03/11/22
This week: Well, we found the perfect driving song. Plus, the crème de la crème of startup scammer stories, a worthy return to live performances, and our first-ever PS Weekly reader rec!
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
☞YYoutube OBI-WAN KENOBI
☞YLetterboxd THE BATMAN
☞YTikTok #WomenInGaming
☞YSpotify Heat Waves - Glass Animals
☞YNetflix PIECES OF HER
☞YTwitter Wordle
☞YShopify We made some cool PS merch!
Life & Culture
To state the obvious: Wow, gas prices are high. And it looks like they’ll stay that way for a while: CNN is saying things will stay this way through Labor Day. The whole situation is a stark reminder of our collective reliance on fossil fuels. Tesla is reportedly already seeing a surge in orders this week, compared to last. But just in case a new/expensive car with a wait list isn’t in the cards for you, here are a few hacks to help you use a little less gas when you do have to drive.
This past Tuesday was International Women’s Day, and as typical of these mostly marketing holidays, a lot of companies took the opportunity to tweet about it. This year, someone created a Twitter bot to see if these companies put their money where their tweets are, sharing the gender wage gap for every company that tweets about IWD. While it only tracks UK-based companies, the findings are pretty interesting. The bot quotes each tweet with the facts comparing men and women’s pay, using the government’s service that makes this data public.
I think we at this company have made our stance on ABBOTT ELEMENTARY clear (we love it), and today I am giving you one more reason to watch. The show is partnering with Scholastic (who we also love) to give underfunded schools free book fairs. The events are taking place next week, with each kid getting two free books and each teacher getting 10. No viral TikTok required.
Disney Plus announced that it will be introducing a cheaper ad-supported subscription option later this year. This comes as the company is only about halfway to its goal of reaching 230 to 260 million subscribers by 2024. Hulu, HBOMax, and Peacock all currently offer various ad-supported plans. So, we have to ask:
Are you willing to watch a few (or more) ads to get content for free—or cheap?
-Yep, these streamer subscriptions are adding up
-No, I can’t sacrifice my ad-free binge-watching
And finally, this week, I was fortunate enough to stumble across this powerful reading of poet Brenda Shaughnessy’s I HAVE A TIME MACHINE. I also loved this video explaining Agnes Denes’ amazing public art piece in the middle of NYC in 1982, and this (very cinematic) video of a snail that feels like a whole movie in a few seconds.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
I’m admittedly a little late to the game here, but I finally watched CODA (trailer here) last night and was so glad that I did. The movie follows Ruby, the only hearing person in her deaf family, who has spent most of her life helping her family with their fishing business. When she belatedly leans into her long-time dream of singing by joining her high school’s choir, Ruby is forced to choose between pursuing her passions and supporting her parents and brother. The characters are what make this movie, and while they all feel unique and real, I particularly loved Troy Kotsur’s depiction of Ruby’s father. He brought the perfect amount of levity and passion to the character, and gave the story depth. It’s up for three Academy Awards this month, including Best Picture. Watch it when you’re in the mood for something light, sweet, and heartwarming.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
TV
We are truly living in the heyday of rise-and-fall-of-the-scammer stories. Some might even say there are too many options available in this space. But Hulu's new limited series THE DROPOUT (trailer here) is already a standout thanks to its central figure and darkly comedic tone. Amanda Seyfried nails her portrayal of fraudulent entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes, alternating between quirky levity and a Machiavelllian wickedness. Seyfried's take on Elizabeth Holmes elevates the series by rooting the story in a fascinating antihero. Within the ups and downs of Theranos is a tale about a misguided entrepreneur who attempts to assert herself as a young female leader but quickly finds herself in immoral and illegal territory when she can't meet the expectations she set for herself. The series sets up an intriguing journey for Elizabeth without trying to convince you to root for her. The more you watch, the more you'll be asking “How did she get this far?” and “How far can this go?” I'm excited to keep watching for these answers!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
Book
I recently revisited one of my favorite books from 2021—Mayukh Sen’s TASTE MAKERS: SEVEN IMMIGRANT WOMEN WHO REVOLUTIONIZED FOOD IN AMERICA, and I would be remiss not to pass it on to all of you here. Sen, in his authorial debut, honors a group of seven extraordinary women in biographical accounts that are compassionate, smart, and cinematic— I truly felt as though I was watching a short film, reading his words—particularly as he detailed each woman’s journey navigating the unforgiving American culinary world that deprived them of the honor and recognition they deserved. As a prolific food writer and journalist, Sen pays deep attention to the public and private challenges these women faced in trying to express their love and passion for food—and in doing so, he does the most radical thing of all: He allows their lives to speak for themselves. Sen does’t try to rework their lives into a digestible form for American audiences but rather provides a raw and respectful account of each woman's life. As someone who was not born in the United States, I found it so refreshing to read a book that celebrates the lives of immigrant women who are frequently misunderstood and disregarded by American media.
—Nimarta Narang, Digital Fellow
READER RECOMMENDATION
Podcast
CHAMELEON: WILD BOYS is an audio anthology series, with each season centering on a story in which people are more than they seem. The most recent season follows two boys who mysteriously show up in a small Canadian town and turn into a national news story. Sam Mullins, the host and writer, is from this town and shares his own memory of these boys and their impact on his community, which adds so much more color and nuance to the story. The storytelling is well done, including first-hand interviews with police officers, politicians and community members—and excellent, high-quality production. Each episode engulfs you in the tension of these mysterious "Wild Boys," pacing it just carefully enough to keep you guessing, but not torturing the listener with unnecessary cliffhangers that don’t serve the story. And just when you think you understand what really happened, Sam Mullins takes you on another ride! I highly recommend this podcast to any fan of SERIAL or any other long-form investigative podcast.
—Levi Brown, PS Weekly Subscriber
Music
My favorite music find of this week is undoubtedly GLITCH PRINCESS by yeule. Coming out of a global pandemic, I think we’re all surveying some of the carnage left in its wake while also marveling at the technological oases created out of collective isolation. We seem to exist in a state of in-between as we sink into virtual escapism on an even deeper scale. This is where Singapore-raised artist yuele emerges. Born Nat Ćmiel, they have created an album that holds a mirror to the internal v. external definition of “apocalypse." Beautifully explained by Colin Lodewick in Pitchfork, yuele creates a sensual example of personal transmutation through societal crisis. This album contains elements of extreme juxtaposition between the real and the artificial, alternating between pause and chaos. Tracks like FRAGMENTS emulate brain noise, a busy mind with a pulsing synth track that you could almost imagine as a heartbeat. PERFECT BLUE ft. Tohji is heavily melodic in nature, romantic and nostalgic—the perfect song to drive home to. BITES ON MY NECK echos old electronic dance music, with its high bpm and sections of poetic rubato. Overall, this album is a rollercoaster of emotions and I’m just here for the ride.
—Sara Marquis, Office Coordinator
Comedy
This week, I had the bizarre pleasure of seeing Mitra Jouhari’s HORNY LITTLE SHOW at The Elysian Theater. In a dark room, seated at a table with a white binder as her guide—and the PowerPoint projected behind her as ours—Jouhari takes the audience on a tour through her psyche. The journey begins with her fundamental hatred for the city of Los Angeles, followed by her undying love for the REAL HOUSEWIVES franchise, and ending with her ultimate sexual fantasy—which is not what you might expect. This show will make you laugh. A lot. But it might also make you grapple with your deepest insecurities and your relationship with mortality. Because in the end, according to Mitra, orgasms are great, but love, acceptance, and mere validation in life are…at least just as good.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
03/04/22
This week: Of course you need a hat that reminds the world “it’s been a week.”
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
☞Youtube Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever, The World Tour
☞Letterboxd THE BATMAN
☞TikTok Paralympics
☞Spotify Heat Waves - Glass Animals
☞Netflix WORST ROOMMATE EVER
☞Twitter LOVE IS BLIND Reunion
☞Shopify It’s been a week
Life & Culture
If you’re on pretty much any form of social media, you have probably not been able to escape the world of EUPHORIA over the past two months. And the numbers back that up…according to Twitter, the show is now the most-tweeted-about series of the decade so far, with over 34 million tweets. The high-school-set series is also setting records at HBO, with an average of 16.3 million viewers per Season 2 episode. For context, this beats out the viewership numbers of the first three seasons of GAME OF THRONES.
In equally important news, we just dropped a new line of merch: caps, slap-bracelet koozies, tees, and even a head scratcher, all part of our “It’s been a week” collection. It’s inspired by our popular Friday post on Instagram, also called It’s been a week. A few recent favorites here, here, and here. Shop the pieces here—we can’t wait to see pics of you all in them!
Okay, this isn’t the first time I’ve recommended a Humans of New York series (and it probably won’t be the last), but I was in constant-refresh mode reading the latest 13-part series. Creator Brandon Stanton tells the story of Venus, a mother of seven who learned that she didn’t know her husband nearly as well as she thought she did. The story is full of unexpected twists and turns—some truly devastating. But ultimately it’s a story of a mother’s resilience and dedication to her family. Film adaptation coming very soon, I’m sure.
And finally, in honor of women’s history month, I found a few videos that tell the stories of special women in history. This one introduces us to Sacheen Littlefeather, an Indigenous actress and the first person to give a political speech at the Oscars, this one introduces us to Grace O’Malley, one of the most successful female pirates, and this one is about the first known writer (and poet!).
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Burning Question:
Would you rather…
only be able to watch TV for the rest of your life
OR
only be able to watch movies for the rest of your life?
Film
After a quiet few months at the box office, THE BATMAN (trailer here) is finally here to shake things up with a thunderous $100M+ domestic opening on the horizon this weekend. I’m pleased to report that I had a great time with this latest iteration of Gotham’s caped crusader, which feels less like the lazy product of a gargantuan corporate machine and more like its own contained noir-ish detective drama. While it draws heavy influence from CHINATOWN and SE7EN, it still stands on its own two legs with its compelling, bleak, singular vision. Taking place in a dreary Gotham—where it is perpetually raining and no one cares to turn on a lamp (~vibes~), Matt Reeves’ THE BATMAN follows a brooding Bruce Wayne (played hauntingly by Robert Pattinson…I’m still giddy about his performance) in his second year working as a vigilante. A serial killer (Paul Dano’s The Riddler) is targeting some of Gotham’s highest ranking officials to expose the city’s deep-seated history of corruption and abuse, leaving cryptic clues at his crime scenes addressed to The Batman. As Batman and Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) work against the clock to piece together the bigger mystery, an exciting array of supporting characters come into the mix, complicating the story with twists and turns aplenty. But the true standout among them is Zoe Kravitz’s Selina Kyle (Catwoman!), who teams up with Bruce Wayne to save the day. While a number of actresses have taken a swing at the iconic character over the years, Kravitz imbues Selina Kyle with a blistering sense of humanity that earns the film a ton of emotional mileage, especially when its three-hour runtime might begin to test you (seriously, use the bathroom beforehand). Her relationship with Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne is achingly romantic, and Selina Kyle finally feels more like a fully-realized character than a perfunctory fantasy. In addition to Kravitz’s wonderful performance, I’d be remiss not to mention Greig Fraser’s painterly cinematography and Michael Giacchino’s unbelievable score, which has instantly become my new default “deep focus and work" playlist. If you’re looking for a grand, epic film to completely sweep you away this weekend, go see THE BATMAN on the biggest screen possible.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
One of my favorite Sundance titles of 2022 is coming to Hulu today, and I need you all to watch it. Written by Lauryn Kahn and directed by Mimi Cave, FRESH (trailer here) is a wickedly funny and spine-chilling feminist thriller that depicts the horrors of modern dating as seen through the eyes of a young woman (Daisy Edgar-Jones) whose new date (Sebastian Stan) seems to have an, uh, “unusual appetite,” as Hulu’s description puts it. (Consider this my attempt at recommending the film without spoiling anything!) In her dazzling directorial debut, Mimi puts a deliciously dark comedic spin on the commodification of female bodies in our current consumption-oriented dating culture, all the while giving us stunning visuals (and warning: there will be some gore). Daisy and Sebastian also delivered incredible performances that are simultaneously contained and wild. It is one of those films that I can’t stop thinking about weeks later, and I urge you all to tune in this weekend!
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
I’ve never understood the criminal underratedness of one of my favorite teen comedies of all time: STRIKE! (trailer here), a.k.a. ALL I WANNA DO, a.k.a. THE HAIRY BIRD. (Well, maybe having three different titles, one of which is shared with a seminal silent film about factory workers in pre-revolutionary Russia, has something to do with it.) But this movie has everything, starting with a great young cast, many of whom have since become very familiar faces—including Kirsten Dunst, Merritt Wever, Vincent Kartheiser, Gaby Hoffman, Heather Matarazzo, and Rachel Leigh Cook—plus, Hollywood royalty Lynn Redgrave. The film centers on a group of girls at a boarding school who revolt after discovering the board’s plans to go co-ed with a neighboring boys’ institution in the 1960s. It’s a coming-of-age movie that manages to be both raunchy and sweet while making interesting points about gender and sex. Not to mention, it’s highly quotable… “No more little white gloves!”
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
TV
I don’t know how I missed this show when it first came out last year, but I’m definitely glad I’ve since rectified the situation. ALRAWABI SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (trailer here) has been called the Arab MEAN GIRLS, but the Jordanian limited series teen drama certainly has a darker tone and deals with some heavier themes. Created by Tima Shomali, the show centers on an all-girls school in Jordan, but don’t let the pale pink uniforms and tiled bathrooms fool you into thinking this is a cute private-school drama. Within the first episode, we see Mariam, a quiet tomboy, become the victim of the popular mean girls, Layan, Rania, and Ruqayya, when they brutally beat her behind the school. Mariam deals with severe bullying at the hands of these girls, so she enlists the help of her friends, Dina and Noaf, to get her revenge. Despite this being a revenge story, you do get some heartwarming moments of camaraderie from the women-led cast, however the lengths that these girls go to seek their own form of justice will have you questioning their methods. Shomali created the show to highlight the young Arab woman’s experience, making sure that from the writing down to the production crew, women were the central voices in crafting the story.
—Ellen Amare, Development Intern
Happy women's history month to Deepti from LOVE IS BLIND (trailer here), and Deepti only! I’m not embarrassed to admit I binged the entire second season of LOVE IS BLIND this week and was shocked at how engaged I was by just one of the stars: Deepti Vempati. Her story seemed almost fairytale-like to start, with her and her potential match, Abhishek hitting it off in the pods, connecting about their shared culture and almost proving that love can in fact be blind. Until he completely switched up on her in the real world after seeing her. Without spoiling anything for anyone that’s not caught up, I was very proud of the way Deepti handled the whole situation. If you haven’t had your healthy dose of reality TV recently I highly recommend binging this season—the reunion just came out!
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
Music
At the start of Women’s History Month, I’m thinking about two of my favorite women musicians. Although they come from vastly different periods in time, Vashti Bunyan and Sudan Archives have both bent and blended genres, carving out a space for themselves where folk meets baroque. Bunyan’s most famous record, JUST ANOTHER DIAMOND DAY, was released in 1970—and while it eventually found a devoted fanbase and critical praise, it went mostly unnoticed in her time, leading her to retreat from the music industry for decades. Listening to the album feels a little like hearing an angel sing, with a voice so pure and delicate you’re afraid you might break it. She’s backed by a variety of old-world instrumentals including recorders and mandolins and even an Irish harp, and the effect is magical. It’s hard not to trace some spiritual connection between Bunyan and 21st-century violinist and songstress Brittney Denise Parks, a.k.a. Sudan Archives, who’s established her own sound by combining a contemporary singing style with plenty of strings (sometimes swelling, sometimes plucked), hip-hop-infused beats, and electronic techniques like the loop pedal. Some people call her music electro-soul, others call it Afro-futurist, but most call it avant-garde. While Bunyan’s work mainly pulls from traditional European influences and Parks’ reach extends to Africa, both artists use musical instruments and stylings from throughout space and time to bare their souls. Each is an admirer and maker of musical history in her own right, and that’s why I love them…but mostly, I’m just a real sucker for strings.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
02/25/22
This week: History, mystery, electropop, a very cool thriller, and not one, but two excellent podcast recs. Your weekend starts now.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
☞Youtube Anti-war protests break out across Russia
☞Letterboxd TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
☞TikTok #artistsofTikTok
☞Spotify Heat Waves - Glass Animals
☞Netflix INVENTING ANNA
☞Twitter Ukraine
Life & Culture
Russia invaded Ukraine this week in an act of war with devastating human consequences. We normally try to keep things light in this newsletter, but this is too big and terrible a thing to ignore. So, I wanted to open with a few recs for content that might help us all better understand what’s going on. Vox’s TODAY EXPLAINED podcast dropped an episode on Wednesday that contextualizes the conflict and the effects it will have on future generations. Amazon has a 2018 documentary, BREAKING POINT: THE WAR FOR DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE, that gives an important history lesson as well as chilling insight into the tactics Russia has used in invading this region in the past. A STRUGGLE FOR HOME: THE CRIMEAN TATARS (also available on Amazon) tells an on-going piece of the story that gives background to one of the most devastating pieces of this conflict.
If you listen or watch any of the above and feel motivated to help, Ukraine is currently crowd-funding in order to raise money for its army. A few other options for donations: The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund benefits the most vulnerable people in the country, Army SOS benefits the army, and Kyiv Independent benefits independent journalism on the ground.
It’s hard to follow that up with, well, anything, but children’s television is where I’ll go next. Because my personal favorite show as a kid, ARTHUR, came to an end this week. Running for 25 years, it is the longest-running animated kid’s show of all time. The final episode (which fellow nostalgic PBS KIDS kids can watch for free on YouTube) depicts the beloved characters as adults, when Arthur and his friends play a fortune-telling game that shows what their futures might hold in 20 years. It’s wonderful, and for a minute, it might just make you feel a little bit better about this world.
