Mark Marshall has been given a lot of time to prepare for NBC Universal’s annual presentation to advertisers. Last year, he only had 72 hours.
Marshall, a longtime second-in-command at NBCU’s ad-sales division, at about this time last year found himself unexpectedly in charge of the company’s “upfront” process — an annual sale of advertising that has in recent years generated approximately $7 billion in commitments from sponsors — after the abrupt departure of his colorful predecessor, Linda Yaccarino. She had served in the role since 2012 and surprised her corporate bosses and dozens of clients by taking a new job as CEO of X, the social-media hub once known as Twitter.
NBC typically dazzles Madison Avenue with talk of BravoCon, “Sunday Night Football” and “Saturday Night Live.” Marshall was being asked to do just that when the chatter around the company was about anything else.
Within hours of Yaccarino’s departure becoming known,...
Marshall, a longtime second-in-command at NBCU’s ad-sales division, at about this time last year found himself unexpectedly in charge of the company’s “upfront” process — an annual sale of advertising that has in recent years generated approximately $7 billion in commitments from sponsors — after the abrupt departure of his colorful predecessor, Linda Yaccarino. She had served in the role since 2012 and surprised her corporate bosses and dozens of clients by taking a new job as CEO of X, the social-media hub once known as Twitter.
NBC typically dazzles Madison Avenue with talk of BravoCon, “Sunday Night Football” and “Saturday Night Live.” Marshall was being asked to do just that when the chatter around the company was about anything else.
Within hours of Yaccarino’s departure becoming known,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
With a new single out from her forthcoming album, a book partly about her own life just optioned for a docuseries she’ll produce and a new baby daughter to parent, Paris Hilton is plenty busy as it is. But she’s also nearly three years into launching her own company, 11:11 Media, along with co-founder Bruce Gersh, who serves as president and chief operating office. The pair stopped by Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit last week to talk about jugging it all and the future outlook for a venture Hilton prides herself on keeping on the cutting edge.
11:11 Media is comprised of three different areas of business, each of which feed off each other in a flywheel effect: content, community and commerce. For instance, the vast audience she commands across social platforms drives sales for the products she supports, such as the 500 million social impressions her “Be an...
11:11 Media is comprised of three different areas of business, each of which feed off each other in a flywheel effect: content, community and commerce. For instance, the vast audience she commands across social platforms drives sales for the products she supports, such as the 500 million social impressions her “Be an...
- 5/1/2024
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
Think the market for adult-focused specialty films is dead? Peter Kujawski, chairman of Focus Features, explains why you’re wrong on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
As the film biz gathers in Las Vegas this week for CinemaCon, Kujawski, an industry veteran who has headed NBCUniversal’s Focus Features unit since 2016, discusses the state of moviemaking and exhibition and he walks through the key lessons learned from the strike-challenged 2023 box office. Takeaway No. 1 — originality sells.
“The big cultural story of the movies last year was the Barbenheimer effect. Both of those things in their way are unexpected, right? They’re wholly original in terms of conception and execution,” Kujawski says of last year’s summer juggernauts, Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal’s “Oppenheimer.” “And they were not only embraced but literally devoured by an audience, right? I truly believe — and I realize that it may sound self-serving...
As the film biz gathers in Las Vegas this week for CinemaCon, Kujawski, an industry veteran who has headed NBCUniversal’s Focus Features unit since 2016, discusses the state of moviemaking and exhibition and he walks through the key lessons learned from the strike-challenged 2023 box office. Takeaway No. 1 — originality sells.
“The big cultural story of the movies last year was the Barbenheimer effect. Both of those things in their way are unexpected, right? They’re wholly original in terms of conception and execution,” Kujawski says of last year’s summer juggernauts, Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal’s “Oppenheimer.” “And they were not only embraced but literally devoured by an audience, right? I truly believe — and I realize that it may sound self-serving...
- 4/10/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Ari Wallach has made his living as a professional futurist for more than 20 years. What does that mean?
“I work with really large organizations, mostly helping them think about tomorrow — the far-off tomorrows,” Wallach explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Wallach’s forward-looking intellect is on display in the new PBS docuseries “A Brief History of the Future,” which premiered April 3 on PBS in the U.S. He hosts the series and is an executive producer with Kathryn Murdoch, Wendy Schmidt and DreamCrew, the production banner headed by hip hop superstar Drake. Wallach and Murdoch are partners in Futurific Studios, which makes its debut with “Brief History.” The six-part series studies inventors, entrepreneurs, activists, artists and others who are pursuing innovative solutions to a range of social ills. Notable participants include French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy...
“I work with really large organizations, mostly helping them think about tomorrow — the far-off tomorrows,” Wallach explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Wallach’s forward-looking intellect is on display in the new PBS docuseries “A Brief History of the Future,” which premiered April 3 on PBS in the U.S. He hosts the series and is an executive producer with Kathryn Murdoch, Wendy Schmidt and DreamCrew, the production banner headed by hip hop superstar Drake. Wallach and Murdoch are partners in Futurific Studios, which makes its debut with “Brief History.” The six-part series studies inventors, entrepreneurs, activists, artists and others who are pursuing innovative solutions to a range of social ills. Notable participants include French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy...
- 4/4/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
The annual Academy Awards derby has been a long been a subject of interest for Las Vegas oddsmakers. But since 2019, more than half a dozen states have enacted legislation around sports betting that opened the door to legal wagering on Hollywood’s glitziest annual race.
Gambling experts say there are more states to come in the near future, including Alabama. But California, home of the film business, isn’t likely to join New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas any time soon.
Bill Speros, senior betting analyst for Bookies.com, explains the ins and outs of legal wagering on Hollywood’s big night on the latest episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast. He also discusses the growing importance of sports betting as a business strategy for Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal, Fox and other media players invested in TV sports.
“What makes this Oscar betting unique is, there’s no data,...
Gambling experts say there are more states to come in the near future, including Alabama. But California, home of the film business, isn’t likely to join New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas any time soon.
Bill Speros, senior betting analyst for Bookies.com, explains the ins and outs of legal wagering on Hollywood’s big night on the latest episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast. He also discusses the growing importance of sports betting as a business strategy for Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal, Fox and other media players invested in TV sports.
“What makes this Oscar betting unique is, there’s no data,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Anime, the Japanese animation art form, has come a long way in the past few decades. Fans who once had little recourse but bootlegs and piracy to watch their favorite shows are now part of a global community, and a $20 billion market, that’s even more robust internationally than it is in Japan.
A major player in this market is Crunchyroll, the Sony-owned and anime-focused subscription streaming platform, which has long been a go-to destination for watching Japanese animation Stateside. It’s also become a rare success story amid media’s great streaming recession, with a clearly defined and diversified — and profitable — business model that serves a passionate and still-growing audience.
“If anime is a niche, it’s a gigantic niche. We have research that shows there’s about 800 million interested fans globally outside of Japan and China,” Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini explains on the latest episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast,...
A major player in this market is Crunchyroll, the Sony-owned and anime-focused subscription streaming platform, which has long been a go-to destination for watching Japanese animation Stateside. It’s also become a rare success story amid media’s great streaming recession, with a clearly defined and diversified — and profitable — business model that serves a passionate and still-growing audience.
“If anime is a niche, it’s a gigantic niche. We have research that shows there’s about 800 million interested fans globally outside of Japan and China,” Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini explains on the latest episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Tyler Aquilina
- Variety Film + TV
AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan grew up in the cable TV business. She was a senior executive at Cablevision when that company was at the peak of its power as a cable operator in the nation’s largest TV market.
Given her background, it’s no surprise that Dolan sees signs of hope for programmers in linear cable, a sector that has all been written off for dead by Wall Street and other media market watchers. Dolan, who just marked her one-year anniversary at the helm of the owner of AMC, SundanceTV, WeTV, IFC and BBC America, tells Variety podcast “Strictly Business” that she’s encouraged by the efforts by Comcast and Charter, the two largest operators, to address consumer needs by offering more low-cost channel packages on one hand and by embracing options such as the new Xumo stream box on the other.
