<p>Tragedy struck as Tafari Campbell, who was the personal chef of former US president Barack Obama, drowned near the family's residence on Martha's Vineyard.</p>

<p>The Massachusetts State Police confirmed the identity of the paddleboarder whose body was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday (July 24).</p>

<p>Campbell, 45, hailing from Dumfries, Virginia, was visiting Martha's Vineyard while the Obamas were away from their home, reported the Associated Press.</p>

<h2><strong>Beloved chef and family friend</strong></h2>

<p>In a statement, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, expressed their grief and paid tribute to Campbell as a cherished part of their family.</p>

<p>They recounted how they first encountered him as a talented sous chef at the White House, showcasing his creativity and passion for food's ability to unite people.</p>

<p>Over the years, they grew to know him as a warm, fun, and extraordinarily kind individual, illuminating their lives with his presence.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/cluster-bombs-for-ukraine-highlight-us-aversion-to-international-treaties-618749">Cluster bombs for Ukraine highlight US aversion to international treaties</a></p>

<h2><strong>A tragic accident</strong></h2>

<p>The search for the missing paddleboarder began on Sunday after a fellow paddleboarder reported that Campbell had encountered difficulties on the surface, ultimately submerging and failing to resurface.</p>

<p>The search was temporarily suspended on Sunday (July 23)&nbsp;but resumed the next day. State police, employing sonar technology from a boat, located his body approximately 100 feet from shore, at a depth of about 8 feet. Tragically, Campbell was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.</p>

<p>The Obamas extended their sympathies to Campbell's wife and twin boys. They further recounted how they had invited him to continue being a part of their lives after leaving the White House, and he had graciously accepted their offer.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: NRIs in US &amp; Canada race to stock up Indian rice</strong></p>

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<p>“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together,” the couple said. “In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter,” said&nbsp;Michelle Obama.</p>

<p><a id="html-embed-module-e30000" name="html-embed-module-e30000"></a></p>

<p>“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone,” she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Tragedy struck as Tafari Campbell, who was the personal chef of former US president Barack Obama, drowned near the family's residence on Martha's Vineyard. The Massachusetts State Police confirmed the identity of the paddleboarder whose body was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday (July 24).

Tragedy struck as Tafari Campbell, who was the personal chef of former US president Barack Obama, drowned near the family's residence on Martha's Vineyard. The Massachusetts State Police confirmed the identity of the paddleboarder whose body was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday (July 24). Campbell, 45, hailing from Dumfries, Virginia, was visiting Martha's Vineyard while the Obamas were away from their home, reported the Associated Press. Beloved chef and family friend In a statement, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, expressed their grief and paid tribute to Campbell as a cherished part of their family. They recounted how they first encountered him as a talented sous chef at the White House, showcasing his creativity and passion for food's ability to unite people. Over the years, they grew to know him as a warm, fun, and extraordinarily kind individual, illuminating their lives with his presence. Also read | Cluster bombs for Ukraine highlight US aversion to international treaties A tragic accident The search for the missing paddleboarder began on Sunday after a fellow paddleboarder reported that Campbell had encountered difficulties on the surface, ultimately submerging and failing to resurface. The search was temporarily suspended on Sunday (July 23) but resumed the next day. State police, employing sonar technology from a boat, located his body approximately 100 feet from shore, at a depth of about 8 feet. Tragically, Campbell was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. The Obamas extended their sympathies to Campbell's wife and twin boys. They further recounted how they had invited him to continue being a part of their lives after leaving the White House, and he had graciously accepted their offer. Also watch | Gravitas: NRIs in US & Canada race to stock up Indian rice “When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together,” the couple said. “In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter,” said Michelle Obama. “That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone,” she added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Obamas' personal chef drowns near family's Martha's vineyard home

<p>The Obamas’ Higher Ground and Fatherhood producers have teamed up with Netflix again for a new project.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two companies are developing ‘Blackout’, a film and TV ‘event’ that is being adapted from six different love stories, each written by a different writer. It is being developed as a TV series and film adaptation. This means that some stories could become films while others can be made into series.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, ‘Blackout’ is based in New York during a power outage on a hot summer night. It is told from the perspective of 12 teens with six shots of love.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The six writers attached to pen stories for the film and TV project are Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon.</p>

<p>Temple Hill will executive produce the project, which marks a reunion with Netflix and Higher Ground following Kevin Hart feature ‘Fatherhood’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from ‘Blackout’, Obamas have also been attached to other Netflix projects like ‘American Factory’, ‘Becoming’, ‘Crip Camp’, kids-focused entry ‘Ada Twist’ and ‘We the People’, with several others in various stages of development.&nbsp;</p>


The Obamas’ Higher Ground and Fatherhood producers have teamed up with Netflix again for a new project. The two companies are developing ‘Blackout’, a film and TV ‘event’ that is being adapted from six different love stories, each written by a different writer.

