Greek American actress Tina Fey may have her biggest year yet.

Greek-American Tina Fey and her husband Jeffrey Richmond welcomed their second daughter on Wednesday, PEOPLE magazine confirmed.

The newest addition to their family, Penelope Athena, was born August 10th joining big sister Alice, 5.

Fey announced she was expecting during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in April.

In her popular book, Bossypants, the brilliant writer and comedian Tina Fey
addressed how having a baby changes a person’s attitude towards work.

“The biggest thing you realize when you have a kid is how many other people in your workplace are dealing with that,” she writes. “When you’re single, you’re like, ‘Let’s work ’til 10.’ You don’t care. Once you have a kid, you’re like, ‘Oh yeah, if I’m exhausted because my kid was up all night with a cold, so are 10 other people.’ It makes you more of a sympathetic human being.”

“Fred Won’t Move Out” is Ledes’ latest film.

Richard Ledes is no stranger to independent filmmaking. After starting out with Super 8 as a kid, the Greek-American director/writer dipped in and out of making movies for many years. He released his first feature in 2004, “A Hole in One,” starring Academy Award winner Michelle Williams. His next film, “The Caller,” with Elliott Gould, won Best New York Narrative at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008.

Now, in “Fred Won’t Move Out,” the award-winning director teams up with Gould once again, this time to tell the story of an aging couple contending with their children over whether to stay in the home they’ve lived in for 50 years. Ledes, whose script left plenty of room for improvisation, spoke to Greek Reporter about his personal experiences that inspired the story, as well as his long journey to settle on a successful career in filmmaking.

How did you get into filmmaking?

I started making films as a kid – Super 8 films – when I was around 9 or 10 and then kind of stopped making films. After I got through with college, I moved to Paris and I was doing plays at that point. Paris is kind of the “heaven,” the “paradise” of film, and so while I was living there, I began to see many more films again; that really served as my education in film. I did a play where I incorporated a film – a 16mm film which I shot – into the play and then I began to make films again. At that point, I again kind of stopped. I moved back to New York, I did a couple of pieces of performance art, and one of them became the basis for my first feature film. For that, I had started volunteering in a psychiatric outpatient center for the severely mentally ill. The material I got from all this research became the basis for “A Hole in One.” That’s kind of a lot of wandering in there, very Odyssean.

What has been the most challenging part of that journey into directing?

It’s a collective art; it comes out of a collective process. So on the one hand, you want to stick to your guns but on the other hand, you want to be receptive. There’s never really any simple formula you can use for when one is applicable. In other words, you want to be incredibly flexible, you want to be receptive to ideas wherever it may come from – from completely oblivious to the hierarchy. A film set is a very hierarchical place and the director is at the top. The way in which to ignore that hierarchy is to receive ideas from anyone at anytime, but on the other hand you want to stick to your vision; you want to not give up on what you see as the right direction. It’s kind of a difficult balancing act to be both steadfast and at the same time very flexible. Doing that correctly is very tough.

Are there certain stories that you’re drawn to?

Dir. Richard Ledes

I’ve always been interested in the question of seeing as witnessing. We live in a world complete with images. Two generations ago, or up until the period after the second World War, you had to go into the cinema to see a moving image. You sat in a private space but it also had a public element. You sat next to strangers who you didn’t know, and there was a contract that you would be quiet and stay through the whole movie. Now when we see films, we can see them at home, we can see them on our cell phone, we can stop and eat a sandwich or we can stop and do anything. There’s this changing environment around the way films are experienced. So seeing things has become nothing extraordinary, it’s kind of very mundane for us to see…say we’re walking out of a gym and we see images of people being killed at war, for example, [and] then we just continue to work out; we’re numb to images. But then there’s the idea of witnessing where seeing becomes the ability to say to someone that you saw it, to bear witness. To me, the stories I’m interested in often have to do with this tension between seeing and witnessing.

Was your recent film, “Fred Won’t Move Out,” inspired by actual events? How did you decide to make the film?

It was a set of different things coming together at the same time. I had previously made a film with actor Elliott Gould and we talked about doing something improvisational. This interested me very much because among his most famous films have been with a great director known for his improvisational work – Robert Altman. Where the word “improvisation” came up between me and Elliott was a kind of connection to this great mentor figure, this great director with whom Elliott had worked, and that I would work with [Elliott] and also do improv was just incredible. So that was one thing that was in my mind.

I usually work from a script. Usually when you work from a script, you could describe it as an architectural blueprint; it tells you what you have to build. The idea of not working with one was kind of nerve wracking, a scary idea. But at that time, my mother had Alzheimer’s, my father was losing his ability to walk, and they were living in the house where they had lived for 50 years and they were about to move out. That meant that I had a free location and I also had a story that I was so viscerally connected to that I could, in a sense, use it as a compass to find true North, to find the truth of the story. So if I wasn’t going to have an architectural blueprint, I had at least a story whose basic elements were so close to me that I could go without a script. There was an opportunity, and there was a house where I had lived in off and on and my parents lived there for 50 years…it’s an amazing thing to work in a place where you know it so intimately.

Greeks tend to have such a strong family bond. How do you think they will relate to this film?

We had the opportunity to show it at the New York City Greek Film Festival and it was extremely well received. They found it very touching, they were very interested in it, very engaged by it. There are a few Greek stories, Greek myths, Greek characters from Ancient Greece that appear in it. There are a couple of bawdy jokes; it’s actually got a lot of humor. As I talk, [it] sounds so dark but it’s actually a fairly humorous film. They enjoyed the humor as much as anything else. The element, the dynamic of the family, the strength of the family, is something that Greek-Americans appreciate very much about the film.

Let’s talk a little bit about your heritage. Where are your parents from?

I’m Greek-American on my father’s side. My father’s parents were Pontian Greeks…my grandmother being from Istanbul, [formerly] Constantinople, and my grandfather being a Greek from Georgia. They met in Istanbul and came to the United States at the time of the exchange of populations. I think it was 1944 when Greece expelled its Turkish citizens and at the same time, Turkey expelled its Greek citizens. At that time, rather than goto Greece, they came to New York. My mother’s family dates back to the Revolutionary war and they are from England and Scotland…Yeah, quite a different group.

