First Ever Oscar for Papua New Guinea

 Papua New Guinea (PNG), an independent island State located in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean, just north of Australia., has submitted its very first Oscar nomination, entitled "Papa Buka.

The film follows an aging World War II veteran as he guides two Indian historians, who are studying the connection between India and Papua New Guinea. This Oacar nomination is auspicious as next year will be the 50th anniversary of PNG's independence.

Sine Boboro, plays Papa Buka in the film

"This is a historic moment for PNG cinema. This film embodies our traditions, our artistic voice, and we are proud to present it to the world through the Academy Awards", says Don Niles, PNG's Oscar Committee Chair.

The film is a co-production of PNG and India. The cast is led by 85-year-old tribal leader Sine Boboro, with supporting cast members from India and PNG. 'Papa Buka' is not just a film, but a building and instructional project. Over 40 PNG film students worked on the project alongside the international production crew.

'Papa Buka' is scheduled for theatrical release in PNG on September 19th, 2025, followed by Oscar campaign events in Los Angeles before the Oscar presentations - we wish them well.

'MUSK': The Full Story

 The 'MUSK' documentary will be an in-depth look into the world's richest and most brilliant man. The docu will have a theatrical release before moving to HBO for streaming.

"No biographical portrait has centered on an individual so at the crossroads of our society as Elon Musk". says Kent Sanderson, CEO of Bleecker Street., the film's distributor. 

Alex Gibney, the film's creator has indicated that this would be his best work thus far - which includes Oscar nominated 'Enron - The Smartest Guys in the Room", and Oscar winner, "Taxi To the Dark Side".

Take Off the Nose Ring

 

PETA, the animal rights organization, wants Nintendo to remove the brass nose ring from Cow, an animated character from Nintendo's latest video game. It's a painful reminder of the cruelty cows endure in the meat and dairy industries" says PETA in their press release.

Launched in June of this year, in a video game called, 'Mario Kart World', the game has sold over 5.6 million copies to date. Nintendo, thus far, has not issued a response to PETA's request.

If this is any indication of what PETA determines is their cause - it's totally off mark. Each year thousands of 'real' birds are killed by wind turbines around the world - yet not one peep from PETA regarding this carnage. 

Also, you see many people with nose rings. The baristas at the coffee shop I frequent have nose rings.

This is not the first 'run-in' Nintendo has had with PETA. In 2017 PETA wrote that "Nintendo had sold its soul by partnering with McDonalds to include a Super Mario toy in Happy Meals. Nintendo should stick to making video games, not cruel and unhealthy chicken nuggets."

Content Based on Your Zodiac Sign

 

Netflix's latest scheme to keep eyeballs on their platform has turned to astrology. 

'Your Zodiac Watchlist' let's members browse the Netflix catalog through the lens of their zodiac sign.

Starting, August 23rd (so you may have already seen this new content sorting mechanism on your homepage) the Zodiac Watchlist begins with the Virgo sign (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22). Netflix is betting that members will enjoy their content based on their astrological signs. Here are a few samples.

Virgos: 'Animal Kingdom', 'The Queen's Gambit', 'Now You See Me'

Capricorns: 'Suits', 'Hostage', 'Dept. Q'

Aquarians (my sign): 'Stranger Things', 'Resident Alien', 'Venom'

I'm not sure what the relevance between the zodiac signs and the content selected. It appears that many of the titles are of old content that many have already viewed and which Netflix wants to regurgitate.

If this is Netflix's latest attempt to boost customer engagement, I don't think 'Your Zodiac Watchlist' is going to work.

Metro Private Cinema - A New Concept in Moviegoing

 

A guest room at the Metro

Tim League, founder and former owner of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas (which was sold to Sony Entertainment in 2024) will be cutting the ribbon on a new cinema in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood.

Called the Metro Private Cinema, the 20plex's auditoriums will seat only four to 20 moviegoers but allow them to choose their movie and order a gourmet meal.

The concept of offering individualized customer service is intended to upgrade the moviegoing experience to a new level. It's a night out at the movies with dinner shared with family/friends.

Dinner can be served family-style

The Metro will offer both first-run films, as well as a choice of older movies which patrons can select with prior notice. And, if you want to view a movie that isn't in their library, they'll get it for you.

All of this service doesn't come cheap. A four-person auditorium for four hours will set you back $200, a 12-person booking $600. Food costs average $100/per person without beverages.

Major cities, with dense populations and smaller living spaces may work well for the Metro concept, which is expected to open in late August/early September.

We'll soon see if there is an audience for this upscale moviegoing experience. 