“There’s still vast portions of the U.
Given her background, it’s no surprise that Dolan sees signs of hope for programmers in linear cable, a sector that has all been written off for dead by Wall Street and other media market watchers. Dolan, who just marked her one-year anniversary at the helm of the owner of AMC, SundanceTV, WeTV, IFC and BBC America, tells Variety podcast “Strictly Business” that she’s encouraged by the efforts by Comcast and Charter, the two largest operators, to address consumer needs by offering more low-cost channel packages on one hand and by embracing options such as the new Xumo stream box on the other.
“There’s still vast portions of the U.
- 2/14/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
2024 was shaping up to be the year for the media sector long-awaited consolidation wave, with Paramount Global leading the way. But even as suitors like Skydance Media, Warner Bros. Discovery and Allen Media Group line up, it may not be so simple.
Naveen Sarma, managing director of S&P Global Ratings and a veteran credit analyst focused on the media business, sees a potential deal stymied by a range of factors he enumerates on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Listen to the podcast here:
“I actually don’t think that we’re going to get resolution on a potential Paramount sale for a while for a number of reasons,” said Sarma. “I’m a bit skeptical about the spigot opening up on a lot of deals happening this year.”
Surveying the field of media players, he sees the biggest question being one of timing given the...
Naveen Sarma, managing director of S&P Global Ratings and a veteran credit analyst focused on the media business, sees a potential deal stymied by a range of factors he enumerates on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Listen to the podcast here:
“I actually don’t think that we’re going to get resolution on a potential Paramount sale for a while for a number of reasons,” said Sarma. “I’m a bit skeptical about the spigot opening up on a lot of deals happening this year.”
Surveying the field of media players, he sees the biggest question being one of timing given the...
- 2/7/2024
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery’s fourth-quarter success largely depends on strong performance at Food Network, as the cable channel draws its highest number of eyeballs — and ad dollars — when the holidays roll around. But in 2023, the network had additional tasks to check off for the company, including driving viewers to Max and pushing them to the theater for titles including Warner Bros. Timothée Chalamet-led “Wonka.”
With a “huge” turnout of 34 million viewers across 52.5 hours of holiday-themed programming, Food Network chief Betsy Ayala told Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast she’s proud of the results, which were driven by seasonal favorites including “Holiday Baking Championship,” “Holiday Wars” and “Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown,” as well as new competition series “Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown.”
U.S. Networks chief marketing officer Karen Bronzo touted the wider implications of Food Network’s success within Wbd. “The holiday really punctuates this for me...
With a “huge” turnout of 34 million viewers across 52.5 hours of holiday-themed programming, Food Network chief Betsy Ayala told Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast she’s proud of the results, which were driven by seasonal favorites including “Holiday Baking Championship,” “Holiday Wars” and “Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown,” as well as new competition series “Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown.”
U.S. Networks chief marketing officer Karen Bronzo touted the wider implications of Food Network’s success within Wbd. “The holiday really punctuates this for me...
- 1/31/2024
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Alloy Entertainment has long been the equivalent of a Queen Bee in the world of young adult TV and books. But big changes in the TV market in particular have driven the Warner Bros.-owned imprint to look beyond teens and twentysomethings for new audience cliques.
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Alloy CEO Leslie Morgenstein, TV chief Gina Girolamo and film head Elysa Koplovitz Dutton discuss the company’s nontraditional approach to developing TV shows, movies and books. Alloy was built over the past 30-plus years on the success of YA book series such as “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Gossip Girl.” But the demand curve has changed in recent years.
Leslie Morgenstein
“The reality of the business today is the company has really transitioned from being a book business with a film and TV office to being a film and TV...
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Alloy CEO Leslie Morgenstein, TV chief Gina Girolamo and film head Elysa Koplovitz Dutton discuss the company’s nontraditional approach to developing TV shows, movies and books. Alloy was built over the past 30-plus years on the success of YA book series such as “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Gossip Girl.” But the demand curve has changed in recent years.
Leslie Morgenstein
“The reality of the business today is the company has really transitioned from being a book business with a film and TV office to being a film and TV...
- 1/24/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Just when last week’s ratings resurgence for the Golden Globes had us all feeling good, along comes the Emmy Awards — rescheduled from its usual September slot because of Hollywood strikes — to deliver an all-time audience low to shake our confidence in awards show all over again.
Fox’s Monday, Jan. 15, airing of the 75th annual Emmy Awards delivered an audience of 4.3 million total viewers, marking a new low for the kudocast, according to Nielsen data. What happened with Fox’s airing of the Emmys on Jan. 15? Did host Anthony Anderson not make us laugh enough? Should we be worried about the upcoming Grammys and Oscars, which are coming off their strongest telecasts in several years?
Fear not, says Andrew Wallenstein, president and chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform. In the latest episode of Variety‘s Strictly Business podcast, Wallenstein analyzes why 2024 was a singularly bad year for Emmys...
Fox’s Monday, Jan. 15, airing of the 75th annual Emmy Awards delivered an audience of 4.3 million total viewers, marking a new low for the kudocast, according to Nielsen data. What happened with Fox’s airing of the Emmys on Jan. 15? Did host Anthony Anderson not make us laugh enough? Should we be worried about the upcoming Grammys and Oscars, which are coming off their strongest telecasts in several years?
Fear not, says Andrew Wallenstein, president and chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform. In the latest episode of Variety‘s Strictly Business podcast, Wallenstein analyzes why 2024 was a singularly bad year for Emmys...
- 1/18/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Attending the Consumer Electronics Show is an eye-opening experience that offers intriguing glimpses into the future and an overwhelming amount of information about how the media, entertainment and tech industries are evolving in the present day.
For the past decade, Variety has partnered with the Consumer Technology Association to help Hollywood players navigate a fast-changing marketplace with an entertainment business-focused track of programming at the big show.
On this special edition of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” our editorial team goes deep on the trends, innovations and industry rumors that swirled around Sin City as the tech, media and business worlds converged on Las Vegas this week. The daylong Variety Entertaiment Summit on Jan. 10 served up a powerhouse slate of executives, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers and even a TikTok star in comedian Leenda Dong.
As ever, Team Variety‘s mission is to track trends and new developments in content production and monetization,...
For the past decade, Variety has partnered with the Consumer Technology Association to help Hollywood players navigate a fast-changing marketplace with an entertainment business-focused track of programming at the big show.
On this special edition of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” our editorial team goes deep on the trends, innovations and industry rumors that swirled around Sin City as the tech, media and business worlds converged on Las Vegas this week. The daylong Variety Entertaiment Summit on Jan. 10 served up a powerhouse slate of executives, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers and even a TikTok star in comedian Leenda Dong.
As ever, Team Variety‘s mission is to track trends and new developments in content production and monetization,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
From Hollywood strikes to the ascent of AI to sinking stock prices, 2023 was a topsy-turvy year for media and entertainment.
Cynthia Littleton and Andrew Wallenstein, hosts of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” discuss the highs and lows of the past year on the latest episode.
Wallenstein, president and chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform data division, pointed to the spread of easy-to-use generative AI tools as the biggest unknown that is casting a cloud over the industry. “This is something that is still just in the very early stages of transforming so many processes, particularly in production — and even of course beyond this industry,” Wallenstein observed.
The hosts also discuss the twists and turns of the streaming wars in a year when traditional Hollywood faced steep cuts. Netflix earned the right to do a “victory lap,” the hosts agreed, for solidifying its global lead in streaming subscribers.
“It was the...
Cynthia Littleton and Andrew Wallenstein, hosts of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” discuss the highs and lows of the past year on the latest episode.
Wallenstein, president and chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform data division, pointed to the spread of easy-to-use generative AI tools as the biggest unknown that is casting a cloud over the industry. “This is something that is still just in the very early stages of transforming so many processes, particularly in production — and even of course beyond this industry,” Wallenstein observed.