As the person who updates the “trends” section every week, I can definitely tell you that Glass Animal’s HEAT WAVES has been hot for a long time. It broke the record for the “longest-simmering slow riser in the history of the Billboard Hot 100”, now in its 57th week on the chart.
And finally, I’ve decided to share three very calming TikToks this week, because I think we all need it. This one brings you directly into the peace of nature, this one invites us into a unique perspective of a hummingbird, and this one depicts the flight of what feels like a million monarch butterflies.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
I came across a Twitter thread from popular artist Mitski last night, where she implored her fans to put down their phones at her concerts.
What do you guys think—does an artist have the right to ask this of their concert-goers?
➙Yes, concerts should be like movie theaters
➙No, if I’m paying good money for a ticket, I should be able to do what I want
Film
If you’re looking for a bright, contemplative piece of queer cinema to support this weekend, I have just the movie for you! THREE MONTHS (trailer here) is a coming-of-age dramedy starring pop musician Troye Sivan as Caleb, a teen living in suburban Florida who’s distressed by the realization that he's been exposed to HIV on the night of his high school graduation. As Caleb waits three months for his test results, he strikes up an unexpected relationship with Estha (the wonderful Viveik Kalra), another teen in his support group meetings also waiting for his results. While slight and awkward in areas, THREE MONTHS remains an important and refreshing character portrait that takes a crucial step toward reframing the depiction of HIV in modern society. Writer/director Jared Frieder eschews tragic clichés in this lighthearted debut that features original music from Sivan and supporting performances from Ellen Burstyn, Brianne Tju, and Judy Greer. THREE MONTHS is available to stream now on Paramount+.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
TV
From the opening shot of SEVERANCE (trailer here), I was hooked. This thriller takes the sentiment of work-life balance to the extreme. In the series, there’s a distinct split between one’s work self and their not-at-work self; therefore, due to a chip implant, you have no memories of your work life once out of the office and vice versa. Sounds like a dream right? No. Absolutely not, it's terrifying. In the opening, an aerial shot zooms in on new employee Helly, passed out in an isolated conference room—she wakes up and can't answer even simple questions about herself—she's horrified. But this is the norm for Lumon Industries. The one character we straddle across personal and work life is Mark, played by Adam Scott, diving into very interesting reasons why someone would want to shut off any memories and thoughts of their personal lives during a large chunk of the day while at work. And throughout this pandemic, where many folks have shifted to WFH and work has infiltrated much of our home lives, I really like how this series toys with the balancing act of your personalities in "professional" spaces vs. not. A lot of us, especially in this zoom-era, have glimpsed into the personal lives of our coworkers and likely have newfound empathy for them as a result—but what if we didn't know any of those things? Largely in thanks to deft direction from Ben Stiller, this thriller series feels new, fresh, and surprisingly funny.
—Erin Harris, Development Assistant
Music
The musical stylings of Grace Ives could be best described as "girl quietly freaking out." By blending punchy synth with her own dreamy vocals, she imbues all her work with equal parts urgency and whimsy, delivered in consistently satisfying and compact pieces of electropop. The only problem with these songs being so satisfying and compact is you want more of them, and the last time Ives dropped music was almost three years ago—which is way too long ago. So, thank god for her new single LOOSE (music video here), in which Ives ponders her Brooklyn life as a cycle of bodegas, bedbugs, and depression, toeing a fine line between a sense of liberation and some foreboding anxiety. So, stream LOOSE, but also check out her earlier stuff to hear more of those DIY instrumentals that somehow hit every pleasure point in your brain (while, underneath it all, softly channeling some highly relatable anxiety and rage). My personal favorites include: MIRROR, BABYY, ICING ON THE CAKE, ANYTHING, and WHAT’S IT FOR?.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
Podcasts
If you devoured THE TROJAN HORSE AFFAIR as voraciously as I did, you should check out "A Couple Walks Into A House," a two-part THIS AMERICAN LIFE episode from a few weeks ago. The episode follows a Michigan couple who make a disturbing discovery while house hunting. (Before you read any further, know that the following is only a mild spoiler/happens in the first few minutes of the episode—but it’s a spoiler no less!).
Within minutes of stepping into a large backwoods estate, the couple discovers a slew of alarming racist memorabilia. Mere seconds later, they realize that the home belongs to a police officer in their town. This discovery inevitably sparks a town-wide controversy, sparking debates about police misconduct and racial profiling. While the episode is about the small town of Muskegon, Michigan, it feels incredibly representative of larger conversations our country needs to have. I promise it's not a total downer—while there are some very disheartening and upsetting elements of the story, there’s hope, too.
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
I’m admittedly not a huge true crime person, but when my hairdresser described SWEET BOBBY to me, I couldn’t wait to listen. It’s a catfishing story, which I know we’ve all consumed a lot of ever since MTV’s original CATFISH came out. But this particular story is much more insidious than any single episode of CATFISH ever was. Radio host Kirat tells her own story of how a man she thinks she knows in her community strikes up a relationship with her on Facebook messenger. In the years that follow, she gets stuck in a web of manipulation and lies, masked as love. Kirat’s story has gripping twists and turns that left me truly shocked. The six parts that make up the series came out last fall, so if you decide to listen you are most likely in for a quick binge—I was so into it I finished the whole thing in just a few days.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
02/18/22
This week: There’s no rom-com like a J.Lo rom-com. Plus, new and old music, the return of Movie Pass (!!) and some other v. v. good recs.
TRENDS THIS WEEK:
☞Youtube ELVIS
☞Letterboxd KIMI
☞TikTok #SkiTok
☞Spotify Heat Waves - Glass Animals
☞Netflix INVENTING ANNA
☞Twitter Wordle
Life & Culture
A few very beloved TV shows announced their endings this week. If you’re a fan of ATLANTA, MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, or STRANGER THINGS, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but these stories all are coming to an end relatively soon. But as ATLANTA creator Donald Glover put it, “death is natural.” And on the off chance you haven’t seen the three shows, consider this a tripe rec from me to you.
Movie Pass is officially making a return. After shutting down in 2019, the movie subscription service will relaunch this summer with a new app. This new version features a tiered system where users can choose how many credits they want each month. CEO Stacey Spikes also announced a way for subscribers to earn extra credits: by watching ads. However, in order to track if individuals are actually watching the ads, Movie Pass will use eye tracking software linked to a mobile phone camera, and pause the ads if a viewer is not paying attention. If that doesn’t creep you out too much, you might just have a summer of free movies ahead of you!
In related BLACK MIRROR-esque news, Disney is making residential communities for Disney Adults who never want to leave the corporation’s branding. The project is called “Storyliving by Disney” and will have about 1900 units in its first iteration in California. Disney’s Imagineers are designing the communities, and “cast members” will run the day-to-day operations. Disney Parks, Experiences and Products exec Helen Pak described it as “an energetic community with the warmth and charm of a small town and the beauty of a resort.” The communities will allow members of the public to visit the neighborhood by purchasing day passes.
Finally, allow me to share three of my favorite videos from TikTok this week. This one describes the entire human experience of picking up a loved one from the airport, this one introduces us to a very intelligent puppy, and this one features a creative, calming version of the INDIANA JONES theme song.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Also, I have a burning q for you this week:
In the midst of an internet-wide obsession with an impending “vibe shift,” I need to know: do you think vibe shifts are real?
Yes, and I’m afraid I’m going to be left behind
What are you even talking about?
Film
The girls who get MARRY ME get it. And the girls who don’t, don’t.
You see, we live in complex times that lead to a deep nostalgia for something simpler: namely, the unabashedly sincere and frothy romantic comedies of the 2000s. There is nothing particularly groundbreaking about this type of film, but therein lies its beauty. And this is exactly why MARRY ME (trailer here), this year's Valentine's Day box office chart-topper, is the movie of the moment. It's the noughties rom-com reincarnate here to lead us all to a beautiful land of escapism, with absurd meet-cutes and third-act airport scenes aplenty. Trust me when I tell you there is no better film to watch right now, while inhaling a box of Milk Duds with all your other single friends at the nearest AMC.
The premise is simple: A popstar finds out her fiancé is cheating on her just as she's about to marry him at her concert—live streamed in front of the entire world, of course—so she randomly selects a reluctant concertgoer from the crowd to marry instead. But this pop star is no ordinary pop star. She’s played by global superstar and reigning queen of rom-coms herself, Jennifer Lopez. And her reluctant husband is played by Owen Wilson.. Add a supporting cast that includes Maluma and Sarah Silverman to that unexpected pairing and you have a party. I’m honestly not being facetious here—all of these pieces could fall flat so easily and instead, they come together for a breezy, winning rom-com about second chances at love that’ll sweep you off your feet. Jennifer Lopez and Maluma also assembled one of the catchiest soundtracks known to man, so catch us streaming ‘Marry Me - Ballad Version’ on repeat until our ears fall off.
—Alicia Devereaux and Neal Mulani, Development Assistants
In the midst of all the Kanye West drama, today his first-ever film documentary was released to the public, titled JEEN-YUHS: A KANYE TRILOGY (trailer here), reminding fans of the old Kanye. The film is filled with never-before-seen footage shot by Coodie and Chike, following the life of the artist, producer, businessman and designer, breaking his life up into three parts. The first act, VISION, premiered today and shows Kanye's early struggle, trying to get any and everyone to listen to one of my personal favorite Kanye tracks of all time, ALL FALLS DOWN. Here, we really see how determined Kanye was, truly all about his art. The film's release comes at an interesting time, likely to reignite Kanye fans and rile up his haters. But for me, it’s a stark reminder of his brilliance when it comes purely down to his art—because I, for one, definitely miss the old Kanye.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
Not quite a film, not quite a series, I’m sneaking a comedy special into this section this week. Returning in her iconic leopard dress, Ali Wong is back in top form for her third Netflix special, titled ALI WONG: DON WONG. This time, she dives right into the the complexities of being a successful and powerful woman—from navigating creepy male fans, to being so busy she forgets to take a shit sometimes, to her evolving and very loving relationship with her very good-looking Asian Harvard Business School graduate husband (every auntie’s not-so-secret dream). Her observations are as sharp as ever—trust you’ll laugh along at her every joke and facial expression (we Asians can express, okay?). At a time when violence against Asian American women is at the forefront of our conversations again, it is extremely heartwarming to watch and celebrate a hilarious and formidable Asian American woman who refuses to be anyone but her unabashed self.
—Nimarta Narang, Digital Fellow
TV
I'm surprised by how much I love the new HBO series SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE (trailer here). This slice-of-life dramedy stars Bridget Everett as Sam, a woman in her 40s who’s stuck in a rut after moving back to her hometown of Manhattan, Kansas following the death of her sister. Sam and her friends and family, including her work bestie Joel (Jeff Hiller) and sister Tricia (Mary Catherine Garrison), are flawed but aspirational. The characters grapple with issues of faith, marriage, addiction, and self-acceptance—but they also have so much fun laughing and singing through it all. With Jay Duplass' direction, the series provides an authentic and intimate look into small-town Kansas. The unique yet accessible setting and characters make SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE an instant favorite. I highly recommend catching up on the first five episodes before the season finale airs later this month!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
Music
Last week, the pioneering, boundary-smashing Queen of Funk Betty Davis passed away at the age of 77. Davis, who left behind a trailblazing body of work that is hugely under-appreciated, was way ahead of her time. She only recorded music between 1964 and 1975, but her impact was felt for decades afterward. She was briefly married to Miles Davis, and introduced the jazz legend to the rock music of the era—and you can hear the influence clearly in his albums IN A SILENT WAY (1969) and BITCHES BREW (1970; my personal favorite Miles Davis album). But back to Betty. She first started making music in 1964 under her birth name Betty Mabry, and was an influential figure in the New York music scene in the late ‘60s. After her marriage to Miles Davis in 1968, she started performing under Betty Davis, and finally released her debut self-titled album in 1973. She quickly followed up with two more albums: THEY SAY I’M DIFFERENT (1974) and NASTY GAL (1975). Marked by her controversial sexually liberated lyrics and her raw and gritty performance style, Davis quickly gained a cult following but failed to achieve commercial success. After all, sexual liberation did not hit the charts (at least from a female perspective) until the late ‘80s and ‘90s—by which time Davis has long disappeared from the public eye. But her music inspired many to come, including Prince and Madonna. In Lenny Kravitz’ words…”This lady was hip before hip was hip.”
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
If you’re looking to add a fresh R&B voice to your listening rotation, up-and-coming singer Rayana Jay just dropped her new album LAST CALL and she’s an exciting new voice to check out. You might have heard any of her many features with Duckwrth such as LOVE ME LIKE or BIRTHDAY SUIT, and I love the way her soothing and sensational voice blends beautifully with Duckwrth’s on each of those. LAST CALL features tracks ranging from slower ballads marked by a confessional and old-soul storytelling (UNFAIR) to instantly danceable R&B with an unconventional edge (ATBO). My favorite track on the album is the groovy LAST CALL featuring saxophonist and singer Braxtoon Cook—the perfect song to get ready to on a Friday night.
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
02/11/22
This week: Oscar snubs, a kid-gangster throwback, and the return of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube Jurassic World Dominion
☞Letterboxd JACKASS FOREVER
☞TikTok #TiktokTailgate
☞Spotify The Joker And The Queen - Ed Sheerhan ft. Taylor Swift
☞Netflix THE TINDER SWINDLER
☞Twitter #LoveIsBlind
Life & Culture
Happy Super Bowl weekend, everyone! Darlene, who normally runs this email, is off celebrating her 25th birthday, but we have a jam-packed edition ahead anyway.
Academy Awards nominations were announced this week, and as always… snubs abound! While the most talked-about one is undeniably Lady Gaga’s all-or-nothing performance as Patrizia Reggiani in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI, my frustrations lie elsewhere. Although DUNE secured a whopping ten nominations, I was surprised Best Director wasn’t among them; without Denis Villeneuve’s unbelievably ambitious vision and execution, the film could never have achieved its grand spectacle. Another glaring omission from the list was THE GREEN KNIGHT and Andrew Droz Palermo’s gorgeous cinematography; or David Lowry’s inspired direction, which managed to make a centuries-old legend feel fresh. Lastly, I would have loved to see pretty much anyone from the cast of ZOLA—Colman Domingo in particular—nominated for expertly walking the tonal tightrope between groundedness and absurdity. The Oscars are always a mixed bag though, and there are some unexpected joys among this year’s contenders: I was thrilled to see Jane Campion’s THE POWER OF THE DOG deservedly sweeping the noms, and surprised and delighted for Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s DRIVE MY CAR to be recognized among the Best Picture nominees. As incremental as it may be, seeing the Academy widen its scope beyond old-school Hollywood fare feels exciting—and I look forward to the changes to come.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
Never in a million years did I think that there would be this much conversation surrounding a former host of FEAR FACTOR, but here we are. I’m of course talking about Joe Rogan. The comedian, who hosts one of the most popular podcasts on Spotify (and probably anywhere), has seen a slew of recent controversy around alleged misinformation about COVID-19—which has led high-profile talent like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, to pull their own catalogs from the platform in protest. India.Arie pulled her catalog as well, and shared a disturbing series of videos of him using the N-word on multiple occasions. Rogan has since apologized and says he is anti-racist, which begs the question: What happens when someone with Joe Rogan’s platform, who says they are anti-racist, is in fact outted for spewing the bigotry they deny? Spotify is dealing with a lot of the backlash, saying they see this as a freedom of speech issue. But the deeper issue here is a question of what platforms like Spotify will do when they ultimately have to choose between their talent and growing segments of their audience.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
And here’s some internet content that made me feel good this week. Da muffin, the small things in life, the way this tiny horse walks, and herds of brontosauruses (courtesy of James McGough).
—Martina Lund, SVP, Brand Marketing
Film
We have a special throwback rec from our fearless leader, Erik, today: BUGSY MALONE (trailer here).
It’s a gangster movie directed by Alan Parker that stars only children (one of whom is Jodie Foster). Their Tommy gun machine guns fire whip cream pies. The songs—yes there are incredible songs—are written by Paul Williams, who also won an Oscar for A STAR IS BORN. If you know BUGSY MALONE, you love it, and thinking about it just puts a smile on your face. If you don’t, watch it right now and prepare to be equal parts “how did this happen??” and “thank god this exists right now.”
—Erik Feig, Founder and CEO
TV
Premiering on Peacock this Super Bowl Sunday is the new drama series, BEL-AIR (trailer here). From the mind of Morgan Cooper comes this reimagining of the iconic ‘90s sitcom FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR. Our jumping-off point mirrors that of its predecessor—after a dangerous situation in West Philadelphia, young Will is sent to the dazzling streets of Bel-Air to live with his Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil. I remember watching the OG sitcom with my older brother and "Fresh Prince" always had so many incredible life lessons on navigating the world (and more specifically navigating the world as a Black person) with the backdrop of these hilarious characters. Just as FRESH PRINCE did not shy away from speaking about racial and economic privilege and prejudice, I'm sure BEL-AIR won’t either.
But one of the things that makes me most excited about this series is how it all came together. Morgan Cooper, who grew up watching the original sitcom, created an original trailer for BEL-AIR in 2019. This piece highlighted the style he wanted to bring to a FRESH PRINCE remake. Westbrook (Will & Jada Pinkett Smith's production company) saw the trailer and decided to partner up—and the rest is history. It's exciting to see new work coming into fruition from the pure passion and hustle of young creators. I am also personally excited to see all of the amazing up-and-coming Black talent on screen, including Jabari Banks as Will and Olly Sholoton (who's a friend of mine from college—Hi Olly!) as Carlton. Definitely excited to watch Will return to his throne as the prince of Bel-Air.
