</li></ol><h4>DISC: 9</h4><ol><li>Talib Kweli - Black Girl Pain</li><li>Kanye West - Jesus Walks</li><li>Three 6 Mafia Feat. Young Buck, Eightball &amp; MJG - Stay Fly</li><li>Rick Ross - Hustlin'</li><li>Lupe Fiasco Feat. Nikki Jean - Hip-Hop Saved My Life</li><li>Young Jezzy Feat. Nas - My President</li><li>David Banner Feat. Chris Brown &amp; Yung Joc - Get Like Me</li><li>Lil Wayne Feat. Robin Thicke - Tie My Hands</li><li>Jay Electronica - Exhibit C</li><li>Nicki Minaj - Super Bass</li><li>Macklemore &amp; Ryan Lewis Feat. Wanz - Thrift Shop</li><li>J Cole Feat. TLC - Crooked Smile</li><li>Kanye West - Blood on the Leaves</li><li>Drake - Started from the Bottom</li></ol><h2><strong>Watch the trailer to the anthology below:</strong></h2>

The Smithsonian released a 129-song track list to their rap anthology, showing the genre's evolution over the past 4 decades

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li><strong>Director Dan Gilroy&#xa0;had only&#xa0;Denzel Washington&#xa0;in mind to star&#xa0;in "Roman J. Israel, Esq." If the actor had declined to be in it,&#xa0;Gilroy&#xa0;wouldn't have made the movie.</strong></li><li><strong>Gilroy also had an unconventional method of letting Washington be involved in every aspect of making the movie.</strong></li><li><strong>It has now led to an Oscar nomination for Washington.</strong></li></ul><p><br>There's always been an understanding on a Hollywood movie set: the director is king.</br></p><p>But that thinking gets a little blurred when a superstar actor is in the mix. Whether it&#xa0;is Tom Cruise or Meryl Streep, the director often has their job only because the star "okay'd" it.</p><p>If things go right, director and star work together, tolerate one another, and&#xa0;maybe&#xa0;even enjoy the experience enough to do it all over again on another movie. The latter is almost a definite if the actor receives Oscar acclaim.&#xa0;</p><p>So expect director Dan Gilroy and star Denzel Washington to work again.</p><p>The actor received a best actor Oscar nominations (his eighth Oscar nomination of his career) <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oscars-2018-nominees-full-list-noms-2018-1">on Tuesday</a> for his performance in "Roman J. Israel, Esq." It was a role in which Gilroy let Washington into every facet of the production.&#xa0;&#xa0;</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>The process began when Gilroy&#xa0;got&#xa0;an idea for a movie about a lawyer who, for most of his career, has been fighting the causes of the underdog. However, when his partner (and the face of the firm) is taken ill and may not recover, the lawyer has to come out of the shadows. And then what he faces makes him question what he's been fighting for his entire career.<p>But instead of pitching the idea to a studio - many of which had been knocking down Gilroy's door to work with him after his hit directorial debut "Nightcrawler" - Gilroy took a year and a half and wrote the entire script on spec. Then he presented the completed script to the only actor he wanted for the movie: Denzel Washington.</p><p>Convinced only Washington could play the role,&#xa0;Gilroy&#xa0;promised himself that if Washington passed, he would throw the script in a drawer and move on.</p><h2>Giving&#xa0;Washington a setting where he could comfortably create</h2><p>"I've never written so specifically for an actor that if they passed on it I wouldn't have done it," Gilroy told Business Insider. "I always had a list of people I would have followed up with. This one I did not. I felt very strongly that the character is somebody who believes deeply in things, he's someone who believes there's something bigger than him, and Denzel is a guy who in real life believes in something bigger than himself. Him welding to that character was a quality I wouldn't be able to find in another actor. I felt very strongly about that."