The hosts also discuss the twists and turns of the streaming wars in a year when traditional Hollywood faced steep cuts. Netflix earned the right to do a “victory lap,” the hosts agreed, for solidifying its global lead in streaming subscribers.
“It was the...
- 1/4/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Amblin TV has built its reputation over the past three decades as one of the industry’s busiest boutiques, producing scripted series across all major platforms that range from popcorn to prestige.
But in recent years, there’s been a new storytelling target for Amblin TV chiefs Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, who have headed Steven Spielberg’s TV production banner (previously DreamWorks TV) for more than 20 years. Amblin TV has moved aggressively into documentary feature and docu-series arena. It’s a development motivated by business necessity but also the desire to add more colors and canvases to the overall Amblin TV palette.
This year, the company fielded a surprise hit with a nature documentary for Netflix, “Life on Our Planet,” which topped the streamers’ domestic viewing charts for multiple weeks after its release in late October. Amblin also delivered the well-received feature “Good Night Oppy,” from director Ryan White...
But in recent years, there’s been a new storytelling target for Amblin TV chiefs Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, who have headed Steven Spielberg’s TV production banner (previously DreamWorks TV) for more than 20 years. Amblin TV has moved aggressively into documentary feature and docu-series arena. It’s a development motivated by business necessity but also the desire to add more colors and canvases to the overall Amblin TV palette.
This year, the company fielded a surprise hit with a nature documentary for Netflix, “Life on Our Planet,” which topped the streamers’ domestic viewing charts for multiple weeks after its release in late October. Amblin also delivered the well-received feature “Good Night Oppy,” from director Ryan White...
- 12/7/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
There was an unmistakable sense of opportunity in the air last week as international media movers and shakers convened in Cannes for the annual Mipcom market and conference.
Big European players in particular sense that openings are starting to emerge in what had been rigid business models and licensing protocols for the largest streaming platforms. The rush to cut costs and consolidate operations in the U.S. means that demand will be strong for imported content, ranging from unscripted shows in all shapes, formats and sizes as well as scripted series that can be offered a relatively low price point for U.S. buyers.
This was the big takeaway for me after three days of meetings, interviews, receptions and dinners on the beautiful Cote d’Azur. On the way home, I combined my passion for train travel with my love of yakking about the media business by capturing my thoughts...
Big European players in particular sense that openings are starting to emerge in what had been rigid business models and licensing protocols for the largest streaming platforms. The rush to cut costs and consolidate operations in the U.S. means that demand will be strong for imported content, ranging from unscripted shows in all shapes, formats and sizes as well as scripted series that can be offered a relatively low price point for U.S. buyers.
This was the big takeaway for me after three days of meetings, interviews, receptions and dinners on the beautiful Cote d’Azur. On the way home, I combined my passion for train travel with my love of yakking about the media business by capturing my thoughts...
- 10/26/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
As Big Media becomes ever more consolidated, Studios71 is preparing to launch a flotilla of startup media businesses in the coming years.
The creator services company is designed to fulfill a range of production, marketing, distribution, advertising and sponsorship sales functions for its social media star clients. The end game is to turn personalities into brands that harness the power of their followings in social media first and foremost.
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Studio71 co-CEOs Adam Boorstin and Matt Crowley walk through the company’s evolving business ventures and growth engines. The pair say there are abundant opportunities for creators and influencers who have finely tuned brands and know how to tend to their followers.
Studio71 co-ceo Adam Boorstin
“Entrepreneurialism is a word that sort of gets thrown around a lot. These creators really started their business as a startup. There is a side to them that is very creative.
The creator services company is designed to fulfill a range of production, marketing, distribution, advertising and sponsorship sales functions for its social media star clients. The end game is to turn personalities into brands that harness the power of their followings in social media first and foremost.
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Studio71 co-CEOs Adam Boorstin and Matt Crowley walk through the company’s evolving business ventures and growth engines. The pair say there are abundant opportunities for creators and influencers who have finely tuned brands and know how to tend to their followers.
Studio71 co-ceo Adam Boorstin
“Entrepreneurialism is a word that sort of gets thrown around a lot. These creators really started their business as a startup. There is a side to them that is very creative.
- 10/11/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Sean Atkins has watched the digital media revolution transform entertainment throughout his career as a content executive for Discovery Communications, MTV and HBO, among other outlets. In his present role as president of talent and marketing firm Jellysmack, he’s now got a front-row seat to watch how social media and the growth of the creator economy is transcending media.
“The creator space will impact everything in the Gdp,” Atkins predicts on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Jellysmack’s pitch to social media creators is that the company can help them grow followers and impact by adapting their content for multiple social platforms. It’s incredibly labor-intensive for creators to adapt their material for platforms ranging from YouTube to Instagram to TikTok. Jellysmack operates partly as a talent scouting agency that nurtures emerging creators and helping them focus on growth opportunities. It also helps with content marketing...
“The creator space will impact everything in the Gdp,” Atkins predicts on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Jellysmack’s pitch to social media creators is that the company can help them grow followers and impact by adapting their content for multiple social platforms. It’s incredibly labor-intensive for creators to adapt their material for platforms ranging from YouTube to Instagram to TikTok. Jellysmack operates partly as a talent scouting agency that nurtures emerging creators and helping them focus on growth opportunities. It also helps with content marketing...
- 10/5/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Mo Abudu is an entrepreneur on a mission to make her native Nigeria a bigger player in global media.
The CEO of Lagos-based EbonyLife Media is tapping into wave of interest from streamers in content from outside the U.S. and Europe to generate a flurry of deals for her production banner, known for producing the detective drama series “Blood Sisters” for Netflix. On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Abudu says she looking to help expand production infrastructure in her home country, as well as to give Africans in general a more prominent voice in the entertainment marketplace.
Adubu has watched the trajectory that South Korea has been on with its music, TV, film and pop culture catching fire well beyond the boundaries of Seoul and Busan. She sees a model there for Nigeria.
“My daughter has been watching Korean content for 10 years or longer,” Abudu says.
The CEO of Lagos-based EbonyLife Media is tapping into wave of interest from streamers in content from outside the U.S. and Europe to generate a flurry of deals for her production banner, known for producing the detective drama series “Blood Sisters” for Netflix. On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Abudu says she looking to help expand production infrastructure in her home country, as well as to give Africans in general a more prominent voice in the entertainment marketplace.
Adubu has watched the trajectory that South Korea has been on with its music, TV, film and pop culture catching fire well beyond the boundaries of Seoul and Busan. She sees a model there for Nigeria.
“My daughter has been watching Korean content for 10 years or longer,” Abudu says.
- 9/20/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Nah Yung Suk, one of South Korea’s most successful TV producers, says the content marketplace in his home country has been divided into two distinct eras: “Before Netflix” and “After Netflix.”
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Nah Yung Suk offers his observations on the rise of Korean popular culture throughout the world. The producer’s latest series reflects the incredible global growth of content imports and exports: “Jinny’s Kitchen,” an unscripted series for Amazon Prime Video, revolves around the opening of Korean street food restaurant in a small town in southeastern Mexico.
The Netflix effect cited by Producer Nah, as he is widely known, began about five years ago when the streaming giant began investing in original Korean-language content. That influx of capital into the spurred more outside coin to flow into Korean producers, and it also encouraged domestic firms such as Cj Enm to step up their ambition.
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Nah Yung Suk offers his observations on the rise of Korean popular culture throughout the world. The producer’s latest series reflects the incredible global growth of content imports and exports: “Jinny’s Kitchen,” an unscripted series for Amazon Prime Video, revolves around the opening of Korean street food restaurant in a small town in southeastern Mexico.
The Netflix effect cited by Producer Nah, as he is widely known, began about five years ago when the streaming giant began investing in original Korean-language content. That influx of capital into the spurred more outside coin to flow into Korean producers, and it also encouraged domestic firms such as Cj Enm to step up their ambition.
