☀️PAR+ Lining Up Next Big A-List Cast
NETFLIX + Sacha Baron Cohen / A24 makes new U.S. acquisition / NETFLIX U.K. 💰 snapshot
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on THURSDAY, October 10, 2024.
Where I’m sorry Hollywood execs — but HOME DEPOT has thrown down the gauntlet in your direction. All corporate employees are now required to work one, 8-hour shift every quarter in a HOME DEPOT store.
So, let’s go studio folk — time to take off the cuff links, and show off just how sharp those cable coiling and coffee order skills are. See you on the set! I’m guessing in London or Atlanta.

OR: Maybe just send your ZOOM avatar — yes, ZOOM is now using AI to create your own life-like avatar which also sounds like you, that you can use to send short messages to your team. Ya know, the folks you insist come into the office 4 days a week.
AND: The % of TV & film projects shot in L.A. over the past 3 years according to a new FILM LA report:
2021: 23%
2022: 22%
2023: 18% (183 out 990)
Granted, a strike year — but still 😳.
Streaming TV series took the biggest % drop YoY.
NYC increased TV production YoY — more specifics in the report.
ALSO: Step aside Travis Kelce — Gronk is making the leap to the big screen first! He’s co-starring with Mickey Rourke in a . . . curling 🥌 sports comedy from VERDI Productions. Gotta say I was almost as surprised by that as I was to discover that there’s a curling emoji.
WELL: OPENAI won’t be profitable until 2029 according to new documents cited by The Information, and losses could triple by 2026. It’s nice when streaming and AI find common ground, no? Sadly, PEACOCK’s valuation isn’t quite as high.
OPENAI reported 250M weekly users for ChatGPT last week.
As a comp — META reported 185M weekly users for META AI back in August, and is rolling it out in 21 more countries now, with a goal for it to hit 43 countries and 21 languages by year’s end.
YEAH: This sounds about right — AI is now helping folks more effectively run scams via crypto, by forging documents and creating deep fake videos that . . . will only get better over time.
PLUS: Hugh Jackman is doing a 12-show residency at Radio City called From New York With Love. It starts on Jan. 24, 2025, and goes until August.
HUH: Look at that — APPLE and AMAZON are actually 🤝 on something, as APPLE TV+ will be available on AMAZON CHANNELS later this month, according to PRIME VIDEO head Mike Hopkins at the Bloomberg Screentime conference.
THEN: Latin music continues to gain market share in the U.S. according to the RIAA, mostly due to streaming revenue. Although like overall music sales — YoY growth is slowing (+7% mid-year 2024 vs. +15% mid-year 2023).
NEWS FOR ELAINE 🎾: One of tennis’ biggest TV draws Rafa Nadal announced that he will retire from the game of tennis at age 38, after the Davis Cup next month.
BTW: Another job lost to tech — line judges at next year’s Wimbledon. Players will have to yell at, uh, automated electronic line calling starting in 2025.
OH: If you’re at that Bloomberg Screentime conference today — I’ll be there most of the day. So if a 6’4” bald guy is blocking your view of the stage, be sure to say hello! 👋
WAKEUP BOX OFFICE POLL
CINEVERSE’s Terrifier 3 is looking to be the top dog this weekend, tracking at $11M+, or about what part 2 did in its entire theatrical run.
It’s playing on about 2,300 screens — and made a few folks either vomit 🤢 or walk out 🏃♂️ of the U.K. premiere within the first 5 minutes — so it’s always fun when the Oscar race gets a new competitor!