—Erin Harris, Development Assistant
Ever have a friend go on and on about their favorite TV show until you’re finally like, “okay, fine, I’ll watch an episode?” That’s exactly what happened to me with ARCANE (trailer here) and my roommate, who’s been besotted since the show debuted in November. And to her delight and my slight petty dismay, the series is actually pretty fantastic. For someone who’s more of a backseat gamer (read: watching and offering useless commentary), the animated Netflix adaptation of Riot Games' LEAGUE OF LEGENDS, is pretty much the ideal watch, focused on character building as much as world building. Centered on the Utopian Piltover and the undercity of Zion, the show focuses on the relationship between sisters Vi and Jinx along with the political landscape of a seemingly utopian city, exploring the emergence of technological and magical advancement that sheds light on existing social inequality and classism. The traumatic past of the characters parallel that of the two cities, and with each episode I wanted to learn more about each and every character—no one is made out to be ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but just characters who have their reasons for doing what they do. Plus, the visuals, richly rooted in steampunk art, are just stunning.
–Nimarta Narang, Digital Fellow
Tiny History Lesson
I don’t want to get too far into Black History Month without honoring the late bell hooks.
She was born Gloria Jean Watkins in 1952 in Kentucky, to a Black working class family in a small segregated town. Her mom worked as a domestic worker for white families and her dad as a janitor. Growing up the child of a Black working mother helped to shape her views of feminism, of women’s roles in society, and specifically how Black women should be included in a movement where they were necessary and important—but so often excluded hooks was a powerful writer, a force of literary and intellectual might, and she changed the way we all think about intersectionality—and feminism. hooks dove deep into what race, capitalism, gender and all their accompanying systems meant for people who experienced them simultaneously. Plainly put, she wrote about what it meant to be a black woman in America.
In 1981, she wrote her first of many books, titled AIN’T I A WOMAN, inspired by Sojourner Truth's speech of the same name. In that she writes: “I choose to re-appropriate the term ‘feminism,’ to focus on the fact that to be ‘feminist’ in any authentic sense of the term is to want for all people, female and male, liberation from sexist role patterns, domination, and oppression.”
02/04/22
This week: A cliché-free horror movie, an introduction to the “Sample God,” a strong recommendation to binge TV on a deadline, and more Black creators telling a wide range of stories.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube Juice WRLD - Go Hard 2.0
☞Letterboxd AFTER YANG
☞TikTok #BlackTikTok
☞Spotify INDUSTRY BABY - Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow
☞Netflix RAISING DION
☞Twitter Rihanna
Life & Culture
I’ve got a few music-metaverse updates for you all this week. Fortnite is expanding its universe even further with the addition of Silk Sonic, the musical duo that includes Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars. The Silk Sonic Set will allow users to buy accessories based on each member. The release also comes with a new radio station and a Silk Sonic Cup that users can compete in.
Songwriter/artist John Legend is launching a new NFT platform meant to “reshape the industry” for musicians. The venture, which is called OurSong, markets itself as “easy-to-use” and simple, and doesn’t require users to have access to a crypto wallet to make a purchase. Legend is a co-founder; along with Kevin Lin, co-founder of Twitch; and Matt Cheng, founder of Cherubic Ventures; and Chris Lin, CEO of Taiwan-based music streaming service KKBOX. Basically, a lot of heavy hitters. And given how hard it is for musicians who aren’t superstars to make a living these days, we’re really rooting for it to work.
This week, I highly recommend checking out TikTok creator @mndiaye_97. I’ve shared a few of his videos before, because he’s one of my favorite creators ever to grace my FYP, and I’m clearly not alone in my love for his content, as he now has over 14M followers. Mamadou creates videos all about nature, educating his followers on everything from the most underrated animal in the world to FINDING NEMO characters to weird butterfly habits. The videos are all very well researched and fun to watch. Enjoy!
Also, this video documents the sweetest result from last week’s snowstorm in the Northeast, while this one depicts an impressive level of commitment to the bit.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Films
Coming out of Sundance 2022, one of the biggest winners is the brilliant NANNY, written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu, which took home the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. The story follows Aisha, a Senegalese immigrant mother who takes on the job of nannying for a wealthy white couple in hopes of earning enough to bring her young son over to America. As she cares for the couple’s young daughter, a supernatural presence starts to gather force…is it sinister, or is it a warning? This visually stunning and elegantly acted horror film strays away from clichés and cheap jump scares, but rather centers its core horror around a deeply nuanced examination of living a life in a foreign country with an uncertain future while your heart resides in another. The film also skillfully uses West African folktales to craft this contemplative story, at a time when the horror landscape often overlooks the African diaspora. Aisha is played by Anna Diop, who gives a performance full of strength and elegance that is simultaneously contained and powerful. Up next, writer-director Nikyatu Jusu will team up with Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Universal to work on her next horror film, which she will co-write with Fredrica Bailey. I, for one, cannot wait to see what’s coming next!
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
Given the start of the Winter Olympics this weekend, I would understand if you were in the mood for something sporty. In which case, allow me to recommend one of my favorite movies from last year, KING RICHARD (trailer here). It follows Richard Williams, father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, as he helps jump-start their (now legendary) tennis careers. The movie is full of heart and feels particularly human, showing the complexities of parenthood—and particularly Black fatherhood—as Richard grapples with decisions that will inevitably shape his family’s futures. Will Smith shines as the titular character. You can catch this uplifting film in theaters, or rent it on YouTube or Amazon.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
TV
I highly recommend checking out FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS (trailer here), one of my favorite shows of 2021. Created by and starring Kevin Iso and Dan Perlman, the comedy series follows fictionalized versions of Kevin and Dan as they navigate their unsettled lives in Brooklyn. The pair bring a hilarious and authentic take on life in Flatbush, all while exploring more dramatic themes like family turmoil, education, and mental health. The supporting characters bring lots of humor and heart too—especially sensitive drug dealer Drew (Hassan Johnson) and Dan's reckless stepfather Kareem (Kareem Green). I breezed through these ten half-hour episodes and am now very much looking forward to Season 2!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
If you haven’t already started watching ABBOTT ELEMENTARY (trailer here), which Dustin recommended back in December, you’re still early enough to start—and catch up, if you apply yourself—before the season has fully aired. Created by and starring the hilarious Quinta Brunson, this mockumentary-style series focuses on a group of dedicated teachers working in an underfunded South Philly public school. Janine (Quinta Brunson) is a young and optimistic second grade teacher who goes above and beyond for her students, despite the lack of resources and some cynicism from the more senior teachers, Mrs. Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter) and Mrs. Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph). While this is a comedy, the show touches on serious issues and struggles that teachers face in some public schools, which has struck a cord for many teachers across the country. Quinta Brunson based the show off of her mother’s experience as a public school teacher in Philly for over 40 years, and you can definitely feel the personal touch in the writing of this show. If you’re up for some feelings and tears, please check out this video of Quinta reuniting with her sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Abbott, who the show was named after!
—Ellen Amare, Development Intern
Music
For Black History Month I want to highlight an artist who is typically behind the scenes, my favorite new producer, Cash Cobain. Hailing from the original rap capital of the world, Cobain was born and raised in Queens, New York. Though he’s been producing for years now, he’s recently found his lane in record sampling. Sampling is the art of taking an old record, using a portion of it to loop and layer, to create an entirely new sound. This is essentially the heart of hip hop music—before MCs there were DJs who popularized “the breakdown” which is the part of the track they would sample. Cobain has recently been dubbed the new “Sample God'' for his ability to sample and flip any and everything and make it sound new. My favorite track of his, IF THIS WERE MINE, samples Luther Vandross’ IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE, and truly takes the heart of the track and creates something new that’s fun, upbeat and catchy. I also recommend checking out his album 719 and his most recent viral hit (produced for B-Lovee) titled MY EVERYTHING, which samples Mary J. Blige’s EVERYTHING.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
And, in celebration of Black History Month, my colleague Erin Harris and I have put together a playlist showcasing some of our favorite up and coming Black talent. Check it out here!
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
Tiny History Lesson
Since the release of THE HARDER THEY FALL (trailer here), searches on Black cowboys have skyrocketed. As someone who personally went into a google frenzy, I’m happy to see the Yeehaw Agenda in action. And to kick off Black History Month’s Tiny History Lessons, I want to share my findings with you on Nat Love—(the protagonist played by Jonathan Majors in the film, who also happens to be an entirely real cowboy).
In the film, Love seeks vengeance on Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), who killed his parents and branded him gruesomely when he was just a kid. He spends his life leading ambushes on other outlaw gangs with a gang of outlaws himself.
And while the real Nat Love was a cowboy, his story went more like this…
In 1854, Nat was born into slavery in Tennessee. He became a free man at the end of the civil war in 1865, and set off on his own at just 15. Though his true name was Nat Love, he earned the moniker Deadwood Dick after winning a shooting contest, while living in Deadwood South Dakota. That, coupled with his general expertise in breaking in horses made him something of a local legend.
Nat married his girlfriend Alice (disappointing, I know—I loved the film’s Stagecoach Mary as much as anyone), and they had a kid together. He later retired from cowboy life and settled in Kansas where he found work as a railroad porter.
Kinda ordinary, I know. But it’s extraordinary because he is one of the very few Black cowboys whose story is documented. In 1907, Nat published a memoir titled THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NAT LOVE, which may be the ~only~ full-length autobiography ever written by a black cowboy.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
01/28/22
This week: Wordle alternatives; proof that the Renaissance of hand-drawn animation is upon us; a truly hilarious new series; and not one, but two new music recs to get you through the week.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube Try Not To Cry: Dad Edition
☞Letterboxd SCREAM 2022
☞TikTok #wildlife
☞Spotify Heat Waves - Glass Animals
☞Netflix OZARK
☞Twitter Not Wordle
Life & Culture
As someone who consults the internet for reviews of pretty much everything, review and ratings ethics and accuracy are important to me. And the FTC clearly agrees. In a statement released on Tuesday, the FTC shared that it’s requiring fast-fashion brand Fashion Nova to pay $4.2 million because the company deleted hundreds of thousands of reviews with ratings lower than four stars. This is the first time the FTC is challenging a company for failing to post negative reviews—and I’m into it.
After a 40-day streak, Amy Schneider’s Jeopardy reign is over. She’s now the most successful woman in the game show’s history, and the second most successful overall competitor. Schneider is taking over $1M to the bank, and recently signed with CAA.
Word games are back in, guys. As the newest mobile game craze, Wordle, gains more and more popularity (played by almost 3 million daily users now!), various rip-offs of the word puzzle are already starting to pop up. Lewdle, made by screenwriter Gary Whitta and games developer Adam Nickerson, challenges users to solve a simple word puzzle, but with only 5-letter swear words. It’s starting to catch on, with over 800,000 daily users. And in Dordle, which creators describe as “wordle plus wordle”, users must take on two words at once. There’s also Absurdle and Sweardle, so safe to say if you’re into word games, you have enough options to keep yourself busy these days.
If you want a glimpse into the future, look no further than this TikTok. This creator answers the question “what do single women do after work?” with a never-ending-set of household gadgets and home routines that seems to come straight out of earliest, 2033. And then, I loved this video as well. The creator simply makes videos of bench dedications from Central Park’s Adopt A Bench program. Filled with heartfelt messages, the memorial notes always get me.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
I’m convinced that the renaissance of hand-drawn animation is upon us, and Patrick Imbert’s beautiful THE SUMMIT OF THE GODS (trailer here) is only further proof. Based on a manga series by Jiro Taniguchi, the French-language film follows a Japanese photojournalist named Makoto Fukamachi and his fixation on climber Habu Joji, who Fukamachi believes to hold the secrets of legendary mountaineers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine. With breathtaking visuals and a powerful score by Amine Bouhafa, THE SUMMIT OF THE GODS is honestly more evocative than some live-action climbing films. And while many animated movies have questionable English dubs that make the subtitle route far preferable, this dub is notably strong—with Darren Barnet (Paxton from NEVER HAVE I EVER) voicing the lead! This is a unique and moving narrative told with painterly detail; be sure to catch it on Netflix for a breath of fresh mountain air.
—Alicia Devereaux, Executive Assistant
TV
Recently I’ve been making my way through the hilarious SOUTH SIDE (trailer here), a sitcom on HBO Max. Created by Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, the series follows friends Simon (Sultan Salahuddin) and Kareme (Kareme Young) as they scheme to make enough money to leave their jobs at a rent-to-own shop. The show plays like a workplace comedy but much of the action takes place in the neighborhoods of the South Side of Chicago, where Simon and Kareme interact with the city’s locals as they reclaim rented equipment and pull off their own side hustles. Like most great sitcoms, SOUTH SIDE excels in building out a distinct world filled with a diverse cast of unique minor characters. Here, those role players bring mayhem and absurdity to this kooky depiction of the Chicago into which Simon and Kareme descend.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
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
Music
Pink Pantheress just announced that she’ll be going on a U.S. tour and fans went absolutely wild. For those of you that haven’t given her a listen yet, her music is a unique blend of bedroom pop, uk garage and alt dance. The tickets released on Thursday for Oakland, LA, NYC, and Atlanta and every single city sold out in under a few seconds (I suspect bots are at play). And while I am completely butthurt that I didn’t score a coveted ticket, I am so excited for her to be making her way across the pond to do a completely sold out tour. She tapped into the heart of OG music lovers by choosing venues that evoked nostalgia for many, like 88Palace in NYC, which is one of many dim sum restaurants-turned-night clubs, in the heart of Chinatown.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
At midnight on Thursday, AUDREY NUNA dropped a deluxe version of her debut album, a liquid breakfast. So, this is the perfect time for me to put you on one of my favorite underrated songstresses. You may have heard of her hit songs Comic Sans featuring Jack Harlow; or damn right, has been featured on soundtracks like INSECURE and NIGHT TEETH. As part of a notable new wave of Asian-American musicians and rappers making a splash in the American music industry, Nuna is one of the first Korean-American women to hit mainstream in her genre.And she’s undeniably cool. Not only in her shapeshifting music, which is a cross between R&B, rap, pop, and trap—but also in her style, which is somewhere between spacewear and streetwear, and in the avant-garde visuals she creates in her music videos. I saw her live last year and was absolutely captivated by her charm, energy, and skills. So you can bet I’ve spent all of today listening to the new tracks on a liquid breakfast non-stop.
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
01/21/22
This week: The very best of Sundance—past, present and future.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
Youtube Crypto Dragon
Letterboxd SCREAM 2022
TikTok #conservation
Spotify abcdefu - GAYLE
Netflix ARCHIVE81
Twitter M&Ms
Life & Culture
There’s been a lot of talk this week about the metaverse, after the news broke that Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard for $70 billion. We’re hearing about everything from what to wear in the metaverse to how it’s all BS to the Brooklyn Nets’ “Netaverse”. But, if you, like me, are still having trouble wrapping your mind around what the metaverse even is, I highly recommend Thursday’s episode of The Daily.
I have three wholesome TikToks to share with you all, just because it’s been a long week. This one is maybe the most incredible video of bird formations that I’ve ever seen, this one introduced me to a weird skunk that I didn’t know existed, and this one educated me on a very sweet tradition at the Cincinnati Zoo.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Sundance
The 2022 Sundance Film Festival kicked off yesterday! It’s not the IRL week of celebrating, co-viewing, and merry-making that we were hoping for, but the curation of films is just as extraordinary as ever, and we’re ready to settle in for a few very busy days of couch time. Omicron may have thwarted our best-laid plans, but the largest independent film festival in the United States forges ahead.
So we have an extra-special Sundance edition of this newsletter ahead, celebrating some of our favorite Sundance premieres of all time.
At PICTURESTART, we’re proud to have two films at the festival—AM I OK? (premiering 1/24 at 1:00pm PT) and CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH (premiering 1/23 at 1:45pm PT)—but below are a few more standouts that I’m looking forward to binge-watching over the next few days.
MASTER (premiering 1/21 at 5:30pm PT) is the feature directorial debut from Mariama Diallo, whose brilliant horror-comedy short HAIR WOLF won the US Fiction Short Film Jury Award at Sundance 2018. The indomitable Regina Hall stars in this psychological horror drama that takes place at an elite New England university, where three women navigate politics and privilege, encountering increasingly terrifying manifestations of the school’s haunted past and present. If MASTER is anything like HAIR WOLF, we’re in for a wholly unique and unnerving experience. I’m also keen to check out SHARP STICK (premiering 1/22 at 5:30pm PT), Lena Dunham’s first film in over a decade, since her initial foray into indie filmmaking with TINY FURNITURE. Described as a “sexual fable” about a naive 26-year-old (Kristine Froseth) exploring her sexuality after an exhilarating affair with her married boss (Jon Bernthal), SHARP STICK is certainly set to both push boundaries and elicit cringe-inducing laughs in signature Dunham style. Other highlights from the 80-something feature films programmed this year include FRAMING AGNES (premiering 1/22 at 1:30pm PT) (a compelling piece of docu-fiction aiming to "widen the frame through which trans history is viewed”), PIGGY (premiering 1/24 at 8:00pm PT) (based on the chilling 2018 short of the same name), FRESH (premiered 1/20 at 10:55pm PT) (a thriller on the perils of modern dating starring Sebastian Stan & Daisy Edgar-Jones), the Daniel-Kaluuya-produced HONK FOR JESUS, SAVE YOUR SOUL (premiering 1/23 at 10:45am PT), sci-fi thriller DUAL (premiering 1/22 at 5:00pm PT), and the spooky witch horror YOU WON’T BE ALONE (premiering 1/22 at 7:45pm PT), among many others.