So now that “Fred Won’t Move Out” has been released, where can people see it?

“Fred Won’t Move Out” is playing around the country – 18 cities in the United States and 2 in Canada. Since September, it’s been traveling to various cities – Chicago, Los Angeles, of course, and then cities like Ogden, Utah and Phoenix, Arizona. The middle of January will be when it will play in the last city, and then it will be available on DVD at the end of January. We expect at that time it will also be available online…and we expect it to be available on cable TV, but that’s all still to be determined by our distributor.

Have things changed for you since your last film, “The Caller,” won Best New York Narrative at the Tribeca Film Festival?

[Things] have been largely affected by the technological changes, the availability of cameras, and the increasing quality of video, which has made it ubiquitous…many of us have phones that we can [shoot] video with. On the other hand, it’s been very much affected by the same economic changes that have affected any other industry, which is to say that there has been a lot of consolidation in the distribution of films so there are fewer buyers of independent films and at the same time, there are many more makers of independent film. This has created a situation in which it’s increasingly hard for independent films to make money back for the investors. It’s a continuing struggle to continue to make independent films; it’s become more difficult. That sounds paradoxical because any of us can make a film at any moment, so it should be much easier.

There’s a very small portion of the world of film that does very well…then there’s the rest of cinema, which has never had it harder. Post-2008, with the economic crisis, film is going through a tremendous crisis; it’s a very difficult environment to make your money back and films are being forced to be made for less and less money. It’s very tough because my colleagues have survived for many years on films that were made for between $1-5 million; those films have largely disappeared. Films are made for under $1 million or over $10 million and the ones over $10 million, the investors are trying to insure their risk, or minimize their risks, or they’re looking for safety, and things aren’t as experimental or adventurous. Otherwise, you’re squeezed to under $1 million – and even that is a huge budget – you can’t do the things you once were able to do with an independent film. Those things have really affected me. I’ve been very fortunate and things have continued to go well for me, but the larger forces at work in the world of filmmaking…I take those just like everyone else and it’s not an easy path.

What’s next for you?

Well, that’s a good question. [Laughs] I actually couldn’t get into my office because there was a crane during [Hurricane] Sandy that fell over on 57^th Street and they closed off five blocks. One of those blocks was my office. I was so pissed off that I decided to go shoot a movie. So I grabbed an actor, and a director of photography happened to be in town, and we went down and I just had [the actor] walk in the darkness. We went down to a street that was totally dark, found some emergency lights that were on and I just filmed him without any sound [while he was] walking. And so I started making this film, and now I’m determined to finish it. I’m making the film, which is really crazy, in post-Sandy New York City. We’ll see how that goes.

Greek-American rapper Andrew Michael Parks, better known by his stage name Drew32, talks about his career and his dreams in music.

Drew32 began producing, rapping, writing and recording music at age 13. He first gained some national notoriety when his music video “Beyond Me” was added to FuseTV and Comcast OnDemand in early 2010. He is also known for performances at various concerts in Michigan and at national events including the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and the SXSW Music Conference in Austin, Texas.

Drew32, originally from Detroit, has performed shows with J. Cole, Gym Class Heroes, The New Boyz, Kirko Bangz, Travis Porter, Royce Da 5’9″, and more. In 2012, the Greek-American was one of 18 artists in the United States selected by Billboard magazine to compete in the 2012 Billboard Music Awards Battle of the Bands competition.

He recently released a mixtape with DJ Skee entitled, “Label Me”, which featured tracks with Jon Connor, Royce Da 5’9″, and Shorty Da Prince (of BET 106 & Park).

Drew32 recently talked to Anthony Bowles about his dreams, his career and gaining acceptance from the hip-hop culture.

When did you realize that music was something you had to do?

“I first started hearing hip-hop & rap music when I was like eight or nine years old, but I first made a song when I was like nine years old with the help of my dad. I don’t think I made my full commitment to music until my senior year of high school, because that was the first year that I decided to do music over basketball. I’ve been playing basketball since I was a toddler, and varsity basketball in high school, and my senior year I decided to not even try out for the team, because I wanted to pursue my music.”

How many times do you often get compared to Eminem and how has his style influenced your music?

“I would think that I would get compared, but I actually don’t as often…people usually compare me to Drake or Lupe Fiasco. Eminem has definitely influenced my style, especially coming from Michigan, he was all over the place when I was falling in love with hip-hop.”

What other artist would you say influence your style of music?

“I would definitely have to say Royce Da 5’9″ he has been a huge influence, in terms of how I structure my rhymes and my flow. Kanye West a lot, he makes the dopest beats ever, and that’s important because I also produce my own music as well, and the fact that he has the underground respect as well as the mainstream respect, and that influences me as well. Lastly, Dr. Dre, everything he has done has been great.”

How difficult was it to develop a fan base, a voice, and overall acceptance from the hip-hop culture?

“I’ve been rapping since I was ten years old, and I feel like I still don’t get the acceptance after so long. I’m still building my fan base, and that’s something I’m working on every single day. In terms of my voice, I don’t think I found my voice until 2010, 2011, because everything before that was more experimental.”

You’re very involved with your music, how important is that to you?

“I think it’s what makes any artist authentic, there’s a lot of people that can rap, but it really gets down to those people who can make their own beats, record it, mix it, master it, and do the cover art work…I’m there from beginning to end of a project. Growing up I didn’t have money to pay for studio time, my dad believed in me and purchased some early stat up music software for me, and that made me do everything by myself. To me it makes the music more real, and they can understand the artist better because the artist is involved in the whole process.”

What are three of your career aspirations?

“My main thing is that I love making music, if I can make music and make a living out of it and be able to provide for my future family, then I would be happy. I would also like to get into doing movies, and make my label even bigger, and definitely go on tour.”

How competitive is the rap world, and what do you think it takes to go mainstream?

“I think it’s definitely competitive until you really find your lane…there are a lot of artist from Detroit that are making moves, but I don’t necessarily view them as competition, because their style of music is different. I also am able to encourage them and support them because our music is different, and once your find your lane, you have to further find a lane that is unique to yourself, and just do you and promote your music. In terms of going mainstream, I don’t know, because I don’t think I’ve gone mainstream yet…probably a big budget (laughs). We’re still working at it (laughs).”