- 9/6/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Long before “Barbie” exploded at the box office this summer, it was clear on TikTok that the movie was going to be a big deal. When Warner Bros. first launched their teaser video on the platform, it received over 27 million views and more than 2.7 million likes, even though “Barbie” wasn’t going to be in theaters for another four months.
Fast-forward to a summer season heading toward the finish line and Barbie’s official TikTok (@barbiethemovie) account is amassing over 1.4 million followers and more than 21 million likes. While by no means singlehandedly responsible for the popularity of the film, it’s the latest testament to the combination of how powerful studio marketing and organic fan activity can be for entertainment properties new and old on the Bytedance-owned platform.
Listen to the podcast here:
“There’s just kind of no corner of Tiktok that you can’t find some element...
Fast-forward to a summer season heading toward the finish line and Barbie’s official TikTok (@barbiethemovie) account is amassing over 1.4 million followers and more than 21 million likes. While by no means singlehandedly responsible for the popularity of the film, it’s the latest testament to the combination of how powerful studio marketing and organic fan activity can be for entertainment properties new and old on the Bytedance-owned platform.
Listen to the podcast here:
“There’s just kind of no corner of Tiktok that you can’t find some element...
- 8/23/2023
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
About six years ago, Imagine Entertainment went on a diversification push to add top-shelf documentary and nonfiction content to the company’s roster, as well as kids and family entertainment and branded creative marketing, among other content-related businesses.
The timing was spot-on. Imagine has been able to grow along with the boom in demand for original content from platforms, not just in the U.S. but other major worldwide territories. All of that activity, fueled by private investment funds, is positioning the company extremely well for the industry’s next phase as networks and platforms slash costs, as Imagine Entertainment president Justin Wilkes explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
As an independent outfit, Imagine is naturally attuned to the shifts in the marketplace. The larger conflict that has led to strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA is a result of major changes in...
The timing was spot-on. Imagine has been able to grow along with the boom in demand for original content from platforms, not just in the U.S. but other major worldwide territories. All of that activity, fueled by private investment funds, is positioning the company extremely well for the industry’s next phase as networks and platforms slash costs, as Imagine Entertainment president Justin Wilkes explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
As an independent outfit, Imagine is naturally attuned to the shifts in the marketplace. The larger conflict that has led to strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA is a result of major changes in...
- 8/2/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Who’s up, who’s down and who is really in deep trouble on Wall Street?
Media stocks have been on a wild ride in the first half of 2023. On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Variety Intelligence Platform media analyst Heidi Chung breaks down how Disney, Netflix, Comcast and other leading lights of media and entertainment have performed so far this year.
Variety Intelligence Platform media analyst Heidi Chung
“The best performing sector in the first half of the year was technology. And a lot of that was driven by the interest by investors in the generative AI boom, specifically,” Chung says in conversation with “Strictly Business” hosts Andrew Wallenstein and Cynthia Littleton.
“This sort of optimism about where technology is headed has really driven up those stocks. Though I will say even though there’s a lot of bullishness in the market, a lot of investors...
Media stocks have been on a wild ride in the first half of 2023. On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Variety Intelligence Platform media analyst Heidi Chung breaks down how Disney, Netflix, Comcast and other leading lights of media and entertainment have performed so far this year.
Variety Intelligence Platform media analyst Heidi Chung
“The best performing sector in the first half of the year was technology. And a lot of that was driven by the interest by investors in the generative AI boom, specifically,” Chung says in conversation with “Strictly Business” hosts Andrew Wallenstein and Cynthia Littleton.
“This sort of optimism about where technology is headed has really driven up those stocks. Though I will say even though there’s a lot of bullishness in the market, a lot of investors...
- 7/12/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Since 2006, the city of New York’s Made in NY Production Assistant Training Program has been an onramp to successful careers in TV and film production open to low-income New Yorkers across the five boroughs. A new study has measured the long-term return on that investment for the more than 1,100 people who have gone through the four-week program over the past 16 years.
The study, commissioned by Brooklyn Workforce Innovations and Bloomberg Philanthropies, measured the impact of training program, which is a highly competitive intensive offered yearly to about 80 New Yorkers each year since its inception. The training program was birthed during Michael Bloomberg’s mayoral administration. Bloomberg Philanthropies has kept a close watch on it since the billionaire investor left office in 2013.
“From an economic development standpoint, [TV and film production] was a sector that was growing, and we were looking around at the productions and seeing that they needed to be more diverse,...
The study, commissioned by Brooklyn Workforce Innovations and Bloomberg Philanthropies, measured the impact of training program, which is a highly competitive intensive offered yearly to about 80 New Yorkers each year since its inception. The training program was birthed during Michael Bloomberg’s mayoral administration. Bloomberg Philanthropies has kept a close watch on it since the billionaire investor left office in 2013.
“From an economic development standpoint, [TV and film production] was a sector that was growing, and we were looking around at the productions and seeing that they needed to be more diverse,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
Producer DeVon Franklin has been cutting his own path through Hollywood for more than two decades.
He’s made a career as a producer out of pursuing inspirational and faith-infused movies and now TV shows. On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Franklin explains that he is unabashedly on a mission to use movies and now TV shows to provide inspiration and uplift to the audience.
He feels the faith-based genre is broadly defined enough to include his latest project, the spicy Cheetos origin story “Flamin’ Hot,” directed by Eva Longoria. The by-the-bootstraps business story from Searchlight premieres June 9 on Hulu. Franklin notes that the film’s business trajectory began as a theatrical film. When Hulu came into the picture for a streaming debut, Franklin didn’t balk.
“When I originally sold the project, I sold it as a theatrical,” Franklin says. “And then as we were getting...
He’s made a career as a producer out of pursuing inspirational and faith-infused movies and now TV shows. On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Franklin explains that he is unabashedly on a mission to use movies and now TV shows to provide inspiration and uplift to the audience.
He feels the faith-based genre is broadly defined enough to include his latest project, the spicy Cheetos origin story “Flamin’ Hot,” directed by Eva Longoria. The by-the-bootstraps business story from Searchlight premieres June 9 on Hulu. Franklin notes that the film’s business trajectory began as a theatrical film. When Hulu came into the picture for a streaming debut, Franklin didn’t balk.
“When I originally sold the project, I sold it as a theatrical,” Franklin says. “And then as we were getting...
- 6/7/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
From Paul Lee’s perspective, the streaming boom that led Hollywood to binge on original content has evolved significantly during his half-dozen years as CEO of production company Wiip.
Over the past year, the industry has been through “a moment where the streaming revolution went from a land grab to ‘This land needs to be fertile,’ ” Lee says on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Lee spent a dozen years at Disney, rising to become head of ABC Family and later head of ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios. He’s mostly kept a low profile since launching Wiip in partnership with CAA in 2016.
In its short life, Wiip has scored with such series as HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” and “The White House Plumbers,” Amazon Prime Video’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” Apple TV+’s “Dickinson,” FX’s “Pistol” and more to come. In June 2021, South Korea...
Over the past year, the industry has been through “a moment where the streaming revolution went from a land grab to ‘This land needs to be fertile,’ ” Lee says on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Lee spent a dozen years at Disney, rising to become head of ABC Family and later head of ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios. He’s mostly kept a low profile since launching Wiip in partnership with CAA in 2016.
In its short life, Wiip has scored with such series as HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” and “The White House Plumbers,” Amazon Prime Video’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” Apple TV+’s “Dickinson,” FX’s “Pistol” and more to come. In June 2021, South Korea...
- 5/31/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
That was the week that was, and last week was an upfronts week like no other.
Variety’s team of New York-based television and digital reporters offer a debrief on the 2023 programming presentations in New York on the latest episode of Variety‘s weekly podcast “Strictly Business.”
