General
Time’s Up Calls for NBC News to Make ‘Structural Change’ in Wake of Matt Lauer Rape Allegation
Elizabeth Wagmeister, Variety
Time’s Up — the anti-sexual harassment advocacy group launched by Hollywood celebrities — has responded to the ongoing sexual harassment allegations at NBC that continue to unfold this week following the release of Ronan Farrow’s new book. “Catch and Kill” details the investigative journalist’s experience reporting against systems of power, with much of the book focused on his claims against NBC News.
Why the Oscars, Emmys and Tonys Are Not Ready for They and Them
Cara Buckley, The New York Times
Sam Smith, the British crooner with a voice often described as heaven sent, announced in September that “my pronouns are they/them.” Days later, the Brit Awards, which had nominated Smith for top male artist earlier in the year, said the categories would be reconsidered for 2021.
Wanted: Intimacy coordinators. Hollywood’s fastest growing job
Jill Serjeant, Reuters
Two years after a sexual harassment scandal roiled Hollywood, one of the fastest growing jobs in the entertainment industry is that of the intimacy director.
#PayUpHollywood explained: Industry assistants are speaking out about their wages
Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times
Hollywood assistants are saying #PayUpHollywood in a new effort to shed light on what they say are exceedingly low wages in the entertainment industry.
AMC Theatres Accused of Firing VP Who Complained of Gender Pay Gap
Gene Maddaus, Variety
A former vice president at AMC Theatres filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday, accusing the company of firing her after she complained that she was paid far less than her male peers.
It’s not ‘Bitcoin the Musical,’ but blockchain technology is coming to Broadway
Christopher Zara, Fast Company
Bots! Scalpers!
Film
The Film Academy Is Flush With Documentaries, But Where Are The Hits?
Michael Cieply, Deadline Hollywood
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences certainly isn’t short on documentarians. Atop its existing 400 or so documentary branch members, the Academy in July invited almost 100 additional doc-makers to join.
‘Rise of Skywalker’ trailer should debut soon. Why Disney has waited so long to release it
Sarah Whitten, CNBC
With just under two months until the final installment of the Skywalker Saga set to hit theaters, there’s one thing Star Wars fans are still waiting for — an official trailer.
Gemini Man is a cinematic throwback, but it may be the future of blockbusters, too
Jesse Hassenger, The Verge
Around halfway through the new Ang Lee science fiction / action thriller Gemini Man, super-assassin Henry Brogan (Will Smith) learns some details about Junior, his equally skilled super-assassin clone (also Smith, in digitally de-aged form). Junior was born around 1995, meaning he preceded Dolly the cloned sheep by a year or so.
Oscars: 32 Pics Submitted For Animated Feature Race
Erik Pedersen, Deadline Hollywood
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released its list of films submitted for the Animated Feature race at the 92nd annual Academy Awards. Thirty-two films will vie for a slot on the Oscar shortlist and, ideally, a nomination when those are announced in January.
Television
CNN’s Democratic primary debate draws 8.3 million viewers on Tuesday
Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times
The fourth Democratic presidential primary debate drew an average audience of 8.3 million viewers for CNN on Tuesday, the smallest TV audience for the 2020 White House contenders so far.
Networks Tout Delayed Viewing Amid Dismal Early-Season Numbers
Joe Otterson, Variety
The 2019-20 broadcast premiere season has begun, and the ratings are … underwhelming. More specifically, the Nielsen live-plus-same day ratings are underwhelming.
Technology and New Media
A rush of new Netflix competitors could breathe life into struggling digital-TV bundles, but AT&T and Dish may need to overhaul their strategies
Ashley Rodriguez, Business Insider Prime
The subscription streaming wars are intensifying, and Wall Street analysts say it could toss the internet’s pay-TV bundles a lifeline.
‘Community’ To Be Taken Out To Streamers As Sony Pictures TV Hopes To Cash In On Hot Comedy Market
Peter White, Deadline Hollywood
Community is set to be the next long-running comedy to hit the SVOD marketplace with Sony Pictures Television taking out the Dan Harmon-created show following mega streaming deals for shows such as Seinfeld, which is distributed by Sony TV, The Big Bang Theory, Friends and The Office
Hulu ramps up its personalization efforts, starting with launch of Like / Dislike buttons
Sarah Perez, TechCrunch
Hulu says it’s working on several product changes to make its service more personalized to viewers. It recently launched an enhanced recommendation engine that now accounts for not just what you watch, but also when.
Live From Hollywood: SiriusXM Unveils New West Coast Complex, Domination Plan
Malina Saval, Variety
It’s early on a Monday morning in Hollywood, and Howard Stern is sitting behind a desk sipping hot water in the airy revamped performance space of SiriusXM’s glistening new West Coast digs. The 26,000-square-foot studio on Sycamore Avenue is appropriately located for the self-proclaimed King of All Media — in the heart of the Media District.
A24, Apple Announce New Film and Continue to Bet Big on Indie Film’s Best Women Directors
Kate Erbland, IndieWire
A24 and Apple have yet to release their first co-production, the Sofia Coppola-directed “On the Rocks,” but the duo have already made apparent their aims: ambitious offerings from some of indie film’s best female directors. Following Coppola’s Rashida Jones- and Bill Murray-starring comedy, A24 and Apple will release the latest film from indie wunderkind and “Madeline’s Madeline” breakout filmmaker Josephine Decker.
Tivo’s CEO explains how the company ‘fully embraces’ streaming
Anthony Ha, TechCrunch
Does TiVo has a future beyond the DVR? Dave Shull certainly hopes so.
Giphy Joins Netflix and Tinder on the Videogames Bandwagon
Julie Muncy, Wired
In 2019, if a platform exists, it’s going to have games on it. They may not be videogames as you generally think of them, but they are games—small, social, ephemeral, and they are everywhere.
Shonda Rhimes signs podcast deal iHeartMedia
Anthony Ha, TechCrunch
Shondaland, the production company founded by “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes, has signed a deal to create a new slate of podcasts for iHeartRadio over the next three years.
Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research
Netflix says Stranger Things’ third season is record-breaking, but what does that mean?
Julia Alexander, The Verge
There’s no question that Stranger Things is one of Netflix’s most popular shows, but we have to question whether it’s as record-breaking as Netflix claims. The company reported in its third-quarter earnings that Stranger Things’ third season is “the most watched season to date,” with “64 million member households” watching it within the first month of its release.
Netflix Approaches Critical Test of Its Viability
Shira Ovide, Bloomberg
Netflix Inc. is approaching a litmus test of its sustainability. The company said on Wednesday in its third-quarter earnings release that it would add fewer net new streaming video customers this year than in 2018.
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