Time's Up ... Folds Up

 

Ad for Time's Up

The anti-harassment organization that launched 5 years ago to huge Hollywood fanfare and financial backing at the outset of the #MeToo movement is closing its doors. 

Racked with internal fraud and mismanagement, including revelations that Time's Up's leadership did not disclose connections with former governor Andrew Cuomo who was implicated in sexual harassment charges which led to his resignation.

When launched in 2018, Time's Up was supported with donations, with TV and social media hyping by numerous Hollywood celebs. Pins emblazoned with the phrase "Time's Up" were seen on the red carpets of the Golden Globes and Oscars. 

Jimmy Kimmel plugging Time's Up at the Oscars

Donations soared and the advisory board included Natalie Portman and Jessica Chastain among others. However, after its tacit support of Cuomo its favored status waned.

By the beginning of this year, Time's Up support had shrunk to just three board members, including Ashley Judd, and its demise was eminent. Its remaining funds, totally about $1.7 million will be given to the National Women's Law Center in Washington, D.C., which will use the funds to pay outstanding legal fees and provide legal assistance to low-income workers. 

Celebs support to the Time's Up cause.

Kevin Spacey Receives Lifetime Achievement Award...It's Due

 

The multiple sexual assault charges against Kevin Spacey didn't deter Italy's National Museum of Cinema from honoring the actor, as they paid tribute with its highest honor - the Stella della Mole Award for lifetime achievement. 

Spacey thanked the Museum and the Italian Ministry of Culture for the award, "for having the courage, the balls, to invite me. I've only ever received kindness and support from fans and coworkers."

Spacey won a Best Actor Oscar in 2000 for his role in 'American Beauty'. He was accused of sexual offenses in the U.K. to which he has pleaded not guilty. Last October, he was found not guilty of another sexual misconduct charge.

Spacey is currently a persona non grata in Hollywood, as the industry turned its back on him. He was fired from the Netflix series 'House of Cards'. He has, however, found work in Europe and is involved with several projects in Italy and France.

CMG believes that until proven otherwise, Spacey is innocent. He is a very good actor and it's always nice to see him perform. Good luck Kevin.

Boycotting Russian and Iranian Films...A BAD Idea

 

The Berlin Film Festival and the European Film Market event joined the Cannes and Venice festivals in banning Russian and Iranian-produced films due to the war in Ukraine. 

In a statement, the Berlin fest emphasized that it "will not exclude filmmakers, artists, industry representatives, or journalists because of their Russian or Iranian nationality."

The thing is, how do you know what the filmmakers' affiliations are? Banning films, for whatever reasons, is a bad idea and CMG does not support banning any film for whatever reason.

Let the public decide on the films they want to view and not have festival managers censoring films based on their origin of production.

2023 - Streamers Move to a Defensive Posture

 

It's no longer about increasing subscriber numbers but finding growth areas within their customer base and bolstering the brand - that is the strategy for all streamers going forward.

Here's how the top 5 content streamers will proceed in '23:

• Netflix - The King of the Hill. This juggernaut of streamers has already started the switch to less subscriber growth. It rolled out an ad-supported tier and is eliminating password sharing (but won't be too aggressive with penalizing password sharers it will use an honor system). Additionally, we will see a gaming option and a new series of workout videos are being offered as we speak.

• Disney - Will focus on brand strengthening. Disney will be reducing investment in general entertainment content and sports. Also, Disney will not be acquiring the remaining 33% ownership of Hulu from Comcast but will push negotiations into 2025.

• Warners - Their merge with Discovery Channel will be at the top of the agenda for 2023. Post-merger will require consolidation and bundling of content from their various outlets. 

• Google - Making the big bet on the NFL Sunday football is front and center at Google. Their hope is that this will be a huge winner for YouTube. Games will be available to anyone in the U.S. without the purchase of a pay-TV package. The stakes are high, as under the seven-year deal Google is paying the NFL $2 billion.

• FAST (free ad-supported TV) - CMG's pick for the fifth most important driver in streaming content. FAST will grow substantially and take viewers away from regular broadcast and cable channels. Pluto TV, Tubi, FreeVee, and Ruku will see huge gains and out-pace subscription-based services for viewers.

The 'Ash People' of Avatar 3

 

'Avatar 2: The Way of  Water' was a smash hit at the box office, amassing over $1.4 billion in less than two weeks of release globally. But....what's next.

Avatar 3 will feature a new Na'vi tribe, the Ash People. Whereas Avatar 2 was all about water, 3 will be all about fire. The new tribe, the Ash People are far less friendly and much more villainous. The plot shifts from outsiders invading Pandora to an internal conflict within the planet, i.e. Earth's situation.

"The earlier two films are very negative against humans and very positive to Na'vi inhabitants - in 3 we do the reverse," says Jim Cameron.

The Avatar saga adds layer upon layer to the overall story.  Avatar 3 will travel beyond Pandora to other planets. Pandora serves as a foundation for the entire narrative. The only thing we are sure of is that as sequels progress Cameron intends to bring the story full circle back to Earth in the fifth film - and possibly beyond that.

Avatar 3 has just wrapped and is in post-production, it is scheduled for release in December 2024.