MEDIA

Film Industry Students Unsettled By Shrinking LA Job Market

“Some of us can see a lot of doom and gloom,” said Miranda Banks, a professor of film, television and media studies. “But this generation has their eye on the power of human creativity in a way that I’m not sure any of us in other generations have been so attuned to.” - Los Angeles Times

Online “Salon” (Which Started As A Pioneering Arts And Culture Site) Shuts Down

In an unsigned announcement posted on its website, Salon said that the “business realities of independent digital journalism” had changed profoundly and that “our publishing model is no longer sustainable.” - The New York Times

New York Times In Talks To Buy Cinephile Site Letterboxd For $330 Million

“An agreement has not yet been reached and could still fall apart, but the companies have entered into exclusive negotiations. … The Times would acquire the controlling stake in Letterboxd from Tiny, a Canadian-based company which originally picked up a 60% stake in 2023 when the website was valued at just $50 million.” - IndieWire

How The Various US TV Networks Covered The “Blue Tsunami”: Analysis

“The networks were following the same returns, and by the end of the evening, the same political story was taking shape. What differed was how they told it — and how quickly they moved from counting votes to explaining what went wrong for Republicans and what comes next for Democrats.” - TheWrap (Yahoo!)

The CBC Is Moving Into Microdramas

“The taxpayer-funded broadcaster and streamer has hired a new head of digital originals, Ariel Yang, and her commissioning duties include taking pitches from local producers for homegrown microdramas.” - The Hollywood Reporter

“La Bola Negra” Is Now Third-Highest-Grossing Film In Spain’s History

The film by Javiers Calvo and Ambrossi has taken in €36.7 million ($41.0 million) at Spanish cinemas as of November 1. Among Spanish films, only Emilio Martínez-Lázaro’s comedy Ocho apellidos vascos (released in English as Spanish Affair, $61.8 million) and J.A. Bayona’s disaster drama Lo imposible (“The Impossible,” $47.3 million) have earned more. - Variety

Disney Prepares To Cut Thousands Of Workers

According to sources, the new round of layoffs will be made across multiple divisions, including TV networks and the motion picture studio, at varying amounts. - Deadline

Gavin Newsom Calls For $1 Billion Tax Incentives For Film Industry

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday called for a significant expansion of the state’s film and TV tax incentives in the face of mounting evidence that producers are fleeing California in search of cheaper locales. - Los Angeles Times

The New Skydance-Paramount-Warner Bros. Behemoth Has An $80 Billion Debt Burden

“We've measured this incredibly carefully,’ Ellison said during a media event last month. ‘We absolutely have the ability to manage the debt and de-lever while investing for growth.’ But Skydance's merger math doesn't entirely check out for Wall Street.” - TheWrap (MSN)

Amazon Says Prime Video is Now Profitable In Its Own Right

CEO Andy Jassy says the division has a revenue run rate in the “tens of billions” of dollars. - TheWrap

Ireland Has Become One Of Hollywood’s Go-To Global Production Hotspots

"Ireland increasingly has become a destination for American movies, television series and the once-quintessentially L.A. creation: the game show." - Los Angeles Times

Since 2008, Local Newsrooms Have Been Hurting For Cash

What do they do with it, though, when they get it? Well: "keep the lights on, ... pay bills, pay down debt, make payroll, or as a buffer when something went wrong." - Nieman Lab

How Will A24 Handle Four Oscar Contenders?

This used to be the frontrunner for A24 (before You Can See Everything): "Though The Invite wasn’t a huge blockbuster, one thing its fans keep mentioning is that it was, in its own way, a movie where the theatrical experience was paramount." - Vulture

Taika Waititi Says He Never Reads Reviews, But Reacts Badly To The Bad Reviews Of His Most Recent Movie

"Let’s spare a thought for those sad lost souls who couldn’t achieve their dreams of becoming artists, and thus became critics. The same people who also hated Jojo Rabbit. Irrelevant. Out of touch. Obsolete. In the bin." - Variety

China’s First AI-Generated Feature Film Is Not A Smash Hit

“The film, the sci-fi thriller Sanxingdui: Future Past, was released last week and only grossed an estimated $198,000. … With 10,000-plus opening-day screenings, Future Past marks the first longform AI film to get a true wide release with reported box office numbers in a major territory.” - The Hollywood Reporter

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