by Kate Aurthur A Virtual Summit Featuring Today’s Most Relevant Female Content Creators NEW PANELS INCLUDE KEYNOTE CONVERSATION WITH NUYORICAN PRODUCTIONS’ JENNIFER LOPEZ & ELAINE GOLDSMITH-THOMAS KEYNOTE CONVERSATION WITH SIA A SNEAK PEAK AT MARGARET THATCHER & DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES IN SEASON 4 OF “THE CROWN” WITH GILLIAN ANDERSON & EMMA CORRIN #REPRESENT - BLACK FEMALE CREATORS ROUNDTABLE Mara Brock Akil Writer & Producer Gina Prince-Bythewood Director, Writer & Producer Rashida Jones Actress & Producer Yara Shahidi Actress & Producer Lena Waithe Director, Writer & Producer ALL IN: WHY WOMEN WILL DETERMINE THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Tracee Ellis Ross Actress, Director & Producer Stacey Abrams Fair Fight Action Founder Lisa Cortés Filmmaker Liz Garbus Filmmaker

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P.2 0 Women to AGENCY; MAKEUP: AMY ORESMAN/A-FRAME AGENCY; ALLEN, VERNOFF & WILSON’S’ STYLING: ROEMEHL HAWKINS; HAWKINS; ROEMEHL STYLING: ALLEN, VERNOFF & WILSON’S’ AGENCY; AMY ORESMAN/A-FRAME MAKEUP: AGENCY;

DORI ANDERSON BLACKMAN DORI ANDERSON the Rescue The female-powered leadership of “Grey’s Anatomy” reflects on the show’s ongoing cultural impact. By KATE AURTHUR

P.3 0 Swinging for the Fences Baseball and producing TV shows are two of Berlanti Prods. president Sarah Schechter’s favorite pastimes. By DANIEL HOLLOWAY

P.3 4 Wo me n’s UNCLEAR PROGNOSIS Impact Report “Grey’s Anatomy” star Female execs, artisans and creatives Ellen Pompeo says find innovative ways to navigate the new season could be the biz, pushing diversity and inclusion the series’ last — maybe. initiatives, all amid a pandemic. ALLEN & WILSON’S HAIR: DESIREE DIZARD; VERNOFF’S HAIR: KJERSTI DOLVIK; ALLEN & VERNOFF’S MAKEUP: ANI MALONEY; WILSON’S MAKEUP: MAKEUP: WILSON’S ANI MALONEY; MAKEUP: ALLEN & VERNOFF’S DOLVIK; KJERSTI HAIR: VERNOFF’S DESIREE DIZARD; HAIR: ALLEN & WILSON’S (COVER AND THIS) PHOTOGRAPHS BY GIZELLE HERNANDEZ; POMPEO’S STYLING: PETRA FLANNERY/TWO MANAGEMENT; HAIR; RYAN RICHMAN/A-FRAME RICHMAN/A-FRAME RYAN HAIR; MANAGEMENT; PETRA FLANNERY/TWO STYLING: GIZELLE HERNANDEZ; POMPEO’S BY AND THIS) PHOTOGRAPHS (COVER

VARIETY 3 CONTENTS

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7 ELECTION FRAY Charlize Theron TV news pros are gearing is among the up for Nov. 3 to cover women featured in Variety a race unlike any other ’s Women’s Impact List. 11 BRIEF HISTORY Variety takes a quick look at Quibi’s short lifespan

14 GETTING POLITICAL Brothers Ben, Brett and Jordan Meiselas use their tal- ents to try to dump Trump

15 WORKSPACE FOR ONE Virtual writers’ rooms offer a degree of freedom — but a lot less camaraderie

16 AWARDS CIRCUIT In such a chaotic year, will the Academy finally Variety, VOL. 349, NO. 17 (USPS 146-820, ISSN 0011-5509) is embrace more comedies? published weekly, except the first week of September and the last week of December, with 21 special issues: Jan (6), Feb (1), June (4), July (5), and Aug (5) by Variety Media LLC, 11175 EXPOSURE Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025, a division of Penske Business Media. Periodicals postage paid at Los Angeles, CA and at other 17 DEVOUR mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to: Chef Enrique Olvera opens Variety, P.O. Box 15759, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5759. L.A. restaurant Damian Canada Post International with a courtyard setting Publications Mail Product (Canadian Distribution) Publications Mail Agreement 19 DIRT No. 40043404. Return undeliverable Canadian Actor Michael Angarano lists addresses to: RCS International Box 697 STN A, Windsor, his Silver Lake treehouse Ontario N9A 6N4. Sales agreement No. 0607525. Variety ©2020 by Variety Media, LLC. Variety and the Flying V logo are trademarks of Penske Business Media. Printed ARTISANS in the U.S.A.

