VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE 115
AIR DATE 02 27 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Staying In
((SOT))
((Vilena Baranova))
Olivia, Daniel, I need help please. It is scary. This situation
made us think of the nearest future. What if you are stuck at
home? What am I going to do if the kids are hungry? How I
am going to feed them and I cannot get out of the house?
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Closing Up
((SOT))
((Lizzy Evelyn, Head Pastry Chef and Co-owner))
Two months, you know. Hopefully it’s just two months and
then we can just turn the lights back on, open our doors and
go back to normal.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Getting Out
((SOT))
((Woman #2))
It’s just a reminder that nature moves on and you know, I
definitely have moments of joy and sadness being here. It’s
refreshing to see families with their little kids, like, how
beautiful is this?
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) LIFE UNDER SHUTDOWN
((Banner: Life Under Shutdown))
((Reporter/Camera: Genia Dulot))
((Map: Los Angeles, California))
((Main characters: 1 female; 1 male))
((NATS))
((Popup Banner:
This story was filmed between March 17 and March 22,
during which time California’s Stay at Home order went into
effect))
((NATS))
((Nabil Kabbani, Los Angeles Resident))
Or it could stop at 2,000 people. We have no idea.
We have no idea how bad it can get. We don’t know how
long we’re going to be locked in. So, you know, and it’s
probably going to be a while before we have all the
information.
Just, I think, from my background growing up in a war, we
started seeing the news in China and I started getting
prepared. We got food reserves, you know, not a long time
but a couple of weeks we could be okay. We even bought an
extra freezer.
((NATS))
((Nabil Kabbani, Los Angeles Resident))
You know, the dates are an excellent idea. People cross the
desert with a handful of dates. You can eat one or two for a
whole day and have your calories.
Past two weeks, I don’t know what we will do. I don’t think it
is responsible to hoard for months and months. I see people
doing that and they are just taking away from people who
may have come late to the game and started thinking about
this a little too late and didn’t take it seriously at the
beginning and we don’t want to take away from them. So,
ideally, we can do it two weeks by two weeks at a time and
stores will stay open and the pharmacy will stay open which
is the plan so far with here.
((NATS))
So, tell me, have you considered buying guns before?
((Nabil Kabbani, Los Angeles Resident))
Yeah, I was considering it for sport shooting, but it wasn’t, it
was nothing urgent. And at some point, I had one but now
we are thinking about it for home defense. You know, in
case if people want to come in and rob your food and
supplies because they didn’t plan and all sorts of crazy can
happen.
((NATS:
Vilena Baranova: Olivia, Daniel, I need help please.))
((Vilena Baranova, Los Angeles Resident))
My grandma grew up during the World War II. She was a
young girl, maybe like 18 during that time. And she told us
stories how difficult it was. At a certain point, they didn’t
have anything to eat. She told me those scary stories where
she had to go and dig in a trash and pull, like, potato peels
and boil potato peels and that was their dinner one time. So,
it’s scary. This situation made us think of the nearest future.
What if you are stuck at home? What am I going to do if the
kids are hungry? How I am going to feed them and I cannot
get out of the house?
((Vilena Baranova, Los Angeles Resident))
Garlic time! Olivia, Daniel! Come here, babies.
So, they say garlic is an antiviral. So, we need to swallow it
on empty stomach but sometimes I cannot catch those kids
before they grab a bowl of cereal, so.
Did you swallow?
Yeah, we’re not sure if it’s going to actually help but they say
it should be.
((Popup Banner:
While garlic may have some antimicrobial properties, no
evidence suggests it has protected people from COVID-19 :
World Health Organization))
((NATS))
((Nabil Kabbani, Los Angeles Resident))
All the emergency feeling that you have around everything
that’s happening reminds me of war back in Lebanon. You
know, we used to spend weeks in the shelter with bombs
falling around us. There was no food. There was no running
water. There was no electricity. People did food runs in the
middle of bombing. I mean, they would wait for the bombs to
slow down a little bit and they would get in their car and go to
the bakery or go to the supermarket. The bakery would open
for a few hours. You go in, you get in line, you get some
bread, you get some water. You have to go to the reservoir
locally and get some water and bring it back. If you were
lucky enough to get some gas, you can go line up at the gas
station, get gas, put it in a generator, if you were lucky
enough to have a generator and then had light and maybe a
little TV. So, I think, we are very lucky with the situation here.
