Innholdsfortegnelse for August 3, 2022 i The Hollywood Reporter

Big Deal Georgia saw $4.4 billion in spending from film and TV productions in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the state’s film office said Aug. 1. The figure is significant as Georgia competes with California and New York for productions, capping off a year in which the state hosted 412 projects, including 32 features as well as the most recent seasons of Stranger Things, Ozark and Atlanta. Georgia, which has no annual cap on tax credits, offers studios a 20 percent incentive plus another 10 percent if they include a promotional peach logo in their projects. In March, lawmakers proposed a bill that would cap the amount the state spends on film and TV tax credits at $900 million a year and make it so that studios cannot…

Instagram is having an identity cri-sis. The once-cool social platform that helped usher in the rise of the “influencer” signaled an impending shift last summer when its chief, Adam Mosseri, proclaimed Instagram was “no longer a photo-sharing app.” Citing the “stiff competition” coming from TikTok and YouTube, the executive said Instagram would lean into video and share more recommended posts from accounts that users don’t follow — the latter of which would work in tandem with the platform’s effort to promote Reels from creators not followed by users. While Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, still retains the majority of digital advertising dollars, TikTok has surpassed both apps in attracting — and holding — its users’ attention on a daily basis. According to Insider Intelligence, TikTok users in…

Shelter Island’s iconic Ram’s Head Inn (from $795 a night), established in 1919, is fresh off a revamp of its 17 rooms, along with new wellness activations, hands-on garden experiences and fireside chats. … The reopened Canoe Place hotel (from $595 a night) in Hampton Bays is on a site where various inns operated as far back as 1635. It includes cottages and a spa by Onda Beauty, co-founded by Naomi Watts. … Gurney’s Montauk Resort (from $1,025 a night) — patronized by the likes of Trevor Noah and Scarlett Johansson — has unveiled a $20 million refresh of its extensive Seawater Spa and ocean-fed pool. … In luxury pop-up news in East Hampton, Tod’s has opened its second annual seasonal shop and Chanel has launched a two-floor store, through…

A.O.C. Brentwood This Mediterranean mecca is from Caroline Styne and Suzanne Goin — key figures behind Hollywood’s favorite philanthropic culinary event, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade. Angelini The original Fairfax location first gained an industry following thanks in large part to late Hollywood publicist David Horowitz, who would hold court there. A Palisades outpost opened this year. E. baldi Chef Edoardo “Edo” Baldi’s Canon Drive outpost, specializing in Tuscan recipes, is a staple for restaurant row outings. Justin Bieber, Jason Bateman and Al Pacino are among the recent celeb visitors. Great White Laid-back California vibes meet Australian cuisine at Great White at two trendy locations — Larchmont Village and Venice. The Grill on the Alley An industry stalwart, it’s where big hitters like Jeffrey Katzenberg and WME’s Rick Rosen dine on…

SKETCH: ‘SNITCHES GET CROSS STITCHES’ One of the things Cindy and I love joking about with Robin [Thede, A Black Lady Sketch Show’s star and creator] is bad Zillow postings,” says Michele Yu, who cites intricately staged real estate listings as the inspiration for this sketch’s homey setting. “Sometimes we’ll come across a real winner — like, this is what you do to attract [buyers] to your property?” Cindy Chao and Yu filled this space — the sketch was shot on location in an empty house — with items that featured cheeky catchphrases. “It’s about women who are live, laugh, loving through life,” says Chao, “but [the reveal is that they are running] a sweatshop in their house,” in which other women are crafting tea towels and mugs with inspirational…

This bomb shelter location was, in real life, a drab room being used for storage at the Petroleum Club in Long Beach, which Yu describes as “a very old-school club for oil executives.” The show spent a week on-site during production, using various spaces as locations. (A singles-night sketch was shot at the club’s restaurant.) This sketch in particular alternates between two locations. The club’s rock-walled lobby served as a corporate front desk, where a security guard (another returning character from season one, played by Black) talks on the phone with a bomb control expert (played by Thede), who is interrupted from celebrating his imminent retirement in his office when Black’s character requests help dismantling an explosive device. Particular features immediately appealed to Chao and Yu when they found this…

