Podcast Summary
Discussing the Latest in Streaming Entertainment: From rom-coms to industry news, the hosts explored upcoming releases, debated streaming service names, and shared pop culture recommendations.
This week on "This Week in Streaming," the hosts discussed various topics in the world of streaming entertainment. They shared their love for movies and TV shows, particularly rom-coms, and discussed upcoming releases like "Daisy Jones and the Six" on Amazon and "Slow Horses" on Apple TV+. They also touched on industry news, such as Amazon's TikTok competitor and DC's reboot of the universe, which could potentially impact beloved characters like Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Additionally, they debated HBO Max and Discovery's decision to name their streaming service Max. The hosts also shared their thoughts on A.O. Scott's top 10 movie list and took listener requests for pop culture recommendations. Overall, the episode provided an in-depth look at the latest happenings in the streaming world.
DC Studios planning to reboot cinematic universe, future of current cast uncertain: DC Studios is planning to reboot the DC cinematic universe, potentially affecting the future of films featuring Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, and Henry Cavill.
Gunn and Safran, the new co-heads of DC Studios, are planning to reboot the DC cinematic universe and may move away from the current cast including Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, and Henry Cavill. This news comes after the cancellation of Wonder Woman 3 and the upcoming HBO Max restructuring. While some reports suggest that Black Adam may still have sequels, the future of other DC films featuring the current cast is uncertain. The strategy of starting fresh has been met with mixed reactions, with some arguing that it's poor fan service and unnecessary contradiction. However, others suggest that keeping certain actors in the back pocket for future appearances could be a more practical approach. Ultimately, the direction of the DC cinematic universe remains to be seen, but it's clear that changes are on the horizon.
Power struggles in DC films during uncertain times: Actresses, managers, and fanbases position for control in DC films amidst change and uncertainty, impacting the industry's power dynamics and storytelling inclusivity.
During times of uncertainty and change, power struggles can emerge. In the world of DC films, with the departure of James Gunn and the future of Harley Quinn uncertain, various parties are positioning themselves for potential control. Margot Robbie, the current Harley Quinn actress, has publicly expressed her desire for a Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy team-up movie, which could be seen as a pitch or a subtle hint of her own intentions. On the business side, Henry Cavill and his manager, who also represents Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, are aligning themselves with projects and roles to increase their power and influence. The success or failure of films like Black Adam can significantly impact the power dynamics within the industry. Additionally, the strong fanbase interest in the Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy relationship highlights the importance of catering to audience demands and inclusivity in storytelling.
New DC Universe boss James Gunn to make major changes: James Gunn's arrival as DC Universe boss may lead to role recasts, new actors, and a more adult-oriented direction
James Gunn is expected to take control of the DC Universe and make significant changes, including possibly recasting some roles and starting from scratch. This power move is common in Hollywood when a new studio head comes in, as it allows them to put their own stamp on the franchise. Some actors, like Ryan Reynolds, have successfully transitioned between different superhero roles. If any actors refuse to participate in Gunn's vision, new, younger actors will be brought in to take their places. The Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy animated show, which features mature content, is an example of the more adult-oriented direction the DC Universe may be heading in under Gunn's leadership.
Film industry changes: Box office vs streaming, audience preferences: The film industry is evolving, with box office numbers and streaming performance influencing success, and audience preferences shifting. Decisions about production and distribution should consider these factors.
The film industry is undergoing significant changes due to various factors, including the pandemic, streaming services, and shifting audience preferences. The success or failure of movies like Black Adam, which had a poor critical reception but strong audience scores, is leading to debates about the value of box office numbers and the role of power dynamics in Hollywood. Some argue that the old strategies are no longer effective, while others suggest that there's a need to wait and see how movies perform on streaming platforms. Additionally, there's a growing trend of audiences waiting for movies to become available on streaming services instead of going to theaters. This reshuffle in the industry could lead to more data-driven decisions, but there's a risk of making decisions based on old data. Ultimately, it's important to consider the unique factors of each project and the audience's changing preferences when making decisions about film production and distribution.
Exploring the HTech Market for the Aging Population: The $8.5 trillion US market for aging population tech and services is vast and growing, with opportunities in health tech, fintech, and wellness. Engage with organizations like the Age Tech Collaborative to tap into this market.
