Joshua Oppenheimer, who convinced participants of the 1965-66 mass executions to re-enact them for his Oscar-nominated films The Act of Killing (2012) and The Look of Silence (2014), has just released The End, a musical (!) set in a rich family's bunker after an environmental apocalypse. - The Washington Post (MSN)
"After a nearly decadelong run with HBO, the group that produces Sesame Street is seeking a new television partner to continue production and distribution of the beloved program. One of the world's most recognizable children's shows will launch its 55th season next month — the final season under its expiring HBO deal." - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
"In 1933, Fox Studios was nearly bankrupt. Founded by William Fox in 1915, it thrived during the silent-movie era. By the time the Great Depression arrived, it was operating at a loss, owed millions and share prices had plummeted. To the rescue: one blonde, curly-haired little girl." - BBC
Netflix, which first emerged as a destroyer of video stores, has developed a powerful business model to conquer television, only to unleash its strange and destructive power on the cinema. In doing so, it has brought Hollywood to the brink of irrelevance. Because Netflix doesn’t just survive when no one is watching — it thrives. - N+1
"Love ‘em or hate ’em, formulaic meet-cute holiday flicks have become as tied to the yuletide as ugly sweaters and hot chocolate. Theater directors say the movies have universal appeal since most audiences can recognize the story beats. Judging by the high ticket sales, these parodies are gaining a holly-jolly reception." - AP
Premier David Eby said the Production Services Tax Credit — which goes to international productions — will increase from 28% to 36%. The domestic credit will also increase from 35% to 36%. - Variety
YouTube’s increasing incursion into the living room highlights just how ubiquitous the platform has become. After all, it is the world’s second-biggest search engine, behind Google. - Fast Company
"The story I saw coming to a grim conclusion in that courtroom was about more than a failed media company. … Carlos Watson may have built Ozy with big dreams and 'diversity' in mind, but as those ideas became corrupted by the superseding desire for capitalistic success, it all came crashing down." - Slate (Yahoo!)
"Being violated and brought close to death is (a) psychological abyss, but living with the belief that actors and producers have exploited your rape for money, and that more than 5 million viewers, including some of your own friends, watch it for entertainment … will bring you dangerously close to becoming the Joker." - Slate (Yahoo!)
Fortnite “customers could ultimately receive $245 million for what the agency called Epic’s use of ‘dark patterns’ to trick millions of players into unwanted purchases. Another $275 million will settle accusations that the studio violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.” - The New York Times
And that’s “noodle boys” - young, white, floppy-haired, and un-pumped. “There is clearly an appetite for male stars who don’t look as if they could crush a car with their bare hands.” - The New York Times
Hot Frosty is far from the end of Christmas programming. "It doesn't matter that the audience has seen some version of that story 1,000 times. They're going to keep watching it, keep enjoying it and we — love it or hate it — are going to keep talking about it.” - CBC
“Tomlin is proudest of the live Broadway production, but grateful that the 1991 film has been restored. ‘You’re never satisfied,’ she said. ‘That’s why I like to work live.’” - Variety
