12/11/20

This week: The Binge Bundle, new TSwift, and random acts of fabulousness.

TRENDS THIS WEEK

☞ YouTube: If Everything Was Like Among Us 4
☞ Letterboxd: MANK
☞ TikTok: #RatatouilleMusical
☞ Spotify: DÁKITI - Bad Bunny
☞ Netflix:  SELENA THE SERIES
☞ Twitter: STAR WARS

Life & Culture 

Kicking things off with a little shameless self-promotion today! Our team is very excited to share our very first merch drop with you. It’s a collaboration with Ghetto Film School, a nonprofit that uplifts the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers. We designed four cool pieces that are part of a Binge Bundle—fleece-lined sweats, a cozy beanie, and soft tees filled with easter eggs to delight your film-and-TV-loving heart—and they’re on sale now! All proceeds go straight to Ghetto Film School, so you can feel good about wearing the finest film-and-tv-themed streetwear we could dream up. Go ahead and shop it now! 

In other binge-watching news, the streaming space is getting even more crowded. Redbox just added movies to its free, ad-supported streaming service, Free on Demand. Previously, the service offered ad-supported live TV, in addition to its iconic red DVD vending machines found outside of grocery stores. Titles include KICKING AND SCREAMING, LORD OF WAR, THE BROTHERS BLOOM, GHOST IN THE SHELL, and TRESPASS, and the service is available on Roku, iOS, and Android devices.

After I finally caved and dropped over a hundred dollars on last year’s airpods, Apple (of course) came out with brand new, $549 headphones. The jury’s still out on if buyers will fork over that much money to listen to their devices—and if it’s worth it. But they certainly are beautiful. In other auditory news, Taylor Swift announced a surprise album, EVERMORE, the sister album to her recent FOLKLORE. It came out last night, along with a music video for her new single WILLOW. I love that artists are getting more creative with the ways they announce music. This is exactly the sort of surprise we all deserve at the end of #theyearthatsucked.

Charles Rogers, co-creator of SEARCH PARTY (and our upcoming comedy MONSTER!), is blessing us with an iconic Instagram series this month. He’s been creating fake bestselling books, complete with titles, cover designs, and video descriptions. The series still has 20 days left, and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re up for a laugh. 

And finally, two TikToks accounts I want to put you on: First, this creator guesses people's heights solely based off of a photo of them holding a cup. He’s somehow always spot-on, and uses extensive math and research to back up his guesses. A true art. The other account has been in the zeitgeist for a while: Bunny the Dog. Her owner has rigged up a set of large buttons in their home that essentially allow for the dog to communicate with her. I avoided watching the videos for a while because to be honest the dog is a little creepy and seems like she knows a little too much, but I finally dove in and the videos are just as incredible as everyone said they would be.

—Darlene Kenney, Marketing Assistant
 

Film

Probably a bad thing to admit here, but I’m embarrassingly film-illiterate when it comes to classic movies, so this week I watched THE PARALLAX VIEW and absolutely loved it. Warren Beatty is in FINE form as a denim-clad political reporter investigating a series of murders tied to the assassination of a senator years prior. In addition to being a chilling (and sadly timeless) political allegory about the power of the Political Machine, the movie is also so. damn. stylish. Director Alan J. Pakula and cinematographer Gordon Willis create so many clever and taut visual moments that I want to go back and watch it all again in case I missed any the first time. If you’ve exhausted your usual list of action thrillers—or if you just want to stare at Beatty’s perfectly-feathered hair for a couple of hours—it’s now on HBOMax! 

—Julia Hammer, Creative Executive 

TV

I can’t stop thinking about the EUPHORIA Christmas special, which executes a contained, hour-long conversation about mental health, spirituality, and existentialism that perfectly speaks to the state of the world—despite keeping the focus solely on Rue’s struggles with addiction. Allegories aside, Zendaya and Colman Domingo have snuck into 2020’s best performances of the year with a perfect balance of intensity and vulnerability that proves this show’s worth beyond its exuberant production value, which is stripped down in favor of a disarmingly intimate atmosphere that feels like a play. I can’t wait for Part 2 featuring Hunter Schafer,  but look forward to re-watching this in the interim. 

—Kauveh Khozein Carrera, Creative Executive 
 

Audio

I was only recently turned onto the recording of BARTLEBY, THE SCRIVENER that Paul Giamatti made on his iPhone. And let me tell you, it is everything I wanted it to be. After all, Melville’s Bartleby does kinda feel like the urtext for so many of Giamatti’s curmudgeonly roles. Hearing him say “I would prefer not to” over and over is an absolute delight. I understand that this is a rather nerdy recommendation but I truly believe that it makes for delightful listening for all audiences. You can buy it and support 92Y’s Poetry Center here! 

—Julia Hammer, Creative Executive 

Comic Book 

CROSSOVER by Donny Cates is so good! It’s THE BOYS meets THE LEFTOVERS set in a world where we’re forced to confront the place of heroes in our society, and consider why we idolize them so much. When a mystical event like no other brings all the heroes from our comics to life, these new citizens call on us to contemplate the way we treat the unknown. This series has so much heart and emotion, and shows a ton of promise! 

—Royce Reeves-Darby, Director of Production
 

Theater

One of my favorite multi-hyphenate performers, Taylor Mac, is back with a pandemic-friendly holiday cabaret special! HOLIDAY SAUCE… PANDEMIC! will blend "music, film, burlesque, and random acts of fabulousness” (Mac’s words, not mine) in “the most subversive and cathartic event of the season!” I never know what to expect with Mac’s shows and always leave them feeling totally bewildered—but in a good way? There will be three live broadcasts of the show this Saturday 12/12 at 2pm, 7pm, and 10pm PT. Get your tickets here! 

—Julia Hammer, Creative Executive 

Short Film 

While this isn’t a brand new rec, everyone at our company is currently watching NUMB by Liv McNeil. This year has been mentally taxing to say the least, and while there have been a lot of short films showcasing how we should be hopeful, there haven’t been many showcasing how we feel. Liv’s short encapsulates what many of us are feeling in terms of our mental health—a lot of bleghh. And it was shot as part of a class assignment, because Liv is only 15! Thanks to Lucy Kitada for the recommendation. 

—Bennett Levine, Executive Assistant