The Business

<p>SAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative deal with studios after 118 days on strike. Was the deal a win? What is in it? Plus, WBD and Disney earnings news. Legendary sitcom director James Burrows talks with Eric Deggans, NPR TV critic and guest-host on <i>The Business</i>, about the revival of <i>Frasier</i>, his directing career, and whether sitcoms can endure on streaming services.</p>

<p>First, HBO CEO Casey Bloys asked staffers to create fake Twitter accounts to fight critics of the network. What’s all the attention about? Plus, Disney is finally buying Hulu.</p> <p>Actress-comedian Leslie Jones discusses her tell-all memoir, overcoming personal and career obstacles, and her relationship with ‘SNL’ creator, Lorne Michaels. </p>

<p>The actors’ strike forges on as Hollywood reckons with the impact of the Hamas-Israel conflict and streamers raise prices — again. NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans talks with comic-book-author-turned-showrunner Robert Kirkman about the new animated adaptation of his print series Invincible, modernizing the superhero genre, and why he’s not worried about comic book adaptation fatigue.</p>

<p>The CEO of Endeavor, Ari Emanuel, attacked rival Bryan Lourd, head of the talent agency CAA, at Bloomberg’s Screentime conference. What’s behind the feud? </p> <p>Documentarian Ken Burns talks about his latest project, <i>The American Buffalo</i>, his career, financing projects, and controversies, including a recently surfaced photo of him posing along Clarence Thomas and David Koch.</p>

<p>Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert film is out in theaters. Was this a good deal for Swift and AMC? And will this become a trend with other artists? This week on <i>The Business</i>, Kim Masters revisits an interview with Sterlin Harjo, co-creator of the hit comedy series <i>Reservation Dogs</i> on FX.</p>

<p>As the actors’ strike continues, Netflix announces a price hike. What does this mean for subscribers and the streamer? </p> <p>Then, Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter talks about her new book, collaborating with Spike Lee and Steven Spielberg, and the joys and challenges of costume designing for <i>Black Panther</i>.</p>

<p>WGA leaders reached a deal this week with Hollywood studios, ending 148 days of work stoppage. What did they get? Where did they compromise? And will SAG-AFTRA be next? Plus, director Gareth Edwards discusses his new AI-centric film <i>The Creator</i> and its timeliness within our current cultural climate. He also gets real about behind-the-scenes drama on <i>Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.</i></p>

<p>First, Rupert Murdoch has announced that he is stepping down as the head of both Fox Corp. and News Corp. What will this mean for the Murdoch family line of succession? Plus, Warner Brothers Discovery announces a new paid tier to offer live sports coverage on Max. Then, <i>Ladies First</i> executive producer <a href="https://www.dreamhampton.com/">Dream Hampton</a> talks to NPR’s <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/243254424/eric-deggans">Eric Deggans</a> about why she doesn’t hesitate to call out misogynists by name in her new documentary series spotlighting women in hip-hop. Plus, she gets real about initially not wanting to do the project at all.</p>

<p>First, what lasting damage to the entertainment industry will the extended impasse between striking Hollywood creatives, and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers leave in its wake? </p> <p>Then, in an encore interview, <i>Navalny</i> director Daniel Roher and investigative journalist Christo Grozev discuss how they came to pursue a film about Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader. They also talk about the risks they faced to make the Oscar-winning documentary, and the eventual arrest and sentencing of the politician in Russia. </p>

<p>First, the Walt Disney Co. has pulled all programming from Charter Spectrum in early September. What ripples does this create for Disney, other networks, and the cable industry?</p> <p>Then, <i>Reservation Dogs </i>director Danis Goulet talks about working on the final season of the FX hit, representation in Hollywood, and Taika Waititi’s integral role in creating a platform for Indigenous stories.</p>

<p>First, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav hires former New York Times executive Mark Thompson to head CNN. Will Thompson turn the struggling network around?</p> <p>Then, directors Sam Lipman-Stern and Adam Lough talk with NPR TV critic <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/243254424/eric-deggans">Eric Deggans</a> about their HBO documentary, <i>Telemarketers</i> and share how their work helped investigate fraudulent charitable organizations. They also discuss how the Safdie brothers came on board to executive produce the series, and how HBO came to be at the helm.</p>

