Retro Rewind is the latest in a category called “store simulators”—games that basically create bottled versions of hourly-wage drudgery. Set in the ’90s, the game tasks players with such activities as stocking shelves, manning the checkout counter, and balancing the daily books. - The Atlantic
The reductions made possible by InterPositive‘s technology would be “substantial” on below-the-line production, “conservatively” reaching at least 10% to 20%, the application said. - Deadline
“With the movie’s release came a flurry of social media posts, as audiences debated everything one could possibly imagine to be a potential topic for debate. (Those) included … the film’s quality, the book’s quality, the frequency and success of the jokes, its perceived political perspective, … Gosling’s project choices and the directors’ track records, to name a smattering.” - The Hollywood Reporter
A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that President Trump’s executive order barring the federal funding of NPR and PBS violated the First Amendment. - The New York Times
Hollywood studios are making significantly fewer movies and television shows than they did just a few years ago. The ones they do make are increasingly being shot in other countries and states that offer more generous tax subsidies. - The Wall Street Journal
“As opposed to a traditional set, there are no luxury trailers for the stars, no furnished dressing rooms or green rooms for the execs. Each member of the crew, from production assistant to top-billed star, receives the same treatment. And things move fast — some actors shoot all their scenes in one day.” - TheWrap (Yahoo!)
Streaming's rebel phase is officially over. HBO Max's confused British debut—complete with licensing tangles, bundling mysteries, and consumer bewilderment—proves digital platforms have become everything they once promised to disrupt. — The Conversation
After seasons of pretty faces in period costumes, the Netflix hit discovers that meaningful representation requires more than just colorblind casting—it needs actual storylines that grapple with identity and belonging. — LitHub
“Many shows have not only endured, they’ve spawned universes, international adaptations and spinoffs. Bravo, a TV channel that used to focus on the performing arts, is now an unscripted powerhouse that even has its own convention, BravoCon.” - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo)
The newest price increase includes a $27 a month premium (that is, not ad-supported; which was, one may remember, THE WHOLE POINT OF STREAMING) plan. Time to get out? - Decider (MSN)
“It's the kind of television writing that you can see in the blueprints of everyone’s favorite shows nowadays. There’s a reason why Whedon was once admired for his craft. The long term, episode by episode plotting is just exquisite.” But there’s also a reason the remake failed. - Aftermath
“The channel will distribute more than 100 new videos annually, including feature-length and short documentaries from the PBS series Independent Lens, POV, Reel South and Voices as well as output from PBS’s partnership with BBC Studios.” - The Hollywood Reporter
Beginning in 2029 — the same year the Oscar telecast moves to YouTube — the Academy Awards will move to downtown Los Angeles, to L.A. Live, a sports-and-entertainment complex adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena, home of the Lakers basketball team and the Kings hockey team. - The New York Times
