04/16/21
THIS WEEK: AN ODE TO THE ARCLIGHT, PLUS ROBOT PIZZA DELIVERY AND MIND-CONTROL MONKEYS.
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞ Youtube F9 - Official Trailer 2
☞ Letterboxd SHIVA BABY
☞ TikTok #2018vs2021
☞ Spotify Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
☞ Netflix THUNDER FORCE
☞ Twitter Ticketmaster
PS WEEKLY ツ
LIFE & CULTURE
This week, once again, we're reeling from senseless violence all over the country. Daunte Wright, a 20-year old father was shot by a police officer during a routine traffic stop last Sunday. On Thursday, graphic and heartbreaking bodycam footage was released of 13-year-old Adam Toledo being killed by a Chicago police officer after the seventh grader put his (empty) hands in the air. And later that same day, a former FedEx employee stormed a company facility in Indianapolis and killed eight people, injuring seven others. It's hard to process the collective grief we're all feeling right now, but I'm pushing myself to take action in the face of feeling helpless—and angry. If you're looking to do the same, consider donating to the ACLU Illinois, which is fighting for police accountability, or to Daunte's family, or to Chicago Freedom Schoolto support protestors on the ground. Or, join the fight for gun safety being led by Everytown. Or do your own research and put your money and time to work in the best way you can. But do something.
—Neha Gandhi, EVP Digital & Strategy
Domino’s has always been at the forefront of technology, as far as pizza chains go. I remember being absolutely enthralled by its pizza tracker in the seventh grade—to the point where my Friday nights would fully revolve around it. Okay, so I wasn’t the coolest middle schooler. But, the whole experience felt very high tech for 2008. That’s why I wasn’t too surprised when the news dropped that the company is testing out a pizza delivery robot vehicle. Really think about that though. Pizza! Delivered by robot! The future is upon us, people. The currently Houston, TX-only experience includes updated texts of the robots’ whereabouts and a specific code that customers use to get their order from the robot. According to the company, this robot is the “first completely autonomous, human-free on-road delivery vehicle to receive regulatory approval from the US Department of Transportation last year.”
In other tech news, Coinbase is now the first major cryptocurrency company to list its shares on the public market. It closed its first day of trading with a fully diluted market cap of $85.8B. For a little context, that’s about the same as what Airbnb was worth on the day of its IPO—and what Tesla was worth last January. This all means that cryptocurrency is making its way even more concretely into the mainstream.
Also, related but different: Neuralink shared a video in which a monkey plays a game of pong, solely with his mind. He does so with the help of a chip called a “link” that was previously implanted in his brain. Woah. If you want to know more, this TikTok does a great job of explaining just how wild this technology is.
And on the subject of Toks, one of the best ones I saw this past week was this uplighting video where a highway full of cars helps make way for an ambulance, and another was this explanation of the loud car noises you inevitably hear in any given parking garage (surprise! It’s not a car).
—Darlene Kenney, Marketing Assistant
FILM
News of the ArcLight permanently closing its doors broke film lovers’ hearts this week. It’s tough for those living outside of LA to understand why this loss is hitting film nerds so hard, especially since there are multiple ArcLight locations across the country. But if you’ve ever had an opportunity to watch a movie at the Cinerama Dome, then you know exactly why this loss hurts. Forget that the instantly recognizable landmark is the only concrete geodesic dome in the world, or that it was one of only three theaters on the planet that showed movies in 3-projector format, or even that it’s in Hollywood, the very heart of the industry. The reason I will personally mourn the loss of the ArcLight Hollywood is because there is no other place in the whole wide world where you can end up in an unannounced Q&A with Robert Zemeckis, have an hour-long conversation about DPs with an usher clocking out for the night, draw for hours sitting cross-legged in front of real wardrobe and props from a movie you grew up watching and can recite word-for-word, watch a movie sitting next to Paul Thomas Anderson, or attend a midnight screening surrounded by three hundred people who are vibrating from excitement, just like you.
The Dome will probably (hopefully) be rescued before anyone even thinks about tearing it down, and there will be other movie theaters that care about giving moviegoers the best experience possible, but today we mourn this loss. ArcLight Cinerama Dome, you were church for film nerds like me; a sanctuary for transplants chasing dreams. Goodbye, old friend. And to the rest of you—I’ll see you at the Tarantino-led Empire Records-style protest to Save the Dome!
