"The decision to do the film the way I did (came from) working in a country that uses police, and its military forces to block freedom of expression and freedom of work for journalists and documentary makers. Fiction becomes the only way to show what’s going on." - The Hollywood Reporter
The Spotify-developed tool uses OpenAI’s recently released voice-generation technology to match the original speaker’s style. That, according to Spotify, results in a “more authentic listening experience” that sounds “more personal and natural than traditional dubbing.” - Variety
"LaFontaine Oliver, New York Public Radio's president and chief executive, said in a memo to employees that a 'free fall in the advertising market' had led to the decision to cut staff." - The New York Times
The answer: not everything the writers wanted, but a lot more than anyone thought would be there six months ago — "a deal far richer and more comprehensive than most industry observers would have predicted last spring when the fitful negotiations began." - Variety
"The governing boards of the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America and their joint negotiating committee all voted to accept the deal, two days after the tentative agreement was reached with a coalition of Hollywood’s biggest studios, streaming services and production companies." - AP
A motion by the actors' union to authorize a strike against video game companies passed with 98% of votes cast. The previous Interactive Media Agreement, which covers members working on video games, expired last November; it included no provisions regarding AI. - Yahoo! (Los Angeles Times)
The median age of viewers at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox has ballooned in recent years. That has left executives looking for ways to acknowledge and nurture an audience that still reliably flips on the television and watches in prime time, the old-fashioned way. - The New York Times
The pay gap between CEOs and average workers is unsustainable. Moreover, labor must have access to financial information (to satisfy themselves about profits and costs), share in the gains during good economic times and not bear the brunt of corporate financial insecurity when management cannot accurately gauge industry shifts. - Washington Post
At least, when it's safe to leave a movie theatre to pee. "Longer movies have more; for example, we have six Peetimes for Oppenheimer. Most movies have two or three.-" The Observer (UK)
Once A League of Their Own - the movie - started casting, the batting cages of Los Angeles were filled with everyone from Courteney Cox to Laura Dern to Brooke Shields. - LitHub
After Hayao Miyazaki's animator son Goro refused to take over from his now-82-year-old father, Studio Ghibli's future was in doubt. - The Guardian (UK)
All the major film festivals are over, and though the writers and actors' strikes continue, some movies are shaping up as awards season contenders (if we have an awards season). - The Guardian (UK)