The drama roiling the industry was evident in all the Writers Guild of America picket signs that swarmed around the major events held from May 15 to May 17. That added to the general madness of the week that is a television and advertising industry tradition but is starting to feel anachronistic in the streaming era. But the upfronts are still a hard habit to break. Netflix even crashed the party this year, albeit virtually.
Behind the velvet ropes, there were plenty of signals of the industry’s difficult transition from linear to streaming. Variety’s Jennifer Maas, Joe Otterson, Todd Spangler and Brian Steinberg...
Variety’s team of New York-based television and digital reporters offer a debrief on the 2023 programming presentations in New York on the latest episode of Variety‘s weekly podcast “Strictly Business.”
The drama roiling the industry was evident in all the Writers Guild of America picket signs that swarmed around the major events held from May 15 to May 17. That added to the general madness of the week that is a television and advertising industry tradition but is starting to feel anachronistic in the streaming era. But the upfronts are still a hard habit to break. Netflix even crashed the party this year, albeit virtually.
Behind the velvet ropes, there were plenty of signals of the industry’s difficult transition from linear to streaming. Variety’s Jennifer Maas, Joe Otterson, Todd Spangler and Brian Steinberg...
- 5/24/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Hollywood is a “uniquely American” construct that is deeply intertwined with the concept of the United States as a land of rags-to-riches opportunity. That’s the view shared by David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chair of investment giant Carlyle Group, after his visit to the Hollywood hills for an episode of his new PBS series “Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories.”
“The whole culture of Hollywood is one that is uniquely American,” Rubenstein says on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” in discussing the episode of “Iconic America” that is devoted to the Hollywood sign. The series debuts April 26.
“What we try to do in these so-called symbols of our country, is to talk about things that are really uniquely American. Obviously there’s Bollywood in India, but generally, if you think about making movies, you think about Hollywood, and a uniquely American kind of enterprise,” Rubenstein says.
“The...
“The whole culture of Hollywood is one that is uniquely American,” Rubenstein says on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” in discussing the episode of “Iconic America” that is devoted to the Hollywood sign. The series debuts April 26.
“What we try to do in these so-called symbols of our country, is to talk about things that are really uniquely American. Obviously there’s Bollywood in India, but generally, if you think about making movies, you think about Hollywood, and a uniquely American kind of enterprise,” Rubenstein says.
“The...
- 4/19/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
The Magnolia Network series “Restored” just returned for a seventh season with host Brett Waterman, who isn’t doing just another cable-tv house-flipping show; this series is a serious look at the historic preservation of houses from a wide range of architectural styles.
With his keen eye, Waterman is able to coax homes back into shape, reinventing previously poorly remodeled areas or reimagining original spaces, all the while giving the viewers the historical background to support the accuracy of the updates.
Listen to the podcast here:
“A place that’s been there for at least 30 or 40 years has an overall impact on the greater community, and it’s architecturally supported by other structures and memories for many people that are already there,” said Waterman on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Along with a team of experts, Waterman returns homes as close as possible to their original...
With his keen eye, Waterman is able to coax homes back into shape, reinventing previously poorly remodeled areas or reimagining original spaces, all the while giving the viewers the historical background to support the accuracy of the updates.
Listen to the podcast here:
“A place that’s been there for at least 30 or 40 years has an overall impact on the greater community, and it’s architecturally supported by other structures and memories for many people that are already there,” said Waterman on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Along with a team of experts, Waterman returns homes as close as possible to their original...
- 4/5/2023
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
The Netflix movie sequel “Murder Mystery 2,” which premieres March 31st, is the highest-profile directing gig Jeremy Garelick has ever landed. But it’s really more like an extra-curricular activity for the veteran writer, producer and director.
Garelick is best known for “American High,” the teen-movie franchise he launched at Hulu after making the audacious move of spending $1 million to buy a building that once housed a high school in Syracuse, N.Y., in 2017. The purchase enabled him to make multiple films at a third of the cost.
But “Murder Mystery 2” is a bigger-budget affair with more exotic locations than Syracuse — Honolulu and Paris, to be exact. He got the directing assignment having earned the respect of the film’s stars including Jennifer Aniston, who also starred in “The Break Up,” a 2006 romantic comedy Garelick co-wrote. That film was his career breakthrough.
Listen to the podcast here:
“I was...
Garelick is best known for “American High,” the teen-movie franchise he launched at Hulu after making the audacious move of spending $1 million to buy a building that once housed a high school in Syracuse, N.Y., in 2017. The purchase enabled him to make multiple films at a third of the cost.
But “Murder Mystery 2” is a bigger-budget affair with more exotic locations than Syracuse — Honolulu and Paris, to be exact. He got the directing assignment having earned the respect of the film’s stars including Jennifer Aniston, who also starred in “The Break Up,” a 2006 romantic comedy Garelick co-wrote. That film was his career breakthrough.
Listen to the podcast here:
“I was...
- 3/29/2023
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
The guests on this week’s episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business” are about two dozen people I conversed with last week while attending the SXSW conference and festival in Austin, Texas. They are in fact leaders in media and entertainment. As sophisticated and highly engaged consumers, their choices can make or break a streaming platform, a movie, a TV franchise, a tour or an album.
I love the spirit of SXSW because it is a gathering that involves so many disciplines — even more than I knew. The weather in Austin was sunny for most of March 10-19 gathering, and so was the mood. Festival-goers making the rounds of downtown were only too eager to stop and talk to Variety about why they wanted to come to SXSW and what impressed them this year.
“Not only do we get to see fellow musicians, artists and creators, but also you get...
I love the spirit of SXSW because it is a gathering that involves so many disciplines — even more than I knew. The weather in Austin was sunny for most of March 10-19 gathering, and so was the mood. Festival-goers making the rounds of downtown were only too eager to stop and talk to Variety about why they wanted to come to SXSW and what impressed them this year.
“Not only do we get to see fellow musicians, artists and creators, but also you get...
- 3/22/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Scott Koondel grew up as an executive at CBS and Paramount Pictures, filling a content sales role that was indispensable to any studio operation in the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s.
Today, four years after leaving CBS, he’s in a new role that is also indispensable for the current era of media. As founder of Sox Entertainment, Koondel has embraced his inner entrepreneur, working as a packager of TV shows and movies. He’s putting together sales and distribution deals for longtime colleagues such as Judith Sheindlin (aka “Judge Judy” and now of Freevee’s “Judy Justice”), he’s consulting on M&a deals and helping companies size up their assets in a fast-changing marketplace.
After decades as a loyal corporate soldier, Koondel tells Variety‘s Strictly Business podcast that he loves his newfound ability to call all of the shots and work for himself for a change.
Koondel is...
Today, four years after leaving CBS, he’s in a new role that is also indispensable for the current era of media. As founder of Sox Entertainment, Koondel has embraced his inner entrepreneur, working as a packager of TV shows and movies. He’s putting together sales and distribution deals for longtime colleagues such as Judith Sheindlin (aka “Judge Judy” and now of Freevee’s “Judy Justice”), he’s consulting on M&a deals and helping companies size up their assets in a fast-changing marketplace.
After decades as a loyal corporate soldier, Koondel tells Variety‘s Strictly Business podcast that he loves his newfound ability to call all of the shots and work for himself for a change.
Koondel is...
- 3/8/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
When Ray Nutt took the reins of Fathom Events as CEO in 2017, the first thing he decided to change was the nomenclature used to describe the titles that the company distributes to hundreds of theaters around the U.S.
“Alternative content” was the short-hand description used for the projects handled by the Denver-based distributor that is owned by the nation’s three largest exhibition chains: AMC Entertainment, Regal Cinemas and Cinemark. Nutt, a veteran exhibition and cable TV executive, explains in the latest episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast that the wording was too vague, in his view.
“We started to transition into what we’re calling now ‘event cinema,’ ” Nutt says.
He points to developments in technology and production hardware that has lowered the barrier of entry to producing high-end content. But getting it distributed in multipexes around the country is still a high bar. Fathom Events offers...
