Relationships Talk

LOS ANGELES — The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s norm is there’s no doubt about who’s good and who’s bad. Think of Thanos, the Vulture or Dr. Doom. There’s plenty of conflict in director Ruben Fleischer’s (“Zombieland”) action-filled “Venom,” but there’s a lot more gray area when it comes to the characters.

Even the film’s central figure of Venom is hard to peg because once the space-traveling Symbiote arrives on Earth, he ends up in the body of no-nonsense journalist Eddie Brock. What the two do together often crosses the line between good and evil.

Then there’s Dr. Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), a billionaire whose ambitions to seek sanctuary in space when Earth is no longer inhabitable, who’s behind events that set much of the story lines in motion. The question is whether Drake should be considered good or bad.

Ahmed understands there are some real world parallels to the character he plays, but none of them were a blueprint to create the complicated character of Drake. He took bits and pieces of a lot of people and blended that with what he saw in the comics where Drake appeared. The character first appeared in “The Amazing Spider-Man” No. 298.

Drake became a more important character in “Venom” because unlike in the comic book origin, there is no connection to Spider-Man. That’s why Ahmed’s got more time to play Drake’s many layers.

“My character is someone who is very well-intentioned,” says Ahmed, whose past works include “The Night of …” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” “He’s doing a very ambitious thing. That same ambition that drives that initial mission kind of overtakes him.

“I don’t think of him as a bad guy. I don’t think he’s greedy or trying to hurt anyone. He’s just trying to make sure the human species evolves. Now, granted, he thinks he’s the pinnacle of human evolution as we already have it. There is an element of narcissism about him as he has a hunger for greatness.”

The hunger is what ends up giving Brock an alien version of a Jekyll and Hyde personality as he deals with Venom. The pair become so close Venom even gives Brock some dating advice about his former girlfriend, Anne (Michelle Williams).

“The love triangle allows for the character to be seen in many ways,” Scott says. “We wanted to see him as an advisor — at least from Eddie’s point of view — because he’s with Eddie’s ex-girlfriend. We had a lot of fun with that because I tried to approach the character in that he got a huge kick out of Eddie Brock.

“The fact that he’s always been a fan of Eddie Brock makes for a nice bit of tension. In a movie like this, it’s all about heightening the stakes. The ultimate stake being saving the world, but all the way down the line he can’t even get the woman back he loves because she’s fallen for somebody else.”

It’s not just the roles that are complicated. The actors also have resumes that reflect a blend of comedy and drama. Scott has starred in a broad range of television projects from the deeply dramatic “The Big C” to the political comedy “Veep.” For Ahmed, this is the second big action movie for him, but he also has worked on small films like “Nightcrawler.”

Ahmed says the size of the production doesn’t change how he approaches each role.

“Each character belongs in their own world with their own reality and their own set of circumstances. You just have to commit to that,” Ahmed says.

Scott describes going from a comedy like “Veep” to a dark action movie such as “Venom” is his way of making sure no one forgets he can play a wide variety of roles. Now that “Veep” is coming to an end, Scott is trying to decide what acting road he wants to take next. He sees his role in “Venom” as a perfect bridge because the character is so complicated.

In the case of “Venom,” both he and Scott had to commit to highly textured characters. Blending good and evil is a lot like mixing sharps and flats in a musical composition. Ahmed’s aware of how music can represent a lot of different things because he has been performing as a rap artist under the name Riz MC. His new single, “Mogambo,” will be released Wednesday.

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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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PHOTO (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194):

LOS ANGELES — The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s norm is there’s no doubt about who’s good and who’s bad. Think of Thanos, the Vulture or Dr. Doom. There’s plenty of conflict in director Ruben Fleischer’s (“Zombieland”) action-filled “Venom,” but there’s a lot more gray area when it comes to the characters.

Even the film’s central figure of Venom is hard to peg because once the space-traveling Symbiote arrives on Earth, he ends up in the body of no-nonsense journalist Eddie Brock. What the two do together often crosses the line between good and evil.

Then there’s Dr. Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), a billionaire whose ambitions to seek sanctuary in space when Earth is no longer inhabitable, who’s behind events that set much of the story lines in motion. The question is whether Drake should be considered good or bad.

Ahmed understands there are some real world parallels to the character he plays, but none of them were a blueprint to create the complicated character of Drake. He took bits and pieces of a lot of people and blended that with what he saw in the comics where Drake appeared. The character first appeared in “The Amazing Spider-Man” No. 298.

Drake became a more important character in “Venom” because unlike in the comic book origin, there is no connection to Spider-Man. That’s why Ahmed’s got more time to play Drake’s many layers.

“My character is someone who is very well-intentioned,” says Ahmed, whose past works include “The Night of …” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” “He’s doing a very ambitious thing. That same ambition that drives that initial mission kind of overtakes him.

“I don’t think of him as a bad guy. I don’t think he’s greedy or trying to hurt anyone. He’s just trying to make sure the human species evolves. Now, granted, he thinks he’s the pinnacle of human evolution as we already have it. There is an element of narcissism about him as he has a hunger for greatness.”

The hunger is what ends up giving Brock an alien version of a Jekyll and Hyde personality as he deals with Venom. The pair become so close Venom even gives Brock some dating advice about his former girlfriend, Anne (Michelle Williams).

“The love triangle allows for the character to be seen in many ways,” Scott says. “We wanted to see him as an advisor — at least from Eddie’s point of view — because he’s with Eddie’s ex-girlfriend. We had a lot of fun with that because I tried to approach the character in that he got a huge kick out of Eddie Brock.

