The Ankler $10 / month

The Ankler is a critical examination focusing on the turbulence within Hollywood, addressing industry leadership, evolving business models, strikes, the impact of social media, real estate challenges for entertainment professionals, and historical perspectives. It offers insight into Hollywood's future, corporate shake-ups, and the evolving landscape of storytelling and streaming services.

Entertainment Industry Leadership Hollywood Business Models Entertainment Professional Challenges Hollywood History Streaming Wars Industry Strikes Real Estate in Hollywood Industry Future Trends

The hottest Substack posts of The Ankler

And their main takeaways

☀️'Argylle' Latest $200M APPLE Dud as Feb. Box Office Looks Grim

216 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
  1. The movie 'Argylle' is considered a $200M failure for Apple, adding to a bleak February at the box office.
  2. There is news about GRAMMY winners, Apple's new David E. Kelly series, and Spotify and Joe Rogan.
  3. This post by Sean McNulty on Hollywood and media updates is for paid subscribers only.

New Netflix Film Chief Name in the Mix; Sweeney Mystery

216 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
  1. A Netflix rom-com unexpectedly became a success due to a viral TikTok trend.
  2. Movies can find success by being released in theaters rather than just streaming platforms.
  3. Sometimes, marketing successes are unpredictable and credit goes to unexpected sources like TikTok users.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

☀️PEACOCK $$ Bleed: An Enigma Wrapped in an Earnings Report

196 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
  1. Amazon Prime will debut the Gyllenhaal MGM Road House movie on streaming.
  2. Job cuts in media industry including layoffs at Time magazine, G/O Media, and Microsoft's Activision division.
  3. A dive into the financial state of Peacock and Comcast/NBCU's Q4 performance.

'Parasite' to 'Past Lives': Korea's Hitmakers Strike Oscar, Again

176 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
  1. CJ ENM is a South Korean media giant making a mark in Hollywood with films like 'Parasite' and 'Past Lives'.
  2. Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ Group has been striving to become international through media expansion and collaborations.
  3. The film 'Past Lives' bridges cultures and signifies CJ ENM's efforts to establish itself as a global entertainment player.

ICYMI: Where the Jobs Are; Doc Drama; TV News Star $$ Falling

137 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Entertainment Media Jobs Market Analysis Salaries
  1. Learn about job opportunities in entertainment: Discover growing fields, unexpected job areas, and where Hollywood professionals are being placed by recruiters.
  2. The documentary market shifts: From small stories to celebs and sports stars, there's a potential return to a lucrative phase.
  3. TV news star salaries declining: High-profile news anchors like Rachel Maddow and Sean Hannity are seeing budget cuts and changes, indicating a shift in the industry.

Rushfield: It's Time to Fight Back

1081 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
💼 Business Entertainment Media
  1. The box office results don't reflect the whole picture in the film industry.
  2. Hollywood seems to be struggling with the current business model of big blockbusters and streaming.
  3. There is uncertainty about how to generate profits in the industry right now.

ICYMI: Stuber Succession Names, L.A. Private School Wars

137 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
  1. The Ankler partnered with 89.3 LAist for entertainment news updates.
  2. Netflix's dominating popularity and its impact on the entertainment industry.
  3. The challenges and battles faced by private schools in Hollywood.

Hollywood's Real Estate Romance is Over

923 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Film Real Estate Writing Housing Market Entertainment industry
  1. The Hollywood industry's writers are facing uncertainty about future work, impacting their ability to invest in real estate.
  2. The soaring real estate market prices in L.A. are making homeownership increasingly unattainable for writers and other entertainment professionals.
  3. The writer strike, combined with other factors like interest rates and taxes, is contributing to a slowdown in real estate transactions across Los Angeles.

Confessions of a Business Affairs Exec

884 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Industry Analysis
  1. Business Affairs executives play a significant role in the industry and collective bargaining.
  2. Understanding the power and limitations of Business Affairs is crucial.
  3. Lessons from past industry crises can guide the way forward in Hollywood.

🎧 If Lucy Ran a TV Network

117 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
  1. Rob Long talks about dealing with show business rejection.
  2. He questions if we are too invested in our work.
  3. Be prepared for unexpected challenges in your career.

Rushfield: The 6-Month Shutdown Scenario

1022 implied HN points • 23 May 23
📰 News Industry Analysis
  1. The duration of the strike is uncertain and may last longer than initially predicted.
  2. Various parties involved are shifting away from a settlement rather than towards one.
  3. There are multiple related plot lines, including the situation with the WGA, to be aware of.

Peak Hustle on the Picket Line

805 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Writing Networking Career Socializing Community
  1. Networking on the picket line can lead to valuable connections with showrunners and industry professionals.
  2. Don't be intimidated by successful writers - they're just people too, so approach them and start a conversation.
  3. Being around other people, whether for networking or socializing, is beneficial for your career and mental well-being.

'Gone With the Wind': The Explosive Lost Scenes

884 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Film History Race relations Social Impact
  1. At the Atlanta premiere of Gone With the Wind, there was a hidden civil war over how slavery should be depicted in the movie, leading to the exclusion of some intense scenes.
  2. Gone With the Wind, a highly successful film, faced criticism for its romanticized portrayal of slavery, which influenced perceptions of race relations worldwide.
  3. The legacy of Gone With the Wind is complex, with debates surrounding its portrayal of slavery, the impact on culture, and the role of key figures like Hattie McDaniel in the movie's history.

Transcript: If Lucy Ran a TV Network

39 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
  1. Life is filled with suffering, so it's best not to worry too much in advance.
  2. We often suffer more in our imagination than in reality, so it's important to stay present.
  3. Anticipating pain can actually make it worse, so it's better to deal with it when it actually happens.

How Documentary Went Off the Rails

0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
  1. Documentary film industry has shifted towards focusing on celebrities, sports stars, and true crime, deviating from its original focus on small stories.
  2. At the recent Sundance Film Festival, there were signs indicating a resurgence of interest in smaller, more independent documentaries.
  3. To access the full post and its insights, one needs to be a paid subscriber on theankler.com.

Transcript: Disney's Next Decade

0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
  1. Disney is making big moves like investing in Epic Games and launching a sports streaming service.
  2. Disney's new joint venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery is creating a sports streaming platform named Sports Hulu.
  3. The new streaming service will offer a mini-bundle of 14 networks and likely cost between $45-$50 a month for sports fans.

The Falling TV News Star Salary

0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
  1. TV news star salaries are decreasing as networks opt for cost-effective options like AI anchors.
  2. Agents are finding it challenging to justify high pay for aging A-list TV news stars.
  3. The media industry trend is to replace high-cost star anchors with more affordable talent.

Transcript: The Rapid-Fire News Out of Netflix

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
  1. Netflix is experiencing rapid changes with an executive exit and a surprise WWE deal.
  2. There are various significant events happening in the entertainment industry, like Oscar snubs and Netflix adding subscribers.
  3. Stay updated on the latest news and insights from podcasts and articles to understand the evolving landscape of streaming and content platforms.

Transcript: Hey, That's My Joke!

0 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
  1. Original material is hard to come by in Hollywood and other industries.
  2. Plagiarism and similarities in creative works can often be a gray area.
  3. Legal advice in response to potential intellectual property disputes is common in such situations.