55 SPELLBOUND Nature’s elements were key MICHAEL BUCKNER BY PHOTOGRAPH LOPEZ: N STUDIOS; inspirations for “The Craft: Legacy” costumes

56 TOON TUNES Composers Steve and Julie Bernstein return to write music for “Animaniacs” reboot P.1 8 57 ROYAL RAIMENT Top clothing designer Guo Pei Late author Toni created looks fit for a Morrison’s NYC loft goddess for “Over the Moon” hits the market Y BROWN HARRIS STEVENS: BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM: AMAZO MOVIEFILM: SUBSEQUENT BORAT HARRIS STEVENS: Y BROWN REVIEWS P.5 9

59 FILM “Borat Subsequent “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” Moviefilm” review

60 TV “Truth Seekers” “I think women have found their voice in a way that they haven’t ever before ... and [we are] telling ALSO INSIDE our stories in our way, from a woman’s point of view.” Jennifer Lopez, in conversation with her 62 FACETIME Nuyorican Prods. partner Elaine Goldsmith- Susanne Bier Thomas for Variety’s Power of Women P.12 THERON: COURTESY ART STREIBER/AUGUST/NETFLIX; MORRISON’ HOUSE: COURTES STREIBER/AUGUST/NETFLIX; ART COURTESY THERON:

4 VARIETY YOU INSPIRE US EVERY DAY

Congratulations to the Variety Women’s Impact Report LA honorees.

ÁÁ¬´ÅÁÂ Zelda Barnz Chair & CEO Writer, Generation WarnerMedia Studios & Networks Group HBO Max ©´À¥¼ ÂÅ· Mindy Kaling President, Global Brand & Experiences Actress, Comedian, Writer, Producer Warner Bros. Regina King Sarah Aubrey Actress, Watchmen Head of Original Content Director, One Night in Miami HBO Max Sarah Schechter Amy Gravitt Chairwoman & Partner Executive Vice President, Programming Berlanti Productions & Head of Comedy HBO Robin Thede Creator, Writer, Performer Corie Henson A Black Lady Sketch Show Executive Vice President, Programming & Head of Unscripted Reese Witherspoon TNT, TBS and truTV Actress, Producer

Francesca Orsi Zendaya Executive Vice President, Programming Actress, Euphoria & Head of Drama HBO

Untitled-3 1 10/27/20 10:55 AM VARIETY IS OWNED & PUBLISHED BY PENSKE MEDIA CORPORATION

Claudia Eller Michelle Sobrino-Stearns Jay Penske Editor-in-Chief President & Group Publisher Chairman & CEO

EDITORIAL FEATURES SALES MARKETING George Grobar Chief Operating Officer Cynthia Littleton Steven Gaydos Donna Pennestri Dea Lawrence Gerry Byrne Co-Editor-in-Chief Executive Vice President, Associate Publisher Chief Marketing Officer Global Content/Executive Editor Vice Chairman Ramin Setoodeh Millie Chiavelli Executive Editor Tim Gray SVP, Sales & Global Partnerships John Ross Craig Perreault VP, Features & Events Chief Digital Officer Lesley McKenzie Senior Vice President Dawn Allen Managing Editor VP, Film & Talent Tim Boyer Sarlina See Andrew Barker Creative Director Michelle Fine-Smith Chief Accounting Officer Senior Features Writer Brent Lang VP, Global Consumer Partnerships Susanne Ault Mark Howard Executive Editor, Film and Media, Leo Barraclough Director, Programming Jason Greenblatt Chief Advertising & New York Bureau Chief International Features Editor, London VP Digital Sales Dayna Wolpa Partnerships Officer Daniel Holloway Peter Caranicas Director, Event Marketing Eric Legendre Paul Rainey Executive Editor, TV Managing Editor, Features Co-Managing Director, International Sales Jamie Aronson EVP, Operations & Finance Shirley Halperin Shalini Dore Director, Event Marketing Lindsey Elfenbein Todd Greene Executive Editor, Music Features News Editor David S. 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6 VARIETY NBC: POWERS IMAGERY/NBC NEWS/MSNBC; CNN: EDWARD M. PIORODA/CNN; ABC: LORENZO BEVILAQUA/ABC; FOX NEWS: FOX NEWS CBS: MICHELE CROWE/CBS Election ofaLifetime For Television News, It’s the ers know whowillsitintheWhiteHouse theracescalled invarious states andview tions unt tions four inthemorning. tolast until isscheduled recent memory likely themost tobe chaoticelectionin when thenetwork’s coverage of what is forholding forth NBCNews onNov. 3, bombed Iraq. Nowbombed hehasanewchallenge: adeskforbehind MSNBCwhentheU.S. REPERCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THEINDUSTRY ANCHORS, REPORTERS ANDSTAFF STEEL THEMSELVES FOR ANEVENTTHAT WILLHAVE LESTER HOLT LOGGED The networks usuallycover big elec il 2a.m.By that timeoutletshave nine or10hours TOP BILLING TOP - -

