1/03/23
This week: A polarizing adaptation, a kids’ movie you shouldn’t miss, some truly innovative television, and a British show for your figure-your-shit-out years.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube RENFIELD OFFICIAL TRAILER
Letterboxd GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Spotify KILL BILL — SZA
Netflix KALEIDOSCOPE
Twitter Damar Hamlin
Trailer THAT ‘90S SHOW
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Happy 2023, my friends! I hope you all got a chance to relax around the holidays and have had a peaceful start to the new year.
There’s been a lot of buzz about the viral chatbot ChatGPT over the past few months. Launched in November, people are using the AI technology for things like writing essays and work emails. I was talking to a friend who went through a breakup over the holidays, and he was even using it to help sort through his feelings when he was up late and didn’t have friends to talk to. His report: The tech gave him somewhat basic but helpful feedback similar to what his own therapist might say. What’s different about ChatGPT compared to older chatbots is the level of intelligence that it has. It can add specific nuances like tone and length to its responses, and can learn from its chat history with users. Because of its ability to write convincing, human-sounding pieces of text in seconds, it’s already being banned by New York City’s education department, and a Princeton student has developed an app that will help educators detect whether a text has been written by an AI or a human. There’s also a larger ethical concern around the way these large language models work, because they are trained on art, writing, and information that’s the proprietary work of others, and often building on that work to create something derivative.
Also! Before the holiday break, we discussed AVATAR 2, and I can now report it’s definitely shaping up to follow in the footsteps of the original. It’s now the ninth highest grossing film of all time, bumping THE AVENGERS to the tenth spot.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Internet
This week I particularly enjoyed this video of a movie theater employee providing movie-goers with an extra-special experience, this clip that captured an extremely rare event in nature, and this one that documents one of the coolest clouds I’ve seen—on the internet or in life.
Also, every time I see one of Hannah Berner’s interview videos in my TikTok feed, I simply cannot tear myself away. Since last August, the comedian has been sharing videos where she asks fellow comedians a simple question, usually about dating and culture. The beauty of the videos is often how drastically different each response is. Plus, the fact that she’s a comedian interviewing fellow comedians means she can give their energy right back to them, making it all that much funnier. I’m very much looking forward to seeing more of these in the new year—check out her content here if you’re looking to get yourself into a wormhole for the next 20+ minutes.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Comedy
Next week, we’re hosting a comedy show with Caleb Hearon, who we had the pleasure of working with on our upcoming film SWEETHEARTS. Caleb, along with a few of his friends, will be performing at our office, and we’re excited to be opening this show up to our lovely subscribers located in Los Angeles. If you’re interested, please fill out this form, and we’ll send you more information at the top of next week.
Film
There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been gleefully laid forth in the viral marketing campaign for Universal and Blumhouse’s campy horror-comedy romp M3GAN (trailer here) but I’ll do my best. After setting the internet (see: Gay Twitter) ablaze in October with a trailer featuring a life-size American Girl doll android dancing to Taylor Swift and murdering innocent victims in the same breath, M3GAN finally hits theaters this weekend. The film follows Gemma (GET OUT’s Allison Williams), a roboticist at a toy company who creates a lifelike AI doll— M3GAN, short for “model 3 generative android"—to console her 8-year-old niece Cady after her parents die in a tragic car accident. Gemma finds herself unequipped to provide emotional support to Cady and increasingly relies on M3GAN to console and entertain her. But this is a horror-comedy, so naturally, M3GAN’s objective to protect Cady from emotional and physical harm begins to spiral out of control as the body count suspiciously starts piling up around Gemma and Cady. If you’re not a big horror fan, M3GAN might be the perfect stepping stone for you. The film carries a PG-13 rating and the set pieces and kills are executed with far more self-aware parody than genuine thrills. It’s an unapologetically absurd and weird film and all the more fun for it; watching it with a boisterous sold-out crowd last night made for the perfect return to theaters.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
The first thing I learned about WHITE NOISE (trailer here), written and directed by Noah Baumbach, is that it is exceedingly ambitious. After all, the Netflix film is adapted from Don DeLillo’s so-called “unfilmable” 1985 novel of the same name—a book widely considered a cornerstone example of postmodern literature. Almost four decades later, Baumbach delivered a rather faithful interpretation of the book onto screen, together with frequent collaborators Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig. In all honesty, the film isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea (or: the girls that get it, get it), but in my opinion this is a well-conceived film that is at once clarifying and disorienting, darkly comedic and quirkily witty, satirical and relevant.
The story is set in 1984 and follows Jack Gladney (Adam Driver), a renowned professor and the head of the Hitler studies department. He lives an upper-middle-class life with his wife Babette Gladney (Greta Gerwig) and their four children, mostly from their previous marriages. Their seemingly peaceful and untouchable life is interrupted when an accident at the edge of the town causes an “Airborne Toxic Event,” forcing the family to evacuate. All the while, with the help of their anxiety-filled teenage daughter Denise, Jack starts to suspect that Babette is taking a mysterious medication in secret. The film clearly makes aesthetic choices, including busy, lyrical and intentionally rehearsed-sounding dialogue; colorful and beautifully-structured cinematography; and a final sequence that you could never expect. In a not-so-straightforward way, the story touches on a broad range of themes including death, American consumerism, technology as a distraction and more. Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig and Don Cheadle (who plays Adam’s colleague) all deliver incredible performances. In the end, it’s a film that depicts a lot and yet leaves a ton of room for the audience to ruminate. Much like the book.
—Mimi Li, Development Coordinator
Don't sleep on PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (trailer here)! Over the holidays, I took my nephew to see this children’s film and was surprised by how invested I became considering I was not even aware there had been a PUSS IN BOOTS 1.
I was also surprised that a children's movie could tell a story about accepting one’s mortality while remaining fun and engaging, even for the seven-year-old I was with! On top of the seemingly morbid theme, the animation is darker and edgier than a typical blockbuster kids film. It did a great job of introducing gross-looking characters that grew on me over time. For sure, 5 stars!
—Lisa Ramon, Manager, Television
TV
Over the holiday break, I discovered a hidden gem in the form of the British series EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE (trailer here) on Peacock. Based on Dolly Alderton’s memoir of the same name and set in 2012 London, the series follows four women navigating their 20s after moving into their first big-city flat. Think of the complex female friendships and millennial woes of GIRLS juxtaposed with the aspirational escapism of EMILY IN PARIS. The music and fashion choices are perfectly specific to the twenty-something experience of early 2010s London, but the characters’ journeys are resonant to anyone who has experienced a life stage that involved having a lot of fun while learning tough lessons along the way. Be sure to check this one out—I promise it’s worth your time!
—Dustin Sloane, Coordinator, Television
If you’re into heists, chaos, captivating characters, personal experiences, and a mind-bending story, then KALEIDOSCOPE (trailer here) is for you. The miniseries follows a master thief Leo Pap (Giancarlo Esposito) and a crew of thieves attempting to heist $7 billion dollars out of an “unbreakable” safe. The Netflix series bends the television format into a “choose your own adventure” show, with every episode designed to be a starting point. The entire show can be viewed in over 5,000 ways, but one caveat is that Netflix strongly recommends the ‘White” episode be viewed last, as that is the only one that covers the actual heist. Each episode is named after a color, and takes place at different times leading up to and after the heist. And obviously, the internet is all over it. My TikTok and Twitter feeds have been filled with people throwing out preferred (but definitive) viewing orders. In each episode, you learn more about an individual character's motivations as well as our stellar lead Leo Pap, painting a more clear picture and leaving you wanting to fill in the gaps! Give this one a watch, either by picking an order you find online, jumping in randomly like me (I started with Red, and have really enjoyed it!), or starting with the order Netflix recommends. No matter your path, you can’t go wrong!
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
Music
Krooked Kings was deeply my jam over winter break. The band is also currently blowing up in the indie world with its unique blend of light indie-rock instruments and indie-pop vocals. Two of the band's standout tracks off their first album THE COMEDOWN are 96 SUBARU and BIRD SCOOTER, which showcase catchy melodies and clever lyrics. 96 SUBARU, the instant breakout song, is now getting thrown into almost every playlist I have. This past fall, Krooked Kings followed up with two killer singles: LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH and CARBON MONOXIDE both of which have a classically fresh take on a more somber, indie atmosphere. If you need a new no-skip indie band, check them out—starting with the four songs I just mentioned!
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
12/16/22
This week: Gen Z discovers ZOOLANDER, Damien Chazelle does not disappoint, and AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER hits theaters. Plus, an unconventional, underrated Christmas movie.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube BIG BOYS – SNL
Letterboxd PINOCCHIO
Spotify ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU – MARIAH CAREY
Netflix HARRY & MEGHAN
Twitter BLOCKBUSTER
Trailer BARBIE
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
AVATAR’s long-awaited return is back this weekend with AVATAR: THE WAY OF THE WATER. The first film, which came out 13 years ago, was massively successful: it made $2.9 billion worldwide, and is the highest grossing film at the box office of all time (not adjusting for inflation). Its success was unusually spread out over its release window, driven by repeat viewing, which might be the story with the sequel as well, as it slightly underperformed domestically on Thursday. Regardless, the film has rave reviews and I’m definitely looking forward to being swept away by the fantasy world later this weekend—and seeing if it matches up to its predecessor.
In more film news, BARBIE’s teaser trailer debuted this morning. I can report it’s definitely intrigued me. Coupling the teaser with the onslaught of news about the film every few weeks, it has somehow forged a movie about a plastic doll with a too-small waist into one of the films I’m most interested in watching next year.
The decision on which country will host the 2030 Winter Olympics has been pushed due to climate change. The International Olympic Committee said that it needs to continue investigating how venues will be affected by climate change before it makes a decision. The three contenders seemingly under review are Salt Lake City, Vancouver, and Sapporo, and the IOC is now considering requiring hosts to show average minimum temperatures below 32° F at snow sports venues over a 10-year period.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Internet
ZOOLANDER is having a resurgence on TikTok at the moment, as Gen Z is realizing that the entire movie is a meme. This video describes how I feel about the trend. I also enjoyed this wholesome holiday rendition of Flo Rida’s LOW [APPLE BOTTOM JEANS], this impressive volleyball rally, and this shockingly close rocket launch footage someone took on a passing plane.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
If you’re a fan of Damien Chazelle, the writer/director behind LA LA LAND and WHIPLASH, then you likely already have his upcoming fourth feature BABYLON (trailer here) on your radar. It’s set to hit theaters next week, but I had the pleasure of catching an early screening and I’m here to report: It’s three hours of a dazzling, passionate wild ride. Starring Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and Diego Calva, BABYLON is a frenzied ode to Hollywood in the 1920s—the rise and fall of silent films and talkies, and the decadence, depravity, sex, drugs, chaos, and excess of the era. From the opening sequence, BABYLON shows viewers right away that it’s going all out. The extravagant clips in the trailer are just a snippet of the lavish, jaw-dropping, beautifully constructed, masterfully choreographed, and at-times absurd scenes in the movie, all accompanied by a gorgeous, hyper-energized score by the genius Justin Hurwitz, a longtime collaborator of Chazelle’s, and the mind behind the unforgettable scores of LA LA LAND and WHIPLASH. As the story unfolds, we get to know three dreamers—Brad Pitt as Jack Conrad, a silent-era heartthrob; Margot Robbie as Nellie LaRoy, a giddy free spirit who knows her star-power before ever stepping foot onto a movie set; and Manny Torres, a Mexican immigrant who will take any job to work in the movies. To say the least, BABYLON is an ambitious epic, unafraid of showing an industry that is at once full of glamor and bigotry, And I’d be remiss to not mention the meticulous craftsmanship—the elaborate production design, the stand-out costumes, the dazzling cinematography—and the brilliant performance by the ensemble cast. If this sounds like your cup of tea, make sure you check it out starting next weekend!
—Mimi Li, Development Coordinator
If you’re looking for an unconventional Christmas movie that isn’t DIE HARD, I've made a tradition of watching the lesser-known and criminally underrated GRANDMOTHER’S GOLD every holiday season since it first came out. Originally posted to YouTube by actor, comedian, and filmmaker Brian Jordan Alvarez in 2018, the movie stars Alvarez and much of the cast of his other self-produced works, including the webseries THE GAY AND WONDROUS LIFE OF CALEB GALLO. It opens on a rather melodramatic scene in the distant year 2023 as siblings Danny and Madeline argue with their parents during Thanksgiving dinner, but things pretty quickly take a left turn into absurdity after the characters casually mention that it’s been three years since the internet was completely shut down. When they wake up the morning before Christmas to find that all of Los Angeles has lost power and the economy has crashed, Danny and Madeline join forces with their friends on a quest to find their estranged grandmother and her stash of gold. This movie definitely appeals to me as someone who isn’t particularly nostalgic for typical holiday fare, but it also manages to neatly wrap everything up in a feel-good Christmas movie message about the power of friendship and family.
—Lauren Kirksey, Development Intern
When RRR (trailer here) first came out, my social feeds were filled with jaw-dropping clips from the movie, and I instantly knew this was something worth watching in the theater. It took a couple months, but I finally saw the movie, followed by a director’s Q&A with S. S. Rajamouli. I truly mean these next few words: That night was one of the best theater experiences I have ever had. Not only did RRR blow me away with powerful performances from leads Ram Charan and N. T. Rama Rao Jr. (my new favorite bromance), masterful storytelling, and a scale that is rarely seen in modern films, but the audience itself created a uniquely magical experience. People were laughing, crying, and on their feet and dancing throughout the theater. Especially during the absolute bop NAACHO NAACHO. I can’t recommend this film enough to pretty much everyone, but if you are a fan of action films this may go down as one of your new favorites. Prem Rakshith must be mentioned, as the action sequences, which varied between giant scenes with 2,000 extras to the intimate one on one fight scenes, were flawlessly choreographed. Let’s hope it continues to get the global recognition it truly deserves (Oscar nominations please). Go watch, sing, and dance with RRR on Netflix!
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
TV
If you're a fan of wild true-story documentaries, I recommend checking out PEPSI, WHERE’S MY JET? (trailer here) on Netflix. The four-part docu-series chronicles the extremely wild true story of 20-year-old John Leonard's efforts to redeem 7 million Pepsi points for a Harrier Jet, following his discovery of a controversial loophole in a Pepsi promotion in 1995. The docu-series turns into a David vs. Goliath court battle featuring some truly memorable characters (including a young Michael Avenatti) who band together to take on Pepsi, and get John his jet. What really elevates the docu-series though, is the way that it delves into the cola wars of the 1990s between Coke & Pepsi, to contextualize the advertisement. There's great interviews with the folks involved with those ads—from the execs who oversaw the campaigns to the celebrities like Cindy Crawford who starred in them—who talk about what it meant to be part of the "Pepsi Generation." Ultimately, this all leads to an ending that gives insight into what it’s like to take on a corporate giant, for better of worse. Oh, and throughout the docu-series we get to see the interviewees take a blind taste test of Coke vs Pepsi. Enjoy!
—Toby Ellentuck, Creative Executive
Video Game
I’ve been replaying HADES, following the surprise announcement that HADES 2 is currently in development, and wow, I’ve never gotten re-addicted to a game so quickly. Playing as Zagreus, the son of Hades himself, you attempt over and over to escape from hell as your illustrious Olympian relatives lend you boons to boost your skills. Dying in this game isn’t game over, but rather an integral function of the narrative as each reset makes you a little stronger. It’s wonderfully voice acted with a great soundtrack, and it’s incredibly replayable even after you’ve reached both the “ending” and the “true ending” of the storyline. And as if all that wasn’t enough, everyone in the game is ummm…really hot. If you’ve got a long flight home for the holidays or a few days to just relax, I highly recommend giving Hades a run-through, then another, then another, and another.
—Anna Lee, Development Intern
Book
I finished ONE LAST STOP, a super charming romance by Casey McQuiston, a few weeks ago and I absolutely adored it. Amateur detective August moves to New York City to finish college and she unexpectedly meets Jane, the girl of her dreams, on the subway. The only problem? Jane has literally been stuck on the Q since the ‘70s thanks to supernatural time travel. What I loved most about the novel is that it felt deeply real, even with the fantastical elements. August and her friends remind me so much of me and my pals at that age: trying to find ourselves and our places in the world. McQuiston explores themes of found family, loss, and reconciliation beautifully and I’m eager to read more of their books.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
12/9/22
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Kate Hudson Hot Ones
Letterboxd BONES AND ALL
Spotify CREEPIN’ - Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage
Netflix BULLET TRAIN
Twitter AMONG US
Trailer COCAINE BEAR
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
The most viral game of 2020, AMONG US, is back with a new version today. The new mode, called HIDE N SEEK, is more fast-paced than classic mode. Like the original game, players are either an imposter or crew members, but this time, the crew members must try to hide from the imposter. I thoroughly enjoyed the game when it first got popular during the pandemic, and I’m looking forward to playing around with this new version over the weekend.
Google shared the most-googled things of the past year, and Wordle, the popular word game acquired by The New York Times this year, topped the list. Other popular searches were Queen Elizabeth, Betty White, and “election results.” The most-searched films in the U.S. included ENCANTO, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, and TOP GUN: MAVERICK. The list also clearly reflected the impact entertainment has on culture, with searches for Will Smith, Chris Rock, “negroni sbagliato,” and even “how to become a fighter pilot” topping the list.
And to close out with some good news, the U.S. approved the largest dam removal in history in order to protect endangered salmon. Four dams along the Klamath River on the border of California and Oregon will now be removed. This move will open up 300 miles of habitat for salmon, which will in turn positively affect the Yurok Tribe, who are reliant on the fish and have been pushing for this for decades now.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Internet
Like Spotify and Google, TikTok also shared some of its data from the past year in a blog post on Tuesday. While it didn’t share exactly which videos were most viewed, the platform highlighted the most popular videos-turned-trends, like the now beloved corn kid remix, the extremely memeable “I’m just a baby!” video, and Lizzo’s ABOUT DAMN TIME dance tutorial. The report also documented the year’s standout creators, songs, and communities. I loved seeing the app highlight creators like @guywithamoviecamera, @pepperonimuffin, and @drewbarrymore on the list. You can check out the full report here.