The indie episodic and shorts programs contain plenty of highlights worth checking out, too, including: CHAPERONE (available until 1/30) (US Live-Action Shorts), an eerie, evocative debut by queer playwright Sam Max and starring Zachary Quinto, and MY TRIP TO SPAIN (available until 1/30) (Indie Episodic) which follows Alexis, a successful trans woman who’s going to Spain for cosmetic surgery and reunites with an old friend, Charlie (SEARCH PARTY’s John Early).
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
Films
Coincidentally the first film I ever saw at Sundance was also potentially the best one. OTHER PEOPLE (2016) (trailer here) is an incredibly moving comedy-drama based on writer/director Chris Kelly’s relationship with his own mother. I’ll never forget sitting in that frigid Park City auditorium, snacking on the banana bread I bought in the ticket line that had been sitting in my pocket all day, weeping and cackling in equal measure. OTHER PEOPLE's blend of deeply human storytelling and first-class comedy is exactly what I’ve come to associate with Sundance. The film follows David (Jesse Plemons), a struggling comedy writer who returns home to Sacramento to take care of his mother, Joanne (Molly Shannon) who’s been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The film takes place over the course of a year, as David manages his struggling relationship and less-than-promising career prospects, all while coping with Joanne’s deteriorating health and confronting his strained relationship with his dad (Bradley Whitford). If that sounds like a downer…well, it sort of is! But it’s beautifully balanced with a stellar comedic supporting cast, including John Early, Zach Woods, Maude Apatow, Retta, June Squibb, and absolute scene-stealer Josie Totah. Couple that with one of the best uses of a Train song I’ve ever heard in a film and you have a winner. Literally!— Molly Shannon won the 2017 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her heart-wrenching performance as Joanne, a testament to just how damn good OTHER PEOPLE really is. Stream it now on Netflix.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
One of my favorite Sundance movies of all time also happens to be one of my favorite movies of all time: 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, Development Assistant
In 2018, my favorite film of the festival was WE THE ANIMALS (trailer here), directed by Jeremiah Zager. A true piece of art, it’s beautiful, emotional, and so important. The story and characters—three brothers, making their way through childhood and navigating complicated relationships with complicated parents—will forever stick with me. But most of all, I was in awe of the direction. The cinematography, music, and POV were just so amazing. And the stop-motion animated drawings that give us a view into the inner world of youngest brother Jonah (played by Evan Rosado), were perfectly used in developing character—and even more powerful later, brought back in such a heartbreaking and meaningful way.
—Jessica Switch, SVP, Production
TOGETHER, TOGETHER (trailer here) is a bittersweet comedy that will make you laugh and cry—and also happens to be one of the most underrated films from Sundance 2021. It follows Matt (Ed Helms), a successful but lonely app developer, and Anna (Patti Harrison), an ambitious but demoralized barista who agrees to be Matt's surrogate. The platonic chemistry between the leads makes every scene memorable, from their unusual parenting classes to the more intimate conversations about their futures. I appreciate how the film explores the complexities of Matt and Anna's relationship—one that is deeply emotional yet inherently transactional and finite. If you’re looking for a heartwarming 90-minute comfort watch, I highly recommend checking this one out!
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
I attended Sundance in person once, in 2019, and had the chance to see a few great movies. Surprisingly though, the one that’s most stuck with me is a tiny documentary, SHOOTING THE MAFIA (trailer here), which made little noise after the festival. Filmmaker Kim Longinotto profiles Letizia Battaglia, the first female photographer to work at a daily paper in Italy, who spent much of her career capturing the violence of the Sicilian mafia. Archival footage and Battaglia’s photos meld to create a graphic, volatile image of Palermo in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and a present-day interview with Battaglia makes it clear that she has the singular personality necessary to work amidst such danger. She is charismatic and impassioned, having spent her life challenging Italy’s patriarchal systems. After escaping an abusive marriage in her youth, Battaglia embraced independence, finding her passion for photography at the age of 40 and committing herself to documenting the terror inflicted by the mafia’s stranglehold on the island. SHOOTING THE MAFIA is available to rent on major VOD platforms.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
Without a doubt, ON THE COUNT OF THREE, the brilliant directorial debut from stand-up comedian and actor Jerrod Carmichael, was one of my favorite Sundance titles from last year. Coined a darkly comedic thriller, the story follows Val (also played by the talented Carmichael) and his best friend Kevin (Christopher Abbott), as they make a pact to end their lives when the day is done…but before they go, they have to dedicate the day attending to some unfinished business. With powerful performances, absurd and pitch-dark humor, and a tone that is simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful, ON THE COUNT OF THREE tackles some difficult subjects that aren’t always easy to translate onto the screen, all the while remaining a lively buddy comedy. The film premiered at Sundance 2021 and has been acquired by Annapurna Pictures. So, while we await the general release, here is a great interview with Carmichael, talking about the film.
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
01/14/22
This week: The return of EUPHORIA, what we really thought about SCREAM, and some v. wholesome TikTok fun.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube Adele - Oh My God
☞Letterboxd DON’T LOOK UP
☞TikTok #petsofTikTok
☞Spotify abcdefu - GAYLE
☞Netflix CHEER
☞Twitter DEGRASSI
Life & Culture
Got a few space updates for y’all today. Scientists think they found a moon bigger than Earth in another galaxy, over 5,000 light years away. This is part of an ongoing project meant to find moons outside of our solar system. While the finding still needs to be confirmed, David Kipping, an astronomer at Columbia University, says the new moon is “pretty alien compared to any moon in the solar system.”
Coming back down to our moon, there’s apparently going to be a lot of activity going on up there this year. The US, Russia, and South Korea all have plans to send uncrewed missions to the moon in 2022. Additionally, multiple companies are sending missions to the moon privately, including two (Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines) that are working with NASA.
Instagram miiiiiight be letting users switch around posts in their profile grids soon, according to Alessandro Paluzzi, a mobile developer who works on reverse engineering. This would be a big adjustment, since we’ve been used to the grid being one of the few (mostly) unalterable spaces in the app, since its inception. But, I personally think it would be the best-received update IG’s done yet, since it would give users true control over their content and feeds.
In non-IG news, I came across the coolest TikTok account this week that I knew I had to share with you all here. An art historian, Tatyana Serraino, delves into one famous piece of art in each of her videos. She takes viewers through each aspect of the piece, highlighting specifics that an untrained eye would have missed, contextualizing the art, and offering an interpretation of what we’re seeing. I particularly enjoyed this video looking at Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World, and this video looking at Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. Tatyana’s videos open up the world of each painting, and make art feel accessible and fun.
And I also have two extra-wholesome videos to share this week. I thoroughly enjoyed this video about maybe the most relatable Olympian ever, and this video about a heartwarming, long-time-coming reunion with a pup.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
Do you like scary movies…about scary movies? If you’re anything like me, the answer is a resounding “yes!” But the latest entry in the SCREAM franchise, SCREAM (2022) (trailer here), might still test your limits. As a lifelong SCREAM fan, I truly haven’t been this excited for a film since…well, 2011’s SCREAM 4. Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s effortless blend of comedy and thrills revitalized horror in the 90s, all packaged in the form of a self-referential roller coaster of a whodunit. The franchise cemented its place in pop culture by outlining the “rules'' characters should abide by to survive a scary movie, but zigging every time you thought it would zag and keeping you guessing who the killer(s?) were right until Ghostface’s mask came off. Since then, each SCREAM sequel has commented cleverly on the state of horror at its moment of creation.
SCREAM (2022), without spoiling anything, covers “requels”: loose sequels with new characters that retain a connection to the original film and legacy cast of a franchise, while relaunching it entirely for a new generation. The excitement of any SCREAM film lies in going into the experience blind and trying to put the pieces together before the third act, so I don’t want to say too much...but that excitement feels notably absent here as SCREAM (2022) follows the exact rules it’s trying to criticize. There are a few promising moments, fun kills, and stellar performances (Mikey Madison, Jenna Ortega and YELLOWJACKETS’s Jasmin Savoy-Brown ftw)—but they’re all tempered by just as many questionable decisions that made me sorely miss Wes Craven’s signature touch. All of that to say: seeing Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette in another SCREAM film is so much fun, and SCREAM (2022) is still an entertaining moviegoing experience. It just feels a bit hollow this go-around, straining under the weight of its own metafictional ambitions. This SCREAM fan is going to need a few more rewatches to make up his mind.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
This week, I finally got around to watching Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut, THE LOST DAUGHTER (trailer here) on Netflix. Based on a novel by Elena Ferrante, THE LOST DAUGHTER follows a middle-aged professor named Leda (Olivia Coleman) on her solo trip to Greece, where an introduction to a young mom (Dakota Johnson) and the seemingly idyllic sea breeze stir up some long-repressed memories and regrets. The film’s exploration of motherhood is refreshingly brazen and complex, if at times upsetting enough that I’d even consider it psychological horror. Immersive sound design and a fantastic score by Dickon Hinchliffe help juxtapose the lush, open paradise surrounding current-day Leda with the overwhelming sense of suffocation she felt in the life of her past self (with a younger Leda played by Jessie Buckley), until—with a deft hand from editor Affonso Gonçalves—the two timelines begin to fold in on each other. Go watch. This is a movie worth being haunted by.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
TV
One of the most talked about shows of 2019 has finally returned with a second season! I still remember the craze around EUPHORIA (trailer here) when it first came out—people talked about everything from the stunning and, well, euphoric cinematography, to its incredibly well-cast and iconic roles, to the trend-setting beauty looks and outfits, and most importantly, its raw confrontation of heavy topics like drug addiction and abuse. Created by Sam Levinson, the one-of-a-kind YA show features a phenomenal cast with Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Barbie Ferreira, Jacob Elordi, Angus Cloud and Maude Apatow—who all bring their respective roles to life on screen in such enigmatic ways that you can dress as any of them for Halloween and be recognized. Featuring a return of most of its main cast, the Season 2 premiere does not disappoint. Still trendy, stunning, anxiety-ridden, explosive, and definitely not family-friendly, this episode gives us an unexpected betrayal, a near overdose, and a crazy fight. Oh and also, a new cast member (more below!). Indeed, EUPHORIA is not for everyone, given how heavy it can feel at times, but I highly recommend it. And hey, even if you don’t find yourself watching the show, you can always get dressed to go to Euphoria High. <3
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
Music
If you tuned into EUPHORIA’s Season 2 premiere, you probably caught sight of a new character hanging out with Rue—played by the popular singer-songwriter Dominic Fike. The 25-year-old Florida musician first found fame on Soundcloud, after he released his EP DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME, DEMOS in 2017, which caught the attention of several record labels and sparked a bidding war. You may recognize him from his multi-platinum single 3 NIGHTS, or his collabs with BROCKHAMPTON, Justin Bieber, Remi Wolf and many more. Billing himself as genre-bending, Dominic makes music that’s at once palatable, poppy, breezy, and buoyant; marked by muffled vocals and at-times gritty guitar riffs. Dominic says he’s “never not doing anything,” and this is very much clear with his latest venture into acting. I’m excited to see what he continues to bring to the world!
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
01/07/22
This week: Mourning (and celebrating) Sidney Poitier, bingeing SEARCH PARTY, and watching that Hugh Jackman TikTok over and over again.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube Film Theory: Spiderman Saved NO ONE
☞Letterboxd DON’T LOOK UP
☞TikTok #animallover
☞Spotify abcdefu - GAYLE
☞Netflix COBRA KAI
☞Twitter Hamilton
Life & Culture
Volkswagen’s iconic “Microbus” is getting an eco-friendly update, starting March 9. The new electric van looks like the classic versions from the ‘50s-’80s, and was originally announced back in 2017. It’ll potentially hit the road in 2023.
Good news for Spanish pets! A new law in Spain treats pets like family members in divorce negotiations. It “obliges judges to consider pets as sentient beings rather than objects owned by one or the other partner.” This follows recent cases in the country, like a Madrid judge giving joint custody of a dog to a separated couple. And further proves that Paulette in LEGALLY BLONDE was way ahead of her time.
Billboard reported Wednesday that Kanye West will headline Sunday night at Coachella with a version of his Sunday Service gospel show. Billie Eilish is rumored to also headline, with the two of them replacing Travis Scott and Rage Against The Machine—who were previously slated to headline 2020—and Frank Ocean, who’s now set to headline in 2023.
My favorite videos I’ve seen this week are this one, where Hugh Jackman takes the time to explain to an audience just how hard fellow Broadway performer Kathy Voytko worked, and this one which proves there are truly only two types of people in the world.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
I’ll be spending the weekend rewatching the greatest hits of Sidney Poitier’s incredible career, mourning his passing. If you’re planning to do the same, start with 1967, a pretty incredible year for the actor, who starred in TO SIR, WITH LOVE; GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER; and Best Picture-winner IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (trailer here). Released near the end of the summer of 1967, which was marked by racial violence in many major American cities, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT features Poitier as Virgil Tibbs, an accomplished homicide detective from Philadelphia passing through Sparta, Mississippi. When a wealthy industrialist building a factory in Sparta is murdered, Tibbs begrudgingly agrees to work with racist police chief Bill Gillespie to solve the case. In addition to Poitier, the film’s credits are littered with greats—directed by Norman Jewison (!), edited by Hal Ashby (!!), scored by Quincy Jones (!!!)—and all that talent shows up in a simmering murder mystery that sweats with the Southern heat and the danger of Tibbs’ position as a Black man among racist hostility. Thematically the film is more conservative than you might expect from that summer, with its suggestion that racism can be extirpated at a personal level, that a police chief overcoming his prejudices by working with a Black man is a story of progress. Even so, the movie works, especially as a showcase for Poitier’s performance as a reserved detective, frustrated by the people around him yet determined in his work.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
I finally watched Wes Anderson’s latest film, THE FRENCH DISPATCH (trailer here), when it showed up on PVOD services last month, and can report that both Anderson connoisseurs and newbies will be beyond amused with this masterpiece. The film showcases Anderson’s renowned idiosyncratic aesthetic and directorial approach: meticulous compositions, an exquisite color palette, satisfying symmetry, and explosive dialogue with dark humor.
Structured as a series of anthologies, the film follows journalists from an American magazine who write about historical events in a fictitious French city. I’ll stop there. Because I could write a 20-page essay about how magnificent this movie is, but I will leave it for you to discover. Grab your snacks and thank me later!
—Eri Taira, Associate Graphic Designer
TV
The brilliant, genre-defying SEARCH PARTY (trailer here) is back for its fifth and final season and it truly feels like the bittersweet end of an era. The series—created by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers (writer-directors of our incredible comedy-thriller project, MONSTER!) and Michael Showalter—began as a Nancy-Drew-esque mystery in its first season, as Dory (Alia Shawkat) and her wayward group of friends (John Paul Reynolds, Meredith Hagner, and my idol John Early) searched for a girl they went to college with had gone missing. The series continually shapeshifted into a psychological thriller, a courtroom drama, and most recently, a captive drama à la MISERY, in its fourth season when Dory was kidnapped by The Twink (the phenomenal Cole Escola) and his mother (Susan Sarandon). But no matter how many times it's boldly reinvented itself, SEARCH PARTY has remained an outrageous, unruly comedy that explores abuses of power, narcissism, and the struggle to feel validated in ways that few shows on television have ever dared to. This certainly applies in season five, which picks up right where we left off, with Dory left for dead in The Twink’s burning basement and suddenly waking up in the back of an ambulance—alive! In the season five premiere, we learn that Dory did, in fact, die for 37 seconds...but she’s woken up with a newfound purpose—a life-affirming sense of enlightenment that she simply must share with the world. The season five premiere sets the stage for what might be SEARCH PARTY’s wildest season yet, rounded out with guest appearances from Jeff Goldblum, Kathy Griffin and John Waters. If you need me this weekend...you know where to find me. And if you haven’t started SEARCH PARTY yet for some reason, all five highly bingeable seasons are on HBOMax now. GO!!!
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
Book
Over the holiday break I finally had a chance to read SECOND PLACE by Rachel Cusk, which was published back in May 2021. I love Cusk’s OUTLINE trilogy, as do many people, apparently, because it took months for me to get a copy of SECOND PLACE from the library. Cusk’s new novel is hazy and digressive, and restrained in showing a clear path forward, much like the story’s swampy setting. The narrator, a middle-aged woman known only to the reader as “M,” lives with her husband on a remote marsh, where they routinely host artists in a guest cabin, the titular “second place.” M invites L, an aging but successful painter, to visit the marsh, which sets the stage for the bulk of the novel. During his volatile stay, M struggles with her relationship to him and his work, a turmoil that boils over, disrupting both her marriage and her self-image.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
Short Film
I recently watched TERRA CENE, a short experimental film directed by Rodrigo Inada and NONO (Nono Ayuso). It’s a fascinating dive into the Golden Record, a time-capsule that was sent into space in 1977, carrying images and archives of planet Earth for alien life to potentially encounter. Of course, it also carries evidence of a healthier planet, now just a memory floating further away from us. Unlike some recent climate change satire that feels the need to beat you over the head with on-the-nose caricature, this short is meditative and powerful enough to make us realize the urgency of our immediate actions to stop our planet from dying—without feeling heavy handed.
