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Matthew Belloni, Eriq Gardner, Julia Alexander, Kim Masters & Scott Mendelson
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Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
An essential, insider-friendly Hollywood tip sheet from Matthew Belloni, who spent 14 years in the trenches at The Hollywood Reporter and five before that practicing entertainment law. What I’m Hearing also features contributions from veteran Hollywood journalist Kim Masters, media analyst Julia Alexander, entertainment law expert Eriq Gardner, and special box office dispatches from Scott Mendelson.
THE LATEST ARTICLES
Matthew Belloni
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October 18, 2021
“We Want to Be Disney”: Maverick Carter Is a Buyer Now
At a time when legacy media companies are trying desperately to appeal to younger, more diverse audiences, SpringHill has a clear—and startlingly ambitious—vision.
Matthew Belloni
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October 18, 2021
Netflix Has Reached a P.R. Inflection Point
From the beginning, Reed Hastings has operated Netflix like his employees are part of a small family in a quiet Silicon Valley utopia. But with the Chappelle flap, it doesn’t appear that comms strategy is tenable any longer.
Matthew Belloni
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October 15, 2021
Can Ted Sarandos Clean Up His Chappelle Mess?
Netflix’s economic rationale for defending Chappelle’s transphobic routine has deepened an internal crisis that is not going away. When I texted Hollywood executives and comms pros this week about how the streamer is managing the controversy, a consensus emerged: Good policy, horrible P.R.
Matthew Belloni
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October 11, 2021
‘Hits’ Magazine Will Give You Great Coverage for Just $150,000 a Year
I’m no Pollyanna when it comes to the trade press. But I’ve never seen a quid pro quo as explicit as this proposed contract sent to a major talent agency.
Matthew Belloni
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October 11, 2021
Want an Oscar? Fill Out This Diversity Form
The initiative rankles some members, who see it as an intrusion into the artistic process. But after undertaking a years-long effort to diversify its membership, it’s clear the Academy wants to do more to bring about change.
Matthew Belloni
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October 8, 2021
Hulu Unrest & The “Leveling” of Disney
Longtime “Hulugans,” as they call themselves, describe “total dysfunction” in the company culture since Disney’s takeover of Fox assets in 2019.
Matthew Belloni
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October 8, 2021
James Bond’s Long Battle to Break-Even
Could ‘No Time to Die’ actually turn a profit? After sitting on a shelf for 18 months, experts outline the brutal math required to take MGM’s uber-expensive tentpole back into the black.
Matthew Belloni
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October 4, 2021
Can the H.F.P.A. Have Its Silly Awards Show Back Now?
Raising new concerns is the appointment of billionaire Todd Boehly, owner of the Globes producer formerly known as Dick Clark Productions, as interim C.E.O.—not exactly the picture of reform and independence that the H.F.P.A. needs these days.
Matthew Belloni
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October 4, 2021
The Manningcast Is Already Changing Televised Sports
Peyton and Eli Manning have been presiding over an amusing simulcast of Monday Night Football on ESPN2. Could it be the future of sports TV?
Matthew Belloni
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October 4, 2021
How the Disney-ScarJo Settlement Went Down
Disney leadership was clearly rattled by the personal allegations in the lawsuit, which made Disney the villain—and highly incentivized to make the headlines go away.