Lionsgate, Meta, and a Wild Week in AI
Matt is joined by Justine Bateman—writer, director, producer, and SAG-AFTRA negotiation committee consultant on the use of AI— to check in on the latest developments on AI in entertainment. They discuss Lionsgate’s new deal with AI company Runway to make movies and shows more efficiently, Meta’s new deal with celebrities to voice a new AI chatbot, and whether other studios will follow suit (02:24). Matt finishes the show with two opening weekend box office predictions for 'Megalopolis' and the animated film ‘The Wild Robot’ (26:03). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Justine Bateman Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27 Sep 202432min
How to Make Your Own TV Show (and Get Netflix to Buy It)
Matt is joined by actor, writer, producer, and director Mark Duplass to discuss the process of independently financing your own television show, as he did with his new show ‘Penelope’ on Netflix, and he makes the case for why more people should be doing this. Additionally, they talk about the biggest differences between the television and film business models, why indie film is so much more popular right now, and how the indie TV model could be lucrative for A-listers (02:19). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the season premiere of 'Saturday Night Live' (25:47). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Mark Duplass Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25 Sep 202432min
Biggest Takeaways From Netflix’s New Data Dump
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix’s latest “data dump” revealing their most-viewed shows and movies over the first half of 2024. They parse the numbers and give their biggest takeaways from the data release, as well as look at the broader state of streamer transparency (02:49). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23 Sep 202431min
The War Over the Secret Nine-Hour Prince Documentary
Matt is joined by Sasha Weiss, deputy editor at New York Times, to talk about the battle over the nine-hour multipart Prince documentary helmed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman (‘O.J.: Made in America’) that is at risk of never releasing. They dive into Sasha’s latest reporting, which revealed how this project was stranded after a surprising objection from the late music icon’s dueling estates that the film is too long. They talk about Netflix’s role in this battle, what the doc reveals about Prince, and whether there is more to this story (2:26). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the viewership numbers for the next six months on Netflix (26:53). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Sasha Weiss Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20 Sep 202435min
The Screenwriter Struggle and How to Break Through
Matt is joined by The Black List founder Franklin Leonard to dig into the state of screenwriting in Hollywood and how the landscape has changed over the past five years and since the strike. They discuss the decline in research and development on the studio level, how this has affected aspiring writers, if there is room for optimism, and if it's still possible to break through (2:25). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the movie ‘Transformers One’ (26:03). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Franklin Leonard Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18 Sep 202432min
The Real Winners and Losers of the Emmys With the ‘Hacks’ Creators!
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap last night’s Emmys and nominate the under-discussed winners and losers from TV’s biggest night (02:21). Later, ‘Hacks’ creators Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs call in to talk about their big win for Outstanding Comedy Series, how they pitched the show to HBO, and the state of the comedy genre (15:58). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw, Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16 Sep 202432min
The Dire State of Movie Development
LIVE SHOW: LOS ANGELES, OCTOBER 24. Click here for tickets! Matt is joined by producer David Beaubaire to discuss the troubled state of movie development at the studio level and address why this is a major problem for the movie business. He outlines how the development process has dramatically changed over the years and why this crisis needs to be solved (03:43). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the upcoming Emmy Awards (29:28). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: David Beaubaire Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12 Sep 202435min
Seth Meyers on Late Night’s Future, 'SNL' 50, and Lorne’s Successor
Matt is joined by Seth Meyers to discuss the evolving state of late-night television, making content that will work on digital, and the growing trend of the online celebrity interview show. Seth also gives his thoughts on the upcoming 50th anniversary extravaganza for 'SNL,' who should take over 'SNL' after Lorne Michaels, and Jason Reitman’s new movie, ‘Saturday Night’ (02:12). Matt finishes the show with a recap of his time at TIFF and predicts which films are in the running for the coveted People’s Choice Award (28:36). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Seth Meyers Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11 Sep 202438min