The Obamas’ Higher Ground and Fatherhood producers have teamed up with Netflix again for a new project. The two companies are developing ‘Blackout’, a film and TV ‘event’ that is being adapted from six different love stories, each written by a different writer. It is being developed as a TV series and film adaptation. This means that some stories could become films while others can be made into series. Meanwhile, ‘Blackout’ is based in New York during a power outage on a hot summer night. It is told from the perspective of 12 teens with six shots of love. The six writers attached to pen stories for the film and TV project are Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon. Temple Hill will executive produce the project, which marks a reunion with Netflix and Higher Ground following Kevin Hart feature ‘Fatherhood’. Apart from ‘Blackout’, Obamas have also been attached to other Netflix projects like ‘American Factory’, ‘Becoming’, ‘Crip Camp’, kids-focused entry ‘Ada Twist’ and ‘We the People’, with several others in various stages of development.

Obamas teaming up with Netflix for film, TV projects again

<p>The Barack and Michelle Obama-produced film<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-news-oscras-news-oscars-2020-barack-and-michelle-obamas-production-company-earns-first-nomination-274188"> 'American Factory' </a>snagged an Oscar on Sunday for best documentary -- a win for Netflix, which backed the story of a manufacturing plant in the US Midwest reopened by a Chinese billionaire.<br />
<br />
The film charts a Rust Belt community's journey from optimism at the giant plant's reopening, which brought back vital jobs, towards creeping anger and disillusionment, as the Chinese management imposed strict, exhausting demands on workers -- and sacked those who did not comply.<br />
<br />
"Our film is from Ohio and China," director Julia Reichert said. "But it really could be from anywhere that people put on a uniform, punch a clock, trying to make their families have a better life."<br />
<br />
"Working people have it harder and harder these days, and we believe that things will get better when workers of the world unite," she said in accepting her statuette.<br />
<br />
Co-directed by Reichert and Steven Bognar, the film is an all-access look at how both American and Chinese workers, from blue-collar to management, had their lives transformed by powerful global economic forces.<br />
<br />
The story was moving enough to catch notice from none other than the Obamas.<br />
<br />
The former first couple acquired "American Factory" early last year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it had won the directing award.<br />
<br />
It was released on Netflix in August 2019 as the first offering from the former first couple's Higher Ground Productions company.<br />
The film's co-producer and the factory's chairman were unable to leave China for the ceremony, due to White House restrictions on travel over the coronavirus panic.<br />
<br />
"That inconvenience pales when compared to people losing their lives, suffering because of this virus," co-director Bognar said backstage.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The Obamas congratulated Reichert and Bognar for their win Sunday, with the former president calling the film "a complex, moving story about the very human consequences of wrenching economic change."<br />
<br />
"Glad to see two talented and downright good people take home the Oscar for Higher Ground's first release," he tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congrats to Julia and Steven, the filmmakers behind American Factory, for telling such a complex, moving story about the very human consequences of wrenching economic change. Glad to see two talented and downright good people take home the Oscar for Higher Ground’s first release. <a href="https://t.co/W4AZ68iWoY">https://t.co/W4AZ68iWoY</a></p>
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1226696870292008960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The former first lady said she was "glad to see their heart and honesty recognized -- because the best stories are rarely tidy or perfect."<br />
<br />
"But that's where the truth so often lies," she tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congrats to Julia, Steven, and the whole crew on winning Best Documentary for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmericanFactory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmericanFactory</a>, Higher Ground's first release! So glad to see their heart and honesty recognized—because the best stories are rarely tidy or perfect. But that’s where the truth so often lies. <a href="https://t.co/qtdNEw9H3f">https://t.co/qtdNEw9H3f</a></p>
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleObama/status/1226699064496074752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"American Factory" bested "The Edge of Democracy," "The Cave," "For Sama" and "Honeyland" to take the Oscar.</p>


The Barack and Michelle Obama-produced film 'American Factory' snagged an Oscar on Sunday for best documentary -- a win for Netflix, which backed the story of a manufacturing plant in the US Midwest reopened by a Chinese billionaire.

The Barack and Michelle Obama-produced film 'American Factory' snagged an Oscar on Sunday for best documentary -- a win for Netflix, which backed the story of a manufacturing plant in the US Midwest reopened by a Chinese billionaire. The film charts a Rust Belt community's journey from optimism at the giant plant's reopening, which brought back vital jobs, towards creeping anger and disillusionment, as the Chinese management imposed strict, exhausting demands on workers -- and sacked those who did not comply. "Our film is from Ohio and China," director Julia Reichert said. "But it really could be from anywhere that people put on a uniform, punch a clock, trying to make their families have a better life." "Working people have it harder and harder these days, and we believe that things will get better when workers of the world unite," she said in accepting her statuette. Co-directed by Reichert and Steven Bognar, the film is an all-access look at how both American and Chinese workers, from blue-collar to management, had their lives transformed by powerful global economic forces. The story was moving enough to catch notice from none other than the Obamas. The former first couple acquired "American Factory" early last year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it had won the directing award. It was released on Netflix in August 2019 as the first offering from the former first couple's Higher Ground Productions company. The film's co-producer and the factory's chairman were unable to leave China for the ceremony, due to White House restrictions on travel over the coronavirus panic. "That inconvenience pales when compared to people losing their lives, suffering because of this virus," co-director Bognar said backstage. The Obamas congratulated Reichert and Bognar for their win Sunday, with the former president calling the film "a complex, moving story about the very human consequences of wrenching economic change." "Glad to see two talented and downright good people take home the Oscar for Higher Ground's first release," he tweeted. Congrats to Julia and Steven, the filmmakers behind American Factory, for telling such a complex, moving story about the very human consequences of wrenching economic change. Glad to see two talented and downright good people take home the Oscar for Higher Ground’s first release. https://t.co/W4AZ68iWoY — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 10, 2020 × The former first lady said she was "glad to see their heart and honesty recognized -- because the best stories are rarely tidy or perfect." "But that's where the truth so often lies," she tweeted. Congrats to Julia, Steven, and the whole crew on winning Best Documentary for #AmericanFactory, Higher Ground's first release! So glad to see their heart and honesty recognized—because the best stories are rarely tidy or perfect. But that’s where the truth so often lies. https://t.co/qtdNEw9H3f — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 10, 2020 × "American Factory" bested "The Edge of Democracy," "The Cave," "For Sama" and "Honeyland" to take the Oscar.

