Showbiz Sandbox 557: Talent Agents Strike A Deal… for Themselves
October 5, 2021
In yet another sign that the entertainment industry is consolidating, Creative Artists Agency, one of Hollywood’s most powerful talent agencies, announced it would acquire ICM Partners, the fourth largest player in the space. Is the move meant to help CAA gain leverage when negotiating with streaming giants like Netflix, or is it all about ensuring success on Wall Street for its biggest investor? And what will this mean for smaller agencies which may actually stand to benefit from the deal?
Meanwhile, this year’s Tony Awards honoring Broadway’s brightest were finally held with a live audience. However, some productions in both New York and London are stumbling as they turn on their marquees for the first time since the COVID pandemic began.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including how James Bond and Venom are competing for box office glory, Scarlett Johansson settles her “Black Widow” lawsuit with Disney and the labor strike that could shut down Hollywood.
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Showbiz Sandbox 538: An Oscars Ceremony With An Asterisk
April 27, 2021
Delayed by two months due to the COVID pandemic and with almost no blockbuster studio films to nominate, it’s a small miracle this year’s Oscars ceremony took place at all. This year the Academy honored the most diverse slate of nominees in its 93 year history. Anne Thompson, Indiewire’s editor-at-large, joins us to discuss the night’s winners, the awkward telecast and the unusual awards season we just lived through.
Meanwhile, thing’s keep getting worse for producer Scott Rudin. Not only has he stepped back from all film and television work, but he also left the Broadway League which may have a serious impact on his ability to stage a comeback down the road.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including why YouTube and Roku can’t get along, why Apple is headed to court over ownership of the music they sell on iTunes and Netflix continues to spend record amounts on new content.
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Showbiz Sandbox 509: The Five Stages of Box Office Recovery
September 8, 2020
After zeroing out for six months, the worldwide box office is roaring back to life, led by China and films like “The Eight Hundred” and “Tenet.” We’re joined by Robert Mitchell of Gower Street Analytics who helped develop a staged approach of measuring how the box office in various markets is rebounding and what to expect in the months and years to come.
Meanwhile Hollywood talent agents continue to migrate toward management firms, as the major agencies continue to furlough or layoff staff. Will some creatives choose not to have an agent at all moving forward?
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including how Nielsen has begun measuring streaming viewership by the billions of minutes, Tyler Perry goes on a production spree and a whole new way to (sort of) watch Netflix shows.
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Showbiz Sandbox 508: The New Mutants – Agents Become Managers
August 31, 2020
At a time when streaming giants have eroded box office participation and rich TV syndication deals, a significant number of high level talent agents have begun leaving their prestigious positions to become managers. They hope to help top celebrities build companies around themselves in the same way Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon have become business moguls.
Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” finally opened in theaters, at least in some international territories. Despite limited capacity screenings the blockbuster managed to live up to the hype earning $53 million at the box office. Even so, two hit films from China made even more money over the past week.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including a big syndication deal for “Young Sheldon,” the New York Times stops printing its TV listings and the Korean boy band BTS blows up a few records with its new single.
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Showbiz Sandbox 505: The Marvel and Mao Effect: A Hollywood Exec Heads to China, Hijinks Ensue
August 11, 2020
In his 17 years as the President of DMG Entertainment Motion Picture Group, Chris Fenton helped bring 20 Hollywood movies to China, facilitating co-productions, financing and distribution on blockbusters such as “Iron Man 3” and “Looper.” In his new book, “Feeding the Dragon,” the former William Morris agent details his time working in the entertainment industry and China. Fenton helps us read the tea leaves about the future for the relationship between the major studios and China.
Meanwhile, the entertainment industry is undergoing some seismic shifts. In a single week the Paramount Consent Decree was killed for good, television packaging is heading into the sunset and theatrical release windows for studio films just collapsed.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including an executive shakeup at NBC, Taylor Swift sets a new chart topping record with her new album and the Eurovision song contest is coming to the United States.