—Sonia Pineda, Associate Manager, Physical Production
TV
I feel compelled to highlight THEM, Amazon’s latest offering from Little Marvin and multi-hyphenate producer Lena Waithe. This inventive mesh of historical fare and heightened genre boasts excellent acting and top-notch production value while rightfully stirring controversy over its use of violence. I’m thankful for the thoughtful debate that has been brewing since the show’s release.. It’s certainly giving Hollywood a lot to think about when it comes to dramatizing POC suffering—and while I’m still forming my own opinion as I watch past the pilot episode, I’d encourage everyone to read up on how viewers are reacting to this one.
—Kauveh Khozein Carrera, Creative Executive
THEATER
The latest installment of the Old Vic’s In Camera series is a presentation of their original musical adaptation of THE LORAX. Featuring gorgeous puppetry and catchy new songs, this is theater for young audiences as its finest—and a great way to keep any children in your life occupied for a couple of hours. The story of the Lorax’s battle to save the Truffula trees will be free for students around the world to stream on Earth Day (April 22), and tickets are also available for streamed performances through the weekend.
—Julia Hammer, Creative Executive
BOOK
This week, I want to highlight Morgan Jerkins’ remarkable new book CAUL BABY. The story centers on the mysterious Melancon family of Harlem, all of whom are born with an extra layer of skin (caul) that has healing properties. The Melancon women sell pieces of their skin to women who struggle with pregnancy (mostly wealthy white women), but it comes at a price. The youngest, adopted member of the Melancon family longs to break free from their restrictive and abusive lifestyle, and help other Black women rather than their white clientele. The novel is a beautiful, heartbreaking exploration of the commodification and exploitation of Black bodies, and Jerkins weaves the elements of magical realism into an incredibly grounded and emotional narrative. I highly recommend checking it out!
—Julia Hammer, Creative Executive
PODCAST
Audiochuck’s new podcast OC SWINGERS tells the story of Dr. Grant Robicheaux, an orthopedic surgeon and reality star dubbed Orange County's Most Eligible Bachelor. More specifically, this series investigates events leading up to Robicheaux and his girlfriend's 2018 arrest for unlawful possession of guns, illegal substances, and a number of incriminating photos and videos, in addition to rape allegaions. This one’s a bingeable peek behind the curtain of OC’s shiny veneer.
—Lucy Putnam, Creative Executive
SHORT FILM
In anticipation of the Oscars, The New York Times published a decade-by-decade history of the short film and its place in the awards ceremony. The piece is fun and informative and includes links to a variety of shorts dating back to the ‘30s. I recommend scrolling through the full history, but if you want to jump straight to the action, check out BEN & ME and THE ABSENT-MINDED WAITER. Paving the way for RATATOUILLE, Disney’s animated BEN & ME from 1953 suggests that Ben Franklin’s accomplishments are actually attributable to a friendly mouse named Amos. The slightly lower concept 1977 short THE ABSENT-MINDED WAITER stars Steve Martin as, yes, an absent-minded waiter. Neither film took home the statue, but both are worth your time.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
A profile of the multi-media artist/fashion designer/makeup artist/musician/internet beauty icon MLMA just came out on HighSnobiety, and I want to take this opportunity to celebrate one of my personal favorite multi-hyphenates. MLMA stands for Me Love Me A Lot, and the namesake already says a lot about the South Korea-born artist. She charms fans with her unique style, her “I do what I want” energy, and her multimedia work. She first wowed the internet with her creative short-form images and videos, and her “wavy brow style” that eventually went viral and started a whole trend back in 2017. Currently, she’s the creative director/designer of SKOOT apparel, and fans of her designs include Billie Eilish and Rico Nasty. She also sells her own makeup products, releases music, and does collabs in the most MLMA style possible (like this KFC x Crocs collab). Unafraid to push boundaries and experiment with all forms of media, she’s a constant inspiration. Go check out the profile and delve into her work. You’ll see what I mean.
—Mimi Li, Development Assistant