<p>First, the AMPTP released its latest offer to the WGA in a press release this week. Will the studio’s move work or backfire? Then, actor, comedian, musician, and producer Steve Martin and co-creator of <i>Only Murders in the Building</i>, John Hoffman, explain how they met and what it took to get this idea from paper onto the screen.</p>

<p>First, Hollywood strikes throttle on, despite recent talks between AMPTP and WGA, complicating industry plans for the season ahead. What will this mean for upcoming film festivals and fall television? </p> <p>Then, Jason Blum, founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.blumhouse.com/">Blumhouse</a>, discusses the latest on the work stoppages, and the (spooky) current state of Hollywood. But it’s not all horror talk with one of our leading experts on the genre — the powerhouse producer has advice on amplifying profitability across the industry.</p>

<p>The 2023 Emmy ceremony has been rescheduled for January 2024. How will it contend with the NFL playoffs? And Disney presents more changes via its latest investor call.</p> <p>Political analyst Bill Kristol joins to break down an FCC petition to deny a Fox Corp. affiliate’s license renewal and his larger role in seeking accountability for the organization.</p>

<p>After months of stagnation, the AMPTP has asked the Writers Guild back to the negotiating table. Is there a deal to be made? Plus, Disney re-hires some familiar faces as consultants.</p> <p>Then, director Sam Pollard discusses his new doc <i>The League</i>, which pairs his love of baseball with his ongoing examination of Black history, and discusses working with producer Questlove and the “uphill climb” of documentary filmmaking. </p>

<p><i>Barbie</i> and <i>Oppenheimer</i> have proven to be massively successful at the box office, but where does that leave the comparatively underwhelming performance of <i>Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One</i> and other tentpole hopefuls? <br /><br />Then, <i>The Horror of Dolores Roach</i> Executive Producer <a href="https://variety.com/exec/gloria-kellett/">Gloria Calderón Kellett</a> talks to NPR TV critic <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/243254424/eric-deggans">Eric Deggans</a> about the challenges of making a screen adaptation of a hit podcast. She also explains the significant impact of residuals throughout her career, and why she thinks writers need a better deal in the streaming age.</p>

<p>On the strike lines, rhetoric from studios and guilds makes it difficult to reach a resolution, while Disney’s CEO digs in. Plus, Netflix and streaming services face growth challenges. </p> <p>Then, Emmy-nominated VFX specialist and AI expert Mike Seymour talks about the various ways Hollywood has benefited from AI. He discusses the risks of human misuse of the technology and the need for regulation, and explains how AI can be harnessed — and in some cases, already is — to help rather than hurt creatives. </p>

<p>The Business analyzes SAG-AFTRA’s strike, which will effectively shut down Hollywood at an already perilous time. Plus, Bob Iger announces a contract extension until 2026, and the summer box office heats up.</p>

<p>Amazon CEO Andy Jassy asks for detailed budgets of all the biggest shows made by its Hollywood studios. Why now? Plus, another polemic involving David Zaslav. Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director Billy Ray talks with Kim Masters about the guilds' battle surrounding AI, its limitations and dangers in the workplace, and whether it can really take over the WBD CEO’s job. </p>

<p>Following the decision to fire top execs at Warner Bros. Discovery’s TCM, WB’s CEO David Zaslav feels the blowback and is forced to reverse the channel’s course. Plus, Netflix’s union busting tactics, exposed. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss. </p> <p>Plus, diving into her debut book ‘Burn It Down,’ journalist Maureen Ryan dispels myths about Hollywood, exposes industry misconducts and coverups, and offers fixes.</p>

<p>To pay debt, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is licensing HBO original series to Netflix, and fires the head of TCM. Meanwhile, Disney/Pixar’s “Elemental” underperforms at the box office. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break down what it all means and the potential impacts.</p> <p><a href="https://www.npr.org/">NPR</a> contributor and guest interviewer <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/101672137/jeff-lunden">Jeff Lunden</a> talks to music supervisor <a href="http://www.searchparty-music.com/new-page">Randall Poster</a> about his career in film and television, his work with Martin Scorsese over the years, his long relationship with Wes Anderson, and why finding the right music for a project is a deeply collaborative process.</p>

<p>A summer banter: Will the season bring the big box office returns studios are hoping for? Plus, Disney pushes back franchise releases, and The Golden Globes undergoes another massive change. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break it down.</p> <p>Then, as the 2023 Emmy Awards voting begins — with nominations announced July 12 — Masters and Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter’s Executive Director of Awards Coverage, talk about the award show’s recent voting changes, and Feinberg gives a special preview of what to expect.</p>