How do you prepare students for an entertainment industry in a constant state of flux? For some, the answer is LED walls — schools from Chapman to Cal State Northridge are doubling down on digital production. And while rising tuition costs have would-be filmmakers worried, schools are increasing scholarships or offering fully funded MFAs. These 25(ish) programs offer students the best chance at navigating Hollywood’s changing terrain. 1. American Film Institute LOS ANGELES The prestigious graduate program consistently churns out Oscar winners and blockbuster directors, and has made an effort to diversify its student body. Over half of the incoming students are women, and nearly half are filmmakers of color — all are eligible for new funds like the Halyna Hutchins Memorial Scholarship. “I knew immediately I wanted that tight…

Sony Pictures hopes audiences are all aboard for Bullet Train, David Leitch’s action comedy starring Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock and Brian Tyree Henry that hits theaters Aug. 5. Trains have a history of transfixing Hollywood, dating back to 19th century silent-film footage of the vehicle that was so realistic, it reportedly caused audiences to flee in fear. But one project that didn’t captivate viewers as expected was the NBC drama series Supertrain. Launched in February 1979 with stars Edward Andrews and Robert Alda, the show centered on a luxurious, nuclear-powered train and followed in the footsteps of ABC’s popular Love Boat by focusing on passengers’ personal lives — which involved murder, abduction, mystery and romance — amid the cross-country voyage. Skyrocketing costs for the lavish train sets led the network…

For much of Hollywood, things are looking rough right now. Streaming subscriptions seem to be stalling, with Netflix reporting subscriber losses for the second straight quarter (the first time that’s happened) and NBCUniversal’s Peacock flat on growth quarter-to-quarter. Advertising is in worse shape, with Apple, Roku, Snap and Meta seeing a slowdown in spend and NBCU CEO Jeff Shell telling analysts that, indeed, the market is “choppy.” But as bad as things appear in the core media business models of subscriptions and ads, there is another area that seems to be booming, with no sign of slowing down soon: live events and theme parks. And companies that have this revenue stream may be able to ride its wave until the choppiness elsewhere subsides. Consider NBCU, which reported its Q2 results…

Over the past decade, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has struggled to inject more populism into the Oscars. Solutions, which haven’t impacted a steady audience decline, have included expanding the number of best picture nominees and floating the idea of a “popular film” category, eventually settling this year for a glorified Twitter poll in which fans of Zack Snyder and Johnny Depp battled to invalidate the entire endeavor. But the Emmys are not the Oscars. Although they’ve never drawn the viewership that flocked to the Oscars at their peak, the Emmys are fundamentally a more mainstream show. For years, that was because television was a three-channel universe and most shows, even the bombs, drew the kind of audience that would make them a juggernaut now. But even…

‘Lots of Starbucks Hunting’ on House of the Dragon Set Few of Game of Thrones’ many viral moments took Twitter by storm quite like the unintended Starbucks cup cameo in the fourth episode of the HBO series’ final season. While filming the Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, co-showrunner Ryan Condal admits he and his colleagues were careful to avoid a déjà vu incident, telling THR at the show’s July 27 L.A. premiere that they maintained “a very heavily policed set — there was lots of Starbucks-hunting going on.” Condal says the blooper was a frequent source of amusement: “We always joked that we were going to make Starbucks goblets so at least they fit in the scene.” Condal’s Dragon partner Miguel Sapochnik teased that he left coffee cups “everywhere…

Weddings Nicole Balgemino, director of slate publicity and events at ABC Entertainment, married Erik Kim, service manager for Atlas Lens Co., on March 19 at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley, California. Births Johanna Calderon-Dakin, account director at The Mesulam Group, and actor-producer Raaj S. Jadaun welcomed daughter Krishnaavi S. Jadaun on June 4 at Providence St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. Congrats Pam Kaufman was promoted to president and CEO, international markets, global consumer products and experiences for Paramount Global on July 29. Gimlet’s Mimi O’Donnell was upped to oversee scripted fiction at Spotify on July 27. Grace Del Val was elevated to general counsel and head of business affairs at Bad Robot on July 28. Asif Sadiq was named chief global diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Warner…