How do you balance your Marketing studies, along with your music?

“I’m a junior at Oakland University, and it has been kind of difficult, because there are a lot of days when I wake up and I just want to do music, and I don’t care about marketing or school. One of the important things that my mom has instilled in me is always have a plan B, and even though I believe wholeheartedly that this music thing is going to work out for me, but I realize nothing is guaranteed in this industry. For me to better myself to get an education and better myself is very important to me, I think it will help me in terms of being a better role model for my children one day.”

What’s an average day for you?

“It depends if it’s summer and I’m working on music, or if it’s in the middle of the semester…Today I woke up and went to class, and now I’m probably going to be working on my music for the rest of the day.”

What’s something that you want your music to stand for and what message does it convey?

“I’m not sure if it’s a message, it’s more of the thoughts and feelings of me as a person growing up. I like making music with a positive energy and with a positive vibe, and at the same time explaining my own struggles and telling stories…bringing my life to my music.”

What does your deal with Empire Distribution necessarily entail and what does that mean for your career?

“I signed a distribution contract, and they distributed my single, “I am King” to i-Tunes, Amazon, and other retailers, as well as distributed a music video to Vevo. It was just a single deal, I probably could have signed more than just a single, but my manager and I agreed on just seeing how this single works out, and if it’s cool then we would do some more.”

What would be your dream collaboration?

“I’ve always wanted to do a song with Akon, I think it would be fresh. Growing up I always listened to Akon, and I think it would definitely be dope!”

How does it feel to have a video for “I am King” and for people to buy your music?

“It’s awesome! That’s one of those feelings that are crazy, it reminded me of the feeling every time I hear my song on the radio…it’s just crazy to me. It really gives me a warm feeling inside, that someone is really appreciating my music enough to put money into it, and I really appreciate it.”

Lastly, what can your fans expect from you in 2013?

“Hopefully big things, we’re starting off the year with a great start with my song, “I am King” potentially being on MTVu, and hopefully the rest of the year follow suit. My main goal is to go on tour this summer, I want to get a booking agent and take my band with me…I perform with a live band and I fell in love with that element of a live performance.”

Drew32′s new music video, “I Am King” ft. Jon Connor is in a competition to get on the air on MTV!  The contest is called “You Pick the Video that Gets on Air”, voting ends Jan 11th, 2013! For more information about Drew32 or to learn how to vote for his video please visit his official website, www.drew32.com.

Greek American director and producer Greg Yaitanes recently sat down to speak with Greek Reporter about his latest Cinemax series “Banshee.“

The 10-episode drama is set in the small town of Banshee, Penn., and revolves around an ex-con/master thief who assumes the identity of the town’s sheriff while continuing his criminal activities even as he is hunted by gangsters he betrayed years earlier.

As one of the executive producers, Yaitanes, an Emmy award winning director for his work on “House M.D.,” also got behind the camera to helm the pilot episode of “Banshee.” The series features an international cast, including Greek actor Christos Vasilopoulos, who appears in six episodes.

Greg Yaitanes has been called a TV mastermind and one of the most wanted TV directors in Hollywood with a list of credits including most hit TV shows.

Check out what Yaitanes had to say about the new show, his trip to Greece this past summer, whether he has plans to work on other projects either in the States or in Greece, as well as his investment in a social media website you just may have heard of known as “Twitter”:

Follow Greg at http://twitter.com/GREGYAITANES

Theano Apostolou was promoted today to Executive Vice President, Communications for Starz. Based in Los Angeles, the Greek-American PR executive is responsible for the network’s overall communications strategies, programming publicity and external affairs. She will remain as the chief press officer and spokesperson for the company. The announcement was made by Chris Albrecht, Chief Executive Officer for Starz, to whom Apostolou will report.

“Theano has played an integral role in accelerating the Starz brand as we solidify ourselves as an independent, publicly traded, global entertainment company,” said Albrecht.

“I am thrilled to announce this well-deserved promotion, as Theano’s strategic communications expertise and her passionate commitment to our success will continue to guide our senior management team at Starz to an unprecedented future.”

In her role, Apostolou will have direct oversight of thedevelopment and execution of all programming and media relations initiatives for Starz. In addition to overseeing program publicity, talent relations, special events, and awards campaigns, Apostolou will continue to spearhead all press outreach and relations that pertain to corporate and industry issues.

Prior to joining Starz in 2011 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Program Publicity, Apostolou served as Senior Vice President of Publicity, Talent Relations and Promotional Events for AMC, where she stood as the network’s chief communications strategist and oversaw consumer communications for AMC original series, movie franchises, awards campaigns and industry events.

During her career at AMC Networks, Apostolou served in various executive roles. In addition to AMC, she oversaw public relations at both the WE tv and Fuse networks. The innovative and ground-breaking publicity initiatives implemented by Apostolou during her tenure played a central role in shaping original series such as “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” and “The Walking Dead” into the cultural phenomenon they are today. She also spearheaded the award campaigns for AMC’s original series, resulting in 23 Emmys®, four Golden Globes® and multiple other award recognition. Apostolou contributed to AMC’s tremendous ratings growth and successful transformation into a destination for premium-quality programming.

Apostolou holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the American University in Athens, Greece and also studied art history at Rutgers College.

Brothers Evangelos and George Giovanis have finally settled into Los Angeles. After moving around as kids – from Rhode Island to Greece (their parents are from Ioannina and Nafplio), and then back to the States – the two Greek-Americans are making their mark in Hollywood with their latest film, “Run It.”

The businessmen-turned-filmmakers got their start making pizza, opening up shop in places like Florida and Arizona, and then sold the businesses in order to support their love for making movies. So far, it’s worked to their advantage; one of their earlier films, “Land of Nod,” won the Digital Alexander Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival and was nominated for Best Feature at the Cyprus International Film Festival.

Now, with their third film, “Run It,” which features industry vets like Louis Zorich (“Fiddler on the Roof,” “Death of a Salesman”) and the late Sam Coppola (“Saturday Night Fever,” “Fatal Attraction”), the Giovanis brothers are getting in front of, and behind, the camera. Centering on two thugs, a substitute teacher, and a young student who get tangled up in violent crimes that unexpectedly bind them together in one day, “Run It” has already screened at six film festivals, including the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival and New York Greek Film Festival.

