Showbiz Sandbox 560: Should Hollywood Get Rid of the (Real) Guns?
November 2, 2021
In European film and television productions, real guns with either live or blank rounds are rare to non-existent. Instead, plastic replicas or airsoft blowback guns are used with muzzle flashes added during post-production. So why do Hollywood productions continue to rely on working firearms when it would be cheaper and safer for them not to? This is one of the questions the industry is asking itself after a tragic gun accident on Alec Baldwin’s latest film left the cinematographer dead.
In more positive news, October turned out to be the biggest for movies all over the world as the box office works its way back to pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, in Germany, exhibitors are rebelling against movies that are showing day and date on Disney+, while in France, cinema operators freaked out when Netflix tried to show movies in theaters instead of just streaming them.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including how “Squid Game” has dominated the streaming conversation, the controversy over Spain’s top literary prize and a glimpse at some post-COVID Broadway grosses.
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Showbiz Sandbox 496: Hollywood Jumps On the TikTok Bandwagon
June 3, 2020
Even after the platform helped Lil Nas X turn “Old Town Road” into one of the most successful popular songs of all time, there are some (mostly older) demographics that are unfamiliar with the explosive popularity of the social media platform. Natalie Jarvey, the Senior Digital Media Editor at the Hollywood Reporter, joins us to discuss how TikTok is doing YouTube one better as a launching pad for new talent.
In fact, TikTokers with tens of millions of followers, many of whom are still teenagers, have begun to attract Hollywood talent agencies, record labels and major brands, ultimately leading to big paydays. However, as fast as TikTok became the social media flavor of the moment, could its star fade just as fast.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including which major entertainment conglomerates are backing #BlackLivesMatters during recent civic protests, the Writers Guild of America takes aim at international residuals and “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” sets a new record for a sitcom.
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Showbiz Sandbox 453: The Biggest Disaster in the History of the Music Industry
July 2, 2019
When a fire ripped through Universal Studios in Los Angeles back in 2008 it was initially feared that all of the historic films and music locked away in the vaults that burned were lost forever. At the time Universal reported that, quite miraculously, very little damage had occurred and that few, if any, of the master recordings in the vaults were damaged.
However, in an in-depth investigative piece The New York Times reports that the fire actually wiped out hundreds of thousands of invaluable masters of legendary recording artists such as Louis Armstrong, Chuck Berry, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Elton John, Nirvana and possibly hundreds of others. Universal Music Group continues to insist the loss is overstated, but artists are clamoring for more information and the first class action lawsuit has already been filed.
Meanwhile talks between the Writers Guild of America and the Association of Talent Agents over packaging fees and affiliate productions have stalled and now lawsuits have started to fly.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including which Broadway shows got a post-Tony Awards bump in grosses, J.J. Abrams lands at WarnerMedia and Celine Dion is leaving Las Vegas.
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Showbiz Sandbox 437: Sinemia Seeks Profit In Subscription Moviegoing
February 11, 2019
Sinemia is taking on MoviePass in hopes of achieving what no movie subscription service has ever attained before: profitability. We are joined by Rıfat Oğuz, the CEO of Sinemia, who discusses the history of the service, how they chose their $30 price point and what lies ahead for this emerging business. If it catches on, it could dramatically change when and how often people go to the movies.
Meanwhile, in a complete reversal of fortunes, this year’s Grammy Awards finally honored female musicians as well as handing out prizes to hip-hop artists. Maybe next year some of the big stars won’t shrug off the ceremony like they seemed to do this past Sunday.
In the United Kingdom “The Favourite” was the favorite at the BAFTA Awards winning seven prizes, but it was Alfonso Cuaron’s Netflix film “Roma” which took home Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the deal between Actor’s Equity and the Broadway League, why NBC is dumping its live telecast of “Hair” and Spotify finally turns a profit.
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Showbiz Sandbox 392: Awards Season Begins To Take Shape
December 11, 2017
You know you’re in the thick of the awards season when you have to complain about who was snubbed and overlooked when the Golden Globe nominations were announced. “The Shape of Water” and “Big Little Lies” led this year’s nominees, as women filmmakers were shut out. Then there is the nomination for “Get Out,” a horror film, in the music and drama category, which makes even less sense.
One filmmaker who probably won’t be attending the Golden Globes this year is Bryan Singer. The filmmaker behind the X-Men franchise was fired from his latest film “Bohemian Rhapsody” after disappearing from the set. Singer cried foul and said he was caring for an ill parent, though it turns out a civil case was filed against him over a 2003 sexually assault of a 17-year-old boy.
Speaking of sexual misconduct, Time magazine named all the women who have come forward to tell their own stories of sexual harassment and assault, especially in Hollywood, as their person of the year. Accusations continue to surface about those in front of and behind the camera with the number of incident showing no sign of abating anytime soon.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including J.K. Rowling defends casting Johnny Depp in the “Fantastic Beasts” movie, why the release of John Travolta’s mobster biopic “Gotti” was delayed and Alec Baldwin preps a talk show.
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Showbiz Sandbox 220: Content Owners Can’t Afford Your New 4K Ultra HD Television
January 13, 2014
Last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas manufacturers stirred up a lot of buzz around 4K Ultra HD television sets. The proven and tested technology promises resolution four times greater than current high definition monitors. The biggest hurdle the industry must overcome for Ultra HD to work are the economics, specifically the high cost of delivering 4K content.
For those consumers who have given up on cable and broadcast television, commonly referred to as “cord-cutters”, the good news is they will now be able to watch wrestling via streaming video thanks to the WWE’s new online only network. However, the United States Supreme Court will decide whether they can continue using Aereo to stream local broadcast channels.
Meanwhile, this year’s awards season continues to chug along as the Golden Globes are handed out and the Director’s Guild of America announced their nominations.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including why Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus are too sexy for France, the demographics of last year’s Broadway ticket sales and whether a movie critic’s tweets can be used in advertisements.
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