“The Palestinian-Israeli collective behind the film rejected a deal from Mubi, the company behind hits such as The Substance, after controversy over ties to an investment firm linked to the Israeli military.” - The Guardian (UK)
“Amid swirling reports of bidding interest by Paramount Global, the WBD board of directors says is it ‘has initiated a review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.’” (That’s finance-bro-euphemism for “We’re for sale for the right price.”) The board’s statement added that there is “unsolicited interest” from “multiple parties.” - The Hollywood Reporter
“The effort to offer up to $95 million in tax credits to Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery for a new film production facility in the Vegas suburbs didn’t win enough legislative support earlier this year. But more than a dozen labor unions are pushing to revive the proposal during an expected special session next month.” - AP
The specific shuttering of the brand’s music platforms does call into question the position of the music video in today’s industry, and whether the form still provides a viable outlet for expression and promotion. - The Guardian
When app stores determine that a user is under 18, “the law prohibits them from downloading virtually all apps and software programs and from making any in-app purchases unless their parent consents and is given control over the minor’s account,” the CCIA said. - Ars Technica
Will Netflix ever win Best Picture? It’s been trying - hard - for 10 years. This year? Hm. Not necessarily Best Picture, but “I’d be betting it all on KPop Demon Hunters to win Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.” - Vulture (MSN)
“The app’s popularity—it surpassed 1 million downloads in its first week—is ripe for this moment of decaying truths, where fact and reason have an increasingly diminished value.” - Wired
The creator says Mayor Adams "works so well because he has so many existing real videos where he says unusual and funny things. … In my head, it's the same guy. I feel like it's stuff I could hear him say in real life.” - Hell Gate NYC
"From Dorothy’s ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz to Harry Potter wands, props from iconic films are earning big dollars at both auction and private sales — in some cases on par with rare wine, Swiss watches and fine art.” - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
He won for his work on Secret Lives of Orangutans, a documentary that also won Emmys for “outstanding music direction and composition and outstanding directing team for a single camera daytime non-fiction program.” - BBC
“A friendly assistant director who is already known to you, who brings you tea and holds your phone while you’re acting, says that the VFX team are in today – and just after you finish the scene, could you pop over to the VFX bus? And off you go.” - The Guardian (UK)
“For readers, the sloppified news churned out by many of the sites is a reason to be wary of a confusing media landscape. And for beleaguered news publishers, the AI news sites threaten their investments in journalism.” - Nieman Lab
The “triple crown”-winning (Cannes, Venice, Berlin) writer-director has developed both coping strategies and outright tricks. For instance, sending one version of a script to the censors’ office while clandestinely filming the other version. - Vulture (MSN)
A publication that began in 1857 is defying the trends of a troubled media industry. The Atlantic is returning to publishing monthly two decades after dropping to 10 issues a year and experimenting with a magazine-newspaper hybrid online fueled by its competitive stable of writers. - AP News
