Tv recaps

Netflix ’s two top film and TV executives said the streaming service still has plenty of room for progress with diversity , but predicted results in 2020 will likely show improvement over 2019 when all of the numbers are tallied. “I think we are definitely going to improve,” TV chief Bela Bajaria said. “If you think about last year, with Bridgerton and Gentefied and Never Have I Ever — and this is scripted, it’s not including non-fiction — I think we have a lot of titles and we have a commitment to improve every year.” Film boss Scott Stuber said staffers in his group “definitely feel like we’re improving,” citing releases like Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey , Da Five Bloods , The Old Guard and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom . “But the point of this benchmark is to constantly be held accountable. … The whole auspice here is not to pat ourselves on the back. It’s to say publicly, ‘Here’s what we’re trying to accomplish.'” Related Story USC … [Read more...] about Netflix Film And TV Chiefs Talk Diversity Strides And Goals, ‘Bridgerton’, ‘Jingle Jangle’ Breakthroughs

AMC Networks ended 2020 with more than 6 million subscribers for its AMC Networks streaming services across recently launched AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and ALLBLK– up 157% year-on-year. The company Friday reported fourth quarter earnings that beat Wall Street forecasts. Revenue slipped 0.6% to $780.3 million and AMC swung to net income of $94.7 million, or $2.09 a share, from a loss of $8.6 million, or 15 cents a share, the year-ago before. The shares were up more than 5% in premarket trading. AMC Nets separately noted a gain of $76 million related to its shares of FuboTV, which it sold in multiple transactions in December and January — realizing total gross proceeds of $96 million in January. (It holds no more shares in Fubo.) Related Story AMC Networks Invests In 'Murdoch Mysteries' Producer Shaftesbury Streaming is now the most significant growth area of the company, said CEO Josh Sapan. He called  2020 “a year of strong performance for AMC … [Read more...] about AMC Networks Had Over 6 Million Streaming Subs In Q4; Earnings Beat Street; Stock Pops

USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative released a study today examining the diversity of Netflix ’s original content. If anything the study could be summarized by Dr. Stacy L. Smith who said in a video: “Inclusion happens when women are given the keys to the kingdom.” “I rarely have anything positive to say,” said Dr. Smith said during a symposium for the unveiling of the Netflix study. “This report was a bit of a reprieve from my typical rollout of information.” Dr. Smith was joined on the virtual panel by Netflix’s Bela Bajaria , Vice President, Global Series; Scott Stuber Vice President, Global Film; as well as Tigertail director Alan Yang and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom director George C. Wolfe . The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative studies diversity in entertainment and has released numerous studies and reports when it comes to representation . Netflix commissioned Smith and initiative to study for its original, English-language series and film … [Read more...] about USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Releases Netflix Diversity Study, Finds Women Of Color Are Critical Component Of Inclusion

Sony Pictures Classics is set to release awards contender The Father in select New York and Los Angeles theaters today before expanding nationwide March 12 before landing on PVOD on March 26. That’s quite a theater-to-digital journey for the Florian Zeller-directed drama starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. The film, which premiered at Sundance in 2020, is adapted from Zeller’s 2014 play which starred Frank Langella, who won a Tony Award his performance. Zeller and Christopher Hampton adapted the play which follows Anthony (Hopkins), a defiant 80-year-old man who lives alone and refuses the carers that his daughter, Anne (Colman), encouragingly introduces — and she needs the help. She can’t make daily visits to her father and his grip on reality is unraveling. Related Story 'Cherry': Read The Screenplay For The Indie Drama That Is Close To Home For The Russo Brothers The Father marks Zeller feature directorial debut — and what a debut it is. The … [Read more...] about ‘The Father’ And ‘Cherry’ Open in Theaters; Billie Holiday And Billie Eilish Hit Streaming – Specialty Preview

UPDATE, with ACM statement The fallout from Morgan Wallen ’s caught-on-tape use of a racial epithet continued throughout the day, with the Academy of Country Music Awards being the latest organization to disavow with the country music superstar. “The Academy of Country Music will halt Morgan Wallen’s potential involvement and eligibility for this year’s 56th Academy of Country Music Awards cycle,” the ACM Awards tweeted this afternoon (see the tweet below). “We have made his management team aware of this decision. The Academy does not condone or support intolerance or behavior that doesn’t align with our commitment and dedication to diversity and inclusion.” The top-selling country music star and former The Voice contestant who was dropped by Saturday Night Live from an appearance in October when video surfaced of him partying without a face mask , is apologizing again, this time for a video that likely will have a harsher impact on his career: In a video shot … [Read more...] about Country Star Morgan Wallen Barred From ACM Award Eligibility, Dropped From Radio & Label After N-Word Video – Update