The market for technology and services catering to the aging population, worth around eight and a half trillion dollars in the US, is a growing and significant market that has not received much focus from product developers, marketers, startups, and investors. The intersection of longevity and technology, or HTech, encompasses various sectors such as health tech, fintech, and wellness. The age tech collaborative, backed by AARP, aims to put a spotlight on this area. In the entertainment industry, superhero films have proven to be major box office successes, with Batman leading the way. DC's Dark Knight trilogy and Joker have been billion-dollar earners, demonstrating the importance of getting these characters right. The success of Wonder Woman and Aquaman suggests that there's room for other DC characters to shine as well. Overall, there's a vast opportunity to cater to the needs and preferences of the aging population in various industries, and engaging with organizations like the age tech collaborative can help startups and innovators tap into this market.
Exploring New Interpretations of Iconic Characters and Media: Introducing new versions of classic characters and adapting storylines can offer fresh perspectives, but integrating popular actors or addressing controversial topics may present challenges.
When it comes to storytelling and character development in media, there's always room for new interpretations and adaptations. In the case of Batman, introducing a younger version like Terry McGinnis can breathe new life into the character. However, integrating an existing popular actor like Robert Patterson into the role may present challenges due to audience expectations and existing storylines. Regarding Wonder Woman, the mythology surrounding her and her island of Themyscira has been explored in various ways, leaving room for interpretation regarding romantic relationships. In the realm of film criticism, the role of critics is to educate and inform audiences about films, especially those that may not receive widespread attention. Controversies surrounding lists of "best" films or other media can arise due to differing opinions and perspectives. Lastly, the Age Tech Collaborative, as discussed with Rick Robinson, aims to help companies and investors access and succeed in the aging population market by incubating, investing in, and bringing them into a supportive community.
Exploring the AgeTech Collaborative: A Platform for Engaging with Aging Tech Industry: The AgeTech Collaborative offers individuals and businesses a chance to engage with the aging tech industry through their accelerator program, online community, and investment opportunities. After graduating from the program, companies join a community connecting startups, investors, testbed organizations, enterprises, and business services.
The AgeTech Collaborative, an organization focused on sourcing and supporting early-stage aging tech companies, offers a unique opportunity for individuals and businesses to engage with the industry through their accelerator program, online community, and investment opportunities. The collaborative hosts a high-touch eight-week program, inviting aging experts to help prepare companies for market entry. After graduating from the program, companies join the HR collaborative community, an online ecosystem connecting startups, investors, testbed organizations, enterprises, and business services. For those interested in the aging tech market, this collaborative provides a valuable platform for partnership and knowledge exchange. During the conversation, there was also a discussion about various movies recommended by A.O. Scott, a film critic. These movies, such as "After Sun," "Neptune Frost," "Mr. Fongman in his Class," "Nocturne," and "Flux Gourmet," showcase a range of genres and themes. While the speakers did not express strong opinions about these films, they did mention their availability on various streaming platforms. Overall, the conversation touched upon both the AgeTech Collaborative and the world of film, highlighting opportunities for engagement and exploration in these domains.
The value of cinema lies in personal experiences: Critics' top film lists may differ from viewers' favorites, emphasizing the importance of personal experiences in cinema.
While critics like A.O. Scott may have their top film lists, the true value of cinema lies in the subjective experiences of viewers. The discussion touched upon several films, including "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed," a documentary about the Sackler family and artist Nan Goldin, and "Down With The King," an indie drama about a rapper, Freddy Gibbs. The importance of these films was debated, with some arguing they should not be considered among the best of 2022 due to their genre or commercial success. However, others believe these films offer unique perspectives and experiences that should not be overlooked. The conversation also emphasized the importance of critics in introducing viewers to new and potentially groundbreaking art, while acknowledging the inherent subjectivity of film evaluation. Ultimately, the best films for each person will depend on their individual tastes and experiences.
Discussing Favorite Movies and HBO's Name Change: Appreciating unique films and recognizing their value, while acknowledging potential consequences of branding decisions.
The discussion revolves around the merits of various movies and the renaming of HBO to HBO Max. The speaker expresses his admiration for a list of intriguing films, including "Top Gun: Maverick," and criticizes A.O. Scott from The New York Times for his supposedly uninteresting and trolling list. The conversation also touches on the ongoing labor dispute and the potential implications of HBO's name change to HBO Max. The speaker believes that HBO has a strong brand identity and that the addition of Max may dilute it, as HBO is synonymous with high-quality, thought-provoking content. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of recognizing unique and captivating performances and screenplays in cinema, as well as the potential consequences of branding decisions.