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Showbiz Sandbox 503: An Actor’s Life During A Pandemic
July 21, 2020
Like so many other working actors in New York John Keating saw his world turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, his side gig narrating audio books became a lifeline like never before. We talk to Keating about the impact of the coronavirus shutdown, what it’s like to record an audiobook at home and a new online production of the ghostly tale “The Weir” put together by The Irish Repertory Theatre.
Meanwhile, screenwriters have been locked in a year-long battle with their agents who the scribes claim have placed their own interests ahead of the writers they supposedly represent. Now the peace agreement between the Writers Guild of America has come to an agreement with United Talent Agency which would end packaging deals. Is it just a matter of time before the other big talent agencies follow suit?
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including a big promotion for Netflix’s content chief, Ted Sarandos, China begins reopening movie theatres and “Dancing With The Stars” ditches its longtime hosts.
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Showbiz Sandbox 492: Hollywood Players Battling Pandemic… And Each Other
May 5, 2020
Even when times are good and profits are up, some of Hollywood’s biggest stakeholders don’t always get along. For over a year now the Writers Guild of America has been duking it out over television packaging fees with the Association of Talent Agencies, suing three of its largest members; United Talent Agency, William Morris Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency. Entertainment attorney and Hollywood Reporter contributing editor Jonathan Handel fills us in on the latest court rulings in the dispute and why things aren’t looking good for the WGA.
Meanwhile, cinema operators were already upset with Universal Pictures for releasing “Trolls World Tour” via premium video on demand, skipping a theatrical release due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now the studio announced plans to release its future movies on PVOD at the same time as they hit theaters, causing a few chains to boycott Universal’s titles. Film distribution veteran Jim Amos of Scout 53 breaks down the argument for us and tells us how he thinks it will be resolved.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including new rules for the Oscars, global music industry revenue continues to grow (for now) and without sports to broadcast should ESPN still be charging cable subscribers?
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Showbiz Sandbox 321: New Power Players Emerge In Cannes
May 16, 2016
The Cannes Film Festival has become one of the most important annual cinema events because it programs a diverse array of movies from all over the world. We’ll head to the French Riviera for this year’s festival to tell you which of the hundreds of films are generating buzz and argue over the elements necessary for the successful exportation of European films.
Meanwhile the Marché du Film, or Cannes Film Market, takes place alongside the festival each year. New industry players such as Amazon Studios and other streaming companies have made some bold moves during Cannes, stealing the thunder from veteran power brokers.
Speaking of streaming companies, Amazon is opening its video platform to users, allowing them to upload content and make money off ads, just like they do on YouTube. And YouTube is dreaming of selling its many customers a skinny bundle of TV channels.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the Ukrainian winner of the Eurovision song contest, Sean Penn gets an apology from Tyler Perry and Disney sets a historic box office milestone.
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Showbiz Sandbox 276: Agency Wars Have A Long History in Hollywood
April 13, 2015
Even in the best of times being a Hollywood talent agent has never been an easy job. The dog eat dog nature of the agency business has never been more apparent than during the last few weeks when 11 agents suddenly defected from Creative Artists Agency, one of the industry’s leading agencies, to become partners at a rival firm, United Talent Agency. Following in the footsteps of their agents were A-list clients such as Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianiakis, Ed Helms, Melissa McCarthy and Chris Pratt.
This isn’t the first time big shot agents have deserted their agencies for greener pastures and taken their clients with them, nor will it be the last. In fact, CAA was founded in 1975 when Michael Ovitz along with Ron Meyer and several other agents, abruptly departed the William Morris Agency to form their own firm. The now legendary Ari Emanuel did the same thing 20 years later to start Endeavor.
Meanwhile, changes are also afoot in how television networks want advertisers to pay for commercial time. Two major conglomerates, Time Warner and Viacom, are moving away from Nielsen ratings and offering to let advertisers pay for the “impact” their ads have through metrics such as increased brand recognition, increased loyalty program registrations and consumer engagement on social media.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Jay-Z makes a streaming media play with Tidal, filmmaker David Lynch backs out of “Twin Peaks” reboot, and NBC selects “The Wiz” as its next live televised musical.
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