And of course, some of my favorite gems from this week: this beautiful video of a dolphin and a surfer sharing a wave, this nostalgic clip of Ashton Kutcher pranking Justin Timberlake on the first episode of MTV’s PUNK’D (with a cameo from Dax Shepherd), and this cool demonstration of how mangroves work to protect coastal communities.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
Last week, I finally got the chance to watch DECISION TO LEAVE (trailer here), which director Park Chan-wook won the Best Director award for at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. It stars Hae il Park and Tang Wei, one of my favorite Chinese actresses. DECISION TO LEAVE is another thrilling film from Chan-wook, who’s known for THE VENGEANCE TRILOGY and films such as THIRST and THE HANDMAIDEN. A story filled with old-fashioned romantic fatalism and slow-burn mysteries, DECISION TO LEAVE follows a dedicated detective (Hae il Park) who’s investigating the death of a man who fell off a mountain, but finds himself developing feelings for the dead man’s mysterious wife (Tang Wei), who’s also a suspect in the case. Chan-wook masterfully depicts a seemingly impossible romance that pushes the detective to grapple between his dignity and burning desires, cutting between space and times with his at-times disorienting shots that capture the strange intimacies between the two—the watcher and the watched; the investigator and the suspected; the saved and the savior. The screening I went to at the Hammer Museum featured a Q&A with Jeong Seo-Gyeong, co-writer and longtime collaborator of Chan-wook. It was very fascinating to hear the development of the story from a female perspective, especially given the ending (no spoilers here!).
—Mimi Li, Development Coordinator
FROM THE VAULT
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (trailer here) is one of my favorite holiday movies. Ernst Lubitsch’s classic is the perfect blend of comedy, romance, and even some profound melancholy. It’s also basically the original YOU’VE GOT MAIL, with Jimmy Stewart as a proto-Tom Hanks. Plenty of laughs and quotable dialogue make this kind of the perfect film to put on for the whole family this December.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
TV
The Netflix algorithm was clearly infiltrating the recesses of my psyche when it flagged the hidden gem that is LOVESICK (trailer here). This British half-hour comedy series originally premiered back in 2014, but it's a fresh, delightful watch nearly a decade later. A conceptual blend of HIGH FIDELITY and FRIENDS, the show starts off with lead character Dylan (Johnny Flynn) finding out that he has tested positive for chlamydia and has to notify all of his past partners. With the help of his housemates Luke and Evie, Dylan tracks down a different ex in each episode, flashing back to his time with them while also revealing more about the true romance of the series between Dylan and Evie. The tone is consistently funny and sweet but not saccharine—a perfect, realistic balance of young adult silliness and raunchiness. I could watch these characters and their messy misadventures for years and truly just wish I had joined the party sooner!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Coordinator
Book
Of all the great books I’ve read this year, there’s one that has lingered in my mind more than any other. Helen Oyeyemi’s PEACES is a novel about young lovers Otto and Xavier, who are gifted tickets for a romantic getaway aboard a peculiar train. As they journey through the train’s bizarre cars and meet its eccentric passengers, they begin to uncover mysteries that only give way to more mysteries. All the while, they dissect their relationship and their own psyches as each encounter on the train becomes intertwined with their memories. If that sounds vague and perplexing, well, it is. As whimsical as the premise is, the book is less about an adventure on a train and more about unraveling human perception. PEACES is difficult to properly describe, but I can tell you that I couldn’t put it down. It’s everything you want out of a novel, or out of a train ticket gifted to you by your lover’s weird aunt: It’s a trip.
—Anna Lee, Development Intern
Interviews
Variety’s always-intriguing Actors on Actors interview series is back with some gems this awards season. There are twelve interviews in total, including the four that are out so far: Viola Davis & Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett & Michelle Yeoh, Ana de Armas & Eddie Redmayne, and Adam Sandler & Brendan Fraiser. Just in case you’re unfamiliar with the series, what’s cool about it is the fact that the actors drive the conversation and talk about whatever’s interesting to them—whether that means Blanchett asking Yeoh about Jamie Lee Curtis’ now-iconic hot-dog fingers, or Sandler and Fraiser talking about what Sandler called “the greatest party of all time” (their time on set of their 1994 movie AIRHEADS). The series makes space for genuine dialogue and allows viewers to see a new side of their favorite actors. Still to come: Jamie Lee Curtis & Colin Farrell, John Boyega & Letitia Wright, and Carey Mulligan & Margot Robbie.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Music
At long last, it's here…SZA released her second studio album SOS today. If you’re among the many fans whose hearts have been torn apart—or healed—by SZA’s stunning debut album CTRL and have waited patiently since 2017…then today is a good day. And if you’re not yet a SZA fan, then buckle up and tune in immediately. SZA is a master of translating intimate and personal inner monologues into indelible moments that are resonant and relatable, yet otherworldly, all at once. This long-awaited album carries on the same qualities from CTRL, but more—in one moment, she is a baddie above it all; in the next, she’s a sad girl who’s laying out her vulnerable sides. It’s long and ambitious, featuring 23 songs of different sonic styles and structures, showcasing SZA’s range both as a songwriter and a performer. You’ll hear the booming beats of CONCEITED, pop/rock-influenced F2F, and tracks with lo-fi and R&B reminiscent of CTRL. In conclusion, SZA really said…let my fans be fed with this masterpiece. She ate and left no crumbs.
—Mimi Li, Development Coordinator
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
12/2/22
This week: 4 wildly different films and TV shows, the creative genius of Janelle Monáe, a TikTok phenom you can’t ignore, and more!
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3
Letterboxd GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Spotify ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU
Netflix WEDNESDAY
Twitter Uruguay
Trailer THAT ‘90S SHOW
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
This week ushered in my personal favorite time of year…Spotify Wrapped season, of course. For any Apple Music users who also abstain from using social media, let me explain: This is the annual moment when the streamer uses all of the data it’s been collecting (for better or worse) and packages it up as a neat little gift of personalized year-in-review magic. This year, the streamer added a section outlining each subscriber’s music personality (with 16 different types), which was cute. Personally, I learned that I am loyal to a fault, as I’m fairly certain four out of five of my top artists were the same as last year. Worldwide listening trends are similar—Bad Bunny was the most-listened-to artist for the third year in a row, and his album UN VERANO SIN TI was the most-streamed album. Taylor Swift took the second spot, same as last year, and Harry Styles’ song AS IT WAS was the most streamed song. For the next month (even as I write this email) you can catch me absolutely bopping out to what I consider the most perfect playlist: my own top 101 songs from this year.
The FIFA World Cup, hosted in Qatar this year, is now down to 16 teams, and for the first time ever, this knockout stage features teams from all six populated continents; including the United States, Brazil, Japan, and Spain. The U.S. plays the Netherlands next, tomorrow at 10am ET. Maybe my favorite content to come out of the tournament so far was this video a fan took, documenting the fun some of the workers are having while assisting the crowd.
And finally, I’ve got (more) bad news for potential home buyers, and (finally, maybe) good news for renters. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman analyzed Zillow's rent index, which suggests that the rate of rent growth has slowed sharply in recent months, hitting its lowest level since early 2021 in October. He thinks this trend will continue, and also believes it points to inflation cooling down a bit, too. But the brutal buying market, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be slowing down. According to figures from Redfin, if you live in LA, you now need to make $221,592 a year to buy a median-priced home in the city, which is up a whopping 41% from last year. And across the country, things aren’t looking much better. In the US on average, home buyers need to make $107,281 a year to afford a median-priced home, up 45.6% from last year.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Internet
My favorite pieces of the internet this week include this extremely wholesome tweet that resurfaced, Adam Sandler’s Gotham Awards speech (written by his daughters!), and this TikTok highlighting how much fun Senegal’s soccer team has during warmups.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
Last weekend I caught Steven Spielberg’s new film, THE FABELMANS (trailer here) in theaters. It’s the kind of film that reminds us why Spielberg, or anyone really, makes movies. The meta aspect of a filmmaker making a film about his own life is both countered and enhanced by its distinctly fictional elements. The title immediately clues you in to the fact that, while the film is semi-autobiographical, it is first and foremost a story about “the Fabelmans,” not “the Spielbergs.” You’re fully aware that you’re watching a dramatization, but as a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor balances out the brilliantly acted emotional pangs, every strategically placed exaggeration only makes the story feel more true. To watch a master of his craft skillfully show you how he came to master his craft is something very special. Plus, it’s always fun to see Paul Dano being Paul Dano.
—Anna Lee, Development Intern
I finally watched AFTERSUN (trailer here) starring Paul Mescal and newcomer Frankie Corio the other day, and I have yet to stop thinking about it. The film is based on writer and director Charlotte Wells’ real-life relationship with her father. It follows a young father, Calum, on vacation with his 11-year-old daughter, Sophie. Calum is an extremely lovable father with a boyish charm that masks a great deal of emotional turmoil. In practicality, that means he desperately tries to provide for his daughter—which causes him to be emotionally distant toward her. The movie flashes back and forth between Sophie’s perspective in the future and her perspective at the age of 11, while noticing these changes in her father. The film felt so incredibly personal, but at the same time, somehow relatable. This might be one of my favorite indie movies of the year so if you’re lucky enough to have it in a theater near you, please go take advantage!
—Saad Hamid, Digital Marketing Intern
TV
If you’ve opened Netflix (or certain corners of the internet) this week, you’re likely heard about the Tim Burton-helmed ADDAMS FAMILY spinoff, WEDNESDAY (trailer here). The series has already set a new record for the most hours viewed in a week in its category. Starring the incredible Jenna Ortega, who delivers a stunning performance, WEDNESDAY is a more youthful, soapy spin on the original IP, focusing on deadpan daughter Wednesday as she starts at the infamous Nevermore Academy, her parents’ alma mater and a place for outcasts, freaks, and monsters. It’s never an easy task to breathe new life into iconic IP, but WEDNESDAY knows exactly what it is trying to accomplish here—it brings its gothic characters into a modern setting and puts them in a serious situation; all the while maintaining a campy, kooky and darkly comedic tone. And importantly, it doesn’t shy away from what makes a good, addictive and poppy show, leaning into teenage angst, romantic tensions, and setting up a mysterious high school with secret societies and dances. In all, it’s so much fun, with incredible performances from Ortega, Christina Ricci (who was the OG Wednesday Addams!), Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, and many more. Consider this your ideal weekend binge!
—Mimi Li, Development Coordinator
The creators of DARK (one of my all-time favorite shows) are back with a brand-new concept. Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese’s 1899 (trailer here) follows immigrants on a steamship traveling from London to New York, as they get caught up in a mysterious riddle after coming across another vessel adrift on the open sea. With an ensemble cast of Europeans making their way to America, the incredibly intricate and mysterious series focuses on the dynamics of the characters before diving into a reality-bending tale that will keep any viewer jumping from one episode straight into the next. As a bonus, the series treats language in a fascinating way. With characters speaking in their native English, French, Spanish, German, Danish, or Cantonese, the show embraces the beauty and difficulty immigrants faced when decamping to America. Many scenes show that while the characters may not understand exactly what is being said, there are deeper ways to communicate with each other that breach the language barrier.
One of my favorite aspects of DARK was the multitude of clues and double meanings placed throughout the show, and 1899 follows brilliantly in its footsteps. The creators have talked about how they don’t ever want to toy with the audience, but instead give them real answers tucked into the art direction or throwaway lines. The final twist can even be seen in the first episode if you really pay attention (though I totally missed it). Please, turn back to the turn of the century in one of the best mysteries of the year (in the original language of course!).
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
Book
Is there anything Janelle Monáe can’t do? While I’m sure she’s currently basking in all the critical acclaim for GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (which just concluded its limited theatrical run before it hits Netflix on December 23), the singer-actress-style icon also added author to her list of accomplishments earlier this year with the release of her short fiction collection THE MEMORY LIBRARIAN AND OTHER STORIES OF DIRTY COMPUTER. The book is an extension of her 2018 concept album and accompanying short film DIRTY COMPUTER, consisting of five short stories set in an Afrofuturist cyberpunk landscape controlled by an authoritarian regime called New Dawn. In this technologically advanced but socially restrictive society, time is a luxury and memories can be wiped like a hard drive, but the compelling characters brought to life by Monáe and her collaborators fight for the freedom to love and express their multifaceted identities on their own terms. As a longtime fan of Monáe’s music, I’m thrilled to see her seamless transition into acting and fiction writing, and THE MEMORY LIBRARIAN is definitely a culmination of her artistic genius that any sci-fi lover would enjoy.
—Lauren Kirksey, Development Intern
Music
Lous and the Yakuza (née Marie-Pierra Kakoma) is probably one of the coolest people currently walking this earth. In addition to casually gracing runways and billboards for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Chloé, the Congolese-Belgian singer-songwriter dropped her second album IOTA not too long ago, and it’s every bit as stylish and sophisticated as Lous herself. Featuring her signature blend of R&B and trap influences with haunting melodies and effortless French rap, this is the album to listen to when you’re feeling major main character energy. TAKATA, TRÉSOR, and KISÉ are my favorite tracks from IOTA, and I highly recommend checking out Lous’ previous album, GORE, as well.
—Anna Lee, Development Intern
Everyone knows one of those annoying people who’s always saying, “OMG I knew [insert artist here] way before she started blowing up.” And today, that annoying person is me. Allow me to put you on TikTok sensation Hemlocke Springs, a.k.a. Isimeme Udu. I was deep on Musictok back in May and that was when I first came across Hemlocke Spring’s first single, gimme all ur luv. Soon after that, the catchy chorus was all over TikTok, and even Bella Hadid made a video to it. Yep, Hemlocke took TikTok by storm with her eccentric vocal stylings, slightly awkward persona, and bold fashion choices. The more impressive part of it all is that Hemlocke is making all of her music in her bedroom while pursuing a full-time medical degree. Yeah…wow. She gained even more attention when she put out a snippet of her new single, girlfriend. The unique, catchy hook blew up overnight, and even Khalid did a little dance to it. The song now has over nine million streams on Spotify, and Hemlocke Springs just put out a music video for it two days ago. It’s refreshing with a nostalgic touch; it has a unique aesthetic; and most importantly, it just seems like Hemlocke is having a lot of fun. Go watch and listen!
—Mimi Li, Development Coordinator
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
11/18/22
This week: A book series that’s sure to make you feel warm and fuzzy this holiday season. Plus, two playlists we’ve been listening to all week, a foodie satire you have to see in theaters, and the return of Jennifer Coolidge.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Kendrick Lamar – RICH SPIRIT
Letterboxd BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
Spotify UNHOLY - Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Netflix WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
Twitter Ticketmaster
Trailer AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Let’s start with Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift fiasco, because it’s a huge story with tentacles in entertainment, tech, and law. A quick recap: A massive number of fans (and bots) attempted to purchase presale tickets to Swift’s new tour, to the tune of 3.5 billion system requests, Ticketmaster reported in a now-deleted blog post. Fans were outraged after waiting on the site for hours and eventually being locked out. Then, on Thursday, the ticket-seller shared that it was canceling the general sale, due to “extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory.” Swift responded this morning, sharing her disappointment with Ticketmaster, saying “it really pisses me off that a lot of [fans] feel like they went through several bear attacks” in the process of getting tickets. Now lawmakers from AOC to Amy Klobuchar are raising questions about Ticketmaster’s dominance over the market—and the DOJ has opened an antitrust investigation into its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment—although that’s been in the works since long before this latest debacle.
Apple has shared more details about its new Major League Soccer Season Pass, which the tech giant paid $2.5B+ for. The plan offers viewers total access to the regular season, playoffs, and cup competition with no blackouts. It launches on February 1, is available in 100 countries and regions, and will cost Apple TV+ subscribers $12.99 per month and $79 per season, and non-subscribers $14.99 per month during the season or $99 per season.
A small corner of the internet was glued to an auction of some of Joan Didion’s personal items earlier this week. Bidding, of course, got out of hand right off the bat. A pair of Céline sunglasses sold for $27,000, a Leslie Johnson oil painting of the literary icon looking sad sold for $110,000, a Patti Smith photograph of a typewriter with a personal inscription (and the most compelling thing in the lot, if you ask me) sold for $29,000. But more fun than all of that: a grouping of seashells and pebbles sold for $7,000, a rolling pin and aprons sold for $6,000, and two sets of blank notebooks sold for $11,000. You can’t make this stuff up. But the whole thing raised over $2M for medical research and a scholarship for women in literature, so you can laugh a little bit, but it’s all for a good cause.
And finally, Emma Chamberlain has struck a deal with Spotify that will make her podcast ANYTHING GOES exclusive on the platform, beginning early next year. Her listeners will be able to access a video version of the podcast going forward as well.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
This week, I particularly enjoyed this photo series that explains the idea of “desire paths,” this undeniably cute video of a toddler pretending to be an adult, and this one from a playlist curator that single-handedly convinced me to listen to Ethiopian Jazz all week. If he does the same for you, here’s another playlist (with over 200 songs!) that is perfect to have on in the background, and pretty much guaranteed to elevate your day.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
In a CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY meets KNIVES OUT style of foodie satire, THE MENU (trailer here) serves up a comedic, edge-of-your-seat 106 minutes best experienced in theaters. I highly recommend going in knowing as little as possible, as the unraveling mystery behind the exclusive dining experience that the characters partake in is worth the ride. The basic premise: A wealthy group of individuals dines in one of the world's most exclusive and sought-after restaurants, led by head chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). The ensemble of patrons contains an excellent cast, and Mark Mylod does justice by all of them, layering and balancing each character’s storylines intricately. Anya Taylor Joy delivers a phenomenal performance per usual. And Hong Chau’s character also stood out, coming in strong with some much needed comic relief. While THE MENU starts off very mundane, it builds toward an explosive ending. I appreciated the way the film leaned heavily into the satirical absurdity, and even though I know very little about the world of high-end dining, I’ve heard some industry people joke that the film ought to come with a trigger warning.