Greek Reporter caught up with Evangelos to talk about the new film. George also joined in on the conversation to discuss what it’s like to work with family – day in and day out – not only in business, but also when it comes to filmmaking.

At what point did you decide you didn’t want to work in the pizza business anymore and make movies?

Evangelos: We always knew we wanted to make movies. I mean, we make a hell of a pizza, don’t get me wrong. We just kind of knew, [when] we were in Florida, that’s when we started making the films. And then we made one in Arizona and when we sold that one, we continued to make them. We made ['Run It'] in Rhode Island. We just kind of knew that’s what we wanted to do. The problem is, both businesses are risky. I’ve read entertainment is the hardest, and restaurants is the second hardest…we’re kind of always in the toughest businesses.

How did you get into filmmaking?

Evangelos: ['Run It'] is actually our third feature. We threw ourselves in the deep water without knowing how to swim first. We didn’t make any shorts, basically, we just said, ‘Why not make a feature, and that’ll be like 10 shorts.’ That was our logic with things. I took a couple of [film] classes at the University of Rhode Island with a great teacher, her name was Sheri Wills. But other than that, we didn’t get into a graduate program, so we just picked up a camera; we tried to learn that way, self taught and we kept going.

The first movie…we learned the most from it, we made the most of it. The second movie, we premiered at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and we picked up the Digital Alexander Award for Best Picture in 2006.

How did you come up with the idea for “Run It”?

Evangelos: It’s strange you should ask. I didn’t have one set thing at the time. A great uncle of mine had suffered from a stroke, and it got my brain thinking, and I had seen some things in Providence – some random acts of violence. It’s a melting pot of things that happened; it’s not just one idea. The stories are just born in my head and I work on them till they feel like they’re ready to go. It’s not even the same process with each different story, I think even the inspiration of how you go about it changes every time, not only the stories you write.

How long did it take to complete the film?

Evangelos: It took me about a month and half or two to write. It took 40 days to shoot it, and then it took us about six months to edit because the editing process had a little adventure in it. At the time, we were in Rhode Island and we had run completely out of money, and friends of ours told us to go live with them in Chicago. We did and we were living in a basement, and we were editing there. I was worried because they were like, ‘Oh, by the way, in Chicago, the basements flood.’ And I said, ‘By the way, my whole life is in this basement.’ So we moved. It was a rough time.

How did you end up financing the film?

Evangelos: I told my brother we should sell the restaurant [in Arizona] and we should pursue more time into the movie. We would work six days a week in the pizza place, 10 hours to 13 hours a day. On the one day off we would close, that’s the day we were shooting our movie.

‘Run It’ is our most expensive movie to date, so we invested our savings into that one and we’re trying to get a distributor. We ended up getting offers on it after we did our festival run, but the offers were no good. The entertainment attorney we had at the time advised us not to take them, because they were not giving us a good VOD and DVD deal. So, my brother and I refused the offers as tempting as they were…we ended up getting on Indiegogo and we raised $11,000 and now we’re taking that money and we’re doing a premiere in Los Angeles on April 21 at the Los Feliz 3 Cinemas at 6:15pm; it’s a one night screening. We’re also screening for a whole week in New York City at the Cinema Village from May 31 to June 6.

What’s it like having your brother work with you on a film? Is it tough working with family on-set?

Evangelos: Look, my brother is my best friend. I’m fortunate, and I say this from the womb to the grave, I love my brother and I wouldn’t work with anybody else. He makes my life easier, not harder. And OK, we all have shortcomings….

George: Speak for yourself!

Evangelos: …but we compliment each other well. Where I lack something, he gains, and where he lacks something, I gain. We have outtakes and bloopers on DVD, which is hopefully gonna come out. We have bloopers where we’re swearing up a storm at each other. But that same night, we’re out having a gin and tonic and saying, ‘What a great shot,’ and hugging each other.

George: I love this guy and everything we do, we’re basically one person divided into two. It’s just a formula we’ve applied to life in general. We just always push forward together. Just don’t mess with my food; the only thing I don’t share is my food.

For more information on “Run It,” and to get tickets to screenings in Los Angeles or New York, visit: www.runitthefilm.com

Greek-American actress Joanna Kalafatis stars in the new music video for “Bulls in the Bronx” by Pierce the Veil  from their latest album ‘Collide With The Sky’.

The video has gained great popularity on the web and it has almost one million views on youtube. Kalafatis plays a girl involved in a high school romance, trying to hide it from her overprotective father.

“There is a dream sequence in the song in which I dance a flamenco solo while the boy imagines he is a matador,” explains the New York born young actress.

“I studied Flamenco at Ballet Hispanico in New York City for seven years, and it was the reason I was called in to audition by Drew Russ, who directed the video.”

” The band was really great to work with, they have a very strong bond with each other and made the set a really fun environment.”

Pierce the Veil is an American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California. Formed in 2007, the group was founded by brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes after the disbandment of the group Before Today (formerly Early Times), which was formed out of the San Diego punk rock scene. The band, who is now touring Europe, is extremely popular amongst youngsters.

Watch the music video below:

Also take a look behind the scenes:

You can also visit the official site of Joanna Kalafatis.

Watch Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Heather Graham and the rest of cast and crew attending the Hangover: part 3 Premiere.

“The Hangover: Part III” opened last night in Los Angeles, CA among cheering fans and a star-studded cast and crew.

Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and, yes, Mr. Chow, aka Ken Jeong, were all on hand to celebrate the epic conclusion of Todd Phillips’s latest film “The Hangover: Part III.”

Greek-American Zach Galifianakis was in a great mood and turned the red carpet upside down with his pranks – at some point he got into his limo’s trunk pretending he was leaving. We caught up with him in an interview hard to be kept serious!

“Part III” brings the Wolfpack back to Las Vegas, but this time around there is no wedding, and no bachelor party, but more emotions and depth in the characters.

“The Hangover: Part III” stumbles into theaters Thursday, May 23.

