Yervant1 Posted September 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2017 Armenpress News Agency , ArmeniaSeptember 23, 2017 Saturday'The Promise' director Terry George and co-producer Eric Esrailianvisit Armenian Genocide MemorialYEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. ‘The Promise’ Armenian Genocidethemed movie director Terry George and co-producer EricEsrailian onSeptember 23 visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial inYerevan, reports Armenpress.They were accompanied by culture minister of Armenia Armen Amiryan andAGBU Central Board members.“This visit sums up everything that I worked for over the last fouryears and brings into focus what really cinema and the power of cinemacan be about, to try to commemorate the loss of lives and the horriblecrime that was committed. So, this is the most emotional moment of thewhole production of The Promise itself, the most important moment ofthe project”, George said.George and Esrailian paid tribute to the Armenian genocide victimswith a moment of silence as they laid flowers at the eternal flame.They also planted a tree in the Memory Alley to honor the memory ofthe late Kirk Kerkorian, the legendary man who tirelessly worked tobring The Promise to big screens, and toured in the genocide museum.“This tree symbolizes the ever-growing reach of the Armenian story.Kirk Kerkorian planted the seed, and Terry, Mike Medavoy, and I havebeen honored to work with our incredible cast and crew to share thisstory with the world. We must never let the world forget our past, andwe must move forward together support others in need. Under KirkKerkorian's direction, we followed through on his wishes for the film.Today, we honor his life and the lives of those lost over a hundredyears ago”, Eric Esrailian said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted September 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2017 PanArmenian, ArmeniaSept 29 2017 Chris Cornell was deeply affected by Armenian Genocide, his widow says Chris Cornell’s widow Vicky has said that the musician was deeply affected by the Armenian Genocide.The full video of Vicky Cornell accepting the L.A. Chefs for Human Rights Hero Award on behalf of her late husband, the Soundgarden frontman, earlier this week has now surfaced.Chris Cornell was honored at a fundraising event for Program for Torture Survivors (PTV) at the award-winning restaurant Cassia for his humanitarian efforts and his original song and music video “The Promise.”“Chris was deeply affected by the Armenian story, one of our close friends is Dr. (Eric) Esrailian, the producer of the film and the great grandson of survivors of the Genocide," she said."He also understood how profoundly my own Greek family had been affected by the events of 1915. My grandparents had themselves been refugees. Because of these human stories, he wanted to use the song to reach people in their hearts. Through music, he wanted to spread the message that we have a shared humanity, that we must care for each other and not turn our backs on the atrocities being committed against innocent people. The more Chris learned about this dark chapter and the history of the Armenian people, he couldn’t help but acknowledge the similarities in what is happening in Syria today, among other countries.”In 2017 Cornell wrote the theme song for "The Promise", ultimately becoming one of his biggest hits. Cornell cited a connection with "The Promise" through his Greek wife, whose family had been affected by the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide. This prompted his family to tour refugee camps in Greece, where they formed the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation, to help aid child refugees and the issues affecting them. At the time of the song’s release, Cornell stated, “[The Promise] is mainly about paying homage to those we lost in the Armenian Genocide, but it’s also about shining a light on more recent atrocities.”http://panarmenian.net/m/eng/news/247068 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2017 Insights NewsOct 13 2017 The reel truth about the Armenian Genocide Recently released on DVD, The Promise is a new drama about an old conflict that many people know very little about. Insights speaks with an Armenian Christian to get his first-hand review of how Hollywood has treated one of his nation’s most horrific periods. Set against the backdrop of the Armenian Genocide which occured for about one decade from 1915, The Promise centres on Armenian student Mikael (Oscar Isaac), Armenian-born Ana (Charlotte Le Bon) and Paris-based American journalist Chris (Christian Bale). Around their affairs of the heart, escalating tensions between the ruling Ottoman Empire and Armenians flare into ethnic cleansing.Chris Zakaryan is an Armenian-born bloke who lives in Sydney and works as a Financial Analyst with Uniting Financial Services. Unlike you and me, when Chris watched The Promise, he knew whether it was fact or fiction.“For us Armenians, we know a lot more, so we can find bits and pieces which are not quite sticking together,” reports Chris about The Promise. “But for someone who doesn’t know anything, I think it was a great introduction to motivate someone to do more research, to find out a bit more.”The deep-seated faith of Armenians is “not touched on in great detail by The Promise,” says Chris. “But it makes it obvious that Armenians are Christians, Turks are Muslim, and there is a clash of religions.”