Obamas' first film wins best documentary Oscar

<p>One of the most loved couples in the world, Barack and Michelle Obama completed 27 years of blissful married life recently and marked the occasion by sharing heartwarming messages for each other.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The former US president and first lady, who completed 27 years together on Thursday, are still `feeling the magic` that brought them together. Barack beat his wife to the punch by posting a photo featuring the couple, who can be seen embracing each other and looking at a sunset together.<br />
<br />
In the still, the two are photographed from behind and are seen looking at the sunset while Michelle has her arms wrapped around her husband and her head resting on his shoulder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The former president quoted a line from The Beatles song `Getting Better`, writing, "Like the Beatles said: It`s getting better all the time. Thanks, babe, for 27 amazing years!"</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3KK3xNgy7G/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Like the Beatles said: It’s getting better all the time. Thanks, babe, for 27 amazing years!</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/barackobama/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Barack Obama</a> (@barackobama) on <time datetime="2019-10-03T14:10:19+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Oct 3, 2019 at 7:10am PDT</time></p>
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<p>The former first lady too posted a heartwarming message and shared a photo of the two smiling and overlooking a beach.&nbsp;"27 years ago, this guy promised me a life full of adventure. I`d say he`s delivered. Here`s to our next chapter of becoming empty nesters and discovering what`s next--while still feeling the magic that brought us together all those years ago. Happy anniversary, Barack," she captioned the still.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3KPC49gbqM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">27 years ago, this guy promised me a life full of adventure. I’d say he’s delivered. Here’s to our next chapter of becoming empty nesters and discovering what’s next—while still feeling the magic that brought us together all those years ago. Happy anniversary, Barack. 💕</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelleobama/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Michelle Obama</a> (@michelleobama) on <time datetime="2019-10-03T14:46:48+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Oct 3, 2019 at 7:46am PDT</time></p>
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<p>The couple got engaged in 1991 and soon got hitched on October 3, 1992, in Chicago. They are proud parents to two daughters- Malia Ann Obama and Sasha Obama.<br />
<br />
The two have been vocal about their ups and downs, and are known to share romantic messages on special occasions.<br />
<br />
On Valentine`s Day in 2018, Michelle published a Spotify playlist dedicated to her beloved husband.`Happy #ValentinesDay to my one and only, @BarackObama. To celebrate the occasion, I`m dedicating a little Valentine`s Day playlist to you`," the former first lady wrote.The list of songs included classics like Ben E. King`s `Stand By Me`, Barry White`s `Can`t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe`, and Diana Ross` `Endless Love`. There were also more modern tracks, like Beyonce`s `Halo`, Janelle Monae`s `Primetime`, and Adele`s cover of `Make You Feel My Love`.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
President Obama also shared a message on Twitter back then. "Happy Valentine`s Day, @MichelleObama. You make every day and every place better," he wrote, adding a photo of the two.&nbsp;</p>


One of the most loved couples in the world, Barack and Michelle Obama completed 27 years of blissful married life recently and marked the occasion by sharing heartwarming messages for each other.

