"You can’t create an AI film that resonates with an audience without understanding how to craft an incredible story. We found the people making the very best AI-assisted films in our community are working professionals in the industry." - The Hollywood Reporter
The Azrieli Foundation, a charitable organisation with ties to Israel’s largest real estate company, will cease its support of the Toronto Arts Foundation following a protest campaign by Canadian artists and arts workers. - The Art Newspaper
Sora stumbled upon AI’s massive potential by giving users free rein over popular characters — from “Rick & Morty” to Pikachu — in any scenario they can imagine. But that, of course, was a nightmare scenario for studios. - Yahoo
The independently-owned title has seen sales decline from a post-pandemic high of 91,000 copies in 2021 to about 78,000 currently. But the LRB has increased income by an average of 6.8% year-on-year since the pandemic and is focusing on revenue per copy rather than discounting to increase circulation. - Press Gazette (UK)
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Wednesday that internet provider Cox Communications cannot be held liable for music piracy from its users. - The Hollywood Reporter
At the moment, theatre companies undertake a range of sustainability practices, including reusing set pieces in different shows and ethically sourcing and constructing sets. -ArtsHub
The collection, and the home near Rittenhouse Square, belonged to Henry McNeil Jr. (son of Tylenol magnate Henry Slack McNeil), who died last July at 81. There are works by Sol LeWitt, Carl Andre, Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and others; there’s even a Picasso print in the bathroom. - The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
“’We were never notified,’ said Monifa Days, co-founding ensemble member (of Congo Square Theatre Company). ‘Our lawyers were never notified. How we found out was we would just do searches in the state’s database about where our status was ... and that’s how we found out.’” - WBEZ (Chicago)
“Rafael Bonachela will step down in the middle of 2028, marking 20 years at SDC. Under his leadership, the company has emerged as a significant player on the global dance stage and established extensive training programs for young dancers.” - The Sydney Morning Herald
“(He) turned everything from computer engineering to life in a nursing home into unexpected bestsellers. … Kidder won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for his 1981 work The Soul of a New Machine, which (explored) a fledgling computer company long before most people cared about the inner workings of Silicon Valley.” - AP
“Jonathan Berry, a longtime Chicago director and former artistic producer at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, will take the helm at Raven Theatre, a 43-year-old off-Loop Chicago theater that operates a busy, two-stage complex in an Edgewater building that once housed a grocery store.” - Chicago Tribune (Yahoo!)
“Jurors (in Los Angeles) found the tech companies to be both negligent and having failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential dangers of their products. The jury awarded the plaintiff in the case damages of $6m, with Meta to pay 70% and YouTube the remainder.” - The Guardian
“Matt Brittin, 57, who has a background in tech, rather than traditional broadcasting, spent almost two decades at Google, becoming the company’s president in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.” - AP
Disney and OpenAI announced the blockbuster three-year licensing deal in December, saying that over 200 Disney-owned characters would be available for use in Sora-generated videos. At the same time, Disney said it would be making a $1 billion equity investment in the AI company. - Ars Technica
Second flutist Emma Gerstein didn’t want to miss Klaus Mäkelä’s first tour with the CSO, which was to the East Coast last month. Neither did she want to stop nursing her ten-month-old, Ronan. So he came along with his mom, who kept a diary about the experience. - WBEZ (Chicago)
