☀️BARBIE takes 3-day crown in Wknd 6, as DISNEY TV cost-cutting continues
A breakdown of the creative Turismo opening wknd math / Stars begin to sign-up for Venice carpets
Mornin'! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on MONDAY Aug 28, 2023.
Where I’m 90% sure Janice won’t get 75% of the jokes in this spot… but the NFL is going HOLLYWOOD to launch its new season!
Now - who wants to tell them about this little “strike” thing we have going on at the moment, which may make this campaign seem a little, uh, not with the times…? 😬
ALSO: True to form for a Hollywood studio - if the product isn’t selling, change the product messenger… as the AMPTP changed up its PR strategy on Friday afternoon, adding the DC-based firm THE LEVINSON GROUP, led by a former political director at CNN and CBS - Molly Levinson.
They will work with the AMPTP’s current comms duo of former UTA comms exec Chris Day, and former WB comms exec, Scott Rowe.
THEN: Based on the Fed Chairman’s speech on Friday, I wouldn’t expect the first half of 2024 dealmaking environment to be much better than 2023’s has been, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that some more Fed interest rate hikes may be needed in the months ahead to get inflation firmly to (or below) his 2% target on a sustainable level.
Thus, don’t expect mortgage rates to fall much or at all this year. In fact, they may still go up slightly as the year goes on.
AND: Canadian telco BELL CANADA is ending its sponsorship of TIFF after this year’s festival, marking a 28-year run.
OH: Carol Lombardini got… well, I wouldn’t really call this a NYT profile (she did not participate, and she hasn’t done a real press interview since 2009 so there’s not too muh out there), but certainly some more background (and previous salary info) for the AMPTP’s lead negotiator. #AvidBaseballFan
SPEAKING OF: Congrats to the El Segundo… uh, team (no mascots here) for winning the Little League World Series yesterday over CURACAO!
HOUSEKEEPING: Unless the next 24 hours here on a last week of August Monday are very active for some reason… I’ll probably just check back in with a new Wakeup on Wednesday.
IN TODAY’S EDITION
A breakdown of SONY’s new definition of Box Office for a platform release strategy… as MGM sees initial success with Bottoms, and Barbie keeps breaking records.
DISNEY+ cuts more Series plans in the US and UK.
PLUS: A little Monday inspiration - UK F1 commentator (featured on Drive to Survive), Jennie Gow was back on the air this weekend - 8 months after suffering a stroke in her mid-40s, which doctors thought might be fatal at the time, apparently from a clot caused by a coughing episode.
But thanks to a lot of therapy and ‘fight back’ advice from her nurse, while she’s not 100% - she is back doing what she loves 👏. Perseverance is an underrated trait.
REST IN PEACE: Speaking of which, farewell to a legend. #GOAT