AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 4:42 p.m. EST

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Tramell Tillman, the 'Severance' star who is very much connecting

NEW YORK (AP) — Tramell Tillman has had a remarkable 2025, becoming a force in the entertainment world and winning a spot as one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of 2025. Known for his role in “Severance,” Tillman made Emmy history as the first Black man to win for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. He also starred alongside Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.” Tillman, originally aspiring to be a storm chaser, has embraced his newfound fame. He admires versatile performers like Hugh Jackman and Donald Glover and aims to expand his storytelling. Tillman will appear in upcoming films, continuing his impressive journey in acting.

Director convicted of scamming $11M from Netflix and going on lavish spending spree

NEW YORK (AP) — A Hollywood director has been convicted on charges that he scammed Netflix out of $11 million for a show that never materialized, while he instead used the cash for lavish purchases that included several Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari and about $1 million in mattresses and luxury bedding. Carl Erik Rinsch, best known for directing the film “47 Ronin,” was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering and other charges on Thursday. His attorney disagreed with the verdict and said it could set a dangerous precedent for artists. Prosecutors said Rinsch swindled Netflix for a show he never completed and instead used the streaming giant's money to benefit himself.

Eurovision champion Nemo returns the winner's trophy to protest Israel's inclusion

GENEVA (AP) — Swiss singer Nemo, who won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, has decided to return the winners' trophy. On Thursday, Nemo announced the decision in an Instagram video, citing Israel's continued participation in the contest despite its actions in Gaza. Nemo said the trophy no longer feels right on their shelf. Five countries, including Spain and Ireland, have announced they will boycott the 2026 contest because Israel is being allowed to compete. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within Eurovision, which aims to focus on music over politics but has been roiled by Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

How the Mariachi Rams band turned the NFL game day into a personal Los Angeles soundtrack

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Mariachi Rams are reshaping NFL game day by blending traditional Mexican music with Los Angeles’ hip-hop and rock influences. Crystal Hernández, the only woman in the NFL’s first official mariachi band, is the daughter of José Hernández, the Grammy-nominated artist who founded the ensemble in 2019. The 10-person ensemble plays classic mariachi and reimagined pop and hip-hop anthems. Members balance careers in education, banking and more during the week. Their presence has become integral to the Rams’ game-day rhythm, reflecting the city’s culture and expanding the NFL's cultural connections.

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Danny Ramirez's entrance into Hollywood began on the soccer field

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Danny Ramirez's acting career began unexpectedly on a soccer field. Now, he's earned a spot as one of The Associated Press's Breakthrough Entertainers of 2025. Known for his roles in “Captain America: Brave New World,” “The Last of Us” and more, Ramirez first began acting while sidelined with a sprained ankle when a production assistant invited him to be an extra in Mira Nair’s film “The Reluctant Fundamentalist.” Seeing actor Riz Ahmed portraying a soccer player on set inspired Ramirez. He’s set to produce, write, direct and star in his directorial debut “Baton,” and other upcoming projects.

Movie Review: Death, family and Christmas in Kate Winslet’s directorial debut ‘Goodbye June’

Kate Winslet has directed, produced, and starred in a new film written by her son, Joe Anders. The movie, “Goodbye June,” is in limited release this weekend and will stream on Netflix on December 24th. The film is a family drama about terminal illness and estranged siblings. It features a distinguished cast, including Helen Mirren and Johnny Flynn. In her review for The Associated Press, Lindsey Bahr writes that Winslet makes her feature directorial debut with a simple, character-focused approach. While it may not be for everyone due to its sad subject, it offers moments of grace, humor, and insight.

UNESCO gives a shout-out to Switzerland's yodeling by adding it to list of cultural heritage

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s cultural agency has listed Switzerland’s long-celebrated yodeling among 67 traditions honored its list of intangible cultural heritage. A UNESCO committee meeting in New Delhi on Thursday added yodeling to this year's list along with traditions including Italian cooking, Ghanaian highlife music, the fermented Kyrgyz beverage Maksym and the El Joropo music and dance tradition in Venezuela. Switzerland’s government pushed the candidacy with UNESCO. Promoters say insist yodeling is far more than the mountain cries of yesteryear by falsetto-bellowing male herders in suspenders on green mountainsides: It’s also a popular form of singing.

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Chase Sui Wonders’ Harvard astrophysics detour led her to Hollywood

NEW YORK (AP) — Chase Sui Wonders always thought she was “kind of funny,” but it was officially confirmed after booking “The Studio” after just one audition. It's been an eventful year for the AP Breakthrough Entertainer who plays the hyper ambitious, cutthroat assistant-turned-creative executive Quinn Hackett on the Emmy-winning comedy. But a Hollywood career nearly didn’t happen for the magna cum laude graduate who switched her major at Harvard from astrophysics to film studies after being “humbled” by quickly falling behind. The 29-year old has several projects in the works including “I Want Your Sex” starring Olivia Wilde and A24’s horror thriller “October.”

Disney invests $1B in OpenAI in deal to bring characters like Mickey Mouse to Sora AI video tool

Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI to bring characters like Mickey Mouse and Luke Skywalker to the AI company's Sora video tool. Announced on Thursday, this three-year licensing deal makes Disney the first major content partner for Sora. Fans can generate and share videos featuring over 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters. Disney and OpenAI emphasize responsible AI use to protect creators' rights. Some user-generated videos will be available on Disney+. Disney also sent Google a cease and desist letter for using Disney content without permission to train its AI models.