political coverage Linsey Daviswith Stephanopoulos and Davis Muir,George Bret Baierand Martha MacCallumand O’Donnell, Feist, Blitzer andSam Holt, Lester left: NBC’s Clockwise fromtop ON THESPOT CNN’s Wolf CNN’s CBS’ Fox News’ Norah ABC’s more cautiousinhow they callraces, pandemic. All thenetworks expect tobe placed ontheirstaff by thecoronavirus And they willhave todoitwith limitations of theseproceedings.not normallypart have tomonitoraphalanxof otherissues they will alsoJoe Bidenwinsthenight, challenger orDemocratic Donald Trump tabs onwhetherRepublican President point. the starting in January. This year, mightjust be 2a.m.

As the big TV news outlets try tokeep newsoutletstry As thebigTV yBin Steinberg By Brian

mean the evening nomean —withpotentially and executive knows that suchX-factors on air. newsanchor, Every producer thenetwork’swho willlead electionefforts O’Donnell, the“CBS Evening News” anchor saysinterference intheelection, Norah staffers may have onforeign toreport even sketched outascenario underwhich CBSNewsthe tallyindays has ahead. don’t holduplater inthenight—orchange surges thatwhich may illusory create due tohighdemandfor voting by mail, VARIETY TOP BILLING 7 8 divisions. ViacomCBS recently a named workingbeen eagerly theirnews toexpand “Total Request Live.” asthe showcasethat for once MTV’s served telecast toalarge studio inTimesSquare graphics andCBSNews moved itselection on-screen of newthree-dimensional bevy that Fox News Channelistrotting outa for owners. itsmedia Little wonder, then, newsat afraughtmomentthe utilityof TV asareferendum onelection may alsoserve satellite distributors covet. theU.S. Assuch, audiences advertisers andcable and both canassemble thelarge,nerMedia live NBCUniversal, Fox, Walt Disney andWar U.S. like companies media ViacomCBS, ming representsoneof themainways big for dramaandcomedy, live news program ers migrate tostreaming-video services of view number Asagreater scorecard. atmay amoreself-driven looking alsobe sure, tobe thescenes,tion, butbehind they ontheresultsof the2020elec focused week ormonth,”drawn-out says O’Donnell. “everythingered fromonenighttoalong, says. At CBSNews, executives have consid tocoverare going inaposition tobe it,” he andwe on, isgoing focused tobe country “Ithinkitissomethingtheentire ident. thenewsdivision’s Oppenheim, Noah pres offer rollingcoverage thenext fullday, says to prepared NBCNewsof willbe theunit. night,” says James thepresident Goldston, anytime, reports in withspecial day or that’s necessary, tobreak ready andtobe shows, electionupdate tobeing schedule if essentially convert allof ourshows onthe day following “to theelectionbroadcast toﬁllingapsthenews. media social erage —andnotusinginformation from canseequalitycov-walls —somorepeople extra steps, suchaslowering digitalpay cess.” The recommends consortium taking thenatureabout oftheballot-counting pro aconfusingbe barrage of contested claims ity inhelpingthepublicnavigate what will responsibil important aparticularly bear nario, professional newsorganizations than 40universities. “Undersuchasce scienceand political scholarsfrommore agroupof morethan50journalismwork, Election Coverage Net andDemocracy by thesays prepared arecent whitepaper or, even whenitisclear, notconceded,” outcome unclear of theelectionmightbe formust that prepare thepossibility the “Newsrooms may the moment. bobble it aswe know it.” andourviewislet’sa lotof passion, report under intensescrutiny. isobviously “There play says willbe butthisyear every Holt, tion Nightiskindof like Bowl,” theSuper the candidates —won’t endneatly. end-of-the-night concession fromoneof TOP BILLING Most companieshave of thoseparent willbe anchorandproducer Every At ABCNews, staffers the stand ready thenetworks worry observers Media journalist will tell you“Every that Elec VREY VARIETY ------