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
TV
After snagging five Emmys last year, HBO’s hit show WHITE LOTUS (trailer here) returned on October 30 with an anticipated second season. This go-round, we once again follow wealthy guests as they arrive at another White Lotus hotel, this time set along the beautiful coast of Sicily. To avoid spoiling anything, all I will say is that something happened here, and it’s not looking good. The ensemble does not disappoint—show-stopping favorite Jennifer Coolidge returns with a husband (her romantic interest from the first season, played by Jon Gries) and a personal assistant (Haley Lu Richardson). They’re joined by the captivating Aubrey Plaza, Will Sharpe, Theo James, and more. Just like season one, the show does not shy away from showing the ugly sides of all of the guests and leaves us wondering if there is anyone we can fully be rooting for. So far, the interwoven narratives of the characters feel like a slow burn—it’s intriguing and lays out a complex web, but does not yet provide any answers to the mystery hinted at in the beginning. So, I will be tuning into new episodes each week in hopes of finding out more!
—Mimi Li, Development Coordinator
Book
I’ve finally gotten my hands on BEFORE YOUR MEMORY FADES, the third installment in Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD series. Each book in the series tells four short anecdotes about the patrons and employees of cafe Funiculi Funicula, where ordering a cup of coffee will allow a person to travel back in time. The caveat? They cannot change what has happened in the present, and they can only stay in the past for as long as it takes for the coffee to go cold. These rules make for an almost comically anticlimactic take on a time travel story, but it is how the characters take advantage of this narrow window of opportunity that makes the narrative sing. Kawaguchi’s mastery of the significance of a moment breathes lifetimes of happiness and sorrow into the brief minutes it takes for a character to drink a cup of coffee, making these books a perfect quick fix of emotion. Start with BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD to meet the cafe regulars, continue with TALES FROM THE CAFE to get to know the employees a little better, then catch up with me to read BEFORE YOUR MEMORY FADES so we can feel all warm and fuzzy together.
—Anna Lee, Development Intern
Music
I think we can all agree that there are a lot of good holiday songs out there. From LET IT SNOW to ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU, these songs are undeniably catchy and rooted in holiday spirit. But let’s admit it…we probably hear them over 500 times over the course of six weeks. With that being said, I took it upon myself to make a playlist filled with a mix of newer holiday-esque songs as well as covers of famous holiday songs by lesser known indie and pop artists. There’s a few songs on the playlist that don’t have much to do with the holidays but they do have a certain winter-y vibe so I just had to include them. So, go ahead and put on your comfiest pajamas, grab some hot cocoa (or whatever your warm drink of choice is), and put on PICTURESTART’S Indie Holiday playlist.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Marketing Intern
You might know AJR from their breakout hit NETFLIX TRIP, chart-topper BANG!, or the quarantine anthem BUMMERLAND!. But whatever you know them from, know this: their next era is shaping up to be their best one yet. Their new single THE DJ IS CRYING FOR HELP dropped last night, and it maintains the uplifting yet existential rhythm of past albums while hinting at creative growth and evolution to come. AJR is a band that puts on a great show no matter the format, and this music video is yet another example of that. The inventive use of strings is reminiscent of the extremely popular TikTok trend that came out of their song WORLD'S SMALLEST VIOLIN. I especially resonated with this song lyrically, especially its themes of second-guessing yourself, worrying about having wasted your life, and pursuing a career in a creative field with no plan B. If that doesn't describe entry-level Hollywood, I don't know what does. AJR's fifth studio album, currently known only as TMM, has yet to receive a release date, though the timing of this single's release along with that of lead single I WON'T has many fans anticipating a 2023 release. Go check them out! You won't be disappointed.
—Carrie Smith, Executive Assistant
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
11/11/22
This week: Is this sequel better than the original? Also, WAKANDA FOREVER, lots of great music, a book trilogy that will suck you right in, and a reimagining of a classic that gets it very, very right.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube THE INSECT TIER LIST
Letterboxd ENOLA HOLMES 2
Spotify Taylor Swift - ANTI-HERO
Netflix THE CROWN
Twitter Batman
Trailer THE WHALE
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
If you’ve used Airbnb before, you’ve probably found yourself at least slightly surprised at the total cost of your stay; with hidden fees driving that final cost much higher than the original nightly price you were promised while browsing. For a while now, Airbnb users have been complaining about unexpected service fees and cleaning costs coupled with onerous requests from hosts to complete myriad cleaning tasks at the end of their stay. And finally, it seems like Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, is listening to consumers about their gripes. On Monday, Chesky addressed these grievances in both a Twitter thread and a press release, tackling many of the hotel-alternative’s common complaints. The main takeaway: Guests will no longer have to do tasks like stripping beds, and will be shown the entire price of their stay, including all fees, upfront.
Live music was back in a big way this summer. Live Nation reported its highest quarterly attendance to date in July, August, and September, with over 44 million concert-goers attending 11,000 events. The company’s revenue for that period was up 63 percent from last year, at $6.2 billion total and $5 billion from concerts alone. The ticket seller attributes a chunk of this money to stadium shows from artists like Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, and The Hot Chili Peppers. Beyoncé, we’ll assume you’ve got next summer on lock?
Ever felt like you needed some movie-theater buttery popcorn to help you get through a never-ending company-wide Zoom? Well, AMC is making that (admittedly niche) dream a reality, for some employees. The movie theater chain is partnering with the video technology company that we all know and love, with a new project called “Zoom Rooms at AMC.” Companies can rent out a three-hour block at participating theaters for up to 150 of their employees to participate in video calls. This will be available in 2023 in up to 17 major US markets, if you’re interested.
And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t alert you to the fact that there is a new absolute bop out today. It’s exactly what you’ll want to listen to when you’re getting ready in the morning, working out, cooking, etc. Basically, any time you’re in a pep-in-your-step, dancing mood. It’s I WISH! by our very own Mimi Li, beloved PS Weekly contributor and PICTURESTART team member. Mimi describes the song as a “sultry banger with a hooky bass-line about one of the most profound human experiences—a situationship." If you’re a fan of alternative R&B sounds like the Internet or Audrey Nuna, do yourself a favor and go listen right here!
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
Easily, the coolest TikTok I saw this week was this one, which recommended a unique YouTube channel, @5ninthavenueproject. It’s all video content from the 1980s, mainly from Nelson, a New York City resident who was an early vlogger, documenting his everyday life. It’s super authentic and, if you ever find yourself longing for a time before the world was so wrapped up in technology, it’s a fun way to immerse yourself in a little slice of the past. Also in that vein, I saw this old mushroom commercial (lol) multiple times this week and kind of love it now. Lastly, I know Halloween is over now (by a few weeks), but I still have to share this video of friends giving their neighborhood the most wholesome and unexpected trick-or-treating experience.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
I thoroughly enjoyed the first ENOLA HOLMES and had relatively low expectations for the sequel, because, well, sequels. But I was way off. ENOLA HOLMES 2 (trailer here), dare I say it, was even more charming and entertaining than the original. Millie Bobbie Brown carries the whole thing and manages to pull off “plucky girl detective” in a way that perfectly oscillates between tongue-in-cheek comedy and earnestly feminist call to arms. And Louis Partridge, who reminds me of a young Chuck Bass in all the best ways, is a romantic lead I would love to see everywhere. Their chemistry is great, the mystery is well paced, and the whole thing feels stylish without compromising what’s so special about the original novels.
—Neha Gandhi, Marketing Consultant
2018’s BLACK PANTHER was a cultural phenomenon, to state the obvious. So, it makes sense that a quick two years after the film’s debut, writer and director Ryan Coogler completed the script for the sequel. Tragically, a few weeks after that, Chadwick Boseman, the inimitable star and heart of the first film, passed away. Coogler of course rewrote the sequel, but fans have been wondering ever since, how this follow-up would both live up to the original, and honor Boseman’s memory.
Well, I’m happy to report that Ryan Coogler delivered an emotional tribute to the late actor in every way he could. Without spoiling the film, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (trailer here) feels like the best possible direction the Marvel team could have taken this piece of the universe, while also delivering on a captivating and fresh story. The opening sequence was heartfelt, and beautifully paid respect to T’Challa. Moving forward from there, Cooglar leans in on the supporting cast of the first film with a keen focus on Shuri (Letitia Wright), Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), M’Baku (Winston Duke), and Okoye (Danai Gurira). And then, by way of new characters, one of the best comic book villains the Marvel team could have drawn from delivers in the form of Namor (Tenoch Huerta). The juxtaposition of Namor’s backstory and his character’s actions create an antagonist I deeply enjoyed. And of course, this being Marvel, the massive scale and ambition of each set piece was awe-inspiring. The music throughout the film was an expansion on the original BLACK PANTHER, further incorporating African and Mesoamerican artists to create an extremely diverse score that comes to life inside the film. There’s so much more there, but honestly, just go see it. In a theater! It’s worth it.
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
Book
One of my favorite things to come out of this year was DRACULA DAILY, a Substack newsletter created by Matt Kirkland that’s literally just “the classic novel DRACULA delivered to your inbox, as it happens.” Bram Stoker’s DRACULA is an epistolary novel, told entirely through diary entries, newspaper clippings, and written correspondence between its characters, with the events of the story unfolding from May 3 to November 7—so it’s handcrafted for this format of storytelling. It was kind of bittersweet to receive the final entry earlier this week (I will truly and honestly miss getting emails from my good friend Jonathan Harker and his vampire-hunting besties), but the whole experience was a really fun way to engage with a classic novel that’s been on my reading list forever. Kirkland actually started DRACULA DAILY in 2021 and brought it back this year, so I hope the newsletter becomes an annual tradition. He’s also planning to release a book version next fall (DRACULA DAILY remixes the original novel by having each entry appear in chronological order), which I will definitely be on the lookout for.
— Lauren Kirksey, Development Intern
One of the first BookTok recommendations to come across my FYP back in 2020 was BLACK SUN by Rebecca Roanhorse. The novel is the first in a trilogy (the second book, FEVERED STAR, was released in April) and is a high fantasy inspired by pre-colonial cultures of the Americas. BLACK SUN follows the journeys of multiple characters (a shapeshifting mermaid captain, a high priestess, the living reincarnation of a powerful god, and the young scion of a noble house) as they travel to the capital for a solstice celebration that coincides with a solar eclipse. I absolutely loved the political scheming, the magical elements, and the deeply immersive world-building. Plus, there’s no joy like finishing a book you’re completely absorbed by…only to realize you have two more ahead of you.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Music
Indie rock band The 1975 released their fifth studio album a few weeks ago and I have been playing it non-stop. The album is titled BEING FUNNY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE and each track has a vibe of its own, ranging from classic rock to synth pop to indie electronica. The lyrical themes cover love, mental health and even some political themes such as gun violence and climate change. Some of my personal favorite tracks off the album include, LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY (TO LOVE), WINTERING and ABOUT YOU. In multiple interviews, Healy has noted artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Arthur Russell for inspiration on some of the songs on the album so, if you’re a fan of either of those artists or just a fan of rock music in general, I highly recommend you put on BEING FUNNY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE by The 1975, immediately.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Marketing Intern
If your music taste was anything like mine in the early 2010s (angsty, I-hate-this-town, etc.), Young the Giant’s COUGH SYRUP is probably floating around somewhere in one of your old playlists. I was always a casual YTG listener, but their most recent project, AMERICAN BOLLYWOOD, has quickly converted me into a proper fan. They’ve been releasing the album throughout the year in various acts, with the fourth and final act dropping just last month. It marks the band’s first release since cutting ties with their record label and starting their own label under the name Jungle Youth Publishing. Frontman Sameer Gadhia has described the project as a “reappropriation of sound,” taking popular Eastern-inspired elements of Western music (often found in the grunge and psychedelic genres) and reclaiming them in tribute to the South Asian diaspora. It is both a story about an Indian immigrant finding his way in a new country and a story about the band finding its way in a new era of their career. I definitely recommend starting with the beautifully personal and cinematic music video for the titular track AMERICAN BOLLYWOOD, a song that fully made me cry in the car when I first heard it. My other personal recs include WAKE UP, INSOMNIA DOLLAR $TORE, and OTHERSIDE.
—Anna Lee, Development Intern
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
11/4/22
This week: Queer rom-com escapism, a solid action-thriller, an excellent Western you might have missed, and a stop-motion film that proves what animation is capable of.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube HOW THE NATIVE AMERICANS BUILT A LEGENDARY CIVILIZATION
Letterboxd WENDELL & WILD
Spotify Taylor Swift - ANTI-HERO
Netflix THE BAD GUYS
Twitter #NativeTwitter
Trailer YELLOWSTONE SEASON FIVE
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
One week after Elon Musk acquired Twitter, the platform laid off about half of its 7,500 employees. And, according to The Verge, teams focused on trust and safety issues were among the hardest hit. In the wake of volatility in the business and uncertainty around content moderation, many advertisers, including The Volkswagen Group, General Mills, General Motors, and Pfizer have paused spending media dollars on the platform. Musk, of course, had a different, if inaccurate, take on the situation, conflating corporate brand safety concerns with political correctness.
As climate change worsens and drastically affects different areas of the country, Native Americans communities are preparing to adapt to the extreme weather that comes with it. In Washington, three Native American tribes located around the Olympic Peninsula are planning to move further inland, away from the encroaching coast. But moves like this are expensive, and these tribes don’t have the half a billion dollars in funding that’d be required to relocate. President Biden responded with “the first program in American history specifically designed to help relocate communities threatened by climate change,” according to the New York Times. Next, the government will start the process of evaluating which tribes to award these grants.
And finally, speaking of government, remember: Election day is this Tuesday! Which means that’s when voting ends, not when it begins. Early voting is open now in most states. This map will show you if you can vote early in person, if you want to get it done this weekend. And even if you aren’t registered, 20 states and Washington, D.C. allow same-day registration at your polling place. So it’s (potentially) not too late!
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
This week, I loved this video of a woman taking viewers through her process while getting ready for a powwow. I recommend checking out more of her account too; she offers a lot of insight into the Shoshone-Bannock community, with videos like this one telling her viewers how they can respectfully wear indigenous jewelry while supporting small businesses. I also loved seeing this unlikely trio of hungry animals, and this video that shows how a group of people trapped in an elevator bonded over the hours stuck together.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
Before there was BROS, there was BIG EDEN (2000) (trailer here). A more obscure entry in the genre, BIG EDEN is a queer romantic comedy-drama that’s somehow a charming time capsule of the late 90s/early 2000s that’s also incredibly ahead of its time. The movie centers on Henry Hart (Arye Gross), a gay artist in New York City who returns to his small hometown of Big Eden, Montana after his grandfather Sam (George Coe) suffers a stroke. He reconnects with his childhood friend Pike Dexter (Eric Schweig), a sensitive and shy Native American man (Schweig himself is Indigenous Canadian) who has long harbored a secret crush on Henry. Perhaps surprisingly, there isn’t a single trace of small-town bigotry or that distinctly early-2000s flavor of homophobia to be found in this movie; the main conflict deals with the prospect of Henry losing his grandfather, Pike’s reluctance to admit his feelings, and a love triangle with Henry’s high school crush Dean (Tim DeKay). The two romantic leads are given emotional depth and dignity, and the entire town eventually rallies around Henry and Pike getting together, with plenty of home-cooked meals and community get-togethers aiding the process. Some critics have considered this an unrealistic premise, but I think it’s a much-needed dose of escapism into an ideal world where being openly queer in a small town just isn’t a big deal. BIG EDEN is about coming together as a community, making peace with past regrets, and opening up to the possibility of finding love by overcoming the fear of heartbreak.
— Lauren Kirksey, Development Intern
Taking place on the Great Plains in 1719, Dan Trachtenberg’s PREY (trailer here) (a prequel to the PREDATOR series) follows Naru, a hardened and highly skilled Comanche hunter who fights to protect her tribe against an unknown threat that descends upon their community. Featuring a standout performance by Amber Midthunder and some first-rate action set pieces, PREY is an incredibly fun and well-made action-thriller that unfortunately flew under the radar when it was released on Hulu in August. If you’re looking for something to scratch your action-thriller itch at home this weekend, PREY is it!
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
I love everything about Westerns—from the story structure to the landscapes and the atmosphere. And these days, nobody makes a Western quite like Taylor Sheridan. The first two films he wrote, HELL OR HIGH WATER and SICARIO, are undeniable. HELL OR HIGH WATER is an action-packed and powerful heist film in the remote landscape of West Texas, and SICARIO’s border crossing scene (IYKYK) will be burned into my brain forever. But I want to talk about his third, less talked-about film, which he also directed. WIND RIVER (trailer here) follows animal tracker Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) as he assists rookie FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen) in solving a rape and murder case involving a teenage girl. It’s set against the backdrop of Wind River, the only Native American reservation in Wyoming (a real place, home to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes). Powered by a strong cast of Native American actors including Kelsey Asbille and Gil Birmingham (both went on to work on Sheridan’s YELLOWSTONE), the film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life on many reservations. Because in reality, most cases like the one in the film go unsolved (and as the film points out in its closing “while missing person statistics are compiled for every other demographic, none exist for Native American women”). While there are definitely parts of this subject that could have been further explored, WIND RIVER is an engrossing yet somber slow-burn crime thriller that I can’t recommend enough.
