The cliché is that the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s apartheid-era Radio Bantu churned out nothing but propaganda to bolster the government’s racial separation policies. That was true of the news broadcasts, yes, but the serials and stand-alone dramas in isiZulu were very different. – The Conversation
Category: media
Melina Matsoukas’s Unflinching Eye
“Provocative subject matter isn’t foreign to [the director of Queen & Slim], who was raised in the Bronx by a Cuban mother and a Jewish Greek father, whom she describes as ‘freedom fighters.’ She’s the visionary behind a number of cultural touchstones from the past decade … [and in] an industry that lacks opportunities for female directors, Matsoukas is one of the few with a major-studio release this year. Perhaps most notable is her talent for capturing the inextricable beauty and brutality of life for black Americans, and the necessity of exuberance in the face of hardship.” – The Atlantic
Thousands Of Subscribers Say They Were Hacked After Signing Up For Disney+
On 12 November, its first day live, people had technical problems and many complained on social media. Others said they were locked out of their accounts, and since they contacted Disney they have not heard back. According to an investigation by Zdnet, thousands of user accounts went on sale on the dark web. – BBC
A Movie Project BootCamp That Uses AI To Cull
This year, the program received more than 11,000 submissions for just 17 spots in its third class. The Impact application consists of 70 questions, what Mitchell describes as a “thesis-like defense” of why the writer’s particular project deserves investment. To manage the overwhelming volume, Impact uses machine learning to sift through the giant pool of applications and identify new voices. The AI is part device, part catalyst: The technology searches for diverse applicants–Mitchell explains they look for people who have overcome challenges in their careers or lives–with the goal of shaking up the historically homogenous film industry. – Wired
Iran Shuts Down The Internet Inside The Country
The government is apparently seeing to silence protestors and quell unrest. So how does a country like Iran switch off internet to a population of more than 80 million? It’s not an easy thing to do. – Wired
The Real Streaming Era Has Begun
Streaming services – Netflix, Amazon, etc. etc. etc. – have been challenging Hollywood for years, but before now, the three biggest old companies weren’t involved. Now they’re “all in,” as executives have said as they launch their streaming services. And that means “the onslaught is upending how Hollywood does business in almost every way.” Are we ready? IS anyone ready? – The New York Times
How Women In The Director’s Chair Can Benefit The Women Starring In The Movies
Both Constance Wu and Mindi Kaling say their most recent films – Hustlers for Wu and Late Night for Kaling – benefited from having women as directors. Kaling about Wu’s Hustlers: “Nothing felt exploitative. … As [a] woman, I love seeing beautiful women dance, but the way that [‘Hustlers’] was shot, there was nothing prurient, which I thought was really refreshing.” – Variety
As Cord-Cutting Becomes Bundling, The Price Is Going Up
Disney is planning to raise the price of Hulu Live by $10 per month, which might not seem like a lot, but it – and AT&T – are bellwethers as “the cost of watching live TV via streaming is getting more expensive for consumers.” – Los Angeles Times
Post-Moonves CBS Is Doing Better, Right? Uh, Two Writers Just Quit Over A Sexual Harassment Complaint
Right after two writers on Carol’s Second Act spoke with HR about inappropriate behavior from executive producer David Hunt (who is married to the star of the show), “they were told that going forward, only the credited writer on each episode would get to pitch new versions of jokes that flopped during taping. Haskins and Halpern say that they had been planning to streamline production in this manner since before Gupta spoke up. But Gupta, Magee, and two other people who worked on the show got the distinct impression the production changes were designed to keep Gupta and Hunt away from each other.” – Slate
Indie Hit ‘The Farewell’ Should Totally Win Oscars, Right? But Which Oscars?
The writer/director of the hit indie, which played to surprisingly robust crowds this summer, says that it was a difficult process to get her film made – no one could figure out where to categorize it. For the Academy Awards, suddenly there’s the same issue: “Should the movie be categorized as a comedy or drama? And with its mixture of Mandarin and English, should it be defined as a foreign-language film or an American indie?” And can the actor who played the grandmother please get nominated? – The New York Times