☀️NETFLIX, IMAX 'Narnia' Talks: What's at Stake
A24 adds another new pic / AFM market heating up / NETFLIX and Fincher talk 'Squid Game'
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on TUESDAY, October 29, 2024.
Where who had the GIANTS vs. STEELERS 🏈 MNF game as being the much better game to watch last night over the World Series? I mean, both NYC teams didn’t look great and both lost (as did the KNICKS 🏀 and NYC FC ⚽️ 😕), but . . . hey, nice work GIANTS!
Look folks, just keeping the games interesting is where we’re at with the team this year — although the real loser will be FOX if the DODGERS sweep tonight in NYC.
SO: Really gotta wonder what the creative brief from APPLE was on selling its new AI tools . . . as the underlying consumer message in this new spot (and the previous ones) seems to be “Be a better bullshit artist with APPLE AI!”
I mean — certainly great for the industry crowd . . . but gotta question the overall brand strategy here.
AND: Moana 2 will be the first DISNEY animated film scored by a female team. 🎼 Yes, this is 2024.
THEN: Here are your MONTCLAIR FILM FEST winners, led by All We Imagine As Light, which keeps getting high accolades . . . although India made the seemingly growing mistake of snubbing it as its Oscars entry this year. It’ll hit theaters Nov. 15 from SIDESHOW/JANUS.
PLUS: Jon Stewart extended his Daily Show contract through 2025.
OH: ESPN+ and DIS+ will stream an animated Simpsons version of the BENGALS vs. COWBOYS Monday Night Football game on Dec. 9 — because nothing says appealing to the kids like a game that kicks off at 8:15 p.m. on a Monday night (they did it with Toy Story characters on a day game last year).
Bart will play a BENGALS player and Homer will be on the COWBOYS, so expect Homer to blow a lotta plays. 🥁😁
WELL: We have a new AI term that I know we’re all gonna love — meet the “ethical AI” company KLAY, which just set a partnership with the world’s largest label, UMG, to develop tools for artists. Huh, so — did something happen to drums?
SO: Here is your ChatGPT business snapshot from the company:
250M weekly active users
With 5% to 6% converting to pay users (base rate is $20 a month)
Again, the company is reported to be on track to lose $5B this year, with losses increasing over the next couple of years.
THEN: DOLPHIN has partnered with AI tracking firm LOTI to provide its AI deepfake detection and takedown tools to DOLPHIN celeb-related subsidiaries (42 WEST, SPECIAL PROJECTS, SHORE FIRE etc). LOTI also has a partnership with WME.
HUH: The U.K. birth rate fell to its lowest rate since 1938, when the country began measuring the statistic. 😳
OOF: The Washington Post reportedly had about 200k subscription cancellations due to its Presidential endorsement debacle, according to NPR. Way to go, Jeff! 👍 Don’t worry folks, I’m sure he’ll cover that impending revenue gap personally. 🤭
His comms teamHe wrote a defense of canceling the storied tradition, saying essentially that this is the reason people don’t trust the media anymore #YaHuh, and that “Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.”
SOME KUDOS!
KUDOS 1: To Colin Farrell for both finishing the Irish Life Dublin Marathon and for raising more than $700k to support research into a disease that afflicts a longtime friend (including wheeling his friend the last 2.5 miles to the finish line).
KUDOS 2: To Eric Church, Luke Combs, James Taylor and Billy Strings for headlining a country concert in Charlotte to support the victims of Hurricane Helene in the Western part of the state . . . raising $24.5M from one show.
KUDOS 3: To Giselle Bündchen, who is pregnant with child number 3, and first with her 35-year-old ju-jitsu instructor boyfriend, Joaquim Valente.
MEANWHILE: FOX released yet another Tom Brady, Football Announcer promo that really makes Tom seem like a real fun hang in the announcer booth: “Hey guys, the viewer feedback is Tommy’s coming across a bit stiff . . . so let’s make him seem even more like a football robot in the next spot, mmkay?”
THANKS: To NETFLIX for the invite to check out the season 2 premiere of The Diplomat here in NYC last night — always fun to watch some TV in a movie theater (and really interesting how the laughs in these shows hit above their weight when watching with a crowd).
FINALLY: It’s Get a Job! Tuesday, so a bunch of new openings from AMAZON, CAA, STARZ and more, as well as some good, more entry-level positions at HULU, VERVE and SUNDANCE.
🎥 THE SILVER SCREEN
