The State of Hollywood with Matt Belloni (‘The Town’)
Sep 17, 2023
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Matt Belloni, Hollywood observer and writer, discusses the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the Netflix business model, and the state of streaming today. He also shares his path from entertainment law to journalism and offers predictions for the end of the strikes. The podcast explores the impact of streaming services on the film industry and the challenges faced by filmmakers in a digital world. It delves into the effect of strikes on the entertainment industry, the frustrations within the industry, and the demands of actors and writers in Hollywood. The chapter also examines the contrasting goals of mainstream entertainment journalism outlets and provides insights into the complexities of Hollywood negotiations.
The streaming industry is shifting focus from scale and availability to profitability and finding an exit ramp.
The ongoing writer's strike is centered around demands for artificial intelligence, writers' room staffing, and data transparency.
The media industry needs greater data disclosure to address power imbalances and ensure equitable compensation for talent.
Deep dives
The state of streaming and the challenge of monetization
The conversation highlights how the streaming industry has faced challenges in monetization as the cost of these products rise despite generations being accustomed to getting content for free. The discussion points out that while the industry initially pursued scale and availability, the focus has shifted to profitability and finding an exit ramp. It also examines the advantages that Netflix gained as a first mover and how the studios' decision to license content to Netflix contributed to its success. The conversation anticipates a potential future consolidation of streaming services and the possibility of a bundled offering. It emphasizes the importance of creating a healthy economic ecosystem that supports creative talent and provides value to consumers.
The impact of the writer's strike on the entertainment business
The discussion sheds light on the ongoing writer's strike, highlighting the key demands and areas of contention between the writers and the studios. These include issues such as artificial intelligence, writers' room staffing, and data transparency. It emphasizes the potential impact of the strike on film promotion and the challenges faced by certain movies in gaining proper visibility without the presence of stars or effective promotional events. The conversation also addresses the decision of some talk show hosts to return to work without a deal, highlighting the division within the industry and how such actions may weaken the negotiation position of the writers' guild.
The role of data transparency in media industry negotiations
The conversation delves into the importance of data transparency in the media industry and its impact on negotiations. It explains how the studios' control over data has created a power imbalance and hindered equitable compensation for talent. The discussion highlights the demand for greater data disclosure by talent guilds and the potential for a future deal to reflect these demands. It also examines how the media landscape is changing due to factors such as social media and heightened public scrutiny, making it increasingly important for companies to address transparency and address the concerns of talent and industry workers.
The unique perspective of a journalist with legal background
The conversation explores the unique perspective of a journalist with a legal background. It touches upon the influence of a legal education and litigation experience on journalistic practices, such as the ability to question and challenge information and identify validity. The discussion also highlights the interplay between legal knowledge and industry relationships, and how it assists in discerning authentic information from industry spin. It emphasizes the importance of transparency, the inclusion of multiple sources, and maintaining relationships based on trust and integrity.
The duration of the strike
The prediction for when the strike will end is mid-October, with the expectation of movement after Labor Day. The studios may give in due to the potential catastrophic damage extending into next summer. The writers are likely to gain more this time, particularly regarding transparency and AI issues.
The guild's priorities
The writers' guild has dug in on their issues and made promises to all the constituencies, demanding that every single point be addressed. Transparency is a key area for potential gains, while success-based residuals for actors and staffing issues for writers may see compromises. The studios can potentially make contributions to a training fund for young writers to bridge any discrepancies.
For nearly two decades, Matt Belloni (The Town) has been observing and writing about Hollywood. He joins us today to unpack the latest on the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
After a review of TIFF 2023 (6:50), Belloni dives into Drew Barrymore and Bill Maher’s decisions to return to their talk shows without WGA writers (10:45), the vital issues the guild is fighting for (19:20), and how their negotiations have progressed over the past twenty weeks (23:10). Then, we discuss the history of the Netflix business model (25:05), the state of streaming today (29:50), and Belloni’s fourteen years at The Hollywood Reporter (35:04).
On the back-half, we talk about his path from entertainment law to journalism (41:29), his unique approach to reporting at Puck (44:10), and his predictions for the end of the strikes (50:05). Before we leave, we sit with recent messaging from SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher (57:15), the potential fragmentation within the AMPTP (1:03:00), and to close, Matt's hope for the future of Hollywood (1:08:12).