Showbiz Sandbox J. Sperling Reich & Michael Giltz
-
- Cine y TV
Industry pros J. Sperling Reich and Michael Giltz provide insightful analysis, humorous viewpoints and insider opinions on the latest entertainment news headlines. The weekly podcast features panel discussions with renowned industry guests, as well as phone calls and emails from listeners who voice their own opinions on the child’s play of the entertainment business.
-
Showbiz Sandbox 658: Searching for Winners at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival
The general consensus among attendees was that, unlike last year, the 2024 Cannes Film Festival was not one of its strongest editions. Few of the selections made a huge impact and, indeed, there were a few titles that left festival goers scratching their heads. Yet, it seemed more indicative of a general malaise affecting the entire film industry rather than the Cannes itself.
Indeed, some of those award prizes in Cannes are sure to make their way into the cultural conversation in the months ahead, including Palme d’Or winner “Anora,” from director Sean Baker and Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez.” However, entries from Francis Ford Coppola, Kevin Costner and David Cronenberg mostly underwhelmed audiences and critics.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the bundling of streaming services, the SXSW festival heads to London and the Department of Justice officially sues Live Nation for antitrust.
Mary Frances Giltz 1929-2024
https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2024/05/mary-frances-giltz-obituary.html
Mary Frances Giltz – Her Story (1929-2024)
https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2024/05/mary-frances-giltz-her-story-1929-2024.html
‘Furiosa’ Opening Action Muted With $59M Global Debut; Why Didn’t It Strong-Arm The Marketplace?
https://deadline.com/2024/05/furiosa-a-mad-max-saga-global-international-box-office-1235941482/
Box Office Meltdown: ‘Furiosa’ Edges Past ‘Garfield’ to Win Memorial Day With Worst No. 1 Opening in Three Decades
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/furiosa-box-office-garfield-worst-memorial-day-1235909084/
Sundance Selects 15 Cities To Make Bids For Festival’s Potential Move
https://deadline.com/2024/05/sundance-festival-move-city-bids-1235927707/
New Jersey Approves Massive Studio Complex In Bayonne As State Pushes To Attract Production
https://deadline.com/2024/05/new-jersey-greenlights-giant-studio-complex-attract-production-1235908606/
‘Jeopardy!’ Expands to Streaming With Pop Culture Edition on Amazon
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jeopardy-streaming-amazon-prime-video-1235898290/
Scarlett Johansson Says OpenAI Tried to Ink a Voice Deal, Was Rebuffed, Then Mimicked Voice Anyway
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/openai-pulls-chatgpt-voice-sounds-like-scarlett-johansson-1235904085/
Kendrick Lamar Lands Two Top 10 Songs With Drake Diss ‘Not Like Us’ at Number One
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kendrick-lamar-number-one-not-like-us... -
Showbiz Sandbox 657: New Streaming Business Models Require New Measurement Tools
Streaming services seem to have settled on engagement as the metric by which to measure the success of a series or movie or even the platform itself. However, the industry has yet to decide a method for how to measure and report such figures in a consistent way. Some services publish random viewership figures citing how many subscribers sampled specific programming without describing how that figure is calculated.
This is becoming a big problem now that labor unions depend on reliable data to make sure studios, networks and streamers are keeping their end of the bargain when it comes to sharing profits for big hits.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s Tony nominations for Broadway shows, television producer Dan Schneider sues the filmmakers behind the “Quiet On Set” Documentary, and Madonna performs in Rio de Janeiro for more than 1.5 million fans.