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
Halloween may have ended but I’m begging you not to sleep on WENDELL & WILD (trailer here) if you haven’t seen it yet. Animation is capable of more than lighthearted G-rated fairy tales or gratuitously raunchy adult comedies, which is why I have been dying for PG-13 animated features to become more common for ages. To see it happen in stop motion feels like a gift, and hearing the words “janky, stanky ass” uttered by a puppet version of Keegan-Michael Key in a “kid’s” movie is a transcendent experience. Not to mention the fact that this movie features casual but highly intentional diversity on a level that is rarely done this well. This is a movie about a Black girl bringing down the private prison system. It’s also a movie about Key and Peele being demons who live in a giant nose. It’s about a trans kid fighting for the people who love him. It’s about magical hair cream. Director Henry Selick knows what he’s doing in the realm of spooky stop motion (he’s the director of CORALINE and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, after all), so while this movie feels fresh and new, it still has that nostalgic quality that makes you want to watch and rewatch again, year after year.
—Anna Lee, Development Intern
TV
I absolutely loved the first two seasons of Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s RESERVATION DOGS (trailer here) and am thrilled that it’s officially been picked up for a third season. It is one of the best coming-of-age stories I’ve ever seen. The show’s four main characters, the titular Reservation Dogs (Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, and Lane Factor), are Indigenous teens in Oklahoma dealing with the suicide of a close friend. The show moves beautifully between the tragic and hilarious moments, and its young stars are amazingly talented.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Elizabeth Ito’s Netflix series CITY OF GHOSTS (trailer here) is one of the most quietly breathtaking shows I’ve ever seen. Truly. Drawing attention to the diversity of Los Angeles’s many beloved neighborhoods, each episode tells the story of a different community through the lens of children interviewing the friendly ghosts haunting the city. The fourth episode, titled “Tovaangar,” follows the kids as they discover the history of the indigenous peoples of Los Angeles, known as the Tongva. While this show is joyous and kid-friendly, it doesn’t shy away from somber truths, and this episode in particular carries a melancholy weight as the kids begin to understand the effects of industrialization on the city they call home. With its charming, innovative animation and documentary-style patience, CITY OF GHOSTS is a show that will remind you why you love the communities you’re a part of.
—Anna Lee, Development Intern
Book
THERE THERE by Tommy Orange is an incredible novel that has stayed with me for years after I first read it. The book’s multiple Native American narrators share their interwoven journeys leading up to a powwow in Oakland. Orange’s prose is breathtakingly beautiful and his characters navigate intergenerational trauma, addiction, art grants, heists, unrequited love, and more. I listened to the audiobook while commuting (pre-pandemic, naturally), and had to pull over multiple times to catch my breath and wipe away tears at Orange’s moving storytelling.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Music
FROM THE VAULT
Black Belt Eagle Scout—the moniker under which Katherine Paul releases her music—makes fuzzy rock jams to fill your bedroom at night. And slow indie-folk ballads to angstily drive to. And echoing dreamy melodies to get lost to somewhere in the hazy Pacific Northwestern woods, because she’s from Portland. Swinomish, Iñupiaq, feminist, and queer, Paul draws on her unique experiences along with universal ones to write about anything from Standing Rock to good old-fashioned heartache, and by repeating a simple but perfect line like “I know you’re taken” over pining electric guitar riffs, she effortlessly creates anthems of desire. Give her a listen, and start anywhere; you really can’t go wrong.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
10/28/22
This week: Rihanna; Harry Styles; horror-comedy; not one, but two, Adam Wingaurd films; and the romp of a rom-com we didn’t even know we needed.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Rihanna - LIFT ME UP
Letterboxd BLACK ADAM
Spotify Taylor Swift - ANTI-HERO
Netflix THE GOOD NURSE
Twitter Elon
Trailer Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Okay, Elon Musk finally bought Twitter. After months of speculation and waffling and so much suspense, it’s really happening. And it appears that Musk is already shaking things up, as he ousted three top executives to the tune of $187 million. He’s also announced that the company will be forming a “content moderation counsel with wildly diverse viewpoints” and it won’t be reinstating banned accounts (like former President Trump’s, which Musk already promised to reinstate) until the council meets.
It’s been quite some time since Rihanna dropped new music. But her five-year-hiatus has ended (!!!), in the form of the lead single for BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER’s soundtrack (dropping in its entirety on November 2). The song is a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, star of the first BLACK PANTHER film. LIFT ME UP is a beautiful, measured ballad, and came with a new music video of Rihanna singing on a beach. The film itself comes out on November 11, and the release of this song made me even more anxious and eager to watch.
Earlier this week, Adidas ended its partnership with Kanye West, after a strong public outcry demanding it. Other brands that cut ties with the musician include Balenciaga, Gap, and Foot Locker. While Kanye terminated his Gap relationship in September, and the Adidas partnership had been under internal review since the beginning of October, this action followed West’s October 16 anti-semtic comments on a podcast as well as his social channels—which led to a widely-publicized photo depicting a group of people publicly supporting West’s hate speech on an overpass in Los Angeles. While West has long had a reputation for making damaging and offensive comments, according to Amy Shanler, a professor of public relations at the Boston University, this photo going viral “woke these companies up…It made them realize “it’s not just Kanye talking to Kanye…there are other people who are listening.”
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
On TikTok this week, I loved this video that documents a group of friends who went around NYC dressed up as paparazzi for Halloween, making each costumed person they met feel like they were famous. I also liked this love letter to people who put a pep in their step when a car is waiting for them to cross the street (what the narrator calls “The Grateful Jog”), and this truly solid list of TV shows with amazing first seasons.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
What is one TV show that you think has a perfect first season? We’ll send the person with the best rationale a bag of your favorite candy (and run your thoughts in next week’s edition of PS Weekly). Reply to this email and let us know.
Film
ROSALINE (trailer here) is the alternate reality Shakespearean romp of a rom-com I never knew I needed. The film follows Rosaline (Kaitlyn Dever), who is madly in love with Romeo (Kyle Allen)...until he leaves her for her cousin Juliet (Isabela Merced). When Rosline’s attempts to break the couple up fail, she teams with Dario (Sean Teale), a rejected suitor of her own, now turned into a reluctant ally. Kyle Allen's portrayal of Romeo as a melodramatic narcissist elevates the once-tragic character to comedic gold, rivaled only by Nico Hiraga as Steve the Courier. Bradley Whitford also shines as Rosaline's father, playing "frustrated dad to stubborn teenage daughter" to perfection, their relationship giving the story an underlying thread tethered firmly in reality. However, Rosaline and Dario carry this story. Enemies to lovers is hard to do well, but here, it's spectacular. Dever and Teale have this dynamic chemistry that evolves with the characters and left me, frankly, with butterflies. Mandatory viewing for any dump-ee looking to move on with their lives and find a little peace.
––Carrie Smith, Physical Production Assistant
If you’re making your way through Halloween watchlists this weekend but want to venture off the HOCUS POCUS beaten path, THE GUEST (2014) (trailer here) might be the film for you. Adam Winguard’s directorial follow-up to YOU’RE NEXT stars Dan Stevens as a handsome stranger who shows up to the Peterson family’s doorstep, introducing himself as David, a friend of their late son Caleb who fought with him in Afghanistan before his death. While the Petersons’ kids are at first enamored with David, their daughter Anna (Maika Monroe) eventually begins to wonder if David really is who he claims to be. Filled with great performances and action scenes, a great synthy score, and a haunted house set piece for the ages, the movie is a wild ride that isn’t afraid to get a little weird.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
FROM THE VAULT
In my eyes, the best horror films are the ones that wash their thrills and chills down with a healthy sense of humor. Whether it’s the subversive edge of GET OUT or the meta quality of the SCREAM franchise, seeing characters acknowledge the absurdity of the horrifying situations they find themselves in just makes those films all the more amusing, and frankly, truthful. For that reason, I'm lending the spotlight this weekend to Adam Wingard’s YOU’RE NEXT (trailer here), one of the most criminally underrated horror-comedies of the last decade. The film follows Erin (Sharni Vinson), college student and ostensible ingénue, who accompanies her professor boyfriend Crispin to his childhood home for his parents’ 35th wedding anniversary. As the family settles into their remote mansion in the middle of nowhere, the dysfunction jumps right off the screen. You can’t help but watch as Crispin, his insufferable siblings, and their spouses bicker their way through dinner, criticizing each other’s jobs and relationships….until a crossbow bolt crashes through the window and impales one of them in the head mid-sentence. The film instantly shifts gears into a high-octane, farcical bloodbath as a crew of masked killers descends upon the mansion and targets the family. Without giving too much away, YOU’RE NEXT doesn’t waste a single second of its lean, 94-minute runtime, as Erin strategizes against the killers and tries to stay one step ahead. Boasting some wildly inventive (and hilarious) kills and clever twists that’ll keep you hooked until the credits roll, YOU’RE NEXT could most aptly be described as the twisted love child of KNIVES OUT, SCREAM, and THE STRANGERS—in other words, an absolute blast.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
Podcast
My friends and I joke that to know me is to know that I am fascinated by scams and scammers—the messier the better. So when Laci Mosley’s hilarious SCAM GODDESS debuted back in September 2019, I was instantly hooked. She and her weekly guests do deep dives on all sorts of fraudsters and charlatans. It’s the one podcast that makes me actually laugh out loud each episode. And as a loyal member of Mosley’s Con-gregation, I was so thrilled to see that she recently made the Out100.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Book
Isaac Asimov’s splendid short story NIGHTFALL is a perfect Sunday read—especially as a companion piece to all the scary movies of the Halloween season. Set on the fictional planet Lagash, where six suns hang in the sky at all times, the story is about the final hours before night falls for the first time in 2049 years. This is a world blessed and cursed by eternal sunshine. Darkness is a myth that nobody has seen—until a rare eclipse that is about to send the world into unknown territory. Asimov brings a dazzling mix of fear, naïveté, intellectual curiosity, and wicked humor to a story that feels increasingly absurd—where scientists, psychologists, and cultists speculate about the soul-robbing nature of nighttime and marvel at the use of fire to produce light. "Imagine darkness–everywhere. No light, as far as you can see. The houses, the trees, the fields, the earth, the sky–black! Can you conceive it?" The terror of darkness pulses through vivid dialogue that feels silly for its implausibility, but profound in its desire for light—a timeless symbol of sanity and hope. Stories like NIGHTFALL are why I’m so in love with spooky tales, because the best of them push me to think how I would react in the face of the terrifying.
—Lauren Ma, Business Affairs Coordinator
Music
I was fortunate enough to go to the second night of Harry Styles’ 15-night Los Angeles residency at the Kia Forum, which is the last of five cities. This is now my fifth time seeing Harry live, and I can say with confidence that he outdoes himself every single time. If you haven’t been to any of his shows, you should know that Harry has an ongoing tradition where he helps his fans to come out and Monday night was no exception. A fan brought a sign that asked if Harry could “help me come out, but in a cool way.” He accepts, and after a long drum roll courtesy of his drummer, Sarah, he shouts “Katy, you’re gay!” while waving around the Bisexual Pride Flag. The whole arena cheers and is filled with applause while congratulating the newly out fan. Overall, this was potentially my favorite concert of the last year. Yes, it was that good. Beyond even the performance, the sense of community and energy you feel at one of these shows is completely unmatched.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Marketing Intern
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
10/21/22
This week: A throwback Halloween rec that reigns supreme, the ~perfect~ fall series, and a seven-episode binge to take down over the weekend (btw, Jennifer Coolidge is involved).
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Spot the short king
Letterboxd HALLOWEEN ENDS
Spotify UNHOLY - Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Netflix WATCHER
Twitter $SNAP
Trailer WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Anyone else been extra sneezy and sniffly lately? Well, we’re not alone. I hate to report it, but this is yet another thing that’s been worsened by climate change. According to Kenneth Mendez, the president of the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, “allergy seasons have almost doubled in length and gotten more intense because of climate change.” Higher carbon dioxide levels are causing plants to release more pollen, and with higher temperatures throughout the year, plants have more time to grow and produce allergens.
I do have good news for most taxpayers, though. The IRS has adjusted tax brackets and increased the standard deduction most people can take, to make up for the nearly seven percent increase in consumer prices driven by inflation. The biggest change is the shift in income brackets, as the IRS raised the income thresholds for each seven income brackets. These shifts will not affect the tax rates of folks whose salaries have kept pace with inflation in real time, over the past year. But, according to The NYT, for many Americans, that hasn’t been the case. “Inflation-adjusted weekly earnings declined nearly 4 percent from September last year to this September.”
You can expect to be targeted with personalized ads while traveling in a rideshare service pretty soon. Uber has plans to expand into the ad business projected to generate $1B in revenue in the next two years, displaying ads in-app, on the backs of seats, and on top of cars. According to TechCrunch, over 40 brands, including NBCUniversal, Heineken and United Artists Releasing, have already signed on.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
Okay, I must share this series I’ve been loving. The marketing department of this adult-sized electric tricycle company makes a series of addictive videos, where they go up to random people on the street and ask them to sing karaoke on the back of their bikes. Seeing the individuals go from being unsure if they want to participate to belting The Little Mermaid on the back of the bike just has not gotten old, even after 40+ videos. Start with this one. I also loved this wholesome video of a baby turtle on his voyage from the sand to the ocean, and this one of a spider at work on quite a large dinner.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
Okay, I’m here to admit that I finally watched a Halloween classic this fall season, and I’d like to convince anyone else who hasn’t yet seen PRACTICAL MAGIC (trailer here) to pencil it into their schedule in the next ten days. Let me start off by saying the cast is stacked. We’ve got Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, and Stockard Channing. It also has a great soundtrack (two Stevie Nicks songs!). The 1998 film tells the story of two sisters from a small coastal town who grapple with a curse, and are forced to lean into the world of witchcraft that they denied for most of their lives. It’s just a lot of fun to watch, and quite frankly, everything I wanted in a Halloween movie night. The best scene of all: this one, where the sisters and the aunts are drinking and dancing around and singing along to LIME IN THE COCONUT. It's quickly followed by the sets of sisters hurling insults at each other, which is just so funny and real. Make your weekend a little more fun and chaotic by putting this gem on.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TV
Netflix's new hit limited series THE WATCHER is my kind of mess. Loosely based on a true story covered by New York Magazine in 2018, the series follows Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale as Nora and Dean, an in-over-their-head couple who spend their life savings on a New Jersey mansion only to quickly learn that they–and their new home–are being watched by an anonymous stalker who desperately wants them out. A quick seven-episode binge, THE WATCHER is a star-studded, campy whodunnit in which everyone is a suspect. Most importantly, Jennifer Coolidge gives peak Jennifer Coolidge, which should be more than enough reason to check it out!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Coordinator
Fall, which is questionably arriving here in LA, means different things to different people. For me: latte foam art, tiny pumpkins, and fuzzy comfy socks. But above all else, it’s an excuse to rewatch OVER THE GARDEN WALL. The 2014 Cartoon Network mini-series follows two young brothers, Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Greg (Collin Dean) as they traverse an otherworldly forest called The Unknown in search of a way home, all while avoiding an ominous, hope-sucking creature known as The Beast (Samuel Ramey). It's a sweet, heartfelt story that taps into the chilly unease and childlike wonder of autumn without being overly scary (but if you're a horror wimp like I am though, you may want to skip Episode 7, "The Ringing of the Bell"). OVER THE GARDEN WALL is best enjoyed with a cat on your lap, a pumpkin spice latte in your hand, and your best friend on the couch next to you. The whole thing clocks in at around two hours from start to finish, so it makes for a great cozy evening in. Happy watching! And beware the beast...
—Carrie Smith, Executive Assistant
This last week I watched the new Australian Netflix series, HEARTBREAK HIGH. The show is about a group of high school students in Sydney who are all exposed after a map of all their past sexual exploits is graffitied on one of the halls of the high school. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say: The show is incredible and I highly recommend you watch it if you have a little free time on your hands. It’s one of the rare teen shows that accurately captures the social dynamics of high school—and the effects those can have on teens’ mental and physical health.
— Saad Hamid, Digital Intern
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
10/14/22
This week: Cinderella’s dystopian future, an anime series that very much lives up to the hype, and your soundtrack to fall.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Old vs. New Lunchables Taste Test
Letterboxd SMILE
Spotify UNHOLY - Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Netflix LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE
Twitter #HALLOWEENENDS
Trailer WEDNESDAY ADDAMS
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Last week, Nicole Mann became the first Native American woman to go to space. She told the BBC "[I hope it] will inspire young Native American children to follow their dreams and realize that some of those barriers that are there or used to be there are being broken down.” She’s now at the International Space Station, where she’ll be for five months, working on about 250 (!!) scientific investigations with her team.
It looks like TikTok’s parent company is hoping to take advantage the platform’s outsized influence on the music industry. According to the Wall Street Journal, ByteDance is coming for Spotify, and has begun talks with music labels about expanding Resso, its music-streaming service to more than a dozen markets (not including the U.S.). The company wants the service to eventually be integrated with TikTok. And as we’ve talked about in PS Weekly many times in the past…TikTok has drastically transformed the music industry, changing everything from the way users discover and share new music to the way artists debut new songs (including Sam Smith and Kim Petras with their song UNHOLY, which has been sitting pretty on that trends list at the top of this email for two weeks now). And of course, the platform is also breathing new life into dusty music catalogs, as evidenced by the resurgence of songs like Kate Bush’s RUNNING UP THAT HILL after millions of TikToks used the sound. But still, with Apple Music’s and Spotify’s head starts in the space (and their willingness to pay more, albeit still very little, per stream) it remains to be seen if ByteDance can carve a foothold into the space.
And finally, we’re remembering Robbie Coltrane, who passed away today. He’s the incredible actor you know best for bringing the loveable Hagrid to life in the HARRY POTTER film series. Daniel Radcliffe wrote a statement, saying “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set. I’ve especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on PRISONER OF AZKABAN, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid’s hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up.”
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
The past few weeks, my FYP has genuinely been flooded with imagery of a man, always wearing a polo shirt, singing along to some type of popular song, edited into undeniably relatable scenarios. Rodger Cleye was already consistently viral on his own page, where he simply sings along to popular songs that one of his 2.6 million followers suggest. But, users have taken his virality to another level through these video memes. They put Cleye’s head into various scenes, depicting some situation that matches with one of his songs. It’s weird, but I love it. If any of this intrigues you, start with this video which accurately describes the power of the common cold, and this one, which you just need to see to understand.