“The fact that he’s always been a fan of Eddie Brock makes for a nice bit of tension. In a movie like this, it’s all about heightening the stakes. The ultimate stake being saving the world, but all the way down the line he can’t even get the woman back he loves because she’s fallen for somebody else.”

It’s not just the roles that are complicated. The actors also have resumes that reflect a blend of comedy and drama. Scott has starred in a broad range of television projects from the deeply dramatic “The Big C” to the political comedy “Veep.” For Ahmed, this is the second big action movie for him, but he also has worked on small films like “Nightcrawler.”

Ahmed says the size of the production doesn’t change how he approaches each role.

“Each character belongs in their own world with their own reality and their own set of circumstances. You just have to commit to that,” Ahmed says.

Scott describes going from a comedy like “Veep” to a dark action movie such as “Venom” is his way of making sure no one forgets he can play a wide variety of roles. Now that “Veep” is coming to an end, Scott is trying to decide what acting road he wants to take next. He sees his role in “Venom” as a perfect bridge because the character is so complicated.

In the case of “Venom,” both he and Scott had to commit to highly textured characters. Blending good and evil is a lot like mixing sharps and flats in a musical composition. Ahmed’s aware of how music can represent a lot of different things because he has been performing as a rap artist under the name Riz MC. His new single, “Mogambo,” will be released Wednesday.

———

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

—————

PHOTO (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194):

Thanks to modern technology, young people have more ways to connect than ever before, yet many feel disconnected. They post, they like, they text, and they email, but, throughout it all, they’re keeping a screen between themselves and others. They’re filtering their image and avoiding vulnerable, face-to-face conversations.

Nowadays, it’s become increasingly difficult for singles to separate the idealized fantasy of an online profile from the gritty and imperfect reality of a person. Authenticity is hard to come by, especially in online dating where a majority of singles lie about themselves, and that makes building a genuine relationship challenging.

Not to worry, though — it’s not all bad news for modern-day daters. Singles on a quest for authenticity and connection can always turn to psychotherapists who specialize in relationship dynamic issues, like Dr. Karen Ruskin, for the answers to their most pressing questions and frustrating challenges.

As a therapist based in Massachusetts and on TV locally and internationally, Dr. Karen has established herself as an authority on how mental health issues impact dating, relationships, and overall happiness.

“I’m known for my solution-focused style,” she said. “I’d like to empower both men and women in the dating scene to gain the courage to express how they feel and what they want.”

A Groundbreaking News Segment on Mental Health

Television has the potential to be an instructive and enlightening tool, and yet it’s mostly used as an escape. Millions of viewers get lost in pure entertainment and fantasy without adding any true, lasting value to their lives. And those who watch the news may not fare any better. Local and national news segments will often make viewers aware of a problem but offer them no avenue or recourse to do anything but worry about it.

Generally speaking, television shows and news outlets can overload and overwhelm the senses without providing a concrete, positive impact on people’s lives. Dr. Karen aims to be the exception to that rule as a regular guest on a 24-hour cable news network in Newton, Massachusetts.

New England Cable News (NECN) anchor Joy Lim Nakrin and Dr. Karen teamed up less than one year ago to provide a biweekly mental health segment. During this segment, Dr. Karen provides cutting-edge analysis and concrete tips on timely mental health topics.

She has been featured multiple times and puts together short, informational segments that endorse good mental health practices. Dr. Karen speaks with authority on many personal issues and their impact on dating, marriage, divorce, and family. This unique segment raises the public’s awareness of mental health issues and provides constructive tips for anyone unable to seek professional help on their own.

For the past few months, Dr. Karen has shared her insights with a television audience and inspired many individuals to improve their relationships with themselves and others. She said she hopes her segment continues to inspire people to change their lives and combat the negative stigma associated with going to therapy to work through personal challenges.

“I have a desire and passion to touch the lives of others,” she said, “and TV allows me to do that.”

Empowering Singles & Couples to Have Courage

Whether she’s informing viewers in five-minute video clips or counseling clients in private therapy sessions, Dr. Karen’s compassionate and knowledgeable guidance prepares people to make decisions in their love lives. She prepares them to maintain healthier relationships by understanding the motivations behind their actions and emotions.

Throughout her career, Dr. Karen has impacted the lives of her clients, inspiring them to become more confident and secure in their relationships. Now she hopes to extend that influence by regularly appearing on TV.

By appearing in news segments, Dr. Karen has positively influenced people from all walks of life.

So far, Dr. Karen has received nothing but positive feedback from the viewers, producers, and editors of her mental health news segment. Her passion for the subject shines through as she gives clear advice and offers simple takeaways to help people change their lives.

“What it comes down to is a love for education and a passion for understanding mental health, human behavior, and relationship dynamics,” she said. “I love the idea of helping people become the best version of themselves.”

Dr. Karen’s Solution-Focused Style Has a National Impact

Dr. Karen’s private counseling in the office has assisted many singles, couples, and families in the New England area. Her client-centered services equip them to work through challenges in their lives and reach their relationship goals.

In the coming years, Dr. Karen told us she intends to continue sharing her therapeutic advice on as many platforms available to her because she believes that the right knowledge can empower individuals to make their lives better. The more she can spread the word about the benefits of therapy, the better off everyone in the dating arena will be.

“I’m finding more individuals, both men and women, are now coming to me to discuss their dating challenges,” she said. “People want to learn more about themselves so they can be better in relationships.”

Being less picky, not investing too much time in conversations and grabbing coffee are just some of the things Gen Zers are doing to win their dates over