“I think a big part of why it happened is because we were Christians and Armenians; it was clearly on faith grounds.“It was a massive disaster for Armenians; and, not only for Armenians, it was a very sad moment for all of us humans. I think [those events] show the dark side of what we can become if we completely forget who we are and who we are created by. We are created by God and if we forget that, [the Armenian Genocide] shows what we can become.” Given Chris has grown up in a culture that continues to be shaped by the events which The Promise touches on, what is it like for him to be an Armenian Christian? Chris shares that forgiveness is a defining characteristic of his people, while pointing out his personal identity is anchored in something much greater than national pride, tradition or experience.“It’s important not to forget or ignore what happened but I’m very thankful to God that that’s not what defines me. I look at it as something tragic that has happened in our history and we can learn a lot from it. But also, and more so, when I look at the Armenian Genocide, I see the amazing stories of compassion that other nations have showed to Armenia. Also, some miraculous stories of some people who were saved. That’s another piece of evidence for me that even though things happen in life and you can’t eliminate bad things from happening around you, one thing that is constant for me is I know for sure nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.”“Not life nor death, or even if you think there is a distance between you and God, can separate you from his love. His love is eternal, his plans are great and his arms are open always.”As he helps us better evaluate The Promise and reflects on his own faith and his nation’s history, it could be easy for Chris to dwell in anger or doubt about God’s love in Jesus Christ. But he hasn’t done that and continues not to.“Another thing I have never dwelled in – and I think it’s the same for a lot of Armenians – is hate. The movie has showed that the Armenian response is not hate. In The Promise, Ana says sadly but proudly: ‘Our revenge will be to survive.’ So, it’s not ‘we will do the same as they did to us.’ It’s ‘we will survive and prove to them that nothing can extinguish Armenians. We believe God will always keep us here.’”“The Turkish government wanted us wiped out. They thought they almost succeeded but I wish they could see Armenia now; it’s a thriving and successful country.“I think about Armenia like it’s a ‘great comeback’ and it’s happened, I believe, because God was, is and always will be with us.”Ben McEachenhttps://www.insights.uca.org.au/reviews/press-play/the-reel-truth-about-the-armenian-genocide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 PanArmenian, ArmeniaOct 28 2017 http://media.pn.am/media/issue/248/170/photo/248170.jpgOctober 28, 2017 - 12:17 AMT Armenian Genocide song nommed for Hollywood Music In Media Awards Chris Cornell's song composed for "The Promise" - a film about the Armenian Genocide - has been nominated for the2017 Hollywood Music In Visual Media Awards.Written and performed by Cornell, the piece servedas the ending credits song for the film.Also nominated in the Original Son - Feature Film category are “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” (Fifty Shades Darker) – Written by Taylor Swift, Sam Dew and Jack Antonoff. Performed by Zayn & Taylor Swift; “If I Dare” (Battle of the Sexes) Written by Sara Bareilles and Nicholas Britell. Performed by Sara Bareilles; “Mighty River” (Mudbound) Written by Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq, and Taura Stinson. Performed by Mary J. Blige; “Stand Up For Something” (Marshall) Music by Diane Warren, Lyrics by Diane Warren and Lonnie R. Lynn. Performed by Andra Day, featuring Common; “This Is Me” (The Greatest Showman) Written by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. Performed by Keala Settle.Cornell cited a connection with "The Promise" through his Greek wife, whose family had been affected by the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide. This prompted his family to tour refugee camps in Greece, where they formed the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation, to help aid child refugees and the issues affecting them.At the time of the song’s release, Cornell stated, “[The Promise] is mainly about paying homage to those we lost in the Armenian Genocide, but it’s also about shining a light on more recent atrocities.”http://panarmenian.net/m/eng/news/248170 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 Loud Wire Nov 10 2017 Chris Cornell to Posthumously Receive Inaugural "Promise Award" In the spring of this year, Chris Cornell released "The Promise," a beautiful acoustic song he penned for the Christian Bale film of the same name that documents the last days of the Ottoman Empire and the genocide that swept through it. Cornell reflected on the Armenian Genocide in the track and used it as a vessel to further refugee advocacy, a cause close to his heart. Now, the Los Angeles Committee of Human Rights Watch will honor the late musician's efforts with the inaugural "Promise Award" at a dinner on Nov. 14. "The award recognizes an outstanding song, television show, or film that advances the values of equity and justice in an original and powerful way," states a press release describing the purpose of the "Promise Award." System of a Down's Serj Tankian, who is of Armenian descent, will be on site at the Voices for Justice Human Rights Watch Annual Dinner to present the award. The singer served as the Executive Music Consultant