Mr. De Niro and Ms. Streep, who appeared together in the 1984 movie “Falling in Love,” kidded each other in their remarks, primarily about acting honors. “I’m proud I have the same number of these as Meryl,” Mr. De Niro said in accepting his award, adding, with a deft pause, “For now.” “By this time next year, she’ll have seven,” he added. “Last October, she beat me out for Italian-American Man of the Year.” At least, Mr. De Niro said, “I got mine first.” Ms. Streep, who received her award after Mr. De Niro, gave as good as she got. “I can’t believe you gave this to Bob De Niro before me,” she said, then paused to note that “Supporting Actor always precedes” the Academy Award for Best Actress.

This Sunday’s spotlight is “Plenty” the 1985 adaptation of David Hare’s play, starring Meryl Streep, Charles Dance, Sting and Tracey Ullman. To cover the film, new DVD screencaptures have been added alonside the full theatrical trailer and three new clips from the film. Production notes and my review can be found after the cut. And as always, please share your thoughts on “Plenty” in the comments.

This spring, the Kent Memorial Library will host a series entitled “Great Performances.” About this series, Kenneth Cooper, president of the Kent Library Association, said, “Given the mood of the country, the Library is looking to the arts for a series to lift our spirits, inspire us and cause us to remember what great things we can achieve. We are asking these important artists to relate those experiences that inspired them to great heights.” Along with Meryl Streep, this year’s Kent Lecture Series at the Library will also include well-known opera singer Marilyn Horne on May 13. “Great Performances” will be presented in an interview format. Author Frank Delaney will interview Meryl Streep and publisher Stephen Rubin will interview Marilyn Horne. The Kent Memorial Library’s mission is to enrich the lives of individuals and the community by providing materials, programs, and services to encourage reading, learning and imagination. The Kent Memorial Library is located at 32 North Main Street, Kent, Connecticut. Visit kentmemoriallibrary.org for more information. Thanks to Glenn for the heads-up.

“One More Voice” captures people all over the world asking viewers to add their voice to Amnesty International’s fight against torture, the death penalty, unjust imprisonment, violence against women and other human rights abuses. This short compelling video — featuring an activist in Egypt’s Tahrir Square and the late Martina Correia, sister of Troy Davis, who was executed by the state of Georgia in 2011, despite serious doubts about his guilt — is narrated by three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep with an anthem specially written for Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer and composer Lorne Balfe. The International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers and photographers at Magnum Photos contributed their talents to encourage people to unite around the cause of freedom, human rights and dignity around the world. The trailer for One More Voice can be watched at Youtube and AmnestyUSA.org.

Then, there have been news about a possible second new narration job – “A Fierce Green Fire” explores how the issues of conservation, saving whales and stopping dams built into an international movement, from grassroots to global activism. It chronicles the growth of the environmentalism over five decades, including the Love Canal pollution scandals, the proposed dams in the Grand Canyon, Chico Mendes fighting the deforestation in the Amazon, the Greenpeace movement and other signature moments and movements in environmental activism. In a recent interview with the Petaluma Patch, director Mark Kitchell points out that the film is not quite ready for general release. “There are three main tasks to do,” he said. “We have to finish licensing the archival footage and music, which can be quite expensive. We plan on having five narrators, from Robert Redford to Meryl Streep. And we’re working on an ending that’s a call to action for today’s activists.”

Entertainment Weekly has learned exclusively that author Lauren Weisberger is working on “Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns”, a sequel to her debut novel “The Devil Wears Prada”. Simon & Schuster will be publishing the follow-up in April 2013 — 10 years after the release of the original. “Revenge Wears Prada” picks up eight years after Andy parted ways with Miranda on bad terms. Andy is now editing The Plunge, the hottest bridal magazine around, alongside Emily, her one-time Runway nemesis turned current BFF. While Andy is planning her own wedding to Max, a handsome media scion, she remains haunted by her impeccably heeled former boss — and the magazine world being as small as it is, it’s only a matter of time before she hears the dreaded syllables “Ahn-dre-ah!” again. Weisberger has written three novels since The Devil Wears Prada, but this is her first return to the cutthroat world of Runway magazine. Thanks to Glenn for the heads-up.

