Ben Fritz

Ben Fritz, an entertainment industry reporter for The Wall Street Journal, sheds light on the current turmoil in Hollywood. He discusses the steep decline in movie ticket sales and employment, attributing it to a combination of COVID, production issues, and changing market demands. Fritz also explores whether the downturn could lead to a renaissance in filmmaking, driven by smaller, bolder projects. He shares insights on how AI may reshape the industry, highlighting both its potential benefits and the challenges it poses for jobs.

Ben Fritz, an entertainment industry reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and Thomas Curley, an Oscar-winning sound mixer known for 'Whiplash,' discuss the alarming decline in Hollywood jobs. They delve into the impact of production cuts, increased competition, and shifting viewer habits. Thomas shares his personal struggles with lost work and financial uncertainty. Ben highlights how labor statistics reveal a 40% drop in productions and explores the lasting effects of recent strikes. The duo contemplates the bleak future of the Hollywood workforce.

In this conversation, Ben Fritz, an entertainment industry expert from The Wall Street Journal, dives into the challenges and hopes surrounding Superman's $225 million reboot. He discusses how critical this film is for revitalizing the DC brand under Warner Bros. Discovery, contrasting it with Marvel's success. Fritz highlights Superman's screen evolution and the complexities of modernizing his narrative. He also touches on James Gunn's role in shaping the character's future, addressing generational divides in superhero fandom.

Ben Fritz, a Wall Street Journal entertainment reporter, and Heather Somerville, a tech and national security reporter, dive into Disney’s surprising $1 billion investment in OpenAI. Fritz shares insights on how this deal allows users to feature Disney characters in AI-generated videos while weighing the risks of unregulated content. Somerville discusses the U.S. initiative to develop its own critical minerals industry, highlighting Silicon Valley's enthusiastic support amidst challenges in labor and scalability.

Ben Fritz, a Wall Street Journal entertainment reporter and Marvel Comics historian, joins to discuss the intense pressure on 'The Fantastic Four' as Marvel faces superhero fatigue. They analyze Marvel's recent struggles with content oversaturation and fan disengagement, as well as Kevin Feige's role moving forward. The conversation touches on the significance of star power in casting and the contrasting positions of Marvel and DC in the evolving superhero landscape. Predictions for the upcoming film's box office performance add an intriguing twist!