for The Promise film and also contributed a song to the soundtrack. Since Cornell's passing, celebrities like Cher, Elton John, Pharrell Williams, Jennifer Lopez, Christian Bale, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Tom Hanks and Oscar Isaac vowed to maintain the rocker's passion for refugee advocacy in a compilation video. "'The Promise' to me is mainly about paying homage to those we lost in the Armenian Genocide, but it's also about shining a light on more recent atrocities. The same methods used in the Armenian genocide were used to carry out crimes against humanity in Bosnia, Darfur, Rwanda and right now in Syria on multiple fronts, contributing to a massive global refugee crisis. Unfortunately, the words 'never again' seem like just words when we recall these mass executions of the twentieth century, as well as renewed racism and prejudice around the world," stated Cornell upon the song's release. http://loudwire.com/chris-cornell-promise-award-system-of-a-down-serj-tankian/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 Hollywood Reporter Nov 17 2017 How Chris Cornell Found Inspiration for His Song From Armenian Genocide Film 'The Promise' 11:00 AM PST 11/17/2017 by Melinda Newman FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME PRINT COMMENTS Steve Pyke/Contour by Getty Images "Rather than people thinking, 'Wow, what a horrendous thing that happened a century ago,' I'd love for them to realize that it is happening now and the fact that the warning signs are always the same," the late singer said a few weeks before his May 2017 death. Even though the Armenian genocide depicted in Open Road's The Promise took place more than 100 years ago, when Chris Cornell wrote the searing end-title theme, he wanted to bring awareness to similar atrocities going on today. "Rather than people thinking, 'Wow, what a horrendous thing that happened a century ago,' I'd love for them to realize that it is happening now and the fact that the warning signs are always the same leading up to a genocide," said the late Soundgarden singer in an interview a few weeks before his May 2017 death and shortly before the film, starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac, opened. However, when Cornell wrote "The Promise," musically he stayed rooted in the past. "That was a conundrum I hadn't dealt with before. I couldn't have any popular music references that are natural to me" like Led Zeppelin or The Beatles, he said. He also didn't want to write a strictly period piece tied to the early 1900s, using only instruments that existed in Armenia, "because the song needed to do a bigger job, it shouldn't be confined by geography or time." He settled on acoustic guitar, piano, tympanis and strings, with orchestration by the late Grammy-winning arranger Paul Buckmaster. Watch More Christian Bale and Oscar Issac on Learning About Armenian Genocide for 'The Promise' | Live at THR Lyrically, Cornell, who earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2012 for "The Keeper" from Machine Gun Preacher, drew from The Promise writer-director Terry George's script and rough edits of the film, as well as research — reading and watching documentaries — about the genocide. He told the story from the perspective of a young man singing to a photo of his father or grandfather about the inspiration they had provided by persevering through horrendous acts. Though not Armenian, Cornell also drew upon his wife's Greek heritage since her ancestors were affected by the same World War I genocide that led to the death of 1.5 million Armenians. Cornell, who donated proceeds from the song to the International Rescue Committee, an organization that provides assistance to those fleeing conflict, wanted to leave viewers with a sense of hope. "The hope was built into the story," he said. "To me, the challenge was being able to distill it in a couple of verses and a chorus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 Pan Armenian, ArmeniaNov 16 2017 http://media.pn.am/media/issue/248/896/photo/248896.jpgNovember 16, 2017 - 14:02 AMT Deadline: Could Armenian Genocide film theme song win an Oscar?Posthumous Oscars are rare, but Chris Cornell, who died in May at age 52, stands a chance of winning one, or at least being nominated, for his moving theme song from "The Promise", a movie about the Armenian Genocide, Deadline says in an article about whether the song will make it to the final shortlist or even win the award afterwards.The film is an epic-like love story from director Terry George that is set during the Armenian Genocide and the last days of the Ottoman Empire. It opened in the spring through Open Road Films but is hoping to be remembered at least in this category on behalf of Cornell."Although competition for the Best Original Song in movies is fierce this year — with recent past winners providing hot new prospects in music-centric films such as Beauty and the Beast, Coco and The Greatest Showman, not to mention the efforts of eight-time nominee Diane Warren and Oscar winner Common for the stirring “Stand Up for Something” from Marshall, to mention just a few — the story behind the powerful song is compelling reason enough for its consideration," Deadline says."Cornell had married into a Greek family and often heard stories about similar treatment to the Greeks during the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire, so he already felt a personal connection. At the time of the film’s spring release, Cornell was quoted as giving reasons for his participation. “The