It’s still not pleasant and it’s still very important for people to
stay isolated but it’s nothing compared to what we had during
the war.
((NATS))
((Vilena Baranova, Los Angeles Resident))
I came from Russia in 2001, right at the summer before 9/11.
It was morning. We heard knock on a door. It was our
American young friends knocking on the door and telling us
the war started. The first thought in my head was that there
might be a chance of me not being able to go back to Russia
and not being able to see my mom and my dad and my
brother.
This situation with Coronavirus and restrictions on traveling,
it is scary. I spoke with my mom a couple days ago and she
said, “There is something I need to ask you. If I get sick, do
not come.” And it’s sad. You kind of think that there might be
a chance if your relative or your close one would die, you will
not be able to go there and say your last good-bye to them.
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Business during COVID-19
((SOT))
((Juan Lainez, Cook))
I’m not like too worried about it, like I said, I should be. But
I’m like thinking all positive so, not too worried.
((John Hasentufle, Sous-Chef))
We’ll see when unemployment rolls through.
((Juan Lainez, Cook))
Yeah.
((John Hasentufle, Sous-Chef))
It’s still delayed as of right now.
((Juan Lainez, Cook))
Yes, too many people but we’re going to be fine. We’re
going to be back in no time.
((PKG)) EXPLAINER ((ANIM/GFX/MUSIC/VIDEO))
COVID-19: Fast Facts
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Before you eat, after using the toilet, after touching anything
many other people touch, like seat on the public bus.
Scrub thoroughly for 20 seconds.
If you cannot wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer.
Taking these steps can prevent not only the Corona virus but
also colds and flu and other viruses.
For more information:
Visit the World Health Organization’s website
www.who.int
or
The Centers for Disease Control’s website
www.cdc.gov
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) RESTAURANT CLOSURE
((Banner: Restaurant Closing))
((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main characters: 1 female; 4 male))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Courtesy: Rafael de la Uz))
((Popup Banner:
Ell?’s restaurant and bakery opened I la Uz))n 2018 by
husband and wife team, Lizzy Evelyn and Nick Pimentel.
Over the years, they have received numerous accolades and
awards.))
((Courtesy: Washingtonian Magazine))
((Popup Banner:
Ell?’s owners decided to close the restaurant as the
coronavirus spread through the U.S.))
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
I think the situation, what everybody’s saying is, it’s hour, it’s
like hour by hour, day by day. So, we’re shutting our doors at
three.
((Nick Pimentel, Ell?’s Restaurant, Co-Owner))
I think we’re hoping by closing, we’re doing our part to flatten
the curve and help solve this pandemic, so everyone can get
healthy again and we can open up sooner than, than later.
((NATS))
((Brad Deboy, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Chef))
We are cleaning. We’re just trying to figure out what we’ve
lost. Mainly just trying to give the food to, some food to the
staff and whatever they need and support. So, they’re here
picking up. We’ve pretty much donated everything we have
to them.
((Nick Pimentel, Ell?’s Restaurant, Co-Owner))
I think the staff, they were expecting this. This is happening
all across the city, all across the U.S., all across the world,
actually.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
So, we were trying to do to-go stuff for the most part. And
then we just, it was a day by day decision that we made the
call to cut ties and just close the restaurant for, for real
instead of trying to keep up with it because we were just
bleeding money as it was.
((Juan Lainez, Ell?’s Restaurant, Cook))
So, the best move, it looks like, is filing for unemployment, at
least have some type of income come in. I’m not like too
worried about it, like I said, I should be. But I’m like thinking
all positive so, not too worried.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
We’ll see when unemployment rolls through.
((Juan Lainez, Ell?’s Restaurant, Cook))
Yeah.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
It’s still delayed as of right now.
((Juan Lainez, Ell?’s Restaurant, Cook))
Yes, too many people but we’re going to be fine. We’re
going to be back in no time.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
Hope so.
((Juan Lainez, Ell?’s Restaurant, Cook))
Back in no time.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
It doesn’t help to think it’s going to be two weeks. It’s more
helpful to think realistically that it’s going to be another two
months, you know. Hopefully it’s just two months and then
we can just turn the lights back on, open our doors and go
back to normal.
