It was only two years ago that actors and writers shut down Hollywood with strikes demanding protections from AI. Now the technology is controversially creeping into TV, movies and video games. Two films honoured at the Oscars even used the technology. - BBC
What if this so-called “extinction-level event” isn’t the end of journalism but just the end of a certain kind of journalism? It’s a crisis, yes—for the people losing their jobs, for the old-school media barons, for the hedge funds. But for journalism as an institution? - The Walrus
The End has more than one meaning. On the surface, the title refers to the end of civilisation. But “the end” can also mean the purpose of something, like the meaning of life. As one of the songs on the film asks, how can we make a “life worth living”? - The Conversation
Novelist and essayist Gay said, “The Rumpus was one of the first places where my writing found a significant audience, and it helped shape me into the writer I am today.” - Publishers Weekly
"The women’s lawyers told the court he was an 'all-powerful' star who deliberately targeted junior women, who were in fear of being blacklisted if they spoke out. The court heard there was a 'system of impunity' around Depardieu, with film industry insiders staying silent.” - The Guardian (UK)
The movie did, but the actor who voiced the character? Ouf - not to mention the way the Mouse House treated both Adriana Caselotti and the actor who voiced Prince Charming (they had to sneak into the premiere, for instance). - Salon
What’s going on at the tech and everything else giant? "The change shocked many employees inside the studio, including one group busy putting the finishing touches on Amazon’s presentation at the year’s biggest theater convention, CinemaCon.” - The New York Times
“Voice cloning has become much easier, requiring just seconds of audio. … have found their voices replicated online without their consent, knowledge or compensation, reducing paid job opportunities and stripping them of their agency.” - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
"These creators are like the networks of today delivering the hit TV shows of today. This is really about one-to-one communication, where creators can actually present their formats and content calendars so brands can really see what are the opportunities around these voices that have this fandom and attention at scale." - The Wrap (MSN)
“The Sundance Film Festival will relocate to Boulder, Colorado in 2027, ending its decades-long run in Park City, Utah. The festival reached a 10-year deal with city officials after an extensive search. ... The snowy haven prevailed against two other finalists: Cincinnati and Salt Lake City.” - Variety
“’NPR and PBS have increasingly become radical leftwing echo chambers’ said the Georgia Republican representative during her opening remarks, accusing NPR of having a ‘communist agenda’. The hearing (was) called ‘Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable’.” - The Guardian
“In stark contrast to thrillers like Sicario, where a shootout breaks out on the El Paso bridge in broad daylight, boredom is often the worst-case scenario for people who actually live along the border, at least on the U.S. side. And a flurry of new films is now correcting the record.” - Texas Observer
North America has 5,691 fewer screens compared with pre-COVID times, according to research by media consultancy Omdia. Box office grosses haven’t rebounded either. Ticket sales in 2024 fell to $8.7 billion, a 23.5% drop from pre-pandemic levels. It’s a far cry from the nearly $11 billion the industry was generating. - Variety
“Republicans, don’t miss this opportunity to rid our Country of this giant SCAM, both being arms of the Radical Left Democrat Party,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social. - The Daily Beast