My heart breaks for all the loss and destruction in Los Angeles. Growing up in Atlanta, my family never traveled further west than Memphis, Tenn., and I cannot begin to describe my excitement when I finally visited L.A. in my late 20s. I immediately became besotted, a love that eventually led me to want to cover the entertainment business here at The Ankler. Palisades native Richard Rushfield, Katey Rich and Sean McNulty all expressed their feelings on the fires this week and you can find those below, but if you haven’t already, I encourage you to listen to Rob Long’s soulful, funny and affecting audio essay on the wildfires and Hollywood:
As Richard wrote, The Ankler is a community outpost, so if you do have a story about your experiences this week, there’s catharsis and power in sharing it with your peers. You can do so here.
On a more upbeat note, big news! We’ve launched Prestige Junkie Pundits — the industry’s new home for a more democratic view into how our most trusted film and TV experts are evaluating the awards race — created in partnership with Letterboxd. Check out how Katey, Richard and such pundits as The Atlantic’s Shirley Li and Esther Zuckerman, The Ringer’s Joanna Robinson, Vulture’s Joe Reid, The Bulwark’s Sonny Bunch and Drew McWeeny, among others, see the Oscars shaping up.
Now, if you could use a diversion, ICYMI:
Series Business: 2025 TV Market Shifts
In this edition of Series Business (for paid subscribers only), Elaine Low shares how producers and writers can control their destiny and identify creative ways to get a show made. Mark Ruffalo and the Duplass Brothers are leading the way in adopting a new financing model; writers and producers are betting on themselves with “tactical” deal structures; and buyers’ tastes are evolving in a way that looks better for writers and producers:
Rushfield’s Saving Oscar Series; New Line in the ’90s
The state of Oscardom has always said a lot about the state of the industry at large, writes Richard Rushfield, as he suggests bold ideas to bring new urgency and life to the awards — and Hollywood. Plus, Richard connected with Mike De Luca and Richard Brener to talk the magic of New Line in the 1990s:
Dealmakers: The Most Important Word in Netflix’s Sports Strategy
As Netflix’s $5 billion, 10-year deal with WWE begins, and streamers continue their full-steam ahead push on live sports, Ashley Cullins (for paid subscribers only) explains why streamers’ push into live sports will be a net positive for the industry; the one word dealmakers believe is key to Netflix’s live sports strategy; and why Amazon and Disney will be the most important players as new rights come up:
Photos: Globes, Inside Out 2
Todd on the Town takes you inside the star-studded Palm Springs International Film Awards and Golden Globes, a Prestige Junkie podcast live taping and screening with Inside Out 2 director Kelsey Mann and more:
Prestige Junkie: Introducing Prestige Junkie Pundits
Katey chatted with a bevy of stars this week: The Brutalist’s Guy Pearce, I’m Still Here’s Fernanda Torres and Nickel Boys’ director RaMell Ross, star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and cinematographer Jomo Fray:
Notable: Emilia Pérez . . . Coming to Broadway?
For Rob LeDonne’s latest intimate chat with musicians working within Hollywood, he speaks with Emilia Pérez composers Camille and Clément Ducol about their emotional week and along the way breaks some news about their interest in taking the film to Broadway:
THE WAKEUP
This week, Sean McNulty gives you all the analysis you need to know about the leadership changes atop Warners and Peacock, Venu’s collapse and why there are reasons to be optimistic about the state of the business in 2025:
🎧 PODCASTS
THE ANKLER
‘An Intense Couple of Days’ Devastating personal loss takes center stage in the industry:
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