<p>CNN CEO Chris Licht is out from the network following a damning article in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/06/cnn-ratings-chris-licht-trump/674255/">The Atlantic</a> reporting his “alienating” behavior towards his staff. Was he a bad match for the job? </p> <p>Then, Kim Masters speaks to legendary actress, singer, writer, and comedian Carol Burnett about her sprawling career in entertainment, her close relationship with friend and mentor Lucille Ball, how she created her long running CBS variety show, and why she says working with "Better Call Saul" creator Vince Gilligan was one of the greatest experiences she’s ever had.</p>

<p>While the WGA strike continues in the U.S., many writer-directors, actors were off promoting their films at Cannes. Did that weaken the WGA effort? </p> <p>Then, former National Association of Theatre Owners CEO John Fithian speaks about the industry navigating the pandemic, and why he is optimistic about its future. </p>

<p>As week three of the writer’s strike continues, other unions and guilds show solidarity while studios cut costs to see quarter stock increase. Plus, we revisit our long pre-strike conversation with Tony McNamara, whose viciously satirical series “The Great” has just returned for its third season on Hulu. McNamara talks about his fascination with Catherine the Great, working with Hulu, and how he transported a world he originally created for the theater stage to the small screen.</p>

<p>“Wild Life” directors Jimmy Chin and his wife Chai Vasarhelyi discuss mortality, making the film, and its uncanny parallels with their own lives. </p> <p>Plus, guest host Matt Belloni of Puck News speaks with Lucas Shaw, head of entertainment at Bloomberg, about the stakes for streamers and striking writers at the 2023 Upfronts in New York this week.</p>

<p>Director Allen Hughes discusses his five-part FX documentary series “Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur,” his relationship with the late rapper, and why examining the life story of Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur was integral to the documentary series. </p> <p>Plus, after a dismal Q1 earnings report, Paramount’s shares fell 30%. It shut MTV News and cut 25% of its network staff. Will the company break?</p>

<p>“Tiny Beautiful Things” series creator and showrunner Liz Tigelaar and author Cheryl Strayed discuss the kismet of their collaboration and adapting the acclaimed book into a Hulu limited series.</p> <p>First — you might have heard — the Writers Guild of America is on strike. How will other guilds react? And when and how could the strike end?<br /><br /></p>

<p>Scandals! Legal duels! Ousters! Looming strikes! Even by Hollywood standards, this week’s industry news has been fit for, well, Hollywood. To make sense of it all, The Business presents a special spring Megabanter in which host Kim Masters teams up with Banter compatriot and Puck News founder Matt Belloni and Bloomberg entertainment and media head Lucas Shaw to break down some of the biggest Hollywood stories of 2023 so far — from a misconduct shakeup at NBCUniversal and Disney’s tête-à-tête with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to Tucker Carlson’s Fox departure and the latest on the impending writers’ strikes. </p>

<p>This week, The Business revisits a conversation with actor Aubrey Plaza and director John Patton Ford about their film “Emily the Criminal.” When Plaza’s colleague handed her the script for the drama thriller, she was immediately struck by it. “It was just one of those scripts that I started to read, and I just flew through it,” she says. “It's so readable and fun … it has this momentum that propels you forward.” While Plaza had found her next great project, Ford explains why it took 12 years to write the story. With Plaza, they discuss the struggles of making “Emily The Criminal” and independent movies in general, and the film’s unexpected success. First, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni look into how the Writers Guild of America has voted to authorize strike, while Netflix details its plans for a crackdown on password sharing in the United States, and Fox News and Dominion reach a settlement. </p>

<p><i>This week, The Business revists a conversation with the creators of </i><i>“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.” </i>After almost an eight-year hiatus, actor Jenny Slate and director Dean Fleischer-Camp are bringing their lovable Marcel the Shell back to life. This time audiences will see the seashell with two pink shoes and one plastic eye, who babbles insightful and funny life-observations, in the stop-motion, feature-length mockumentary, “<a href="https://a24films.com/films/marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on">Marcel the Shell With Shoes On</a>.”</p>

<p>Steven Yeun discusses his fears in taking “Minari,” why he and his “Beef” co-star broke out in hives after production wrapped, and how Netflix’s offer for the series was too good to turn down. First, Amazon Studios’ lack of vision, and unlimited resources sets up a brandless streaming service. Does Amazon care about the bang that they're getting for their buck?</p>