&#xa0;</p><p>Gilroy jumped through the usual rings: Getting the script to Washington's reps, waiting patiently for a response, and shock when he got word several months later that Washington wanted to meet. In that meeting, Gilroy was even more shocked by the outcome.</p><p>"We sat down to have lunch and an hour into it he stuck out his hand and said, 'Let's do this movie together,'" Gilroy said.</p><p>Now Gilroy had a finished script and one of the greatest living actors packaged for his movie. Sony won the auction to make and release the movie.</p><p>A major reason for this entire journey to make the movie was because Gilroy wanted Washington to be a collaborator with him on "Roman J. Israel, Esq." And not just in the creation of the title character, but in every facet of production.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>The two broke down every part of the script and tweaked things to Washington's suggestions. When the two took a break so Washington could go direct and star in "Fences," Gilroy said Washington returned with an understanding about the character that had gone beyond his own. This included everything from the character's look on screen to things he would say in the middle of a take.<p>"There's a scene where he goes through a&#xa0;metal&#xa0;detector and before putting his iPod through it Denzel said the line, 'I lost the bass range on Gil-Scott Heron's 'Winter in America' last time I put this in there.' That was a line Denzel came up with on the spot," Gilroy said. "So the choice of song - that's a very heavy song - but also apropos to what the guy is doing. He would do stuff like that in many scenes. I'm not looking for him to give that to me. There's another scene when he's looking for a job and he starts to cry. That wasn't in the scene, but what he's playing becomes real to him."</p><h2>Washington&#xa0;checked his ego at the door</h2><p>But the collaboration didn't end when filming stopped. Gilroy wanted Washington in the edit room with him as well.</p><p>"I couldn't have really conceived before this of letting an actor come into the cutting room. Most actors are not objective," Gilroy said. "But I knew I wanted him to come in and look at the character and in the process we started asking each other, do we need this scene? Should we trim this? Egos really got checked at the door."</p><p>Gilroy believes he was so comfortable in welcoming Washington into all the phases of the movie because he's been married to actress Rene Russo for 25 years. He&#xa0;said&#xa0;watching her prepare and craft parts for years has left him with a comfort with actors that many directors do not have.</p><p>However, another reason was he was only going to make "Roman J. Isreal, Esq." with Washington, why wouldn't he utilize him to the fullest?</p><p>"There are quite a few directors who would not welcome this process," Gilroy said. "They would want to tell the actor their vision. I feel for myself, as much as I trust my instincts, you lose a tremendous asset when you're working with a great actor and you're not listening and rethinking or realizing this can be approved upon. I wanted to create a space that Denzel felt comfortable creating in. That was my biggest thing."&#xa0;</p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/animated-map-of-200-years-us-border-territory-changes-2016-1">Here's how the map of the United States has changed in 200 years</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div></hr>