I also loved this perfectly-framed video of a rocket launch that might have been carrying the astronaut I mentioned earlier, this short video documenting a beautiful Frank Ocean story, and this one that will transport you into fall, even if it’s still blistering hot where you live. Have a good weekend!
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
FROM THE VAULT
Film
One of my favorite movies of all time is Lone Scherfig's AN EDUCATION (2009) (trailer here). Adapted by Nick Hornby from a memoir by Lynn Barber, this film about a teen francophile on the precipice between girlhood and womanhood in the 1960s gave Carey Mulligan her big break, accompanied by other great performances from the likes of Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Rosamund Pike, Dominic Cooper, and Emma Thompson. Upon meeting a handsome stranger named David (Sarsgaard), Mulligan's Jenny is swept out of her humdrum London schoolgirl life and into a world of glamor, sophistication, and most importantly, freedom—or so she thinks. The genius of this film is in how it seduces the viewer with such charm and style (just as David woos Jenny) but disrupts the facade just as easily. It's both a coming-of-age story and a staying-of-age story of sorts—a refreshingly nuanced look at youth and perceptions of maturity. Year after year I find myself coming back to this one, simultaneously as a wish-fulfilling comfort watch and as a reminder to slow down in life.
—Alicia Devereaux, Executive Assistant
TV
The first episode of CHAINSAW MAN (trailer here) finally dropped this week. The hype for this anime series has been unreal, following the massive success of the hit manga by the same name and the first trailer hitting almost 6M views. And episode one went hard, starting with the original opening song KICKBACK by Kenshi Yonezu. The opening is a huge tribute to the artist (and film lover) who created the original manga the show is based on, Tatsuki Fujimoto. It pieces together a ton of movie references from the likes of PULP FICTION, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, and many more. And behind all of those scenes is a mountain of foreshadowing that fans of the original manga have to be thoroughly enjoying.
Studio MAPPA has done a tremendous job of adapting the series, and many of the shots are exact copies of panels from the manga. With such strong source material, it’s beyond gratifying to fans like me to know that they are staying true to the original form. MAPPA did a great job with the animation, which is no surprise to fans of JUJUTSU KAISEN and ATTACK ON TITAN, and the series features killer performances from Kikunosuke Toya as Denji and Fairouz Ai Kadota as Makima. The pacing felt like it covered the material quickly, but without feeling too rushed, and saved plenty of room for some great action moments. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for this season. I have a feeling this will become one of the biggest anime perhaps of all time, so if you are into a slightly edgy show with plenty of action, horror elements, and heart-ripping story moments that will leave you mildly depressed, jump on in!
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
Book
I absolutely adore fairy tale retellings, so I was excited to dive into CINDERELLA IS DEAD by Kalynn Bayron. Several generations after the events of Cinderella, teenage girls are now required by law to attend grand balls at the palace where wealthy older men claim them as brides. The novel’s main character Sophia, a 16-year-old in love with her best friend Erin, suspects there’s more to the Cinderella myth than the propaganda King and his government have been pushing—and of course she’s right. I loved the magical elements, the mystery, and the romance. CINDERELLA IS DEAD is a quick, super engaging read, and also, its cover art is stunning.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Music
I just want to take a quick moment to shout out an album that I've had on repeat lately. FIVE SECONDS FLAT by Lizzy McAlpine came out earlier this year, but I'm bringing it up now because I finally got to see Lizzy live at the Troubadour last week. If your FYP looks anything like mine, you’ve likely seen many TikToks of folks scream-crying to Lizzy lyrics which perfectly define the journey of heartbreak and betrayal—but don't worry, I promise there's some levity in the album too! Back to my main point, though: It was amazing to see Lizzy and the rest of her band play live. Her album includes the extreme emotions of heartbreak but also the soft sounds of falling in love, trusting, and starting anew. To me, so many of her songs sound like the embodiment of a fall morning. Put the album on on a Sunday morning and enjoy the ride of some of my faves: "orange show speedway," "doomsday," "all my ghosts," and "ceilings."
—Erin Harris, Development Coordinator
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
10/07/22
This week: Cate Blanchett, you are incandescent. Also, paranormal terror, a book you’ll devour in a weekend, and the return of RAMY.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Kid Cudi - HOT ONES
Letterboxd HOCUS POCUS 2
Spotify UNHOLY - Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Netflix LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE
Twitter MLB Post Season
Trailer VELMA
Life & Culture
In the latest installment of this “will he or won’t he” saga…it looks like Elon is going to buy Twitter after all. Probably. If you aren’t caught up on this never-ending drama, Musk is now two weeks out from going to court with the social media company. It all started back in April, when he made a very public announcement that he wanted to buy Twitter for $54.20 a share. And later that month, Twitter accepted the deal. On July 8, Musk wanted out of the deal, which led to Twitter suing him (there’s a $1B breakup fee on the line). And as we’re now about two weeks out from the trial that would’ve decided this, Musk is back to saying he actually does want to buy the platform for his original offer.
In an unprecedented deal, Netflix’s GLASS ONION, A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY miiiight be coming to a theater near you. All three big theater chains (AMC, Regal and Cinemark) have agreed to show the streamer’s film in a very limited capacity. It will come next month, on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, to 600 theaters in the US and Canada. For the minimum week required for awards consideration. No box office figures will be released. But Netflix will hold the film’s debut on its platform another month until December 23.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
This week I loved this incredibly wholesome video of a tiny student unexpectedly seeing her teacher out in the world, this cinematic skater-take on RATATOUILLE, and this video of a kid who takes the MULAN Disney on Ice performance very seriously.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
PICTURESTART’s latest film, LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE (trailer here), drops on Netflix today! Based on Jessica Knoll's 2015 bestselling book and starring Mila Kunis, LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE tells the story of Ani FaNelli, a successful magazine editor who seems to have the perfect New York life. But when an investigative documentary starts to dredge up questions about her harrowing experiences in high school, Ani must confront the traumas she never had the chance to process as a teenager. It is a timely and inspiring story that balances its serious subject matter with Ani's acerbic tongue and witty observations of her world. We can't wait to share it with you all!
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
After 15 years away from the director’s chair, Todd Field (LITTLE CHILDREN, IN THE BEDROOM) makes his return this weekend with psychological drama TÁR (trailer here): an incisive, damning portrait of formidable music composer Lydia Tár (an incandescent Cate Blanchett) on the cusp of a public reckoning when accusations of past impropriety begin to surface. During the film’s press conference at New York Film Festival last week, Blanchett described the film as one that “raises more questions than [it] answers.” In less assured hands that would likely make for a frustrating film, but Field poses those questions—of complicity, “cancel culture” and abuses of power at large—in a manner that's more thoughtful and considered, but never didactic or judgmental.
He lays the groundwork to do this with his uncannily specific writing and blisteringly real filmmaking. The film opens on a New Yorker panel moderated by staff writer Adam Gopnik (playing himself), introducing us to the fictional presence of Lydia Tár with a level of verisimilitude that’s immediately striking; she’s not only a luminary of classical music with decades of training and accolades under her belt but a real cultural presence too—she’s an EGOT winner after all! But of course, the only place left to go from the top is down, and when a former student who Lydia mentored and suddenly shunned under questionable circumstances commits suicide, the cultural spheres that Lydia inhabits and the internet at large begin to catch wind of her misconduct. Field seamlessly integrates our cultural reliance on technology with dreamlike sequences of paranoia to depict her downfall as the apparatuses that support her dodgy decisions begin to crumble underneath her. All of this, of course, only reaches its full potential with Cate Blanchett at the center, who is always magnificent but gives a performance that is so confident and fully realized, it’s no wonder she picked up the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at this year’s Venice Film Festival. If you’re looking for a ruminative film that will capture your attention without veering into sensationalism, which just happens to feature one of the best performances of the year, TÁR is out in select theaters in NY/LA this weekend before expanding on October 14.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
TV
The third season of RAMY (trailer here) came out last weekend and I watched the entire thing in just a few days. Ramy Youssef, the creator of the series, who also directs and stars in it, delivers my favorite season of the show yet. Each episode is funnier than the last and it still manages to tackles some very real issues at the same time. And bonus: Bella Hadid makes her acting debut as Ramy’s best friend’s girlfriend, Lena. Overall, I could not recommend this show enough and I firmly believe it has something for everyone, but I especially recommend it to any child of immigrant parents who’s struggled with balancing their own American identity with their parents’ heritage and culture. At the risk of sounding overly earnest, I’ll say that watching RAMY, I feel seen in a way that I never have before, consuming entertainment in America.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Intern
Book
COUNTERFEIT by Kirstin Chen was such a great read that I was truly bummed when I finished it! The novel follows two former Stanford roommates who run into each other later in life and run an elaborate international counterfeit high-end handbag empire. Yes, really. It’s absurd but it hits all the right notes on some truly addicting elements: a mystery, a marriage on the rocks, elite Bay Area preschools, fractured family relationships, and even a college admissions scandal! I was cheering and cringing (in the best way) throughout—and have not stopped thinking about it since I turned the last page.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Podcast
In my book, spooky stories are timeless and have no season. However, Halloween is only 24 days away, so I’m here to recommend a favorite paranormal podcast. TWO GIRLS ONE GHOST is probably the most haunted podcast out there, so beware before you go into it. And if you start experiencing unexplained occurrences once you’re in, well, don't say I didn't warn you. Corinne and Sabrina, hosts of the podcast, along with their ghost Sven, do an amazing job at curating, researching and delivering listeners deep dives on paranormal subjects ranging from demons and aliens to cryptids and ghosts. And if you need more creepy content, you can also go back and listen to episodes solely dedicated to listeners' stories that will make you feel all the heebie-jeebies and full body chills. There are plenty of stories here to keep you entertained (or scared!) until Halloween comes—and well beyond. And if you do become haunted and start experiencing "weird stuff," please let me know—I am very much here for it!
—Eri Taira, Graphic Designer
Music
Remember when the Steve Aoki remix of PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS by Kid Cudi came out and changed the course of house parties (and maybe also history) forever…? Well, we’re now a decade later, and if you haven't heard, Kid Cudi has evolved into a true artistic multihyphenate. Coming off his acting work in the horror film X released earlier this year, check out ENTERGALACTIC on Netflix, starring Kid Cudi and Jessica Williams. It’s a new animated, unapologetically Black romantic comedy that I guess could be called a film—but it also has chapter breaks which makes it seem episodic in structure. It honestly feels like an extended music video/visual album, highlighting Kid Cudi's work, and I'm absolutely into it! Alongside the film/series/experience, Kid Cudi has released a full album—his latest release since 2020's Man on the Moon III: The Chosen. Honestly, I am just extremely here for Cudi exploring so many different artistic arenas beyond music. Although, his music is of course my first love. I need to re-listen to this latest album, but some of my early favorites on it are DO WHAT I WANT and SOMEWHERE TO FLY (with Don Toliver). Take a listen!!
—Erin Harris, Development Coordinator
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
09/30/22
This week: The ultimate spooky season film fest, a rom com for the ages, and a hot take on DWD. Happy weekend, friends!
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube DEADPOOL Update, Part Hugh
Letterboxd DON’T WORRY DARLING
Spotify UNHOLY - Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Netflix BLONDE
Twitter Try Guys
Trailer YELLOWSTONE Season 5 Trailer
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Bruce Willis is now the first Hollywood actor to sell the rights to his likeness to a deepfake firm. Following his aphasia diagnosis, Willis retired from acting. But he’s working with U.S. film Deepcake to ensure his legacy continues on, with the deal basically allowing for a “digital twin” of the actor to be made. The first proof of concept of this comes in the form of an advertising project for a European phone company. A stand-in actor went through the motions and shot the ad as it normally would be, and then the deepfake creators digitally added Willis’ face on the actor’s body in post production. I must say, the technology is pretty accurate; I definitely would have believed the ad actually features Willis.
In more news on the convergence of AI technology and Hollywood actors, Deadline reported that STAR WARS actor James Earl Jones, the man behind the iconic voice of Darth Vader, has signed over the rights to his voice to filmmakers, as he “wished to keep Vader alive”.
Pickleball is getting even bigger. LeBron James and other NBA stars are reportedly….buying a pickleball team? It will be part of Major League Pickleball (MLP), and is part of the sports league’s growth from 12 teams to 16.
And finally, in cool space news, (and good news for living beings on our planet), NASA just successfully rerouted an asteroid by crashing into it. It was “the world’s first-ever in-space test for planetary defense,” and is meant to practice defending Earth against potential asteroid or comet hazards.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
As Hurricane Ian continues to ravage the US, I’ve been struck by the strangeness of experiencing widespread events like this natural disaster through TikTok. The nature of the platform is quite different from previously popular social media platforms like IG, Facebook and Twitter, and allows for individuals to update the world on what they’re dealing with in real-time, but visually. Case in point: This TikTok compiled drone footage before and after the hurricane, this one highlights people rescuing a dog, this one features some kids playing in the flood waters, and this one documents the severity of the flooding, with a loose boat floating past houses. Videos like this one raised concern in viewers, as the Tiktok user stayed in her house while flood waters were rising close to her ceiling.
This week, I enjoyed this documentation of a Danish phenomenon I just learned about…babies napping alone in their strollers outside. I also liked this video that shows the lengths to which some BeReal users will go to impress their friends, and this one that taught me just how rare (and cool-looking!) blue lobsters are.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
While the romantic comedy has reached a new level of proliferation in recent years, the genre has largely been relegated to streaming, making each new release feel like less of an event than ever. Without naming names (and there have been a few stellar exceptions!), the stakes are usually lower, the set pieces smaller, and the jokes staler than ever. That’s why it brings me great pleasure to recommend BROS, the R-rated romantic-comedy you’ve been waiting for (opening on a whopping 3300+ screens nationwide this weekend).
Co-written by and starring the hysterical Billy Eichner (DIFFICULT PEOPLE and of course, BILLY ON THE STREET), BROS (trailer here) follows Bobby (Eichner), a high-strung podcaster who’s grown comfortable with his single life—until he meets Aaron (the effortlessly charming Luke Macfarlane), a handsome “masc” lawyer who challenges Bobby’s philosophy toward commitment and romance. Between Eichner and Macfarlane’s instant chemistry, Brandon Trost’s glossy cinematography and the ineffable magic of an NYC location shoot, BROS captures the charm of so many of my favorite classic rom-coms while delivering on the laughs. Quite literally, several scenes left the audience at my screening roaring so loudly that I missed a few lines here and there. It’s a film that’s tailored to be experienced on the big screen with a crowd on a Friday night, and I can pretty much guarantee you’ll walk out smiling. It’s also refreshing to see a film represent the nuances of gay dating without feeling so tightly bound to making those elements more palatable to a heteronormative audience; beyond the raunchy jokes surrounding gay hook-up culture, director Nicholas Stoller pulls you into Bobby and Aaron's relationship by capturing the gray areas and contradictions of their feelings about committing to each other—something he’s done successfully before in THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT and FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL. If that’s not reason enough to head to the theater, consider it your moral obligation to buy a ticket and support gay people at the box office. Thanks!!
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
Hot take: I was pleasantly surprised by DON’T WORRY DARLING (trailer here). The movie did, in fact, feel like a movie (sorry Harry, I just had to). This is Olivia Wilde’s second time directing a film and this time she also happens to act in it, alongside a star-studded cast including Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, and many more. But you already knew that, because…internet. What you might not know if you’re still on the fence about seeing it: The production and costume design were out of this world and really made the audience feel like they had been transported back to the 50s (*wink* IYKYK). And the movie is packed with intense moments that really showed off the acting chops of much of the cast, especially actors Florence Pugh and newcomer Harry Styles. No spoilers here, but I say this: Just go watch it, if you’re looking for a dose of entertaining escapism this weekend.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Intern
I’m a huge genre fan. SIgn me up for all things horror, thriller, sci-fi—and really, any movie that’s brilliantly bonkers. Which is why Los Angeles’ Beyond Fest is my absolute favorite event to kick off the spooky season. This is the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, curating a stellar lineup every October to celebrate cinema that shocks, mesmerizes, and inspires. This year’s slate is no exception. In addition to world and West coast premieres that include HALLOWEEN ENDS, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, and the HELLRAISER reboot, I’m also excited to check out some dark-genre classics:
A William Shatner triple-feature, culminating with IMPULSE, a ‘70s cult classic being described as a twisted cousin of Hitchcock’s phenomenal SHADOW OF A DOUBT.
A Park Chan-wook marathon. THE HANDMAIDEN, in particular, is an elegant, woozy, and ingenious gothic thriller that I can’t wait to revisit with a packed crowd.
William Friedkin’s highly divisive mystery film CRUISING, starring Al Pacino as an undercover New York detective tasked with investigating a series of murders targeting the city’s S&M subculture.
I love that Beyond Fest is a place that nurtures discovery, introducing me every year to hidden gems, electric voices, and new friends to gush about the best of genre cinema with!
— Lauren Ma, Business Affairs Coordinator
TV
If you’re a sitcom girlie like I am, then you need to check out REBOOT (trailer here) on Hulu. It stars Rachel Bloom (CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND) and was created by MODERN FAMILY showrunner Steven Levitan. REBOOT follows the cast and co-showrunners of a rebooted family sitcom called “Step Right Up”, and feels almost like an updated, L.A,-based version of 30 ROCK. Not just because of Bloom’s delightfully Liz Lemon-esque outfits, but also because of the cast’s lack of self-awareness and general predisposition to antics (Johnny Knoxville in particular excels here). The characters’ struggles to work together and Bloom’s quest to reconcile with her absentee father give the show its momentum, exploring themes of abandonment, betrayal, and connection all with levity and wit. I can’t wait to keep watching.
—Carrie Smith, Executive Assistant
Kate Berlant’s new stand-up show on Hulu, CINNAMON IN THE WIND (trailer here), is breathtaking, hysterical and a true piece of art. Please watch it. That is all.
