Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Monday 26 May 2025
Industry downturn deepens; Panahi triumphs at Cannes; Sarandos pushes reform; Sky stumbles; vertical dramas surge; Portman, Imamura, and Waddingham drive bold storytelling shifts.
Today’s Highlights:
Entertainment Industry’s Decline Began Before the Pandemic – Brad Hall of EntertainmentCareers.Net claims signs of downturn appeared in late 2019, with the pandemic and strikes compounding a deeper, pre-existing slowdown.
Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d’Or at Cannes After 22-Year Absence – The Iranian director made an emotional return to Cannes with It Was Just an Accident, advocating for unity and freedom in Iran.
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Pushes France for Incentive Reform – At the Choose France Summit, Sarandos urged expansion of tax rebates to boost international production and competitiveness.
Hollywood’s Evolution from Farmland to Global Powerhouse – A historical overview of Hollywood’s rise to a $49B industry, from studio-era dominance to today’s blockbuster economy.
Comcast’s $39B Sky Investment Disappoints – Once considered a media jewel, Sky has lost value, faced heavy losses, and struggled with scandal seven years after Comcast’s acquisition.
Vertical Dramas Transform Smartphone Storytelling – Crazy Maple Studios’ ReelShort platform is pioneering one-minute vertical dramas, blending Asian formats with Western romance fiction and reshaping media consumption.
Ken-ichi Imamura Becomes First Asian Prix Italia President – The NHK veteran’s appointment marks a push toward greater global collaboration and support for independent documentary filmmakers.
Neon Acquires North American Rights to Natalie Portman’s Arco – The French animated feature drew acclaim at Cannes, with Portman producing and voicing the Studio Ghibli-inspired film.
Substack Cofounder Hamish McKenzie Predicts New Media Era – At TED, McKenzie argued that the chaos of modern media signals a shift toward creator-led, trust-based storytelling over algorithm-driven engagement.
Hannah Waddingham Confirms Ted Lasso Season 4 – The actor revealed the Apple TV+ series will continue despite expectations that Season 3 was the finale, with filming to resume in July.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals & Jobs with Waterloo Road, Netflix, Amazon & BBC in Sydney & London.
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INSIGHTS
Jesse Armstrong Returns to the World of the Wealthy, Reluctantly
After Succession, Jesse Armstrong didn’t plan to tackle another story about the rich. “I thought, maybe something that wasn’t in the world of rich people,” he said at the Mountainhead premiere. But research into tech billionaires changed his mind. Their public speaking stuck with him “like a song you can’t get out of your head,” ultimately inspiring his directorial debut. Read More
Hollywood’s Rise: From Citrus Groves to Global Dominance
Hollywood evolved from a small Los Angeles neighbourhood into a global entertainment powerhouse. By 2023, U.S. films generated billions, led by Barbie and Super Mario Bros. The city became a film hub in the early 1900s, with studios like Paramount and Warner Bros. shaping the industry. The Golden Age saw stars under rigid studio contracts until a 1948 antitrust ruling paved the way for independent filmmaking. Today, Hollywood drives a $49B economy. Read More
Entertainment Industry’s Downturn Began Before the Pandemic
According to Brad Hall, founder of EntertainmentCareers.Net, the entertainment industry’s decline began in December 2019, months before the COVID-19 pandemic. His team noticed unusual signs pointing to a major slowdown in production, especially in Los Angeles. Hall believed the industry had hit a peak and wouldn’t fully recover for a decade. The pandemic and subsequent labour strikes only masked and deepened the pre-existing downturn. Read More
Richard Linklater on the Future of Filmmaking: “Be a Cheap Hustler”
At Cannes, director Richard Linklater emphasised that cinema is far from dead. Speaking at IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking Summit, he encouraged young filmmakers to focus on storytelling, not fear. While financiers may prioritize profits, Linklater says success lies in balancing artistic vision with charm and frugality. “You gotta be a cheap hustler,” he advised, reminding new voices to stay grounded, creative, and easy to root for. Read More
Ramón Rodríguez Redefines the Latino Leading Man
Ramón Rodríguez never set out to lead or produce a network procedural, but with ABC’s Will Trent, he’s doing both. The New York-born actor is reshaping Hollywood’s image of the Latino leading man, on his own terms. “There’s just not many Latino leading men,” he says. “I would love that to be an abundance, whatever that might look like.” Read More
The Hidden Hurdles of International Film Production
While foreign incentives often lure U.S. productions abroad, international filmmaking is far from easy. At IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking summit in Cannes, industry veterans Emily Korteweg, Andrew Hevia, and Caroline von Kuhn shared the complex realities of working overseas. Hevia noted the stark contrast: “The American system is a cowboy one, money shows up. Internationally, it’s all bureaucracy and tax-auditor precision. You have to master the system to make it work.” Read More
Ken-ichi Imamura Champions Global Collaboration in Documentary Film
Ken-ichi Imamura, veteran NHK producer and co-founder of Tokyo Docs, becomes the first Asian president of Prix Italia in its 77-year history. With decades in factual media, Imamura is committed to public service broadcasting, cross-cultural storytelling, and supporting indie filmmakers. He aims to strengthen ties between broadcasters and independents, despite challenges like shrinking public media and funding struggles. “This role is about fostering bold creativity and global collaboration,” he says. Read More
Vertical Dramas Are Reshaping the Screen, One Minute at a Time
Streaming once disrupted Hollywood, now, vertical dramas are the latest wave. These bite-sized soap operas, told in one-minute episodes for smartphones, are gaining traction fast. Joey Jia, CEO of Crazy Maple Studios, is leading the charge with ReelShort, launched in 2022 to blend Asian micro dramas and trending romance fiction. Named a 2024 TIME100 Most Influential Company, Crazy Maple spans continents, and screens, reshaping how stories are told. Read More
Comcast’s $39B Sky Bet Fades with Time
When Comcast CEO Brian Roberts bid £31B for Sky, a London cabbie reinforced his belief he was acquiring a UK media crown jewel. Seven years later, that optimism has dimmed. Sky’s value has dropped by nearly 25%, its dominance in prestige TV has waned, Sky News is posting heavy losses, and a £300M ad scandal looms. “It’s certainly not what Comcast dreamt,” a former Sky exec admitted. Read More
Brands Like Walmart Enter Hollywood to Combat Ad Fatigue
As audiences grow tired of traditional ads, major brands like Walmart, Chick-fil-A, and Google are investing in films and TV shows to capture attention. Walmart’s Roku Original Jingle Bell Love exemplifies this trend. Hollywood welcomes this new funding source amid tighter budgets, with agencies noting unprecedented openness from brands, platforms, and partners eager to collaborate and innovate in content creation. Read More
Are Traditional Upfronts Losing Their Shine?
