Showbiz Sandbox 559: Dune Survives The Streaming Desert
October 26, 2021
Despite being available to stream day-and-date with its theatrical release, Denis Villeneuve’s epic film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel “Dune” opened to strong box office around the world. While we don’t know, and may never know, how many people viewed the movie on HBO Max, it’s availability on the service has surely cut into its box office potential.
Speaking of numbers, Apple TV+ has begun working with Nielsen to get its streaming numbers reported on the company’s charts. And Netflix finally suggests it too will start embracing the “total minutes watched” metric that Nielsen has been using. Maybe Nielsen isn’t dead after all, as so many media pundits have espoused.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the latest on the new IATSE contract and the dreadful firearms accident involving actor Alec Baldwin on the set of the film “Rust” that left the cinematographer of the movie dead and the director seriously injured.
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Showbiz Sandbox 558: Hollywood Workers Scrutinize Gains In New Contract
October 19, 2021
At the eleventh hour the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the union representing film and television production workers, negotiated a new contract with studios and networks. What is still unclear is whether workers are grateful about averting a strike or upset they didn’t gain more. Besides gaining wage increases, the union was aiming to clamp down on workplace conditions that lead to long, exhausting hours.
Meanwhile, across the entertainment business, the black hole of data is getting bigger. We don’t really know what streaming shows are popular, we can’t add up all the ways people consume music, TV producers are struggling to prove they’re reaching a lot of eyeballs and Broadway has stopped reporting grosses. Is this just annoying for journalists or a real problem for the industry as a whole?
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why the Grammys are booting Kacey Musgraves from the country music category, Elton John sets a new record on the music charts and Disney loses a key, veteran executive.
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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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