One of the most loved couples in the world, Barack and Michelle Obama completed 27 years of blissful married life recently and marked the occasion by sharing heartwarming messages for each other. The former US president and first lady, who completed 27 years together on Thursday, are still `feeling the magic` that brought them together. Barack beat his wife to the punch by posting a photo featuring the couple, who can be seen embracing each other and looking at a sunset together. In the still, the two are photographed from behind and are seen looking at the sunset while Michelle has her arms wrapped around her husband and her head resting on his shoulder. The former president quoted a line from The Beatles song `Getting Better`, writing, "Like the Beatles said: It`s getting better all the time. Thanks, babe, for 27 amazing years!" View this post on Instagram Like the Beatles said: It’s getting better all the time. Thanks, babe, for 27 amazing years! A post shared by Barack Obama (@barackobama) on Oct 3, 2019 at 7:10am PDT × The former first lady too posted a heartwarming message and shared a photo of the two smiling and overlooking a beach. "27 years ago, this guy promised me a life full of adventure. I`d say he`s delivered. Here`s to our next chapter of becoming empty nesters and discovering what`s next--while still feeling the magic that brought us together all those years ago. Happy anniversary, Barack," she captioned the still. View this post on Instagram 27 years ago, this guy promised me a life full of adventure. I’d say he’s delivered. Here’s to our next chapter of becoming empty nesters and discovering what’s next—while still feeling the magic that brought us together all those years ago. Happy anniversary, Barack. 💕 A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Oct 3, 2019 at 7:46am PDT × The couple got engaged in 1991 and soon got hitched on October 3, 1992, in Chicago. They are proud parents to two daughters- Malia Ann Obama and Sasha Obama. The two have been vocal about their ups and downs, and are known to share romantic messages on special occasions. On Valentine`s Day in 2018, Michelle published a Spotify playlist dedicated to her beloved husband.`Happy #ValentinesDay to my one and only, @BarackObama. To celebrate the occasion, I`m dedicating a little Valentine`s Day playlist to you`," the former first lady wrote.The list of songs included classics like Ben E. King`s `Stand By Me`, Barry White`s `Can`t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe`, and Diana Ross` `Endless Love`. There were also more modern tracks, like Beyonce`s `Halo`, Janelle Monae`s `Primetime`, and Adele`s cover of `Make You Feel My Love`. President Obama also shared a message on Twitter back then. "Happy Valentine`s Day, @MichelleObama. You make every day and every place better," he wrote, adding a photo of the two.

Barack and Michelle Obama's anniversary posts will make you smile

<p>Barack and Michelle Obama made their Hollywood debut on Wednesday with a documentary set in industrial Ohio that film reviewers are calling compelling and timely.<br />
<br />
'American Factory,'&nbsp;the story of what happened when a Chinese company took over an abandoned General Motors plant, is the first product of a multi-year collaboration between Netflix and Higher Ground, the production company formed last year by the former US&nbsp;president and first lady.<br />
<br />
"A good story gives you the chance to better understand someone else’s life. It can help you find common ground. And it’s why Michelle and I were drawn to Higher Ground’s first film," Obama said in a Twitter posting on Wednesday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A good story gives you the chance to better understand someone else’s life. It can help you find common ground. And it’s why Michelle and I were drawn to Higher Ground’s first film, American Factory. Take a look at our conversation with the directors, and check it out on Netflix. <a href="https://t.co/KzkYFqjrFV">pic.twitter.com/KzkYFqjrFV</a></p>
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1164192919047299072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The documentary traces the lives of thousands of workers laid off from their auto jobs in Moraine, Ohio, in the 2008 recession, some of whom were hired six years later by Chinese company Fuyao Glass America to make automotive glass in the same plant.<br />
<br />
The Washington Post called 'American Factory,'&nbsp;which arrived on Netflix on Wednesday, "a perfect vehicle for (Higher Ground`s) mission to lift up stories from underrepresented groups."<br />
<br />
"We want people to be able to get outside of themselves and experience and understand the lives of somebody else," Obama told filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar in a promotional video released by Netflix.<br />
<br />
Michelle Obama told the filmmakers she was particularly struck by the opening scenes of workers on the factory floor.<br />
"That was my background, that was my father," she said.<br />
<br />
"One of the many things I love about this film... is that you let people tell their own story. "American Factory` doesn’t come in with a perspective; it’s not an editorial."<br />
<br />
The Los Angeles Times called the documentary "compelling," and pop culture website Vox.com said it was "a fascinating peek into the challenges of globalization." It received a 97% approval rate on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Under the Netflix deal, Higher Ground will produce, curate and acquire content for distribution on the streaming service. The value of the deal is not known.<br />
<br />
Upcoming programming will include an adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom" by David W. Blight about the slavery abolitionist, a period drama set in the fashion world and a series for pre-schoolers focusing on healthy eating.</p>


Barack and Michelle Obama made their Hollywood debut on Wednesday with a documentary set in industrial Ohio that film reviewers are calling compelling and timely.