A mind-game of the daily possibilities we face in life unfolds in Christopher Papakaliatis’ latest movie titled “What if…” (“Αν” in Greek).  The Greek actor, director and writer who visited Hollywood for his film’s premiere talked to Greek Reporter about “What if…”, the Greek crisis, his obsession with love, and Hollywood!

“What if…,” Greece’s latest box office hit with more than half million tickets sold in less than six months, premiered at a special screening during the Gabby Awards weekend in Hollywood on Saturday, May 25 at 12pm.

Christopher Papakaliatis was born and raised in Athens, Greece in 1974. His father, Manuel Papakaliatis was born and raised in Crete while his mother, Villy Malamis, is from South Africa. Christopher was first casted in the age of 16 for a role in the TV drama series “Guards of Ahaia”. A drama series, based on a novel by Tassos Athanasiadis, which was aired in 1992 by Mega Channel (one of the biggest private TV channels in Greece).

After numerous roles in successful TV series as a teen actor in Greece, he decided to write his first TV script at the age of 23. “Our life is a path” was aired on Mega channel in the season 1999-2000 and was well received by critics and public. The following season he wrote and starred in the TV series “Take care of me” 2000-2001, and the following season he made the TV movie “Three wishes” 2001-2002. In 2003 he wrote and starred in the TV series “Close your eyes” which was one of the highest rating series in Greece. It was at that point that he decided to direct most of second and third season episodes with great success.

In the TV drama “Close your eyes” a kiss between two men caused a great debate in Greece (as it was the first time for two male characters to kiss on air) and was followed by a fine by the Greek National Council for Radio and Television but was later withdrawn by The Council of State.

In 2005-2006 he wrote, directed and starred in a new dram-thriller series “Two days only”, which had controversial reviews. “Two days only” was not a big success in the rating board, but was acclaimed artistically as one of the best filmed TV series.

In 2008 he wrote, directed and starred in the TV series “4″. A story about four male brothers and their different lives. “4″ was a big success in Mega channel but due to the economical crisis in Greece was not able to continue to its second season and was cut off the air in the summer of 2010. It was the same year that he got accepted as a member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (EMMY International).

In 2012, he starred next to Catherine Deneuve and Sebastian Koch in the feature film “God loves Caviar” directed by Iannis Smaragdis. “What If” is his first feature film. The film was written and directed by him, while on the same time he played the leading role of Demetris.

If you haven’t heard of Maria Papathanasiou just yet, keep your ears (and eyes) open for the stunning Greek-American model/actress from Brooklyn, NY. After garnering media attention from a snapshot of her chatting with Megan Fox on-set of the upcoming film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” the 24-year-old beauty is well on her way to becoming a household name.

A second generation Greek-American, Papathanasiou’s father, from Athens, and mother, from the small village of Diplatanos, came to America with a dream for their family. They settled in Brooklyn, NY, where Papathanasiou and her three sisters attended Sunday school, Greek school, and Greek dancing classes as kids. Describing her siblings as “all very different,” the model and actress says she’s “basically the only artsy one that got out of the element of not being a doctor or a teacher.”

When she was in middle school, Papathanasiou auditioned for a YMCA community theater production of “Peter Pan.” She scored the lead role, and got bitten by the acting bug right away. Soon after, while attending high school, she began taking classes at John Robert Powers studio, which her parents were skeptical of only because it meant leaving the borough of Brooklyn to commute to Manhattan when she was 16-years-old.

“I was the one that initiated that I wanted to take acting classes and my parents were like, ‘Are you sure you want to do that?,’” Papathanasiou says. “I had to get on the train on my own, there were late hours, but that’s what I wanted to do.”

She continued taking classes for about a year and then dabbled in modeling during college, posing for friends’ projects and also signing with a professional agency. But acting is her real passion, she admits. Luckily, her parents have been very supportive, and so far, so good.

“We’re very Greek, but I am American. I’m different and weird but they love it, especially with this thing where I worked with Megan Fox,” she says. “My parents thought it was exciting.”

After garnering attention when a snapshot of her with Megan Fox on-set made its way into the press, 24-year-old beauty Maria Papathanasiou is well on her way to becoming a household name.

This “thing” she’s referring to is Paramount Pictures’ reboot of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” starring Megan Fox, Will Arnett and Whoopi Goldberg. Papathanasiou was hired to play Fox’s body double for the film, which hits theaters next summer.

“They needed somebody athletic that could ride a bike,” she states. “It was a cool experience.”

With all good things to say about one of Hollywood’s sexiest women – calling Fox a “sweetheart” and “stunning” – Papathanasiou’s parents weren’t the only ones excited about her big-screen role. Some of her male friends were eager to visit the set, texting Papathanasiou to ask where she and Mrs. Fox were shooting for the day.

“They were all drooling over about it. It’s boys,” she says with a laugh.

And what about the girls?

“My female friends were actually more excited than my guy friends,” suggesting she invite Fox to hangout or join them for dinner. “I’m like, ‘She has a kid, she has a husband, she’s not gonna come out to a club with us!’”

Papathanasiou landed in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” after the same casting agents booked her in “Noah,” a fantasy drama from Academy Award nominee Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”). Also scheduled for a 2014 release, Papathanasiou plays a young Jennifer Connelly in flashbacks.

“That was a really great experience because I admire Darren Aronofsky…he’s just the top of the top, and he’s also from Brooklyn,” she says.

The audition took place in Long Island, NY. She didn’t know what to expect, and didn’t know she would actually be meeting with the director himself.

“[Darren] came up to me and shook my hand; no one told him [what I was there for], and he was just like, ‘Wow, you really do look like Jennifer Connelly.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, thank you so much.’ And my reply was, ‘Not a day goes by that nobody tells me I look like Penelope Cruz,’” she says. “You would think, ‘What an idiot to say that when you’re up for a Jennifer Connelly role.’” Not the case in the least. Aronofsky was so impressed with the young Greek-American that he gave her the part.

Pleased with the experience and vibe on the set of “Noah,” Papathanasiou is hoping to team up with the director once again in the near future.

“My biggest dream is to be his lead actress; that’s what I want to do next,” she admits.

Also next for the young talent? Auditions, modeling, fashion styling, traveling…to name a few. After just returning from her first trip to Asia where she worked on a music-related project in Korea, Papathanasiou is expanding her creative talent in the entertainment business.

