We talk a lot at The Ankler about the anxiety that this age of disruption has wrought. This week, we started to look at what’s coming. How will AI shake up our world? Who will be the winner and losers in the days ahead? Ken Ziffren kicked off our Glimpse of the Future series; Richard delivered his annual State of Showbiz message with strong words about how the Analystocracy is destroying entertainment; and Entertainment Strategy Guy detailed how Peacock actually pulled-up from its tailspin. And thanks to Molly Shannon, who declared on Instagram this week, “@theankler newsletter is superb. Feel like I’m taking a Hollywood business class.” Mission accomplished!
Note: The Squeeze series resumes this week, tackling the current state of executive pay and angst. The series is for paid subscribers.
Lastly, farewell to Howard Bragman, Hollywood PR legend, stalwart champion of LGBTQ rights, and welcome podcast guest over here. We will miss your effusive energy, intelligence and gentle but searing wit. Thank you for speaking your mind in a town often terrified to do so. Rest In Peace, dear friend.
Glimpse of the Future series
The 7 Streamers Ken Ziffren, co-founder of Ziffren Brittenham, on what we get wrong when we discuss competition
AI in Hollywood Cornell law professor James Grimmelmann on where ChatGPT, DALL-E and other new technologies are taking us (can it pitch a good Fast and Furious sequel? You decide!)
How Hollywood AI Will Make ‘Every Creative Job Look Different’ Grimmelmann also joined The Ankler pod to play and discuss real-life examples of AI in scripts, a fake Marvel soundtrack and visual effects
Also…
Rushfield’s State of Showbiz: Enough! Suddenly CEOs are worshiped more than stars. The Analystocracy is killing entertainment.
Secrets of Peacock’s Sudden Subscriber Boom It’s not what you think. And what Hulu has to do with it
Martini Shot Podcast: ‘You Don’t Remember Me, Do You?’ Rob Long on the scariest words to hear in this town
Out and About
The Wakeup’s Sean McNulty talked Disney on CNBC’s Power Lunch:
Peter Kiefer on Story of the Week with Joel Stein to discuss his epic reporting on Elisabeth Finch in The ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Liar Confesses it All
5 Days of The Wakeup
DISNEY Shakeout Day 2; LIONSGATE sets Library Record as STARZ Stumbles in Q4
Analyzing Iger’s thrifty future as DIS+ loses Subs for 1st time ever
WBD now keeping DISCO+ as a separate service when new HBOMAX launches
PAR+ creating SHOWTIME MCU, as YELLOWSTONE hits rumored Costner impasse
M. Night tops Box Office… but 80 FOR BRADY gets bigger audience
The Optionist, a newsletter about IP
IP Picks: Fond Memories & Red Meat Some serious early aughts nostalgia, plus a murdered reporter, drug smugglers on the Texas plains and a new YA fantasy series
