Hollywood Buzz: October 2024
*To look up unfamiliar terms, check out our Hollywood Glossary.
By Natalie Lifson, Agent Trainee at Buchwald and your co-Editor-in-Chief at THA
Everything you may have missed in the trades last month...
Helpful Articles
“Are You Really a Producer? A Crack Down On Vanity Film Credits Is Getting More Serious” -THR, 10/10
“A Few Ways to Prevent Los Angeles From Becoming a Production Ghost Town” -THR, 10/10
“The Creator A-List: The 50 Most Influential Influencers” -THR, 10/10
“Why Los Angeles Is Becoming a Production Graveyard” -THR, 10/23
“The 50 Most Powerful TV Producers of 2024” -THR, 10/24
“The Big Squeeze: Why Everyone in Hollywood Feels Stuck” -THR, 10/30
“The 25 Best Places to Work in Hollywood” -THR, 10/30
News
FilmLA Seeks ‘Vast Expansion’ of California Tax Credit, Citing Production Decline in 2023 -Variety, 10/9
Federal Crackdown Begins on Streaming Services’ Cancellation Policies -THR, 10/16
Another Cruel Summer For L.A. Production As Shoot Days Fall Below Strike-Hit 2023 Levels -Deadline, 10/16
Netflix Expects Programming Slate to Return to Normal in 2025 After Strike Disruption -THR, 10/17
Gavin Newsom Unveils Plan to Boost State’s Film Incentive to $750 Million -Variety, 10/27
The world’s six top content giants will hit a major spending landmark this year, according to research from Ampere Analysis. -Deadline, 10/29
Disney, Comcast, Google, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Netflix and Paramount will spend a forecast $126B on the content landscape this year, Ampere said. For the first time, this will account for more than half (50.6%) of the entire landscape, up from 46.8% in 2020 and 47.5% last year.
Amazon Invests In Creator Economy Firm Spotter, Which Backs Major Creators Spotter, which counts MrBeast, Deestroying, and Dude Perfect as creator partners, will give the tech giant new ways to monetize content or brands through its channels, including Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. -THR, 10/30
UTA Begins Process Of End-Of-Year Agent Cuts -Deadline, 10/30
Roku Follows Netflix and Plans to Stop Reporting Streaming Household Numbers -THR, 10/30
Comcast Says It May Spin Off Cable Networks and Seek a Streaming Partner Amid TV Business Tumult -THR, 10/31
Unions
SAG-AFTRA’s strike against video game companies continues. Read our strike updates HERE.
The Animation Guild’s negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) continues. Read our negotiation updates HERE.
Writers Guild West Tells Members Not to Work With ‘The Expendables’ Producer Millennium Pictures. According to the union, the company is not a signatory to its current contract and has failed to post a bond required by the labor organization. -THR, 10/9
New Yorker Fest Strike Averted As Condé Nast Reaches Deal With Union -THR, 10/14
German Screen Industry Inks Landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement for Actors, Crew: ‘This Marks the Greatest Progress for Film Workers in Decades’ -Variety, 10/15
‘Saturday Night Live’ VFX Workers To Unionize With IATSE -Deadline, 10/28
Paramount Postproduction Staffers Facing Layoffs Claim Top Brass Is “Union Busting” -THR, 10/29
AI
Blumhouse Partners With Meta On New AI Creative Industry Feedback Program -Deadline, 10/17
Russo Bros.’ Production Company Hires AI Expert to “Enrich Creative Process” -THR, 10/31
Disney Establishes Group to Oversee AI, Mixed Reality Adoption in ‘Responsible’ Way Across the Company -Variety, 11/1
New Initiatives
Derek Jeter Launches Production Company With Plans to Grow Hollywood Footprint -THR, 10/9
DirecTV to Launch Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Service Next Month -Variety, 10/10
Warner Bros. Discovery Confirms Max Launch in 7 Asian Markets in November. The upcoming rollout in Southeast Asia means the Max streaming service will be available in 72 markets worldwide, with more to come in 2025. -THR, 10/14
All3Media is gearing up to splash out in the scripted market now that the £1.15B ($1.5B) RedBird IMI acquisition is complete. -Deadline, 10/21
Snapchat Adds 37M Active Users, Plans 2025 Launch for Revamped “Simple” App -THR, 10/29
Disney Snares Grammys From CBS in First Change for Music Awards in 50 Years -Variety, 10/30
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