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Never, Ever Bet Against A Film About The Holocaust At The Oscars

Yes, Oppenheimer is a WWII movie, usually a safe bet - except when a WWII movie is up against a WWII Holocaust movie. Anonymous Oscars voters are showing sudden Zone of Interest, uh, interest. - The Guardian (UK)

Creating Invented Languages For Movies

Today, with the budgets of the biggest films and series rivalling the G.D.P.s of small island nations, constructed languages, or conlangs, are becoming a norm, if not an implicit requirement. - The New Yorker

A World Of Hurt For Hollywood

Twenty twenty-three was a year of downsizing, diminishment, shelving, sidelining, retrenching, retreating and bet hedging. And 2024 is the year of consequences. - The New York Times

How The Criterion Collection Became Cinema’s Ultimate Seal Of Approval

"(It's) a catalog so synonymous with cinematic achievement that ..., over four decades, through a combination of luck, obsession and good taste, this 55-person company has become the arbiter of what makes a great movie, more so than any Hollywood studio or awards ceremony." - The New York Times Magazine

Time To Give Up Streaming? (It’s Getting Worse)

Once you've bought it, you're never going to find that the retailer has reached into your movie, CD, or record collection to remove it with no notice. You own it forever, and in the case of music, it's trivial to make copies to listen to on your phone, computer, or home media server. - Lifewire

Georgia Lawmakers Think The State’s Film Tax Credit May Have Gone A Little Too Far

"The program has supported thousands of Georgia jobs and the creation of several thriving studios. But it’s hugely expensive — the state is projected to give out $1.35 billion in credits this year alone. Supporters of the measure say they want to ... protect the state against a limitless liability." - AP

Revenue At Troubled Cinema Chain AMC Went Way Up, And That’s Due Entirely To Two People

Fourth-quarter 2023 earnings were up more than $100 million from a year earlier, and net losses (though still big) were down by over one-third. AMC CEO Adam Aron said that "literally all" of that increase in revenue was from the hit concert films by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. - The Hollywood Reporter

Hang On, Maybe John Waters Isn’t Making Another Movie — Just Yet

Yesterday's report that the Pope of Trash is making a film adaptation of his 2022 novel Liarmouth starring Aubrey Plaza was, well, not entirely wrong, but definitely premature. - The Baltimore Banner

Huh? New AI Synthesizes Radio Listener Voices

Artificial intelligence is already enabling stations to replicate the voices of on-air talent. Now a new Benztown product uses AI to craft “listener” audio for on-air use. - Inside Radio

Chicago Public Radio/WBEZ Cuts Its Flagship Local News Show In Half

A decade ago, WBEZ had four hours of weekday local news; as of next week, there's one hour, as Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons loses half of its 11 am-to-1 pm time slot. (The remaining hour, with some schedule rearrangement, will go to a second daily broadcast of Fresh Air.) - Axios

Warner And Paramount Are No Longer Talking Merger

Warner Bros. Discovery is no longer pursuing a merger with Paramount Global as its shares trade near a 52-week low, according to people familiar with the matter. - CNBC

By The End Of This Year, Streaming Video Will Be Pulling In More Money Than Pay TV, Say Analysts

"Streaming revenue is poised to overtake pay TV subscription revenue by the third quarter of 2024, boosted by the recent uptick in ad-supported offerings, London-based research firm Ampere Analysis predicts." - TheWrap

The Refined Art Of Campaigning For An Oscar

To campaign for an Oscar, as for the Presidency, you need a narrative—some compelling story, decided on by a combination of the nominee, campaign strategists, and the media, that gives voters a warm, happy, check-the-box feeling. - The New Yorker

For Its 30th Anniversary, An Oral History Of “Schindler’s List”

"Speaking to those who labored to get the film onscreen — including stars Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes, composer John Williams, agent Michael Ovitz and Martin Scorsese ... — what follows is the most complete telling of one of the most important movies not just of Spielberg’s career." - The Hollywood Reporter

John Waters Is Making His First Movie In 20 Years

The film, set to begin shooting in Baltimore (of course) later this year, is an adaptation of Waters's 2022 novel Liarmouth (subtitled "A Feel-Bad Romance"). Aubrey Plaza will star as a compulsive liar and scammer named Marsha Sprinkle. - The Guardian

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