“Alternative content” was the short-hand description used for the projects handled by the Denver-based distributor that is owned by the nation’s three largest exhibition chains: AMC Entertainment, Regal Cinemas and Cinemark. Nutt, a veteran exhibition and cable TV executive, explains in the latest episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast that the wording was too vague, in his view.
“We started to transition into what we’re calling now ‘event cinema,’ ” Nutt says.
He points to developments in technology and production hardware that has lowered the barrier of entry to producing high-end content. But getting it distributed in multipexes around the country is still a high bar. Fathom Events offers...
- 3/1/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Range Media Partners has signed iconic actress, producer and director Halle Berry, who to this day, remains the only Black winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress.
The trailblazer won the prize for her performance opposite Billy Bob Thornton in the 2001 Marc Forster drama Monster’s Ball, with her role also garnering her Best Actress awards from the Berlin Film Festival, the Screen Actors Guild and the National Board of Review.
Over the course of her more than three decades in Hollywood, Berry has featured in such major franchises as X-Men, Kingsman, John Wick and James Bond, working with a who’s who of talent while appearing in films of every imaginable genre — from thrillers like Gothika, Perfect Stranger and The Call, to dramas like Things We Lpost in the Fire, sci-fi epics like the Wachowskis’ Cloud Atlas, action-comedies including The Last Boy Scout, and rom-coms like Boomerang with Eddie Murphy.
The trailblazer won the prize for her performance opposite Billy Bob Thornton in the 2001 Marc Forster drama Monster’s Ball, with her role also garnering her Best Actress awards from the Berlin Film Festival, the Screen Actors Guild and the National Board of Review.
Over the course of her more than three decades in Hollywood, Berry has featured in such major franchises as X-Men, Kingsman, John Wick and James Bond, working with a who’s who of talent while appearing in films of every imaginable genre — from thrillers like Gothika, Perfect Stranger and The Call, to dramas like Things We Lpost in the Fire, sci-fi epics like the Wachowskis’ Cloud Atlas, action-comedies including The Last Boy Scout, and rom-coms like Boomerang with Eddie Murphy.
- 1/31/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Hearst Television began an experiment last year to see if there was a market for hyper-local streaming content closely tied to the markets served by its 26 TV stations.
The answer, they soon discovered, is yes. Andrew Fitzgerald, senior VP of streaming services for Hearst Television, details the company’s decision to expand the original content featured on the Very Local free streaming platform on the latest episode of Variety‘s weekly podcast “Strictly Business.”
Very Local has had an encouraging start thanks to the rising tide of viewership for Fast channels, or free ad-supported streaming television, and the growing numbers of broadband-only U.S. homes that don’t have access to local broadcast TV stations. That amounts to a looming existential crisis for local broadcast TV stations, which explains why Hearst is tapping its considerable resources to experiment with reaching local viewers in new ways.
Very Local serves as a...
The answer, they soon discovered, is yes. Andrew Fitzgerald, senior VP of streaming services for Hearst Television, details the company’s decision to expand the original content featured on the Very Local free streaming platform on the latest episode of Variety‘s weekly podcast “Strictly Business.”
Very Local has had an encouraging start thanks to the rising tide of viewership for Fast channels, or free ad-supported streaming television, and the growing numbers of broadband-only U.S. homes that don’t have access to local broadcast TV stations. That amounts to a looming existential crisis for local broadcast TV stations, which explains why Hearst is tapping its considerable resources to experiment with reaching local viewers in new ways.
Very Local serves as a...
- 9/8/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
The power of fandom was on display in Downtown Los Angeles last week as thousands of K-pop devotees gathered for Kcon, a three-day celebration of South Korean pop culture.
Kcon was more like a family reunion for many attendees, as several of them explain on the latest episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast. K-pop is growing in popularity around the world, but it’s still niche enough that its most ardent fans revel in being together with those who “get it,” as numerous attendees explained.
“You come for the music, the choreography, the outfits — all the pretty, fun, sparkly stuff. And then you end up staying because you make friends,” said Epiphany, a Kcon-goer who lives in North Hollywood.
Conversations with other teens and twentysomethings who attended the conference and two concerts at Crypto.com Arena revealed a host of trends in media, media consumption and how affinity groups...
Kcon was more like a family reunion for many attendees, as several of them explain on the latest episode of Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast. K-pop is growing in popularity around the world, but it’s still niche enough that its most ardent fans revel in being together with those who “get it,” as numerous attendees explained.
“You come for the music, the choreography, the outfits — all the pretty, fun, sparkly stuff. And then you end up staying because you make friends,” said Epiphany, a Kcon-goer who lives in North Hollywood.
Conversations with other teens and twentysomethings who attended the conference and two concerts at Crypto.com Arena revealed a host of trends in media, media consumption and how affinity groups...
- 8/24/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Where there’s a yearning for content, there’s a streaming service to meet it. And never has the invisible hand of the market been more evident than in the organic growth of platforms delivering content from South Korea and other Asian countries to viewers well beyond the continent’s borders.
Rakuten Viki is one such streamer that has seen incredible growth during the past few years, with viewers logging on everywhere from Latin America to the Mediterranean to Australia. Sam Wu, CEO of Viki, which is the streaming arm of Japanese retail giant Rakuten, spoke with Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast about the company’s growth and why Korean dramas, in particular, are resonating with viewers.
“The U.S. is our biggest market by audience. But we’re global,” Wu says. “We have users in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and India. So we really see this fandom growing,...
Rakuten Viki is one such streamer that has seen incredible growth during the past few years, with viewers logging on everywhere from Latin America to the Mediterranean to Australia. Sam Wu, CEO of Viki, which is the streaming arm of Japanese retail giant Rakuten, spoke with Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast about the company’s growth and why Korean dramas, in particular, are resonating with viewers.
“The U.S. is our biggest market by audience. But we’re global,” Wu says. “We have users in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and India. So we really see this fandom growing,...
- 8/18/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
This time last year, one of the world’s largest corporations made a major statement about its expectations for diversity, equity and inclusion within its content operations.
Amazon’s Prime Video and Amazon Studios published a detailed inclusion policy and playbook to spell out its guidelines and requirements for producers working on shows for the studio arm or commissioned by Prime Video. It was a concerted effort to be transparent and to tell the creative community “here’s what we think good looks like,” says Latasha Gillespie, head of global diversity, equity and inclusion for Prime Video, Amazon Studios and IMDb.
One year later, Gillespie tells Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast, that there has been measurable progress in hiring, especially in low-profile areas like transportation and support services. Amazon’s policy for content productions and database of businesses, vendors and talent from underrepresented backgrounds is an open-source document posted online for all to peruse.
Amazon’s Prime Video and Amazon Studios published a detailed inclusion policy and playbook to spell out its guidelines and requirements for producers working on shows for the studio arm or commissioned by Prime Video. It was a concerted effort to be transparent and to tell the creative community “here’s what we think good looks like,” says Latasha Gillespie, head of global diversity, equity and inclusion for Prime Video, Amazon Studios and IMDb.
One year later, Gillespie tells Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast, that there has been measurable progress in hiring, especially in low-profile areas like transportation and support services. Amazon’s policy for content productions and database of businesses, vendors and talent from underrepresented backgrounds is an open-source document posted online for all to peruse.
- 6/2/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Henry Muñoz III is the first to admit that he was a surprise bidder for Funny or Die when the digital comedy brand was put up for sale last year.
“It was kind of a surprise to me too,” Muñoz jokes on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
The entrepreneur and activist sees Funny or Die as a vehicle for expanding his work that is focused on creating greater access to opportunities and greater equality for Latinx communities in his native Texas and around the country. Muñoz, who was most recently a co-founder of the Somos Community Care chain of health care providers, acquired the company with his own resources, without any partners or bank loans.
Funny or Die was an early Hollywood foray into short-form digital media. The website was founded in 2007 by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Judd Apatow and others and quickly expanded with a content production arm.