—Eri Taira, Associate Graphic Designer
12/17/21
This week: Remembering bell hooks—plus, a wild Peloton ride, a true throwback rec, Spider-Man, and John Wilson.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube BTS performs a concert in the crosswalk
☞Letterboxd SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
☞TikTok #WinterBreak
☞Spotify abcdefu - GAYLE
☞Netflix THE UNFORGIVABLE
☞Twitter Mitski
Life & Culture
Peloton stock has been on a roller coaster of a ride recently. After featuring prominently in a main character’s death on the SEX & THE CITY reboot, AND JUST LIKE THAT, it hit a 19-month low. The company rebounded with a clever ad masterminded by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort agency, suggesting they were in on the joke the whole time—or at least quick to react, and the stock price recovered half its losses. But then, on Thursday, the spot was pulled after two women came forward with sexual assault allegations against Chris Noth, who plays Mr. Big on the show and stars in the ad. Stock prices appear to be up a few points as of this writing on Friday.
In news of science catching up with science fiction, scientists in Japan are working on a special mask that can detect if the person wearing it has COVID, and will glow if the person is positive.
It looks like SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME is on track to see over $200M over its opening weekend. AMC announced Friday that roughly 1.1 million moviegoers attended just the opening night of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which makes it the highest-grossing opening night for a December title in AMC’s history.
This newsletter is going to be our last regularly scheduled send of the year, but we have something special coming your way the remaining two Thursdays of the month. But for now, I’ll leave you with the two TikToks that made me laugh and smile and feel things this week. This one will simultaneously make you laugh and remind you to have some compassion on the road, and this wholesome video will hopefully brighten your day just a little bit.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Travel
How does a week-long adventure in Portugal, booked on us, sound? We’re handling your flights, hotels, and breakfasts, along with kicking in $2,500 in spending money. And this is your last chance to enter here—get in there; we’re rooting for you!
Film
After winning Best Screenplay at Cannes, Ryūsuke Hamaguchi’s DRIVE MY CAR (trailer here) has been racking up awards in the past few weeks, named Best International Feature at the Gotham Awards and Best Film by the New York Film Critics Circle, and I can assure you that the movie is deserving of all of that and then some. Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, the film follows stage director Yūsuke (played by Hidetoshi Nishijima), who accepts a residency at a theater in Hiroshima and is chauffeured around the area by the reticent Misaki (Tōko Miura). During these drives, he reflects on his marriage, trying to better understand his relationship with his wife, the clever screenwriter Oto (Reika Kirishima). Hamaguchi’s storytelling is thoughtful and affecting, and the (admittedly daunting) three-hour runtime coasts by as smoothly as Misaki’s driving. See if it’s playing a theater near you here.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
TV
HBO’s comedy docuseries HOW TO WITH JOHN WILSON (trailer here) is midway through its second season, and it has been just as funny and surprising as the breakthrough first season was. Compiled from observational footage of daily life in New York City, John Wilson’s series crafts silly, meandering, and sometimes sentimental narratives thinly veiled as a “how to” guide for basic tasks. This season’s third episode, ostensibly a guide to finding a parking spot in New York, captures a neighborhood block in Queens balletically coordinating to move their parked cars for a street sweeper before moving onto an interview with a purveyor of coffins (the final parking spot) that look like cars. If you haven’t given this unique series a try before, it’s definitely worth checking out.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
Growing up, my mom often kept a steady stream of classic shows and detective series playing on our TV. I rolled my eyes at THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW; and POIROT and MURDER, SHE WROTE were so boring I didn’t understand how anyone could stay awake for more than five minutes of runtime. All of this, I can forgive myself for, but the one that haunts me is my dismissal of COLUMBO (trailer here).
In the past few years—partially out of a need for comforting media, and partially because I've stopped being dumb—I have learned to appreciate COLUMBO for the masterpiece that it is, revisiting episodes I've seen and watching others with fresh eyes. I've grown to be someone who doesn't care about a twist or punchline nearly as much as the buildup, and COLUMBO is pretty much built on that premise. Because each episode begins by depicting its central murder, the audience is immediately aware of Hitchcock's proverbial "bomb under the table," allowing us to watch Columbo gradually and expertly box the suspect in.
While my love for Peter Falk's crumpled, unassuming detective protagonist is near-obsessive, the wild list of guest stars also make this show great. Ruth Gordon. Leonard Nimoy. Dick van Dyke. Janet Leigh (and briefly, a very young Jamie Lee Curtis). Jack Cassidy, three times... and even Johnny Cash. My favorite episode, however, remains ETUDE IN BLACK, which features John Cassavetes, Blythe Danner, Myrna Loy, and of course, the debut of Columbo's Basset hound "Dog." Watch this or any other episode on Peacock or IMDb TV for equal parts intrigue and pure serotonin.
—Alicia Devereaux, Executive Assistant
Book
It is hard to put into a short paragraph honoring the enormous legacy of bell hooks. The trailblazing feminist, professor, author and social activist passed away at her home at the age of 69 this week. A pioneer who fearlessly challenged feminism’s white, middle-class worldview and addressed the deep intersections of race, gender, class, sexuality and geography, bell hooks' influential work inspired and transformed the way many understand the world. Many Black women and scholars talk about how much bell hooks’ words resonated with them, changed their understanding of themselves and their work. bell also spoke so eloquently on reimagining love, and how it is far broader than romantic sentiment—inspiring her students and readers to love immensely and think deeply. This weekend, I’ll be re-reading AIN’T I A WOMAN and ALL ABOUT LOVE, two of her books that I read as a freshman in college when I had so little understanding of my own womanhood, critical understanding of feminism at large, and the larger concept of love. The accessibility of hooks’ words left such a strong impact on me, and if you haven’t had the chance to read her work, there is no better time to start than now!
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
12/10/21
This week: A brand-new sitcom, a much-anticipated reboot, and TWO of our movies in Sundance!
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube BTS: Butter
☞Letterboxd THE POWER OF THE DOG
☞TikTok #HolidayAesthetic
☞Spotify Adele - Easy On Me
☞Netflix MONEY HEIST
☞Twitter SEX AND THE CITY
Life & Culture
Doja Cat just came out with maybe the coolest music video concept I’ve ever seen—“the world’s first codable music video”. The singer partnered with nonprofit Girls Who Code to make an interactive music video for her song Woman. Users get to act as the creative director and control various aspects of the music video in order to make it their own. Although there are only four codable checkpoints in the video, this is definitely a cool beginner’s experience in coding. If you want to give it a shot, check it out here.
Our whole team is very excited to finally share that two (yes TWO) of the movies we produced this past year are headed to Sundance! CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH is a charming story about a recent college grad who takes a job as a bat mitzvah party starter while striking up a friendship with a young mother and her autistic daughter. The film was written and directed by the uber-talented Cooper Raiff, who is also starring alongside Dakota Johnson, Vanessa Burghardt, Brad Garrett, and Leslie Mann. Our second feature film on its way to Sundance, AM I OK?, follows Lucy and Jane, best friends who think they know everything about each other. But after Jane announces that she’s moving from LA to London for a job, Lucy reveals a deeply buried, long-held secret, and their lifelong friendship is thrown into chaos. The dream team consists of Lauren Pomerantz, who wrote the script, directors Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro, and stars Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno and Jermaine Fowler. We truly couldn’t be more proud of the teams that made these two films, and can’t wait to share them with you! If you’re interested in checking them out early, Sundance in-person and online tickets go on sale 12/17, and can be found here.
If anyone’s been holding on to their disappointment in Instagram’s algorithm change back in 2016, I have some good news for you. The company shared that it’s planning to bring back the chronologically sorted feed, as opposed to the current one that uses an algorithm to predict what content each user wants to see most.
The two TikToks I’d like to share with you this week are this one where Seth Rogan shares his experience at a recent Adele concert, and this one that depicts an ideal Friday meeting.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
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
If you're feeling like you've rewatched workplace mockumentary classics like THE OFFICE and PARKS AND RECREATION a few too many times, you should check out the new ABC comedy ABBOTT ELEMENTARY (trailer here). In ABBOTT, series creator Quinta Brunson stars as Janine Teagues, a naively optimistic teacher in an underfunded Philadelphia public school. The mockumentary follows Janine and her colleagues—who are either jaded or in over their heads—as they navigate the absurdities of enriching their students' lives with no resources other than their own ingenuity. The cast delivers dynamic performances with laugh-out-loud jokes and lots of heart. The premiere showed a lot of promise, and I'm looking forward to tuning in when the season resumes in January 2022.
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
Despite considerable fanfare in the form of Deuxmoi spottings and paparazzi set photos, it’s easy to understand why some might be skeptical of another chapter in the SEX AND THE CITY series following Carrie Bradshaw and company. The original HBO show revolutionized cable programming at the time of its release and has since provided generations of single young adults with six full seasons of comfort viewing and ill-considered dating advice. But many regard the show as an ineffable product of its time, so the question remains: why beat a dead horse? Having watched the first two episodes of AND JUST LIKE THAT (trailer here), I’m pleased to report that the latest chapter’s not an entirely fruitless endeavor.
For one, never underestimate the staying power of characters you’ve watched grow across decades: seeing Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte with grown families and fully formed lives is simply heartwarming. And while Samantha’s absence is deeply felt, the explanation for her omission isn’t all that distracting (no—she’s not dead!) and feels emotionally honest to this iteration. AND JUST LIKE THAT also introduces a number of new characters in Samantha's wake, whose main purpose seems to be a foil to the main trio’s lack of “wokeness.” It would be hard to not acknowledge the ladies’ slip-ups after countless problematic moments from the original series, but the show's attempts at self-recognition or relevance—like the sex-positive podcast that Carrie now co-hosts—border on cringe more often than not. Occasionally, however, they hit the mark; leveraging Miranda’s self-righteousness, for example, to show her making a fool out of herself as she Karens her way through interacting with her younger, Black professor when she returns to school is pretty satisfying. I do hope that the new characters (mostly queer and/or people of color) are given a little more real estate to develop their own stories as the season continues, instead of merely highlighting the original cast’s blind spots. But all in all—and without spoiling anything—AND JUST LIKE THAT is a promising, startlingly emotional return to the world of SEX AND THE CITY.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
Music
A few months ago I wrote about the surprising relationship between CircoLoco (one of Ibiza's most celebrated parties) and Grand Theft Auto’s Rockstar Games who had teamed up to launch a record label. But this week the brands announced some really exciting news...none other than hip hop legend Dr. Dre is releasing brand new music in the game. Considering he hasn’t released any new music since 2015 and usually keeps a low profile, this is huge news. The rapper and his new music will be key elements in the brand-new GTA playable story “The Contract”. The mission will be to search for Dre’s missing phone, which also happens to contain the most important content in the city, his new unreleased music. I’m honestly very impressed with what GTA has been coming up with and can’t wait to give this a try.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
Travel
Head into 2022 with a vacation already planned. (Because you know what most of us need after a little time “resting” with family? A vacation.) We’ve got you covered with a week-long adventure in Portugal—booked on us. We’re handling your flights, hotels, and breakfasts, along with kicking in $2,500 in spending money. You can enter here—good luck!
12/03/21
This week: Spiderman, Gucci, Spotify Wrapped, and the loss of two icons
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube Billie Eilish: Same Interview, The Fifth Year
☞Letterboxd HOUSE OF GUCCI
☞TikTok #Hanukkah
☞Spotify Adele - Easy On Me
☞Netflix LOST IN SPACE
☞Twitter #SpotifyWrapped
Life & Culture
If you’ve been subscribed to us for a while, you already know my love of Spotify Wrapped, which I am clearly not alone in. 2021’s year in review came out on Wednesday and yes, I have been unabashedly listening to my top 100 songs playlist since then. But what are the global trends, you ask? Well, Bad Bunny took the top spot for most streamed artist, with Olivia Rodrigo nabbing both top album and top song. THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE (which Spotify paid $100 million for exclusive rights to last year) was the most-listened-to podcast.
In film news, SPIDERMAN: NO WAY HOME, the third installment in the Tom Holland Spiderman series comes out on December 16, and there’s already much to discuss. People are trying to sell their opening night tickets for thousands of dollars (no word yet on how that’s going) after they went on sale on November 29. And, AMC and Sony joined forces to give exclusive NFTs to early premiere ticket buyers. A lucky 86,000 AMC members will get access to one of the NFTs, which come in over a hundred different designs and will be accessible with a special code.
And, while we were out eating pecan pie last week, Riot Games' new show ARCANE was the series to finally unseat SQUID GAMES in Parrot Analytics’ chart of what the measurement company calls the “most in-demand breakout series."
Okay, this TikTok might be the most wholesome video I have ever seen. Highly recommend a watch to get your weekend off to a positive start, my friends. And this one is another winner, where a neighbor has a surprise in store for the girl next door who’s been ding-dong-ditching them.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Virgil Abloh, one of this generation's most trailblazing figures in fashion and pop culture, died on Sunday after a long and private battle with cancer. Abloh, the creator of beloved streetwear-meets-luxury brand Off-White as well as the first Black artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear, had a long and successful career in fashion. He was an icon for young Black creatives who felt they didn’t belong in the fashion, music and entertainment industries and his impact has been massive. The loss of Virgil is incredibly heavy, and feels especially deep considering the wide and deep collective losses we have all been living with these past couple of years. Still, I have been incredibly inspired by the outpouring of love in celebration for his life. On Wednesday, Louis Vuitton honored Virgil with his final show, as he wished. The star-studded crowd featured the West family, Pharrell, and Michael Burke, who shared a few words in honor of his dear friend, reminding us all that “Virgil was not looking for the limelight, but the limelight found him.”
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
Films
If you’re looking to have a good cry this weekend, I recommend checking out Mike Mills’ latest, C’MON C’MON (trailer here), which is expanding nationwide. In the movie, radio journalist Johnny (played by Joaquin Phoenix) travels the country to interview kids about what they think their futures will look like. When his sister (Gaby Hoffman) needs help looking after her son, Johnny brings his nephew along to work, learning firsthand the emotional strain of his sister’s day-to-day life. Mills examines parenting and childhood with a unique blend of narrative and documentary, interweaving the story with interviews conducted by Phoenix and real-life journalist Molly Webster. As we see Phoenix and Hoffman’s characters figure out how to introduce a child to life’s difficulties, we also hear children’s actual expectations, growing up in this world. It’s a very sweet movie, and I’m serious about the crying—make sure to stock your pocket with tissues before you head to the theater!
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
Plenty of critics have bashed HOUSE OF GUCCI (trailer here) for it’s hamminess, and they’re not entirely wrong. But I’m here with the hot take that the melodrama actually makes this film a joy to watch. It doesn’t want to be realistic. On the contrary, it’s a glorious, hilarious Hollywood opera. Lady Gaga is enchanting as the conniving Patrizia Reggiani. So, who cares if her accent travels the European continent? Jared Leto’s Paolo might be the most ridiculous (in a good way) supporting role since Mark Wahlberg in THE DEPARTED. On top of that, the production design and soundtrack are top-notch (you can listen to the 80s/90s jams punctuating the drama here). Oscar-winning designer Janty Yates claims Lady Gaga didn’t repeat a single article of clothing the entire film, not even an earring. My fashion knowledge is severely challenged, but even I left the theater looking to make some wardrobe changes. So to the critics, I say “boof!” House of Gucci is funny, flashy, and theatrical; just what the people need right now.
—Daniel Shifren, Production & Development Intern
TV
SELLING SUNSET (trailer here) returned for its fourth season over the Thanksgiving holiday and I couldn’t be more thrilled— the ladies of the Oppenheim Group are finally back after a year-long wait! And with a few new faces ready to stir the pot, no less. Whether you’re in it for the feuding or the gawking at aspirational L.A. real estate, rest assured: The show continues to check all those boxes with sweeping pop music needle drops, expensive cars, gaudy clothes, and ridiculously low-stakes fights in big glass houses. Like, seriously—other than Christine having a baby, I could not tell you how this season is materially different from the last. That said, SELLING SUNSET S4 is the perfect escapist slice of reality TV to binge to decompress after a long day of work. Enjoy!
—Neal Mulani, Executive Assistant
Theater
I had the pleasure of seeing the new Broadway revival of COMPANY last week, mere days before Stephen Sondheim’s passing. This production has taken the lead role of Robert, a 35-year-old man contemplating his marriage prospects (or lack thereof), and turned him into Bobbie, a woman. In addition to this change, director Marianne Elliott has also made small tweaks to the book to make the play feel more contemporary (I don’t think they talked about vaping in the original 1970 production). Curiously, these changes coalesce into a slightly puzzling end result: a production in which characters’ conversations feel quite modern, but the overall piece and its treatment of marriage feels dated. Fortunately, the performances are so excellent across the board that COMPANY is still a great night at the theatre. Led by Katrina Lenk and her gorgeous voice, the ensemble crackles with high-energy, laugh-out-loud funny performances. And of course, Patti Lupone brings down the house as the older and wiser Joanne. I’m sure the already-hot production has become an even hotter ticket in the wake of Sondheim’s death, but if you are passing through New York and can get your hands on tickets, it’s worth taking the time to indulge in his genius.
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
Travel
Last chance! Head into 2022 with a vacation already planned. (Because you know what most of us need after a little time “resting” with family? A vacation.) We’ve got you covered with a week-long adventure in Portugal—booked on us. We’re handling your flights, hotels, and breakfasts, along with kicking in $2,500 in spending money. You can enter here—good luck!
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11/19/21
This week: THREE new shows to watch immediately—plus, a celebration of a decade (!!) of A$AP Rocky.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube SPIDERMAN: NO WAY HOME Trailer
Letterboxd SHANG-CHI
TikTok #Friendsgiving
Spotify ALL TOO WELL - Taylor Swift
Netflix RED NOTICE
Twitter Spotify
Life & Culture
If you’re looking for a pick-me-up after a stressful week, I feel you—and let me introduce you to TikToker Elyse Myers. She went viral in early October with a video telling the story of the worst date she’s ever been on—which is wildly funny, and now has over 20 million views—and ever since, she’s been consistently showing up on my FYP with similar rambling, hilarious videos. Her storytelling style is what really sets her apart, to me. She slowly gives more context as she goes along, and makes even the re-telling of everyday happenings feel like an enjoyable adventure. I didn't know how widely Elyse’s videos had caught on until I started seeing other creators make videos in her signature style (like this one), impersonating her by talking slowly, asking and answering their own questions, and using their hands to illustrate a point. I realize that sounds pretty generic, but promise if you watch a few of her videos you’ll catch what I mean.
