Actress Sela Ward (1956)

Roland Emmerich co-wrote and directed Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), the highly-anticipated sequel to the original 1996 film. In this new installment, set twenty years after the War of 1996, the United Nations has established the Earth Space Defense (ESD), a global research program that uses alien technology to protect Earth from potential extraterrestrial threats. Thanks to humanity’s triumph over the aliens in their previous attack, peace reigns among nations and civilization has been restored. To further safeguard against future invasions, the ESD has expanded its reach by setting up bases on the Moon, ...

The Guardian (2006), an American action-adventure drama film directed by Andrew Davis, begins with a legend recounted by those who have faced perilous situations at sea. This legend speaks of a mysterious force known as the Guardian, which supposedly helps lost individuals reach the surface and hold on until help arrives. Ben Randall is a renowned rescue swimmer in the United States Coast Guard’s Aviation Survival Technician (AST) program. However, his dedication to his job has caused his marriage to fall apart. During one rescue mission, Ben experiences tragedy when his team crashes into the ocean in their HH-60J ...

House (2004–2012) is an American medical drama television series that aired on the Fox network for eight seasons. It follows the story of Gregory House, M.D., a cynical and brilliant doctor who leads a team of diagnosticians at Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. The show’s structure includes a main plot with additional subplots that span multiple seasons. Each episode centers around a primary patient whose symptoms are first seen in a cold open outside the hospital. From there, the team works to diagnose and treat the patient’s illness, often facing challenges and roadblocks until the patient’s condition becomes dire. They ...

The American disaster movie, The Day After Tomorrow (2004), was co-created and directed by Roland Emmerich. Inspired by the 1999 book The Coming Global Superstorm by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber, the film follows Jack Hall, an American paleoclimatologist. Together with his colleagues Frank and Jason, they are conducting ice-core sampling in the Larsen Ice Shelf for NOAA. During their research, the ice shelf breaks off into the ocean. At a UN conference in New Delhi, Jack presents his findings on how climate change ...

CSI: NY (2004–2013) is a popular American police procedural television series that aired on CBS for nine seasons, from September 2004 to February 2013. Set in New York City, the show features a team of investigators working at the city’s crime lab. Like its predecessors, CSI: NY tackles gritty subject matter and employs deductive reasoning to solve cases, with an added focus on criminal profiling. Leading the team is Detective Mac Taylor, a former Marine and seasoned member of the NYPD. Despite personal tragedies, including losing his wife on 9/11, Mac remains dedicated and maintains a strict management style. He is joined by his partner Detective ...

The American action thriller film, The Fugitive (1993), was directed by Andrew Davis and written by Jeb Stuart and David Twohy. After returning home in January 1992, Chicago surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble discovers his wife, Helen, has been murdered by a one-armed assailant who escapes capture. Despite Kimble’s explanation of events, there is no evidence of forced entry and his account is disregarded. Due to a misinterpreted 911 call and Helen’s large life insurance policy, Kimble is falsely accused and wrongfully ...

Nothing in Common (1986) is an American comedy-drama film directed by Garry Marshall. David Basner, a shallow, childish yuppie recently promoted at his Chicago ad agency, returns to work from a vacation only to find that his parents have separated after 36 years of marriage. Now he must balance caring for his aging and bitter father, Max, while also supporting his emotionally fragile mother, Lorraine. To add to the stress, Max has just been fired from the garment industry after 35 years. While trying to navigate these challenges, David’s ex-girlfriend Donna offers sympathy but also advises him to ‘grow ...