outlet ABCNews Live. Daas, executive producerof thestreaming two productions,” separate says Katie den work together, versus whenwe stand up 2020. “We arealways stronger whenwe another onefor onlineviewers. Not in andNews oneprogramfor produced TV During recent electionshowcases, ABC for audiences overseas. service streaming feed of “Today.” Fox a News haslaunched video upastreaming NBC News isbeeﬁng toodeon ov of newsprogrammingathead Nickel- veteran producerof CBS’“60Minutes”as hours to school viewershours toschool inelectionnitty- MacCallum. Martha — experience,” says Fox News Channel’s eral-da hunkering down for what could asev be will simplygo wall towall. “We arereally have othercoverage. tointerrupt They sure viewers understand what’s driving work’s coverage, says heintendstomake tive mapshave aﬁxtureof become that net- MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki, whoseinterac- that anythingmean iswrong,” hesays. ect thewinnerintheseelectionsdoesn’t that it’s just because takinglonger toproj audience, is andwe itallnight, willrepeat victory. “An message important for our caution viewers delays about incallinga outlet’s Washington chief,andto bureau absentee votes, says SamFeist, thenews more. CNN islikely outtotalsfrom tobreak news staffers realize they willhave todo tive andCNN’s polling Magic Wall. But Fox DecisionDesk, focused News’ distinc- anightforbeen thewonks, the stats- gritty. newselectioncoverage TV haslong The cable newsnetworks won’t And they are prepared tousethoseAnd they areprepared Others plansimilarprecautions. y orweek —hopefully not month ersee that content for kids.

- for National Convention the Democratic Wallace covered Maddow andNicolle Joy Reid,Rachel ELECTION TRAIL Fox News Bret Baier, years.” in recent have seen than we ballgame different whole This isa MSNBC. walt: “We for areready hell’s halfacre.” 3 andthedays that follow. Adds Fox’s Stire onNov.rivals further challenged willallbe vote. Thisisthemail-invote,” tellingview reiterate several istheearly times, “This thatthe numbers come Hemay in. have to movements further. sohedoesn’tarea, haveroom tolimithis news keepsalready himinaparticular his station MSNBC’s near interactive maps along tested technicians which they cannotventure. Entirecrewsof from “zones” the correspondents incertain manage thecoronavirus, whichoften keep night toessential personnel. it willreduce itsin-studio staff onelection that negative). hetested Fox News hassaid 26 radioprogram said onanOct. (Baier could affectedelection-night personnel be recently positive, tested andsomeof its into coverage. Someemployees at Fox News recent years.” different thanwe ballgame have seenin Trump’s isawhole effects “This onthem. state racesscrutinizing aswell asPresident says Fox News’ BretBaier, andrequires of control inthechamber. “It’s abigstory,” outcome, theelectioncould bringachange Senate races, because, onthe depending works arealsokeeping aneye onvarious Thenet told. that tobe needs only story late.”until very many calls notincludevery does Trump Fox editor, News’ politics “a nightfor good Republicans. says Indeed, ChrisStirewalt, or dynamicsamongDemocrats by partisan ers that any surge they seecould driven be But Kornacki, hiscolleagues and their All thenetworks have inplace to rules factoredThe coronavirus hasalready The race for theWhiteHouseisn’t the and ﬂoorpersonnel with anchors. Kornacki says are being - - - -

NBC TOP BILLING

Sobrino-Stearns as president of Variety,” Michelle Sobrino-Stearns says Jay Penske, chairman-CEO of Variety parent company PMC. “Michelle has been a trailblazer here — she has Promoted to Variety President broken new ground and every record, every barrier, and, most importantly, has and Group Publisher redefined and evolved the Variety brand and business during one of the most challenging decades in publishing.” Sobrino-Stearns is the architect of MICHELLE SOBRINO-STEARNS has Variety’s thriving Live Media business, been promoted to president and group which produces about 70 events and publisher of Variety. summits every year. Among the franchises In her new role, Sobrino-Stearns she created are the Power of Women assumes oversight of all editorial and event series, which had its ﬁrst-ever TV business operations globally, including special in June, “Lifetime Presents Vari- strategic planning and financial man- ety’s Power of Women: Frontline Heroes.” agement. Her elevation comes as Variety She also spearheaded the Emmy-win- has achieved seven consecutive years ning “Actors on Actors” series and the of revenue growth and innovation, mark- annual Dealmakers edition and event ing the strongest period of growth in examining the biggest business transac- the company’s history. tions of the year. “As chairman, and on behalf of the Sobrino-Stearns most recently entire Penske Media board of directors, served as group publisher and chief we are so proud to announce Michelle Michelle Sobrino-Stearns revenue ofﬁcer.