The NFL is apparently getting into the NFT business. The football league is launching what it’s calling “Virtual Commemorative Tickets” at select games this season. So, when a fan buys a ticket and attends a certain game, they get access to an NFT version of the ticket on Ticketmaster as well. Plus, there are a small handful of these NFTs available to fans who didn't attend the games, ranging from $10 to over $1,000, depending on the team. You can imagine how those values will rise and fall as they trade on the secondary market.
In more news out of the sports world, Disney is reportedly getting into sports betting. The company plans, unsurprisingly, on using ESPN as their entrypoint into the world, with CEO Bob Chapeck calling sports betting a “very significant opportunity for the company.” Early talks point to the media conglomerate partnering with existing platforms rather than building its own.
And, of course, two of my favorite videos this week: this one, which will immediately suck you into the serenity of nature in the Everglades, and this one, highlighting the goofiest of penguins. Enjoy!
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Travel
Head into 2021 with a trip to Portugal booked on us. Yep, we have another sweeps happening, and this time, we’re giving away a week-long adventure in Portugal, with your flights, hotels, and breakfast covered, along with $2,500 in spending money. You can enter here—good luck!
TV
This weekend, I’m looking forward to diving into HBO Max’s THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS (trailer here). Created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, the half-hour comedy series follows a quartet of freshmen roommates at the prestigious (and very fictional) Essex College in Vermont, as they navigate the absurdity and drama of their first sexual experiences. After watching the pilot, I’m honestly excited to see where the show takes us over the course of its season. The central ensemble of characters (played by the extraordinarily charming Amrit Kaur, Alyah Chanelle Scott, Pauline Chalamet, and Renee Rapp) carry a breezy, infectious, endearing energy that immediately pulls you in, not dissimilar to other Kaling-created shows like NEVER HAVE I EVER and THE MINDY PROJECT. And while THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS is a comedy first and foremost, the pilot delivers on setting up drama and dimensionality within our ensemble, too; each character carries their own baggage with them to school—secret affairs, fractured family lives, hot older siblings. If you’re looking to relive the euphoric highs and deeply underwhelming lows of your college years, this one’s for you.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
YELLOWJACKETS (trailer here) finally premiered on SHOWTIME this Sunday! Off to a foreboding start, the series switches back and forth between the traumatic past and present of a group of high school soccer stars who survive a deadly plane crash and resort to cannibalism while stranded in the vast snowy wilderness of Ontario. People are calling it a gender-flipped LORD OF THE FLIES, but I have high hopes that it’ll be much more. The ingeniousness of the casting of each character’s adult counterpart is unmatched, with stars including Melanie Lysnkey, Juliette Lewis, Tawny Cypress, and Christina Ricci. I can’t wait to see where this one goes. You can check out the first episode for free here.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
Your favorite middle-school perverts are back in a new season of BIG MOUTH (trailer here). Season 5 goes balls-to-the-wall (sometimes literally) with more fantastical metaphors and musical numbers—including the return of the Shame Wizard, a.k.a. Shane Lizard. The episodes are not as tight as the ones from some of the early seasons, but the jokes are better for it. I'm convinced that hypochondriac, psychopath, and lovable weirdo Andrew Glouberman reigns as TV’s funniest character. And for all you film lovers, the first two episodes pile in references to GOODFELLAS, PULP FICTION, and THE DARK KNIGHT, although the Chodeker doesn't compete with Heath Ledger’s and Jack Nicholson's performances. So don’t fear, BIG MOUTH is zany as ever and not at all Thanksgiving friendly! Consider yourself warned.
—Daniel Shifren, Production & Development Intern
Podcast
I know there are some rom-com lovers out there and I am, of course, here for it! Taking the classic workplace romance international, SHOWMANCE is a fun and entertaining audio romp through London. Our jilted heroine heads abroad when a dream job comes calling, and meets not one but two very sexy British bachelors along the way. Not only will SHOWMANCE make your commute more adorable, but I also want to shout out the fantastic sound design with the audio effects providing just as many “punchlines” as the dialogue does. Fair warning: Have a snack on hand as the series is heavy on audio food porn. And yes, that is a thing.
—Emmanuelle Stahler, VP, Audio
Music
This year marks the 10th anniversary of A$AP Rocky's debut mixtape, LIVE. LOVE. A$AP. This album was such a huge moment in the rap world and solidified who A$AP Rocky is today. For those of you who may not know, A$AP Rocky is an American rapper from Harlem, New York. He’s part of a collective of artists called A$AP Mob, and rose to popularity in the early 2010s by embracing internet culture and pulling various different types of sounds and styles and making them his own. He married Southern rap with OG New York sounds to create a new world that bridged a huge gap with LIVE. LOVE. A$AP. This year, to celebrate the iconic mixtape, Rocky blessed fans by making the tape available on streaming services for the first time ever. Since releasing on Spotify and Apple Music a few weeks ago, every single song has been streamed over a million times, making it clear that this music can stand the test of time. If you’re new to his music, I suggest starting out with PESO, GET LIT, and a new track he dropped with the mixtape, SANDMAN.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
11/12/21
This week: A new album that will make you cry, a new album that will make you dance, and the next show for all you FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS fans.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
Youtube Taylor Swift - ALL TOO WELL
Letterboxd ETERNALS
TikTok #nativeownedbusinesses
Spotify Adele - Easy On Me
Netflix LOVE HARD
Twitter #RedTaylorsVersion
Life & Culture
I’m going to be honest, it’s been a week since the tragedy that happened at Travis Scott’s Astroworld concert, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I know I’m not alone, with tons of TikToks (which have garnered billions of views), tweets, and traditional news coverage coming out on the topic. What’s been most disturbing, in my opinion, is the first-hand accounts from individuals in the crowd, sharing their own clearly traumatizing experiences inside the crowd surge. In the days since the concert, which was in Houston last Friday, more and more disturbing information has come out about the event’s poor planning, from security guards being hired day-of with little previous experience, medics overwhelmed with not enough equipment, and the concert continuing for 40 minutes after city officials declared it a “mass casualty event”. The Houston police are still investigating the event that ultimately caused the death of nine people and injured hundreds.
In some positive news, a hand signal popularized by the Canadian Women’s Foundation on TikTok just potentially saved a life. A sixteen-year-old girl went missing from North Carolina, but was rescued after a driver in Kentucky saw her signaling for help in the passenger seat of a car, and called 911.
Britney is free! Today, a judge ruled that “the conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required.” This comes after almost 14 years of Britney’s father and his team legally controlling her finances and personal affairs. She posted on Instagram, thanking her fans and declaring today “the best day ever”. Highly recommend checking out this performance from her Dream Within a Dream tour in 2001 to celebrate.
The two best videos I saw this week are this throwback video with the energy to project you into a good weekend, and this video of two girls who were surprised by the-one-and-only Snoop Dogg serving them at the drive-through.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
What kind of person might accept a mysterious invitation to an anonymous, no-strings sexual encounter? THE BETA TEST (trailer here) uses this premise as an entrypoint into the life of fictional Hollywood agent Jordan Hines (Cummings), whose constant schmoozing has practically made him disappear into a caricature of himself. It’s a complete satire of the entertainment industry; and while Hines is an active participant in this world, in classic Jim Cummings fashion, the film still manages to humanize its protagonist. THUNDER ROAD expertly balances comedy and tragedy (you don’t know whether to laugh or cry—or both), and WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW followed suit while bringing elements of horror into the mix. Now we have a Giallo-inspired, noir-influenced paranoia thriller that examines how toxic masculinity and artifice can take a toll on even someone higher up the ladder…while not at all excusing him from being a horrible person.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
The Yeehaw Agenda strikes again with THE HARDER THEY FALL (trailer here), a Western created by Jeymes Samuels. The story (and the Yeehaw Agenda) is all about reclaiming a genre from which Black people have been largely erased. The film follows Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), an outlaw who makes a living robbing other outlaws, and his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Alba), head of the Rufus Buck Gang, which also includes famed Cherokee Bill (Lakeith Stanfield) and Treacherous Trudy (Regina King). Stylistically this film is a true Western, and although I’m usually not a fan of the genre, this story really got me. The film also has a kick-ass soundtrack which includes Jay Z, Kid Cudi, Seal, Koffee, and Laura Mvula, to name a few.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
TV
If you love sports dramas like FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and ALL AMERICAN, Apple TV+’s newest series SWAGGER (trailer here) could be your next favorite show. Based on the early life of Kevin Durant, SWAGGER explores the world of youth basketball in the Washington, D.C. area. The series immerses you into this specific yet relatable world in which the players, their families, and their coaches are all striving to do their best under extreme pressure. Each episode combines the excitement of basketball with grounded emotional moments. O’Shea Jackson, Jr. shines as Ike, the flawed but good-natured head coach and former youth basketball prodigy who has to grapple with his unrealized potential when the team’s newest player Jace is generating the same hype Ike once received. With strong performances, compelling dramatic tension, and heartwarming family moments, SWAGGER is already emerging as must-see TV. You can catch up on the first five episodes this weekend, with new episodes dropping every Friday on Apple TV+.
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
Theater
I’m the first person to admit that a three hour play about the origins of Lehman Brothers sounds like a total snooze. Yet somehow, this masterful production is anything but. Written by Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Power, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY employs three actors (in this case Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Adrian Lester) across dozens of roles. The three men tell the entire 164 year history of the Lehman Brothers institution, from their origins as immigrant shopkeepers in 1844 Alabama all the way up to the 2008 financial crisis. The three men are captivating to watch, even as they inhabit unlikeable characters. Wearing one costume and standing in one room for the duration of the play (a rotating glass boardroom in which the windowpanes are treated like whiteboards), the three actors are absolute chameleons, jumping from one character to the next with ease. If you want to see perhaps the best stage performance of this theatre season, I highly recommend checking it out!
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
Music
I’m not really sure where to begin in describing RED, Taylor Swift’s autumnal heartbreak masterwork. At the time of its release in 2012, critics praised the album for Swift's trademark confessional songwriting, but were divided on its drawn-out track length and scattered amalgamation of genres. Years later, it’s become evident that RED was perhaps the most crucial inflection point in Swift’s sonic evolution, as it laid the foundation for so many exciting threads she would follow in years to come. Between the continuation of her sentimental country roots, her first foray into proper pop that she’d follow on 1989 and REPUTATION, and shades of indie rock that would turn up on FOLKLORE and EVERMORE, the all-encompassing soundscape of RED makes it the most exhilarating work of Taylor Swift’s to revisit.
Like her last re-recording, RED (Taylor’s version) includes nine (!!) new songs “from the vault”—songs she recorded but ultimately scrapped or gave away to other artists when first releasing RED. While the vault tracks feature some incredible collaborations with artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran, and Mark Foster, the real highlight is the original, 10-minute version of Taylor Swift’s magnum opus, ALL TOO WELL. If you thought a 10-minute version of ALL TOO WELL was nothing but a gimmick to spice up the track list…please know that Ms. Swift has truly delivered lyrically—and then some. Whatever you think you’re ready for, you’re not. So with that, I leave you to collect your maple lattes & scarves and relive whatever romantic trauma you experienced in 2012.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
Listen up folks! Silk Sonic, the R&B duo of Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars, just released its debut album. AN EVENING WITH SILK SONIC is the smooth, sexy listening experience that I've been waiting for. It’s also perfect to switch up the vibe after listening to RED (Taylor's version) and sobbing about your ex. Do y'all remember when the duo dropped LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN earlier this year? The song was all over every single one of my playlists and had me begging for more. Both musicians have such distinct artistry individually that I love (I mean Anderson .Paak's album Oxnard was on repeat on my Spotify all of 2019.), so this mashup is something I never knew I needed until now. SMOKIN OUT THE WINDOW and SKATE—two songs I already love—were released as singles before the album came out and have both taken over my TikTok FYP. Happy listening!
—Erin Harris, Development Assistant
11/05/21
This week: A TIFF favorite, a coming-of-age story made by and starring Indigenous folks, a short that makes the mundane stuff feel poignant, and so much more.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
Youtube Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Letterboxd DUNE
TikTok #NativeFamily
Spotify Adele - Easy On Me
Netflix THE HARDER THEY FALL
Twitter #Indigenous
Life & Culture
There’s nothing better than going to see a live performance, and being surprised by an unannounced guest in the middle of it. That’s what went down at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom last month, when Indigenous Enterprise, a group based in Massachusetts made up of 20-something Native American dancers from several tribes, took the stage as part of an Injury Reserve hip hop show. The audience responded in a big way, with organizer Kenneth Shirley describing it as “a rock star moment”, with his friend Jorge Gonzales-Zuniga Jr. even crowd-surfing from the stage. Kenneth, Jorge and their fellow dancers’ style combines hip hop and traditional Native American dance, and the group has performed on WORLD OF DANCE, in the virtual inauguration parade for President Biden, and during the N.B.A. finals. I recommend reading more about Indigenous Enterprise in this New York Times piece, and be sure to check out the photos! And, if you’re in New York City, you can check out the troupe in person at one of their live shows next week at the Joyce Theater.
In this week’s climate crisis conference in Glasgow, the world’s leaders came together to end deforestation, and pledged to give back at least $1.7 billion in funding directly to Indigenous peoples and local communities “in recognition of their key role in protecting the planet’s lands and forests.” This comes after multiple studies came out strongly suggesting a link between supporting Indengeous rights and land tenure and protecting the environment, with a recent 2021 UN review of more than 300 studies finding that “deforestation rates in South America were up to 50% lower within areas under indigenous control than elsewhere.” Up until now, less than 1% of this type of funding has been given to these groups. While critics are cautious to celebrate preemptively, one attendee of the convention, Paul Redman, who founded a non-profit that works with Indigenous communities, said “I think it’s the first time in all the climate conferences I’ve been to since 2013 that leaders really seem to be genuinely engaged and wanting Indigenous peoples to be at the table.”
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
This month, we’re putting together Tiny History Lessons to educate ourselves about Indigenous people’s history, especially her at home in the U.S.. To kick it off, I looked into the real story of Pocahontas. My biggest findings? The story we all know from the movie is, well, kinda BS—and glosses over some pretty dark stuff with a fictional romance. Check out the video here to learn more. And, while you’re at it, check out @aunty_britt and @connorbeardox on tiktok and @dineaesthetics on IG, three indigenous creators out there doing the work.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
Filmmaker
Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, a member of the Kainai First Nation in Alberta, is a filmmaker in the fullest sense of the word, acting, writing, directing, and producing across various projects. Her feature debut THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN (trailer here), which she co-wrote and co-directed with Kathleen Hepburn, premiered at the 2019 Berlinale and was acquired at TIFF by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY. The film presents a complicated chance encounter between two indigenous women superficially divided by class. Áila (played by Tailfeathers) comes across the young and pregnant Rosie (Violet Nelson) just after Rosie has been physically assaulted by her boyfriend, and Áila attempts to usher the girl to safety. Mostly captured in one unbroken take, the movie intimately portrays an act of generosity and the conversations that follow as the women struggle to understand each other. Thankfully, this underseen gem is available to stream on Netflix. You can also look out for Tailfeathers’ upcoming documentary KÍMMAPIIYIPITSSINI: THE MEANING OF EMPATHY, an examination of the opioid crisis and its effects on her community in Alberta, currently receiving praise on the festival circuit. For her perspective on this documentary and filmmaking in general, check out this recent interview in Filmmaker Magazine.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
Film
One of my favorite films out of TIFF this year was Bretten Hannam’s WILDHOOD (trailer here), a coming-of-age drama about a two-spirit teenager who leaves an abusive household in search of his mother. Starring Phillip Lewitski as Link, Avary Winters-Anthony as his younger half-brother Travis, and Joshua Odjick as a Mi’kmaw boy named Pasmay who they meet along the way, the movie is a tender look at sexuality and identity. WILDHOOD’s portrayal of intimacy in particular struck me as refreshingly candid and compassionate, and its final scene left me speechless. It’s a soft and beautiful film that, rather than weighing down its Indigenous characters with melodrama or tragedy as art too often does, instead imbues them with all the nuance of real human beings, and offers a beautiful story of hope.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
TV
I am reminding you to plop onto your couch at your earliest convenience to watch RESERVATION DOGS (trailer here). The series comes from the minds of Stelrin Harjo and Taika Waititi. It’s a comedy following four teens as they navigate life in a small Oklahoma town. We open with them stealing a chip truck (yes you read that right) and performing small (definitely criminal) acts to save money and escape rural life, desperate to create an exciting future for themselves. Criminal activity aside, honestly, who can’t relate to that? Along with their antics, there are beautiful moments of heart and friendship, especially when they honor their friend who passed the year prior. But even more importantly, this show is a coming-of-age story created by and starring Indigenous folks. And as a bonus, there are so many cinematic references, just like the title, in the series. So please, in honor of the show, go s̶t̶e̶a̶l̶ borrow a friend's Hulu password and tune in!