“It was kind of a surprise to me too,” Muñoz jokes on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
The entrepreneur and activist sees Funny or Die as a vehicle for expanding his work that is focused on creating greater access to opportunities and greater equality for Latinx communities in his native Texas and around the country. Muñoz, who was most recently a co-founder of the Somos Community Care chain of health care providers, acquired the company with his own resources, without any partners or bank loans.
Funny or Die was an early Hollywood foray into short-form digital media. The website was founded in 2007 by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Judd Apatow and others and quickly expanded with a content production arm.
- 5/26/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
When “Downton Abbey: The New Era” arrives in U.S. theaters this week, it will represent just the latest iteration of a franchise more than a decade in operation.
Julian Fellowes, the Emmy-winning writer of the period-drama megahit, and Gareth Neame, executive chairman of Carnival Films, discuss their collaboration on six TV seasons and two films on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” including their hopes that there is still more to come for their beloved period drama.
“We can go on with these people as long as the audience wants to go on seeing them and as long as they enjoy them,” said Neame of the “Downton” characters. “And we can, you know, do that in all sorts of different ways. We’ve got to be wise to the future and think of those possibilities and any number of things could happen in the future.”
Listen...
Julian Fellowes, the Emmy-winning writer of the period-drama megahit, and Gareth Neame, executive chairman of Carnival Films, discuss their collaboration on six TV seasons and two films on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” including their hopes that there is still more to come for their beloved period drama.
“We can go on with these people as long as the audience wants to go on seeing them and as long as they enjoy them,” said Neame of the “Downton” characters. “And we can, you know, do that in all sorts of different ways. We’ve got to be wise to the future and think of those possibilities and any number of things could happen in the future.”
Listen...
- 5/18/2022
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
When Michael Ellenberg worked at HBO developing hit series including “Westworld” and “True Detective,” he was producing in a very difference climate than the one in which he finds himself now.
He’s nearly five years into his own production company, Media Res, where he works on the other side of the fence selling series including “Pachinko” and “The Morning Show” to a growing roster of buyers — in sharp contrast to the days when his previous employer had the field to high-end premium entertainment all to itself.
“There used to be, as you know, really one buyer for these kinds of shows,” Ellenberg said on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” “For the really big stuff, there were never that many networks, right? So there’s way more than there used to be.”
Ellenberg dishes on what it’s been like to put together buzzed-about programming in the streaming era,...
He’s nearly five years into his own production company, Media Res, where he works on the other side of the fence selling series including “Pachinko” and “The Morning Show” to a growing roster of buyers — in sharp contrast to the days when his previous employer had the field to high-end premium entertainment all to itself.
“There used to be, as you know, really one buyer for these kinds of shows,” Ellenberg said on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” “For the really big stuff, there were never that many networks, right? So there’s way more than there used to be.”
Ellenberg dishes on what it’s been like to put together buzzed-about programming in the streaming era,...
- 4/27/2022
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
Investors are going all-in on the metaverse.
That’s the prediction of Carlos Jimenez, managing director of Moelis & Co., who details his view that the entertainment business is in the midst of a massive transformation into a marketplace where entertainment, media, gaming, sports and other activities merge and often take place.
“All of these worlds are colliding — it’s the future,” Jimenez, a veteran dealmaker, says on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” “You’re going to have all these Gen Zers, or whatever the next generation is called, playing an E-sports tournament in the metaverse while listening to a concert inside of it. I think that’s where we’re going to end up.”
It may sound futuristic but investment dollars are flowing in, Jimenez said. On the flip side, there’s also a surge in demand for entertainment-related infrastructure and support businesses — what he calls “picks...
That’s the prediction of Carlos Jimenez, managing director of Moelis & Co., who details his view that the entertainment business is in the midst of a massive transformation into a marketplace where entertainment, media, gaming, sports and other activities merge and often take place.
“All of these worlds are colliding — it’s the future,” Jimenez, a veteran dealmaker, says on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” “You’re going to have all these Gen Zers, or whatever the next generation is called, playing an E-sports tournament in the metaverse while listening to a concert inside of it. I think that’s where we’re going to end up.”
It may sound futuristic but investment dollars are flowing in, Jimenez said. On the flip side, there’s also a surge in demand for entertainment-related infrastructure and support businesses — what he calls “picks...
- 4/21/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
In the pandemic-impacted movie marketplace, it might seem like the only films that succeed in theaters these days are blockbuster titles featuring superheroes. But that’s not the case, according to William Sherak, one of the principals at Project X Entertainment.
The company already proved the staying power of mid-budget movies with the success of Paramount Pictures’ “Scream,” the horror franchise that returned to form at the box office in January. Now, Project X is looking to do it again with the April 8 release of Universal Pictures’ “Ambulance” — an action flick starring Jake Gyllenhaal directed by Michael Bay — for which Sherak has high hopes lightning will strike twice.
“The teams at both Universal and Paramount, when they planted the flag and said these will be theatrical movies, they turned on those marketing machines,” said Sherak on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” “And even though they are...
The company already proved the staying power of mid-budget movies with the success of Paramount Pictures’ “Scream,” the horror franchise that returned to form at the box office in January. Now, Project X is looking to do it again with the April 8 release of Universal Pictures’ “Ambulance” — an action flick starring Jake Gyllenhaal directed by Michael Bay — for which Sherak has high hopes lightning will strike twice.
“The teams at both Universal and Paramount, when they planted the flag and said these will be theatrical movies, they turned on those marketing machines,” said Sherak on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” “And even though they are...
- 4/6/2022
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
The strong debut of Sony Pictures’ “Uncharted” at the box office last month came a happy sign that moviegoing is back to normal-ish levels as families returned to multiplexes for the Tom Holland-starrer based on the PlayStation video game franchise.
Behind the scenes, “Uncharted” is also a textbook case of a movie that needed seasoned and dedicated producers to see it through a nearly 13-year journey to get made. The leader of that pack was Charles Roven, the head of Atlas Entertainment, who has been in the business of making blockbusters for a long time. Think “The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Suicide Squad,” “Man of Steel,” “Wonder Woman” and more.
Roven discusses “Uncharted’s” course to the big screen — including his collaboration with producer Avi Arad — on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” He also weighs in on the debate over what defines filmmaking in the streaming age.
Behind the scenes, “Uncharted” is also a textbook case of a movie that needed seasoned and dedicated producers to see it through a nearly 13-year journey to get made. The leader of that pack was Charles Roven, the head of Atlas Entertainment, who has been in the business of making blockbusters for a long time. Think “The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Suicide Squad,” “Man of Steel,” “Wonder Woman” and more.
Roven discusses “Uncharted’s” course to the big screen — including his collaboration with producer Avi Arad — on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.” He also weighs in on the debate over what defines filmmaking in the streaming age.
- 3/16/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Ynon Kreiz knew he was sitting on a “treasure trove” of IP when he took the reins of toymaker Mattel as CEO in 2018.
Mattel’s big vault of toy and game brands had the kind of built-in audience and multi-generational appeal that make for four-quadrant hits. But first he had to sort out major issues with Mattel’s struggling toy sales business before he moved into expansion by ramping up content production activity, as Kreiz explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Four years later, Mattel is about to begin production on a Barbie movie directed by indie darling Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie. The project is an ambitious prototype of Mattel’s effort to grow by adding a content dimension to its balance sheet. Lena Dunham, Tom Hanks and Vin Diesel are among the notable creatives working with Mattel. The company has 14 movies in development...
Mattel’s big vault of toy and game brands had the kind of built-in audience and multi-generational appeal that make for four-quadrant hits. But first he had to sort out major issues with Mattel’s struggling toy sales business before he moved into expansion by ramping up content production activity, as Kreiz explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”
Four years later, Mattel is about to begin production on a Barbie movie directed by indie darling Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie. The project is an ambitious prototype of Mattel’s effort to grow by adding a content dimension to its balance sheet. Lena Dunham, Tom Hanks and Vin Diesel are among the notable creatives working with Mattel. The company has 14 movies in development...