Barack and Michelle Obama made their Hollywood debut on Wednesday with a documentary set in industrial Ohio that film reviewers are calling compelling and timely. 'American Factory,' the story of what happened when a Chinese company took over an abandoned General Motors plant, is the first product of a multi-year collaboration between Netflix and Higher Ground, the production company formed last year by the former US president and first lady. "A good story gives you the chance to better understand someone else’s life. It can help you find common ground. And it’s why Michelle and I were drawn to Higher Ground’s first film," Obama said in a Twitter posting on Wednesday. A good story gives you the chance to better understand someone else’s life. It can help you find common ground. And it’s why Michelle and I were drawn to Higher Ground’s first film, American Factory. Take a look at our conversation with the directors, and check it out on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/KzkYFqjrFV — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 21, 2019 × The documentary traces the lives of thousands of workers laid off from their auto jobs in Moraine, Ohio, in the 2008 recession, some of whom were hired six years later by Chinese company Fuyao Glass America to make automotive glass in the same plant. The Washington Post called 'American Factory,' which arrived on Netflix on Wednesday, "a perfect vehicle for (Higher Ground`s) mission to lift up stories from underrepresented groups." "We want people to be able to get outside of themselves and experience and understand the lives of somebody else," Obama told filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar in a promotional video released by Netflix. Michelle Obama told the filmmakers she was particularly struck by the opening scenes of workers on the factory floor. "That was my background, that was my father," she said. "One of the many things I love about this film... is that you let people tell their own story. "American Factory` doesn’t come in with a perspective; it’s not an editorial." The Los Angeles Times called the documentary "compelling," and pop culture website Vox.com said it was "a fascinating peek into the challenges of globalization." It received a 97% approval rate on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Under the Netflix deal, Higher Ground will produce, curate and acquire content for distribution on the streaming service. The value of the deal is not known. Upcoming programming will include an adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom" by David W. Blight about the slavery abolitionist, a period drama set in the fashion world and a series for pre-schoolers focusing on healthy eating.

Obamas make their Hollywood movie debut with 'American Factory'

<p>Two-year-old Parker Curry&#39;s life changed with just a single photo -- of her in simple awe of Michelle Obama&#39;s portrait at the National Portrait Gallery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Little did Parker know that her visit to the Gallery would magically make her meet the former First Lady and dance with her.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last Thursday, Parker went to the Gallery and stood before Michelle Obama&#39;s portrait for the longest time. Jaw-dropped, Parker&#39;s photo was clicked by a 37-year-old North Carolina resident and posted on Facebook. The photo thus became viral and was picked up by Michelle Obama herself, who then offered to meet Parker.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Not only did they meet and interact, Michelle also danced with the toddler to a funky song.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parker&#39;s mother later said that the toddler thought &quot;she (Michelle Obama) was a queen and she thought rightly so&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After meeting Parker, Michelle shared a photo and video of them dancing. She wrote: &quot;Parker, I&#39;m so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I&#39;ll proudly look up at a portrait of you!&quot;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf_WsiYAiZu/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Parker, I&#39;m so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I&#39;ll proudly look up at a portrait of you!</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelleobama/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Michelle Obama</a> (@michelleobama) on <time datetime="2018-03-06T17:19:56+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Mar 6, 2018 at 9:19am PST</time></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Parker Curry's image of looking at Michelle Obama's portrait at the National Portrait Gallery went viral after which Obama decided to meet the 2-year-old

Two-year-old Parker Curry's life changed with just a single photo -- of her in simple awe of Michelle Obama's portrait at the National Portrait Gallery. Little did Parker know that her visit to the Gallery would magically make her meet the former First Lady and dance with her. Last Thursday, Parker went to the Gallery and stood before Michelle Obama's portrait for the longest time. Jaw-dropped, Parker's photo was clicked by a 37-year-old North Carolina resident and posted on Facebook. The photo thus became viral and was picked up by Michelle Obama herself, who then offered to meet Parker. Not only did they meet and interact, Michelle also danced with the toddler to a funky song. Parker's mother later said that the toddler thought "she (Michelle Obama) was a queen and she thought rightly so". After meeting Parker, Michelle shared a photo and video of them dancing. She wrote: "Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you!" Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you! A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Mar 6, 2018 at 9:19am PST ×

Watch: Michelle Obama dances with 2-year-old admirer who thought she was a 'queen'

<p>Barack Obama and Donald Trump arrived at the US Capitol on Friday where the president-elect will be sworn in as the United States&#39; 45th head of state.</p>

<p>Obama and his wife Michelle left the White House for the last time after hosting Trump and the incoming first lady Melania for a traditional tea and coffee.</p>

<p>The two couples travelled in a joint motorcade for the 2.5 miles (four kilometers) down Pennsylvania Avenue to the inauguration ceremony at the Capitol.<br />
<br />
&quot;The movement continues, the work begins,&quot; tweeted the Republican billionaire tweeted before tracing his predecessors&#39; steps to St. John&#39;s Church and the White House.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It all begins today! I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES - THE WORK BEGINS!</p>
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/822421390125043713">January 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>There he was greeted warmly by Obama, capping a transfer of power that has been peaceful yet rancorous.</p>

<p>&quot;Mr President-elect, how are you?&quot; Obama asked, after having deposited a letter in the Resolute desk and departed the Oval Office for the last time.</p>

<p>Hundreds of thousands of people will gather on the National Mall in the center of the nation&#39;s capital to celebrate a man whose short 19-month political career has defied all predictions, and many norms.</p>

<p>In the cool Washington dawn, his most ardent supporters ignored intermittent light rain and began to make their way by metro, car and on foot to take part in history.</p>

<p>&quot;I&#39;ve been waiting for this for a long time,&quot; said Thomas Mendenhall, 68, a retired banker from Missouri. &quot;We just want change.&quot;</p>

<p>When Trump descended the escalators of his glitzy New York tower in June 2015, his run for office and his supporters were dismissed and even mocked.</p>

