THE END OF AN ERA, MOVIE PASS, & STORYLIVING BY DISNEY
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?