‘The Fall Guy’ Expands To $65M WW, ‘Garfield’ Pounces On $22M In Early Offshore Bow
https://deadline.com/2024/05/the-fall-guy-garfield-movie-global-international-box-office-1235904755/
‘The Fall Guy’ Lands With $28.5M, ‘Phantom Menace’ Tops ‘Challengers’ for No. 2
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-fall-guy-phantom-menace-1235890470/
Madonna Brings Massive Free Concert to Rio, Capping Celebration Tour
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/arts/music/madonna-free-celebration-concert-rio-brazil.html
Dan Schneider Sues ‘Quiet on Set’ Producers for Defamation, Calls Nickelodeon Abuse Docuseries a ‘Hit Job’
https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/dan-schneider-sues-quiet-on-set-producers-defamation-1235988962/
Universal Music and TikTok Strike New Licensing Deal – Including ‘Improved Remuneration’ for UMG Artists and Songwriters
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-music-and-tiktok-strike-new-licensing-deal/
TikTok May Be Banned in the US. Here’s What Happened When India Did It
https://apnews.com/article/india-tiktok-ban-us-china-9ae5223bce78c56e5d22a1f2e86510f0
The Ghosts of India’s TikTok: What Happens When a Social Media App Is Banned
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240426-the-ghosts-of-indias-tiktok-social-media-ban
Live Nation Revenue Soars 21% in Record First Quarter
https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/live-nation-revenue-soars-21-percent-record-first-quarter-1235672006/
Live Nation Says It’s Not “Legally Permissible” to Break Up the Company As DOJ Lawsuit Looms
https://www.hollywoodreporter. -
Showbiz Sandbox 656: Yes, People Still Buy Books
Two recent opinion pieces stirred up some heated debate in the book publishing business. One insists no one buys books anymore. The other says the proliferation of book roundup lists is a bunch of nonsense. One is very wrong, even when it’s right. The other is right, but for the wrong reasons. Michael is our book guy and in fact does book roundups every week! So let’s put him on the hot seat.
Meanwhile, Nielsen recently overcame some technological hurdles and got cooperation from several new sources of streaming data. The result? A number of shows popped onto the streaming charts for the first time or with renewed force. The big beneficiary is Hulu, with Peacock a distant second.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault conviction was overturned by a New York court, Taylor Swift’s latest album breaks all sorts of streaming records and an update on a potential acquisition of Paramount Global.
Skadoosh!: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Crosses $500M WW; ‘Challengers’ Widens Offshore Net; ‘The Fall Guy’ Starts Overseas Action
https://deadline.com/2024/04/kung-fu-panda-4-milestone-the-fall-guy-challengers-godzilla-x-kong-dune-roundup-punishment-global-international-box-office-1235897903/
Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Hits Target With $15M Opening for No. 1 Finish
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/zendaya-box-office-challengers-opening-1235885369/
Michael Giltz’s Books Coverage for Parade
https://parade.com/books/best-reads/author/michael-giltz
Parade’s Best New Releases April 30-May 6
https://parade.com/books/best-reads/best-new-book-releases-this-week-2024-april-30-may-6
Paramount Considers Removing CEO Bob Bakish as Turmoil Over Sale Talks Deepens
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/paramount-considers-removing-ceo-bob-bakish-as-turmoil-over-sale-talks-deepens-a48b0ec5
Writers Guild Of Canada “Overwhelmingly” Votes To Authorize Strike Action, CMPA Says “Labor Dispute Would Be Extremely Damaging” To Industry
https://deadline.com/2024/04/writers-guild-canada-vite-authorize-strike-action-cmpa-1235894681/
Taylor Swift Makes Historic Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-debut-number-one-billboard-200-chart/
For First Time in Decades, Vinyl Record Sales Surpass CDs and DVDs in Brazil
https://apnews.com/video/brazil-music-anitta-d3cde6d835814a969f82793890c6605a
The Elysian: No One Buys Books
h... -
Showbiz Sandbox 655: Netflix Stops Sweating (and Reporting) Subscriber Growth
Netflix first quarter earnings report showed growth in all areas from subscribers, to revenue and income. But with Netflix clearly dominating competitors and entering a mature market, the streaming giant will no longer provide subscriber figures on a regular basis. Instead, Netflix will concentrate on profit and the amount of time each of their 270 million subscribers spend viewing programming on their platform.
Meanwhile, the long gestating sale of Paramount Global got a lot more interesting last week when Sony entered the picture with its own bid for the media conglomerate. Unfortunately, indie production house Participant Media was unable to find a buyer and abruptly shuttered.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Taylor Swift breaks her own sales records with the release of her album “The Tortured Poets Department” and the Sundance Film Festival may be in search of a new home.
