INDUSTRY NEWS PRO NEWSLETTER FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2018

April 1, 2018 Leave a comment

“WHEN I CAME BACK TO MY PHONE, THE WORLD HAD CHANGED.” – TERRY CREWS FIGHTS BACK
The Gist: Terry Crews gives an in-depth, raw interview in the personal and professional wake of his public allegation that he was genitally groped at Adam Sandler’s house by a since-demoted WME agent. Article is from March 15, 2018.
Source Article: Buzzfeed
Author: Alanna Bennett

IS THE MODERN WORK FORCE ‘DYING FOR A PAYCHECK?’
The Gist: The author of the above-mentioned book explains why workplace stress is the 5th leading cause of death in the USA. Also explained, the factors that lead to mortal injury, including stagnant salaries, the gig economy, and the millions not covered by employer insurance.
Source Article: Big Think
Author: Derek Beres

THE PERSONALITY TEST CREATOR WHO PROCESSED FACEBOOK DATA FOR CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA
The Gist: An interview with one of the researchers whose personality test app gave them the data of 270,000 people who actually took the test and then got access to “tens of millions” of their FB friends. An explanation of the statistical model used and what it means.
Source Article: Nieman Lab
Author: Matthew Hindman

“THE NEAR TERM RISK IS JUST AS SOBERING”: IF USERS ABANDON FACEBOOK?
The Gist: The author notes that the total number of Amazon and Netflix subscribers amounts to just 1/10th of Facebook’s user base. A look, with graphics, about what could happen financially if Facebook’s user kicked it to the curb.
Source Article: Bloomberg
Author: Nir Kaissar

WEEKEND BOX-OFFICE: SPIELBERG’S READY PLAYER ONE SCORES
The Gist: Steven Spielberg’s retro-visual adaptation brings the director a higher opening gross than expected, while Taraji P. Henson’s lead in Acrimony places right behind. The Top 10 films for the holiday weekend are here.
Source Article: Deadline
Author: Anthony D’Alessandro

NOSTALGIA REVIVAL IS BRINGING MILLIONS BACK TO NETWORK TV
The Gist: Roseanne won her time slot in a personal best rating 21 years after she left it, while Will & Grace is renewed through 2 more seasons. With many must-see programs across broadcast networks last month, can the water-cooler moments make for a bigger ratings recoup?
Article Source: Vulture
Author: Josef Adalian

TESLA’S SELF-DRIVING CAR CRASHED ON AUTOPILOT ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA
The Gist: Tesla responds regarding the self-driving SUV that crashed into a barrier in Mountain View, CA last month with a 38 year old Apple software engineer inside. The number of lives Tesla says would be saved via self-driving vehicles, as well as why ‘autopilot’ doesn’t mean drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel.
Source Article: The Guardian
Authors: Guardian Staff & Agencies

Industry News Pro Newsletter for Sunday, February 25, 2018

February 25, 2018February 27, 2018 Leave a comment

#SCRIPT BUZZ: ‘GET OUT’
Jordan Peele’s debut film, which has grossed over $255M on a $4.5M budget, is the horror film that became a cultural phenomenon and Best Picture nominee. Here’s the Oscar-nominated script.
Source Here: LA Screenwriter
Author: Jordan Peele

US RANKS #19 OUT OF 29 COUNTRIES FOR WORKING WOMEN
The glass ceiling index ranks the best and worst place to be a working woman from 2017 to now, based on 10 indicators, shown in graphs, and where 29 countries fall within.
Source Article Here: The Economist
Authors: The Economist Data Team

“IT’S ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY” – THE 11-YEAR RISE OF JOHN OLIVER
From making his bones as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’s correspondent and anchoring Stewart’s chair , now to his eponymous HBO show, a look at how Oliver sees his show, career, and approach with viewers.
Source Article Here: The Guardian Author: Emma Brockes

“..USE EVERYTHING FROM THE PAST. IF YOU KNOW WHERE YOU COME FROM, IT’S EASIER TO GET TO WHERE YOU’RE GOING.” – QUINCY JONES
Here’s the Quincy Jones interview from this month that went viral for Jones’ blunt takes on everything from Michael Jackson’s “greed” and Marlon Brando’s libido to the state of music today and more.
Source Article Here: Vulture
Author: David Marchese

CATCH UP TV: 14 TV SERIES ENDING IN 2018
From Scandal to Portlandia, a look at the 14 series ending this year, the total episode count, and finale dates.
Source Article Here: Vulture
Author: Devon Ivie

BROADCAST PILOT SEASON REPORT: 2018’s STATS ON DIVERSITY & WOMEN
Are we there yet? Not quite. A comprehensive breakdown on the diversity and female-led stats of the 2018 broadcast pilot offerings.
Source Article Here: Deadline Hollywood
Author: Nellie Andreeva

#OTT BUZZ: A TALE OF TWO SUBSCRIBER RACES – CBS & HBO
CBS forges ahead in the OTT world, yet not at the level of HBO’s subscribers. A look at the stand-alone servicesand where the majority of their customers are coming from.
Source Article Here: Madison.com Author: Adam Levy