<p>But shortly before midday Friday, Trump will place his hand on Abraham Lincoln&#39;s bible, recite the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol and become the most powerful man on earth.</p>

<p>His staff, many shunned by friends for supporting a man who has been labeled a racist and bigot by his critics, will become power players in the White House.</p>

<p>In the primaries, Trump dominated a crowded Republican presidential field with smash-mouth rhetoric and star power. He rode that same wave of anti-elite sentiment to victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November election.</p>

<p>At 70 years of age, he is the oldest man ever to begin work in the Oval Office.</p>

<p>But the real estate mogul and one-time television reality star is also a political neophyte -- he will be the first president never to have held elected office, served in the government or the armed forces.</p>

<p>For Trump&#39;s supporters, that is a central part of his appeal.</p>

<p>&quot;He&#39;s somebody that&#39;s not a politician&quot; said 59-year-old Sandra Jackson-Carter, a salon owner from Bakersville, California.</p>

<p>&quot;He&#39;s going to unite the country and make America great again,&quot; she said. &quot;This is history. There&#39;s nothing better.&quot;</p>

<p><strong>Big changes</strong></p>

<p>For his critics, Trump&#39;s arrival in Washington on Thursday onboard an Air Force jet was more like a hostile takeover than a traditional changing of the guard.</p>

<p>Small demonstrations popped up across the city center on Friday, with shouts of &nbsp;&quot;not my president&quot; and &quot;No Trump, No KKK, no fascist USA.&quot; Some tried to prevent Trump supporters from passing, but police intervened.</p>

<p>A much larger rally is planned for Saturday.</p>

<p>On Thursday evening, hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside a pro-Trump event, heckling and shouting at departing guests and lighting protest signs on fire before police used chemical spray on the crowd.</p>

<p>Trump enters office with a 37 percent approval rating, the lowest on record, according to a CBS News poll.</p>

<p>Most of Obama&#39;s White House staff have cleaned out their desks and the normally busy corridors of the West Wing were unusually quiet Friday. Staffers expressed relief at the prospect of rest, but foreboding about the road ahead.</p>

<p>That sentiment is echoed across many of the world&#39;s capitals. Trump has vowed to tear up Obama&#39;s policies and re-examine decades-old alliances with Europe and in Asia.</p>

<p>One of Obama&#39;s last acts in office was to speak to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and declare trans-Atlantic ties vital for the world order -- a statement that would have been a banal platitude before this rocky transition.</p>

<p>After the Obamas and Trumps had morning tea at the White House, they will travel the 2.5 miles (four kilometers) down Pennsylvania Avenue to the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol.</p>

<p><strong>Addressing the nation&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>After promising to &quot;faithfully execute the office of president of the United States&quot; and &quot;preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,&quot; Trump will deliver the most important speech of his life.</p>

<p>Inaugural addresses -- from Lincoln to John F. Kennedy -- echo across American history. Phrases like &quot;malice towards none&quot; and &quot;ask not what your country can do for you&quot; have been carved into the vernacular.</p>

<p>The most noted inaugural addresses had sought to lift Americans&#39; gaze up from the rancor and troubles of the day toward the horizon and a better tomorrow.</p>

<p>Trump aides are promising an address that is at once short -- at around 20 minutes -- and philosophical.</p>

<p>&quot;It&#39;s going to be a very personal and sincere statement about his vision for the country,&quot; said incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer.</p>

<p>&quot;He will discuss what it means to be an American, the challenges that we face, as members of the middle class, that they face,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;I think it&#39;s going to be less of an agenda and more of a philosophical document, a vision of where he sees the country, the proper role of government, the role of citizens.&quot;</p>

<p>After his speech, Trump will attend a luncheon inside the Capitol, before heading back to the White House to begin the business of governing.</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


'Mr President-elect, how are you?' Obama asked as he and First Lady Michelle greeted the Republican leader-in-waiting and his wife Melania