((NATS))
((John Dockery, Neighborhood Resident))
I think it’s, it’s a fixture of the neighborhood. It’s probably the
only business in this city that I actually am a regular at. And I
think part of that is because of the way that they serve our
neighborhood, just in their kindness but also in the incredible
service that they give and also the food is amazing. I think
it’s something that will be sorely missed by me definitely but
by our neighborhood as a whole.
((NATS))
((Gemma, Neighborhood Resident))
I heard that Ell? was closing at 3 pm and it was 2:30 and so, I
didn’t even feel like a coffee but I had to come and say
goodbye because this is my favorite place in the
neighborhood. These are the kinds of places we come to, to
make us feel better, to have a warm cup of coffee and a cake
and where are we going to go now? It’s really sad.
((NATS))
((Nick Pimentel, Ell?’s Restaurant, Co-Owner))
Sold out of everything.
((Gabrielle Weiss, Camera operator))
Closing?
((Nick Pimentel, Ell?’s Restaurant, Co-Owner))
Closing now.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
Thank you from Jess and I both.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
Oh sure.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
I really appreciate that you really take care of us.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
And we’ll be lucky to have you back.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
We’re ready to go.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
Yeah. Yeah.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
It’s only been a day but we’re ready to go.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
I know. I’m like already over this, but it hasn’t even started.
So, we’ll just all stay in touch.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
Thank you. I think, I just got buttercream all over my face.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Getting some Air
((SOT))
((Woman))
Just looking to get out of the house, get a little fresh air, walk
the dog around. There’s not many people out so, and you
know everyone seems to be keeping their distance from each
other, so.
((PKG)) EXPLAINER ((ANIM/GFX/MUSIC/VIDEO))
COVID-19: Fast Facts
Can the virus survive in cold weather?
Can it be spread by mosquito bites?
Is there a vaccine that prevents it?
Is there any medicine that cures it?
The answer to all of the questions is: NO
The best steps to take:
Wash your hands
Cover your cough
Stay at home if you are sick or advised to by local authorities
For more information, visit the World Health Organization’s
website:
www.who.int
or
The Centers for Disease Control’s website:
www.cdc.gov
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((Previously aired
March 22, 2019 / EP 62
April 5, 2019 / EP 64))
((PKG)) PIA – KAZUHIRO TSUJI
((Banner: Art and Life))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main character: 1 male))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
The one thing I enjoy is there’s a whole process of creating
because that's when I become myself. I believe that life lives
in all details. Even just one hair talks about that person and I
like noticing those details.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
My name is Kazuhiro Tsuji and I’m doing portrait sculptures
and also sometimes I work on film. I'm from Kyoto, Japan.
And when I was a child, I was really like an introvert. My
parents divorced when I was 15 and I haven't seen my father
in over 30 years. Most of the time I was by myself, making
something out home. So, what I'm doing right now, I think it’s
because of that.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
When I first saw makeup done by Dick Smith in a magazine,
which was makeup of Abraham Lincoln, I was so fascinated
by it. I thought, this is it. This is what I really want to do.
((Courtesy: Kazuhiro Tsuji))
I started to work on set, doing application on the makeup on
actors and that was a time I started to feel like really, this is
really stressful for me. Work on a film set is so
unpredictable. It's lots of waiting and you don't know what's
going to happen next.
((Courtesy: Kazuhiro Tsuji))
Lots of anxiety. I started realizing, okay, this is not good for
me because I started this work because of my passion. And
so, is this something I have to deal with all my life?
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
Dick Smith was born in 1922 and 2002, that was his 80 years
of birthday and I decided to create his portrait. And when I
showed it to him, he was really touched by it and he was
crying and very emotional. That moment I thought, I really
want to do this for my living. I decided to stop taking film
work and try to concentrate on creating portraits. Life is
interesting because once I made a commitment, good things
start to happen.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
When I create sculptures, I intentionally try to create from
inside out. The great thing about it is, it is three-dimensional.
So, depend on the height of the viewer and what’s their
mental state and that will reflect almost like as a mirror. Even
if the audience, they don't know who this person is, they start
to somehow connect to each other and size wise, it’s bigger
than life. Almost that will make them feel like a child.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
To create this portrait, it usually takes about two months-and-
a-half to four months. It depends on the subject I
created. Most of the people, who went through lots of
struggle in their life and they made a breakthrough and they
found the way to live. So, by creating those people, I also
encourage myself to figure out what is life about and also that
will inspire many people.