“I love music. I mean, music comes after movies but growing up, I was always listening to music. I go to concerts. Even to this day, ever since I was 13, I would always go to concerts. I tried to go at least once a week. So when I’m not busy, I help my friend who’s a successful artist – he’s Grammy nominated – his name is Ryan Leslie. I help him with his whole creative side.”

And fellas, Papathanasiou happens to be single at the moment. With such a hectic schedule, she says time…and meeting the right person…aren’t easy to come by in regards to a relationship.

“It’s hard to find somebody – especially in New York – that’s really going to love you and be real and true. And, as well, I don’t have much time. I think it’s a time thing, more importantly,” she admits. “There’s nobody that I’m interested in either right now, so if there’s anyone single, they can hit me up,” she says with a laugh.

Perhaps, in her travels, the best way to meet someone is to head back to the motherland. Having spent summers in Greece, she affectionately describes her mother’s village as the place to be.

“Roughly, there’s about 200 people in [my mom’s village], and everyone there knows each other. I think I relate more to the village than I do to the city because I just like the whole small community…there’s goats, and there’s farms, and there’s church,” she says. “I like growing things, I like eating fresh food, and that’s what Diplatanos has to offer; it’s more homey.”

For more on Maria Papathanasiou, visit her:

On Twitter: MariaFavelaChic

On Instagram: MARIAPAPATHANASIOU

“Who Do You Think You Are?,” a documentary-style series on TLC that helps celebrities dig into their ancestry and trace their family tree, is welcoming Greek-American Kelly Clarkson to the show when new episodes premiere July 23.

In a promo for the upcoming season, Clarkson gets excited over some photos, saying, “Oh my gosh, is this his picture?,” and is later seen tearing up, but no big reveal is made as to what she discovered. Viewers will have to tune-in to find out what made Clarkson so emotional.

The recently engaged singer is of Greek descent on her mother’s side. She is also German and Irish, but it has been said that she considers herself mostly Greek and is able to speak the language fluently. During one interview, she attributed her womanly shape to her Greek roots: “I like my waist because it’s the smallest part of me! I do love my figure but I’m part Greek which means I’m curvy.”

Check out a sneak peek of “Who Do You Think You Are?” featuring Kelly Clarkson below:

In a recent sit down interview with the celebrity news program “Entertainment Tonight,” Tom Hanks talked about his new film, “Captain Phillips,” and opened up about his grandkids.

The 57-year-old, who is married to Greek-American Rita Wilson, recently celebrated becoming a “papou” again. His son, Colin, welcomed a second daughter this past July. When ET’s Nancy O’Dell asked Hanks during their interview what his grandkids call him, he told the entertainment host, “Papou,” continuing, “That’s Greek…every yia yia is a grandma and every papou is a Greek granddad.”

Hanks has always been very vocal about his love for Greek culture, having told us that he feels “110% Greek.” He and Wilson also frequently host the Saint Sophia Cathedral Greek Festival held in Los Angeles.

O’Dell and Hanks also discussed his role in “Captain Phillips,” which is based on a true story. The actor plays the title character who finds himself having to keep his crew safe from a pirated Somali attack aboard a U.S. ship. The film hits theaters Friday, Oct. 11.

Check out the “Entertainment Tonight” interview below:

Greg Louganis, the living legend of diving, tied the knot with his beloved partner in a romantic ceremony in Malibu, on Saturday the 12th of October. The Olympic Champion became widely known for his personal life, when he publicly admitted that he is gay, as well as revealing that he is suffering from AIDS. He wed his other half, Johnny Chaillot, and on Saturday they made vows of eternal love and faith in front of 160 guests.

Louganis is of Samoan and Swedish descent but his teenaged parents gave him up for adoption when he was eight months old to his adoptive Greek-American parents.

The couple started dating in 2012, after meeting through a dating site and a year later were engaged. In an interview with People magazine, Greg Louganis spoke about the man of his life and their upcoming marriage. “I never expected this day would come. I spoke openly with my mother from a young age, and her biggest worry was that I would have a lonely life as I grew older.”  He continued by saying, “she always wanted me to have someone to protect me ,and now that gay marriage is legalized in California, I have found the love of my life and soul mate.” He concluded by saying he is very grateful, and certain that his mom would be smiling down at him.

Greg expressed his amazement in having so many people from all phases of his life during the special night. He was grateful for everyone who was there to celebrate together.  “It is wonderful” stated Greg shortly after the ceremony. “I already feel differently; the ceremony was so representative of who we are.”

The ceremony was followed by the wedding reception, where Barbara Eden, French Stewart, Bruce Vilanch, Dominic Scott Kay, Janet Evans and Nadia Comaneci were among the guests.

Instead of gifts, the couple asked the guests to donate to charities. “We are both in our fifties and don’t need another blender, so we want to offer,” said Chaillot to their guests.

With Halloween just around the corner, people have chaotically flooded the streets in search of the perfect costume. Among the costumes featured in stores, many are inspired by ancient cultures and especially Ancient Greece. After conducting some field research by visiting various Halloween stores and attending Halloween pre-parties, here are the most popular and fun ones we came across….

1.  Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty, love and lust and is known to stir up desire and passion in the hearts of people.  Her power and beauty was so great she is known for causing wars even among the gods. This costume seems to flood Halloween stores every year since everyone loves the role of the seductress. Her companion was baby cupid, who would strike unsuspecting victims with his arrows of love, leaving them confused and enchanted. If you’re a mommie, try this cute idea: dress up like Aphrodite and your baby like Cupid this year!

2. Traditional Greek Outfit – Tsolias
Greece is known for its elaborate traditional Greek outfits. These costumes are very unique and colorful featuring big frilly skirts, headpieces and curved shoes with fluffs on them. Many Greeks living abroad who are proud of their heritage often times wear them during Halloween.

3. Greek Statue
With the economy being affected worldwide and hipster in fashion, many have taken the DIY route to costume-making this year. A “Do It Yourself” Greek Statue costume consisted of white sheets, white face paint and sandals is an instant classic for children and adults alike. Be careful however, if you have a beard not to get confused with Socrates.