Exploring a Wide Range of Content on the New Streaming Service: The new streaming service offers a diverse collection of HBO shows, Warner Brothers films, DC content, and Discovery reality shows, allowing users to easily navigate and find content that aligns with their interests.
The new streaming service, with its collection of popular brands, is expected to have a user interface similar to Disney Plus, allowing consumers to easily navigate between HBO shows, Warner Brothers films, DC content, and Discovery reality shows. Despite some criticisms and debates over the merit of certain film lists, the importance lies in finding critics whose opinions align with one's own and using their reviews as a guide for entertainment choices. A notable film, "Soft and Quiet," has gained attention for its thrilling and suspenseful narrative, despite its controversial subject matter. Ultimately, the streaming service and film criticism provide opportunities for consumers to explore a wide range of content and engage in thoughtful discussions about art and entertainment.
TikTok's Impact on Entertainment and Shopping: TikTok is transforming entertainment discovery and shopping with its addictive, user-generated content. Amazon and HBO Max are adapting, while critics' reviews remain valuable for discovering hidden gems.
The entertainment industry is continuously evolving, and platforms like TikTok are changing the way people discover and engage with content, including movies, TV shows, and even shopping. During the discussion, it was mentioned that TikTok has become a popular search engine for younger generations, and Amazon saw an opportunity to tap into this trend by launching a TikTok-like product for reviews and discovering products. Additionally, there have been lawsuits against TikTok regarding its impact on children and its addictive nature. In the world of streaming, HBO Max is experiencing changes as Discovery takes over the reality shows, and Netflix and Amazon are seeing TikTok as a competitor for viewers' attention. The value of critics and their reviews was also emphasized as a way to discover hidden gems and share recommendations. Overall, these shifts in the entertainment landscape highlight the importance of staying informed and adapting to new trends.
The future of shopping is merging content and commerce: Companies like Amazon, Google, Apple, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch are competing for control of the search box and consumer attention in the evolving online shopping and search landscape. The trend is towards merging content and commerce, with social shopping and live streaming commerce growing in popularity.
The landscape of online shopping and search is constantly evolving, with companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, and even social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch, vying for control of the search box and consumer attention. Amazon's recent foray into social shopping with video integration is a response to the growing trend of consumers discovering and purchasing products through video content. However, implementing this consistently across the platform with third-party sellers may be a challenge. Google's acquisition of YouTube was a strategic move to counteract the increasing number of searches happening on the platform instead of search engines. Apple's integration of a search bar on the home screen of iOS further highlights the importance of the search box in the digital world. The future of shopping seems to be merging content and commerce, with platforms looking for ways to integrate e-commerce tools directly into their content experiences. This shift towards social shopping and live streaming commerce is already popular in markets like China and is expected to continue growing.
Sharing favorite holiday films with loved ones: During the holidays, watching movies with family brings joy and creates memories. Classic films like 'Scrooge', 'What About Bob?', 'Groundhog Day', and 'Stripes' offer a mix of comedy and heartwarming moments.
During the holiday season, watching movies is a great way to get in the Christmas spirit, especially when the weather is bad and there's nothing else to do. Both Lon and Molly shared their favorite holiday films, with Lon mentioning "Scrooge" with Bill Murray and Molly bringing up "What About Bob?" and "Groundhog Day." These movies offer a mix of comedy and heartwarming moments, making them perfect for families to enjoy together. Lon also shared a nostalgic memory of watching "Stripes" as a young boy and being surprised by the flirtatious scenes. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of sharing favorite films with loved ones during the holiday season and the joy that comes from rediscovering classic movies.
A Modern Take on 'The Addams Family' with a Viral Dance Scene: Wednesday, a CW production with Jennifer Coolidge's standout performance, is a modern take on The Addams Family, featuring a viral dance scene and appealing to teens. Enjoy if you like CW shows and holiday classics.
The new TV show "Wednesday" is a CW production that is likely to appeal to teens, with Jennifer Coolidge delivering a standout performance. The show, which is a modern take on "The Addams Family" with Wednesday as the central character, has gone viral due to a dance scene featuring a tribute to the original Wednesday's dance moves. Jennifer Coolidge, who plays a teacher in the show, has become a breakout star in the horror genre, having also starred in a successful indie horror film earlier this year. The first half of the show is directed by Tim Burton. The animation in an older Netflix film called "Klaus," which tells the origin story of Santa Claus, is also worth checking out for its unique animation and heartwarming story. Overall, if you enjoy shows with a CW vibe, such as "Veronica Mars" or "Riverdale," you'll probably enjoy "Wednesday." Additionally, classic holiday films like "A Wonderful Life" and "The Holiday" are must-watches during the holiday season.
