The hottest Hollywood Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Hollywood's Dumb Scare

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 9099 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Hollywood Media Race Identity Politics
  1. Hollywood is facing a crisis where careers are being damaged without proper accountability. Many people seem to feel sorry for themselves but not for those unfairly affected.
  2. There have been events where white individuals gathered to discuss their shared identity, but this has sparked controversy and questions about racism. It’s unclear if these gatherings were truly well-intentioned.
  3. The reaction to these events highlights the complex dynamics of race and identity in Hollywood. People are concerned about who gets labeled as racist after these discussions.

Dude, where's my bigot?

Situation Normal • 109 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Racism Discrimination Aging Hollywood Society
  1. People can often bring personal complaints and biases into casual conversations. It's surprising how quickly a simple chat can turn into a discussion about racism and discrimination.
  2. Maintaining professionalism can be challenging when faced with someone's offensive views. Sometimes, it's better to politely disengage than to confront someone who's unlikely to listen.
  3. Humor and absurdity can be found in daily life, even in uncomfortable situations. Finding ways to cope with odd interactions can help you deal with them better.

Child Rape in Hollywood. How Much Can You Handle?

Welcome to Absurdistan • 5876 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Hollywood Child abuse Conspiracy Theories Media influence Celebrity Culture
  1. Child trafficking and sexual abuse are pervasive issues in Hollywood, involving influential figures and leading to severe emotional trauma for victims.
  2. Yachting is a common practice for young movie stars to make money, involving interactions with wealthy individuals for financial gain.
  3. Media and entertainment industries may be contributing to a culture of fear and exploitation through violent content and dark themes, potentially impacting viewers negatively.

A Wild and Shimmering Life

Culture Study • 2334 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Film Hollywood Representation Identity Legacy
  1. Katie Gee Salisbury's book on Anna May Wong sheds light on the complex negotiation of popular media and gives a fresh perspective into Wong's storied career.
  2. The book highlights the critical importance of personal experience in biography writing, emphasizing the subjective nature of telling someone's life story.
  3. The discussion on Hollywood's past and present shows that while progress has been made in Asian American representation, there are ongoing challenges and biases in the industry that still exist today.

Taylor Sheridan's Extreme Productivity

SatPost by Trung Phan • 122 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Film Television Hollywood Storytelling Creativity
  1. Taylor Sheridan didn't become a successful writer until he was 40, showing that it's never too late to start a new career. His need to support his family pushed him to work hard and produce a lot of content quickly.
  2. He handles creative control differently than others in Hollywood, often working alone instead of in a writer's room. This unique approach allows him to stay true to his vision and produce shows and movies that resonate with people.
  3. Buying a massive ranch for $350 million increased his pressure to succeed even more. This financial burden motivated him to create new shows and push out his work at an extreme rate.
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What is a Man?

Break Free with Karen Hunt • 1356 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Society Media Hollywood Tradition
  1. Andrew Tate and Jason Aldean are receiving attention for different reasons, but both are accused of racism.
  2. There is a deliberate effort to accelerate division among different classes and races in society.
  3. The focus should be on common values like family, community, and love, rather than getting caught up in extremist ideologies or online influencer distractions.

How 'Chicken Run' Stayed Aardman

Animation Obsessive • 3857 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Hollywood Character design
  1. When creating 'Chicken Run,' Aardman faced the challenge of maintaining their unique style amidst growth and Hollywood partnership.
  2. Nick Park and the Aardman team worked hard to preserve their quirky, British humor while collaborating on 'Chicken Run.'
  3. The film 'Chicken Run' is considered a successful example of balancing creative vision with external influences, retaining the essence of Aardman's work.

Jewish Nationalism, publishing, public relations, and Hollywood

Yasha Levine • 393 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Publishing Public Relations Hollywood
  1. The novel 'Exodus' had a significant impact in promoting Jewish nationalism among American and Soviet Jews.
  2. The book was essentially zionist propaganda, helping to shape narratives and ideals for Jewish communities.
  3. The creation and promotion of 'Exodus' was part of a strategic public relations effort by the Israeli government to influence American perspectives on Israel.

🎧 Fragile Egos Don't Take Fountain

The Ankler • 412 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Hollywood Film Entertainment
  1. Bette Davis advised actors to 'take Fountain' for a shortcut, but really they wanted their feelings protected instead of practical advice.
  2. Executives often soften criticism with fluffy language to avoid hurting feelings.
  3. Rob Long was shocked when someone asked if his canceled show meant he was washed up, highlighting the delicate nature of egos in Hollywood.

Back with Bette and Joan!

Disaffected Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Television Film Hollywood Gender Studies
  1. The watch party for the miniseries 'Feud: Bette and Joan' is a fun way to connect over classic Hollywood drama. It's happening on March 19 and everyone is welcome to join the discussion.
  2. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had very different personalities, with Davis being a talented actress and Crawford more of a classic movie star. Their intense rivalry makes for a captivating story to explore.
  3. The series delves deeper into the personal struggles of both actresses and highlights the challenges they faced in an ageist Hollywood. It's a mix of humor, tragedy, and glamour that portrays their complex relationship.

Going to the Movies...with the Pentagon

Humanities in Revolt • 139 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Military Hollywood Propaganda Media Entertainment
  1. Popular culture often simplifies military conflicts, portraying them as good guys versus bad guys, neglecting moral complexities and political decisions.
  2. The Pentagon has a significant influence on Hollywood, collaborating with movie makers to shape the portrayal of the U.S. military in films.
  3. The military's entertainment office employs tactics that aim to manufacture consent and influence public perception through relationships with the entertainment industry.

At the Movies with F. Scott Fitzgerald

Litverse • 99 implied HN points • 19 Dec 22
📚 Literature Novels Authors Hollywood Dreams
  1. F. Scott Fitzgerald's later works, like 'The Last Tycoon,' moved away from the Jazz Age portrayal of New York to explore the silver screen dreams of Hollywood.
  2. Fitzgerald's time in Hollywood as a screenwriter showcased his struggle with the Hollywood model of writing by committee, emphasizing the importance of the creative process over the final product.
  3. In 'The Last Tycoon,' Fitzgerald delves into the industrial scale of the movie industry, illustrating how dreams are crafted piece-by-piece by producers like Monroe Stahr, highlighting the intricate and sometimes ruthless nature of Hollywood's dream factory.

1917 and Hollywood’s false dichotomy between humanizing and politicizing war

Geopolitical Economy Report • 99 implied HN points • 10 Feb 20
🎭️ Culture Film War Politics Hollywood Ideology
  1. 1917 and similar Hollywood films glorify war by depoliticizing it, focusing on technical brilliance over deeper messages.
  2. Despite stunning visuals, 1917 lacks depth in its social and cultural commentary, portraying war as a backdrop for personal challenges.
  3. Hollywood's false binary of humanizing vs. politicizing war is debunked - films can humanize war without stripping it of political context.

Marvelous Failures

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 4 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Movies Hollywood Film Industry Awards Entertainment
  1. The film industry is prioritizing big budget spectacles over creativity, resulting in low output and little interest.
  2. There is a trend of exhaustion with the current state of movies, with audiences craving new and innovative content.
  3. The history of the film industry shows cycles of innovation, exhaustion, and reinvention, suggesting a potential new realignment in the future.