The Past 24 Hours: January 26, 2016

Abe vigoda FishAbe Vigoda: 1921 -2016
The Gist:  New York native Abe Vigoda was 50 years old when he became a pop-culture fixture after his role in The Godfather. He parlayed that into TV series work, including the series Barney Miller and his own spin-off, Fish.
Source Article Here: BBC

holy-hell-still#Sundance 2016 Review: ‘Holy Hell’
The Gist: A look into the “chilling” documentary, Holy Hell, about The Buddha Field spiritual group that formed in 1985 in Southern California, as well as the disturbing revelations that followed and had some of its subjects crying from their seats at the Sundance screening.
Source Article Here: The Telegraph
Author: Gregory Ellwood

Flint River“Liquid Death” – The Poisoning Of Flint, Michigan
The Gist: People losing tufts of hair in the shower, children irreversibly brain-damaged by untreated tap water from the Flint River in Michigan– already a highly toxic river for decades – are just the tip of the iceberg where lead-filled water, greed and neglect have created an American tragedy in real-time.
Source Article Here: Rolling Stone
Author: Stephen Rodrick

Fine Fine Fine13 New Books For Your Radar This Week
The Gist: The most buzz-worthy new books out this week, with cover art and a synopsis for each, including: The Poison Artist, Why We Write About Ourselves, Anna and the Swallow Man, 25 Women: Essays On Their Art, and The Evening Spider.
Source Article Here: Publishers Weekly

 

earth12Threats to “the very existence of civilization” at most crucial point since 1984
The Gist: Scientists cite climate change and nuclear arms as the biggest threats to global life in their new study that puts the world at “3 minutes to midnight.”
Source Article Here: Time
Author: Daniel White

 

burger joint#L.A. Food Buzz: The End of An Era For L.A.’s Burger Joints
The Gist: This piece takes a look at the fading era of a Downtown L.A staple: the independent burger stand, with only 20 remaining. A look at the rise, fall and resurgence of the downtown scene since the ‘20s and where it’s headed.
Source Article Here: The Guardian
Author: Max Podemski

 

Jurassic Park originalViral Vid: ‘Jurassic Park’ Trailer Re-Edited
The Gist: This fan-made, re-edited trailer for 1994’s Jurassic Park was uploaded to YouTube last Friday and is getting some attention for its suspenseful cuts. The original Jurassic trailer is included, for comparison.
Source Article Here: iDigital Times
Author: Aric Suber-Jenkins

Flashback Read

Britney 2008“I don’t know who you think I am, bitch, but I’m not that person.”
The Gist: A lot has changed for Britney Spears for the better, but “the canary in the coal mine” nearly lost it all less than a decade ago. Rolling Stone documented her crisis in this cover story from February 2008.
Source Article Here: Rolling Stone
Author: Vanessa Grigoriadis

The Past 24 Hours: January 8, 2016

Golden GlobeHollywood’s (Ir)Reverent Big Night: Golden Globes Look-Ahead
The Gist: Part hot mess, part awards ceremony, part Industry wink at itself – here’s a breezy list of 10 things that may or may not happen this Sunday night.
Source Article Here: Moviefone
Author: Gary Susman

walking Dead Season 1Behind ‘The Walking Dead’ Showrunner Lawsuit
The Gist: This Jan. 6th article is a fascinating, gears-and-all look at the challenges of TV production and, namely, the Frank Darabont vs. AMC lawsuit. Also:the 61-page deposition by then-immediate successor Glen Mazzarra is here.
Source Article Here: THR, Esq.
Author: Eriq Gardner

VF logoHeartbreak On The Air: “This was not some guy I picked up in a bar.”
The Gist: Benita Alexander was an NBC News producer who fell in love with her renowned surgeon subject….and the tale only gets stranger from there.
Source Article Here: Vanity Fair
Author: Adam Ciralsky

David Sedaris book cover“I went from having 50 listeners to 50 million listeners.” – David Sedaris
The Gist: David Sedaris talks about keeping a faithful diary for 37 years, his Fitbit/Apple Watch obsession, and how his discovery by NPR’s Ira Glass in 1992 changed his life.
Source Article Here: Sydney Morning Herald
Author: Kerrie O’Brien

 

My Name Is Not Friday14 New Books To Have On Your Radar This Week
The Gist: Publishers Weekly’s pick of 14 new books, with a synopsis for each, and why they matter. Titles include: My Name Is Not Friday, The Root of All Evil, My Name Is Lucy Barton, and the haunted hotel thriller Travelers Rest.
Source Article Here: PW

The Past 24 Hours: January 4, 2016

tyler perry alex cross2The Underdog Billionaire: Tyler Perry
The Gist: Arguably the most polarizing black filmmaker since his former detractor Spike Lee, an interview with the multi-hyphenate mogul on criticism and sheer success.
Source Article Here: Vulture
Author: Rembert Browne

 

pirateCray-Cray In The Office: Machiavellian, Narcissistic, Or Psychopathic?
The Gist: A University study on 800 varied workers in Germany gives an insight into the persona and shortfalls of those with any – or all- of the above traits. Test yourself, if you like, here.
Source Article Here: BBC
Author: David Robson

 

film reel2015: The Biggest Box-Office Year & Lessons From What Didn’t Hit
The Gist: 2015’s B.O. is a peak year, but the films that failed– and there were plenty – speak to lightning fast social word-of-mouth, audience relevancy, and no guarantees.
Source Article Here: The Wall Street Journal
Authors: Ben Fritz and Erich Schwartzel

#ExecutiveUpdate: Rich Ross’ Discovery Channel Do-Over
The Gist: Ross, a 16-year Disney veteran who became Discovery’s President after his stint at Shine America, on his plans to go beyond the male demo and boost the channel’s fortunes.
Source Article Here: The New York Times
Authors: Brooks Barnes and John Koblin

 

computer writeMarket Trends: Customer Experience In A “Digital-First World’
The Gist: 10 key trends for digital content marketers this year, plus the numbers on ad spending forecasts through 2019, social networking use, and ad-blocking.
Source Article Here: Marketing Dive
Author: Natalia Angulo

 

note paperSo You’re A Writer Moving To L.A….?
The Gist: A roundtable with advice on moving from Chicago to L.A. to write applies to any creative making the move: “Don’t come here with the attitude of ‘what can you do for me.’ No one has time for that. They’ll ignore you.”
Source Article Here: Reel Chicago
Author: Colin Costelo

 

Room movieCSA Nominations Released Ahead of January 21 Fete
The Gist: The Casting Society of America’s nominations in all categories has been released. A breakdown of nominees and noteworthy omissions.
Source Article Here: Indiewire
Author: Anne Thompson