SF’s AI Billboards Should Terrify Us. Humans Are Already Gone
A recent drive from San Francisco to Oakland revealed dozens of AI‑only billboards, stripped of any human imagery and filled with tech jargon like “workflow” and “prompt.” In contrast, nearby Los Angeles ads still rely on people, color, and storytelling. The author argues this visual shift reflects a broader cultural anxiety: AI is rapidly infiltrating Hollywood, an industry traditionally rooted in human emotion, raising fears of dehumanization and job loss. Rather than outright resistance, the piece calls for a nuanced strategy to manage AI’s integration into creative workflows.
🎧 Steven Soderbergh on Art, Commerce & Legacy
Steven Soderbergh discusses his legacy, emphasizing how he wants to be remembered for his ideas about filmmaking and industry ethics rather than his filmography. He promotes his latest Neon release, "The Christophers," a satire on art, commerce, and generational conflict...
So You Made a Hit. Now the Real Hustle Starts
The Ankler column breaks down the post‑hit playbook for unscripted producers, using Jason Beekman’s Netflix No. 1 as a case study. It gathers advice from veteran creators like Mary Robertson, Anthony Carbone and Jen O’Connell on how to capitalize on momentum,...
Zendaya Makes Her Case as A24’s Box Office Queen
Zendaya headlined A24’s romantic‑comedy *The Drama*, which opened to $14.4 million, placing it near the high end of pre‑release forecasts and among the studio’s three biggest openings behind *Civil War* and *Marty Supreme*. The film’s secret twist generated strong word‑of‑mouth, earning...
Jen Psaki, Ari Melber, JB Smoove: New Speakers Join Ankler X NAB Show
The Ankler x NAB Show in Las Vegas announced a star‑studded lineup, adding former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, MSNBC anchor Ari Melber, and comedian JB Smoove as speakers. Marcus Mabry of MS NOW will unveil a new platform...
HBO Max Invades Britain — Testing a New Playbook for Global Streaming
Warner Bros. Discovery has launched HBO Max in the United Kingdom, but unlike rivals it is deliberately avoiding the commissioning of British‑origin content. The service is banking on global intellectual property such as Harry Potter and U.S.‑produced series to attract...
Peter Friedlander Is Remaking Amazon TV. What’s Taking So Long?
Peter Friedlander, the former Netflix head of U.S. scripted series, took over Amazon’s global television division in October and has spent six months untangling a bloated, post‑Salke organization. So far he’s only greenlit a reboot of MGM’s *Robocop* and a...
New Rules of Indie Film Pricing — and the Cannes Test Ahead
The upcoming Cannes Film Festival will serve as the definitive price barometer for independent movies in 2026, after a mixed signal from Sundance. Studios are trimming their production slates, prompting a surge in indie acquisitions and intensifying competition for limited...
Warner Bros.’ Heater Is Officially Over
Warner Bros. enjoyed a record‑setting run of nine consecutive No. 1 openings, from *Minecraft* to *Wuthering Heights*. The streak snapped in March when the horror‑thriller *The Bride!* opened to just $5 million, the studio’s weakest wide release since *The Alto Knights*. A...
Kevin Williamson on His Post-‘Scream’ Dream and the Truth About His Netflix Cancellation
Kevin Williamson, the creator of the original *Scream* and hit TV dramas, confirms he will not direct *Scream 7* but remains available for future franchise work. The film opened with a record $64 million weekend, while his recent Netflix series *The Waterfront*...
Inside the Oscar Knife Fight: How Best Picture Is Really Won (And Lost)
Tony Angellotti, founder of The Angellotti Company, has steered six films to Best Picture victories, including Shakespeare in Love and Oppenheimer. He describes Oscar campaigning as a "knife fight" where a single loss can jeopardize careers. The 1999 upset, where...
Results Are In: NBC’s Olympic Creator Bet Won Gold — Inside the Playbook
NBCUniversal’s Olympic Creator Collective sent more than 25 digital creators to the Milan‑Cortina Winter Games, generating over 4 billion impressions across its social channels – a 437% jump from Beijing 2022. The follow‑up Project Fortius program helped ten athletes add more than...