Variety Reorganizes Top Staff Structure THREE SENIOR EDITORS ARE PROMOTED AS PART OF THE PUBLICATION’S EDITORIAL EXPANSION

Cynthia Littleton Ramin Setoodeh Brent Lang

VARIETY HAS ELEVATED three senior the volume of video content. seller “Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive editors as part of a reorganization of its A 15-year Variety veteran, Littleton Inside Story of ‘The View.’” He is also host and growing editorial operations. reports to editor-in-chief Claudia Eller an executive producer of “Actors on Actors,” Cynthia Littleton has been named and Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, Variety Variety’s Emmy-winning series highlighting co-editor-in-chief. Ramin Setoodeh has president and group publisher. Littleton top movie and TV performers of the year. been named executive editor. Brent Lang and a co-EIC to be named later are set to Before Variety, Setoodeh spent nine has been upped to New York bureau succeed Eller when she concludes her de- years at Newsweek as a senior writer. chief in addition to his role as executive cade at the helm in the summer of 2022. Lang joined Variety in 2014 as a senior editor of ﬁlm and media. Setoodeh, who is based in New York, reporter. He was previously a senior reporter Littleton and Setoodeh will over- reports to Eller, as does Lang. at The Wrap. He has written about business, see day-to-day operations of the news- Setoodeh joined Variety in 2013 and politics and culture; his work has appeared room, with a focus on spearheading most recently served as New York bureau on CBSNews.com and in The Patriot-Ledger,

SOBRINO-STEARNS: KATIE JONES/VARIETY; LITTLETON: THOMAS IANNACCONE/WWD THOMAS LITTLETON: JONES/VARIETY; KATIE SOBRINO-STEARNS: new editorial franchises and growing chief. He is the author of the 2019 best- The Providence Journal and Forbes.

VARIETY 9

TOP BILLING Quibi, We Hardly Knew Ye

A SHORT-FORM HISTORY OF JEFFREY KATZENBERG’S SHORT-LIVED BOONDOGGLE

By Elaine Low and Todd Spangler

JEFFREY KATZENBERG’S nearly $2 billion vision to create a brand-new streaming category bombed — in short, sharp fashion. His hypothesis was that smartphone-centric millennials would shell out for short-form, HBO-style originals. Investors ponied up the cash, given Katzenberg’s movie mogul pedigree. Hollywood boldface names also clambered aboard, attracted by Quibi’s huge budgets. But consumers, with a bountiful and growing smorgasbord of other video options, failed to bite, and last week the company said it would shut down. Here’s a quick history of the life and death of Quibi.

Jan. 2017 Jeffrey Katzenberg, just months off his perch at DreamWorks Animation, raises $591.5 million for a digital media and tech investment firm he calls July 2017 WndrCo, per an SEC filing. He does not divulge exact plans for all that cash but hints that he is eye- Katzenberg spills to Variety the Jan. 2018 ing something in the smartphone content space. launch of a new venture tenta- “I believe there is going to be an enterprise 10 tively dubbed “NewTV,” a millenni- Meg Whitman, months after years from now that will be as big as the television al-focused vehicle for top-budget, stepping down as CEO of Hewl- business is today … but it’s going to be delivered to highly produced short-form mobile- ett Packard Enterprise, is named you in a mobile experience, in chapters,” Katzenberg first video that costs as much as chief exec of NewTV. The Sili- tells Hearst Magazines president David Carey. $125,000 per minute. Everyone from con Valley veteran and former Disney chief Bob Iger to WME’s Ari eBay head calls Katzenberg’s Greenburg offers confidence in its mobile content venture “one of potential. The price tag? $2 billion. the most timely and disruptive “Is this a gigantic of ideas that I’ve come across in undertaking? The answer my career.” is yes,” Katzenberg says at the time. “Is it bigger than DreamWorks? I hope so.”