WANT TO BREAK INTO TV WRITING? THE LATEST THINGS TO KNOW
Top entertainment execs offer their advice to writers wanting to get into the TV business, including the vital skill of knowing the marketplace beyond a creative silo, how to handle pitch meetings, and more.
Source Article Here: Variety
Author: Danielle Turchiano

The Past 24 Hours: February 22, 2016

February 22, 2016 Leave a comment

The Other Race For Votes: The 2016 Oscars
The Gist: Adweek’s cover story this week on the campaign trail for the 6,200 voters whose majority vote will add up to 50% to a movie’s gross, and six-to-seven figure increases in salaries. A look at the Oscar race’s paces and the marketing rush.
Source Article Here: Adweek
Author: T.L. Stanley

#Viral Video: Newt Gingrich Tells ‘Fox & Friends’ They ‘Created’ Trump The Candidate
The Gist: The 3-minute video clip of Gingrich’s remote interview for Fox & Friends where he tells the hosts: “Trump gets up in the morning, tweets to the entire planet at no cost, gets on the phone, calls you, has a great conversation for about eight minutes…” The video and article are below.
Source Article Here: Esquire
Author: Jack Holmes

Ted Cruz Asks His Communications Director, Rick Tyler, To Resign After Video Post
The Gist: Vanity Fair with the fall-out after Tyler posted a video, originally posted at a different outlet, with incorrect captions attributed to Marco Rubio saying there are “not many answers” in the Bible. The actual audio remark from Rubio was, “All the answers are in there.” Tyler: “…..I should have checked its accuracy first,”
Source Article Here: Vanity Fair
Author: Ethan Miller

“TV’s hot girl/ugly guy pairings” – The Sitcom Trope That Won’t Quit
The Gist: A look at the tried-and-true sitcom pairing of seemingly mismatched couples, based on appealing looks the male half lacks. Is it the cheaply-earned laugh that keeps on giving or is it made more believable when the storyline goes beyond jokes?
Source Article Here: Vulture
Author: Pilot Viruet

Uber Driver Charged With 6 Shooting Murders In Kalamazoo Believed To Have Picked Up Fares In Between Killings
The Gist: There appears to have been no connection between the 6 victims randomly killed by a 45 year-old gunman over the weekend in Kalamazoo, Michigan. One of the shooting victims was pronounced dead and on life support to have her organs harvested when she squeezed her mother’s hand; she remains in critical condition.
Source Article Here: BBC News

#Video: ‘The History of Photography In 5 Minutes’
The Gist: Made by the Cooperative of Photography, this 5-minute video gives you an overall history of photography from early recorded history to now. Some highlights: Abe Lincoln was the first ‘photo-shopped’ subject (head placed on a “more noble body”), Kodak roll film held 100 exposures, the arrival of 35mm, the first human photo, the first color photo, and more.
Source Article Here: Fstoppers (published Feb. 18, 2016)
Author: Kenn Tamm

FLASHBACK WATCH

Breaking Character: 10 ‘Saturday Night Live’ Skits
The Gist: A video clip list, on one page, of SNL skits over the years where one or more players in the scene breaks up laughing (with a time mark to get right to that moment). Including: Gilda Radner, Candice Bergen, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Gosling, Rachel Dratch, David Spade, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, and more.
Source Article Here: Decider
Author: Kayla Cobb

FLASHBACK READ

Hacking Vegas: The Electrician Who Hacked Into A Slot Machine Company’s Slice
The Gist: The case of a Cuban electrician working in Latvia who discovered how to counterfeit a leading slot machine company’s most popular games through soldering jumper wires to circuit boards and “off-brand” memory cards. When demand for the machines led him to take on an American partner, an FBI bust followed fast.
Source Article Here: Wired (August 2011)
Author: Brendan I. Koerner

The Past 24 Hours: February 16, 2016

February 16, 2016February 28, 2016 Leave a comment

Vanity aka Denise Matthews: 1959 – 2016
The Gist: The Canadian model-turned-singer was one of Prince’s first proteges and muses, fronting the girl group Vanity 6, best known for the dance/R&B hit Nasty Girl. After leaving Prince, she starred in movies and recorded 2 solo albums. Surviving crack cocaine addiction led her to lead her own Fremont, CA ministry for over 20 years.
Source Article Here: Rolling Stone
Author: Kory Grow

Why Are Any Suicide & Crisis Calls From Military Veterans Going To Voicemail?
The Gist: A suicide hotline, featured in last year’s Oscar-winning documentary Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1, has been found by investigators to not be able to handle over 300,000 incoming calls annually. While some overflow goes to backup call centers, the combination of training, staffing shortages, and system issues are key problems.
Source Article Here: USA Today
Author: Gregg Zoroya

“Gasps and whimpers” In Court As ‘Grim Sleeper’ Trial Begins In Los Angeles
The Gist: An account of the first day and opening statement in the capital murder trial of Lonnie Franklin, Jr. Details of the long-awaited cases being brought to trial, which could last up to three months, are here.
Source Article Here: The Los Angeles Times
Authors: Stephen Ceasar, Corina Knoll and Marisa Gerber