—Erin Harris, Development Assistant
Short Film
Directed by Erica Tremblay, a writer and director from the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, LITTLE CHIEF is a short that premiered at Sundance 2020 and was included on IndieWire’s list of the top 10 must-see short films at the fest last year. In this thoughtful and resounding 12-min short inspired by Erica’s mother, who taught on her Oklahoma reservation, we are introduced to a drained but resilient young teacher and a troubled boy as their lives intersect over the course of a school day on a reservation. With no flashy concept, the short succeeds in building out a compelling narrative in a normal school day. With sparse dialogue but powerful performances, the piece manages to paint a detailed portrayal of a modern indigenous culture. Tremblay does an incredible job building out a seemingly small but meaningful relationship between a Native teacher and her students. It’s no surprise that she’s a 2021 Sundance Screenwriters Lab Fellow and the recipient of the Walter Bernstein Fellowship—she’s definitely a filmmaker to watch!
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
Music
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, Executive Assistant
10/29/21
This week: One of the most criminally underrated horror-comedies of the last decade. Plus, a hot take on holiday music, two all-time-favorite Halloween episodes of nostalgia TV, and so much more.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
Youtube Mila Kunis - Hot Ones
Letterboxd DUNE
TikTok #horrortok
Spotify Adele - Easy On Me
Netflix YOU
Twitter Meta
Life & Culture
I vividly remember my mom tuning into the local news before Halloween and then warning me to be careful of the bucketloads of trick-or-treating wares I would bring home, when I was a kid. And apparently, that fear-mongering is still going on. Local news reporters are back at it, now warning parents that their kids’ candy could actually be THC. However, according to The New York Times, “such acts have not just been rare, but very close to completely undocumented.” Joel Best, a sociology professor at the University of Delaware, has been studying this media phenomenon for decades, and reported that he’s actually never seen any evidence of people giving their neighborhood children weed candy.
Alright, I know we’ve discussed SQUID GAME and its popularity here a few times now, and I have to admit to you all that I’m still slowly making my way through the series. The marbles episode wrecked me emotionally and I have yet to want to return, okay? But, as pieces of the characters’ signature look have been flying off the shelves (white slip-on Vans saw a 7,800% spike in sales, for example), we can all anticipate seeing many versions of the show’s characters out and about this weekend. However, three NYC schools reportedly banned their students from wearing the fit, citing “the potential violent messages aligned with the costume."
If you’re not in the spooky mood quite yet, please let me share with you this mesmerizing video, which should do the trick. And here’s my favorite story about a Halloween TRAILER PARK BOYS costume that was executed a little too well.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
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 ingenue, 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
TV
Today I want to talk about the much-maligned, but actually underrated genre of...Halloween episodes of TV shows. For me, the best ones are seared in my brain in a way that’s different than a typical episode. My all time favorites are THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY’s “The Ghost in Suite 613” and BOY MEETS WORLD’s “And Then There Was Shawn.” The former (which can be watched in its entirety on YouTube for free—you’re welcome) fully terrified me when I watched it at the ripe old age of 8. It follows Zack, Cody, Maddie, and London when they decide to stay in the rumored-to-be-haunted suite 613 after hearing an intriguing ghost story about the room. What makes the episode so legendary is the shocking twist at the end (I think the statute of limitations is up on spoilers here, but still, I won’t spoil it) and the sheer commitment to the bit by the one and only Esteban Julió Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramírez, played by Adrian R'Mante. I promise you’re not too old to take 22 minutes out of your day and enjoy the nostalgia.
Speaking of which, the BOY MEETS WORLD slasher episode also scared the heck out of me as a kid. When I was maybe 14, I became obsessed with binging before it was in vogue and watched grainy versions of old TV shows that someone had the decency to upload to YouTube. Anyway, the episode in question didn’t actually premiere around Halloween, it came out on February 27, 1998. The story follows the sitcom’s cast as they’re locked in detention together, and come across a mysterious murderer. Yes, it’s as silly as it sounds, but it was so much fun.. Even through all of the thriller-style drama, the episode retains the one-liners that make the show so funny. The mix of unexpected horror with characters you’ve spent years getting to know makes this episode a true gem. You can watch the whole series on Disney+!
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Music
People obsess over Christmas music, but, hot take, it’s really not that good. The better holiday for music? Halloween! Here are my top 3 Halloween songs:
3. DRACULA’S WEDDING by Outkast — Outkast has a long history with the otherworldly, mostly focused on aliens, but I’ve never found aliens to be very Halloween-y. On this track from THE LOVE BELOW, André 3000 leans fully into the spooky, singing from the perspective of a Dracula with butterflies in his tummy from his crush. The song is undoubtedly corny but still sweet.
2. WEREWOLF BAR MITZVAH by Jeff Richmond & Tracy Morgan — The chorus of this parody novelty song from 30 ROCK is one of the funniest things ever written: “Boys becoming men…men becoming wolves!” Thankfully it’s streaming on major platforms as part of the 30 ROCK ORIGINAL TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK, so you can, and should, play it at your Halloween party this weekend.
1. MONSTER MASH by Bobby “Boris” Pickett — It’s the most famous Halloween song for a reason. I genuinely love it for how dumb and silly it is, and in 1962, America agreed with me. Bobby “Boris” Pickett and his MONSTER MASH somehow made it to #1 on the Hot 100 the last week of October that year!
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
History
Alas, spooky season is upon us. I am, unfortunately, too terrified of anything remotely scary to enjoy it, but that doesn’t stop me from being curious about the genesis of what we consider to be “horror.”
Specifically, I want to talk zombies. I used to be a hater of zombie films, but then I took a fascinating course in college and learned the history of zombies in Hollywood and their connection to American colonialism. The idea originated in Haiti, but those zombies looked very different from the ones we’re all so familiar with. Rather than blood-soaked, brain-eating immortals with decaying flesh, Haitian zombies looked just like living humans, except for their “lifeless eyes.” They were believed to be creatures devoid of soul and human agency, brought back to life often to be used as slave labor. This account was detailed by W.B. Seabrook in his 1929 book The Magic Island (warning: this is a book with a strong colonial attitude toward race). The book came out in the middle of the American occupation of Haiti, and spoke to Westerners’ lack of understanding of voodoo and black magic—and fear that the Haitians could use it against them and turn them, the white colonizers, into zombies. In fact, this fear inspired the first Hollywood zombie film, WHITE ZOMBIE (1932), in which a white American woman turns into a Zombie after planning a plantation wedding in Haiti. A similar storyline can also be seen in THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW (1988), a horror cult-favorite. The idea of zombies has quite obviously changed throughout the years, but this is a perfect example of how horror constructed on screen has always been inspired by, or deeply rooted in horror in real life.
I’ll stop there. But, this Halloweekeend, as you enjoy horror films and TV with your loved ones, I encourage you to do some fun research into the fascinating history of what we see on screen!
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
10/22/21
This week: SO much good TV. No really, it’s going to be a busy weekend.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
Youtube Timothée Chalamet & Zendaya Take The BFF Test
Letterboxd HALLOWEEN KILLS
TikTok #scarystories
Spotify Adele - Easy On Me
Netflix YOU
Twitter DUNE
Life & Culture
My favorite Internet phenomenon going on right now is TikTok-famous Noodle the pug, and his “bones” or “no bones” daily determinations, which tell his followers what kind of day to have. Noodle is a 13-year-old dog who has become somewhat similar to Groundhog Day’s Punxsutawney Phil. Every day, Jon Graz, his owner, helps Noodle into a standing position, and whether he flops back down in his bed, or stays standing, gives his viewers advice on how to tackle the day. Typically, on a no bones day he will remind everyone to take it easy, practice self-care, and treat themselves and others with kindness. While on a bones day, he’ll remind us to treat ourselves and celebrate a little bit. The trend is very cute and even inspired this rather catchy song, which kind of reminds me of an ad jingle.
And, two of the best TikToks I saw on the app this week: this one tells the saga of two cats clearly in the early stages of dating, and this one shows the high stakes and excitement that come with a group of teenage boys getting random pedestrians to attempt a jump shot.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Film
This week, I watched BERGMAN ISLAND (trailer here) from French filmmaker Mia Hansen-Love. Although this is Hansen-Love’s English-language debut, it still features the bucolic setting, natural pacing, and irresistible aesthetics that are hallmarks of French cinema. The story follows filmmaking couple Chris (played by Vicky Krieps) and Tony (played by Tim Roth), who travel to Faro, an island in the Baltic Sea where Swedish director Ingmar Bergman famously lived. There, they each work on their individual writing projects, but Chris struggles with writer’s block and missing her daughter June, all the while grappling with her purpose as a female filmmaker. In what seems to be a semi-autobiographical story that explores the relationship between real life and art, we follow the female protagonist as she moves away from her famous director husband’s shadow to make a name for herself. In a 2018 interview, Hansen-Love said that what she most admires in her favorite filmmakers is “precisely their sense of independence, how they created their own language and how they plunged into themselves to make their own films." BERGMAN ISLAND captures just that: a self-determination to tell your own stories from your own perspective in order to make art that is authentically and uniquely yours. This movie will make you want to leave everything behind to live a simple, idyllic island life, and get you thinking about what it means to be in love, make art, and live a life that’s worthwhile.
—Aimee Pham, Production & Development Intern
TV
Netflix’s YOU (trailer here) is back and better than ever! Season 3 takes murderous newlyweds (and new parents) Joe and Love to an idyllic Northern California suburb. They try to adapt to their surroundings and embrace the mundanity of suburban life, but of course, ultimately struggle to break free of their toxic tendencies. This season delves deeper into the lead characters’ motives while elevating the thriller elements. The stakes are higher for Joe and Love—they have to clean up the messes they create in order to protect their marriage and their son. Every cliffhanger and unexpected twist will leave you wondering, “How are they going to get out of this one?” Plus, these 10 episodes feature the show’s most dynamic and fully formed supporting characters yet, including pretentious mommy blogger Sherry and naïve yet anguished college kid Theo. The biggest flaw of this latest season is that the writers nearly make Joe a likable voice of reason through his grounded and funny narration—let’s not forget that Joe is a vicious stalker/murderer! But still, this makes for an excellent weekend binge.
—Dustin Sloane, Development Assistant
The critically acclaimed and Emmy-winning THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB (trailer here), based on the iconic book series by Ann. M Martin, returned last Monday for its second season. Adding two new members to the club (the hilarious and scene-stealing Mallory, and the effortlessly charming Jessi), the show continues to explore an array of complex themes with wit and charm in abundance. Whether it’s spotlighting pure teen angst, the challenges of living with diabetes, or the realities of integrating with another family when a single parent remarries, the show is an absolute masterclass in empathetic storytelling and representation. I was particularly blown away by episode 2x07, “Claudia and the Sad Goodbye,” which deftly depicts Claudia Kishi’s grief as she mourns the loss of a beloved family member. Between Momona Tamada’s stellar performance, the cultural specificity in the Kishi family’s grief, and a moving revelation from Claudia’s sister, the penultimate episode of the season will almost certainly leave you with a lump in your throat. Topical without ever being condescending, and colorful but never frivolous, THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB season 2 is a crossover hit that’s guaranteed to bring some sunshine to your weekend.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
Probably one of the most anticipated shows of 2021, SUCCESSION (trailer here) is finally back with its long-awaited Season 3. After an intense S2 ending that left us with a betrayal and a cliffhanger, the HBO show returned with an episode that did not disappoint. For those of you who are not familiar with this epic satirical comedy-drama, it follows the Logan Family (loosely based on the Murdoch family, with some hints of Redstone thrown in) as they navigate a cut-throat grudge match to determine who will take over the family business . Created by Jesse Armstrong, SUCCESSION wins its audience with dark comedic humor, witty writing, characters that you hate to love but can’t stop following, impeccable performances, and some truly iconic theme music. Never have I considered myself a fan of stories that follow dysfunctional uber-riches, but SUCCESSION changed that for me. It’s bitterly funny, deliciously entertaining, and in the end it is up to you to decide if it’s comedy or a tragedy at heart.
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
The time has come. One of my favorite shows of all time is coming to an end. The final season of INSECURE (trailer here) premieres on HBO Max this Sunday. This show truly holds a special place in my heart. As an awkward Black girl myself, I fell in love with Issa Rae while watching her web series "Awkward Black Girl" and followed her career when the first season of Insecure debuted in 2016. It's easy enough to say the brilliance of this series lies in the fact that it’s hilarious (it is) or because it broke the mold (it did). But, the reason I talk incessantly about INSECURE is that it’s so specific—thus making it universally relatable. This show doesn't shy away from the awkwardness, the heartbreak, or the laugh-so-hard-you-start-to-cry moments that shape all of our lives. At its center, it's a group of young Black women living in LA. They navigate friendships and relationships with the added obstacle of each of them being in a different stage of their lives. I truly see myself in each member of our core cast: Issa, Molly, Kelli, and Tiffany. This beloved comedy will be truly missed after this last season, but don't worry, if you're like me you’ll always be able to revisit Season 3's "High-like" episode every time you think of Coachella season ;)
—Erin Harris, Development Assistant
Comedy
A little levity feels like exactly what we all need right about now, and Nate Bargatze has plenty of silly, feel-good jokes for us in his spring 2021 special, THE GREATEST AVERAGE AMERICAN (trailer here). If you’ve never heard of Bargatze, he’s a Tennessee-born comic who doesn’t curse or touch politics. He calmly jokes about everyday slip-ups like he’s Sebastian Maniscalco on valium. Meaning, if you like TED LASSO, Nate Bargatze is your guy. Typically, I prefer stand-up that pushes the envelope, but even I chuckled through these bits about concussions, kids' homework, and a legendary waffle snafu. Plus, it’s perfect for your family-friendly Thanksgiving watchlist..
—Daniel Shifren, Production & Development Intern
Theater
Lucas Hnath’s play DANA H, which just opened on Broadway, is wholly unlike anything else I’ve seen in a theater. The show tells the true story of the titular Dana’s kidnapping by her former patient; Dana had worked as a chaplain in a Florida hospital’s psych unit, and her patient was a white supremacist and meth addict. The story is fascinating, artfully told, and very upsetting. The tension in the piece is compounded by the revelation that Dana is actually the playwright Hnath’s mother, and that she purposely kept Hnath in the dark for the five months of her kidnapping and the subsequent two-and-a-half years she spent on the run afterward, hiding among a construction crew. What’s even more remarkable—if you can believe!—is that the entire piece is lip synced by the actress Deirdre O’Connell; she performs along with the track of an interview that Hnath conducted with his mother over several days in 2015. If it sounds gimmicky, I promise it isn’t. O’Connell is a captivating performer, and you will forget about the lip-syncing altogether within the first few minutes of the piece. I’m so happy that this harrowing, heartbreaking, but ultimately optimistic story has made its way to Broadway.
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
10/15/21
This week: Halloween Toks, a whole lot of genre, a Keanu-penned comic, and “divorce, babe, divorce.”
TRENDS THIS WEEK
Youtube Meghan Thee Stallion - Hot Ones
Letterboxd NO TIME TO DIE
TikTok #HalloweenCostume
Spotify STAY - The Kid LAROI
Netflix SQUID GAME
Twitter Halloween Kills
Life & Culture
Now, I know you don’t need me to tell you how huge SQUID GAME is. But, this week, Netflix told us exactly how many people watched (at least two minutes, anyway). Drumroll, please...it’s over 111 million fans, which, of course, makes it the platform’s biggest show ever. This week, the streamer also unveiled a brand new merch partnership with Walmart, which will see the companies co-releasing items on a digital storefront within Walmart’s existing site. Fans will be able to buy clothes and toys from shows like SQUID GAME, STRANGER THINGS, WITCHER, and NAILED IT!. And, if they aren’t covering your favorites yet, Walmart also shared plans to launch a new service it’s calling Netflix Fan Select, where fans will have “the opportunity to vote for merchandise they’d like to see from favored Netflix shows — and then Walmart merchants will bring them to life.”
Shameless self promotion alert! There's an I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER series launching today on Amazon Prime, and we’re stoked (and also involved, ha). Go watch! And once you’ve binged the first four, go back and watch the original movies (which have an incredible BTS origin story that we’ll tell you on IG later this month...).
And, I have two Halloween-themed TikToks to share with you all today. This one is the best rendition of a Harry Potter costume that I have ever seen, and this one features a sweet animated ghost with a wholesome message about mental health.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Films
MY DINNER WITH ANDRÉ (trailer here) turned 40 earlier this week. I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that it’s a personal favorite because of its reputation as pretentious…but is a little pretension really the worst thing? Written by and starring Wallace Shawn and André Gregory, the film is set almost entirely at a restaurant table, where Shawn and Gregory’s characters (coincidentally named Wally and André) have a long, meandering philosophical conversation. There’s no more plot than that, and I completely understand if it sounds boring—it has continuously been the butt of jokes in pop culture for a reason. But the action (limited though it may be) does still rise, climaxing with Wally finally openly criticizing André’s dramatic, mystical worldview in favor of an appreciation for the mundane. Shawn and Gregory succeed in bringing contemplative storytelling to the screen by situating a movie wholly concerned with life and how to live it at the most ordinary of activities: dinner with a friend. Check it out on HBO Max if you’re feeling just a hair pretentious this weekend.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
The brutal first trailer for SCREAM (2022), the fifth installment in the franchise, dropped this week and it quickly skyrocketed to the top of YouTube’s trending chart, racking up millions of views in its first 24 hours. The original SCREAM is my favorite movie of all time (I saw SCREAM 4 in theaters five times in 8th grade…), so this first look at the newest installment could have been Neve Campbell reading a phonebook for 2 minutes and I would’ve freaked out. But if you’re feeling jaded by recent disappointments like THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE and HALLOWEEN KILLS, this trailer might single-handedly restore your faith in the horror genre. Taking a seemingly darker approach (Ghostface is snapping legs! Someone’s been set on fire..?), the trailer has some fans worried that the franchise has done away with its signature meta humor. A few of the film’s stars have insisted that SCREAM “fits perfectly” within the franchise, however, so I’m not too worried. And while this is the first film in the series to not be helmed by the late Wes Craven, it's directed by the highly promising Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the directing duo behind Searchlight’s 2019 runaway horror hit READY OR NOT). Moreover, the original Woodsboro trio (Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox) have all returned to star alongside an array of exciting young talent including Jenna Ortega (YOU, THE FALLOUT), Melissa Barrera (IN THE HEIGHTS), and Jack Quaid (THE BOYS), so I couldn’t be more excited. Ghostface looks more terrifying than ever, and if you’re worried about the trailer spoiling who’s hiding behind the infamous mask this go-around, relax: the directors assure that this trailer is “the tip of a very, very deceptive iceberg” full of misdirects. Happy viewing, and with that: I’ll be right back…in January.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
This week, I watched three highly-anticipated genre films. The first, ANTLERS (trailer here), premiered at the American Cinematheque-sponsored Beyond Fest with director Scott Cooper and producer Guillermo del Toro in attendance. The second, LAMB (trailer here), had been long-awaited as the latest “elevated horror” work distributed by A24 and emerged from Cannes as a festival favorite. And the third was VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (trailer here).