LG... The First in AI-generated Cinema Ads

'Radio Optimism' is LG's cinema ad campaign that inspires viewers into interactive human connection using AI-powered ad creation. Picture a cinema ad that makes the viewers miss someone and inspires them to write a song or poem. 

The ads center on an interactive platform that helps create personalized AI-generated songs transforming digital music into a shared emotional experience. Once created, the songs are automatically sent to the recipient - it's a new form of digital storytelling. 

The cinema version will be released in various screen formats. The flat format (1.85:1) uses black bands to display a QR code for immediate access. The cinemascope format (2.35:1) maximizes visual immersion.

LG is a global S. Korean electronics firm which was founded in 1958. It has over 142 locations worldwide and employees over 72,000.

LG's goal with Radio Optimism is to turn passive cinema viewing into active emotional audience participation. LG found that 68% of people struggle to form genuine friendships despite constant digital connection. According to an LG press release, Radio Optimism "is technology that enhances human connection rather than replacing it."

How to use Radio Optimism

- Users began by providing simple prompts describing their feelings or memories, i.e. 'missing my sister's laugh'.

- The platform then asks for the preferred music genre and mood.

- It then provides a unique AI-generated song along with album artwork to match. Users just see their feelings transformed into personal soundtracks tailored to their preferences.

Song with unique album artwork

With 'Radio Optimism" LG has moved from product to purpose. It's not trying to sell but connect and participate. Placing this experience in cinemas (where emotion lives in films) is very strategic for the LG brand.

"Cinemas are the perfect amplifier for the Radio Optimism platform", states Ali Elkara, LG Senior Account Manager, "we're using the big screen not for advertising but as a catalyst for human connection that extends beyond the cinema walls." 

LG's move to active advertising in cinemas is a first and a trend that will be copied and repeated by others. Look for these interactive ads at a cinema near you.

The Glitterati's Favorite 'Procedure' is Back!

 Yes, the skin stretch is back in full force. Facelifts have come a long way from the time when only aging movie stars got them. They were considered the last resort for stars who had aged out of their youth...but not any longer. 

The facelift is back in movieland 

Whether small enhancement or full-blown 'stretch' the facelift is back in vogue. New techniques are so advanced that a 'lift' is barely detectable. So, older stars, has-beens, current stars and would-be stars are flocking to get a lift.

There are two types: SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) and the deep plane. Think of SMAS as a surface level lift while deep plane goes deeper into the skin resulting in a more dramatic result. 

Highly skilled surgeons charge over $100,000 per procedure, while the norm is about $65,000. 

Smile.

Microsoft Exits the Digital Movie & TV Business

 

Without prior notice or warning, last week, Microsoft ceased all sales and rentals of movies and TV shows.

In a release posted on Microsoft.com. and Microsoft Store, the tech giant simply stated, "it would no longer offer new entertainment content for purchase." No further explanation for this decision was given. MS started the movie sales business in 2006, and it has been a money generator; however, it does not fit into their plans for the future, which will be AI driven.

Also announced was the reduction of 10,000 MS employees over the next several months. These layoffs are a direct result of MS's move into AI. Coincidently, MS's staff reductions coincide with Amazon's announcement to reduce their staff by 18,000 employees. 

AI is beginning to impact various sectors of the economy and companies are going all in on the efficiency and scope AI has to offer. Microsoft has stated it will be investing over $10 billion in AI development across all of its product lines. 

Present Day Hollywood Will Not Survive AI

Hollywood is not new to invisible labor. From the blacklisted scriptwriters of the 1950s to today's collaborative filmmaking where every developer has a posse of scriptwriters, consultants, fixers, ghost writers, etc. that share in the making of the film. 

Cinema is a collaborative art form. Even if Hollywood tries to sell the love of genius filmmakers. But now the story has a new collaborator. Not a ghost writer. Not a blacklisted screenwriter. But something more, AI.

AI is the perfect creative partner. It doesn't eat, take breaks, and, most importantly, it doesn't ask for creative credit sharing. AI is beyond efficient.

Movie writers, producers, and directors are already experiencing with the 'shift'. The jobs of filmmaking have turned from creation to refinement. Authorship is via algorithms. The process is clean, uncluttered, and idiot-proof. And to the moviegoer, transparent.

Call it technophobia, but we record history by who touched the work, who developed the process, who made the invention. Now, the creative line between human and machine is blurred.

The industry will insist that AI is just a short-cut. A helper. Another tool to assist in the creative process. But the truth is AI doesn't need to get credit, doesn't collect salary or fees, wants no residuals, and has no problem with or resistance to changes in what it produces. 

So, in the end AI ensures complete anonymity. But what is lost is the thread of who did what and who is accountable. 

By: Jim Lavorato