Showbiz Sandbox 654: CinemaCon Promotes A Bright Future for Movie Theatres Showbiz Sandbox

CinemaCon, the annual gathering of cinema operators in Las Vegas, was filled with anxiety this year thanks to a lack of wide releases due to the recent labor strikes. However, most Hollywood studios showed up with a few movie stars to hawk an increasing number of big titles due later in the year and into 2025. As well, technology companies introduced some exciting new advances in projection and image quality. In all, the conference pointed toward better days ahead for movie theaters.

In even better news, it looks as if the many behind-the-scenes craft people who work on films and television shows may not go on strike like the writers and actors did last year. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) appears to be having very positive negotiations with Alliance of Motion Picture Television Producers on a new contract.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including how Disney won its shareholder battle, the winners of this year’s Writers Guild Awards and CBS whips up a new streaming news service.





‘Godzilla X Kong’ Roars Past $436M WW; ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Tops $450M; Latest ‘Detective Conan’ Huge In Japan

https://deadline.com/2024/04/godzilla-x-kong-kung-fu-panda-4-detective-conan-china-japan-global-international-box-office-1235885714/

‘Civil War’: Red States and Blue States Set Aside Their Differences for Alex Garland’s Movie

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/civil-war-red-states-and-blue-states-1235875216/

IATSE Has “Cautious Optimism” About General Negotiations With Studios As Union Aims To Finalize Craft-Specific Issues This Week

https://deadline.com/2024/04/iatse-general-negotiations-cautious-optimism-studios-craft-specific-issues-done-1235886109/

American Federation of Musicians Ratifies New Deal With Studios

https://deadline.com/2024/04/american-federation-of-musicians-ratifies-deal-studios-1235873942/

CBS News Plans Streaming Overhaul With New ‘Whip-Around’ Program

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/cbs-news-streaming-overhaul-whip-around-1235965338/

Vince McMahon Sells $311 Million In Stock to TKO and Endeavor In Buyback

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-04-08/vince-mcmahon-sells-back-311-million-in-tko-stock-to-endeavor

Book Summaries and Other Knock Off Books Proliferate

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/apr/07/we-may-lose-ability-to-think-critically-at-all-the-book-summary-apps-accused-of-damaging-authors-sales

‘We May Lose Ability to Think Critically at All’: The Book-Summary Apps Accused of Damaging Authors’ Sales

a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/apr/07/we-may-lose-ability-to-think-critically-at-al...