How an unconventional collaboration with his director led to the latest Oscar nomination for Denzel Washington

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li><strong>Director Dan Gilroy&#xa0;had only&#xa0;Denzel Washington&#xa0;in mind to star&#xa0;in "Roman J. Israel, Esq." If the actor had declined to be in it,&#xa0;Gilroy&#xa0;wouldn't have made the movie.</strong></li><li><strong>Gilroy also had an unconventional method of letting Washington be involved in every aspect of making the movie.</strong></li></ul><p><br>There's always been an understanding on a Hollywood movie set: the director is king.</br></p><p>But that thinking gets a little blurred when a superstar actor is in the mix. Whether it&#xa0;is Tom Cruise or Meryl Streep, the director often has their job only because the star "okay'd" it.</p><p>If things go right, director and star work together, tolerate one another, and&#xa0;maybe&#xa0;even enjoy the experience enough to do it all over again on another movie. If things go wrong, a huge power struggle ensues and the studio heads pray every night the press doesn't catch on.</p><p>Dan Gilroy has been around the business - first as a reporter for Variety, then as a screenwriter ("Reel Steel," "The Bourne Legacy," the scrapped <a href="http://superman.wikia.com/wiki/Superman_Lives" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tim Burton Superman movie</a>) - long enough to be very aware of all this. But he's also aware of the trick to keep a project from being tainted by a power hungry star (or studio). And Gilroy pulled it off with "Roman J. Israel, Esq." (opening in theaters on Wednesday).</p><p>The trick is this: You write the script without the studio's involvement, and you write it with only one actor in mind to do it with.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>The process began when Gilroy&#xa0;got&#xa0;an idea for a movie about a lawyer who, for most of his career, has been fighting the causes of the underdog. However, when his partner (and the face of the firm) is taken ill and may not recover, the lawyer has to come out of the shadows. And then what he faces makes him question what he's been fighting for his entire career.<p>So Gilroy had an idea.</p><p>But instead of pitching the idea to a studio - many of which had been knocking down Gilroy's door to work with him after his hit directorial debut "Nightcrawler" - Gilroy took a year and a half and wrote the entire script on spec. Then he presented the completed script to the only actor he wanted for the movie: Denzel Washington.</p><p>Convinced only Washington could play the role,&#xa0;Gilroy&#xa0;promised himself that if Washington passed, he would throw the script in a drawer and move on.</p><h2>Giving&#xa0;Washington a setting where he could comfortably create</h2><p>"I've never written so specifically for an actor that if they passed on it I wouldn't have done it," Gilroy told Business Insider. "I always had a list of people I would have followed up with. This one I did not. I felt very strongly that the character is somebody who believes deeply in things, he's someone who believes there's something bigger than him, and Denzel is a guy who in real life believes in something bigger than himself. Him welding to that character was a quality I wouldn't be able to find in another actor. I felt very strongly about that."&#xa0;</p><p>Gilroy jumped through the usual rings: Getting the script to Washington's reps, waiting patiently for a response, and shock when he got word several months later that Washington wanted to meet. In that meeting, Gilroy was even more shocked by the outcome.</p><p>"We sat down to have lunch and an hour into it he stuck out his hand and said, 'Let's do this movie together,'" Gilroy said.</p><p>Now Gilroy had a finished script and one of the greatest living actors packaged for his movie. Sony won the auction to make and release the movie.</p><p>A major reason for this entire journey to make the movie was because Gilroy wanted Washington to be a collaborator with him on "Roman J. Israel, Esq." And not just in the creation of the title character, but in every facet of production.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>The two broke down every part of the script and tweaked things to Washington's suggestions. When the two took a break so Washington could go direct and star in "Fences," Gilroy said Washington returned with an understanding about the character that had gone beyond his own. This included everything from the character's look on screen to things he would say in the middle of a take.<p>"There's a scene where he goes through a&#xa0;metal&#xa0;detector and before putting his iPod through it Denzel said the line, 'I lost the bass range on Gil-Scott Heron's 'Winter in America' last time I put this in there.' That was a line Denzel came up with on the spot," Gilroy said. "So the choice of song - that's a very heavy song - but also apropos to what the guy is doing. He would do stuff like that in many scenes. I'm not looking for him to give that to me. There's another scene when he's looking for a job and he starts to cry. That wasn't in the scene, but what he's playing becomes real to him."</p><h2>Washington&#xa0;checked his ego at the door</h2><p>But the collaboration didn't end when filming stopped. Gilroy wanted Washington in the edit room with him as well.</p><p>"I couldn't have really conceived before this of letting an actor come into the cutting room. Most actors are not objective," Gilroy said. "But I knew I wanted him to come in and look at the character and in the process we started asking each other, do we need this scene? Should we trim this? Egos really got checked at the door."</p><p>Gilroy believes he was so comfortable in welcoming Washington into all the phases of the movie because he's been married to actress Rene Russo for 25 years. He&#xa0;said&#xa0;watching her prepare and craft parts for years has left him with a comfort with actors that many directors do not have.</p><p>However, another reason was he was only going to make "Roman J. Isreal, Esq." with Washington, why wouldn't he utilize him to the fullest?</p><p>"There are quite a few directors who would not welcome this process," Gilroy said. "They would want to tell the actor their vision. I feel for myself, as much as I trust my instincts, you lose a tremendous asset when you're working with a great actor and you're not listening and rethinking or realizing this can be approved upon. I wanted to create a space that Denzel felt comfortable creating in. That was my biggest thing."&#xa0;</p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/anthony-bourdain-danny-bowien-share-their-take-underrated-foods-2017-10">The most underrated foods - according to Anthony Bourdain and Danny Bowien</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div></hr>

The director of Denzel Washington's new movie explains the unconventional collaboration he had with the star

