What Is a Movie Producer?

 Why do movies and TV shows list so many producers, and what is their role? Essentially, it's having some sort of fiduciary role, and nothing to do with the production of the movie.

"Real producers are the middlemen between all of the film's departments, makeup, costume, hair, editing, etc., and the director and writer(s) and their vision, " says Laura Lewis, spokesperson for Producers United - an advocacy group of producers devoted to the sustainability and promotion of 'career producers'. And stop the degradation of career producers and seek fair treatment, wages, and accreditation.

Laura Lewis and Jonathan Wang of Producers United

Producer credits are given to a movie's financiers, actors, talent managers, etc., without any production function. "Career producers are pretty easy to spot. They're paid to produce. Currently, there are so many producers credited, but 'real' producers oversee every part of production, pre-production, post-production, and distribution," says Jonathan Wang of Producers United.

I, and anyone who has endured the pre-credits of a movie, know that Producers United has a valid beef, and they should be given special credit.

By: Jim Lavorato

White House Cinema To Be Rebuilt

 

Current WH Cinema - screen will be enlarged with renovation

The White House cinema, which is used to hold screenings for Presidents, their families, and invited guests, is among the spaces being removed as part of the on-going demolition of the East Wing to make room for the $300 million, 90,000 sq. ft. ballroom project.

But, not to worry, a completely upgraded cinema is being constructed. A WH spokesperson stated, "the  theater will be modernized and renovated with the rest of the East Wing."   

The current cinema has 42 seats. The President or his family members can screen any movie they desire - from current first-runs to classic films. A WH staff member simply calls the Motion Picture Association, which notifies the applicable Hollywood studio to obtain the movie.  

Obamas viewing a 3D film

The $300 million upgrade of the ballroom includes an upgrade to the East Wing, which is being financed by private donors and not by taxpayer dollars. 

The first movie ever screened at the WH was "Birth of a Nation" for Woodrow Wilson.

By: Jim Lavorato

             

Update on Lucas Museum

 As a follow-up to a prior CMG post on the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, its opening is now set for September 2026.

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Located in LA's Exposition Park, the massive building will have 35 galleries and hold over 40,000 works representing one of the most significant collections in narrative art. 

"Stories are mythology, and when illustrated, they help humans understand the mysteries of life," states George Lucas. The museum will also house the Lucas Archives, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas's films. 

With a reported cost of $1 billion, the museum has been more than a decade in the making. Several works are depicted below:

Mars illustration

Rockwell's 'Age of Romance' 

By: Jim Lavorato

Labubu Movie in the Works

 If you don't know what Labubu are, you know now. Labubu are plush, cute/ugly bag charms that are  headed to the silver screen.

Labubu

Sony Pictures bought the film rights to the Chinese Labubu charms, with the aim of making a movie and hopefully developing a franchise. It's too early to tell if the film will be live-action or animated.

Labubu (the plural of Labubu is Labubu) exploded in sales when PopMart, a Hong Kong retailer, started selling 'blind boxes' of the charms - meaning buyers never knew which Labubu they were purchasing until they opened the package. With limited editions, the charms now have a huge secondary market. 

Various Labubu

Labubu is the name of the lead charm. Zimomo, Mlkoko, and Tycoco are Labubu's best friends, and there are lots more.

Toys have been inspiring films, The Lego Movie, and Barbie generated huge box office and also earned several Oscar nominations.

By: Jim Lavorato 

Animal Actors Can't Get Work

 

Several animal actors from the Harry Potter films

Rocco, a Saint Bernard/Boxer who is a celebrated canine movie actor, can't get a gig.

Karin McElhatton, owner of Studio Animal Services, which has provided animals to projects like Ghostbusters, LA Confidential, and CSI-Miami, says, "We fear that real animals will be replaced by generated AI ones in films, TV shows, and commercial ads."

A group of canine actors at Universal

Gone are the days of Lassie and Rin Tin Tin. Even horses, which were and are used in many films and TV Shows, are under threat of AI replacement.     

Coaching on a movie set 

Perhaps real animals do add authenticity, but I feel that  AI-generated animals will be used in all forms of entertainment and promotion.

Antarctica: The New A-Lister Destination

 Traveling to the South Pole is attracting the glitterati. Leaving from the southernmost tip of South America, a group of four A-listers over a 10-day vacation can do it lavishly for about $3.5 million.

The ships they sail on feature veranda suites, heated floors, satellite internet, and gourmet meals.

