The all-new Hollywood Reporter offers unprecedented access to the people, studios, networks and agencies that create the magic in Hollywood. Published weekly, the oversized format includes exceptional photography and rich features.
As we all cued up our computers and tablets to watch Oscar contenders earlier this year (surely I was not the only one to meekly type, “Excuse me, my link expired… could I get a resend?”), the connection to those films felt particularly meaningful: Finding a way to engage with the world buried under the extreme weight of a deadly pandemic was a task no one asked for, yet the films that were in contention certainly rose to the occasion. Though the pandemic still lingers, it’s a relief and a joy to engage in an awards season that feels a bit more like normal. Yes, masks and proof-of-vaccine cards are required, but then, there’s a sense of community as we’re watching, even though it may be among strangers. The gasp…
On Oct. 16, after months of bargaining between the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and studios, it seemed that Hollywood had managed to avoid its largest coordinated labor action since World War II when studios and the union representing more than 150,000 workers reached a tentative agreement for a new contract. But over the next five days, just as IATSE leadership, led by president Matthew Loeb, was beginning to make its pitch to members to support the deal, a weary crew on an independent movie in New Mexico was falling apart amid long hours and stressful working conditions. By the end of the week, six members of the union camera crew had walked off the set Oct. 21 in frustration and — in a horrific incident authorities are still…
After enduring what Imax CEO Richard Gelfond called an “enormous stress test” during the COVID-19 era, the giant-screen exhibitor aims to move back into the black. October was kind to Imax: 22.5 percent of Dune’s $41 million domestic weekend debut and 12.5 percent of No Time to Die’s $55 million opening bow came from its theaters. And, on Oct. 28, the company disclosed its best quarter since theater shutdowns hit in March 2020, with revenue at $56.6 million, a 52 percent increase from a year ago, and losses cut to $8.4 million. Gelfond told investors that Imax’s growth areas are abroad: Japan, the Middle East and China. MKM Partners analyst Eric Handler wrote in his post-earnings take that he’s “increasingly optimistic” about Imax given its large global footprint, including China.…
As Hollywood models of theatrical films and linear television undergo rapid change, TikTok, Twitch streams and sponsored posts may be morphing from side businesses to the lucrative main event in some cases. Established stars like, say, Will Smith are seeking to grow their personal brands on a widening array of digital platforms. At the same time, these platforms are creating new stars like Addison Rae who are expanding into film, TV and branded content. And agencies are aiming to be the middlemen to monetize the creator economy. “There is so much connectivity because our actors and athletes want to be in music and fashion and tech and NFTs and esports, and our esports people want to be involved with brands and on television,” said UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer, speaking at…
When Snap, the first major tech giant out of the gate with third-quarter earnings, revealed Oct. 21 an overall miss caused by Apple’s iOS privacy changes, shares tumbled 20 percent as analysts watched carefully to see whether the dent to targeted advertising would become a trend. For the most part, it has. Days later, Facebook (now officially rebranded as Meta) missed revenue expectations and offered modest projections for its fourth-quarter performance “in light of continued headwinds from Apple’s iOS 14 changes.” (Released in April, Apple’s privacy change requires apps to receive user permission to track their behavior across other apps and websites.) Twitter, led by mogul Jack Dorsey, also fell below Wall Street forecasts, and executives cited an ad slowdown due to Apple’s changes, though ad revenue itself was up…
Source: Alphabet, Netflix filings…