Since I had a really bad childhood, I always had the kind of
feeling of anxiety and guilty because my parents never
praised me and so, I never had the feeling of
accomplishment. But I had this passion of I need to prove
myself, like, I do something amazing. After I started to work
in the film industry, I felt like my body started to fall apart and
also my mind too and I felt like I’m almost trapped. That was
a moment I felt like okay, I need help, I need to change. So,
when I start to create a large size portrait, my feeling changed
a lot. The big difference was the film job. It’s all about
waiting, waiting for something to happen, but art is quite
different. I need to be the one who makes something happen
every day.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & special effects
Makeup Artist))
Beginning of 2016, [actor] Gary Oldman, he wrote to me and
said there is a project he wants me to work on. He said,
okay, this is about Winston Churchill. I know you are retired
but I really want you to do a design on it.
((NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & special effects
Makeup Artist))
I wasn't sure if I should do it. If I take film job right away, I felt
like I'm betraying my life decision. But I never had a chance
to work on the film with the main character has makeup on,
portraying a historical person. I felt like okay, if I say no to
this, I will regret. So, I came back to Gary and okay, I would
like to take this job. The whole process to create the
Churchill makeup was, it took about five months. By the time
that the film was ended, I was like, oh my God, I worked on
this amazing thing. I was a part of it. I never felt this way in
my whole career.
((MUSIC))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & special effects
Makeup Artist))
I wanted to make sure that everybody involved will be
nominated because there's sometimes in the past, I was, kind
of, knocked out from a group of nominated people.
The day of the Oscar, I don't remember much because I was
so nervous and my goal was just go there and finish speech
and be done with it. And I was interviewed after receiving
Oscar, how I feel about receiving this as Asian. I don't think
that way. I received this as one human being. It's not as
Asian and as soon as I start to think I'm Asian, I will fail. I
think it's each person's responsibility to live as one human
being and not to be conditioned by the label you put on, or
the color you put on, or the skin you have. All people who
succeeded, they go beyond that, you know. It's not what the
outside look like. What's inside really matters.
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & special effects
Makeup Artist))
I hope I can use my life and contribute to creativity. I still
struggle. You know, I still have some issues or problems but
I won't stop learning until I die, you know. That's the way it is,
I think.
((PKG)) CHERRY BLOSSOMS
((Banner: They Still Bloom))
((Camera: Andrey Degtyarev))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main characters: 2 female))
((MUSIC/NATS: Tidal Basin))
((Popup Banner:
Washington’s cherry trees, a 1912 gift from Japan, are a
yearly attraction in bloom.
The attraction remained open amid COVID-19 fears but city
officials restricted turnout))
((MUSIC/NATS: Tidal Basin))
((Woman #1))
Just looking to get out of the house, get a little fresh air, walk
the dog around. There’s not many people out so, and you
know everyone seems to be keeping their distance from each
other, so.
((MUSIC/NATS: Tidal Basin))
((Woman #2))
It’s just a reminder that nature moves on and you know, I
definitely have moments of joy and sadness being here. It’s
refreshing to see families with their little kids, like, how
beautiful is this?
((MUSIC/NATS: Tidal Basin))
((Woman #2))
Just a moment to, kind of, step out of yourself and enjoy what
we can.
((MUSIC))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) EXPLAINER – PANDEMICS
((ANIM/GFX/MUSIC/VIDEO))
Pandemics are a worst-case scenario for infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization describes a process through
which a disease can reach the pandemic level.
First, the disease is present in animals and the risk of human
infection is low.
Then the disease begins to infect the humans.
Human to human transmission is the next stage.
Clusters of infection arise in certain geographic areas.
The disease reaches pandemic proportions when it spreads
from continent to continent and establishes itself throughout
the general population.
Pandemics:
HIV/AIDS
Zika Virus
Bird Flu
Spanish Flu
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization added
Coronavirus/COVID-19 to the list.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS ((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS ((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
We make a difference
When we unmask terror
When we explain the impossible
When we confront an uncertain future
When we give voice to the voiceless
The difference is Freedom of the Press
We are the Voice of America where
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE 115
AIR DATE 02 27 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Staying In
((SOT))
((Vilena Baranova))
Olivia, Daniel, I need help please. It is scary. This situation
made us think of the nearest future. What if you are stuck at
home? What am I going to do if the kids are hungry? How I
am going to feed them and I cannot get out of the house?