—Jessica Switch, SVP, Production
Music
As a soft country fan—and hard FEATHERED INDIANS fan—I have been looking forward to this Friday for a while now. Tyler Childers’ long-awaited album has finally dropped, but it’s miles away from any of his previous music. Instead, it’s his take on a gospel cover album, in the form of eight songs recorded in three different ways. Best explained as a three-disc vinyl set, CAN I TAKE MY HOUNDS TO HEAVEN? can be broken into three sections: HALLELUJAH, JUBILEE and JOYFUL NOISE. The tone for the entire endeavor is set with the first song, OLD COUNTRY CHURCH - HALLELUJAH VERSION. Covering Hank Williams’ bluegrass country hit, Tyler breathes new life into the heart of the song. The HALLELUJAH version has the strong body and chords of a great gospel song, and the JOYFUL NOISE version is almost an ode to Tyler's youth, growing up in Appalachian churches. This wasn’t the obvious choice of follow-up for the artist, but I enjoy the risk he’s taking, letting listeners jump from gospel choirs to radio mixes all on the same album. I’m still out here waiting for a true follow-up to PURGATORY and COUNTRY SQUIRE, but this will tide me over at least through the fall…
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
09/23/22
This week: Our favorites from TIFF, the Irish series you should not miss, and a playlist for everyone ready for fall.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Blackpink - SHUT DOWN
Letterboxd BARBARIAN
Spotify Harry Styles - AS IT WAS
Netflix DO REVENGE
Twitter Telfar
Trailer THE LITTLE MERMAID
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Starting a few months ago, multiple authors shared that they saw a large increase in numbers of readers returning their books on Amazon—potentially thanks to creators on BookTok sharing “hacks” with their followers, explaining that Amazon allows readers to return ebooks even after reading them. And Amazon is now cracking down on the phenomenon, with The Authors Guild announcing yesterday that the bookseller agreed to change its policy on ebook returns. Amazon will now only allow automatic returns on ebooks that customers have read less than ten percent of.
San Francisco’s police department just got a lot more powerful. The city’s board of supervisors voted this week on a measure that gives the police access to private video surveillance cameras across the city. While the police department won’t have constant access to the tapes, it will be able to access the footage in circumstances like the investigation of crimes, including misdemeanors and property crimes.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
Gen Z is skipping Google when it comes to searching for answers, and instead turning to one of their favorite apps…TikTok. As Nailah Roberts, a 25-year-old who searches TikTok for restaurant recommendations, told the New York Times, “On TikTok, you see how the person actually felt about where they ate.” I’ve also found myself using the app as a way to get suggestions for things, from hikes to movies to travel destinations. There's no other type of content that gives you a better picture of something than video, and TikTok is optimized for uber-specific content searches.
Now, for my own TikTok recommendations this week…I was fascinated by this video that transports us to a busy NYC street in 1911. If you want to see more, check out this lengthier video from The Museum of Modern Art. It highlights life in New York at the time, from a team of cameramen with the Swedish company Svenska Biografteatern. I also loved this video of two dudes at the airport who were very much on the same wavelength, and this sweet video of two men connecting over bowling.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
The film team just returned from the Toronto Film Festival, and while we feel bad talking about movies no one else has seen yet, here are a few films to look out for in the coming months!
THE INSPECTION was a particular fave, a semi-autobiographical story about a young gay Black man (Jeremy Pope) who signs up for the Marine corps, in part as an attempt to win approval from his very religious mother (Gabrielle Union). It's a very strong and moving debut feature from Elegance Bratton.
Next, Ruben Östlund has hit another home run with TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, his first English language feature. It is a laugh-out-loud funny indictment of the human desire for power (or at least proximity to power), with fantastic performances from Harris Dickinson, Dolly De Leon, and the late Charlbi Dean. I don't want to say more than that because I went into it totally blind and am so happy that I did!
Finally, Sarah Polley's feature WOMEN TALKING manages to make two hours of—quite literally—women talking feel gripping and cinematic. While the titular women belong to a Mennonite community and their conversation centers around whether or not to leave their abusive and repressive community, the themes of questioning one's faith, cycles of abuse, and female empowerment feel wildly universal.
And so you can mark your cals: THE INSPECTION will be released by A24 on November 18th, TRIANGLE OF SADNESS will be released by Neon on October 7th, and WOMEN TALKING will be released by United Artists on December 2nd.
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
Last weekend, I caught Buster Keaton's THE GENERAL (1926) (trailer here) on the big screen at the Hollywood Legion, with a live piano accompaniment by Cliff Retallick, an introduction by Buster's great-granddaughter Keaton Talmadge, and a post-screening Q&A with Retallick and two Buster experts: International Buster Keaton Society president Patricia Eliot Tobias, and Slate's Dana Stevens, who just wrote the literal book on the guy. As a fan of early screen legends like Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd, I'd always wanted to see a silent comedy with live music in a theater full of people, so experiencing that for the first time was a total joy. When I wasn't laughing along at Keaton's impeccable physical comedy or signature deadpan delivery, I was gobsmacked by the pure spectacle of THE GENERAL; after the screening, Tobias and Stevens discussed the technical mastery (along with the occasional wildfire and many an injury, of course) that went into filming the iconic train sequences. It's a hilarious film, sure, but it's also an incredible action movie, without which BULLET TRAIN probably wouldn't be playing in your local theater right now. I highly recommend finding a Cliff Retallick-accompanied screening to attend—he IMPROVISES his scores in real time, by the way—and checking out Stevens' book CAMERA MAN: BUSTER KEATON, THE DAWN OF CINEMA, AND THE INVENTION OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
On a whim, a friend and I decided to watch RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD (trailer here). Neither of us knew anything about Rambo minus the occasional scene played in Alamo Drafthouse or various pop culture references to the character. I had seen more recent ads for the newer films in the franchise, so I went in with the idea it would be a bit cheesy, 80’s-style action film with Sylvester Stalone looking cool, killing people with a heavy machine gun. Little did I know, this is a top-tier 90-minute action movie that has everything this genre should have. It contains a great supporting cast in the form of Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy, and David Caruso, as well as a thrilling score on par with TOP GUN and ALIENS. As John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) crosses the landscape of the Pacific Northwest forest, cinematographer Andrew Laszlo paints the perfect backdrop for a cinematic and beautiful sequence of cat vs. mouse. The practical special effects cement the world that these characters battle in, and create a number of strong action sequences that force you to lean in. The extra weight in both the story and the performances turns a cheesy action prompt into a hit classic that I recommend everyone see.
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
TV
BAD SISTERS (trailer here), a new Irish series on Apple TV+, deserves so much more attention! It almost feels like a parody of BIG LITTLE LIES in its premise, which is simply four sisters plotting to kill their unbelievably awful brother-in-law. But in all the hijinks and absurdity, the series keeps each sister emotionally grounded and sympathetic, making you root for them with every plan gone wrong. If the concept feels familiar at first glance, I promise that you’ll get a strong sense of the specific, darkly funny tone as the series progresses. Without spoiling anything, the end of episode three in particular is so brutally hilarious that you will have to keep watching to see how the sisters' mess unfolds.
—Dustin Sloane, Development Coordinator
Music
The fall solstice is just around the corner so I thought, what better way to prepare for the season than to make one of the most depressing playlists of all time? The playlist includes many mid-tempo folk rock/r&b songs by artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Weyes Blood, Frank Ocean, and more. It will make you feel a plethora of different emotions ranging from feeling nostalgic of simpler times to excessive navel-gazing that might make you spiral out of control and contemplate the meaning of life (hopefully not the latter). I tried to add a good blend of some indie classics that some of us may recognize, and also highlight some emerging pop artists that you might not have listened to before. I highly recommend putting on a pair of your favorite headphones and going on an afternoon walk while listening to the playlist for the full effect.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Intern
Several PS Weekly contributors still listen to 5 Seconds of Summer in the year 2022, but it looks like I am the only one who’s brave enough to admit it. If you need a refresher, you most likely know this four-piece band—that inexplicably has one more second than member – from hearing their biggest hit YOUNDBLOOD at your dentist’s office. Before that, they broke out as openers for One Direction who attempted to revive pop-punk long before Machine Gun Kelly and Olivia Rodrigo came along. In my opinion, 5 Seconds of Summer are the kings of comfort music. Their songs are…. to put it gently, inspired by nearly every pop-rock band that came before them (blink-182, The 1975, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco — you get the point.) But in their broadly commercial sound, they’ve maintained a consistent output of nostalgic familiarity for nearly a decade.
Their fifth album, titled—not a joke—5SOS5, dropped today and brings more of the same in the best way. You get their signature Hot Topic-meets-Dollar Tree sound in songs like ME MYSELF & I, CAROUSEL, BEST FRIENDS, and YOU DON’T GO TO PARTIES. But the band does veer into new lanes on 5SOS5: BAD OMENS is a more mature, The Script-esque offering, HAZE sounds like a hidden gem found on Harry Styles's USB drive, and the breezy FLATLINE is a fun “fine, here's our SUNROOF” moment.
Aside from also-confusingly-not-a-quintet Maroon 5, 5SOS is the only band in 2022 that makes music for the adult contemporary radio station your bus driver played in middle school. If you’re looking for this vibe, hope you have fun catching up on 5SOS’s 5 albums!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Coordinator
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
09/16/22
This week: Comedy for LA people, a 21-year old film worth revisiting, billionaire news we can get behind, and a magical short rooted in real life.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Jay Wheeler & Zhamira Zambrano - DICELO
Letterboxd NOPE
Spotify Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52
Netflix THE IMPERFECTS
Twitter #HispanicHeritageMonth
Trailer BABYLON
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Scientists just found what may be the one of the best preserved dinosaurs ever. It’s a juvenile duck-billed Hadrosaur. “It's so well preserved you can see the individual scales, we can see some tendons and it looks like there's going to be skin over the entire animal," Brian Pickles, a paleontologist, told USA Today. "Which means, if we're really lucky, then some of the other internal organs might have preserved as well.” Pickles thinks the dino might be preserved so well because it was immediately covered with sand and silt in the river it appears to have died in.
In a rare case of good news on the subject of climate change, Patagonia’s founder made the coolest decision any billionaire ever has. On Wednesday, Yvon Chouinard announced that he and his family are transferring the ownership of their company (valued at $3 billion (!!!)) to a trust and nonprofit org that will ensure all of the company’s profits will be used to combat climate change—forever. I am so wildly pumped about this news and hope that it inspires other billionaires to follow suit.
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! And across the country, there are a ton of amazing and different ways you can celebrate. If you’re near D.C., the Smithsonian has a new exhibit opening tomorrow. “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States,” is the first permanent space on the National Mall that’s dedicated to American Latinos. If you’re in Southern California, the Museum of Latin American Art is free every Sunday, and this Sunday it has a day full of festivities, including food trucks, workshops, and performances. And if you’re near New York City, check out the New York Latino Film Festival this weekend. The festival has full-length features, shorts, documentaries, and panels.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Also! If you follow us on Instagram, you've seen us posting about our commission series, PS10 Ideas, where we gave nine creative individuals $1K to create their dream projects. And they were creative and smart and wildly different...check 'em all out here. And finally, it's time to share the winner of the series (and of a $10K grant).
Drumroll please….it's DAVE. Created by Matt Post, the three-part video series follows a time traveler who arrives in the Cretaceous period to die, and then meets a talking T-rex. It’s a heartwarming, beautiful piece of art. Check it out here!
TikTok
I’ve been absolutely loving every time that @cinema.joe comes up on my TikTok For You page. Joe makes meticulously curated videos all about films. He often makes lists, ranking specific categories like the best movie from each state, stop motion films and movies that he’ll only watch once. He also reviews current movies (like this take on BARBARIAN) and discusses different phenomena in filmmaking (like this dive into "Twin Films”). I fully respect his taste and have watched quite a few movies just because he sold me on them. Give him a follow if you’re ready for some educated and unique film recommendations in your scroll.
This week, I also loved this video of a family who has the only appropriate response to a Bad Bunny song coming on, this video of Selena Gomez roasting her ONLY MURDERS costars at the Emmys, and this video of the cutest little Tasmanian creature that I’ve never seen in action before.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
There is no doubt that Alfonso Cuaron is incredible. He’s made great movies including ROMA, GRAVITY and HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (my fave of the entire saga).
But my favorite movie from Cuaron has to be Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN (trailer here), co-written with his brother, Carlos Cuaron. The film earned them a Best Screenplay Oscar nomination back in 2003. It’s a coming-of-age and self-discovery journey of two 17-year-olds, Tenoch and Julio, who embark on a road trip in rural Mexico with Luisa, a woman in her late 20s. Apart from the astonshing cinematography, the story itself is what made this film successful and made a lot noise in a time when it was controversial to openly speak about topics involving sexual openness and masculinity—in a culture where machismo was heavily ingrained at the time. It was brave of the Cuaron brothers to bring this story to life in such a tumultuous time in Mexico, and as Maribel Verdu (who plays Luisa) said in an interview: “On that front the movie was ahead of its time. It shows things that no one did back then. No one dared.” And I couldn’t agree more. Go watch it if you haven’t already. And if you did watch it nearly two decades ago, I promise you it’s worth a rewatch.
—Eri Taira, Graphic Designer
TV
Since THIS FOOL (trailer here) premiered on Hulu last month, I have been obsessed. The half-hour comedy is set in South Central Los Angeles and follows 30-year-old Julio (played by co-creator Chris Estrada) who works at Hugs Not Thugs, a fictional gang rehabilitation non-profit. His older cousin Luis (played by the incredible Frankie Quinones) has just been released from prison and not only moves in with Julio’s family, but also joins the Hugs Not Thugs program to get his life back on track. The LA-specific jokes are top-tier (Knott’s vs Magic Mountain for example), but the rivalry and evolving relationship between the cousins is what kept me literally laughing out loud and coming back for more.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
It's been 3 long years since LOS ESPOOKYS (trailer here), the left-of-center Julio Torres-led Spanish-language horror comedy graced our screens back in 2019. Set in a nondescript surreal Latin American country, the series follows a group of friends who specialize in staging horror scenes for various clientele. From a fake exorcism to a gruesome quinceañera, our friends embark on a bizarre mission every episode that leaves us wondering if part of their spooky endeavors aren't just a performance. It takes serious skill to create a world this strange and endearing and I haven't seen anything come close to its eccentric tone in our current TV landscape. I will be waiting patiently on my couch tonight for the premiere of the second season, which will drop at 11pm EST on HBO Max. I have a feeling the sophomore season will be worth the wait!
—Lisa Ramon, Manager, Television
Filmmaker
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending a screening and Q&A for IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME, the Sundance award-winning short film from Walter Thompson-Hernández. The short follows a father-son duo, Big Ant and Lil Ant, who navigate a dreamlike version of the Imperial Courts projects in Watts. Lil Ant spends his days watching planes pass over his home and yearning to fly. While the short heavily leans on magical realism, the story is inspired by a real event, in which Delta airlines spilled thousands of gallons of jet fuel across neighborhoods and schools in southeast LA in 2020. In the Q&A, Thompson-Hernández explained that many kids like himself grew up with a fascination of flying because they lived under this flight path, but the 2020 event recast that fascination for him—and allowed him to reflect on the environmental racism that his community faces. Walter Thompson-Hernández draws inspiration from his community not only as a filmmaker, but also in his podcasts, articles, and books. His 2020 podcast CALIFORNIA LOVE walks listeners through his neighborhood and love for Los Angeles. The same year, he published the book THE COMPTON COWBOYS, which highlights the history and stories of the Compton Cowboys from the riders themselves, and currently he has a film adaptation in the works from Prentice Penny. A talented multi-hyphenate, Walter Thompson-Hernández approaches his work through a very personal lens and an honest love for southeast LA. And the overcrowded screening for IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME in his local Huntington Park theater seems to be a strong indication that southeast LA loves him back. You can catch the next screening at the GuadaLAjara Film Festival in Downtown LA on September 29th!
—Ellen Amare, Office Coordinator
Music
Yesterday marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month, and also the beginning of EL TINY, which is part of NPR’s Tiny Desk Series (which is also maybe my favorite music video series ever). NPR’s show ALT LATINO, hosted by Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre, curates the series, currently in its second iteration. Artists featured this month include Omar Apollo, Girl Ultra, Susana Baca, and Jessie Reyez. In the first concert, which came out yesterday, Omar Apollo brought in a mariachi band for a very beautiful performance that’ll get you hooked on his music immediately.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
09/09/22
This week: The crowning of a Corn King, something for all the Brenda and Dylan devotees out there, a comedic refugee story that gets it right, and unfiltered thoughts on House of the Dragon.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Rema, Selena Gomez - CALM DOWN
Letterboxd NOPE
Spotify Harry Styles - AS IT WAS
Netflix MORBIUS
Twitter King Charles
Trailer MY POLICEMAN
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 on Thursday, ending her 70-year-long reign as Britain’s longest-serving monarch. Her reign is the longest recorded of any female head of state in global history. The Queen’s son, now King Charles III, is the new occupant of the throne and gave his first address to the nation today. The reaction across social media was polarizing, with many celebrating the Queen’s life, and others criticizing the concept of monarchy and expressing surprise at its continued existence.
This summer was a hot one, as we saw unprecedented heat waves all across the United States. In California, we’re just about to come off of one this weekend (fingers crossed), which is being reported as the worst heat wave in the state’s history. And apparently, a text alert may have saved California from rolling blackouts. On Tuesday, the governor’s office sent out a text urging residents to conserve energy, as the state’s energy grid was pushed to its highest demand ever, at 52,601 megawatts. In the five minutes following, energy usage dropped about 1,200 megawatts. And as this summer ends, I couldn’t help but be reminded of this Simpsons meme someone made last year, declaring that even though it’s been the hottest summer of our lives, it’s also likely the coldest summer of the rest of our lives as well. Sigh.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
TikTok
If you’ve kept up with this section of PS Weekly (or really, any corner of the internet in general) over the summer) you’ll know what I’m talking about when I tell you that the viral corn kid is getting the recognition he deserves. To catch you up, this interview of 7-year-old Tariq sharing his love of corn went viral. Then, musicians The Gregory Brothers put the interview to a catchy tune, which went even more viral. Now, the state of South Dakota has named him its official corn-bassador. Tariq traveled with his family from New York to South Dakota for an honorary ceremony at the state’s Corn Palace, where the Governor made September 3, 2022 the “Official Corn-bassador Tariq Day.”
