Each year a number of key trends stand out. For 2023 it was applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for game development, with the future shape of the gaming experience – with and without virtual reality (VR) – high on the agenda. - The Conversation
"The judge hearing the wrongful death lawsuit against actor Alec Baldwin and an array of producers linked to a fatal film set shooting agreed Monday to seal from public view the terms of a proposed settlement agreement in the case that benefits the son of slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins." - AP
"Nielsen's national ratings, arguably the standard in tabulating TV audiences, (had) been without industry backing since September of 2021, after TV networks complained that Nielsen's work measuring activity during the coronavirus pandemic was sub-standard. … Its local TV ratings, which also lost accreditation, have not regained it." - Variety
The American magazine is in a state of decay. Now known mostly as brands, once sumptuous print publications exist primarily as websites or YouTube channels, hosts for generic scribblings, the ever-ubiquitous “take.” - Washington Post
"Nearly 98% of the 9,218 votes were cast to authorize the strike, with nearly 79% of guild members voting. … The writers' three-year contract expires May 1, and leaders could call for a walkout the following day, but could extend the deadline if the two sides are close to a deal." - AP
The website Box Office Mojo lists data on the top grossing films in more than 70 countries, but not Canada. Why are there no easily accessible Canadian box office figures, and what could be gained from sharing them? - CBC
The popular genre, derided and outcast from the movie theatres for a while, has made a return - but with different values, and often on streaming. ("Thirty-six new romcoms are coming out this year on film and streamed TV. That’s three a month!") - The Guardian (UK)
So are they Tubecasts? PodTube? Anyway, "more podcast listeners in the U.S. prefer to watch podcasts on YouTube than listen to audio-only version," and also, "people listening to podcasts on YouTube are more likely to be younger." No more "voice for radio" jokes. - Nieman Lab
"The strike authorization vote is meant to turn up the heat on companies such as Netflix and Walt Disney and convince them to raise the pay for writers, who say their compensation has suffered because of the streaming revolution." - Reuters
"The dimly lit space, which is sandwiched between a former Victorian public baths and a burger shop in Clapton, east London, is a cinematic Aladdin’s cave, its floor reduced to a narrow path between stacks and shelves of film paraphernalia." - The Guardian (UK)
The designer of many of India's single-screen cinemas created "visually enticing places that transported you from the commonness of the streets and prepared you for the fantastical world of movies and storytelling that was to come." AMC, take notes. - BBC
Respect the source material, pay for talent, use visual cues from the games, and pick wisely. (The latter seems like it might be the most difficult one to get right, considering how many adaptations have gone wrong. - Washington Post
A challenging macroeconomic environment discourages both consumers and tech giants from investing heavily in metaverse technologies that lack a solid history of performance and compelling applications. - JingCulture
As entertainment’s largest conglomerates face a perfect storm of financial pressures and macroeconomic uncertainty, there’s been a clear shift again to embrace the fundamentals and focus on profits, not market share, for new services. - Variety
