The Intelligence: the relentless audacity of Alexei Navalny
Jan 19, 2024
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Alexei Navalny, Russia's opposition leader, discusses his persistence and resilience in the face of adversity as he reappears in an Arctic penal colony. Movie studios are exploring new ways to profit from intellectual property, including live experiences. A film examines the phenomenon of losing streaks in sports.
Alexei Navalny remains defiant and continues to communicate his message of resistance from a remote penal colony in the Arctic Circle.
Movie studios are exploring live experiences and interactive exhibitions to engage fans and generate revenue amidst declining cinema attendance.
Deep dives
Alexei Navalny's Resilience in Russian Prison
Three years after being arrested and imprisoned on trumped-up charges, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny continues to defy the Kremlin. Despite being transferred to a remote penal colony in the Arctic Circle and facing torturous conditions, Navalny remains resolute and communicates his message to the outside world, focusing on fundamental human rights for prisoners.
Hollywood's Shift to Live Experiences
As cinema attendance declines, movie studios are finding new ways to engage and monetize their fans. Hollywood's latest approach involves creating live experiences, such as stage performances of popular shows like Stranger Things and Frozen or interactive art exhibitions based on movie franchises. These experiences aim to excite fans and strengthen their connection to the intellectual property while providing an alternative revenue stream for studios.
The Fallacy of Sporting Streaks
The concept of momentum in sports, where one success or failure directly affects future outcomes, is often believed by fans and trainers. However, scientific studies indicate that winning or losing streaks are statistically random and largely influenced by factors such as luck, injuries, and challenging fixtures. Struggling teams may find it difficult to break free from a losing streak, and the best response for fans is to enjoy the ride and hope for a turnaround.
The ominous disappearance of Russia’s opposition leader led many to fear the worst. But he has turned up in an Arctic penal colony—his message of resistance unchanged. From Batman-themed restaurants to playing a (non-lethal) version of “Squid Game”, movie studios are trying anything to squeeze more from their intellectual property (9:47). And a new film examines what lies behind losing streaks (17:16).
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