Aug. 2018 Oct. 2018 Holding company WndrCo secures $1 bil- At a Vanity Fair summit, Katzenberg Sept. 2018 lion in seed funding for NewTV from a ver- and Whitman bequeath the company itable Hollywood who’s who — Disney, 21st Katzenberg and Whitman reveal a proper name: Quibi. The moniker Century Fox, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures that unlike the short-form vid- stands for “quick bites,” i.e., how they Entertainment, Viacom, AT&T’s WarnerMe- eos that can be found on YouTube envision consumption of the product dia, Lionsgate, MGM, ITV and Entertainment and, well, the rest of the internet, — for a few minutes at a time while in One. Chinese internet and e-commerce those on NewTV will actually cost line at the coffee shop, on the train giant Alibaba, major banks Goldman Sachs money. Subscriptions to the ser- to work, waiting for a friend. Jason and JPMorgan Chase and John Malone’s Lib- vice will go for $5 a month with Blum, Antoine Fuqua, Guillermo del erty Global also ante in. Toro and Sam Raimi are all on board ads, $8 a month without, Whitman to develop projects. says at an AT&T conference. ICHAELS/QUIBI

Oct. 2019 June 2019 Quibi sells out of its $150 million Quibi sells $100 million in ad inventory for the first year. Dis- March 2020 upfront ad inventory well cover, General Mills, T-Mobile and Quibi and interactive-video com- ahead of its April 2020 launch Taco Bell are among its catego- pany Eko get into a legal fistfight from a variety of well-heeled ry-exclusive ad partners. The ser- over the video technology that April 2020 clientele: Google, Procter & vice finds an exclusive wireless is supposed to set Quibi apart: Showtime for Quibi. After Gamble, PepsiCo, Walmart, launch partner in T-Mobile.. Turnstyle, which adapts content $1.75 billion in backing and Progressive and AB InBev. Ads to fit vertical or horizontal view- many months of scrutiny of will be 10-15 seconds long. ing. Meanwhile, Quibi closes a whether anyone wants this second round of funding, raking product, the app launches in another $750 million. on April 6, just weeks after the global coronavirus pandemic has forced millions of Americans into lockdown mode. Katzenberg’s ideal use case never gets a chance to Sept. 2020 be tested in the real world. According to The WSJ, Oct. 2020 Quibi is exploring strategic Quibi’s brief existence comes to options, including a poten- Dec. 2020 June 2020 an end. Katzenberg and Whitman tial sale. Research firm Kan- Quibi will say qui-bye confirm the company will wind tar estimates that, as of the The Wall Street Journal on Dec. 1, the app’s down its operations and start look- end of the third quarter, reports the app has attracted last day of service. ing to sell its assets. That leaves Quibi is at 710,000 subscrib- fewer than 2 million paying about 200 staffers without a job ers, down 300,000 from the subscribers, far short of its and question marks for the many prior quarter. first-year goal of 7.4 million. projects that are still in the works. WHITMAN/KATZENBERG: MICHAEL BUCKNER/VARIETY; FUQUA: MARK VON HOLDEN/ VARIETY; MONEY: ADIMAS/STOCK.ADOBE.COM; RENO 911: DARREN M RENO 911: DARREN ADIMAS/STOCK.ADOBE.COM; MONEY: HOLDEN/ VARIETY; MARK VON FUQUA: MICHAEL BUCKNER/VARIETY; WHITMAN/KATZENBERG:

VARIETY 11 TOP BILLING

JENNIFER LOPEZ’S latest movies have at least one thing in common: They’re all Making Movies directed by women. The slate includes 2019’s “Hustlers,” directed by Lorene Scafaria, which grossed $157 million With J. Lo worldwide; next year’s “Marry Me” (from Kat Coiro), in which Lopez plays a pop star navigating a bad breakup with her AHEAD OF ‘MARRY ME,’ JENNIFER LOPEZ TALKS TO famous ﬁancé (Maluma); and the upcoming drug-lord drama “The Godmother” HER PRODUCING PARTNER ELAINE GOLDSMITH-THOMAS (Reed Morano), in which Lopez portrays ABOUT THEIR FILMMAKING PHILOSOPHY the title character.

By Ramin Setoodeh In addition to starring in all these movies, Lopez produced them through her company, Nuyorican Prods., which she runs with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, her former agent (who famously negotiated Lopez’s then-record-breaking $9 million salary for a Latina actress on 2001’s “The Wedding Planner”). In a Zoom conversation for Variety’s Power of Women issue, CEO Lopez and company president Goldsmith-Thomas spoke about their work as producers, starting with 2002’s “Maid in Manhattan.” LOPEZ: PHOTOGRAPH BY CAITLIN CRONENBERG CAITLIN BY PHOTOGRAPH LOPEZ:

