Podcast Summary
Apple's focus on quality and individual products sets it apart: Apple's holistic approach to streaming content, including branding, marketing, and long-term planning, results in fewer but higher quality shows compared to competitors, but potential acquisition of Disney raises concerns about consolidation and its impact on creators and consumers.
Apple's approach to creating high-quality streaming content can be attributed to its focus on quality and individual products, similar to old Hollywood's approach. This holistic thinking, which considers branding, marketing, and long-term planning from the beginning, has led to Apple TV+ having fewer but higher quality shows compared to other streaming platforms. However, the potential acquisition of Disney by Apple raises concerns about consolidation and its impact on the creative community and consumers. While Apple has shown a commitment to quality, the history of mergers and acquisitions suggests potential layoffs and a narrowed focus on certain IPs. Ultimately, the outcome would depend on Apple's intentions and approach to managing the merged entity.
Extended production timelines for critically acclaimed outcomes: Long-term investment in projects leads to critical and commercial success, debunking the fear of piracy and platform exclusivity.
Giving creators the freedom and resources to develop their projects over an extended period can lead to critically acclaimed and successful outcomes. This old Hollywood approach was exemplified by the dedication to the show "Foundation" for multiple seasons, despite a slower start. The success of Apple's "Killers of the Flower Moon," which is receiving widespread critical acclaim and a theatrical release before streaming, further highlights this strategy. The fear of piracy and the belief that a movie's availability on one platform diminishes its value on others have been debunked, as the more platforms a movie is available on, the more buzz and discussion it generates. Ultimately, the combination of theatrical releases and streaming can increase a movie's value and reach a wider audience.
Making content accessible leads to increased viewership: Making content widely available across multiple platforms drives more people to watch shows, boosting viewership and buzz for streaming services.
Making content widely available across multiple platforms can lead to increased viewership and buzz, ultimately driving more people to watch shows that they may have otherwise missed. This was evident in the case of HBO shows being made available on Netflix, which resulted in a spike in streaming numbers for both platforms. Additionally, Apple's approach to Apple TV Plus prioritizes high-quality content and accessibility over monetary gains, as Apple's vast revenue and profits allow for such investments. Apple's inclusion of Apple TV Plus with new hardware purchases further increases accessibility and convenience for consumers. Overall, making content easily accessible and discoverable can lead to greater success for streaming platforms.
Apple offers free trials or discounted subscriptions to Apple TV+ for its customers based on their Apple ID and device usage: Apple uses customer data to offer personalized deals on Apple TV+ subscriptions, aiming to boost engagement and loyalty among device users. Additionally, investing in blue-chip art through platforms like Masterworks can serve as a unique diversification strategy with low correlation to the stock market.
Apple could offer free trials or discounted subscriptions to Apple TV+ for its customers based on their Apple ID and device usage. This could be a strategic move to increase user engagement and loyalty, especially for those who own multiple Apple devices. Additionally, investing in blue-chip art through platforms like Masterworks can serve as a unique asset class for diversification, as it has historically shown low correlation with the stock market. Furthermore, the production budget for high-profile films, like Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," can be significantly higher when produced outside of streaming giants like Apple or Netflix. This is due to the prestige and recognition these platforms bring to the projects, allowing filmmakers like Scorsese to maintain creative control and larger budgets.
Singaporean sovereign wealth fund's scandal highlights financial responsibility in capital allocation: The entertainment industry is evolving with streaming platforms gaining popularity, traditional theaters potentially facing demise, and audiences preferring original content. Producers and investors must adapt to these changes to remain competitive.
The entertainment industry is undergoing significant changes, with budgets becoming inflated and consumer preferences shifting towards streaming platforms like Netflix. The Singaporean sovereign wealth fund's involvement in a scandal serves as a reminder of the importance of financial responsibility in capital allocation. Netflix's strategy of bypassing movie theaters and releasing content directly on their platform indicates the potential demise of traditional theaters, benefiting tech giants like Apple, Amazon, and Netflix. The trend of cheaper and better technology, such as flat-panel TVs, further underscores this shift. The saturation of sequels and disappointing box office performances of some big-budget films suggest that audiences are becoming fatigued with repetitive content and may prefer new IP or original stories. Overall, the industry needs to adapt to these changing consumer preferences and economic realities.