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Closing Up
((SOT))
((Lizzy Evelyn, Head Pastry Chef and Co-owner))
Two months, you know. Hopefully it’s just two months and
then we can just turn the lights back on, open our doors and
go back to normal.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Getting Out
((SOT))
((Woman #2))
It’s just a reminder that nature moves on and you know, I
definitely have moments of joy and sadness being here. It’s
refreshing to see families with their little kids, like, how
beautiful is this?
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) LIFE UNDER SHUTDOWN
((Banner: Life Under Shutdown))
((Reporter/Camera: Genia Dulot))
((Map: Los Angeles, California))
((Main characters: 1 female; 1 male))
((NATS))
((Popup Banner:
This story was filmed between March 17 and March 22,
during which time California’s Stay at Home order went into
effect))
((NATS))
((Nabil Kabbani, Los Angeles Resident))
Or it could stop at 2,000 people. We have no idea.
We have no idea how bad it can get. We don’t know how
long we’re going to be locked in. So, you know, and it’s
probably going to be a while before we have all the
information.
Just, I think, from my background growing up in a war, we
started seeing the news in China and I started getting
prepared. We got food reserves, you know, not a long time
but a couple of weeks we could be okay. We even bought an
extra freezer.
((NATS))
((Nabil Kabbani, Los Angeles Resident))
You know, the dates are an excellent idea. People cross the
desert with a handful of dates. You can eat one or two for a
whole day and have your calories.
Past two weeks, I don’t know what we will do. I don’t think it
is responsible to hoard for months and months. I see people
doing that and they are just taking away from people who
may have come late to the game and started thinking about
this a little too late and didn’t take it seriously at the
beginning and we don’t want to take away from them. So,
ideally, we can do it two weeks by two weeks at a time and
stores will stay open and the pharmacy will stay open which
is the plan so far with here.
((NATS))
So, tell me, have you considered buying guns before?
((Nabil Kabbani, Los Angeles Resident))
Yeah, I was considering it for sport shooting, but it wasn’t, it
was nothing urgent. And at some point, I had one but now
we are thinking about it for home defense. You know, in
case if people want to come in and rob your food and
supplies because they didn’t plan and all sorts of crazy can
happen.
((NATS:
Vilena Baranova: Olivia, Daniel, I need help please.))
((Vilena Baranova, Los Angeles Resident))
My grandma grew up during the World War II. She was a
young girl, maybe like 18 during that time. And she told us
stories how difficult it was. At a certain point, they didn’t
have anything to eat. She told me those scary stories where
she had to go and dig in a trash and pull, like, potato peels
and boil potato peels and that was their dinner one time. So,
it’s scary. This situation made us think of the nearest future.
What if you are stuck at home? What am I going to do if the
kids are hungry? How I am going to feed them and I cannot
get out of the house?
((Vilena Baranova, Los Angeles Resident))
Garlic time! Olivia, Daniel! Come here, babies.
So, they say garlic is an antiviral. So, we need to swallow it
on empty stomach but sometimes I cannot catch those kids
before they grab a bowl of cereal, so.
Did you swallow?
Yeah, we’re not sure if it’s going to actually help but they say
it should be.
((Popup Banner:
While garlic may have some antimicrobial properties, no
evidence suggests it has protected people from COVID-19 :
World Health Organization))
((NATS))
((Nabil Kabbani, Los Angeles Resident))
All the emergency feeling that you have around everything
that’s happening reminds me of war back in Lebanon. You
know, we used to spend weeks in the shelter with bombs
falling around us. There was no food. There was no running
water. There was no electricity. People did food runs in the
middle of bombing. I mean, they would wait for the bombs to
slow down a little bit and they would get in their car and go to
the bakery or go to the supermarket. The bakery would open
for a few hours. You go in, you get in line, you get some
bread, you get some water. You have to go to the reservoir
locally and get some water and bring it back. If you were
lucky enough to get some gas, you can go line up at the gas
station, get gas, put it in a generator, if you were lucky
enough to have a generator and then had light and maybe a
little TV. So, I think, we are very lucky with the situation here.
It’s still not pleasant and it’s still very important for people to
stay isolated but it’s nothing compared to what we had during
the war.
