The Right and Wrong Lessons From ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’
The episode examines the surprise box‑office success of two low‑budget horror films—Backrooms ($10 M budget, $81 M domestic) and Obsession (under $1 M, $100 M domestic)—and what Hollywood can learn from the rise of YouTube‑born filmmakers. Guest Lucas Schaar argues that the key takeaway is the shifting nature of intellectual property: web‑originated IP can draw massive audiences when paired with studio distribution, while the wrong lesson would be to dismiss traditional franchise IP as obsolete. He also stresses the importance of embracing youth culture and empowering younger creators rather than forcing them into legacy studio molds. The discussion highlights how these trends could reshape studio strategies, marketing, and talent scouting in the coming years.
Peter Chernin on ‘Backrooms’ and Where the Smart Money Is Going in Hollywood
In this episode, veteran media mogul Peter Chernin discusses the surprise box‑office success of the low‑budget horror film "Backrooms," which he co‑financed through Chernin Entertainment and A24, and explains how his company’s North Road division scouts and backs creator‑driven projects....
Hollywood’s Inevitable Pivot to Vertical Video Is Here
In this episode of The Town, analyst and former TV executive Hernan Lopez argues that vertical video has become a distinct third audiovisual language alongside film and television, now driving a $100 billion annual market—about twice Netflix’s revenue. He explains how...
Peacock’s Battle for Survival and the Catch 22 of Streaming
The episode dissects Peacock’s ongoing financial woes, noting a $432 million loss this quarter and a cumulative $11 billion deficit since its 2020 launch, despite reaching 44 million U.S. subscribers and strong sports viewership spikes from events like the Winter Olympics and the...
What Scares Hollywood’s Top Producers the Most About the State of Movies
In this live CinemaCon episode, legendary producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas discuss the new Filmmakers Council aimed at protecting theatrical exhibition, the fallout from compressed release windows, and the looming Warner‑Paramount merger. They stress that strong, well‑budgeted movies and...
Could Hollywood Actually De-Monopolize?
The episode examines recent antitrust actions affecting major media and entertainment conglomerates, focusing on the blocked $6.2 billion Nexstar‑Tegna TV‑station merger and the jury verdict that Live Nation’s Ticketmaster operates as a monopoly. Host Matt Belony and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw discuss...
Jon Favreau on the Future of Star Wars, AI, and New Filmmaking Technology
In this episode, host Matt Bellany chats with director Jon Favreau at CinemaCon about the transition of "The Mandalorian" from a streaming hit to a theatrical Star Wars film, the blend of practical sets and cutting‑edge tech like the Volume and...
The 3 Biggest Stories in Music: Bieber’s Payday, Ye’s Comeback, and $64B for Universal Music Group
The episode breaks down three headline music‑industry stories: Bill Ackman’s $60 billion bid to take Universal Music Group private, Kanye West’s (Ye) tumultuous comeback tour and its fallout with the UK government, and Justin Bieber’s $10 million Coachella set amid rumors about catalog...
The ‘Lorne’ Director on Two Years of Exclusive ‘SNL’ Access
In this episode of The Town, Oscar‑winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville discusses his new film Lorne, which offers unprecedented two‑year access to Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels and the inner workings of the show. Neville reveals how the documentary...
The A-List Filmmakers Evangelizing Movie Theaters
The episode previews CinemaCon and focuses on Cinema United’s new Filmmaker Council, led by Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas, with members like Ryan Coogler, Brad Bird, Jason Reitman, and Celine Song. CEO Michael O'Leary explains the council’s role in championing...
Does the Surprise Writers Guild Deal Mean Labor Peace in Hollywood?
In this episode of The Town, host Matt Bellany and labor lawyer Jonathan Handel break down the surprise four‑year Writers Guild of America (WGA) agreement that was reached ahead of schedule. The deal secures a health‑plan bailout, wage hikes, better...
Are Movies Actually Getting Longer? We Found Out.
In this episode of The Town, hosts Matt Bellany and Craig explore whether movies are actually getting longer, referencing research by Stephen Follows that shows the overall average runtime has stayed around 102 minutes, but wide-release films (those grossing over...
Why Hollywood Needs Books More Than Ever
In this episode of The Town, UTA media‑rights partner Jason Richman explains why Hollywood is turning to books like never before, noting that studios now see popular titles as the safest path to theatrical audiences amid a post‑superhero landscape. He...
Netflix’s Price Hike and Opening Day Debut. Plus, HBO's ‘Harry Potter’ and the Millennial Nostalgia Era.
The episode breaks down Netflix’s recent price hikes across its ad‑free and ad‑supported tiers, examining how the moves fit into a broader strategy to push users toward the cheaper, ad‑supported plan and boost ad revenue. Hosts discuss the competitive streaming...
Can D.C. Save Hollywood? Senator Adam Schiff on Bringing Production Home.
In this episode, Senator Adam Schiff discusses a proposed federal tax credit aimed at halting the exodus of film and TV production from Los Angeles. He explains that a 15% baseline credit, stacked on top of state incentives, would make...