Revolutionizing film industry with exclusive content and longer director's cuts: Streaming platforms like Apple TV+ offer exclusive content and longer director's cuts, providing additional value to subscribers and allowing filmmakers to share their full vision with audiences.
Streaming platforms like Apple TV+ are revolutionizing the film industry by offering exclusive content and longer director's cuts, encouraging viewers to watch films multiple times and in different formats. For instance, Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" will be available in both a theatrical and a four-hour director's cut on Apple TV+. This strategy not only provides additional value to subscribers but also allows filmmakers to share their full vision with audiences. Margot Robbie's "Barbie," an original IP, and Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," a historical biopic, have demonstrated the potential success of this approach. However, some studios seem slow to catch on, continuing to focus on sequels and franchises. By embracing original ideas and offering unique viewing experiences, streaming platforms can attract and retain viewers in a crowded media landscape.
Creating hits through unique projects, marketing, and social engagement: Focus on creating unique projects, put marketing efforts behind them, and make experiences socially engaging to leave a lasting impact. Stay updated with technology and skills to remain competitive in the job market.
Creating a successful movie or building a tech career requires more than just replicating past successes or following trends. Instead, it's essential to focus on creating unique, interesting projects, putting marketing efforts behind them, and finding ways to make the experience socially engaging for audiences. The speaker also emphasized the importance of staying updated with technology and skills to remain competitive in the job market. In the case of movies, this means coming up with creative marketing campaigns and viral content that resonates with audiences. For tech careers, it's about gaining specific skills and experience to stand out in a competitive job market. The speaker highlighted Codecademy as a resource for learning tech skills and building a career in AI, full stack engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and more. By focusing on these principles, individuals and studios can create hits that leave a lasting impact.
AI's Role in Ideation During the Writer's Strike: AI can aid ideation but not replace human writers in creating scripts or adapting ideas. It's a topic of debate in creative fields, with potential uses in areas like coding and scientific research. Consumers have varying opinions on AI-generated content, and humans excel in creative fields, using AI to enhance abilities.
While the writer's strike resulted in some concessions for writers regarding AI usage in ideation, the most complex issues were left unresolved. AI is a valuable tool for ideation and brainstorming, but it cannot replace human writers in creating scripts or adapting ideas. The use of AI in creative fields is a topic of debate, with some arguing it's a gimmick and not a good fit for original, outside-the-box thinking. However, AI has proven useful in areas like coding and scientific research. As for consumers, there's a question of interest in AI-generated content, such as fan-fiction-like stories or choose-your-own-adventure experiences. While some may find it offensive or unoriginal, others might enjoy the novelty. Ultimately, humans excel in creative fields, and AI should be used to enhance our abilities, not replace them.
Writers look forward to data and financial incentives from Netflix: Netflix's data and potential financial incentives could motivate writers to turn TV writing into a more viable career option, while adapting existing concepts with new traits creates unique and appealing characters.
Computers may be able to process and recognize visual data, but they lack the ability to understand the human perspective and creativity that makes certain characters or stories resonate. The writers in the discussion were looking forward to receiving data and potential financial incentives from Netflix, which could motivate them to turn TV writing into a more viable career option. Additionally, the creation of new characters, like "Lume," demonstrates the potential for adapting existing concepts while adding new traits and backstories to make them unique and appealing to audiences. The hope is that this approach will foster the next generation of successful TV writers.
Applying the Hero's Journey to Job Hiring on LinkedIn: Creatively use LinkedIn's platform to hire top talent, take advantage of free job listings for startups, and signal to your network that you're hiring to increase chances of success. In negotiations, clear communication and compromise are essential for reaching agreements.
While the Hero's Journey is a proven storytelling framework, it's the unique modifications and personal touches that make a story truly interesting. Applying this concept to job hiring, LinkedIn provides a platform where you can reach a vast pool of qualified candidates, making it an essential tool for startups looking to hire. LinkedIn's free job listing offer for startups is a significant advantage, and the purple ring on your profile signals to your network that you're hiring, increasing your chances of finding top talent. In the entertainment industry, the ongoing negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and streaming platforms like Netflix highlight the importance of clear communication and compromise in reaching agreements. The SAG's proposal for profit sharing based on revenue or subscriber count illustrates how setting a percentage can bring clarity to negotiations and remove the need for continuous renegotiations. Ultimately, these examples demonstrate the importance of creativity, adaptability, and clear communication in achieving success.
