A Celeb Stalking Victim's Terror
Plus: WME's AI bets; digital stars are coming for your ad dollars
No story has ever evoked the kind of emotional reaction we received than our recent piece, extraordinarily written, from former Baywatch star Alexandra Paul, who came to us to share for the first time the harrowing and terrifying account of being stalked for 13 years by a mentally disturbed fan.
More on that down below but first . . .
The Ankler is coming to you live in big ways to kick off April and we hope to see you there.
First, WWE president Nick Khan and chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque are among the headliners joining our Business of Entertainment track at NAB in Las Vegas April 5-9. Our own Sean McNulty will be conducting that interview about the sport’s big business and future plans, while also demonstrating his own chokeslam (just kidding!). Our team will also be joined onstage by Jody Gerson, Jane Rosenthal, Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, David S. Goyer and many others — including, this just in, Katey Rich in conversation with Kenya Barris about “black-ish, Girls Trip and Pushing the Limits of Storytelling.” The full lineup is here. Come check it all out:
BUT! Before you head to Vegas, join us in L.A. this Friday, April 4, for the big return of our Series Business Showcase FYC. Like last time, we’ve got a stellar lineup: American Primeval (Netflix) with director and EP Peter Berg; Dying for Sex (FX) with writer-producers Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock; Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire (AMC) with EP Mark Johnson and star Sam Reid; St. Denis Medical (NBC) with showrunner and EP Eric Ledgin and star Wendi McLendon-Covey; and special guests to be announced from Yellowjackets (Paramount+ with Showtime). All-stars Elaine Low and Katey Rich will be your moderators for the day:
Date: Friday, April 4, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Location: NeueHouse Hollywood
Click here to request to attend or on the image below
Now, with no further ado, ICYMI, our best of the week:
Series Business: WME’s AI ‘Superpowers’; Showrunner Survey
Elaine Low chats with WME’s head of digital strategy, Chris Jacquemin (paid subscribers only), who reveals clients’ current feelings about AI; the agency’s work protecting IP and likeness; how AI can give creators “superpowers”; and how he’s pushing tech to be better a partner:
How do you fix a problem like development? Lesley Goldberg solicits ideas from scores of writers, including Damon Lindelof and Shawn Ryan, who offer such provocative recommendations as adopting written pitches; reinstituting mini-rooms; and creating “show rooms” to integrate writers into production:
As the U.S. alienates Europe, EU production alliances are co-financing and co-producing shows without relying on Hollywood. Manori Ravindran explains why these alliances aren’t reliant on American financing or partners; how they work; their per-hour budgets; and the one must for alliances to produce a show:
Reel AI: Fanfic’s Big Money AI Promise
AI startups are using studio IP — from Seinfeld to Severance — to enable fan-powered “infinite” stories. Erik Barmack makes the case (paid subscribers only) for studios to lean into fans rather than fight them, and the 1980s tech disruption that suggests Hollywood could turn AI into a goldmine:
When an Actress Answered the Door . . .
Baywatch star and veteran actress Alexandra Paul’s life changed in 2011, when a woman rang her doorbell and proceeded to terrorize both her and her husband for the next 13 years. Paul tells her extraordinary story for the first time and, in doing so, details the history (and shocking prevalence) of celebrity stalkers and the L.A. law enforcement team tasked with monitoring and apprehending them:
ESG: 3 Areas Where Copying Netflix Goes Wrong
Standup, South Korean dramas and sports docuseries may have worked for Netflix, but Entertainment Strategy Guy showcases data to reveal why rivals are wrong to follow suit; how to counter-position against Netflix in these subgenres; and three Netflix moves worth emulating:
Rushfield: Amazon’s Theatrical Mystery Tour
Why is Amazon suddenly building a bigger theatrical film slate than legacy studios? Richard Rushfield investigates. Plus: This week’s The Rushfield Lunch featured Atlantic writer Olga Khazan, author of Me, But Better, discussing whether you can change your personality:
IP 2024: What Sold, What Didn’t and State of the Industry
In this special edition of The Optionist (Ankler Media’s newsletter about the world of available IP), Andy Lewis shares insights from literary agents and managers about what was optioned for TV and film last year and the market forces at work:
Prestige Junkie: Adolescence and an Emmy Season Kickoff
Katey Rich takes stock of early limited series Emmy contenders, interviewing Long Bright River creator Nikki Toscano about her Amanda Seyfried-starring Peacock crime drama and breaking down Adolescence’s Baby Reindeer-like pop:
THE WAKEUP
Sean McNulty lays out the harsh numbers behind Netflix’s $320 million The Electric State, where Amazon’s placing its bets in its film buys and Disney adding Martin Scorsese to 20th’s roster of high-profile directorial projects:
🎧 PODCASTS
THE ANKLER
🎧 TV Writers Hated Mini-Rooms. Now They Want Them Back Showrunners and scribes' ideas to fix TV, including faster development:
Like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
MARTINI SHOT
Let's Hold an IP Swap Meet Rob Long's lesson for Hollywood from his garage sale:
📱 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE FROM NATALIE JARVEY
👓 THE OPTIONIST BY ANDY LEWIS
FINAL HOUSEKEEPING!
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