With Amazon and Netflix stealing the spotlight and buyers naming them upfront week winners, traditional TV networks struggle to prove their relevance. As billions in ad dollars and dealmaking move toward “always-on” models, marketers are questioning whether upfront presentations still drive the market or have become just a scripted routine in an evolving industry. Read More
Seth Rogen Eyes Daniel Day-Lewis for The Studio Season 2
With The Studio Season 2 greenlit, Seth Rogen revealed his dream cameo: three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis. Though Day-Lewis hasn’t done comedy, Rogen admires his intense process and thinks it’d add great humour to the Hollywood satire. While he hasn’t reached out yet, Rogen hopes Day-Lewis watches the Variety interview and sends a special message to the acclaimed Irish actor. Read More
WikiFlix Offers Free Streaming for Classic Films
WikiFlix, a new free streaming platform developed by Wikimedia Germany, provides over 3,800 public domain films, including Nosferatu (1922), Metropolis (1927), and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). Unlike commercial streamers, WikiFlix requires no subscription, sign-up, or ads, making classic cinema more accessible. The platform complements public broadcaster media libraries while offering a user-friendly experience for cinephiles and students. Read More
Is This the Future of Media? | Substack Cofounder Hamish McKenzie | TED
What if the polarising mess of social media, clickbait headlines and addictive algorithms isn't a breakdown of media but a transition to something better? Substack cofounder Hamish McKenzie explores how independent creators are growing a new media "garden," where trust beats engagement metrics and audiences matter more than ads. Learn why clicking “subscribe” doesn’t just signal support; it gives you power.
Behind The 'Severance’ Viral One-Shot Through Lumon HQ
Go behind the scenes of Severance Season 2, Episode 7, with cinematographer-director Jessica Lee Gagné and camera operator Scott Maguire as they reveal how they pulled off the now-viral in-camera one-shot through Lumon’s surreal halls. Discover how one of the show’s most mind-bending sequences came to life with minimal VFX, from intricate set retrofits to custom-built camera rigs and practical effects.
Questlove Eyes Emmy Wins for SNL and Sly Stone Documentaries
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, already an Oscar and Grammy winner, is now vying for an Emmy with Ladies and Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music. The documentary, praised for its deep dive into Saturday Night Live’s musical legacy, took over two years to create. Questlove is also competing with his Sly Stone biopic, Sly Lives!, further cementing his versatility in music and film.
Trailer: He’s 19, Lost, and Maybe Dangerous – ‘Diciannove’ Is Not Your Usual Coming-of-Age Movie
From first-time director Giovanni Tortorici and produced by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, We Are Who We Are), Diciannove is a wildly inventive, darkly humorous, and unsettling coming-of-age film that defies expectations at every turn. Leonardo (newcomer Manfredi Marini) is 19, aimless, and caught between identities as he abandons business school dreams for impulsive self-reinvention across Italy. But as his charming blankness gives way to something far more disturbing, Diciannove reveals itself as a sly, slippery exploration of youth, alienation, and the darker edges of self-discovery.
Inside ‘The Four Seasons’: Tina Fey’s Dream Cast & the Secret to Cinematic Comedy
Creators Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield, and Lang Fisher explored how The Four Seasons elevates sitcom storytelling into a cinematic experience. Featuring Steve Carell, Will Forte, and Colman Domingo, the series uses moody lighting, dynamic cinematography, and seasonal settings to enhance its heartfelt, humorous drama.
The Americas Captures Historic Sperm Whale Footage
The creative team behind The Americas—including Mike Gunton, Giles Badger, and Dan Beecham—achieved a wildlife filmmaking breakthrough, capturing a sperm whale diving to the ocean floor. Using newly developed deep-sea camera technology, the team documented a scientific first, narrated by Tom Hanks.
Sam Barcroft’s Five-Step Blueprint for Digital Success
Digital video pioneer Sam Barcroft shares actionable strategies for content entrepreneurs, emphasising the importance of a clearly defined endgame and scalable systems. His five-step business selling approach includes identifying a niche, fostering a community, and ensuring financial health. Through Creatorville, Barcroft helps founders navigate complex strategy challenges and achieve breakthrough moments.
Stand-Up Comedy Roundtable: Jamie Foxx, Sarah Silverman, Chelsea Handler, Hasan Minhaj & More
Meghann Fahy Champions Melon in Netflix’s Sirens
Actor Meghann Fahy reflects on melon’s underrated charm during a visit to an Edible Arrangements store in Manhattan. In Sirens’ first episode, her character receives a massive fruit arrangement, which Fahy humorously recounts dragging around for weeks. Now creating her own smaller version with pineapple and melon daisies, Fahy blends homage and humour, recalling how her character’s story took a sad, unexpected turn during the process. Read More
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