My favorite videos from this week include this top-notch rendition of PHINEAS AND FERB’s unforgettable song S.I.M.P. (SQUIRRELS IN MY PANTS), which single-handedly convinced me to watch a few episodes of the show last night; this (very cute) video documenting “Puffling Patrol,” a yearly tradition in Iceland’s Westman Islands where people help puffins get to sea safely; and this video of a cinematic-looking new record in the world of skydiving.
—Darlene Kenney, Director of Brand Marketing
Film
DO REVENGE (trailer here) is a new movie from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (SOMEONE GREAT) which comes out on Netflix next week. If you love the ‘90s and early 2000s teen films like CLUELESS, JAWBREAKER, CRUEL INTENTIONS, this one’s for you! It’s a perfectly plotted revenge film with incredible twists and turns and a lush soundtrack from our friend Rob Lowry (who did the music on our film CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH). It’s the most fun I’ve had watching a Netflix movie since HUSTLE. And by the way, if you haven’t seen HUSTLE—what are you doing with your life?
—Jessica Switch, SVP, Production
TV
We have some extra-special curation from our SVP of Production, Jessica Switch, this week. You’ve got the film rec above, and two TV recs below. Enjoy!
Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg created and wrote THE AMERICANS, which is one of my all-time favorite shows, so I had high expectations for their new show THE PATIENT. And I sincerely mean this when I say it does not disappoint. Domhnall Gleeson is possibly the most interesting serial killer since Dexter—and Steve Carrell is the therapist he kidnaps to help him stop killing people. Just trust me and watch it now.
If you worship Brenda and Dylan from BEVERLY HILLS 90210 and also love complicated, sexy, dark romances, please watch TELL ME LIES on Hulu. I’ve only seen two episodes and I haven’t read the book so I know nothing other than the fact that the show is hot and interesting and Grace Van Patten is brilliant. Also, PS friends have their fingerprints all over this one: Jonathan Levine directed it, Laura Lewis and Gillian Bohrer produced it, Meaghan Oppenheimer created it and Sinead Daly wrote on it as well. Congrats everyone!
—Jessica Switch, SVP, Production
Last weekend I had a lot of time on my hands so I decided to binge watch the entirety of MO (trailer here), the new series by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef. The series follows Mohammed Najjar and his family, Palestinian refugees who settle in Houston, TX in order to escape persecution in their homeland. The show strikes a perfect balance, combining light-hearted comedy with serious issues like discrimination against Brown individuals in America. I highly recommend watching this show as soon as you can, especially if you’re a fellow American Muslim such as myself who is tired of seeing stereotypical portrayals of our community in Hollywood. The show has a talented cast and crew filled with predominantly people of color who all have a passion for telling under-represented stories and did a phenomenal job in doing exactly that in MO.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Intern
I've been getting more into HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (trailer here) with each passing week, but the third episode—"Second of His Name," written by Ryan J. Condal and Gabe Fonseca—has solidified my investment in the series\. I really appreciate the show's willingness to take risks with time jumps, keeping the pace up and skipping to the action. Speaking of action, this episode featured the most visually dynamic scene we've seen thus far in HOTD, and reminded me of the good ol' days of watching epically gory battle sequences in GAME OF THRONES episodes like "Hardhome" or "Battle of the Bastards." Despite the accelerated timeline and spectacle, however, "Second of His Name" knows it's all about character; Daemon Targaryen and Alicent Hightower are both developing in really interesting ways that left me eager to discover where the show will take them, and some strategic side-by-side scenes individually focusing on Princess Rhaenyra and King Viserys juxtapose the father and daughter brilliantly. It's wild to think we're only two episodes away from the season's midpoint, which means only two more episodes of fantastic performances from Milly Alcock and Emily Carey—but I can’t wait to see Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke step in to play their characters' older counterparts too. Going into this weekend's episode, I’m intrigued to watch how Rhaenyra and Alicent grapple with their relationships with each other and the throne as the series nears their jump into adulthood.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
Music
I so clearly remember first watching Zambian-born rapper Sampa the Great in her music video for ENERGY three years ago—I was absolutely blown away by her unique sound, mesmerizing presence, style, and point of view, and I’ve been following her musical journey ever since. Her sophomore studio album AS ABOVE, SO BELOW just dropped today and it’s a must-listen. The 11-track record features guest appearances from artists like Angélique Kidjo, Denzel Curry, Joey Bada$$, W.I.T.C.H, and Sampa’s sister Mwanjé, just to name a few. It’s a personal project that aims to explore womanhood, and the artist’s idea of her most authentic self, intertwined with her memories of Africa. The musical style reflects the hybridity of Sampa’s upbringing—she was born in Zambia and raised in Botswana before relocating to various places such as Australia and California. This album also pays tribute to Zamrock, a blend of psychedelic rock and traditional Zambian music. If you haven’t already checked out Sampa the Great’s music, make sure you stream this weekend!
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
I've been in a bit of a music rut lately—in the mood for something like Harry Styles or Taylor Swift but craving something new. I found a song called LOVE YOU LIKE THAT by Dagny through some random TikTok (that I looked for so I could share with you, but no luck). Said mystery TikTok compared the tack to AS IT WAS by Harry Styles. I checked out more of her stuff earlier this week and wow, it is exactly what I've been looking for. Poppy but fresh. Heavy but also light. If you want something that feels like summer with a whiff of something new, Dagny is for you. Favorite tracks so far include the demisexual anthem that is TURN by The Wombats (feat. Dagny), FOOL'S GOLD for late-night freeway drives, and COME OVER, which just makes me want to dance like this guy. Enjoy!
—Carrie Smith, Executive Assistant
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
09/02/22
This week: The book rec and TV rec we’ve been itching to share with you for SO long. Plus, the most criminally overlooked movie of the year.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube We Cry Together - Kendrick Lamar
Letterboxd BODIES BODIES BODIES
Spotify DESPECHÁ - ROSALÍA
Netflix MO
Twitter #Artemis
Life & Culture
Kicking off this holiday long weekend with a big happy 26th birthday to Zendaya, the queen of our hearts, and object of many, many, many excellent fan tributes.
In other news of powerhouse women, Serena Williams is dominating at the U.S. Open this week, in what is likely her final Grand Slam tournament ahead of retiring. In the second round, she beat Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, the #2 ranked player in the world, and continues on to play Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia in the third round on Friday. We are so rooting to see her play in the women’s final next Saturday, September 10. Mark your calendars!
And finally, as many of you already know, we are borderline obsessed with Nicole Kidman’s AMC spot over here. For anyone who feels similarly, we have thrilling news: Billy Ray shared this week that he’s already written the sequel. Dreaming of a Christmas gift from AMC to us, coming this holiday movie season…
—Neha Gandhi, EVP Digital & Strategy
TikTok
In the first installment of what’s absolutely going to be my new favorite series, David Larbi roasts the food and drinks in movies that, despite the hype, are actually terrible. I’m thrilled that someone is finally calling out James Bond and his obsession with martinis, which I’ve hated since my first sip, many years ago, stripped the enamel off my teeth.
Look, there are cat videos, and then there are orange cat videos. Mild West Sami blessed everyone’s fyp this week with the latter, introducing Monty, the fluffiest, neediest, and just plain cutest feline to ever enjoy being held upside down for hours on end.
Huge, huge thanks to Madeleine Byrne for reminding me that it was technically impossible to get ready in the early ‘00s without blasting KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See.” Now please excuse me while I try to eat breakfast, take a phone call, and look for my keys all at the same time.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Film
This summer has been a scorcher, and for all my LA people celebrating labor day, the forecasts are predicting a hot weekend ahead. These rising temperatures have me thinking of a favorite film of mine centered on the hottest stunt driver in all of Washington, HOT ROD (trailer here). Following the story of Rod Kimble (Andy Samberg), as he dreams of following his father's legacy as a famous stuntman, HOT ROD brings a heavy dose of original comedy. Backed up by a stellar team consisting of Dave (Bill Hader), Rico (Danny McBride), Kevin (Jorma Taccone), and of course the love of Rod’s life, Denise (Isla Fisher). Throughout the film, the best moments are between Rod and his friends as they train for the big finale, raising money for a heart transplant for the stepfather Rod hates. What a well executed homage to “dumb humor.” Whether it’s Rod falling down a mountain for three minutes, or side comments from Dave and Rico, this film never fails to make me laugh. Despite not landing a single stunt throughout the film, Rod Kimble is incredibly easy to root for. So, if you’re staying inside these final few days of summer and looking for a “cool beans” movie, give HOT ROD a run.
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
TV
This week, I finally watched what turned out to be one of my favorite Marvel shows so far, MOON KNIGHT (trailer here). The show stars none other than the extraordinarily talented Oscar Isaac, alongside iconic supporting actors like Ethan Hawke and May Calamawy. The show is about a man who has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and is battling with two identities: Marc Spector and Stephen Grant. Their lives eventually become intertwined when Marc’s identity becomes a superhero vigilante called Moon Knight. I loved how the show was able to tackle the subject of mental health in an entertaining way while simultaneously not creating stigma around the disorder. Most of the show takes place in the Egyptian desert where the characters go on adventures to find clues to defeat evil wrongdoers. The show consists of hilarious sequences of Oscar Isaac going in and out of English and American accents while playing Stephen Grant and Marc Spector. Not only is the humor in the show on point, but the action sequences are incredibly impressive and the CGI is other-worldly (quite literally).
— Saad Hamid, Digital Intern
Podcast
If you haven't yet checked out our amazing new podcast READING THE STARS starring Antoni Bumba, we really must insist. Episode two dropped this week with the gorgeous Dylan Mulvaney joining Antoni. (You know Dylan from her Day of Girlhood video series on TikTok). Antoni and Dylan have an incredible conversation about the journey to finding your true self and what it means to be a woman—particularly a trans woman—in business, relationships, and life. It’s one of my favorite conversations we’ve shot so far, and I love that they’re silly, funny, and introspective—and that Antoni is wearing a corset.
I also particularly loved the conversation they had around their shared experiences growing up in devout Catholic homes, and how that impacted their journeys. Listening to Dylan talk about going to church and having the priest refuse to absolve her sins because she was confessing something related to being gay is heartbreaking but, delivered with Dylan’s signature sense of humor, also kind of hilarious. So, if you want to spend time with your best girlfriends who are set to take over the world, this is the show.
—Emmanuelle Stahler, VP Audio
Book
My introduction to the Goosebumps series came during a very scary time in my life: I was 6 years old and had just had my appendix removed. The thought of being trapped in the hospital bed after sundown was terrifying, but the little boy in the next room was kind enough to share his copy of Monster Blood (and some wild-looking chocolates from Brazil). Reading the story about Evan, the witch, and her evil monster blood cheered me up. I couldn’t stop turning pages, riveted by the frights and humor of the immersive world that R.L. Stine created for kids who have an appetite for larger-than-life adventures.
Stine writes brilliantly scary stories that are thrilling, funny, and poetic in their own spooky ways. And I love his process, entirely focused on the payoff for his young readers:
“One thing I do as a writer is that I come up with the ending first so that I can keep readers from guessing it. I do a complete outline of every book, but I always try to get the ending before I write Chapter One. Because then I know how to fool the reader.”
I might be better able to guess the ending now, but as an adult, the magic of reading R.L. Stine is of course in the nostalgia—thinking back at how silly, how bizarre, how fun, and how unique the world seemed to me when I was little.
This summer marks 30 years since the first Goosebumps book was published, and I’m going to celebrate it by spending the long weekend revisiting Monster Blood and reading R.L. Stine’s latest collection Stinetinglers, out this week!
—Lauren Ma, Business Affairs Coordinator
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
08/26/22
This week: The book rec and TV rec we’ve been itching to share with you for SO long. Plus, the most criminally overlooked movie of the year.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube THE HANDMAID’S TALE - Season 5
Letterboxd NOPE
Spotify PINK VENOM - BLACKPINK
Netflix LOOK BOTH WAYS
Twitter #InternationalDogDay
Trailer PINOCCHIO
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Kevin Hart is expanding his empire again—this time with a vegan version of McDonalds. The actor and entrepreneur launched Hart House yesterday in Los Angeles. The restaurant offers typical fast food like burgers and chicken nuggets, but it’s all plant-based. Hart plans to open 10 to 12 restaurants in California by the end of 2023, with hopes to eventually bring locations to San Francisco, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Florida and Philadelphia.
Unsurprisingly, Meta is planning to r̶i̶p̶ riff off Gen Z’s latest obsession, BeReal. The app, which has over 10 million global users, sends users a notification each day prompting them to take a candid photo with their front and back cameras at the same time. Instagram is prototyping IG Candid, which (you guessed it) prompts users to take a photo at a specific time each day. Just like BeReal, users will be prompted that they have two minutes to take a photo to share with friends in the moment. That said, after the news was leaked, Meta shared that what people are reacting to is an internal prototype, so it’s up in the air if users will ever see it.
If you’re looking for more original ideas to sink your teeth into this weekend, I recommend checking out this intriguing New Yorker piece about two brothers who work in tech answering the question “Is selling shares in yourself the way of the future?”. The answer is…complicated.
My favorite bits of the internet this week include a follow up from our August 5th edition where we shared this interview of a kid who simply loves corn. It’s since blown up and led to this very catchy song that masterfully mashes up his thoughts on corn. It’s so sweet but be warned the song will be stuck in your head all weekend—at minimum. I also loved this video of two coworkers spotted dancing in their office, and this dumb but hilarious series where a man tries to buy the grocery divider at a grocery store.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
One of the best and most criminally overlooked movies of the year is the surreal and endearing STRAWBERRY MANSION (trailer here). Kentucker Audley (who also co-directed alongside Albert Birney) gives a hilariously understated lead performance as James Preble, a bureaucrat whose job is to audit the dreams of citizens so that their contents can be taxed by a dystopian government. When James begins auditing the dreams of elderly artist Bella Isadora, the monotony of this job is quickly shattered by his growing feelings for the younger version of Bella he sees in her dreams—and by the discovery of a government conspiracy that puts his life at risk. This plot is fun enough on its own, but the stunning cinematography and pastel colors used to distinguish the real world from the dreams that James audits elevate it to a whole other level. The movie also contains some of the most intriguing uses of green screen I’ve ever seen, and I would be remiss not to mention the unexpectedly effective and undeniably bizarre use of paper mache masks to bring some of the strange characters that occupy Bella’s dreams to life. If you’re looking for a clever, sentimental movie that will punch you in the heart without ever losing its sense of fun, I’d absolutely recommend checking out STRAWBERRY MANSION as soon as you can.
—Nick Schoenbrodt, Development Intern
TV
I had the privilege of watching the pilot episode of LITTLE DEMON (trailer here) at Comic Con this year, and I can finally tell you about it because the animated series premiered on FXX this week! The series kicks off with 13-year-old Chrissy (voiced by Lucy DeVito) trying to fit into middle school life (so you should already feel bad for her). She gets caught up in a custody battle between her human mother, voiced by Aubrey Plaza, and her father, literally Satan and voiced by Danny DeVito. This turns out to be a story about puberty and coming into your own with all the external pressures in the way—whether that feels as grounded as your parents separating or as out-of-this-world as finding out that you're the Antichrist, Warning! This series is violent and raunchy…so not for co-viewing with your young kids…but I literally laughed out loud so many times during the pilot and it's truly one of a kind.) From the minds of Darcy Fowler (who is a part of the PS family—hi Darcy!), Seth Kirschner, and Kieran Valla, LITTLE DEMON is already proving to be a breakout adult animated show. After all, I think we can all agree-- growing up can be hell.
—Erin Harris, Development Assistant
Comedy
Last night, fellow PS assistant Dustin and I caught Carmen Christopher's “Live in LA” show at The Elysian. Everything about Carmen and his set is stupidly perfect, from the way he sort of talks like he's badly reading from a teleprompter to the involvement of the song SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS by Postal Service—the specificity of which, for some reason, made me involuntarily bark. He makes little cartoon noises. He pokes fun at public apology culture in an actually funny, non-stale way. He generally presents as a guy with a loose plan that he’s a little proud of but mostly given up on. There’s no cool or clever way for me to say it, but I just laughed so hard watching this performance. If you ever get the chance to see Carmen live, you’d better go.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
Book
Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! CARRIE SOTO IS BACK was one of my favorite reads this year. It's a tightly paced sports drama about tennis star Carrie Soto's determination to prove to the world that she is still extraordinary. However, as she fights to protect her record and title as the greatest female tennis player of all time, she begins to realize how reductive living for a record can be.
Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I was instantly sucked into the world of professional tennis despite never having picked up a racquet! I also couldn't turn the page fast enough when it came to all of the intricate personal hurdles in Carrie's life.
It has the high stakes of the epic tennis matches, deeply emotional beats between Carrie and her father (who happens to be her coach!), and a fun unexpected romance. Ultimately, CARRIE SOTO IS BACK is a gripping story about how the definition of greatness can mean more than one thing. Run, don't walk to get your copy this Tuesday, 8/30!
