AI & A24; Uni TV ‘Beta Test’ Writer Deal; App Store: 0, Streamers: 1
Plus: Natalie Jarvey on ‘Bachelor’ Nick Viall’s $30M podcast empire
Hello, and Happy Mother’s Day, whether you’re honoring a mom in your life or being celebrated yourself. I’m Alison Brower, executive editor at The Ankler, and I’ll be taking over this weekly recap of our hits and highlights from David Lidksy, a tough act to follow. There’s more below on this handoff and what’s behind it, but first, let’s look back at another packed week of milestones and triumphs for Team Ankler, starting with our captain.
Janice Min — Ankler’s CEO and editor-in-chief — was named one of Adweek’s coveted Creative 100 alongside media luminaries including Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper, Tubi CEO Anjali Sud and Neon CEO Tom Quinn. Check out the full list, filled with innovators in advertising, marketing, culture, the creator economy and more, here.
Here’s what’s coming up from The Ankler this week, from the West Coast to Cannes:
Starting Wednesday, look for daily dispatches from the Cannes Film Festival in our Cannes Daily newsletter, published in partnership with U.K.-based Screen International for the second year in a row. Ankler contributor and Cannes veteran Gregg Kilday will helm the newsletter, offering up his original reporting and analysis, with Claire Atkinson also covering the sip-and-soiree scene along the Croisette. Vive la fête!
Next Sunday, May 18, together with the Directors Guild of America, we’re hosting our first-ever Series Business event focused on TV directors — The Art of the “Show”: Demystifying TV Directing — presented by Threads, at the DGA Theater. Katey Rich, Elaine Low and Lesley Goldberg will chat with helmers behind Zero Day (DGA pres Lesli Linka Glatter), Severance, Hacks, High Potential, What We Do in the Shadows and Good American Family. Request to attend here.
It should be a great time, based on the vibes from our recent events . . .
Last Sunday, Katey hosted a Prestige Junkie Live screening and Q&A with The Better Sister in West Hollywood. The twisty limited series stars Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks as estranged sisters who reunite after one of their husbands is murdered. Together with co-showrunners Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado, Biel and Banks (also EPs) explained what it took to create a set where everyone felt seen and heard — forming a tight family around a show about frayed familial ties. Special thanks to Prime Video for presenting this lively conversation, which we’ll roll out as a Prestige Junkie podcast in the coming weeks.
A few days later on May 8, Elaine emceed our latest Art & Crafts event, where the talented artisans behind ballet drama Étoile, Star Wars series Andor, gritty period Western American Primeval and spy thriller The Day of the Jackal spoke to a packed crowd at the American Society of Cinematographers’ century-old clubhouse. You can hear these craft pros’ tips and tales from the trenches on our Art & Crafts podcast later this month. Special thanks to our event partners Netflix, Disney+, Peacock and Prime Video and to ASC President Shelley Johnson and General Manager Delphine Figueras for allowing us to host the event at the elegant and intimate ASC Clubhouse.
Congratulations to the many great talents who comprise this industry, and to Katey, Elaine and our maestro behind the scenes, Hanna Hensler, for a series of very fortunate events. And congratulations also are in order for David, who is ankling The Ankler for a big new role at his old haunt, Mansueto Ventures (publisher of Fast Company and Inc.). We’ll miss his Sunday stylings and 24/7 drive to elevate our journalism. Best of luck, David!
Now, without further ado, ICYMI, our best of the week:
Series Business: Uni TV Deal Scoop; Canada Chaos
In an interview with Universal Television president Erin Underhill, Elaine Low scoops (paid subscribers only) the new deal structure Uni TV is trying out with creators; and shares Underhill’s advice, along with advice from The Four Seasons creator Tracey Wigfield, for pitching a show today as the market shifts:
The U.S.-Canada trade war and entertainment tariff talk are starting to spell trouble for “Hollywood North” (and vice versa). Manori Ravindran reveals what happens now to co-prods; how tariffs could be especially hard on smaller productions; and why Jon Voight’s proposal has Canadian producers and other internationals excited:
As Netflix’s Forever charts at No. 1 in the U.S., creator Mara Brock Akil tells Lesley Goldberg how she reimagined the Judy Blume coming-of-age classic, and how centering the series on Black teens forged an emotional and cultural link to the 1975 novel. We’ve dropped the paywall on this rich conversation, so read and share!
Reel AI: What if A24 Wins the AI War?
Erik Barmack explains (paid subscribers only) how the hot AI “vibe coding” app Cursor (valued at $9 billion by backer Josh Kushner, who also now backs A24), could rewire century-old Hollywood workflows; how Erik was able to build a YA development app in a matter of hours; and why A24 and AGBO could leapfrog the competition with this new tool in their hands:
Rushfield: Tarrifying Times
Whether or not the president goes through with his proposed tariffs, Richard reveals what’s really behind Hollywood being in Trump’s crosshairs.
ESG: Streamers: 1, Apple: 0
For years, Apple took a 30 percent App Store fee from Hollywood streamers, but a landmark federal ruling frees studios from the “Apple tax.” So now what? Entertainment Strategy Guy breaks down what exactly is about to happen to the economics of Netflix and Disney and why small streamers may benefit more:
Prestige Junkie: Kathy Bates!
Katey Rich chats with Matlock star Kathy Bates and creator Jennie Snyder Urman about the twists and tricks of crafting a modern-day legal procedural (and a disarming Southern accent). Plus: How Thunderbolts* revived Marvel’s spark:
THE WAKEUP
Sean McNulty put a bow on media earnings season this week, breaking down Disney’s shift into a streaming-first company, the context behind WBD’s shrinkage since Zaz took over and Paramount’s pre-Skydance stabilization:
Monday Morning QBs: Live with Richard & Sean
Make sure to catch our new live show with Richard & Sean on Monday mornings PT time to review what just happened with weekend box office. This week it was Thunderbolts* and tariff talk:
The Rushfield Lunch
Every Wednesday, Richard is joined live by a special guest for The Rushfield Lunch. This week, writer, cultural commentator and self-proclaimed “nepo fail-son” Ben Dreyfuss joins to talk social media, the Democratic party and why Doug Liman’s Road House remake deserved more props:
🎧 PODCASTS
THE ANKLER
The Week Trump Terrified Hollywood The president, Jon Voight and Gov. Gavin Newsom can’t save an industry:
Like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
MARTINI SHOT
The Trickery of Tariffs & Incentives Rob Long on why some popular ideas don’t necessarily make financial sense:
📱 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE FROM NATALIE JARVEY
👓 THE OPTIONIST BY ANDY LEWIS
FINAL HOUSEKEEPING!
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