Netflix Spending Spree: ‘Prestige Envy,’ Cheap Hits — and an Ellison War to Come
Netflix is accelerating its content spend to $20 billion by 2026, adding a slate of high‑profile series, films and a new VFX studio in India. The push comes as Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery negotiates a $111 billion merger that could create a true...
🎧 27 Cable Channels. How Many Survivors?
The proposed Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery merger will generate roughly 85% of its earnings from linear television, despite the industry’s streaming shift. The combined entity inherits more than two dozen aging cable networks, prompting executives to evaluate spin‑offs, digital rebrands,...
Hollywood Money Gushed From the Gulf. Then Came War
Hollywood’s recent influx of Gulf sovereign wealth has underpinned mega‑deals such as Saudi‑backed EA’s $55 billion acquisition and Paramount‑Skydance’s $111 billion bid. The ongoing Israel‑Iran conflict has forced production shutdowns across the Gulf, prompting studios to relocate projects and reassess risk. With...
Wasserman’s ‘Insane’ Price Tag — and the Curious Strategy Behind It
Casey Wasserman is reportedly demanding an "insane" valuation for his agency, The Team, anchored to a high EBITDA multiple. The ask comes amid a wave of aggressive Hollywood M&A, highlighted by David Ellison’s leveraged‑buyout attempt of Warner Bros. Discovery. Industry...
Oscars’ Ellison Billboard; Dems Bury Katzenberg; Affleck AI Mystery
The Ankler’s latest post recaps three Oscar‑night storylines: Larry Ellison’s protest billboard on the red carpet, Democratic lawmakers publicly rebuking film mogul David Katzenberg, and a cryptic AI‑related rumor surrounding Ben Affleck. The piece links to a live YouTube discussion...
A Brutal David Ellison Billboard Is Coming to the Oscars
At the 2024 Oscars, media watchdog Free Press will stage a protest outside the Dolby Theatre, unveiling a large mobile billboard that harshly critiques David Ellison. The billboard, designed to “congratulate” Ellison, targets his role in a high‑profile merger involving...
Grading the Tycoons’ Exits
The Ankler essay grades major studio owners' exits, using David Zaslav’s $30 billion payout as a focal point. The author proposes a ratio that balances personal profit against the health of the studio, employees, and audiences. By assigning letter grades to...
The Internet Made Luigi Mangione a Star. Watch the Short Documentary ‘LUIGI’ on Rolling Stone
The short documentary “LUIGI,” produced by Rolling Stone Films, follows the viral rise of Luigi Mangione after he was charged with murdering health‑care executive Brian Thompson. Mangione’s case became an internet obsession, spawning fan theories, memes, and a cult‑like following...
Org Chart From Hell: ‘Too Many Tentacles for One Octopus’
Paramount Pictures has raised its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery to $31 a share, reigniting a potential takeover of the studio’s film, TV and streaming assets, including HBO Max. The board has not dismissed the offer, leaving the door open...
🎧 Paramount Vs. Netflix: Your Big Questions Answered
Paramount has renewed its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery with a $31‑per‑share bid, reigniting a high‑stakes acquisition battle. Netflix, led by co‑CEO Ted Sarandos, is simultaneously courting investors and studios, arguing its own offer—already accepted in December—outperforms Paramount’s. The two...
Bari Weiss and the Great TV News Pay Cut
The episode examines the financial squeeze on TV news, focusing on Paramount Skydance’s aggressive cost‑cutting ahead of a potential Warner Bros. Discovery merger and CBS News’s restructuring under editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss. It highlights how massive synergy targets ($3‑$6 billion) are driving...
Universal’s Michael Moses: My Modern Movie Playbook
Universal’s chief marketing officer Michael Moses argues that theatrical movies are far from dead, noting that Gen Z and Gen Alpha actually crave the communal cinema experience. Drawing on his 25‑year career behind hits like *Wicked*, *Oppenheimer*, and the *Fast...
Fox’s Michael Thorn: A Faster Path to Yes — ‘No Layers,’ No Pilots
In this episode, Fox Television Network president Michael Thorn explains how the network is leveraging its independence to create a faster, “no‑layers” development model that bypasses traditional pilot season. Thorn details Fox’s platform‑agnostic strategy, its unofficial first‑look partnership with Fox...