This week’s spotlight is “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”, the 2004 children’s books adapation starring Jim Carrey, including a very funny supporting turn by Meryl Streep as Aunt Josephine. New DVD screencaptures have been added to the gallery, the video archive has been updated with three new clips, deleted scenes and an interview. Production notes and my review can be found after the cut. As always, please share your thoughts on “Lemony Snicket” in the comments.

Meryl Streep, Edward Sorel and MC Lars will share the spotlight at Carnegie Hall with the nation’s future in creativity – the talented and ambitious teens who have achieved national honors in the 89th annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. More than 800 teens and their families and teachers, representing 46 states, are expected to attend the celebration, including 15 graduating seniors who will receive Portfolio Gold Medals and $10,000 scholarships. Presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the country’s longest-running, most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative teenagers. The celebration will kick-off on the night of May 31 when the Empire State Building will be lit in gold to honor student winners. At the June 1 ceremony at Carnegie Hall, Ms. Streep will congratulate the students and provide wisdom for them to take on their creative paths, Mr. Sorel will be presented with the 2012 Alumni Achievement Award, and MC Lars will perform. More on the event can be read here. Many thanks to Glenn for the heads-up!

Christopher Walken, Raúl Esparza, Jeffrey Wright, Jesse L. Martin, Jerry Stiller and Sam Waterston will join previously announced stars Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline for the Public Theater’s one-night-only benefit reading of Romeo and Juliet. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, the June 18 gala celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Jeanine Tesori will compose original music for the performance, which also honors Shakespeare in the Park veteran Al Pacino. The Delacorte Theater in Central Park officially opened on June 18, 1962 with a production of The Merchant of Venice. Directed by Public Theater founder Joe Papp and Gladys Vaughn, the production featured then-unknown actors George C. Scott and James Earl Jones. Over the past 50 years more than five million people have enjoyed more than 100 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte. This year’s Shakespeare in the Park season will include productions of As You Like It and Into the Woods.

AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Meryl Streep will present Shirley MacLaine with the American Film Institute’s 40th Life Achievement Award – America’s highest honor for a career in film. The private black tie gala will be held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City on June 7 and will air on TV Land on Sunday, June 24 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. “The world loves Shirley MacLaine,” said Bob Gazzale, President and CEO of AFI. “AFI’s challenge will be how to fit it all into one evening because hers is a life that spans from movies to television to Broadway, books and beyond. Perhaps more than any other recipient, with Shirley I would underline the word life in Life Achievement Award,” he said. “Hers is a story more than just movies. It’s an epic journey, and she has invited all of us to come along for the ride.” “It is sure to be a magical evening celebrating Shirley’s career, especially with Meryl Streep and many other stars who will be on hand,” remarked Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land. “Shirley’s storied film and television career is so rich and colorful, it will be an unforgettable tribute.” Thanks to Glenn and Frederique for the heads-up.

Artists Meryl Streep, Sting, Joan Baez, Cynthia Nixon, Yoko Ono and Patrick Stewart signed an Amnesty International Letter to Presidents Obama and Karzai on Afghan Women’s Rights. The open letter was released Sunday to President Obama and President Karzai, calling on them to give women a voice in the conversation about Afghanistan’s future. The letter was released by Amnesty International as it staged a “Shadow Summit for Afghan Women” hours before the NATO Summit got underway in Chicago. Signatories included former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, feminist Gloria Steinem, Nobel Peace Laureates Jody Williams and Shirin Ebadi, along with a roster of leading Afghan women’s rights advocates.

Read the open letter: http://amnestyusa.org/obamaandkarzailetter
Read the list of signatories: http://amnestyusa.org/afghanwomensignatories

“The women of Afghanistan have come too far to see their rights vanish,” said Frank Januzzi, head of Amnesty International USA’s Washington office. “They must be part of the conversation about the future of Afghanistan or that future will look very bleak indeed. No one wants a return to the days when the Taliban banned women and girls from schools and work, and held them as virtual prisoners in their own country. This would be the ultimate catastrophe after a decade of gains for women. We hope the voices of these notable signatories will add to the pressure on Presidents Obama and Karzai to follow through on the promise of human rights for all women in Afghanistan.” Amnesty International urged Presidents Obama and Karzai to adopt eight key steps to make sure Afghan woman can continue the progress they have made on rights and freedoms after the troops leave in 2014. Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. Many thanks to Glenn for the heads-up