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Johnson says ‘Baywatch’ is summer’s ‘sexiest, funniest’ pic

By The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — CinemaCon just got a little less dressed.

The cast of “Baywatch” took the stage Tuesday afternoon alongside around two dozen scantily clad men and women sporting the classic red bathing suits to preview the film for exhibitors and theater owners at the annual convention.

Star Dwayne Johnson told the audience of theater owners and exhibitors that their movie is going to be the craziest, sexiest, funniest R-rated comedy of the summer. Johnson called their group the “‘Avengers’ of the beach.” He also introduced new footage in what they called a “fuschia band” trailer, riffing on the risque nature of the NSFW “red band” trailer.

Indeed, there was a fair amount of skin in the footage — including a naked male cadaver that Zac Efron’s character has to inspect — which highlighted both its self-aware comedy and action/adventure on the beach.

“Baywatch” also stars Alexandra Daddario and Priyanka Chopra. It hits theaters on May 26.

Paramount Pictures in their presentation put the spotlight on a different kind of heat, too, debuting the first trailer for Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Sequel,” which comes out July 28. The former Vice President, who walked out to Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” was on hand to introduce the ad, saying that he hopes the film “will be a tool for galvanizing action in our communities.”

Audiences also got an extended look at “Transformers: The Last Knight,” the fifth film in the franchise, which imagines that transformers fought alongside King Arthur. Mark Wahlberg stars alongside Anthony Hopkins and comedian Jerrod Carmichael in the film out June 23.

The studio, now under the new leadership of Jim Gianopulos, also made sure to highlight its more prestigious films on the slate, like “Ex Machina” director Alex Garland’s “Annihilation,” a sure to be mindbender starring Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac, and Alexander Payne’s “Downsizing.”

Matt Damon and Payne were on site to preview footage from the satirical “Downsizing,” out in December, which imagines a world where people can literally shrink themselves down to save money and lead a better lifestyle. Damon also joined Julianne Moore and George Clooney to discuss “Suburbicon” — a Coen brothers-scripted and Clooney-directed dark crime comedy set for a Nov. 3 release.

Clooney noted that their Nov. 3 release puts them up against the superhero pic “Thor: Ragnarok” which comes out the same day.

“Thor is a handsome, good looking man with a hammer … and we have Matt,” Clooney deadpanned.

CinemaCon runs through Thursday.

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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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