Interactive movie events create unique experiences: Engaging in movie parties offers unpredictable excitement and camaraderie, fostering community and memorable experiences.
Attending interactive movie events, like the Gremlins movie party, can create unique and memorable experiences. These events often include props and rules inspired by the movie, encouraging audience engagement and community building. The speaker shared a personal story of a chaotic movie theater experience in Brooklyn during the 1980s, where the audience's behavior turned the screening into a riot. While some may prefer to avoid such unpredictable situations, others find joy in the unexpected excitement and camaraderie that comes with these events. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the founder of Through the Noise, a publication focusing on startups and VC, and his journey into the industry. The use of AI to help users write better and faster was also discussed. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of community and engagement in various aspects of life, from movies to entrepreneurship.
From Finance to Content Creation: Rachel's Journey: Starting a newsletter based on personal interests led Rachel to co-found a company using AI for content creation
Rachel, a co-founder of Tribescaler and the writer behind the popular newsletter "Through the Noise," shares her passion for finance and content creation, which led her to start her newsletter and later co-found a company using AI to help people write better and faster. Rachel's fascination with finance began at a young age, and she studied economics and finance to gain a deeper understanding. She recognized the importance of signal in an era of information overload and started "Through the Noise" to provide her insights and learnings to a community of like-minded individuals. Rachel's success with "Through the Noise" led her to co-found Tribescaler, which uses AI to help people create effective hooks and headlines. Rachel's story is a great example of how following your passions and interests can lead to opportunities and success.
Using Twitter for top-of-funnel subscribers and scaling with Beehive: Experiment with different platforms like Beehive for scaling, TikTok for reach, and AI tools like Tribescaler for content creation
While Twitter's native newsletter platform is great for acquiring new subscribers, it may not be the best solution for scaling and growing a newsletter. The speaker recommends using Twitter for top-of-funnel subscribers and then transitioning to a platform like Beehive for more creative and ideation-focused work. The speaker also mentioned experimenting with short-form video on TikTok for reaching a larger audience. Additionally, the speaker shared their excitement about AI tools like Tribescaler for writing and editing content. The speaker co-founded Tribescaler after experiencing struggles with getting their content seen on social media and meeting Alex Alexander Leovar, who had expertise in AI. The speaker's advice is to focus on solving problems and looking for opportunities to create content rather than trying to think of startup ideas.
Unlocking the Potential of Content with Tribeska's Digital Second Brain: Tribeska is a digital second brain that combines AI and notes to facilitate content creation and sharing, with a consumer SaaS business model and plans for expansion to various personas.
The hook is the most crucial element in the success of any content, be it on Twitter, YouTube, or an email newsletter. The hook is what initially captures the attention of the audience and determines whether they engage with the content or not. A great hook paired with mediocre content will still get some attention, but it won't follow through. However, a great hook with great content is the winning combination. The founders of Tribeska, inspired by their shared curiosity about what makes content go viral, aim to build the first digital second brain that combines notes with AI. Their goal is to facilitate the sharing of unique perspectives, resources, and ideas, making the process more efficient and effective. Tribeska is currently being used by over 200 customers for writing tweets and exploring LinkedIn content creation. The business model is consumer SaaS with a subscription model offering different plans, from a limited number of credits to an infinite amount for generating content. The vision is to expand the suite of tools to cater to various personas, from content creators to even a trading floor. The hook remains the key to unlocking the potential of any content, and Tribeska aims to augment creativity, not replace it.
Using humor in branding: Incorporating humor into a brand's social media presence can help differentiate it from competitors and resonate with audiences. Example: Bird Dog's funny taglines and creators' humorous promotion of their product.
Incorporating humor into a brand's social media presence can help differentiate it from competitors and resonate with audiences. My brother's company, Bird Dog, is an excellent example of this, with their funny taglines and creators promoting their product in a humorous way. This unique approach not only adds personality to the brand but also generates excitement and engagement among consumers. If you're interested in learning more about Tribeskeller or getting in touch with Alex Banks, you can find them on social media under the handle "Tribeskellers" and "Alex Banks," respectively. Overall, the use of humor in branding is a powerful tool that can help businesses stand out and connect with their audience.
