Indeed, he says his films are comedies like Chekhov's plays. "If you are really pessimistic, you go up to the roof and hang yourself, not wake up at four in the morning and go into the countryside to film!" - The Guardian
So why do your weak links matter so much? One big reason is that they’re more likely than your closest friends to possess novel, salient information that you might lack. - NiemanLab
The “current composition as a consolidated public company is not working. At current levels, we argue that exploring strategic alternatives such as asset sales, restructuring and/or mergers would create more shareholder value vs. the status quo,” the report, led by BoFA’s Jessica Reif Ehrlich, reads. - The Hollywood Reporter
Following NPR’s 10% staff cutback last year, 2024 has seen 25 workers pink-slipped at KQED, 15 at WAMU, 31 at Boston’s WGBH along with 14% of WBUR’s workforce, 14 at Chicago Public Radio, and 15 at Colorado Public Radio. - Current
Stanley Kubrick died shortly after turning his cut in to Warner Bros. — which has left plenty of room for others to make their own assessments of the film's meaning and its quality. Some of those interpretations can be weirder than the movie itself. - BBC
The staff cuts, coming a week after the conglomerate eliminated around 100 jobs at CNN, involve multiple departments, including production, business affairs, finance, and Max (formerly HBO Max). The media giant's stock price is down 70% from when Discovery acquired Warner Bros. in 2022. - Deadline
On Wednesday, HBO, as well as its accompanying streaming service Max, earned 91 Emmy nominations, down from its massive haul last year (127), and trailing both Netflix (107) and FX (93) this year. - The New York Times
“The Bear,” about chefs under pressure at a Chicago restaurant, set a new record for nominations in a single year for a comedy. It has 23 nominations, beating out the previous record holder “30 Rock,” which had 22 nominations in 2009. - The Wall Street Journal
Meta has threatened to remove all news from Facebook in Australia if it is “designated” under the world-first News Media Bargaining Code, which has the power to force digital platforms to pay for the use of news on their platforms. - Press-Gazette
"They are calling it The 51st — a nod to the District’s lack of statehood — and say it will deliver hyperlocal news relevant to District residents. Initially, their coverage will focus on topics such as the cost of living in D.C., how to navigate city services, (and) accountability reporting." - The Washington Post (MSN)
The entertainment giant is developing a host of new features aimed at lengthening the amount of time subscribers spend viewing its shows and movies. The goal is to mitigate customer defections and generate more revenue from advertising sales. - The Wall Street Journal
Alejandra Santamaria, most recently interim president and general manager at Univision Los Angeles, takes the helm at a difficult moment: 28 positions were recently eliminated as the station faces an expected deficit of $4 million to $5 million, due primarily to "a decline in advertising." - Variety
“The plaintiffs allege Wilson’s unprofessional behavior included abandoning the project for extended periods and making ‘unauthorized and improper disclosures about the film.’” - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
Uh, investor update: “Under its traditional mountain and stars, it shouts PARAMOUNT, using the all-caps styling and arched text of the Skydance logo instead of a more gently whispered Paramount.” - The Verge
But Mary C McCall Jr was “airbrushed” from much of Hollywood history, perhaps because while “to screenwriters in the 1950s, she was a major power player, fighting for pay rises and striking rights. To the Hollywood studio heads, she was ‘the meanest bitch in town.’" - The Guardian (UK)