Barack Obama and Donald Trump arrived at the US Capitol on Friday where the president-elect will be sworn in as the United States' 45th head of state. Obama and his wife Michelle left the White House for the last time after hosting Trump and the incoming first lady Melania for a traditional tea and coffee. The two couples travelled in a joint motorcade for the 2.5 miles (four kilometers) down Pennsylvania Avenue to the inauguration ceremony at the Capitol. "The movement continues, the work begins," tweeted the Republican billionaire tweeted before tracing his predecessors' steps to St. John's Church and the White House. It all begins today! I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES - THE WORK BEGINS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2017 × There he was greeted warmly by Obama, capping a transfer of power that has been peaceful yet rancorous. "Mr President-elect, how are you?" Obama asked, after having deposited a letter in the Resolute desk and departed the Oval Office for the last time. Hundreds of thousands of people will gather on the National Mall in the center of the nation's capital to celebrate a man whose short 19-month political career has defied all predictions, and many norms. In the cool Washington dawn, his most ardent supporters ignored intermittent light rain and began to make their way by metro, car and on foot to take part in history. "I've been waiting for this for a long time," said Thomas Mendenhall, 68, a retired banker from Missouri. "We just want change." When Trump descended the escalators of his glitzy New York tower in June 2015, his run for office and his supporters were dismissed and even mocked. But shortly before midday Friday, Trump will place his hand on Abraham Lincoln's bible, recite the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol and become the most powerful man on earth. His staff, many shunned by friends for supporting a man who has been labeled a racist and bigot by his critics, will become power players in the White House. In the primaries, Trump dominated a crowded Republican presidential field with smash-mouth rhetoric and star power. He rode that same wave of anti-elite sentiment to victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November election. At 70 years of age, he is the oldest man ever to begin work in the Oval Office. But the real estate mogul and one-time television reality star is also a political neophyte -- he will be the first president never to have held elected office, served in the government or the armed forces. For Trump's supporters, that is a central part of his appeal. "He's somebody that's not a politician" said 59-year-old Sandra Jackson-Carter, a salon owner from Bakersville, California. "He's going to unite the country and make America great again," she said. "This is history. There's nothing better." Big changes For his critics, Trump's arrival in Washington on Thursday onboard an Air Force jet was more like a hostile takeover than a traditional changing of the guard. Small demonstrations popped up across the city center on Friday, with shouts of "not my president" and "No Trump, No KKK, no fascist USA." Some tried to prevent Trump supporters from passing, but police intervened. A much larger rally is planned for Saturday. On Thursday evening, hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside a pro-Trump event, heckling and shouting at departing guests and lighting protest signs on fire before police used chemical spray on the crowd. Trump enters office with a 37 percent approval rating, the lowest on record, according to a CBS News poll. Most of Obama's White House staff have cleaned out their desks and the normally busy corridors of the West Wing were unusually quiet Friday. Staffers expressed relief at the prospect of rest, but foreboding about the road ahead. That sentiment is echoed across many of the world's capitals. Trump has vowed to tear up Obama's policies and re-examine decades-old alliances with Europe and in Asia. One of Obama's last acts in office was to speak to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and declare trans-Atlantic ties vital for the world order -- a statement that would have been a banal platitude before this rocky transition. After the Obamas and Trumps had morning tea at the White House, they will travel the 2.5 miles (four kilometers) down Pennsylvania Avenue to the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol. Addressing the nation After promising to "faithfully execute the office of president of the United States" and "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States," Trump will deliver the most important speech of his life. Inaugural addresses -- from Lincoln to John F. Kennedy -- echo across American history. Phrases like "malice towards none" and "ask not what your country can do for you" have been carved into the vernacular. The most noted inaugural addresses had sought to lift Americans' gaze up from the rancor and troubles of the day toward the horizon and a better tomorrow. Trump aides are promising an address that is at once short -- at around 20 minutes -- and philosophical. "It's going to be a very personal and sincere statement about his vision for the country," said incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer. "He will discuss what it means to be an American, the challenges that we face, as members of the middle class, that they face," he said. "I think it's going to be less of an agenda and more of a philosophical document, a vision of where he sees the country, the proper role of government, the role of citizens." After his speech, Trump will attend a luncheon inside the Capitol, before heading back to the White House to begin the business of governing. (AFP)

Obama, Trump arrive at Capitol for swearing-in ceremony

<p>President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama sent their final Christmas salutations from the White House on Saturday, highlighting common values uniting Americans of all faiths.</p>

<p>&quot;The idea that we are our brother&#39;s keeper and our sister&#39;s keeper. That we should treat others as we would want to be treated,&quot; Michelle Obama said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Those are values that help guide not just my family&#39;s Christian faith, but that of Jewish Americans, and Muslim Americans; nonbelievers and Americans of all backgrounds,&quot; the president added.</p>

<p>The Obamas&#39; seasonal greeting comes at a time when America is deeply divided after a brutal presidential campaign that pitched populist Donald Trump and his frequently incendiary rhetoric against Hillary Clinton.</p>

<p>The Obamas appeared jovial in their greeting, showing a flashback to the filming of their first Christmas message in 2009, when the president couldn&#39;t stop giggling.</p>

<p>Barack Obama also used the address to re-cap his time in office, saying the country was much stronger than it had been than when he succeeded George W Bush.</p>

<p>&quot;Together, we fought our way back from the worst recession in 80 years, and got unemployment to a nine-year low,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;We made America more respected around the world, took on the mantle of leadership in the fight to protect this planet for our kids, and much, much more.&quot;</p>

<p>As is custom, the couple also thanked US troops and their families.<br />
<br />
(AFP)</p>


Barack and Michelle Obama appeared jovial in their greeting, showing a flashback to the filming of their first Christmas message in 2009