—Lisa Ramon, Manager, Television
I’m not usually a mystery reader, but I just started Sujata Massey’s wonderful novel THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL and I cannot put it down. The book is the first in a series and takes place in 1920s Bombay as Perveen Mistry, the city’s only female lawyer, investigates a client’s very suspicious will. My favorite element of the novel is the changing relationship between Perveen and her best friend from her time at Oxford, British socialite Alice Hobson-Jones. As friends from college do, the two notice their friendship shifting with time and distance, but things grow even more complicated when Alice travels to Bombay to visit her parents—who are government officials serving under George Lloyd. I’m absolutely loving this book and can’t wait to read the next two in the series.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
08/19/22
This week: Two very different movies you should stream this weekend, along with an oldie-but-goodie podcast and a v heartwarming page-turner.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube BLACKPINK - Pink Venom
Letterboxd NOPE
Spotify As It Was - Harry Styles
Netflix NEVER HAVE I EVER
Twitter Sesame Street
Trailer TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Billionaires like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos are apparently turning to the west coast of Greenland for their newest energy source. And while this is all possible because of climate change (Greenland’s quickly-melting ice reveals new mineral-rich land and makes it logistically easier for equipment and minerals to be shipped), it’s also meant to fight climate change as well. Mineral exploration startup Kobald is specifically looking to mine metals that can be used to power electric car batteries. The land is potentially capable of powering 100 million electric vehicles, which could in turn lower costs for consumers.
On Tuesday, American Airlines announced that it’s buying up to 20 supersonic jets from plane manufacturer Boom Supersonic. The planes are set to debut in 2029 and can reportedly take you from New York to London in about three and a half hours, and from San Francisco to Tokyo in about six hours. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, the planes will run on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuels.
Yesterday, Nielsen reported that streaming viewership has surpassed cable viewership for the first time ever last month, with 34.8% of all TV viewing.
And of course, my favorite moments of the internet this week. I loved this video that depicts how roads were created in the days of the Roman empire. I also enjoyed this video of a snail playing with a baby carrot, and this video of a cat perfectly emulating the MGM logo.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
This is a PSA that UNCHARTED (trailer here), starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, just hit Netflix. The movie is as action-packed as the video game that it's based on, with witty humor to top it all off. Holland and Wahlberg’s characters set out to search for the hidden keys that lead to billions of dollars of gold lost in a shipwreck in the sixteenth century. Antonio Banderas plays the main villain in the film, a profoundly rich billionaire who is willing to kill anyone for what he believes is his family’s fortune. The movie includes a huge number of fight scenes where Tom Holland’s character, Nathan Drake, fights off big bad guys and resembles Holland’s other major role as Spiderman (possible UNCHARTED x Marvel crossover one day, maybe?). All in all, the movie is hilarious and a fun summer watch that is sure to motivate you to go off on an adventure of your own.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Intern
It wouldn't be a film rec from me if I weren't at least a year late to the party, so here I am! I'm totally shook after watching British director Andrew Gaynord's 2021 comedy-horror film ALL MY FRIENDS HATE ME (trailer here). Currently available to stream on Hulu, the film follows co-writer and star Tom Stourton as Pete, a quintessential thirtysomething "regular guy" who reunites with his school friends to celebrate his birthday weekend. Pete is overcome with paranoia at every turn, worried that his longtime friends and their strange new friend Harry (Dustin Demri-Burns) are out to get him. The horror tone and pacing heighten the tension of seemingly small interactions, calling out uncomfortably funny nuances of male insecurity through the characters' one-upmanship, bravado, pranks, and roasts. Pete's misdirected outbursts bring CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM-esque cringe comedy to this dark exploration of subtly toxic masculinity. Watch it this weekend...but don't overthink it after watching. I'm sure all your friends love you!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
Book
I purchased Emily Henry’s BOOK LOVERS shortly after it was released in May, and finally got around to reading it, and wow! I can’t remember the last time I tore through a book so quickly. A literary agent and a book editor—both workaholics living in New York City—unexpectedly run into each other in a small town right out of a Lifetime movie. The novel is genuinely sweet, but not just in a romantic way. The relationship between the main character, Nora, and her sister made my heart swell. It’s an especially wonderful read during these Great Resignation times: it explores ideas how closely we tie our identities to our professions. And as the title suggests: it’s full of amazing literary references book lovers will adore.
—Rosemary Brennan, Marketing Consultant
FROM THE VAULT
Podcast
Today I’m recommending an oldie but goodie that’s very much worth your time. BUBBLE, by the guys at Maximum Fun, is one of my favorite fiction podcasts of all time. It notably strays from the sort of earnest thrillers we so often see in the scripted space and gives us some quirky gore that feels like an ADULT SWIM romp in audio. And that makes a ton of sense given that writer/creator Jordan Morris’ credits include stints on Comedy Central as well as Comedy Bang! Bang! On TV.
BUBBLE is the story of badass monster killer Morgan, who grew up outside the safe city bounds of FAIRHAVEN, a kind of hipster Utopia created by a Jeff Bezos-type (played out to his most dangerous conclusion). She puts her skills to monetizable use by joining HUNTR, a highly competitive app for those helping keep the city streets safe and doing it with style. The dialogue is sharp, the insights are witty, and don’t worry—there’s a mysterious backstory too. Enjoy!
—Emmanuelle Stahler, VP, Audio
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
08/12/22
This week: Streaming price hikes, a punk-rock series, midwestern architectural marvels, and a book that exceeded all expectations.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Jennette McCurdy “I’m Glad My Mom Died”
Letterboxd PREY
Spotify Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52
Netflix UNCHARTED
Twitter Jungkook
Trailer THE MENU
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
The iconic Olivia Newton-John passed away on Monday at 73. She was best known for her role as Sandy in GREASE, and was behind so many chart-topping tunes of the ‘70s and ‘80s (her song PHYSICAL spent more time at the top of the Billboard charts than any other song in the 1980s—yes, I mean the entire decade!). She was also a self-described “cancer thriver,” a fighter, a mom, Grammy winner, and superstar actress. To every other kid who grew up watching and rewatching Olivia in GREASE, I'm right there with you. Olivia’s family is pointing people who’d like to support to donate to her cancer research institute in her memory.
Got a few scintillating clerical updates for you guys this week, on the streaming front. In short, if you use Disney Plus or Hulu, you can expect to pay more for content pretty soon. Disney Plus’ ad supported plan is launching in December for $7.99 per month. It’s also increasing its ad-free plan at the same time, up from $7.99 to $10.99 per month. Disney is increasing Hulu prices as well in October, taking ad-free subscribers from $12.99 a month to $14.99, while users of the ad-supported version will bump up to $7.99 a month (from $6.99). Womp.
Deepfake dub technology is taking the big screen today. Lionsgate’s newest theatrical movie, FALL, opens today. And it apparently originally had a lot of f-bombs in it. And when the filmmakers were told they had to bring the rating down from R to PG-13, they had a daunting task on their hands. But instead of doing reshoots or traditionally dubbing over the non-PG-13 words, the team used AI technology to remove over 30 offending words from the film.
This week, I loved this video of a massive rave crowd in the U.K. paying tribute to Olivia Newton-John together. I also may be a little biased since I grew up just outside of Philly, but I loved this video creatively documenting 100 unique row houses in Philadelphia. Lastly, I’d be remiss not to mention this TikTok account that I’ve been thoroughly enjoying, featuring bandmates that create a series they call “Can it Kirkland,” where they guess whether various alcohol is name-brand or from Costco.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
When I was a child, I did a “when I grow up” project about my dreams of one day becoming an architect. Unfortunately, that dream fizzled a few years later. But design and construction have always continued to fascinate me. And COLUMBUS (trailer here) feeds that fire in a big way. It’s a beautiful film from South Korean filmmaker Kogonada, exploring the many works of art found across Columbus, Indiana, a small midwestern town admired for its modernist architecture and unique displays from renowned designers.
Jin (John Cho) is a Korean-born man who journeys to Columbus to take care of his sick father. Jin eventually meets our other lead, Casey (Haley Lu Richardson, also the star of PICTURESTART classic, UNPREGNANT), who works at the library in town. The two form a bond based on a shared love of the local architecture, and through that (platonic) relationship, help each other work through some very real and difficult issues.
This film isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the most visually exploratory films I’ve ever seen. Both Richardson’s and Cho’s performances are quiet and intimate, and beautifully emphasized by the soundtrack and camera work. The hard lines and large structures of the modernist movement are so well captured in the mundanity of a small, midwestern town; it feels fantastical that a place like this could exist. So if you’re feeling contemplative and in the mood for being inspired visually, settle in with this film this weekend!
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
TV
I spent last week binge-watching the incredibly entertaining PISTOL (trailer here) miniseries about the English punk rock band, Sex Pistols. The show has a young talented cast including Maisie Williams, Louis Partridge, and Thomas-Brodie Sangster. The series covers the start and come-up of the band in the London rock scene throughout the mid to late ‘70s. The band eventually started picking up major media traction once it started to lean into the anti-establishment sentiment in its music—and causing havoc everywhere they went, purely for the sake of pissing people off. The show gives an accurate depiction of how the punk scene evolved, and how big public figures like Vivienne Westwood became involved. If you’re feeling some anti-establishment feelings yourself, amidst the general decline of civilization and rising prices of everything, this is a must watch for you.
—Saad Hamid, Digital Intern
READER RECOMMENDATION
Book
I honestly went into DAISY JONES & THE SIX with middling expectations. I’ve read two of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books before and enjoyed them, but not anywhere near the way I loved this one. At its core, this book is a love story about love—the possibility of love that doesn’t happen, love that’s based on so much trust it breaks your heart, love that was never equal, love that was always equal. I love that there are three female protagonists who all want different things in life and no one is shamed for their choices. It felt like a love letter to women, which is remarkable for a book with ~10 POVs, most of them being male. Yet, it’s definitely a female gaze book. The fact it’s all written as an oral history of bandmates and people around them talking about their experience in a rock band in the ‘70s made it even better. The only deterrent: I wish that I hadn’t read the book’s final page for many reasons. In an effort to not give spoilers, I will leave it at that. But every page leading up to that final one is truly excellent.
—Rebecca Smith, PS Weekly Subscriber
Podcast
We have our very first podcast coming out soon at PICTURESTART (in partnership with our friends at Brat)! It’s hosted by Antoni Bumba, a (very funny!) Gen Z influencer and content creator we’re pretty obsessed with. The show, READING THE STARS, is a weekly chat show that sees Antoni discussing all things pop culture, astrology, TikTok, mental health, and more. She’ll be joined by guests like Drew Afualo, Victoria Paris, Challxn, and Dylan Mulvaney. You can go ahead and subscribe here to be notified when the first episode drops on August 23, but I’ll also make sure to share the first episode with you all as soon as it drops.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
FROM THE VAULT
Short Film
WEEKEND AT GUS’ is a visually astonishing short film directed by Paul Overstrom, following a woman named Stephanie in her daily life as she runs a small fishing supply store in the San Francisco area. Her late father opened Gus’ Discount Tackle 60 years ago, and there, he taught her from a young age, how to run a business—and even more importantly, how to develop a deep and meaningful connection with customers. While watching WEEKEND AT GUS’, you can feel the warmth and welcoming feeling that Stephanie projects into the store along with her bright contagious smile. The store itself looks like time hasn’t touched it—like you’ve walked through a time portal taking you back 60 years. Overstrom made the smart choice of shooting this short film with a Bolex H16 in Kodak’s 250D, which gives a perfect texture and color warmth to translate Stephanie’s love and passion for the store. You’ll walk away from the short feeling warm and fuzzy about following your passion, being kind to others, and supporting the ones you love. Seriously, there’s no room for cynicism here, and you won’t miss it at all.
—Eri Taira, Associate Graphic Designer
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ
07/29/22
This week: Two truly perfect summer shows, new music from Beyoncé, and some book news that’s personal to us!
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube Stray (catview)
Letterboxd NOPE
Spotify Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52
Netflix VIRGIN RIVER
Twitter Beyoncé
Trailer BLACK PANTHER 2: WAKANDA FOREVER
Shopify It’s Been A Week
Life & Culture
Apparently, bullying, err, collective action works. At least with a massive corporation like Instagram. The social media platform has recently been introducing new changes to select users, basically making the feed exactly like TikTok, with every post full-screen, and popular posts being pushed just as much as accounts the users follow. And Instagram users pushed back, with top-followed accounts like Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian posting memes encouraging the app to reconsider the changes and stick to the purpose many users took to the app for–sharing photos. And IG chief Adam Mosseri listened, saying he’s “glad we took a risk—if we’re not failing every once in a while, we’re not thinking big enough or bold enough” but “we definitely need to take a big step back and regroup.”
Streaming is at an all-time high this summer. Nielsen reported that 33.7 percent of Americans' TV time is spent on streaming services. No surprises here, but Netflix, despite its growth challenges, is the most-used streaming service, making up 7.7 percent of total TV viewing in June.
After the internet came together to shame Kylie Jenner on her private plane usage (twelve-minute flights across LA!), it turns out that an unexpected singer/songwriter has her beat out on absurd CO2 emissions…Taylor Swift. Her two private jets have taken 170 flights in just 200 days this year, equating to more emissions than 1,184 average people would put out in a year. Oof.
And of course, my favorite pieces of the internet from this week. I randomly remembered this vine from forever ago and felt like getting the sound stuck in your heads again, too (sorry). I also enjoyed this adorable video of kitten and bunny siblings chasing each other around and this video of a frog riding a slithering snake through a grassy field. May we all channel that frog’s relaxed energy this weekend.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
The long-awaited sneak peek at Nicki Minaj's docuseries NICKI is finally here! The trailer offers a promising glimpse of what I love to see in music documentary projects: iconic songs, tons of footage over several years, and unexpected vulnerability from the subject. The Barbz are surely in for a treat with six episodes of content from their Queen, and I hope we will get an all-encompassing look at the controversial rapper's ups and downs. Nicki claims the series will be released “sooner than you think”—trust that I will be the first to watch and report back!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
TV
If there's one thing I know about Issa Rae, it’s that she doesn’t miss. I was feeling starved for content after INSECURE had its finale in December, but thankfully Issa is back with something for the girls this summer. Her newest series, RAP SH!T (trailer here), follows two estranged high school friends who form a rap duo. Loosely based on the rise of the show's co-executive producers, city girls Shawna and Mia are stuck in a daily limbo that isn’t taking them very far in life. Shawna’s dreams of making it big were shattered after her record deal fell through, and she now works as a hotel concierge sharing videos of socially conscious raps with her very small Instagram following. Meanwhile, Mia struggles to make ends meet in order to support her daughter, and works as a make-up artist with an OnlyFans on the side. Despite (or maybe because of) their differences, they turn out to be the complements for one another, and come together as a dynamic duo destined to make it big in the Miami music scene. The series has a heavy focus on the characters’ social media presence, allowing for an introspective view on how these women want to be perceived versus how they’re actually living. And similar to INSECURE, the city becomes its own character, and it’s very refreshing to see the working class side of Miami just as we did with Los Angeles in INSECURE. All I know is I’m so ready to see Shawna and Mia seduce and scheme their way across Miami this summer.
—Ellen Amare, Office Coordinator
Okay everyone, listen up! The icon, the legend, and the nosiest villain you've ever met, A, is back. Yes, you heard that right. PRETTY LITTLE LIARS has gotten (another) spin off, and I think we're all hoping this one will be the one that works. PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: ORIGINAL SIN (trailer here) has just landed on HBO Max and I'm dying for it to give all the thrills, twists, snarky one-liners, outrageous moments, and of course, murder that the OG series did a decade ago (can you believe it's been 12 years since the original premiered?!). And who doesn't love a good horror romp? So many iconic teenage shows—like DEGRASSI and PLL—made young me think high school was about to be so scandalous and dramatic. My cute little suburban high school never lived up to any of that drama, but boy did I eat it up watching it on the screen week to week. In ORIGINAL SIN, five teenage girls band together after receiving incriminating and threatening texts from an anonymous number. As they grow closer, they start to dig up the secrets of each of their mothers' pasts—and of course, it turns out all of them were connected to a single fateful night 20 years prior. Honestly, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS is just very nostalgic to me. I think of every Tuesday night, plopping down on the couch with my dad, (yes, my dad was tuned in week to week with me), devouring the liars' messy, messy lives. It's bloody, it's funny, and yes, it's cringey; but overall, it's a good time. Oh how I've missed that silly little opening song. Stay safe liArs.
—Erin Harris, Development Assistant
Book
FROM THE VAULT
Editor’s note: Re-running this recommendation as it’s the perfect time to check out this book because we’re making it into a series!
If you’re looking for a voice-y, raw and bold story filled with fascinating and sharp observations, which at the same time makes you crave a bowl of gourmet Shin Black Ramyun, you must not miss YOLK by New York Times bestselling author Mary H.K. Choi. YOLK follows two estranged Korean-American sisters who are kind of totally opposite—Jayne, the messy and always anxious fashion student barely getting by, and June, the put-together older sister with a dazzling, high-paying job in finance. But cancer and sisterly obligation throw them back together, under the same roof, and the novel unwinds from there. Mary gives us two flawed yet real sisters with strong and vibrant personalities, each dealing with their own issues in a way that feels so true to our generation. They are chaotic and painfully aware of themselves, and I love them for it. Among other things, this is a book about the Asian-American experience and growing up as immigrant kids in a catholic household. But at the same time, it is a universal story about sibling connection, about the young adult angst of figuring life out in a big city, and about facing your mental health issues. And also, this is a book that will make your stomach rumble with all its incredible descriptions of food.
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
Music
Beyoncé is back with some bops today. Obviously, I’ve spent a decent amount of time these past few weeks listening to BREAK MY SOUL (honestly a top-notch workout song), and I’m happy to report that the rest of Bey’s new album RENAISSANCE has similar dance tunes that you can’t help but move your body to. The album is dedicated to her Uncle Johnny, who she describes as her “godmother and first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album.” It also sees Beyoncé returning to rap on songs COZY and CHURCH GIRL. I think my favorites (as of now) are the vibey CUFF IT and ALIEN SUPERSTAR. So on the off chance that you haven’t listened yet, go into the weekend knowing that you have my wholehearted recommendation to do so.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Have a great weekend! And as always, be kind, stay healthy, and stay creative. ツ