Promise to me is mainly about paying homage to those we lost in the Armenian Genocide, but it’s also about shining a light on more recent atrocities, ” he said, adding that he was inspired by the strength and perseverance of those who were affected by these tragic events and in places such as Bosnia, Darfur, Rwanda and now, Syria."The orchestral arrangement for “The Promise” is by Paul Buckmaster, who legendarily did most of Elton John’s arrangements and who passed away last week.In Beverly Hills, the Los Angeles Committee of Human Rights Watch had a fundraising dinner that raised more than $1.8 million and also introduced the inaugural Promise Award that recognizes an outstanding song, TV show or film that advances the values of equity and justice in an original and powerful way. It went to Cornell for “The Promise” and was accepted by his widow, Vicki Cornell, who was accompanied by his Soundgarden bandmates. Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic performed the tune to a standing ovation.http://panarmenian.net/m/eng/news/248896 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted December 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2017 Pan Armenian, ArmeniaDec 2 2017 Chris Cornell gets Satellite Award nom for Armenian Genocide film songChris Cornell's solo track "The Promise", which the artist had written and recorded for the 2016 film of the same name about the Armenian Genocide, has been nominated for Satellite Award in the category of Best Original Song, announced recently by the International Press Academy.The late Soundgarden frontman has also been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Rock Performance.'The Promise' film has raised awareness about the atrocities during the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and recruited the general public and leaders from around the world to fight for human rights with its #KeepThePromise social media campaign. All proceeds from the film are being donated to non-profit organizations and humanitarian causes – including the establishment of The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA.Cornell too donated all proceeds from the song to the International Rescue Committee, a charity that responds to humanitarian crises by helping to restore health, education and economic wellbeing, among other things, to people stricken by conflict.The Satellite Awards will take place on February 10.http://panarmenian.net/m/eng/news/249466 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted December 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 Critical HitDec 3 2017 The Promise (DVD) Review – A powerful, harrowing look at the Armenian genocideBy Craig RisiPosted on December 13, 2017 War movies are a regular staple of the movie world, which we see released every year. Sadly, even movies about genocide are becoming more commonplace. Most are decent, but it becomes increasingly difficult for war movies to stand out as a result.The Promise is one of those movies that looks to stand out from the crowd, though perhaps not because of its style or angle, but more purely because of its subject matter. Whereas most war movies focus on the events of World War 1 and 2, The Promise instead takes us to 1910s Turkey to focus on the Armenian Genocide instead.The Armenian Genocide is one of those tragic events in history that is little publicized and recognized despite the incredible depravity of the events rivalling the holocaust of World War 2. The Promise looks to change all that by bringing the plight of the Armenian genocide to the big screen. Sadly, the film didn’t quite achieve its purpose as it mostly tanked at the box office, but hopefully it can gain some life through its DVD release and be seen by more people.As a war film that harrowingly displays the genocide of a race of people, The Promise can easily live up there with many of the best films of its type. It’s perhaps a little light on raw combat, but is heavy in its portrayal of brutality and draws you in to the despair of its characters remarkably well. The film achieves this by not trying to get too caught up in the greater war effort or vast battle scenes, but instead focusing on a small group of people as they fight for their survival. To perhaps clarify further, it will more than likely move you emotionally about the genocide and the lives lost than it will envelop your senses as a war film.Director Terry George (who co-writes alongside Robin Swicord) has created some tight emotional drama around the production’s beautifully scenic backdrops that keep the film pretty to look at, without distracting you too much from the emotional heart of the story. The story focuses on its small set of main characters and how they each experience the genocide in different ways.Read Christian Bale and Wes Studi are men changed by war in the Western drama HostilesThere is Mikael (Oscar Isaac), an apothecary who moves to Constantinople to study medicine, but not before he vows to return and marry the daughter of a wealthy neighbour who will be funding his studies. However, once in Constantinople, he befriends Ana (Charlotte Le Bon), an Armenian woman from Paris and her American suitor (Christian Bale) who is in the country to report on the Ottoman empire.Needless to say, the Ottoman Empire’s plans for genocide interfere with their intentions and they all end up trying to fight their plight in many ways. There is a lot more going on in the story, but the script focuses on the leads as much as possible, creating high emotion through