((NATS))
((Vilena Baranova, Los Angeles Resident))
I came from Russia in 2001, right at the summer before 9/11.
It was morning. We heard knock on a door. It was our
American young friends knocking on the door and telling us
the war started. The first thought in my head was that there
might be a chance of me not being able to go back to Russia
and not being able to see my mom and my dad and my
brother.
This situation with Coronavirus and restrictions on traveling,
it is scary. I spoke with my mom a couple days ago and she
said, “There is something I need to ask you. If I get sick, do
not come.” And it’s sad. You kind of think that there might be
a chance if your relative or your close one would die, you will
not be able to go there and say your last good-bye to them.
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Business during COVID-19
((SOT))
((Juan Lainez, Cook))
I’m not like too worried about it, like I said, I should be. But
I’m like thinking all positive so, not too worried.
((John Hasentufle, Sous-Chef))
We’ll see when unemployment rolls through.
((Juan Lainez, Cook))
Yeah.
((John Hasentufle, Sous-Chef))
It’s still delayed as of right now.
((Juan Lainez, Cook))
Yes, too many people but we’re going to be fine. We’re
going to be back in no time.
((PKG)) EXPLAINER ((ANIM/GFX/MUSIC/VIDEO))
COVID-19: Fast Facts
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Before you eat, after using the toilet, after touching anything
many other people touch, like seat on the public bus.
Scrub thoroughly for 20 seconds.
If you cannot wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer.
Taking these steps can prevent not only the Corona virus but
also colds and flu and other viruses.
For more information:
Visit the World Health Organization’s website
www.who.int
or
The Centers for Disease Control’s website
www.cdc.gov
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) RESTAURANT CLOSURE
((Banner: Restaurant Closing))
((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main characters: 1 female; 4 male))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Courtesy: Rafael de la Uz))
((Popup Banner:
Ell?’s restaurant and bakery opened I la Uz))n 2018 by
husband and wife team, Lizzy Evelyn and Nick Pimentel.
Over the years, they have received numerous accolades and
awards.))
((Courtesy: Washingtonian Magazine))
((Popup Banner:
Ell?’s owners decided to close the restaurant as the
coronavirus spread through the U.S.))
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
I think the situation, what everybody’s saying is, it’s hour, it’s
like hour by hour, day by day. So, we’re shutting our doors at
three.
((Nick Pimentel, Ell?’s Restaurant, Co-Owner))
I think we’re hoping by closing, we’re doing our part to flatten
the curve and help solve this pandemic, so everyone can get
healthy again and we can open up sooner than, than later.
((NATS))
((Brad Deboy, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Chef))
We are cleaning. We’re just trying to figure out what we’ve
lost. Mainly just trying to give the food to, some food to the
staff and whatever they need and support. So, they’re here
picking up. We’ve pretty much donated everything we have
to them.
((Nick Pimentel, Ell?’s Restaurant, Co-Owner))
I think the staff, they were expecting this. This is happening
all across the city, all across the U.S., all across the world,
actually.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
So, we were trying to do to-go stuff for the most part. And
then we just, it was a day by day decision that we made the
call to cut ties and just close the restaurant for, for real
instead of trying to keep up with it because we were just
bleeding money as it was.
((Juan Lainez, Ell?’s Restaurant, Cook))
So, the best move, it looks like, is filing for unemployment, at
least have some type of income come in. I’m not like too
worried about it, like I said, I should be. But I’m like thinking
all positive so, not too worried.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
We’ll see when unemployment rolls through.
((Juan Lainez, Ell?’s Restaurant, Cook))
Yeah.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
It’s still delayed as of right now.
((Juan Lainez, Ell?’s Restaurant, Cook))
Yes, too many people but we’re going to be fine. We’re
going to be back in no time.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
Hope so.
((Juan Lainez, Ell?’s Restaurant, Cook))
Back in no time.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
It doesn’t help to think it’s going to be two weeks. It’s more
helpful to think realistically that it’s going to be another two
months, you know. Hopefully it’s just two months and then
we can just turn the lights back on, open our doors and go
back to normal.
((NATS))
((John Dockery, Neighborhood Resident))
I think it’s, it’s a fixture of the neighborhood. It’s probably the
only business in this city that I actually am a regular at. And I
think part of that is because of the way that they serve our
neighborhood, just in their kindness but also in the incredible
service that they give and also the food is amazing. I think
it’s something that will be sorely missed by me definitely but
by our neighborhood as a whole.