CREATED 1948 1,180 CALORIES NAMESAKE Entertainment lawyer Neil McCarthy INGREDIENTS Lettuce, cheddar cheese, grilled chicken, bacon, egg, beets, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette COST OVER TIME 1948: 25¢ 2005: $22 2022: $44 176% INFLATION FAMOUSLY OBSESSED Former Paramount chief Sherry Lansing…

On the day of the Emmy nominations, Seth Meyers left his phone at home and set out for a jog — alone, save for his thoughts. He describes the run as “5 miles of lies.” He spent the time reminding himself of all the reasons being recognized by Television Academy isn’t the most important thing, reasons like his three children. “The whole affair was rather embarrassing,” he tells THR over the phone while preparing for the evening’s Late Night broadcast. “You look back at your list of why it wouldn’t have mattered and are like, ‘Oh boy, it definitely mattered.’ ” Meyers returned to a flurry of congratulatory texts and emails. For the very first time, his version of Late Night was nominated for outstanding variety talk series. The show…

This sketch — a callback to season one’s “Basic Ball” — was shot on location at RSI Locations in Pomona in an abandoned medical campus. “We had a bunch of tinsel and our title card lit up with marquee lights, and we wanted to bring those elements over to this sketch,” explains Chao. The high-angled pitch of the ceiling made this room, which in reality is a small banquet hall, resemble a church space. Chao and Yu lit the room with “a rainbow of colors,” with Chao noting that the funeral scene “wasn’t about a loss of life, but more about a celebration of life. We populated it with big, bold statements and florals to make it more of a fun atmosphere.” That mixed tone also applies to the mood…

The family box office used to be reliable, but then the COVID-19 crisis shuffled theatrical schedules, and now studios are trying to figure out to what degree parents and kids are willing to return to the multiplex after having easy access to product at home. Earlier in the summer, progress was made: Universal and Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru opened to a dazzling $107 million, a pandemic-era best and almost matching the $115 million launch of the first Minions in 2015. To date, Gru has grossed more than $710 million globally. Then came a setback. Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank bombed, and Warner Bros.’ star-packed DC League of Super-Pets limped to a $23 million domestic debut over the July 29-31 weekend (prerelease tracking had warned that the…

Churning butter!” Grant Vanderbilt yells in a video posted on Instagram back in 2018. It’s not actual butter: Marko Monroe is “churning” the contents of a trash can on Hollywood Boulevard with a palm frond as people mill around. “Making trash butter!” Vanderbilt continues. “Who wants a cocktail?!” adds Marko, attempting to sell the product. “We were absolutely insane,” says Hunter Crenshaw, who also was there that night. The three are the founders of the five-member House of Avalon, a chosen-family collective of Arkansas transplants who now reside in an L.A. duplex. “We just did crazy things, and that’s kind of how we made our name.” The clip of Vanderbilt and Monroe led to the group working with nightlife producers the Boulet Brothers for one of their first club gigs…

“This is our hometown show. These are our people, these are our friends, these are our fucking family,” announced opening act Beck from center stage of Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium on July 31, connecting the geographic dots of a locals-only concert that also featured Compton’s Thundercat and headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers. The sold-out show (attended by the likes of Brad Pitt) saw Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith and John Frusciante rock their way through hits “Under the Bridge,” “Californication” and “Give It Away.” To close the night, Flea gave gratitude: “We fucking love you. We breathe you in every fucking day. You are us.”…

Abbi Jacobson and her A League of Their Own co-creator, Will Graham, have long shared the belief that the 1992 film does not need to be remade. So when Jacobson and Graham’s episodic take on the Penny Marshall title drops Aug. 12 on Amazon, they are both hopeful the show, in which Jacobson also stars, feels sufficiently different. “We love those characters and that angle on this time. We’re not trying to redo Dottie and Kit,” says Jacobson, referring to the now-iconic roles played by Geena Davis and Lori Petty. “I’m in no way trying to pretend I’m Geena Davis.” The series, for which they got the blessings of Marshall, Davis and original co-star Rosie O’Donnell (who also cameos), explores topics of sexuality and racism that were largely omitted from…