12 VARIETY Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas: I remember you ON THE FLOOR sitting in my living room and me saying, Lopez dances with Ralph “John Hughes,” rest in peace, “has writ- Fiennes in “Maid in Manhattan,” which grossed ten this script.” It was called “Chamber- $155 million worldwide. maid,” and it was literally Cinderella. What if it’s a woman who’s a maid with her nose pressed to the glass? Jennifer Lopez: I said, “She’s got to be Puerto Rican from the Bronx,” because I had a boyfriend who worked in the hotel down at the Hilton when we lived in the Bronx. And so we started riffing on the story. Goldsmith-Thomas: You were hot at the time. I mean, really hot. They were angling for you to do “Gigli” at the same time. Lopez: I wound up doing both movies — one super successful and one maybe not so much. “Maid in Manhattan” was the first movie we produced together. It was very organic. Even as my new agent, we clicked signings, and he said, “Give her whatever ending, but after we talked about it, you right away. We make each other better. she wants.” The line was around the block. designed the ending. And you dictated Goldsmith-Thomas: What’s interesting Goldsmith-Thomas: It was the power of no. many scenes. It wasn’t based on your life; it about us is we always lean into finding the Lopez: It was just the idea that somebody was based on your insight, as what it would best people. like me, from my background, who was a feel like to be one of the most famous peo- Lopez: A lot of times, the best person woman, could garner that type of price in ple on the planet. You were the one who for the job is a woman. “Hustlers” was this industry, and it was a big deal. I don’t said, “We should go get Maluma.” a woman director. “Marry Me” was a know if people know this, that you were Lopez: Maluma was a big part of this proj- woman director. “The Godmother” is Julia Roberts’ agent, and you got her the ect. That part could have been a lot of going to be a woman director. It’s a great $20 million salary, which broke the glass different people, and we needed him to time! I think women have found their ceiling for women in the industry to make be someone who could be believable as voice in a way that they haven’t ever as much as men did. And for me, because a singer and an international star. We before, and that means female storytell- I am the [first] Latin woman who has thought about tons of different people, ers — and telling our stories in our way, made the most on a movie, you pushed from John Mayer to Drake to Adam Levine. from a women’s point of view. I think just as hard. We were like, “Wait a minute. Why don’t “Hustlers” would have been a very differ- Goldsmith-Thomas: You know what I found we get a Latin star?” And I said, “I would ent movie had it been directed by a man. in representing you and in partnering with love to sing in English and Spanish in this Goldsmith-Thomas: Here’s the thing. If we you? I think that when you do more than movie.” That’s when I brought up Maluma’s have the ability to hire women and women one thing in this world, people marginal- name, and everybody did their investigat- of color, it’s our obligation to look there — ize you — especially if you’re a woman and ing, found out he was huge and that he has because others haven’t. especially if you’re a woman of color. And it an incredible star quality. Lopez: When I started in the industry, I infuriates me. Goldsmith-Thomas: Can you talk about remember we talked about that I would Lopez: I thought of something as you’re how you guys did the music, because it always go in for what they would call the saying this. I thought about 2015. When was so interesting? maid, the dishwasher. I was like, “I don’t “The Boy Next Door” came out, it was our Lopez: I was on the It’s My Party Tour last want to do that.” I had to kind of break out first project together since “Maid in Man- summer, and I knew we would be filming, of that, and convince somebody to put me hattan.” Nobody would make a movie and we were looking for the perfect songs. in the first romantic comedy, which was with me. I was doing “American Idol,” Every night, I would go back to my hotel “The Wedding Planner.” and my records were back on the charts. room in Russia, or wherever I was, and sit I remember Adam Shankman put me I was doing really well, many years into there and listen to songs or ideas or tracks. in that movie. You were my agent, and you my career. I had had a lull, and now I I must’ve gone through about 150 differ- were asking for a certain price that you was kind of making a little bit of a splash ent ideas and narrowed it down to seven or thought I merited, and they were buckling again. You came into my life, and I asked eight songs. back. Then he came to one of my record you to run my production company, and Goldsmith-Thomas: You’re being modest. you were like, “I’m going to do it.” Jennifer hears something or reads some- The first thing you said was “Nobody thing, and then she begins to Zamboni it. wants to hire you for movies right now.” She says, “Maybe we put a chorus in here.” And then you got this little script, “The Boy She’s rewriting these things, whether or Next Door,” and you started working on not you want to say that. it with the writer. It was a $4 million bud- Lopez: Well, no. I just put my own stamp on get, and I did it for free because we had to it. It has to work for me. I have to under- bank on ourselves. We made a back-end stand it. If I think the beginnings of an idea deal, and we made this movie in 28 days. It are there, I won’t just go, “Oh, this is not did put us back on the map and set us on a good enough.” “I think ‘Hustlers’ would course. I’ll try to get it there if I believe in it Goldsmith-Thomas: have been a very different One of the things that enough. bugs me is the way we marginalize and movie had it been directed trivialize romantic comedies, calling them This interview has been edited and con- by a man.” “rom-coms” or “chick flicks.” “Marry densed. To see the full video conversation, go

COLUMBIA PICTURES/EVERETT COLLECTION PICTURES/EVERETT COLUMBIA Jennifer Lopez Me” was such our baby. I won’t wreck the to Variety.com.