All The Records Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Has Broken (So Far)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/04/22/all-the-records-taylor-swifts-the-tortured-poets-department-has-broken-so-far/
‘Godzilla X Kong’ Storming Towards $500M WW As ‘Dune: Part Two’ Closes In On $700M
https://deadline.com/2024/04/godzilla-x-kong-dune-japan-china-global-international-box-office-1235891070/
‘Civil War’ Draws Blood to Beat ‘Abigail’ and Stay No. 1 With $11M Second Weekend
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/civil-war-box-office-drawing-blood-abigail-1235878317/
Justice Department to File Antitrust Suit Against Live Nation
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/live-nation-justice-department-antitrust-lawsuit-ab98c268
Sundance Without Park City? Festival Exploring Options for 2027 and Beyond
https://www.indiewire.com/news/festivals/sundance-film-festival-exploring-options-other-host-cities-2027-1234974957/
Hugh Grant Settles Privacy Case Against Sun Publisher
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68834392
NMPA Accuses Spotify of ‘Attacking Songwriters’ as Streaming Service Changes How It Pays Out Mechanical Royalties in the US
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/nmpa-accuses-spotify-of-attacking-songwriters-as-it-changes-how-it-pays-mechanical-royalties-in-the-us/
Netflix’s New Film Strategy: More About the Audience, Less About Auteurs
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/14/business/media/netflix-movies-dan-lin.html
Netflix Adds 9.3M Subscribers In Quarter, Growing Its Lead in Streaming
a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter. -
Showbiz Sandbox 654: CinemaCon Promotes A Bright Future for Movie Theatres
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... -
Showbiz Sandbox 653: Godzilla and Kong, Once Again, Prove Movie Theaters Aren’t Dead
The monstrous global box office opening of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” may have been a surprise to film critics or anyone paying attention to industry tracking in advance of its release, but it surely proves that if you put movies in movie theaters, audiences will show up. Especially if those theaters offer premium auditoriums like IMAX. Even “Oppenheimer” opened well in Japan over this past weekend, becoming filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s biggest debut.
Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Company and the State of Florida have made overtures toward settling their recent legal disputes. As we predicted, despite the battle in the court of public opinion, it will all come to nothing.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Paramount Global’s ongoing financial woes, the discovery of some new Marvin Gaye music and how vinyl records are outselling compact discs.
‘Godzilla X Kong’ Reigns With $194M Worldwide Bow; ‘Dune 2’ Rises To $626M & ‘Oppenheimer’ Opens In Japan
https://deadline.com/2024/03/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-china-global-international-box-office-1235871670/
‘Godzilla x Kong: New Empire’ Roars to Monstrous $80M Box Office Opening, $194M Globally
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/godzilla-x-kong-new-empire-huge-box-office-opening-1235863501/
BBC Doc Looks At J-Pop Scandal, Says Near 1000 Men Came Forward to Discuss Abuse
https://deadline.com/2024/03/johnny-kitagawa-johnny-and-associates-abuse-1235869618/
Paramount Debt Is Cut to Junk on Worsening Outlook for TV
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-27/paramount-debt-is-cut-to-junk-on-deteriorating-outlook-for-tv
Collection of Unreleased Marvin Gaye Songs Found in Belgium
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/31/collection-of-unreleased-marvin-gaye-songs-found-in-belgium
Vinyl Records Outsold CDs for the Second Year Running
https://www.popsci.com/technology/vinyl-sales-cds-2023/
Only 1 of the Top 20 Best-Selling Albums Globally Last Year Wasn’t by a K-Pop Act
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/seventeen-taylor-swift-top-20-best-selling-albums-globally-in-2023/
NBC News Ousts Ronna McDaniel After Staff Uproar, CAA Drops Ex-RNC Chair
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/nbc-news-ronna-mcdaniel-contributor-1235860170/
Disney Ends Its Fight With DeSantis Over Resort Development
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/business/disney-desantis-florida-lawsuit.html