Strictly Business

On today's episode, filmmaker Paul Feig speaks with Variety's Matt Donnelly about the state of moviemaking, Hollywood's great contraction and why he is an unabashed fan of popcorn pics. The conversation was held April 8 at Variety's annual Power of Law breakfast event in Los Angeles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety’s Brent Lang and Elsa Keslassy analyze this year's Cannes Film Festival lineup which puts the accent on European auteur filmmakers. And top Hollywood litigator Patricia Glaser talks tough about social media, the Southern California economy, and she offers a full-throated defense of Casey Wasserman at Variety's Power of Law breakfast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Michael Schneider details his reporting and the incredible access he received to cover the fifth and final season of HBO Max’s beloved comedy “Hacks.” And Cindy Lin, executive director of UCLA’s Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports, discusses the big developments in entertainment law as Variety unveils our annual Power of Law issue including this year’s Legal Impact Report honorees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, actor and singer Andra Day joins us to talk about her involvement in the Night Out for No Kid Hungry fundraiser set for April 11 at Rolling Greens in downtown Los Angeles. Day also says that she will have new music coming soon. "I haven't decided whether it's going to be a series of EPs or a full album yet," she says.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down the big worldwide opening for Universal and Illumination’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” The moviegoing galaxy was big enough for Amazon MGM Studios’ “Project Hail Mary” to hold on strong in week 3.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Schildhouse, CEO of direct-to-consumer for BBC Studios, details the growing popularity of streamer BritBox and its loyal U.S. subscribers. "We have to earn our way into the living room like every streaming service does," Schildhouse says.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Brent Lang breaks down the numbers and a second-weekend sigh of relief at Amazon MGM Studios as “Project Hail Mary” hangs in at No. 1. And Michael Schneider speaks to daytime TV soap mogul Bradley Bell, the writer-producer who has launched a subscription app for diehard fans of CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, “Strictly Business” speaks with “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette” executive producers Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson about the Ryan Murphy-FX drama that examines how a fairy-tale romance collided with the fearsome power of fame. The partners in the Color Force film and TV banner also assess the health of the film and TV sales marketplace, and the pair are frank about why they support the Producers United campaign.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety’s Todd Spangler and Gene Maddaus examine why OpenAI abruptly pulled the plug on its generative AI video creation model, Sora, and why Disney insiders are relieved that the Mouse House's character licensing deal with Sora has gone away, as has Disney's plan to invest $1 billion in OpenAI. Maddaus and Spangler explain what just happened -- and why SAG-AFTRA deserves to take a victory lap.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, we’re talking “Star Trek” and its future with Variety’s Joe Otterson. He broke the news that Paramount+’s “Starfleet Academy” will end after just two seasons and showrunner Alex Kurtzman is likely to pass the baton as the creative steward of the franchise for TV. Otterson unpacks what’s next for the beloved space opera in TV and film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety’s Kate Aurthur details the 21-year, three-season journey that Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King have been on with “The Comeback” as the offbeat comedy takes its final lap on HBO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Brent Lang breaks down a big opening weekend for Amazon MGM Studios and its Ryan Gosling fantasy vehicle “Project Hail Mary.” And Naman Ramachandran reports on the mood at Hong Kong Filmart, where AI and China dominate the conversation among top Asian producers, distributors and talent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety’s Kate Aurthur hosts a “Strictly Business Live” conversation from the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. Google TV hosted a Next Generation Podcast Brunch featuring a conversation with Google’s Juanjo Duran and VeYou founder and CEO Tommy Harper. The pair discuss the burgeoning business of microdramas and how Google TV is integrating the format into its content hubs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Ethan Shanfeld details his profile of Miley Cyrus as she embraces the legacy of “Hannah Montana," tackling stage fright and the buzz about her possibly playing the Super Bowl Halftime Show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, we’ll hear from Variety’s Marc Malkin on his chat with Zendaya on the red carpet for A24’s The Drama. And Variety reporter Jack Dunn details one of his cult-favorite digital series, Tim Heidecker's “On Cinema at the Cinema” and why it’s had such a long run with Gen Z cinephiles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, hear from Nancy Grace on Kouri Richins, Eva Pilgrim, producers of “Quiet on Set,” “The Fall of Diddy,” “Lost Women of Alaska,” “Wisecrack” and executives from ID, Audible, Pushkin Industries, Sony Podcasts and more in highlights from Variety’s True Crime Summit at SXSW.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin unpacks the rise of the Hoover-verse as author Colleen Hoover’s latest film adaptation, Universal’s “Reminders of Him,” is No. 1 at the multiplexes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From 'Kpop Demon Hunters' to the upcoming BTS album, Kpop is well into its global domination phase. But as analyst Robert Steiner explores in his new Luminate special report, the Korean music phenomenon is really just part of a bigger movement across Asia, where markets like Japan, India and China are poised to follow in Kpop's footsteps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety’s Gene Maddaus offers an update on the contract negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the major studios and streamers. The Writers Guild of America is next up at the table starting March 16.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Matt Donnelly details his sit-down in Nashville with Nicole Kidman for Variety’s pre-Oscars issue, published today in print and online. Kidman revisits the whirlwind experience of her best actress Oscar win for “The Hours” in 2003.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, we’ll hear from Variety’s Antonio Ferme and Harper Mays on how the two assembled Variety’s 10 Creators to Watch list this year reflecting fast-rising, entertainment-centered social media stars. And Variety’s Payton Turkeltaub explains why so many people are taking their TV with cocktails and friends as watch party events for fan-favorite shows proliferate in bars and restaurants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Brent Lang unpacks what went wrong for Warner Bros.’ “The Bride” and what went right for Pixar’s “Hoppers” this weekend. And then we step into the Wayback Machine for a look at the stories and personalities who were making news in Daily Variety on March 9, 1976.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Radial Entertainment CEO Jeff Shultz explains why he’s shopping for content libraries now that the Pluto TV and Paramount alum has taken the reins of the TV and film venture backed by OakTree Capital Management. Radial was formed last year through OakTree’s combination of FilmRise and Shout Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode, we’ll hear from Variety’s Marc Malkin on how the somber mood in Hollywood and geopolitical uncertainty will affect this year’s Oscar week celebrations leading up to the Academy Awards on March 15. And Ethan Shanfeld paints a colorful picture of all that he observed while attending a “Baywatch” open casting call.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Selome Hailu details her profile of actor Keke Palmer, star of “I Love Boosters,” the Boots Riley comedy that is set to open the SXSW festival next week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety’s Michael Schneider examines the questions swirling around HBO as the storied brand braces for Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Casey Bloys and Co. are waiting on word of how the premium TV pioneer will operate under Paramount Skydance, if the $110 billion acquisition is completed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.