Ship with helipad for those who want to fly in/out..

 

If this isn't your taste, visitors can fly in private jets from Cape Town, South Africa, to White Descent, a luxury glamping facility not far from the South Pole - the charge is $110,00 per person for a three-day stay.

It's not just the Hollywood elite who make the journey south, but other well-heeled folks. The continent had 107,000 visitors last year. "The traveler base has definitely broadened to include younger professionals and well-off families: says Alex Ros, owner of Antarctica-based Open Sky Expeditions.

Luxury accommodations at the South Pole

Telling your friends and family about a trip to the South Pole makes for far more excitement than a visit to a Mediterranean beach. For the Hollywood set and wealthy travelers, the appeal of going to the bottom of the earth is a rare and unusual experience. 

By: Jim Lavorato

Trending With the Hollywood Glitterati is Animal Plastic Surgery

 One of the hottest trends for the Hollywood crowd is cosmetic procedures for pets. Veterinarians have reported a spike in requests for eye lifts to tummy tucks for man's best friend.

In Los Angeles, where image is everything and a bulldog can have an Instagram page that generates more income than its owner earns, pets must look purr-fect.

Pet surgeries fall into two categories: corrective (eyelid lifts for vision problems) and aesthetic (tightening of wrinkles and tummy tucks). Animal dental specialists do canine braces and veneers.

According to Django Mantel, an oral surgeon at NYC's Animal Medical Center, "only a tiny number of dogs get braces for cosmetic reasons, but it is getting more prevalent. The majority of braces are animals who have genetic issues or are from accidents."

And so it goes.

By: Jim Lavorato

Visiting Hollywood Has Vanished

 

Warner Bros. Tower - A Symbol of Old Hollywood 

Once filled with tourists on tour buses to view the homes of the glitterati or stroll down the Walk of Fame, Hollywood now attracts a trickle of visitors.

The glamor has left Hollywood. Most movie stars, back in the day, lived in the Hollywood Hills; now they are dispersed, and many live outside of California altogether. Younger visitors struggle to identify the names on the Walk of Fame, and there are no notable anchor sites of real interest. 

According to Hollywood Partnership, a non-profit dedicated to the economic viability of greater Hollywood, "foot traffic is down 50% since last year due to a neglected neighborhood, which is dirty and uncomfortable for tourists. Additionally, there is really nothing to see or do. The neighborhood is no longer the center of film and TV production, and LA is no longer where many people in the film industry live."  

Some argue that Hollywood needs redevelopment, while others contend that as production jobs leave and people's interests shift, reviving the past will not be effective - there's really nothing to develop.

Once the epicenter of global media production, the Hollywood of the past has disappeared. However, it is also the creator of the sequel, and we might see this materialize with the revitalization of  LA's hosting of the Olympics.

By: Jim Lavorato

Gambling: A Cinema Competitor

 One of the competitors to the movies is gambling. You may think this is laughable - it's not.

Per the American Gaming Association, legal U.S. sports betting posted a record $13.8 billion last year - overall betting topped $150 billion.

Disney's ESPN, the world's largest sports broadcaster, recently inked a deal with DraftKings, a live betting and sports book company which represents all major sports franchises, making DraftKings the "exclusive official sports book and odds provider to ESPN." ESPN BET will be the brand and will be aired via a new televised  show entitled "ESPN Bet Live."

Under the agreement, ESPN users will have access to betting features and offerings from DraftKings, including:  sportsbook, fantasy games, and other betting platforms. DraftKings operates online with over 10 million customers. It also runs restaurant-betting sites where customers can bet, watch games and events, eat and drink, and linger for hours.

Gambling is big and getting bigger, and although not directly related to the movies it does provide an alternative destination in and outside the home.

By: Jim Lavorato

What Are People Watching: The New Trend in Entertainment

 

While the movie box office remains stagnant, traditional TV and streaming viewing are decreasing among younger viewers. 42% of Gen Z respondents stated that YouTube and other social media outlets, such as TikTok, are preferred over traditional TV or streaming platforms.

According to Activate Consulting's new study, Technology & Media Outlook 2026, 42% of Gen Z are opting to receive their entertainment and news reporting from YouTube and TikTok.

Microdramas are one of the fastest-growing trends in viewing. These are typically 1-2 minute scripted ongoing stories of 50 or more episodes. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger to keep viewers engaged. There are currently 28 million adults (aged 18-34) viewing microdramas daily in the U.S.

By: Jim Lavorato