Higher Ground, the former First Couple's production company, is no mere vanity enterprise: in just three years, it has released three children's series, a feature film, an Oscar-winning documentary, books, and podcasts by each Obama. And that's just what's already been completed. - Fast Company
The bigger question facing studios, streaming services and talent agencies: How should stars and filmmakers be paid for movies and TV shows now that the business model is shifting quickly? - Los Angeles Times
Some bigwigs at EY (formerly Ernst & Young) have started using AI-assisted videos of themselves to impress customers. One partner, for instance, used the software's translation function to make a video of his avatar speaking fluent Japanese for a client there. - Wired
Through social media, they have opened up conversations about performance, mental health and the impact of the media. Sports stars are making their voices heard across a range of different sporting arenas. - The Conversation
And considering that series' success - though a very rapid fall-off after the ... let's call it disappointing ... final season - why aren't there more adaptations? - Washington Post
Though some in the Deaf community are criticizing the new movie CODA for centering the concerns of a hearing character, the movie is (perhaps shockingly) "the first major Hollywood release to feature multiple Deaf leads, its hearing director, Siân Heder, endeavored to make the set as accessible as possible." - Los Angeles Times
There's "an endless succession of sequels, prequels, reboots, spin-offs and connected crossovers. This is all great news for diehard fans, but civilian punters now face either an online refresher course or utter confusion every time they enter the multiplex." - The Guardian (UK)
The move came as a blow to many in New Zealand. The production is one of the most expensive in history, with Amazon spending at least $465 million US on the first season, which just finished filming. - CBC
YouTube said, Olympics content was viewed more than 190 million times per day during Tokyo, five times more than the average daily views during Rio five years ago. - Variety
With the delta variant in our lives now, studios and film distributors who have the nerve to require in-person screenings for review are being reckless. Selfish. Wrong. - Chicago Tribune
This week the country's parliament passed a bill barring ownership of a broadcaster by any entity outside the EU. Discovery, which owns TVN, Poland's largest independent network and news outlet, says the law violates that nation's investment treaty with the US. - The Hollywood Reporter
