WWE Sells, Netflix Pulls Back, and the Oscars' Bold Bid on Theaters

Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s senior film editor, Rebecca Keegan, to discuss how the success of Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ will influence female filmmakers and the industry at large. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the upcoming negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP. 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: Rebecca Keegan Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3 Aug 202332min

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the most interesting developments that have shaped Hollywood’s shutdown over the past three months and determine which strategies and tactics from both the WGA and SAG, as well as the AMPTP, have worked and which haven’t. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future potential of ‘Barbie’s’ success. 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 Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

31 Juli 202332min

Matt is joined by Warner Bros. president of worldwide marketing Josh Goldstine to discuss the strategy behind one of the great marketing campaigns of all time in ‘Barbie.' They break down the bold and subversive marketing choices that suggested this was not your typical ‘Barbie’ movie; how they were able to pull this off with the owner of Barbie IP, Mattel; and how the ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon took effect. Later, Matt makes a prediction about ‘Barbie’s' chances at an Oscar nomination. 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: Josh Goldstine Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

26 Juli 202332min

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how the independent thriller ‘Sound of Freedom’ came out of nowhere and made $100 million in its first two weeks. They talk about the unique crowdfunding “pay-it-forward” model that helped market and finance the film and wonder if this is just a fluke or if there are any lessons to learn. 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

24 Juli 202331min

Matt is joined by research analyst Michael Pachter to unpack Netflix’s strong earnings report this week that included the company adding 5.9 million subscribers in Q2. They discuss what Netflix is doing right and how other streamers can learn from them, why the stock went down this week, whether the password crackdown is working, how Netflix should differentiate themselves during the writers and actors strike, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the opening weekend for ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer.' 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: Michael Pachter Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 Juli 202332min

Matt is joined by The Quorum founder David Herrin to discuss the meteoric rise in popularity of ‘Barbie,' the unprecedented data around its tracking, how the marketing has eventized the film, and why this movie has taken the world by storm. They also discuss the "Barbenheimer" movement and how the simultaneous release of ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’—along with the newest Mission Impossible film and the unexpected hit ‘The Sound of Freedom’— makes this one of the most interesting weekends in film that David has ever seen. 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 Herrin Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Juli 202332min

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Bob Iger’s latest comments on the possibility of selling off Disney’s linear TV assets, including the ABC television network and its station affiliates, FX, and ESPN. They break down Iger’s strategy or lack thereof, the suitors for ABC and ESPN, and whether a deal with Comcast for Hulu is possible. 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

17 Juli 202332min

Matt is joined by National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator of SAG-AFTRA Duncan Crabtree-Ireland to gain more insight from the union’s side of the strike. They break down all the issues that the actors have with A.I., digital replicas, and more. Duncan also shares the proposals that were given during the negotiations that were all eventually turned down, as well as the rules for union members during the strike and how long they are prepared to stand their ground. 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: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Producer: Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Juli 202330min