Agents on Edge: Indie Optimism Up; TV News Talent Goes Rogue
Plus: 'Downton Abbey' duo divulge how they sell prestige TV
The worlds of tech, investors and creators convened at Web Summit Vancouver this past week, where Janice Min led a centre stage panel on the future of marketing, and Natalie Jarvey, author of our sharp creator economy newsletter Like & Subscribe, drew a massive crowd for her talk with superstar gaming streamer Valkyrae (Rachell Hoftstetter). If you missed Natalie’s breakdown about how creator money is growing 5x faster that of Hollywood’s, well, the intimate VIP dinner that Janice, Valkyrae and Web Summit’s Casey Lau hosted that night brought to life this new entertainment reality: Guests included Arcana Labs co-founders Jonathan Yunger and Hank Hoffman, Silicon Valley legend Alfred Chuang, The Young Turks’ online indie progressive Cenk Uygur and now-investor Metta World Peace. (Thanks to our partners Stikeman Elliott & Methuselah Advisors.) And if you have no idea who the people are I mentioned above, get on board and subscribe to Natalie’s newsletter.
Meanwhile, our partnership with Netflix on its two-week FYSEE LA showcase continued with two more packed events at the streamer’s Tudum Theater: Elaine Low moderated a panel with Squid Game creator-director Hwang Dong-hyuk and five of season two’s cast, and Katey Rich presided over an Ankler & Letterboxd “Audience First” screening of the powerful limited series Adolescence, opening with a Q&A with co-creators Stephen Graham (who also stars) and Jack Thorne.
Two more quick invitations:
Tomorrow night in L.A., Katey leads a Q&A with the creators and stars of High Potential. Request to attend here:
Next Sunday, June 8, The Ankler & Pure Nonfiction Documentary Spotlight Series returns to L.A. at the Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists — join us for creative exchange, complimentary portraits and a celebratory reception. Thom Powers will speak to the filmmakers behind Music by John Williams, Social Studies, Chimp Crazy, Martha and Chef's Table, following a special keynote conversation with Harper Steele of Will & Harper. Request to attend here.
Now, without further ado, ICYMI, our best of the week:
Dealmakers: Indie Optimism as Mubi & Neon Surge
For all the chatter about a “muted market,” Cannes underscored dealmakers’ new optimism. Ashley Cullins reveals (paid subscribers only) what Mubi’s $24M Jennifer Lawrence play signals about confidence and capital to agents; what buyers actually want now; and the genre gold rush agents are whispering about:
Panicked TV Agents & News’ New Normal
Piers Morgan, Jim Acosta and Substack’s head of news and politics, Catherine Valentine, tell Claire Atkinson about the new reality for news talent on platforms such as Substack, YouTube and Noosphere — and the irritated agents desperate to put the kibosh on it all and regain control:
Rushfield: Hollywood & DC — One in the Same
Richard is generally reluctant to dive into sweeping Hollywood/DC metaphors, but in the wake of Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s new book on the Joe Biden “coverup,” the selfish and befuddled leadership in both arenas was too overwhelming to ignore. Plus: The worst of the week, and a chat with comedy maestro Bruce Vilanch about his storied career:
Series Business: Downton Duo on How to Sell Prestige TV
Gareth Neame & Nigel Marchant — the duo behind Downton Abbey and Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal — tell Manori Ravindran (paid subscribers only) about how Carnival Films’ next series All Her Fault became a case study in selling prestige amid a funding crunch; their blueprint for shows that look pricier than they are; and how to get global dramas greenlit:
Prestige Junkie: Hacks’ Emmy Aspirations
Katey Rich exclusively scoops details of Hacks’ 30 Emmy submissions, from Jean Smart and Dance Mom to the below-the-line artisans. Plus, check out Katey’s chats with Severance creator Dan Erickson and star Britt Lower as well as Sly Lives! director Questlove:
Notable: The Last of Us’ Musical Heart
Gustavo Santaolalla doesn’t read or write music, but he’s a two-time Oscar winner for his haunting scores. The Argentinian composer tells Rob LeDonne about his work on The Last of Us (the original game and the series) and how his music “plays the role of a character” on the show:
THE WAKEUP
Sean McNulty takes a couple looks at the box office, assessing Marvel’s new status quo and what’s next for the theatrical goliath, and the power of family-friendly PG movies — saving studio slates one chummy pic at a time:
Monday Morning QBs: Live with Richard & Sean
Don’t miss our new live show with Richard & Sean on Monday mornings PT time to review what just happened with weekend box office. This week our QBs discussed Lilo & Stitch, Tom Cruise’s final reckoning and takeaways from the biggest Memorial Day weekend in box office history:
The Rushfield Lunch
This week, Richard was joined by Tom Segura and Jeremy Konner to talk about their raunchy (to put it mildly) Netflix series, Bad Thoughts, the state of R-rated theatrical comedy and how audiences have shifted:
🎧 PODCASTS
THE ANKLER
Mubi vs. Marvel: A New High-Stakes Film Era What's behind agents' sudden optimism:
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MARTINI SHOT
Cheers & Art of the 'Norm!' Entrance Rob Long on the pleasure of writing for George Wendt:
📱 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE FROM NATALIE JARVEY
👓 THE OPTIONIST BY ANDY LEWIS
FINAL HOUSEKEEPING!
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As an indie, I love how Hollywood media praises creators making 5x Hollywood revenue but totally ignores how they also shit on SAG (and rightfully so).
Would be a fun headline if anyone in LA had the actual balls to discuss it.