<p>This week, The Business revisits a conversation with Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, co-creators and co-executive producers of the series “Yellowjackets,” just out with its second season on Showtime. </p>

<p>“Daisy Jones & The Six” co-writer and co-creator Scott Neustadter talks about his early career, writing book adaptations, and the making of the sprawling rock ‘n’ roll limited series for Amazon. First, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni look into Disney’s announcement of a LGBTQ+ summit in Florida in September. Is Disney’s CEO Bob Iger clapping back at Governor Ron DeSantis?</p>

<p>New York Times Presents’ reporters and producers Rachel Abrams and Liz Day discuss “Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano” two-part documentary on FX and Hulu. They explain the infamous Hollywood private investigator’s rise and fall, his 15-year sentence for illegal wiretapping and other crimes, campaigns of intimidation, and how almost all of his powerful clients walked away unscathed.</p>

<p>Director-producer Elizabeth Banks understood the challenges of making the mixed-genre horror-comedy “Cocaine Bear.”</p> <p> “I knew that if we could just create inside the movie the sense of chaos that the bear represented, that the title represented, that the ride was for theater goers, the comedy really came second to me,” she states. “I didn't want to make a comedy, if you will. It ended up being really funny, though.”</p> <p>Banks talks about hearing the call of destiny with “Cocaine Bear,” releasing the raunchy R-rated horror-comedy in theaters, working with Ray Liotta, and how she has dealt with failures in her career.</p> <p>But first, Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch defends company against Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss if his justification is surprising.</p>

<p>Director Daniel Roher is over the moon with the Oscar nom for his bio-doc “Navalny.” “How bittersweet this experience has been for me personally, as [a] filmmaker,” he affirms. “This film has put my life on a rocket ship, [and] has empowered creative career opportunities I never could have dreamed of.” Investigative journalist Christo Grozev, however, took one of the biggest risks imaginable: working on a film about Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader, has landed him on Putin’s wanted list. “When Navalny and I were saying our goodbyes, when he was about to leave for Berlin, he literally turned to me and said, ‘Well, until now I was number one on Putin's list, and from now on, you're number one on Putin's kill list.’ And it seems that he was not joking,” Grozev says. Roher and Grozev discuss how they came to pursue a film about Navalny, the risks they faced, and the eventual arrest and sentencing of the politician in Russia. </p>

<p>For director Shaunak Sen documentary filmmaking is like a “fever dream,” in that when he starts he “sort of jumps off a cliff.” The same goes for his latest documentary “All That Breathes,” as he didn’t know where the film “would land.” “Everything that has happened with the film was utterly and entirely outside of my orbit of predictive reasoning as well.” In this interview, Sen discusses the creation of “All That Breathes,” the rescue work of black kites in New Delhi, the challenges of filming it, and the recognition it has received. But first, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni look at the possible exit of Kevin Costner from “Yellowstone.” Where does the franchise go without him? </p>

<p>Irish actor Brendan Gleeson has received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for playing Colm Doherty in the black tragicomedy “The Banshees of Inisherin.” “It's a thrill… I'm not in the springtime of my career,” he notes. In this in-depth conversation, the 35-year TV and film veteran discusses his early acting career, two of his four sons becoming actors, fame from the “Harry Potter” movies, and his award-nominated role in The Banshees of Inisherin.” First, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni look into Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise’s rekindled friendship. Is it genuine or a marketing stunt? Plus, a new book about the Redstone family empire.</p>

<div>Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian woman to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the sci-fi action-fantasy “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” an unexpected feat for the veteran. In this extended conversation, she talks about the film and its success, and delves back into her life-long career spanning from her aspirations to becoming a ballerina as a child, to the evolution of acceptance for Asian-represented movies. First, Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced he is open to selling Hulu, just a day after the company’s Q1 earnings call. </div>

<p>Jerry Bruckheimer has credits on some of the most successful TV shows and movies of the last five decades. One thing he’s learned is that this business is unpredictable, so much that even he couldn’t have guessed that “Top Gun: Maverick” would be a breakout hit.</p> <p></p>

<p>Writer-director Sarah Polley had a successful career as a child actor. By eight, she had appeared in several TV series and films and was cast to play Sally Salt in the notorious “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen,” Terry Gilliam’s adventure fantasy film. While Polley’s family was thrilled about it, she recalls an out-of-control production, with “unsafe and scary situations” on set. </p> <p></p>

