We’re counting down to our in-person summit, NXStream Global, on Wednesday! Today, some updates on new names and programming joining the all-star lineup:
Klutch Sports Group’s Rich Paul and ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike on the future of sports media in streaming
Thai Randolph, CEO of Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat, Jesse Sigsold, President of Skydance Media, and Nick Brien, CEO of Enthusiast Gaming on original IP vs. franchises in the age of streaming
Verizon Chief Content Officer Erin McPherson and Lyft’s Chief Business Officer Zach Greenberger on how the biggest brands are interacting with streaming in the new age of advertising
A Future of Branded Entertainment Luncheon hosted by execs from Hello Sunshine, Imagine Entertainment, and UTA Entertainment Marketing
An exclusive celebration of the Oscars and NXStream at Olivetti on Tuesday, March 7 hosted by The Ankler, Advertising Week and UTA
All the above joins a stellar lineup that already includes Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment; Tom Ryan, CEO of Paramount Streaming; Rita Ferro, President of Disney Advertising; and Jeremy Zimmer, CEO of UTA
We both hope to see you there, along with our Ankler team of Sean McNulty, Elaine Low and Peter Kiefer, and The Optionist’s Andy Lewis. (Bonus: a delicious breakfast is coming courtesy of Niki Russ Federman of NYC’s famed Russ & Daughters, with welcoming remarks from Debra Birnbaum, Amazon’s head of awards).
Thank you to our partners XOMAD, Lyft and DirecTV Advertising.
Registration details are here.
Meanwhile…
The Ankler’s big feature about an explosive undiscovered script from Gone With the Wind was widely covered around the world, from stories in People to the New York Post to the Daily Mail to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Historian David Vincent Kimel uncovered a never-revealed battle over the depiction of slavery in the making of what would become Hollywood’s highest-grossing film (a record it still holds, adjusted for inflation). It’s one of the ugliest chapters in Hollywood history, complete with the presence of 10-year-old Martin Luther King Jr., dressed as a slave, singing in a Black choir at the movie’s premiere.
Kimel reveals the contents of the rediscovered script (including a scene of Rhett Butler contemplating suicide) and accompanying memos that detail the fights, incredibly, over the use of racial slurs and scenes of slavery’s brutality, and how ultimately the “romantic” rendering of the pre-Civil War South prevailed. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the making one of Hollywood’s most consequential — and disgraced — Oscar films.
Also This Week…
Bob Iger’s First 100 Days: the Report Card How’s the second term going? Our Entertainment Strategy Guy grades the boomerang CEO’s early moves around Marvel, parks, ESPN and Hulu
Rushfield: 62 Days to the Abyss Our countdown to the end of the WGA contract continues. This week: what 20+ writers tell our columnist what the mood is and why (spoiler alert: things aren’t looking good)
Rushfield: Ant-Man, Astrology, Snow & I Spy Hey WGA, the Hollywood CEO-to-worker pay ratio chart is here! Also: look what CEO crashed the BAFTAs winners photo!
🎧 Listen
Hollywood at War: Now and Then More WGA nightmare stories; and David Vincent Kimel joins to discuss his groundbreaking Gone With the Wind reporting
Martini Shot: Do You Party? A cryptic interaction prompts Rob Long to reflect on Hollywood’s state of desperation
☀️ 5 Days of The Wakeup
The Wakeup’s Sean McNulty, aka our resident sports expert, joined CNBC’s The Exchange to discuss ESPN’s deeper foray into sports streaming (when he wasn’t delivering the town’s best daily news and analysis).
DeNiro does TV for the 1st time at NETFLIX, as ESPN sets new leadership under Pitaro
ENDEAVOR talks WME Strike exposure and big $$ targets for 2023
COCAINE and JESUS over perform as ANT-MAN has worst 2nd wknd ever for MARVEL
🔎 The Optionist
IP Picks: Suspect Motives Everywhere A racist cop coverup, a two-timing CI, a notorious art smuggler — heck, even the nanny’s got something to hide
Roald Dahl, 007 and the Tortured Revision Missteps Plus, other lessons learned from Britain’s recent book misstep