their experiences rather than trying to desensitize the viewer from other details of the war. However, as much as The Promise is a war movie, it is also trying to be a love story and this is where some of its cracks start to show. Much like how Titanic was a remarkable technical achievement showing the horror of the ship’s tragic sinking, but forced you to watch the frequently iffy romance to get through it, The Promise unfortunately does the same thing.It is perhaps a little more realistic and covers a wider period of time to make its relationships feel more believable, but the film’s characters lack a lot of chemistry and the love story has an almost forced pacing as a result of it trying to be shoehorned into the bigger story. Indeed, the very reason the film is called The Promise relates to a romantic promise made in the early part of the film. It feels a little pointless as it actually gets fulfilled rather early on before the film focuses more extensively on their escape efforts. It’s not a terrible story, but one that probably didn’t need to be there.Read November DVDs - Superheroes, adventurers and dads dominateThere is more than enough motivation and story for the film to drive its purpose forward without the need for characters trying to be involved in a love triangle. Given the grimness of the events, it also feels a little insensitive to the cause.This lack of chemistry though is through no fault of its actors who are simply superb. Oscar Isaac in particular as the Armenian medical student caught in the middle of both war and love does a superb job with not only the accent, but in conveying the full emotional despair of his character. Similarly, both Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale, while perhaps not having as good material to work with, continue to provide the film with a lot of heart. The dialogue in the film is perhaps not its strong point and there are several times when the actors end up having to deliver beyond it to pull you into this story.You shouldn’t be watching The Promise for its love story though and while it does feel tacked on, it doesn’t detract from the grimness of the war and the strong message the film is trying to convey about the Armenian genocide. Hopefully it can start a trend for many other films to follow in showing this piece of at-times disputed history and bring it to more general acceptance.The Promise is a grandiose and powerful war film that deserves to be seen if just for its unique subject matter. The love story that the script is built upon is not strong, but watchable enough to not exactly make you regret the investment you make in the movie. It’s a gritty film that’s not going to leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, but its grim tale is powerful enough to win you over to its cause.Last Updated: December 13, 2017http://www.criticalhit.net/entertainment/promise-dvd-review-powerful-harrowing-look-armenian-genocide/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted August 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 PanArmenian, ArmeniaAug 25 2018 Cher slams DirecTV for misrepresenting Armenian Genocide filmhttp://media.pn.am/media/issue/259/315/photo/259315.jpgAugust 25, 2018 - 11:04 AMTPanARMENIAN.Net - American pop singer Cher, who has Armenian roots, has slammed DirecTV for what seems to be a misrepresentation of the movie "The Promise", which portrays a love triangle against the backdrop of the horrors of the Armenian Genocide."This has no meaning for most, but DirecTV, "The Promise is not about "Ottoman Empire Crumbling into chaos," the "Believe" singer said on Twitter."It's about the Armenian Genocide. Turks massacred two million innocent Armenians. Women and children were raped and driven into the desert to starve. Men were hung, or worked to death."Cher has been vocal in the process of the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. She supported the film "The Promise" by "Hotel Rwanda" director Terry George both during filming and after the premiere.http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/259315/Cher_slams_DirecTV_for_misrepresenting_Armenian_Genocide_film Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted February 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2020 Yesterday I watched "The Ottoman Lieutenant" on TV, just to see what kind of garbage production it would be. Of course I was not disappointed, it was a contradiction galore, couldn't stop laughing it was like drinking vinegar for wine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted August 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2020 Public Radio of ArmeniaAug 1 2020 Armenian Genocide film The Promise to be added to Netflix Armenian Genocide film The Promise will be added to the Netflix library on August 8, reports the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).Set during the waning days of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, “The Promise” tells the story of a love triangle sparked between an Armenian medical student, Michael (Oscar Issac), Anna (Charlotte Le Bon), and renowned American photojournalist Chris Myers (Christian Bale).The First World War and the Armenian Genocide of the 1915-1923 form the historical backdrop of an epic story of love, loyalty and survival.It was philanthropist and billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, who envisioned the movie and got producer Eric Esrailian involved. They spent two years researching the Genocide and governments’ efforts, including by the United States to