<p>Before “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” saw a limited theatrical release last November, Producer Ram Bergman wasn’t sure if audiences would be back in theaters. Bergman is grateful that Netflix decided to premiere it on 600-odd screens for a week, and hopes the experiment moves the needle. </p> <p></p>

<p>With “Avatar: The Way of Water” <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2023/01/12/avatar-the-way-of-water-charts-course-for-19-billion-worldwide/?sh=8e14ec57d810">charting a course</a> for a $1.9 billion international gross, co-writer, producer and director James Cameron can now <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/james-cameron-avatar-2-turn-profit-box-office-1235480925/">continue working</a> on the following three sequels of the franchise, a project he compares to having kids. “Once you've done that, you're kind of stuck,” he jokes. </p> <p></p>

<p>Filmmaker James Cameron started pre-production of “Avatar: The Way of Water” in 2014. Though sequels two and three to the 2009 “Avatar” had been greenlit by then 20th Century Fox head Jim Gianopulos, Cameron knew change was coming. In early 2019, The Walt Disney Company acquired the studio and with it, Cameron’s latest project. “We sort of were led to believe that the ‘Avatar’ overall [intellectual property] was one of the jewels in the crown of what Disney was acquiring, so we expected them to be leaning forward and wanting to see what we were all about,” says Cameron. “They were excited by the potential of the new films, especially as it was planned out to be a series of films, a saga over time played out in four movies.” In the first installment of a two-part conversation with Cameron, the filmmaker shares what changes affected the production of the movie, and why what he calls an “arranged marriage” with Disney turned out better than expected. He also discusses the importance of theaters and repeat views for the film’s success, and how he views streaming services. But first, Kim Masters discusses with Matt Belloni how the “Avatar” and “Top Gun” sequels brought droves to the theaters. Will audiences go back in 2023, or will studios continue to focus on streaming?</p>

<p>The Business revisits its most popular episode of 2022: part two of a conversation with multi-hyphenate Bradley Cooper. To get a shot at directing his remake of “A Star is Born,” Cooper passed on an upfront payday in exchange for a piece of the profit. And that gamble paid off. But as Cooper is painfully aware, the movie business has changed. “Those days are completely gone,” Cooper says. “So, there is trepidation I have with that, no question. And I have thought: I really have to actively start thinking about other ways of making revenue that have maybe nothing to do with movie making.” In part two of this interview with Cooper, he shares his worries about the streaming future. He also remembers picking up filmmaking tips on the set of “Alias.” And he shares how he created the memorable voice of Marvel’s Rocket Raccoon.</p>

<p>It’s time for The Business’ annual year-in-review Megabanter. Kim Masters, Matt Belloni, founding partner of Puck News, and Lucas Shaw, entertainment reporter at Bloomberg, discuss the biggest Hollywood stories of 2022. </p>

<p>Ruben Östlund’s latest film “Triangle of Sadness,” a satirical dark comedy that takes place in a luxury yacht, has gained considerable recognition since it came out, including a Palme d’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in the spring. Now, Östlund delves into his directing, shooting during the pandemic, funding, and the aftermath of the film’s success, while Filipina actress Dolly De Leon discusses her career and how being in the film has changed her life. But first, the “Avatar” sequel premieres worldwide, including a coveted theatrical release in China. Can it gross more than $2 billion to succeed? Plus, Warner Bros. Discovery pulls the plug on “Minx” season 2. Matt Belloni and Kim Masters analyze.</p> <p></p>

<p>Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino stays busy with his projects, which lately have stacked up on top of each other throughout their production cycles. After recovering from a broken foot, he’s flown to Brazil, Argentina, the United States, and around Europe in a months-long global press tour to promote two most recent films that he produced and directed. </p>

<p>When actor, writer, and producer Kumail Nanjiani was 18, he moved from Karachi, Pakistan - a city of more than <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/cities/22044/karachi/population">9 million people</a> - to the United States to attend <a href="https://www.grinnell.edu/">Grinnell College</a>, a small, private liberal arts college in Iowa in 1997. The town of Grinnell’s population was about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinnell,_Iowa">9,000</a> then. Though he had visited New York as a teenager, and “sort of knew America the way it is in movies,” he was not prepared for the cultural shock. </p>