((NATS))
((Gemma, Neighborhood Resident))
I heard that Ell? was closing at 3 pm and it was 2:30 and so, I
didn’t even feel like a coffee but I had to come and say
goodbye because this is my favorite place in the
neighborhood. These are the kinds of places we come to, to
make us feel better, to have a warm cup of coffee and a cake
and where are we going to go now? It’s really sad.
((NATS))
((Nick Pimentel, Ell?’s Restaurant, Co-Owner))
Sold out of everything.
((Gabrielle Weiss, Camera operator))
Closing?
((Nick Pimentel, Ell?’s Restaurant, Co-Owner))
Closing now.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
Thank you from Jess and I both.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
Oh sure.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
I really appreciate that you really take care of us.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
And we’ll be lucky to have you back.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
We’re ready to go.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
Yeah. Yeah.
((John Hasentufle, Ell?’s Restaurant, Sous-Chef))
It’s only been a day but we’re ready to go.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
I know. I’m like already over this, but it hasn’t even started.
So, we’ll just all stay in touch.
((Lizzy Evelyn, Ell?’s Restaurant, Head Pastry Chef and
Co-owner))
Thank you. I think, I just got buttercream all over my face.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Getting some Air
((SOT))
((Woman))
Just looking to get out of the house, get a little fresh air, walk
the dog around. There’s not many people out so, and you
know everyone seems to be keeping their distance from each
other, so.
((PKG)) EXPLAINER ((ANIM/GFX/MUSIC/VIDEO))
COVID-19: Fast Facts
Can the virus survive in cold weather?
Can it be spread by mosquito bites?
Is there a vaccine that prevents it?
Is there any medicine that cures it?
The answer to all of the questions is: NO
The best steps to take:
Wash your hands
Cover your cough
Stay at home if you are sick or advised to by local authorities
For more information, visit the World Health Organization’s
website:
www.who.int
or
The Centers for Disease Control’s website:
www.cdc.gov
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((Previously aired
March 22, 2019 / EP 62
April 5, 2019 / EP 64))
((PKG)) PIA – KAZUHIRO TSUJI
((Banner: Art and Life))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main character: 1 male))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
The one thing I enjoy is there’s a whole process of creating
because that's when I become myself. I believe that life lives
in all details. Even just one hair talks about that person and I
like noticing those details.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
My name is Kazuhiro Tsuji and I’m doing portrait sculptures
and also sometimes I work on film. I'm from Kyoto, Japan.
And when I was a child, I was really like an introvert. My
parents divorced when I was 15 and I haven't seen my father
in over 30 years. Most of the time I was by myself, making
something out home. So, what I'm doing right now, I think it’s
because of that.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
When I first saw makeup done by Dick Smith in a magazine,
which was makeup of Abraham Lincoln, I was so fascinated
by it. I thought, this is it. This is what I really want to do.
((Courtesy: Kazuhiro Tsuji))
I started to work on set, doing application on the makeup on
actors and that was a time I started to feel like really, this is
really stressful for me. Work on a film set is so
unpredictable. It's lots of waiting and you don't know what's
going to happen next.
((Courtesy: Kazuhiro Tsuji))
Lots of anxiety. I started realizing, okay, this is not good for
me because I started this work because of my passion. And
so, is this something I have to deal with all my life?
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
Dick Smith was born in 1922 and 2002, that was his 80 years
of birthday and I decided to create his portrait. And when I
showed it to him, he was really touched by it and he was
crying and very emotional. That moment I thought, I really
want to do this for my living. I decided to stop taking film
work and try to concentrate on creating portraits. Life is
interesting because once I made a commitment, good things
start to happen.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
When I create sculptures, I intentionally try to create from
inside out. The great thing about it is, it is three-dimensional.
So, depend on the height of the viewer and what’s their
mental state and that will reflect almost like as a mirror. Even
if the audience, they don't know who this person is, they start
to somehow connect to each other and size wise, it’s bigger
than life. Almost that will make them feel like a child.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & Special Effects
Makeup Artist))
To create this portrait, it usually takes about two months-and-
a-half to four months. It depends on the subject I
created. Most of the people, who went through lots of
struggle in their life and they made a breakthrough and they
found the way to live. So, by creating those people, I also
encourage myself to figure out what is life about and also that
will inspire many people.