suppress a movie being made about the event, before forming a production company to make the movie.Kerkorian didn’t live to see the filming, but he did see the creation of the story. https://en.armradio.am/2020/08/02/armenian-genocide-film-the-promise-to-be-added-to-netflix/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted August 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2020 Public Radio of ArmeniaAug 8 2020 Armenian Genocide film The Promise now available on Netflix The Armenian Genocide film The Promise is now available to tens of millions of households via Netflix.To get the film trending, it’s necessary to view, giving the film a well-deserved thumbs-up and recommend that friends watch this epic drama set against the backdrop of the Armenian Genocide.Set during the waning days of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, “The Promise” tells the story of a love triangle sparked between an Armenian medical student, Michael (Oscar Issac), Anna (Charlotte Le Bon), and renowned American photojournalist Chris Myers (Christian Bale).The First World War and the Armenian Genocide of the 1915-1923 form the historical backdrop of an epic story of love, loyalty and survival.It was philanthropist and billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, who envisioned the movie and got producer Eric Esrailian involved. They spent two years researching the Genocide and governments’ efforts, including by the United States to suppress a movie being made about the event, before forming a production company to make the movie.Kerkorian didn’t live to see the filming, but he did see the creation of the story. https://en.armradio.am/2020/08/08/armenian-genocide-film-the-promise-now-available-on-netflix/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted April 27, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2021 Casino.org April 26 2021 Late MGM Resorts Founder Kirk Kerkorian Finally Gets Wish, as US Recognizes Armenian Genocide Posted on: April 26, 2021, 08:12h. Last updated on: April 26, 2021, 09:15h. Devin O'Connor Kirk Kerkorian, the founder of MGM Resorts, wanted the United States to formally recognize the Armenian genocide for much of his life. Nearly six years after his passing in June of 2015 at the age of 98, that wish has finally been fulfilled. Kirk Kerkorian stands in front of the International construction site in 1968. The Las Vegas visionary and MGM Resorts founder has finally had his wish of the US recognizing the Armenia genocide come true. (Image: Las Vegas News Bureau) Kerkorian is one of the most important figures in the history of Las Vegas. Along with architect Martin Stern Jr., he created the concept of the “mega resort.” During his career, which made him a multibillionaire, Kerkorian thrice built what at the time was the world’s largest integrated casino resort. Kerkorian envisioned and constructed the International Hotel, which is today the Westgate, the original MGM Grand — today known as Bally’s — and the present MGM Grand. While business was always on the forefront of his mind, in the back Kerkorian never forgot his parents’ pilgrimage from present-day Turkey. During his life, he gave more than $1 billion to charities in Armenia. Through his nonprofit, called the Lincy Foundation — named in honor of his daughters Linda and Tracy — Kerkorian gave hundreds of millions of dollars to numerous charities throughout the world, including many in Southern Nevada. Genocide Recognized While Kerkorian was one of the world’s most philanthropic individuals, the late casino tycoon was most passionate about his parents’ Armenia. Prior to his death, he set aside $100 million for a Hollywood film to be produced, centered during the genocide period that ran between 1915 to 1923. Released in 2017, “The Promise” was directed by Oscar-nominated director Terry George and starred Academy Award- winner Christian Bale. More than 100 years since the Ottoman Empire systematically exterminated some 1.5 million Armenians, the United States under President Joe Biden’s administration is publicly recognizing the genocide. The American people honor all those Armenians who perished in the genocide that began 106 years ago,” Biden said in a statement. “We affirm the history. We do this not to cast blame, but to ensure that what happened is never repeated.” Past US presidents have refused to recognize the genocide out of fear of damaging relations with Turkey, which succeeded the Ottoman Empire. Turkey was quick to react, the government saying that it does not take history lessons from the US or any other country. A grateful Armenia said Biden’s statement is a “principled position” and a step toward “the restoration of truth and historical justice.” Kerkorian Estate Departs MGM Kirk Kerkorian’s will mandated that his heirs dispose of the family’s stake in MGM Resorts in a timely fashion. At the time of his death, Kerkorian owned 16 percent of the casino company. Today, the Kerkorian family owns zero percent. The disposition was completed in September of 2019. Kerkorian’s legacy lives on, and he will forever be remembered in Las Vegas. Just this month, the UNLV School of Medicine announced it is renaming its school the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV. Kerkorian was a longtime supporter of the school, much of his donations being made privately. https://www.casino.org/news/mgm-resorts-founder-gets-wish-us-recognizes-armenian-genocide/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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