Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz’s Post

Blumhouse Head of Physical Production Lisa Niedenthal participated in a panel for Variety and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce called "Driving A Path Forward for the Entertainment Industry." Michael Schneider, Variety’s television editor, moderated the panel that included other top film and TV executives, including David Eilenberg of Roku, Jamila Hunter of Macro Television Studios, DanTram Nguyen of Searchlight Pictures, and Allison Wallach of Fox Entertainment.

J.J. Abrams’ "mystery box" concept, while not directly linked to the rise of multiverses in cinema, shares thematic and structural parallels with the way multiverses and superhero/comic book storytelling have evolved. Here's how the connections can be drawn: The Mystery Box and Storytelling Abrams’ mystery box philosophy emphasizes the power of intrigue and unanswered questions to sustain audience engagement. This approach focuses on layering mysteries within a story, encouraging curiosity and speculation. While Abrams’ mystery box isn’t inherently about multiverses, its reliance on expanding possibilities and deferring resolution aligns conceptually with the appeal of multiverses in cinema: offering endless narrative potential. Thematic Connection to Multiverses Infinite Possibilities: The mystery box thrives on the unknown—just as multiverse storytelling capitalizes on the "what if" scenario. Multiverses provide a canvas for filmmakers to explore alternate realities, just as a mystery box teases the idea of hidden truths waiting to be uncovered. Interwoven Stories: The multiverse concept encourages layered storytelling with interconnected plots and characters, similar to Abrams’ approach in Lost or Fringe, where mysteries unfold across multiple timelines or dimensions. Superhero/Comic Book Subgenre Complex World-Building: Superhero films, particularly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and DC Extended Universe (DCEU), often embrace expansive, interconnected narratives. Abrams' mystery box echoes this complexity by ensuring every reveal hints at deeper connections—something that is now a staple of superhero storytelling. Audience Engagement Through Speculation: The MCU and DCEU thrive on fan theories and audience speculation, much like the mystery box model. For instance, films like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness or Spider-Man: No Way Home rely on the multiverse framework to generate excitement and discussions, akin to Abrams' Lost, where unanswered questions kept audiences hooked. Impact of Abrams’ Philosophy While Abrams didn’t directly create or influence multiverse storytelling, his mystery box popularized the idea of storytelling as a layered puzzle. This philosophy likely influenced narrative strategies that appeal to audiences' desire for interconnectedness and surprises, which are central to multiverse narratives and the success of comic book adaptations. The multiverse concept builds on this by offering a literal representation of endless possibilities—each universe or timeline serving as another "box" waiting to be opened. The Bottom Line Abrams’ mystery box laid groundwork for a form of storytelling that encourages speculation and rewards curiosity, concepts that multiverses and superhero franchises have adopted and amplified. While it wasn’t a direct precursor to multiverses, it certainly shares a kindred spirit with the narrative strategies that have made multiverse and comic book films so successful.

The tenure of J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot at Warner Bros. Television will hit the 20-year mark. After months of negotiations, the company has closed a new film and TV deal with Warner Bros., sources tell Deadline. The pact is believed to be two-year, first-look, non-exclusive in both areas. More details here: https://lnkd.in/gv-JsSKy

September’s around the corner and it marks a powerful time of reflection and action—HBCU Week. Established by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 and upheld by every president since, this week underscores the enduring legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The numerous goals of HBCU Week are vital for our community and nation. Let’s focus on three key areas where we can all make a difference: 1️⃣ Encourage high school students to enroll in HBCUs:  High school educators, are you discussing HBCUs with your students? If not, start today by highlighting a nearby HBCU as a strong option. 2️⃣ Provide scholarship dollars for students: Big scholarships are great, but even smaller contributions matter. Contact a nearby HBCU and see how you can cover a student’s financial need this semester. 3️⃣ Sustain a pipeline of employment from HBCUs to corporate America: Corporate leaders at every level — are you building bridges to HBCUs? Offer shadowing opportunities to students and help strengthen the pipeline. Morgan State University alum and Senior VP + Chief Content Officer at Maryland Public Television Travis Mitchell recently announced their 2024 HBCU Week lineup—let’s start there. If you’re an HBCU alum or connected to one, what will you do this September to meaningfully commemorate HBCU Week? Let’s share our actions and inspire others. ____ #HBCUWeek #HigherEducation #DiversityAndInclusion #ScholarshipOpportunities #CorporateResponsibility

Gain valuable insights into the entertainment industry from Sonny King's perspective. Hear his thoughts on industry trends, challenges faced by actors, and the evolving landscape of film and television. #IndustryInsights #ActorPerspective #EntertainmentIndustry #Trends #Challenges

With 40% of the greater New York area's film crews already calling New Jersey home, the state's wealth of talent is proving a powerful advantage in its push to become a major hub for film and television production. 🔗 Read more in Variety: https://lnkd.in/eT73qRyf

From Acting to Diversity: My Journey in Television Join me as I share my journey from acting to embracing diversity on television. Learn how channels are opening up to represent everyone in the country, and how I found confidence in showcasing my skills. Let's break stereotypes and embrace inclusivity together! #ActingToDiversity #TVRepresentation #BreakingStereotypes #EmbracingInclusivity #TelevisionIndustry #DiversityOnScreen #InclusiveEntertainment #EmbracingChange #RepresentationMatters #TVJourney

🎥📚 How do you think movies and media have influenced our perspective and understanding of the past? While they bring history to life, they sometimes prioritize entertainment over accuracy. Which areas of history do you think have been most falsely represented in films and TV shows? Let's discuss the impact of media on our historical knowledge. 🌟🤔 #MediaAndHistory #HistoricalAccuracy

Sheridan’s groundbreaking Virtual Production micro-credential returns this month with a 12-week program designed to empower creative and technical professionals with in-demand skills! Delivered by the SIRT Centre, an integral part of Generator at Sheridan, and fully sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery Access Programs, the hybrid program is designed to meet the growing need for virtual production (VP) expertise in film, television, and beyond. Learn more about the Virtual Production micro-credential program on the #SheridanNewsroom: https://lnkd.in/gf5vJk_A

This is a great insight. I think there are a few important things to consider here though: 1) 20 years ago broadcast had the monopoly. There was no competition other than renting physical disks and tapes or going to the cinema. Now there are countless options so it's much harder to market your shows to your audience. 2) How people consume television today is different. I know lots of families where the grown ups watch the big TV whilst their kids sit on their tablets with headphones on. This has created a culture where a traditional shared viewing experience is dying out and seen as old fashioned by the younger generations. 3) If you're viewing content on a small screen it can be painful on the eyes and difficult to do so for longer periods of time. This programming works better in short bursts. This is one of the many reasons why your TickTok style set up is so effective for this medium. I do not believe that younger generations have a shorter attention span but we could be training ourselves to do so if we take this model to the bigger screens. 4) YouTube offers what a user could consider a very personalised viewing setup. If you want to watch a program on music it's there. If you want to learn about gaming, it's right where you want it. And some of these programs are high quality and long form too, providing amazing educational or entertaining content. But importantly they provide the programming a viewer wants when they want it. Traditional broadcast cannot easily compete with this. 5) Due to reduced viewing figures there has been a big move to make cheaper programming. This doesn't always mean lower quality but it can do. This then leads to a self fulfilling prophecy of viewers turning away from traditional broadcast as it could be considered cheap, whilst the big budget American shows like The Mandelorian, Succession or Rings of Power are readily available on other services. I don't see television as dead at all. However I do think it is naturally evolving to the digital realm and, for a consumer, this can be a good thing, but only if they are treated with respect and high quality programming continues.