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Jody Gerson, Universal Music Publishing CEO, on Leadership, Mentorship, Signing Kendrick Lamar, and Publishing’s Rise to a Frontline Business
Jody Gerson, chief executive of Universal Music Publishing Group, has spoken to Variety about her career, her approach to leadership and mentorship, and the transformation of music publishing into a central part of the industry. Gerson is a notable figure in the sector as the highest-ranking woman in the music business, the first female chairman…
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New Producers back vertical micro-drama studio New Short Media
Producers Alon Shtruzman and Scott Einbinder have launched New Short Media, a studio dedicated to vertical, mobile-first “micro-drama” content, operating alongside their existing 5X Media banner. The move reflects a wider push by established film and TV producers to bring higher production values and recognisable talent into the fast-growing vertical short-form space, which has traditionally…
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Travis Scott’s Hollywood Odyssey: The Rapper on Acting for Christopher Nolan, His New Paramount Deal and Never Winning a Grammy
Travis Scott has spoken to Variety about taking on his first major acting role in Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming film “The Odyssey,” describing his nerves while performing alongside stars including Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson. Nolan cast the rapper to recite the “Song of Odysseus,” drawing a parallel between hip-hop and ancient Greek oral…
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Vertical Takes North America For SXSW Thriller ‘The Saviors’ With Adam Scott & Danielle Deadwyler
Vertical has acquired North American distribution rights to “The Saviors,” a comedic thriller from director Kevin Hamedani, following the film’s premiere at SXSW. The deal secures a theatrical release for March 26, 2027, and marks a notable pickup for Vertical as it continues building a slate of distinctive genre films by name-brand talent. The film…
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Prime Video Orders ‘Stillwater’ Series From Greg Berlanti & Carly Wray Based On Skybound Comic
Amazon MGM Studios has formally greenlit Stillwater, a horror drama series for Prime Video from Greg Berlanti and Carly Wray, based on the Skybound graphic novel by Chip Zdarsky and Ramón K Pérez. The announcement, made ahead of Comic-Con, follows a bidding war for the project in spring 2025 and marks a significant new horror…
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Louis Cancelmi Joins Ellen Pompeo & Jodie Whittaker In Hulu Dramedy Pilot ‘Chicks’
Louis Cancelmi has joined the Hulu pilot “Chicks” as a series regular, starring alongside Ellen Pompeo and Jodie Whittaker in a family dramedy from “Good American Family” writer Katie Robbins. The project, produced by 20th Television, follows two estranged half-sisters who turn to increasingly bold cons after inheriting their late father’s legacy of petty crime,…
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Hollywood Vets Launch VertTV, Vertical Micro-Series Platform & Studio; Development Slate Includes ‘Fuller House’ Cast Reunion
Hollywood veterans Jeffrey Schenck, Barry Barnholtz and Peter Sullivan have launched vertTV, a subscription platform and filmmaker-led studio producing vertical, mobile-optimised “micro-series” aimed at on-the-go viewers. The launch adds to the fast-growing vertical content sector, positioning vertTV as a studio that controls its entire production pipeline in-house, from writing and filming through to distribution, while…
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So You Think You Can DJ? Your Shot, the DJ Competition for Beginners, Is Returning to the U.S.
Your Shot, a beginner-focused DJ competition, is returning to the United States for its second year, giving aspiring DJs the chance to learn skills, perform live, and win a coveted festival opening slot. The initiative, founded in Australia 16 years ago and launched in the US last year, matters because it offers newcomers structured mentorship…
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Select Mario, Zelda, & Animal Crossing Lego Sets To Be Retired Next Week
Lego is set to retire a large batch of sets based on Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing and Sonic the Hedgehog next week, with some products already sold out ahead of the cut-off. Notable losses include the Mario & Yoshi set from Super Mario World, the 2-in-1 Great Deku Tree set from…