NPR’s TV critic, Eric Deggans, explains the great, the not-so-great, the surprising (spoiler alert: There were a lot of ads with surprise celebrity sightings), the useless (Pepsi, please just stop), and the bad. – NPR
Category: media
The Latest In The Digital Media Apocalypse
Yes, it’s old news (a week old) that BuzzFeed was laying off huge numbers of journalists. And HuffPost. And TechCrunch. But it’s more recent – if still last week’s – news that Vice is laying off journalists too. What gives? No surprise: Facebook. “Digital media companies typically generate ad revenue based on the size of their audiences, and consumers discover many of those videos and articles through sites such as Facebook and YouTube.” – Los Angeles Times
If The Directors Had Their Way, ‘Roma’ Would Be Best Picture
Or actually, that’s what was chosen by the Directors’ Guild of America – and the film’s director, Alfonso Cuarón, also won best director, probably cementing his status as frontrunner for the Academy Award. (See a list of all winners at the link.) – Los Angeles Times
Hollywood Goes Full Out On Pop Star Glamor
Well, as long as moviemakers can secure the rights to music, of course. And usually they can: “Artists have realised that backing biopics and celebratory movies is a way of reaffirming their cultural relevance and opening new revenue streams as traditional incomes from record sales are on the wane.” – The Guardian (UK)
Magazines Are Dying, So Now, Says The NYT, ‘Events Are The New Magazines’
What? Well, why not? Former editors need to make money somehow. “Special Projects’ offices (one in New York, where Ms. Vecchiarelli lives; one in Los Angeles, where Ms. Oliveri does) are now an essential stop on the press tours of young and rising celebrities. There, the women meet and chat with the young artists, to get a sense of their personal stories, charm, intelligence and ambitions.” – The New York Times
For Newly Nominated Actors, Awards Season Is An Extra Full-Time Job
We all know people win Oscars based on campaigns, right? Well, that takes a toll on those who have to do the campaigning. Just ask Regina King, nominated for her wondrous performance in the sadly under-nominated If Beale Street Could Talk. (On the other hand, she says, “It can be hard. … But to be honest, those are champagne problems.”) – The Observer (UK)
Why Are ‘Green Book’ And ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Even In Oscars Discussions?
Ridiculous and, quite frankly, disgusting. (And whatever happened to Roma?) – BuzzFeed
One Of The Sundance Winners Had These Bon Mots For Hollywood
Alma Har’el said women directors, who directed 44 percent of the movies at Sundance this year, said, “We’re here; we’re ready; stop sending us to shadow the fucking white men.” (Plus, hey, a list of all the winners.) – Vulture
How Story-Sharing Platform Wattpad Became A Hollywood Player
Beyond its handful of higher-profile productions, including a feature film coming this spring, Wattpad estimates that nearly 1,000 of its stories have been turned intotraditional books, TV shows, films and other digital content. It’s partnered with NBCUniversal, SYFY, CW Seed and others around the world to develop film and television projects, and last week it announced that it’s launching its own publishing imprint, Wattpad Books. – Los Angeles Times
Iran’s Leading Filmmaker Turns His Lens Onto The Wider World
Asghar Farhadi has won two Best Foreign Language Feature Oscars in five years: in 2017 for The Salesman and in 2012 for A Separation, which became the most profitable Iranian film in history. He ventured to Spain to make his latest film, Everybody Knows, starring Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, but he continues to live and work in Iran, even as his compatriot filmmakers have been silenced by the authorities or have fled into exile. — The New York Times Magazine