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>You'd think it would be easy for <a href="http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/">Pitchfork Music Festival</a> to get lost in shuffle.</p><p>Between <a href="http://www.lollapalooza.com/">Lollapalooza</a>, <a href="http://www.northcoastfestival.com/">North Coast</a> and the increasingly nostalgia-fueled <a href="http://riotfest.org/">Riot Fest</a> (not to mention popular street fests like <a href="http://www.do-divisionstreetfest.com/">Do Division </a>and <a href="http://www.wickerparkbucktown.com/fest">Wicker Park Fest</a>), Chicago's festival scene is only getting more crowded by the year. </p><p>Over the past decade, Pitchfork Festival has built up quite the institution in Chicago's Union Park, curating exquisite lineups with the perfect balance of big-name headliners and dozens of indie darlings you've never heard of.</p><p>Pitchfork celebrates its 10th year in Chicago this summer, and this year's <a href="http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/lineup/">lineup</a> certainly one of the best in the festival's history.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>The headliner slots include local favorites Wilco and Chance the Rapper as well as the recently revived Sleater Kinney.</p><p>Run The Jewels, Future Islands, Chvrches and The New Pornographers also sit towards the top of the lineup.</p><p>While we couldn't be more excited about these sure-to-be epic sets, here are 6 lesser known acts that can't be missed.</p><p><strong>Mr. Twin Sister (2:50 PM Saturday at Blue Stage)</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Mr. Twin Sister's sound is ethereal, dreamlike and infinitely danceable. Their songs are heavily electronic but also feature beautiful instrumental work - the strings are most prominent and add another layer to their delicate dynamic. Their set should not be missed.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"></span><strong style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Mac DeMarco (5:30 PM Friday at Red Stage)</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>There's nobody on the scene right now quite like Canadian multi-instrumentalist Mac DeMarco. Some say he's filling the void left by experimental rock group Ween, and his jangly hooks, goofy demeanor and ability to crush in a live setting only further back this up. If psychedelic absurdity is your thing, don't miss him. </p><p></p><p><strong>Viet Cong (1:45 Sunday at Red Stage)</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Heavy, noisy and decidedly lo-fi, Canada's Viet Cong (featuring two members of now defunct Calgary band Women) are injecting some much needed life into the "art rock" scene. Their riffs are labyrinthine, euphoric and have that distinct "recorded in a garage" feel while somehow staying super catchy.</p><p></p><p><strong style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Todd Terje (7:45 PM Sunday at Blue Stage)</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Todd Terje may be huge on the Scandinavian dance scene, but he's still relatively unknown in the states, but hopefully this summer's festival circuit changes that. Terje put out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnRD0fb2kBg&amp;list=PLzCgM-fauU7Kl6_4Y0uJoAoM-T4wq84ZA">one of the best albums</a> of last year, and despite the fact that a lot of these sounds are hard to reproduce live, hearing these tunes in a huge crowd is sure to be magic.  Terje has been performing with a full live band, so hopefully he's not just up there pressing keys on a laptop. </p><p></p><p><strong>Panda Bear (6:25 PM Friday at Green Stage)</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Animal Collective fans rejoice - you can pretty much guarantee co-founder Noah Lennox's alter-ego Panda Bear is going to show the Pitchfork crowd a good time. Panda Bear is like Animal Collective's fun, dancier cousin, and fans of the indie-rock band as well as general EDM hounds will surely enjoy his set. </p><p></p><p><strong>Jamie XX (5:15 PM Sunday at Red Stage)</strong></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>British producer Jamie xx is best known as a member of The xx, the indie pop group whose 2009 debut sat atop many 'best of' lists that year. He also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaXslpx3MWY">remixed the words</a> of the late, great Gil-Scott Heron to much <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/v46m">critical acclaim</a>.  Jamie xx just released his first solo album<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Colour-Deluxe-Limited-Edition-3LP/dp/B00V9MQZRK"> In Colour</a>, and it's already being hailed as one of the best of the year. His set will be a far cry from the low-key, atmospheric tones of The xx and more of a bass-heavy, feel-good time. </p><p></p><p>Three day passes and Saturday tickets have <a href="http://pitchfork.com/news/60114-pitchfork-music-festival-saturday-passes-sold-out/">sold out</a>, but you can purchase tickets for Friday and Sunday <a href="http://www.ticketfly.com/venue/9881?utm_source=Website&amp;utm_medium=General">here</a>.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/underground-drone-racing-australia-video-2015-6">Intense video of underground drone racing in a basement in Australia</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="E1aTB5dTo3CipaVGkCVQ5qJfsVTKWjIl" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

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