- 2/24/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
In the entertainment industry, the name WetaFX is synonymous with high-end visual effects. CEO Prem Akkaraju wants to make the firm, founded by filmmakers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, a marquee name for original content as well.
As he explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Akkaraju has helped reorganize the company’s operations to facilitate growth in content production, marking the next evolution of the New Zealand-based VFX company that at present employs about 2,000 people.
“We’re a household name in the households that make movies,” Akkaraju said. “We felt like we had a lot more to offer the world.”
WetaFX is deep in development on a handful of original movies, and plans for series are also part of the blueprint, Akkaraju said. At the same time, WetaFX intends to maintain its prominence in the competitive VFX arena. The demand for WetaFX’s core services is...
As he explains on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Akkaraju has helped reorganize the company’s operations to facilitate growth in content production, marking the next evolution of the New Zealand-based VFX company that at present employs about 2,000 people.
“We’re a household name in the households that make movies,” Akkaraju said. “We felt like we had a lot more to offer the world.”
WetaFX is deep in development on a handful of original movies, and plans for series are also part of the blueprint, Akkaraju said. At the same time, WetaFX intends to maintain its prominence in the competitive VFX arena. The demand for WetaFX’s core services is...
- 2/16/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Halle Berry first exploded onto the film scene in 1991, starring in three major studio films: Spike Lee's drama "Jungle Fever," Kevin Hooks' comedy "Strictly Business," and Tony Scott's action spectacular "The Last Boy Scout." Since then, Berry's career has continued at an impressive clip, the actress having starred in high-profile comedies, Hollywood franchise pictures, animated films, and small indie dramas. She was in "The Flintstones," "X-Men," and was Catwoman. Berry is also, to date, the only Black woman to have won the Academy Award for Best Actress (for Marc Forster's 2001 film "Monster's Ball"). Berry directed her first feature film in 2021 with "Bruised," in which...
The post How Two Horror Movies Changed Halle Berry Forever appeared first on /Film.
The post How Two Horror Movies Changed Halle Berry Forever appeared first on /Film.
- 2/10/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
A new video-streaming service targeting senior citizens is betting that advertisers will finally wake up to the purchasing power of a demographic Madison Avenue has largely ignored.
On the latest episode of Variety’s “Strictly Business” podcast, Saltbox TV CEO Jerry Goehring explains how his new venture customizes its product to meet the unique needs of a very big but underserved market.
Listen to the podcast here:
“What we’re discovering is that the advertising agencies we’re talking with are rather excited to explore this market because no one has focused on them,” said Goehring, an award-winning Broadway producer who came up with the idea for Saltbox TV as the pandemic first began in early 2020.
He is targeting the estimated 90 million Americans whose $2.6 trillion in spending power make them the largest and most affluent demographic. Viewers age 55 and older watch an estimated five hours per day.
Saltbox TV offers...
On the latest episode of Variety’s “Strictly Business” podcast, Saltbox TV CEO Jerry Goehring explains how his new venture customizes its product to meet the unique needs of a very big but underserved market.
Listen to the podcast here:
“What we’re discovering is that the advertising agencies we’re talking with are rather excited to explore this market because no one has focused on them,” said Goehring, an award-winning Broadway producer who came up with the idea for Saltbox TV as the pandemic first began in early 2020.
He is targeting the estimated 90 million Americans whose $2.6 trillion in spending power make them the largest and most affluent demographic. Viewers age 55 and older watch an estimated five hours per day.
Saltbox TV offers...
- 2/2/2022
- by Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
Veteran actor-host Wayne Brady has joined forces with Freestyle Love Supreme Academy and Speechless Inc. to launch a virtual business and educational training platform built around improv acting techniques.
Brady will become chief creative officer of the venture dubbed Fls Plus. Steve Johnston, former president and managing partner of the of the famed Second City improv group, is on board as an investor and will serve as president.
The deal company brings together the assets of Fls Academy, an offshoot of the acting troupe behind the Off Broadway hit “Freestyle Love Supreme,” and Speechless, a San Francisco-based improv company that offers training services, live entertainment and video production services.
Fls Plus is supported by seed money from investors including several Broadway producers. The goal is to target corporate and institutional clients with virtual services. The partners strive to eventually build brick-and-mortar training centers in major cities to serve underprivileged youths and other hard-to-reach communities.
Brady will become chief creative officer of the venture dubbed Fls Plus. Steve Johnston, former president and managing partner of the of the famed Second City improv group, is on board as an investor and will serve as president.
The deal company brings together the assets of Fls Academy, an offshoot of the acting troupe behind the Off Broadway hit “Freestyle Love Supreme,” and Speechless, a San Francisco-based improv company that offers training services, live entertainment and video production services.
Fls Plus is supported by seed money from investors including several Broadway producers. The goal is to target corporate and institutional clients with virtual services. The partners strive to eventually build brick-and-mortar training centers in major cities to serve underprivileged youths and other hard-to-reach communities.
- 1/26/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Tommy Davidson, the actor, writer, producer, stand-up comic and author currently reprising his role as patriarch Oscar Proud in Disney+’s Proud Family reboot The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, has signed with APA for representation in all areas.
Davidson starred in Disney Channel’s beloved animated series The Proud Family throughout its run between 2001-2005. His recent credits also include an upcoming guest-starring role in CBS comedy series The Neighborhood; featured roles in the Nick Cannon-directed TV movie Miracles Across 125th Street and Michael J. White’s comedic feature The Outlaw Johnny Black; as well as guest appearances in BET+’s The Ms. Pat Show, the Netflix special Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine, and Showtime’s comedy series I’m Dying Up Here.
The multihyphenate is perhaps best known for starring in the groundbreaking sketch comedy series In Living Color, there becoming a standout with his impressions of Sammy Davis Jr.,...
Davidson starred in Disney Channel’s beloved animated series The Proud Family throughout its run between 2001-2005. His recent credits also include an upcoming guest-starring role in CBS comedy series The Neighborhood; featured roles in the Nick Cannon-directed TV movie Miracles Across 125th Street and Michael J. White’s comedic feature The Outlaw Johnny Black; as well as guest appearances in BET+’s The Ms. Pat Show, the Netflix special Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine, and Showtime’s comedy series I’m Dying Up Here.
The multihyphenate is perhaps best known for starring in the groundbreaking sketch comedy series In Living Color, there becoming a standout with his impressions of Sammy Davis Jr.,...
- 1/24/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Laura Miele knows that video gaming is having a big moment.
The industry veteran, who was named chief operating officer of gaming giant Electronic Arts in September, also knows that well-heeled competitors are ready to barrel into the sector that is becoming ever-more intertwined with Hollywood’s core businesses.
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Miele says EA is fortified for heightened competition from streaming platforms by its 40-year history of creating game franchises ranging from “The Sims” to “Madden NFL” to its partnership with Lucasfilm on “Star Wars” titles.
In fact, EA has been preparing for some time for streaming giants and Silicon Valley to dive deeper into the gaming marketplace, which Miele pegs as a $180 billion business worldwide. Netflix, for one, is taking steps to integrate game offerings into its basic subscription.
“We are going to compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon for...
The industry veteran, who was named chief operating officer of gaming giant Electronic Arts in September, also knows that well-heeled competitors are ready to barrel into the sector that is becoming ever-more intertwined with Hollywood’s core businesses.
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Miele says EA is fortified for heightened competition from streaming platforms by its 40-year history of creating game franchises ranging from “The Sims” to “Madden NFL” to its partnership with Lucasfilm on “Star Wars” titles.
In fact, EA has been preparing for some time for streaming giants and Silicon Valley to dive deeper into the gaming marketplace, which Miele pegs as a $180 billion business worldwide. Netflix, for one, is taking steps to integrate game offerings into its basic subscription.
“We are going to compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon for...
- 1/19/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
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