Weekly Journal #269
Industry News
Paramount May Be Bluffing About Leaving California, But L.A. Mayor Taking It Seriously (Variety)
Can Microdramas Save Hollywood? Why the New Vertical Boom Isn’t Quibi 2.0 (Variety)
Rob Bonta on Paramount’s Threat to Leave California: “They Own It. It Lies at Their Feet” (The Hollywood Reporter)
ABC’s ‘American Idol’ is leaving Los Angeles, in another blow to the industry (Los Angeles Times)
The Old & New Hollywood Guard Wielding AI’s Might (Variety)
Congress Gets a “Film and TV Caucus”: Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Push for More U.S. Production (The Hollywood Reporter)
Netflix, Universal Chiefs Descend On D.C. to Capitalize on Trump Tax Credit Momentum (The Hollywood Reporter)
FCC Approves 49.5% Foreign Ownership of Paramount-Warner Bros. (Variety)
Top Media Execs Break Down How to Super-Serve Audiences, the Real Threat of ‘AI Slop’ and More at Variety Entertainment & Technology Summit (Variety)
Just Watch, Which Tells You Where Things Are Streaming, Is Launching Its Own Streaming Service (IndieWire)
Film
Director and Producer James Wan on YouTube Filmmakers: ‘You Don’t Even Need to Be in the System Anymore to Get Something Made’ (Variety)
Television
An Exclusive First Look at Unaccustomed Earth, Netflix’s Sweeping Adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s Beloved Story Collection (Harper’s Bazaar)