Disney and Metaphysic spent 18 months negotiating on and off over the terms of the contract and work on the digital double. But none of the footage will be in the final film when it’s released next summer. - The Wall Street Journal
Michael Abramowitz, the director of Voice of America, has been fired after refusing to accept what he called an “illegal” reassignment to run a broadcasting station in North Carolina, according to a new court filing on Monday. - Washington Post
But hey, one currently hard-up business might benefit: "If anything sends viewers back to the cineplex, it will be ads for depression meds in the middle of a rom-com or a sophisticated chase scene." - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
“Writing and directing winners often get caught up in a sweep … so when they do diverge from the series winner, it can seem like an even bigger triumph.” Please, Somebody, Somewhere? - Vulture
“The film’s popularity in South Korea is rooted in its keenly observed details and references to Korean folklore, pop culture and even national habits — the result of having a production team filled with K-pop fans, as well as a group research trip to South Korea.” - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
As Netflix and YouTube vie for the eyeballs on TV sets, Netflix (and other streamers) are increasingly using YouTube to test the waters for the kind of content viewers will flock to. - CBC
Netflix’s generative AI approach marks a fundamental shift. Instead of building digital scenes piece by piece, artists simply describe what they want and algorithms generate full sequences instantly. This turns a slow, laborious craft into something more like a creative conversation. But it also raises tough questions. - The Conversation
CPB informed employees that the majority of staff positions will be eliminated with the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. It said a small team would remain until January to "focus on compliance, fiscal distributions, and resolution of long-term financial obligations including ensuring continuity for music rights and royalties. - NPR
“But its future, which was never exactly bright, might be cratering. The hoary format’s downward slide has, up until this point, been comparatively slow, … but the financial pressures, together with a vengeful president and a corporate culture willing to appease him, might be more than the genre can withstand.” - The Washington Post (MSN)
Over the last five years, ITVS has directly invested $44 million of CPB funds in documentaries. In the same period, ITVS brought 126 films to public media viewers for free, or close to free, at a taxpayer cost of about five cents per American. - The Hollywood Reporter
“Nearly $50 million of that will come from the budgets of public radio and TV stations, while roughly $7.6 million will come from the budgets of other types of public media organizations. The cuts will be especially hard on rural communities in the state.” - New York Focus
Their heyday was the 1980s and ‘90s, from Airplane! through the National Lampoon and Austin Powers franchises, Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, and Scary Movie, but standards fell in the '00s and the genre faded away. With the return of the Naked Gun franchise and a Spinal Tap sequel, maybe spoofs are back. - The Guardian
The second quarter of the current fiscal year marked Imax’s best quarter in terms of domestic movies ticket sales as it stays on course to achieve guidance of $1.2 billion for the full year. - The Hollywood Reporter
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of the District of Columbia gave the administration until Aug. 13 to explain how it will get VOA working again. The outlet that dates back to World War II has been largely dark since March. - AP News
