Happy Oscar Day! It’s been a long awards trail since the race kicked off in Toronto back in September but the Big Show is finally upon us. Before Richard roams the Dolby tonight (say hi!), two questions:
Tomorrow morning, Sean McNulty’s Wakeup will have highlights and takeaways, with Richard’s inside-the-Dolby news and analysis on fast follow.
Streaming’s Inflection, a Summit and the Strike
Two themes prevailed this week: everyone’s talking strike (will it or won’t it happen?), and the harsh reality of streaming’s expensive future. Both were Topic A at the NXStream Global summit (see more event photos here), thrown by Advertising Week and The Ankler, held at UTA, where two CEO conversations, the first of several interviews we’ll post, have been made available:
🎧 Jeremy Zimmer: I’m Siding With the WGA Janice spoke with UTA’s candid and spirited CEO in a spirited conversation about the Oscars, dealmaking, streaming and stars, where Zimmer took a clear side in the writers’ negotiations: “The things they’re fighting for right now are fair and right.” Wowza!
🎧 Tony Vinciquerra: Will Smith, the ‘Woman King’ Snub & Spider-Man’s Future Sony Pictures Entertainment’s star CEO delivered it all: his response to The Woman King’s Oscars snub; his decision to work with Will Smith again; streaming’s inevitable consolidation; the studio’s big future in India; and Sony’s Netflix deal (“the best Pay-1 deal in the history of the business”)
Meanwhile, our own team stayed on point…
🎧 Streaming’s Reckoning: Industry Titans Speak Up Sean, Janice and Richard on the CEOs saying ‘enough!’ as the current system turns untenable, Jenna Ortega’s oof comments, and Oscar predictions.
🎧 Martini Shot: Hollywood Org Chart Rob Long’s thoughts about who holds the power as a writers strike looms
Rushfield: 55 Days to the Abyss 11 BIG QUESTIONS in advance of the writer showdown
☀️5 Days of The Wakeup
Iger speaks! A look into the tea leaves from his latest public comments
SPOTIFY goes TIKTOK meets TINDER for Music in launching new mobile interface
AMAZON gets next Jonathan Majors pic, with Spike Lee circling
WBD signals global ambitions with HBO Int’l deal renewals, as new Exec bonus structure is set
CREED III blows away tracking for MGM, as ANT-MAN fast descent continues