4. Hades
Hades is the God of the Dead and of the Underworld as well as Zeus’ brother. His wife Persephone was God Demeter’s daughter and is also a prominent figure in Ancient Greek mythology. So if you are a couple, this unlikely pair is a great option. However, going solo as Hades is not such a bad idea either since vampires and mythical beings of darkness have taken over pop culture in the last couple of years.

5. Warrior Princess
The ancient Greek dynamic amazons, which are classic icons of female power, are definitely a great choice this year combining tough with sexy. Empowered women never fail to amaze, and with your sword you can ward off those unwanted “suitors.”

6. Megara
Megara who was Hercules’ first wife in ancient mythology, is also a big favorite especially among children, mostly due the popularity of Disney’s Megara-inspired character from the cartoon “Hercules.” However, there are many adults who also rock the outfit. Megara’s controversial seductive and manipulative character gives depth and edge. The fact that it’s Disney, conveys the playful and fun personality of those who wear it.

7. Pan
The pan was a half-man half-goat whose favorite pastime was chasing nymphs in the forest. Pans are Dionysus’ followers and are very animated and quirky. This costume is meant for those who dare, like the “school prankster” personality types.

8. Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of theatre, wine and carnival, which is the equivalent of “Halloween” in Europe, stemmed from his festivals in ancient Greece. Therefore, what would be more perfect than a costume associated with drinking, eating, and an excess of festivities for Halloween night?

9. Lernaean Hydra
Another costume very popular among youngsters, is the 3-headed monster Hercules faced as one of his Twelve Labors. This costume is frequently seen among toddlers whose hip parents want to keep them warm while turning heads.

10. Trojan
Even though the Trojans were beat by the Greeks, USC is not the only place you will see people dressed like them. The costume seems to be a very popular one, often being confused with that of a gladiator’s or Hercules.

11. Calypso
Calypso was a woman so beautiful that she enchanted Odysseus and tricked him into staying on her island for seven long years. The costume is frequently seen in pastel blue colors although variations are available depending on the store.

Mr. Panos, one of the funniest Greek youtube characters, reveals the truth behind “Project Mickey Mouse” in a new youtube video. The secret project is carried out by CIA according to Panos. The comedic mastermind behind Mr. Panos is Greek-American Yiannis Pappas who recently joined “The Morning Show” on Fusion Network.

The Greek-American writer, performer and producer has done several shorts, commercials, and of course a lot of stand up comedy.Yannis has also gained thousands of fans through Mr. Panos’ video blog where the fictional 60 year-old Queens restaurant owner blogs to the world his opinions and Greek values through his son’s camera capabilities.
Watch the latest video on the secret “Mickey Mouse Club.”

RELATED: Watch Greek Reporter’s interview with Yiannis Pappas, the real person behind Mr. Panos! 

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) released their list of nominations in five film and eight television categories for the upcoming 20th annual awards, and Greek-American Tina Fey received a nod for her role as Liz Lemon on the TV series “30 Rock.” The announcing ceremony was held this morning in Los Angeles at the Pacific Design Center’s SilverScreen Theater in West Hollywood.

Fey was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series. She was also nominated alongside the entire cast of “30 Rock” for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The show ended its run on NBC earlier this year.

A full list of nominees can be viewed at the SAG Awards website, www.sagawards.org.

The 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 at 8PM EST/5PM PST from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. A live stream of the SAG Awards can also be viewed online through the TBS and TNT websites, as well as through the Watch TBS and Watch TNT apps for iOS or Android. (Viewers must sign in using their TV provider user name and password in order to view the live stream.)

There are rumors circulating that Olympia Dukakis will be playing Anna Madrigal, an older transgender lady from Armistead Maupin’s series of books, “Tales of the City.”

Armistead Maupin, who is getting ready to release his ninth book of the series, “The Days of Anna Madrigal,” is already discussing making the book into a film. This is not surprising news, for his books have been turned into a TV show in the past, which aired on PBS and UK’s Channel 4 with extreme popularity.

In the new book, Anna Madrigal returns home to Nevada to awaken her past memories of being a little 16-year old boy in a whorehouse. In previous books, Madrigal’s character has always been the wise, laid-back and witty lady of the house on 28 Barbary Lane as she observes the other characters struggling to find their identity in the midst of changing societal attitudes regarding sex, drugs and relationships.

Dukakis, who despite being heterosexual and married, is best known for her lesbian roles. It is said she is both eager and honored to jump in on the part, which could be one of the best of her career. She often jokes about her lesbian roles, claiming she makes a good lesbian. Dukakis, whose parents were Greek immigrants during the Great Depression, is also well-known for her activism in supporting gay rights. Her most recent lesbian role was in a film called “Cloudburst.”

Even though Maupin has been hesitant in the past in turning his new book into a film, he has recently changed his mind and Dukakis has already begun preparations. Dukakis explained that when she was preparing for the filming of the “Tales of the City” TV show back in the ’90s, she could barely find anything on transgender transitions. Dukakis wanted to know more about their physical and emotional struggles but could find nothing. Thankfully, she met a male-to-female woman who was able to give her a real life experience of the process.

Today, we have come a long way with transgender topics being taught in colleges and activist rights reaching new heights. Hopefully, the book will be made into a film soon with a promising role that could even give Dukakis a new Oscar.

Winners for People’s Choice Awards 2014 were announced during a live broadcast hosted by Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs (2 Broke Girls) at the Nokia Theater L.A. Live on Wednesday, January 8th on the CBS Television Network. To determine the winners, fans cast a record-breaking 700+ million votes.

Sandra Bullock was the night’s big winner taking home four awards including “Favorite Movie Actress” while Iron Man 3 took home the awards for “Favorite Movie” and “Favorite Action Movie.”

Justin Timberlake nabbed three awards for “Favorite Male Artist,” “Favorite R&B Artist” and “Favorite Album” for The 20/20 Experience. With her win tonight for “Favorite Daytime TV Host,” Ellen DeGeneres has become the most decorated female in People’s Choice Award history, with a total of 14 crystal trophies.