Since I had a really bad childhood, I always had the kind of
feeling of anxiety and guilty because my parents never
praised me and so, I never had the feeling of
accomplishment. But I had this passion of I need to prove
myself, like, I do something amazing. After I started to work
in the film industry, I felt like my body started to fall apart and
also my mind too and I felt like I’m almost trapped. That was
a moment I felt like okay, I need help, I need to change. So,
when I start to create a large size portrait, my feeling changed
a lot. The big difference was the film job. It’s all about
waiting, waiting for something to happen, but art is quite
different. I need to be the one who makes something happen
every day.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & special effects
Makeup Artist))
Beginning of 2016, [actor] Gary Oldman, he wrote to me and
said there is a project he wants me to work on. He said,
okay, this is about Winston Churchill. I know you are retired
but I really want you to do a design on it.
((NATS))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & special effects
Makeup Artist))
I wasn't sure if I should do it. If I take film job right away, I felt
like I'm betraying my life decision. But I never had a chance
to work on the film with the main character has makeup on,
portraying a historical person. I felt like okay, if I say no to
this, I will regret. So, I came back to Gary and okay, I would
like to take this job. The whole process to create the
Churchill makeup was, it took about five months. By the time
that the film was ended, I was like, oh my God, I worked on
this amazing thing. I was a part of it. I never felt this way in
my whole career.
((MUSIC))
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & special effects
Makeup Artist))
I wanted to make sure that everybody involved will be
nominated because there's sometimes in the past, I was, kind
of, knocked out from a group of nominated people.
The day of the Oscar, I don't remember much because I was
so nervous and my goal was just go there and finish speech
and be done with it. And I was interviewed after receiving
Oscar, how I feel about receiving this as Asian. I don't think
that way. I received this as one human being. It's not as
Asian and as soon as I start to think I'm Asian, I will fail. I
think it's each person's responsibility to live as one human
being and not to be conditioned by the label you put on, or
the color you put on, or the skin you have. All people who
succeeded, they go beyond that, you know. It's not what the
outside look like. What's inside really matters.
((Kazuhiro Tsuji, Hyperrealist Sculptor & special effects
Makeup Artist))
I hope I can use my life and contribute to creativity. I still
struggle. You know, I still have some issues or problems but
I won't stop learning until I die, you know. That's the way it is,
I think.
((PKG)) CHERRY BLOSSOMS
((Banner: They Still Bloom))
((Camera: Andrey Degtyarev))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Main characters: 2 female))
((MUSIC/NATS: Tidal Basin))
((Popup Banner:
Washington’s cherry trees, a 1912 gift from Japan, are a
yearly attraction in bloom.
The attraction remained open amid COVID-19 fears but city
officials restricted turnout))
((MUSIC/NATS: Tidal Basin))
((Woman #1))
Just looking to get out of the house, get a little fresh air, walk
the dog around. There’s not many people out so, and you
know everyone seems to be keeping their distance from each
other, so.
((MUSIC/NATS: Tidal Basin))
((Woman #2))
It’s just a reminder that nature moves on and you know, I
definitely have moments of joy and sadness being here. It’s
refreshing to see families with their little kids, like, how
beautiful is this?
((MUSIC/NATS: Tidal Basin))
((Woman #2))
Just a moment to, kind of, step out of yourself and enjoy what
we can.
((MUSIC))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) EXPLAINER – PANDEMICS
((ANIM/GFX/MUSIC/VIDEO))
Pandemics are a worst-case scenario for infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization describes a process through
which a disease can reach the pandemic level.
First, the disease is present in animals and the risk of human
infection is low.
Then the disease begins to infect the humans.
Human to human transmission is the next stage.
Clusters of infection arise in certain geographic areas.
The disease reaches pandemic proportions when it spreads
from continent to continent and establishes itself throughout
the general population.
Pandemics:
HIV/AIDS
Zika Virus
Bird Flu
Spanish Flu
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization added
Coronavirus/COVID-19 to the list.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS ((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS ((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
We make a difference
When we unmask terror
When we explain the impossible
When we confront an uncertain future
When we give voice to the voiceless
The difference is Freedom of the Press
We are the Voice of America where
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
