Category: media

When more than 95 percent of your voting members make the same choice, you know, as a union, that’s where you need to go. In this case, “members of the Writers Guild of America voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new code of conduct [for agents] that would curb the use of packaging fees and other unpopular industry practices.” – Los Angeles Times

The masterminds behind Game of Thrones wanted to garner even more excitement for the series’ final season, so they sent people off on random quests for, well, thrones. Here’s the wild, weird story of a 25-year-old in Sweden who thought she recognized where one of them might be. – NPR

Though honestly, no one understands the mysterious algorithm of this app, it has created a weird new window into work: “TikTok, which encourages users to contribute short videos to hashtags, or to join in on jokes or challenges or to sing along with clips of songs, has, in its manic and frequent demands for content from its users, become an unlikely force for labor visibility.” – The New York Times

Turns out that the watchers on the wall – that is, the members of English Heritage who staff Roman sites along Hadrian’s Wall, the border with Scotland – have been answering Game of Thrones fan questions for years, but now they’re going one better: “Its members will be decked out in black cloaks and shields, and will be posted at four main Roman sites along the historic structure … until the debut of the final season on April 14th.” – The Verge

At a time when the Writers Guild of America is trying desperately to get its members better positioned in the industry, suffice it to say that the union is not impressed with the Endeavor agency’s plan to enter the stock market with an initial public offering. The WGA: “It is impossible to reconcile the fundamental purpose of an agency — to serve the best interests of its clients — with the business of maximizing returns for Wall Street.” – Los Angeles Times

You know, The Nutcracker is an obvious one. (And, of course, Dead Again – you probably knew that from the scissors.) – Los Angeles Times

You’ll know the worst seat – i.e., the front row. “The existence of a worst, then, must suggest its opposite: The ideal seat. The perfect focal point that maximizes your visual and aural experience. Does it exist?” It’s science, y’all. – Popular Science

Golden ages are frequently proclaimed, but a glance at the selection of television options suggests something new is happening. Even for those of us who spend most of our recreational hours reading, suddenly many of us find TV is worth watching again as companies like Netflix open their wallets to risky projects in hope of appealing to every niche. – CBC