Financial incentives and creative control keep actors engaged: Offering substantial financial incentives and creative control can prevent high-profile actor departures and encourage commitment to long-term projects.
Providing actors with substantial financial incentives and creative control can lead to their commitment and serious engagement in a project. This was exemplified by Tony Stark's experience in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he took a small salary but secured merchandise rights, eventually earning a massive fortune. Similarly, actors like Reggie Jean Page and Millie Bobby Brown have expressed reluctance to return to their respective shows due to a desire to explore film opportunities. By offering attractive deals and allowing creative freedom, producers can encourage actors to stay committed to long-term projects and prevent high-profile departures. Additionally, taking risks and exploring new directions with established IP can help revitalize franchises and attract audiences. For instance, Marvel could benefit from allowing creators to experiment with characters outside the main storyline. The success of the Joker and Peacemaker spin-offs demonstrates the potential of such ventures.
Marvel reconsiders interconnected storytelling, focuses on standalone projects: Marvel shifts focus to standalone projects and classic remixes to boost engagement, recommending 'The Fall of the House of Usher', 'The Miserable Mill', 'The Diplomat', and 'Mr. In Between'.
Marvel is reconsidering their approach to interconnected storytelling due to declining engagement from audiences. Instead, they are focusing on standalone projects and remixes of classic stories. Two recommendations from the discussion are "The Fall of the House of Usher" on Netflix, a horror series inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and "The Miserable Mill" on Hulu, a thriller about a middle manager trapped in an employee training program. Another notable mention is "The Diplomat," a geopolitical thriller starring Keira Knightley, and "Mr. In Between," an Australian crime drama series. Creator Sean Ryan, who also produced "The Shield," has successfully brought the network model to streaming platforms.
A24's consistently personal and thoughtful dramas from debut directors: A24's unique business model and thought-provoking films offer meaningful stories worth seeking out, including 'After Sun,' 'Past Lives,' and 'The Burial' on Amazon Prime.
A24 is a film studio that consistently produces deeply personal, thoughtful, and well-acted dramas, often from debut directors. Their business model, which includes savvy branding and marketing, has made them a standout in the industry. Two recent examples are "After Sun" and "Past Lives," both of which explore complex themes of love, connection, and growing up. While these films may not be for everyone due to their slow pacing, they offer meaningful and heartfelt stories that are worth seeking out. Another recommendation is "The Burial," a courtroom comedy drama on Amazon Prime, starring Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones, which provides a fun and nostalgic throwback to 90s films. Ultimately, these films remind us of the value of supporting independent cinema and the importance of taking the time to engage with thought-provoking stories.
A Deep Dive into Tommy Lee Jones' Friendship with Jamie Foxx and Impressive Career: Tarantino discusses Jones' impactful friendship with Foxx in 'The Trial of the Chicago 7,' his impressive career, and their collaboration in Rolling Thunder Pictures. Jones' role in 'The Fugitive' is highlighted, and Tarantino expresses admiration for his work in 'Rolling Thunder' and the genre of revenge films.
The discussion revolves around the friendship between Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx in the movie "The Trial of the Chicago 7," and Jones' impressive acting career, particularly his role in "The Fugitive." Tarantino's admiration for Jones' work is highlighted, and the conversation touches upon their collaboration in Tarantino's company, Rolling Thunder Pictures. The conversation also explores Jones' role in the film "Rolling Thunder" and the genre of revenge films, particularly those from the 60s and 70s. Tarantino's podcast and his unique perspective on films are also mentioned, making it clear that Jones has left a significant impact on Tarantino's work and appreciation for cinema.
A compelling courtroom drama with excellent performances: Watch for the riveting performances of Keith Carradine, Lance Reddick, and Jason Clark in this intriguing courtroom drama based on Herman Wouk's 'Maverick's Minute'.
The latest William Friedkin film, "The Kangaroo Court," now available on Showtime with a Paramount Plus add-on, offers compelling performances from renowned actors like Keith Carradine, Lance Reddick, and Jason Clark. This purely courtroom drama, based on the play and the novel "Maverick's Minute" by Herman Wouk, might seem a bit strange for newcomers but is worth watching for the excellent acting, especially the final performances from Carradine as Queen and Reddick as the general overseeing the hearing. Don't miss out on this intriguing production featuring Jason Clark's impressive portrayal of Lewis Pulman.