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama sent their final Christmas salutations from the White House on Saturday, highlighting common values uniting Americans of all faiths. "The idea that we are our brother's keeper and our sister's keeper. That we should treat others as we would want to be treated," Michelle Obama said. "Those are values that help guide not just my family's Christian faith, but that of Jewish Americans, and Muslim Americans; nonbelievers and Americans of all backgrounds," the president added. The Obamas' seasonal greeting comes at a time when America is deeply divided after a brutal presidential campaign that pitched populist Donald Trump and his frequently incendiary rhetoric against Hillary Clinton. The Obamas appeared jovial in their greeting, showing a flashback to the filming of their first Christmas message in 2009, when the president couldn't stop giggling. Barack Obama also used the address to re-cap his time in office, saying the country was much stronger than it had been than when he succeeded George W Bush. "Together, we fought our way back from the worst recession in 80 years, and got unemployment to a nine-year low," he said. "We made America more respected around the world, took on the mantle of leadership in the fight to protect this planet for our kids, and much, much more." As is custom, the couple also thanked US troops and their families. (AFP)

Obama sends final Christmas greetings as president

We&#39;ve heard their playlists, watched them dance together, and now Americans can see Barack and Michelle Obama on their first date in a film that follows the future president wooing his future wife over the course of a day.<br />
<br />
&quot;Southside With You&quot; takes details that the Obamas have shared about their first date in various interviews, and imagines the conversations they may have had.&nbsp;The film dramatises the Obamas&#39; first date in the summer of 1989 and features Michelle Robinson, a 25-year-old lawyer from Chicago, going out with Barack Obama, a summer associate at her law firm.<br />
<br />
Over the hours they spend together, which Michelle initially insists is not a date, the two attend an Ernie Barnes art exhibition, a community meeting, a screening of Spike Lee&#39;s movie &quot;Do The Right Thing&quot;, have drinks and eat ice cream as they discuss their lives, ambitions and fears.<br />
<br />
&quot;You see in this film that they challenged each other, you know, and they walked in each other&#39;s shoes and that they spoke about their family, and I just think all that stuff is very real and accessible to people,&quot; said actress Tika Sumpter, who plays Michelle.&nbsp;Parker Sawyers, the actor who plays Barack Obama in the film, said he started off with a &quot;strong impersonation&quot; of the president, but then let the mannerisms and speech inflections of his character come naturally.<br />
<br />
The rapport between the two is courteous and playful in the film, as Michelle feistily keeps her date at arm&#39;s length while he uses charm to bring her guard down.&nbsp;Barack Obama, who turned 28 that summer, married Michelle in 1992, three years after their first date.<br />
<br />
The African-American community of Chicago&#39;s Southside serves as a backdrop to the story. Michelle gets a glimpse of the future USA president&#39;s early leadership skills when he takes her to a community meeting to find a way to build a youth centre.&nbsp;Later, the two momentarily clasp hands as they watch a harrowing scene in &quot;Do The Right Thing,&quot; where an African-American man dies after being placed in a chokehold by a white policeman.<br />
<br />
&quot;They were seeing what was happening in Chicago, and obviously Chicago is still in the news and issues between the citizens and the police are still in the news, and the president has to deal with that everyday,&quot; said musician John Legend, an executive producer on the film.<br />
<br />
Legend said the Obamas know about the film, adding, &quot;once they see it, if they haven&#39;t already, I think they&#39;ll love it&quot;.<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

'Southside With You' takes details the Obamas have shared in interviews and imagines the conversations and dramatises their date

We've heard their playlists, watched them dance together, and now Americans can see Barack and Michelle Obama on their first date in a film that follows the future president wooing his future wife over the course of a day. "Southside With You" takes details that the Obamas have shared about their first date in various interviews, and imagines the conversations they may have had. The film dramatises the Obamas' first date in the summer of 1989 and features Michelle Robinson, a 25-year-old lawyer from Chicago, going out with Barack Obama, a summer associate at her law firm. Over the hours they spend together, which Michelle initially insists is not a date, the two attend an Ernie Barnes art exhibition, a community meeting, a screening of Spike Lee's movie "Do The Right Thing", have drinks and eat ice cream as they discuss their lives, ambitions and fears. "You see in this film that they challenged each other, you know, and they walked in each other's shoes and that they spoke about their family, and I just think all that stuff is very real and accessible to people," said actress Tika Sumpter, who plays Michelle. Parker Sawyers, the actor who plays Barack Obama in the film, said he started off with a "strong impersonation" of the president, but then let the mannerisms and speech inflections of his character come naturally. The rapport between the two is courteous and playful in the film, as Michelle feistily keeps her date at arm's length while he uses charm to bring her guard down. Barack Obama, who turned 28 that summer, married Michelle in 1992, three years after their first date. The African-American community of Chicago's Southside serves as a backdrop to the story. Michelle gets a glimpse of the future USA president's early leadership skills when he takes her to a community meeting to find a way to build a youth centre. Later, the two momentarily clasp hands as they watch a harrowing scene in "Do The Right Thing," where an African-American man dies after being placed in a chokehold by a white policeman. "They were seeing what was happening in Chicago, and obviously Chicago is still in the news and issues between the citizens and the police are still in the news, and the president has to deal with that everyday," said musician John Legend, an executive producer on the film. Legend said the Obamas know about the film, adding, "once they see it, if they haven't already, I think they'll love it". (Reuters)

Revealed: The Film That Will Capture The Obamas' First Date

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