“I’m trying to stay focused, it’s a little heavy for me tonight. Just keep jamming … She knows about this one.” – Prince Dedicates Songs To Vanity In Australia
The Gist: Prince shared a couple of reminiscences – and changed verses in The Beautiful Ones and The Ladder – in tribute to late girlfriend Vanity during his Piano and a Microphone tour last night.
Source Article Here: Herald Sun
Author: Cameron Adams

“..There were some real angels, real wonderful people in that show that aren’t alive today and I really wish they were.” – Eagles of Death Metal Return For France Show
The Gist: The California band returns to France; leader Jesse Hughes speaks about his views on gun control and the emotional shock after 89 concert goers were killed during the band’s November 13th concert at the Bataclan venue.
Source Article Here: BBC

#Late Night Video Watch: ‘Celebrities Read Mean Tweets: Music Edition’
The Gist: Jimmy Kimmel Live’s viral clip of musicians reading their hater’s tweets, including: James Taylor, Common, James Taylor, Mumford & Sons, Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban, Lionel Richie, Black Shelton, and Demi Lovato.
Video Source Here: Hulu

“There’s no way that in reality it’s comfortable for me to be reading this much sort of violent rhetoric in my direction.” – Lena Dunham
The Gist: Jane Fonda interviews Lena Dunham for the March 2016 edition of Paper magazine.
Source Article Here: Paper
Authors: Jane Fonda/Abby Schreiber Photography by Ellen Von Unwerth

Media Industry Comings & Goings As of 2/16/16
The Gist: A one-page listing of who’s gone where and who has left (for now). Companies include: InStyle; Us Weekly; Factual; Superfly, and more.
Source Article Here: Mediabistro

FLASHBACK READ

Findings From ‘The Love Lab’: What Makes & Breaks Relationships
The Gist: Relationship scientist John Gottman reveals the jargon-free truths of what makes relationships work (“respect and affection”) and what will doom them (“criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and contempt”) at home…and even at work. The 2007 article, Making Relationships Work, is here.
Source Article Here: Harvard Business Review
Author: Diane Coutu

The Past 24 Hours: February 12, 2016

February 12, 2016February 24, 2016 Leave a comment

#TV Trailer: ‘Confirmation’ (HBO)
The Gist: Anita Hill’s 1991 testimony during Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court confirmation hearings, after her private FBI interview reports were leaked, are the focus of HBO’s take, premiering April 16. Kerry Washington stars as Hill, Wendell Pierce as Thomas, with cast including Jennifer Hudson, Greg Kinnear, and Eric Stonestreet.
Source Article Here: Vulture
Author: Jackson McHenry

‘Silicon Beach’ – L.A.’s 25 Most Intriguing Start-Ups
The Gist: A one page look at 25 of the most interest-sparking start-up companies that are under 5 years old.
Source Article Here: Business Insider
Author: Biz Carson

Who Was Saint Valentine…& Why Were All 3 Martyred?
The Gist: Valentine’s Day, as far as cards sent to loved ones, is second only to Christmas. The longest surviving ‘Valentine’ message was sent by jailed poet Charles, Duke of Orleans – 601 years ago – after being captured in battle. The history of Valentine’s Day through the ages is here.
Source Article Here: History.com

Media Stocks – Disney, Viacom, Twitter, Time Warner and WWE Take Knocks
The Gist: Subscriber concerns impacted the stocks of the 5 media companies this week. The bottom line: “investors are obsessed with user counts.”
Source Article Here: New York Post
Author: Richard Morgan

The Full List of Street Closures During L.A. Marathon This Sunday
The Gist: The L.A. Marathon is this Sunday, February 14, and spans a 26-mile course from Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica. Here’s a comprehensive list of street closures and accessibility routes.
Source Article Here: The Los Angeles Times
Authors: LAT staff and wire reports

#Video: Alanis Morissette Shares Animated “…Story of my nuclear family in moving pictures.”
The Gist: Morissette, 41, released the animated video and song about the expansion of her family with husband Mario ‘Souleye’ Treadway, along with the announcement that they’re expecting their second child.
Source Article Here: People
Authors: Sarah Michaud, Jeff Nelson

#Trailer Watch: ‘The Brothers Grimsby’ [Red Band Trailer/NSFW]
The Gist: Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest comedy, about a footballer and his black operations brother on an anti-terror mission, opens March 11 in the USA and February 24 in the UK (as, simply, Grimsby). Rebel Wilson, Isla Fisher, Gabourey Sidibe, and Ian McShane co-star.
Source Article Here: NME
Author: Nick Levine

FLASHBACK READ

When You First Move To L.A. & Don’t Know That You’re Eating Christmas Dinner With A ‘Producer’ & His …..Nephews?
The Gist: My satiric – but true – essay from 2014, Christmas In Babylon, about being a plus-one at dinner with a ‘producer’ who’s pretty much the farthest from the profession…ever.
Source Article Here: Hollywood Railroad
Author: Karl Gibson