For Hollywood folks headed to the Hamptons during summer’s final weeks, there are new reasons to check in for a stay in New York as well, such as these five new or reno-vated hotels that make the Big Apple more attractive than ever. HOTEL CHELSEA Bob Dylan, Marilyn Monroe, Patti Smith, Madonna, Dennis Hopper, Uma Thurman. They and so many more illustrious artists have haunted the storied halls of this iconic hotel in a landmark 1884 structure, which has long “been a beacon and home to the international creative community,” says co-owner Sean MacPherson. After a decade of renovations, it reopened in early summer with 155 meticulously restored guest rooms (not all are completed), plus its revived El Quijote Spanish restaurant. 222 W. 23rd St.; rooms from $300 a night…

Hinoki & the Bird, the unofficial midday canteen for CAA and WME execs craving wagyu burgers and barbecue Jidori chicken, reopened for lunch July 15. Its trellised Century City patio is most in-demand — companies from Amazon Studios to UTA have held “welcome back” gatherings there — but covers are still down 50 percent as hybrid and fully remote schedules bite into business. “I think this is the new normal,” says owner Walter Schild. Call it a vibe shift, or something more difficult to swallow, but two and a half years after the onset of COVID, Hollywood’s sit-down restaurant scene has transformed. One o’clock no longer is what it used to be. Propagate chairman Ben Silverman, known for his Before Times ubiquity in dining rooms around town, muses of the…

Meeting the Terminator It seems implausible now, but there was once a time when a studio could force James Cameron to take a lunch. In 1982, Orion and Hemdale, the studios backing The Terminator, set the young director up on a lunch meeting with a rising European actor whom executives thought might boost their $6 million sci-fi film’s foreign box office potential: Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger’s agents wanted their client, who was transitioning from body building to acting, considered for the role of Kyle Reese, the heroic warrior from the future ultimately played in the movie by Michael Biehn. Cameron thought that was an absurd idea given Schwarzenegger’s size and background. He planned to attend the lunch to appease the studios but intended to pick a fight with Schwarzenegger to make…

One year ago, the opening credits for HBO’s The White Lotus pulsated on screens all over the world: simple, wallpaperlike graphics subtly undulating and accompanied by haunting music. The tropical images of monkeys, birds and fruit go perfectly with the sonic elements, teasing the character trajectories in the episodes to come, yet composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer and directors Katrina Crawford and Mark Bashore of Seattle studio Plains of Yonder tell THR that the three of them never worked together on it — it just became cohesive naturally. “Cristobal was in Montreal, and we’re in Seattle,” says Bashore, “and we both took conversations from [creator] Mike White, and we didn’t talk and somehow we ended up with a nice combination.” Adds Crawford, “Normally, our edits are very sound-driven, and we…

This sketch — another callback to a character seen in season one — was also shot in an empty classroom at the RSI Pomona location. “There was a beehive,” Chao recalls of the space, which required cleaning before their team could begin dressing the room, which is not unusual. “A lot of these locations [need to be fixed up] before we even get down to design the space.” The elementary school classroom required a lot of background details, from the drawings on the chalkboard to the posters on the walls, some of which were crafted with construction paper and glue to resemble artwork made by children. The latter items included science fair placards, such as one about volcanoes, and posters celebrating Black literary achievement — including re-creations of the book…

Australian Film, Television and Radio School Australia’s preeminent screen arts and broadcast school benefits from a beautiful setting in one of the most pleasant parts of Sydney, as well as a wealth of industry lecturers and connections to the country’s working film and TV world. Notable alumni include this year’s Oscar best director winner Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog) and Black Widow filmmaker Cate Shortland, in addition to a slew of past Oscar nominees and winners in technical categories, like David White (sound editing for Mad Max: Fury Road), Andrew Lesnie (cinematography for The Lord of the Rings) and Tony McNamara (best original screenplay with The Favourite). Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica Mexico’s most prestigious film school prides itself on the gender parity of its student body (a goal…