The Big Bang Theory took home “Favorite Network TV Comedy,” while its star, Kaley Cuoco, nabbed “Favorite Comedic TV Actress.” The night also featured performances of “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic and “The Mona Lisa” by Brad Paisley.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2014 featured the presentation of the second annual People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Humanitarian,” presented by Walgreens, to Jennifer Hudson, in recognition of her work with the Julian D. King Gift Foundation, an organization she formed in 2009 with her sister, Julia Hudson, in honor of her nephew, Julian King. The foundation works to provide stability and positive experiences for children of all backgrounds so that they may grow to become productive, confident and happy adults, able to be positive influences on their communities.

See below the full list of People’s Choice Awards 2014 winners:

MOVIE CATEGORIES

Favorite Movie
Iron Man 3

Favorite Movie Actor
Johnny Depp

Favorite Movie Actress
Sandra Bullock

Favorite Movie Duo
Sandra Bullock & George Clooney (Gravity)

Favorite Action Movie
Iron Man 3

Favorite Action Movie Star
Robert Downey Jr.

Favorite Comedic Movie
The Heat

Favorite Comedic Movie Actor
Adam Sandler

Favorite Comedic Movie Actress
Sandra Bullock

Favorite Dramatic Movie
Gravity

Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio

Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress
Sandra Bullock

Favorite Family Movie
Despicable Me 2

Favorite Horror Movie
Carrie

Favorite Thriller Movie
Now You See Me

Favorite Year End Movie
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

TV CATEGORIES

Favorite Network TV Comedy
The Big Bang Theory

Favorite Comedic TV Actor
Chris Colfer

Favorite Comedic TV Actress
Kaley Cuoco

Favorite Network TV Drama
The Good Wife

Favorite Dramatic TV Actor
Josh Charles

Favorite Dramatic TV Actress
Stana Katic

Favorite Actor in a New TV Series
Joseph Morgan

Favorite Actress in a New TV Series
Sarah Michelle Gellar

Favorite TV Crime Drama
Castle

Favorite Competition TV Show
The Voice

Favorite Cable TV Comedy
Psych

Favorite Cable TV Drama
The Walking Dead

Favorite Premium Cable TV Show
Homeland

Favorite Cable TV Actress
Lucy Hale

Favorite TV Anti-Hero
Rick Grimes
The Walking Dead

Favorite TV Bromance
Sam, Dean & Castiel
Supernatural

Favorite TV Gal Pals
Rachel & Santana
Glee

Favorite On-Screen Chemistry
Damon & Elena
The Vampire Diaries

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show
Beauty and the Beast

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor
Ian Somerhalder

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress
Kristin Kreuk

Favorite TV Movie/Miniseries
American Horror Story

Favorite Daytime TV Host(s)
Ellen DeGeneres

Favorite New Talk Show Host
Queen Latifah

Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host
Stephen Colbert

Favorite Streaming Series
Orange Is the New Black

Favorite Series We Miss Most
Breaking Bad

Favorite New TV Comedy
Super Fun Night

Favorite New TV Drama
Reign

MUSIC CATEGORIES

Favorite Male Artist
Justin Timberlake

Favorite Female Artist
Demi Lovato

Favorite Breakout Artist
Ariana Grande

Favorite Pop Artist
Britney Spears

Favorite Country Artist
Taylor Swift

Favorite Country Music Icon
Tim McGraw

Favorite Hip-Hop Artist
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Favorite R&B Artist
Justin Timberlake

Favorite Band
One Direction

Favorite Alternative Band
Fall Out Boy
Favorite Song
Roar
Katy Perry

Favorite Album
The 20/20 Experience
Justin Timberlake

Favorite Music Video
Roar
Katy Perry

Favorite Music Fan Following
Lovatics (Demi Lovato)

The world of arts has lost one of its best actors to heroin. Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York apartment by a friend on February 2, 2014. Police sources stated that the cause of his death is drug overdose.

The Academy-Award winning actor has portrayed countless roles so well, it was even difficult to recognize him sometimes. Among them he played the Greek CIA agent Gus Avrakotos in Charlie Wilson’s War. The star-studded cast also included Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

Avrakotos was a Greek-American case officer and division chief for the United States Central Intelligence Agency. He was best known for the massive arming of ‘s mujahideen in the 1980s in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.His partnership with Charlie Wilson in this operation was chronicled in the book Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, by George Crile III.

Hoffman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 2005 biographical film Capote, and received three Academy Award nominations as Best Supporting Actor. He also earned three Tony Award nominations for his work in the theater.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was born in Fairport, New York. He attended the 1984 Theater School at the New York State Summer School of the Arts and earned a BFA in drama in 1989 from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Hoffman had admitted that he was addicted to heavy drugs during university.

“I tried anything I could get my hands on. I liked it all,” he said in a 2006 interview with CBS about his struggle with drug use.

After his graduation, he went to rehab for drug and alcohol addiction. He said he recovered at age 22 and remained sober until May 2013, when relapsed. He checked into a rehabilitation program for about 10 days in 2013 because of problems with prescription pills and heroin.

On February 2, 2014, Hoffman was found dead with a needle in his arm at the age of 46. According to the New York City Police Department, he died of an apparent drug overdose.

In its front-page obituary, the New York Times referred to Hoffman as “perhaps the most ambitious and widely admired American actor of his generation.”

George Clooney urged the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. “It is the right thing to do,” said the Hollywood actor and director during a press conference for his film “The Monuments Men” at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday.

Clooney is not afraid to publicly take sides on serious matters and he proved it one more time in Berlin supporting Greece in its long battle to get back the Parthenon Marbles from the U.K.

Asked by a Greek journalist whether Greece should claim its historic monuments back from Britain, Clooney stated: “I think you have a very good case to make about your artifacts. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing if they were returned.”

“I think that is a good idea. I think that would be a very fair and very nice thing. Yeah, I think it is the right thing to do.”

The Marbles, a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures (mostly by Phidias and his assistants), inscriptions and architectural members that originally were part of the Parthenon, were removed from the Acropolis in Athens by the 7th Earl of Elgin.

Elgin obtained a controversial permit from the Ottoman authorities to remove pieces from the Parthenon while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803.

Directed by Clooney, “The Monument’s Men,” follows the attempt by a squad of art experts to return stolen works of art to their rightful owners in post-war Germany.