Now, if you saw the first VENOM movie and were bewildered by the clash of grim, self-serious VFX bloat and complete off-the-walls ridiculousness, I’ve got good news—the sequel goes all-in on the latter, with a surprisingly sweet twist. Writer Kelly Marcel and director Andy Serkis (yeah, that one) added a whole new spin on Eddie Brock’s relationship with the alien symbiote inhabiting his body. And well, these two comic book characters, crammed in their dingy SF apartment bickering over house rules and what’s for dinner, have found themselves in a straight-up rom com. They fight, they make up, they make pancakes. With Venom’s character essentially turning into Clayface from the “Harley Quinn” animated series, both he and Eddie form a new vulnerability, intimacy, and sense of self (and yes I can’t believe I’m still talking about VENOM 2 either). This film is equal parts tender and camp. Tom Hardy’s indecipherable accent? Camp. Michelle Williams’ heinous wig? Camp. The tentacles (oh, so many tentacles)? Camp…verging on pornographic. Oh yeah, and there’s Naomie Harris and Woody Harrelson doing a NATURAL BORN KILLERS THING too. I guess I am encouraging you to see this movie. And you know what? I’m okay with that.
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
TV
My fun weekend plans are to catch up on all of the incredible new shows released recently—one of them being MAID (trailer here) on Netflix. Adapted from Stephanie Land’s memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother’s Will to Survive, MAID follows a young mother’s journey as she cares for her daughter after escaping the abuse of her partner. This miniseries’s opening moments had me holding my breath: Watching Alex (played by Margaret Qualley) intently watching her partner’s sleeping chest rise and fall, quietly sneaking through the house with evidence of domestic violence sprinkled throughout her path, and finally grabbing her daughter and tearing out of there was so harrowing and raw. And as her limited funds and resources diminish, Alex pushes forward because she’s a mom and has a kid who needs her. The show's scenes of domestic violence feel all too familiar, which is both heartbreaking and terrifying. But ultimately, this is a story of survival—taking house cleaning jobs to provide for her daughter, battling with the shackles of poverty, and finding chosen family and stability. It’s all really well done and worth a watch.
—Erin Harris, Development Assistant
Comic Book
This week, I started reading BRZRKR, a brand new comic-book series co-written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt. When the cashier at the store recommended it to me, she pitched it as “JOHN WICK, but even gorier,” to which I replied, “Is that possible?” Turns out, it is. Imagine this: A super-soldier punching through an attacker’s body, ripping out one of their ribs, and stabbing another assailant through the throat with it. But while it’s gory, it’s also magnificently illustrated by Ron Garney and tells a fascinating story. The central character is an invincible anti-hero on a quest for mortality, and the comics explore his mind through conversations with a psycho-therapist. Think of it like JOHN WICK meets THE SOPRANOS. If you’re interested, hurry to a comic-book shop soon—they’re selling out fast.
—Daniel Shifren, Production & Development Intern
Podcast
In the words of Binchtopia hosts Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb, “If Plato and Aristotle had internet addictions and knew what ‘gaslighting' was, they’d probably make this podcast." If you’re looking for a funny,, smart and informative podcast that breaks down cultural hellscape and provides a refreshing perspective on current events, tune in. In each episode, alongside a slew of fun digressions, the ladies go through their listeners’ emails, then address a topical moment as they take us through the history of said event. In the episode “Abort Mission,” which came out right after Texas passed a near-total abortion ban, the ladies unpacked the complex history or reproductive rights in America—I must say, I personally learned a lot. Anyway, sexy and fun people listen to Binchtopia so make sure you tune in, you sexy and fun people.
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
Music
Unless you live under a rock, you probably know that Adele is finally back this weekend with EASY ON ME, the lead single from her highly anticipated fourth studio album, 30 (out November 19th). It’s been six years since her last release, 25 (the fastest-selling album of all time in the US, lest we forget…), back when album releases still somewhat felt like actual events. The instant gratification of streaming has given way to artists dropping increasingly disposable, standalone singles, but leave it to Adele to tee up a proper album rollout. It started a few weeks ago, when mysterious “30” billboards started appearing in major cities around the world. While Adele is distinctly known for her numerical album titles based on her age at the time of songwriting, the Internet seemed to be doubtful— it had been so long since she dropped new music, and this seemed too good to be true. For me, the news was all but confirmed when Taylor Swift mysteriously moved the release of RED (TAYLOR’S VERSION) up one week, clearing the weekend of November 19th. Lo and behold, Adele released the teaser for EASY ON ME a week later, and the world was forever changed. A beautiful piano ballad that’s relatively sparse by Adele’s standards, EASY ON ME still offers her signature wistful sensibilities with a glint of catharsis and optimism. And around 1 p.m. on Friday, Spotify confirmed that the single had already become the platform’s most-streamed song in a single day, with a few tracking hours left to spare. In other words, just another Friday for Adele. The music video is directed by Xavier Dolan, who also directed the video for Adele’s HELLO, and it very much feels like a poetic sequel to the 2015 sepia-drenched clip. When asked on her (now viral) Instagram live last weekend what her forthcoming album would be about, Adele simply responded: “divorce, babe, divorce.” Consider this the beginning of sad girl autumn, and brace for impact.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
One of my favorite OG afro producers and DJs, Juls, just released his third solo album and it’s my favorite thing this week. Born in East London to Ghanaian parents, Juls began his career in 2013 while he finished his studies at the University of Surrey. Now, he’s regarded by a lot of artists in the space as a pioneering producer, having created songs with top talent like Burna Boy, Mr. Eazi, and Maleek Berry, to name a few. His new album, SOUNDS OF MY WORLD, feels like a diaspora homecoming. Juls takes listeners on a sultry and smooth journey, with each track masterfully dabbling in a new sound from the African continent. My personal favorites are WISH YOU, WICKED and MARE. Enjoy!
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
If you don’t know who PinkPantheress is, let me help you rectify that. If you’re on TikTok, chances are you’ve probably heard her music even if you don’t yet know her name. When Tiktok named her track Just for Me as its breakout track for the summer, the 20-year-old London-based singer-songwriter won the Internet over with similarly fleeting tracks (all lasting about 2 minutes) that have such a unique sound. Sonically, structurally and aesthetically refreshing and inspired by garage music, Pinkpantheress aims to make music in a way people don’t normally experience. This past Thursday, she dropped her latest mixtape, to hell with it—and in keeping with her existing body of work, the entire mixtape is just under 19 minutes and features a couple of tracks her fans are already familiar with. So, go check it out. And if you get her hooky sounds stuck in your head this weekend, sorry—but also, you’re welcome <3
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
10/08/21
It all begins with an idea.
This week: TikTok conspiracies, thoughts on the new Bond movie, the countdown to the ONLY MURDERS finale, Afro artists making history, and a strong female lead who isn’t just a dude in a hot woman’s body!
TRENDS THIS WEEK
Youtube SQUID GAME Cast Reveals All
Letterboxd NO TIME TO DIE
TikTok #Meditation
Spotify STAY - The Kid LAROI
Netflix SQUID GAME
Twitter Venmo
Life & Culture
This week, pretty much everyone’s For You pages on TikTok have been inundated with “couch guy” videos. It all started with a college student who innocently posted a video in which she surprised her long distance boyfriend on TikTok. While she went in with the best intentions, many people are speculating about the circumstances of the surprise—from the boyfriend’s lukewarm response to his friends’ reactions, and a mysterious potential passing of his phone—and suggesting that something shady is going on with the boyfriend, now dubbed “couch guy.” Since the video was posted on September 21, it’s gotten a staggering 60 million views, along with a ton of remakes, commentary, and endless speculation. This bride and groom even reenacted the awkwardness at their wedding, but this rendition has to be my favorite. If you remember the “blue or gold” dress phenomenon from 2015, this trend sort of feels like that, but much more personal (err, invasive) to this one couple.
This article about two writers, a maybe-plagiarized letter in a short story, an insular writer community, and some mean girl group text vibes set the internet on fire this week. So, which side of the great divide do you fall on? Who is the “bad art friend”: Dawn or Sonya?
And, an update on last week’s life and culture section: While AMC CEO Adam Aron is figuring out how consumers can directly pay for movies with Dogecoin, he’s found a temporary solution that’s available now. Movie-goers can buy AMC Theaters gift cards with the cryptocurrency, and pay for movies that way.
Also, I can’t pass up the opportunity to share this very exciting Variety article with you all, which serves as a little update on what our company has been up to this past year. My favorite quote from Erik, our founder: “Our goal is to enable talent’s vision and help them figure out how to get things done, so we did that for ourselves in the pandemic.”
Of course, I’ve gotta leave you with my favorite TikToks from this week! This one gives context to the most stressful prank I have ever seen, and this one makes me immediately want to go to this band teacher’s next concert.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
GUEST CURATED BY THE BRILLIANT MINDS AT
Artist to Know
The Platform team is diverse, and our taste in art is equally so—but we all converge in our love of this series of portraits by Gilbert Lewis. Portraits are a classic format in the centuries-long history of art, but typically, their subjects are the wealthy and powerful. Instead, Gilbert Lewis paints portraits of anonymous men, whose young faces and bright gazes express awareness, optimism, and innocence. They aren’t adorned with sceptres like Napoleon was; instead, they’re clad in t-shirts and sports jerseys, slightly ill-fitting glasses, and nose piercings. The artist suggests that these everyday people are just as worthy as the subjects of the portraits that hang in great museums and galleries. This is what’s incredibly exciting about the kind of art that eventually makes it into the art history books: To be truly great, the work has to relate to what matters in the time and culture in which it was created. I’m going to go ahead and posit that today, real people, in all of their honest nuance and perfect imperfection, are exactly what matter.
—Bettina Huang, GM & Head of Platform
Gilbert Lewis
Untitled (Young Man with Nose Ring), 2000
Watercolor and gouache on paper
16.0 × 12.0 inches
$3000 (Available through October 31st)
Film
6 long years after his last foray in SPECTRE, James Bond is finally back in NO TIME TO DIE (trailer here), which hits U.S. theaters this weekend after years of creative and COVID-related delays. If you haven’t returned to the cinema since the world started reopening earlier this year, I can’t think of a better occasion to make the trip. I’ve always admired the Bond films for their aspirational, global escapism, and this chapter is no exception, featuring stunning sequences shot in Italy, Jamaica, Norway, and of course, the U.K. And truthfully, above all, I really just missed the experience of sitting in an IMAX theater and watching a movie of this scale; Hans Zimmer’s operatic score rattled my seat so hard I nearly dropped my popcorn—and it was life-affirming. Clocking in at nearly three hours, NO TIME TO DIE certainly does take its time, but it’s an absolute spectacle nonetheless and wraps up Daniel Craig’s run as Bond with an unexpectedly emotional finale. And while a number of familiar faces reprise their roles from previous films, it’s Ana de Armas and Lashana Lynch who steal the show as quick-witted operatives who hold their own and then some alongside Craig. Between the action, the verve, and all the melodramatic ruminations on “time” and “revisiting the past,” NO TIME TO DIE exemplifies just about everything I love about Bond. Run, don't walk!
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
I saw a Letterboxd review for TITANE (trailer here) that nailed it, calling it “the most f*cked up wholesome movie.” Written and directed by Julia Ducournau—the second female director to win the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or—this film made me laugh, cringe, hide my eyes, watch with rapt attention, and feel all of the feelings. That’s what I want most in a movie: for it to elicit a wide array of emotions in just a short time—in this case, 108 minutes. And if you look beyond the violence and grotesque imagery that makes TITANE a true body horror, you’ll find an honest and resonant story about parenthood, self-acceptance, and unconditional love. But if you decide you’d like to embark on the wild journey that is watching this film, buckle up, because it’s quite the ride.
—Aimee Pham, Production & Development Intern
If you ever want a break from fiction, MINDING THE GAP (trailer here) is as real and raw as documentaries get. I was initially expecting a typical skater movie, but the film goes much deeper, delving into the personal lives of three skater friends—and their abusive childhoods. The director grew up with the kids in a poor suburb of Illinois, and they let him in on some incredibly personal moments. I couldn’t believe how unfiltered and genuine the reactions were—no actor could produce that kind of emotion. At its core, this is a coming of age story, and the two leads are the perfect subjects. While they both suffered abuse as kids and found an escape in skateboarding, their personalities could not be more different. You can watch it on Hulu wherever and whenever, just have some tissues nearby if you’re a crier ;)
—Daniel Shifren, Production & Development Intern
TV
If you haven’t been watching ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING (trailer here) on Hulu, now is the time to start! The final two episodes air over the next two weeks, so you have plenty of time to catch up on the 10-episode series. Created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, the half-hour comedy is a light, self-aware take on the true crime genre. Steve Martin stars alongside Martin Short and Selena Gomez as true crime podcast-obsessed neighbors in a grand New York City apartment building that is thrown into disarray when one of its residents is found dead. Although ruled a suicide, the leading trio takes up its own investigation, convinced (or deluded?) that there was foul play. As they sleuth —and record a true crime podcast of their own—they learn about each other and the secrets kept by those living right next door. Come for the mystery, stay for Martin Short’s hilariously aggressive shouting!
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
After running a robust marketing campaign that left no corner of the Internet unchecked, ONE OF US IS LYING (trailer here) finally premiered this week on Peacock. Based on Karen M. McManus's bestselling novel of the same name, the teen whodunit has been fittingly described as a BREAKFAST CLUB and PRETTY LITTLE LIARS hybrid. The show follows four archetypal high schoolers who must piece together what happened to one of their classmates, Simon, after he mysteriously dies from an allergic reaction while they’re in detention together. To complicate things further, each of the four students has closely held secrets they’re trying to protect (because of course they do!), and Simon ran a Gossip-Girl-esque blog that threatened to expose them all, giving each of them...a motive! I watched the pilot last night, and I’m pleased to report that ONE OF US IS LYING is a bit of a hot mess. Featuring clunky phone VFX, too many dizzying dutch angles to count, and most importantly, Teenagers Who Don’t Talk Like Teenagers, ONE OF US IS LYING possesses many of the foundational elements of a Good Bad TV Show. It's too early to determine if it’ll have the sticking power of RIVERDALE or PRETTY LITTLE LIARS—the characters are a bit indiscernible, and the show plays things fairly safe when it comes to its twistiest moments—but I’m excited to see how the mystery progresses from week to week. The first three episodes of ONE OF US IS LYING are available to stream now on Peacock.
—Neal Mulani, Development Assistant
Theater
SIX the Musical finally opened on Broadway this week, and I am so, so excited to see it! The latest in the “history-but-make-it-pop-music” subgenre, SIX is a tell-all concert performed by the wives of Henry VIII. Originally written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss while they were undergraduates at Cambridge, the musical has already enjoyed sold-out runs in London and Chicago, and was about to open on Broadway right before the pandemic hit (there’s actually a great episode of The Daily about it!). Each wife is inspired by a different pop icon—Beyoncé, Adele, and Ariana Grande to name a few. Directed by Jamie Armitage and Lucy Moss, the stage show comes in at a tight 80 minutes (we love!) and is guaranteed to be one of the most fun evenings you’ll spend on Broadway this year.
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
Book
Among the books shortlisted for the National Book Award this week is Lauren Groff’s MATRIX. The elevator pitch may sound archaic: Marie de France, a 12th-century “bastardess of the crown” is banished from Court by Eleanor of Aquitane and settles at a nunnery, from where she builds an empire. But I promise, Groff has written the most compelling, page-turning version of that story. Marie is an ambitious, thorny protagonist who cultivates her power with care. MATRIX may be a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too power-hungry, but Groff sustains the reader's sympathy for her protagonist through the entire novel. A great read for anyone craving a strong female lead who isn’t just a dude in a hot woman’s body!
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
Music
Feels kind of crazy to be saying this since there are so many African artists making amazing music, but last week Wizkid and Tems were awarded the very first platinum certification for an African song in the U.S. with their song ESSENCE. The song has been dubbed the song of the summer by many outlets, the music video has over 35 million views after just five months, and the track was even remixed by Justin Bieber. While this is no surprise for Grammy award-winning singer Wizkid (also arguably the most mainstream Afro artist we have today), this is a huge moment for breakout artist Tems. In my opinion, she completely carries the track, from start to finish, to the point where I almost feel like it's her song featuring Wizkid. This is all to say that Tems has absolutely propelled herself to superstardom with just one feature. Since ESSENCE, she’s dropped her own EP titled IF ORANGE WAS A PLACE, and was featured on Drake's new album on the track FOUNTAINS. Have a listen this weekend and thank me later.
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate