04/29/22
This week: Turn off your brain and enjoy these very fun movies. Plus, the long-awaited return of BARRY, a crypto dating show, and as always, some excellent Toks.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
Youtube telling my story - Hailey Bieber
Letterboxd THE NORTHMAN
TikTok #digitalart
Spotify As It Was - Harry Styles
Netflix SELLING SUNSET
Twitter James Corden
Shopify It’s been a week
Life & Culture
You might be surprised to learn that over 90 percent of plastic never gets recycled. Yeah, you read that right. Nine, Zero, 90. California is now officially looking into whether fossil fuel companies should be held accountable for misleading the public about recycling. The state’s attorney general accused oil and gas companies of “a half-century campaign of deception” that led consumers to believe they could justify their use of plastic items by simply recycling them. This comes after PBS series FRONTLINE’S 2020 investigation that brought to light documents showing evidence that top officials knew that recycling plastic was almost impossible, but spent tens of millions of dollars telling the public the opposite.
Reddit is getting into the creator fund game, finally joining pretty much every other social media company. The discussion platform just announced that it’s planning to spend $1 million to fund consumer-helmed projects on the platform. This initiative will start in June, and the company is accepting projects that need $1,000 to $50,000 in funding. Projects will be judged on their creativity, feasibility, and community impact.
I’m sharing two super creative videos I saw this week. This one feels like a short film recounting the tale of dog-sitting a very high-maintenance pup, and this one depicts probably the most cinematic evening you could have at a secluded cabin.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Question of the week:
Our Q for you this week: What old show have you returned to binge-watch lately? We’re giving one of you a $25 Postmates gift card to fuel your weekend-watching. Hit us with your best recs!
Film
People severely underestimate the pure joy and necessity of just…shutting off your brain. It is powerful. It is crucial. It’s what gives you the will and energy to do just about anything. So, when THE LOST CITY (trailer here) came out, I scrambled to the theater, Fanta in hand, ready to let some colorful jungle misadventures and broad comedy wash over me like a warm bubble bath. Playing off predecessors like ROMANCING THE STONE, the film stars Sandra Bullock as a successful bodice-ripper novelist who finds herself lost in the tropical wilderness with her books’ beefy but simple cover star, played by Channing Tatum (because, obviously). And then, treasure-hunting hijinks ensue. There’s something so nostalgic about the absurdity of this premise and the superstardom of this cast that’s more than welcome right now. And there’s something so incredibly gleeful about watching Daniel Radcliffe ham it up as the mustache-twirling villain in the latest of his eclectic run of often-bizarre roles over the past several years. The man is such a fascinating and multi-talented performer, and unlike other skilled actors who obsess over method or insist on treating their careers like theatrical parkour, he simply picks projects that allow him to have fun. He has no pretension, and neither does THE LOST CITY—and that is refreshing as hell.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
I had simply the best time watching Nic Cage’s new film THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT (trailer here) in a movie theater last Friday night. The film is a winding action comedy that stars Cage as a fictionalized version of himself. The plot effectively switches gears a few times in the first thirty minutes, starting with an intense kidnapping, pivoting to depict a down-on-his-luck Cage who can’t seem to adequately communicate with his teenage daughter, and landing with Cage thrown into the world of an international drug lord, the CIA, and sprawling Spanish villas—with a few PADDINGTON 2 references thrown in to boot. While the movie is definitely unhinged at times (in the best way!), I loved that I didn’t know what to expect next at any point. Get a few friends together and go check it out this weekend—I promise you’ll have fun with it.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
TV
After a three-year hiatus, one of my favorite shows, BARRY (trailer here), is back for its third season. The "previously on" recap before the season premiere reminded me of so many storylines I'd forgotten, which speaks to how much the series has accomplished in just 16 half-hour episodes. From crime drama to Hollywood satire to character-driven exploration of PTSD, Alec Berg & Bill Hader hit every mark (hitman pun absolutely intended), layering tense moments with their signature humor and vice-versa. Without spoiling too much, I'm looking forward to seeing how Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler) reacts to his new knowledge of Barry's true career, and I'm excited to see more of NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan). This season is off to a strong start—here's to hoping the remaining episodes are worth the very long wait!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
Web3
MAD REALITIES is a company that wants to be the Netflix of Web3 and brings a totally fresh perspective to reality TV. Cofounders Alice Ma and Devin Lewtan raised over $500,000 to fund the first-ever crypto-powered reality series, selling NFTs as membership to the platform. The show is named PROOF OF LOVE, a play on “proof of stake,” which is how payments are validated for different cryptocurrencies. And while a crypto dating show almost feels like an oxymoron, the premise is simple: It's a live dating show (with a live audience) that is created, cast and voted on by the NFT holders. The NFTs that power the show were sold as different tiered “Rose Tickets,” which allow NFT holders to have varying degrees of participation. One of the highest tickets, the “Sequin Rose,” allows the holder to earn a producer credit and a video of everyone at the event bowing down to you.
I’m intrigued by the concept and how it marries the silliness and fun of IRL dating with cryptocurrency. Oh, and you can stream every episode for free on YouTube! Tune in to the finale this Sunday, airing live from Webster Hall, and keep an eye out for my friend Dylan—who in my completely unbiased opinion is the very best contestant on the show.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
Art
For all of our LA readers, I highly recommend heading over to the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA for its Pipilotti Rist exhibit, “Big Heartedness: Be My Neighbor.” It’s an immersive experience that takes you through over thirty years of Rist’s work, which primarily takes the form of video. You’ll find yourself walking through a dream-like maze of lights to enter various rooms with mesmerizing video installations often juxtaposing scenes of peaceful nature and the human body. The exhibit is so beautiful—and easy to lose yourself in. Check it out before it ends on June 6.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist