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
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
"(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
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
"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
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
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
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
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 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
"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
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
"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
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
The laws, championed by right-leaning state lawmakers, are rooted in the idea that the tech platforms have had a bias against conservatives. They’ve long lambasted social media practices that limited the reach of certain accounts, while tech companies have denied that they are discriminating against certain types of political speech. - Deadline
