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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 29, 2024
Pearls of TV Wisdom from John Landgraf
The FX C.E.O. and reigning Emmys champ sounds off on Silicon Valley’s influence over Hollywood, the perils of the algorithm, and what would’ve happened if Disney hadn’t acquired his network: “It would be dead.”
Matthew Belloni
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October 25, 2024
Pre-Election Vibe Check: Hollywood Edition
A pre-election check-in on the Hollywood donors and activists, from a studio chairman to an emerging screenwriter and a late-night TV host, who are simultaneously freaking out and (cautiously) optimistic about the final push for the Harris-Walz campaign.
Matthew Belloni
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October 22, 2024
Hollywood’s Offshoring Blame Game
Sony Pictures’ C.E.O. blamed union contracts for a shift in film and TV production out of the U.S. Now the head of SAG-AFTRA responds: “A cynical attempt to manipulate workers while masking the industry’s own business failures.”
Matthew Belloni
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October 18, 2024
Netflix’s Too Big to Fail Moment
Yesterday’s earnings portrayed a company pulling away from its competitors, with business fundamentals and future growth pleasing investors. But Netflix’s executives also offered plenty of clues about how they’re going to manage their headaches (the ad tier, their competitors’ ability to gang up, etcetera) and the comp and movie theater questions.
Matthew Belloni
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October 15, 2024
David Ellison Will See You Now
Paramount’s new mogul and his post-merger deputy Jeff Shell are taking meetings with their top executives, as plans for the storied studio—and especially its streaming video ambitions—come into clearer focus.
Matthew Belloni
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October 11, 2024
The Oscars’ No-Big-Deal Rebrand
What if hosting Hollywood’s marquee awards show were less of a heavy lift, with the added benefit of a telecast with more stars and performers who went beyond simply presenting. That’s what the Academy wants. Could it work?
Matthew Belloni
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October 8, 2024
‘Joker 2’ Was a Flex, Not a Sabotage
‘Folie á Deux’ may repulse moviegoers, but Todd Phillips isn’t inflicting self-harm or sabotaging Warner Bros., he’s showing off his clout as a billion-dollar grosser.
Matthew Belloni
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October 4, 2024
CAA’s Scare Tactics
An agency founded by a group of William Morris agents is now trying to shut down its own defectors over the legal definition of “talent managers.” But CAA’s battle with Range Media Partners isn’t just about preventing former agents from taking clients like Bradley Cooper to a new company.
Matthew Belloni
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September 27, 2024
Da Saga of Spike Lee, Colin Kaepernick & ESPN
A pricey seven-episode docuseries about Colin Kaepernick, produced by Spike Lee and Jemele Hill, won’t be released for at least another year—and ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro is open to the them shopping it elsewhere.
Matthew Belloni
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September 27, 2024
Comp Wars: Netflix vs. The Agents
As the streamer prepares to introduce its new contingency compensation model, Netflix executives are giving the same old spiel about the company’s marketing and hit-making potential. But everyone, especially the people who represent talent, would benefit from an honest conversation about aligning interests.