VARIETY 13 TOP BILLING

Progressives Punching Back

MEIDASTOUCH, FOUNDED BY THREE BROTHERS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT Brett has taken on production duties as INDUSTRY, TAKES ON TRUMP WITH BRUISING ‘DAILY SHOW’-STYLE VIDEOS a full-time job. The videos have racked up more than By Jem Aswad 150 million views, and the PAC has raised more than $2.5 million, drawing the support not just of the Democratic establish- ment but of celebrities ranging from Judd Apatow and novelist Don Winslow to Mark Hamill and Henry Winkler. The idea was hatched in March after the brothers found themselves temporarily sidelined by lockdown. “We just couldn’t do nothing as we saw the country falling apart and Trump lying about it every day,” Ben says. “Now, rather than spending an hour being angry, we’re angry for five minutes and then get to work.” MeidasTouch — a play on their last name combined with the motto “The truth is golden” — began as a blog but caught on as Brett started producing videos late in March. One that incorpo- rated Ronald Reagan’s 1984 debate quote, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?,” quickly gained a million views, and the numbers soared as the Meiselases began producing more videos. “We decided to lean into what seems to be missing, which is that progressives never really punch back,” Ben says. Brett, a USC film school graduate, cranks out the clips with remarkable speed, aver- aging two or three hours from ideation to creation, and sometimes as quickly as 45 “WHEN YOU GUYS put somebody in the car, like it — along with a series of outdoor TRIPLE THREAT minutes. He attributes his speed and preci- please don’t be too nice,” President Trump billboards, a radio show and a podcast — Brett Meiselas, sion to his work on “Ellen.” Ben Meiselas and is seen telling an assembly of police officers are the work of MeidasTouch, a political “It was pretty rigorous turning out Jordan Meiselas of at the beginning of a recent MeidasTouch action committee formed earlier this year MeidasTouch TV-quality video for a daily talk show,” he video. That clip is immediately followed by by brothers Ben, Brett and Jordan Meis- says. “But where that was impactful and his spokesperson saying the president was elas, who have deep connections to the funny, now the goal is to be impactful and “making a joke,” then by footage of police entertainment industry. Their father is persuasive.” He cites Jon Stewart’s “Daily roughing up protesters last spring. We then top music attorney Kenny Meiselas, who Show” and Stephen Colbert as inspira- see footage of Trump proposing Clorox reps Sean “Diddy” Combs, Lady Gaga, the tions. “They really created the blueprint injection as a coronavirus treatment while Weeknd, Lizzo and others. Ben, 35, is a lit- for how to expose hypocrisy in an impact- White House medical official Deborah Birx igator and civil rights attorney who rep- ful and powerful way.” While MeidasTouch lowers her head in dismay; leading a crowd resents exiled NFL quarterback Colin occasionally accepts videos from outside in a “Lock her up” chant about Michigan Kaepernick and led a class-action suit producers, Brent estimates that 90% are Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; and calling for over the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival; entirely the work of the brothers. virus testing to be slowed down. Each clip Brett, 30, is a video editor and former head Not surprisingly, the ones that come is followed by footage of the president or of post-production and social media for with a heavy dose of schadenfreude or neg- spokespeople saying he was “having fun,” “Ellen”; and Jordan, 27, is an executive at ativity are the biggest hits: The top two are “being sarcastic” or making a “comment Steve Stoute’s branding and marketing takedowns of Trump’s children, one titled in jest” — and then by statistics or clips firm Translation. “Bye Ivanka” (10.1 million views) and the of the soaring infections in the U.S., the The videos rarely use narration, opting other “Bye Don Jr.” (8.7 million). The team right-wing kidnapping plot against Whit- instead to juxtapose quotes from the pres- has worked to balance that with positive, mer and more. “NONE OF THIS IS FUNNY,” ident and his associates with footage that pro-Biden ads, but to paraphrase Richard the video concludes. “LET’S GET SERIOUS. starkly contradicts them. “It’s exactly what Nixon, the brothers are basically playing VOTE JOE BIDEN.” I would do in a trial,” Ben says. “‘Here’s by the rules of politics and social media as While the facts and footage are well- what Trump or his family or staff are say- they found them. known, seeing it all edited together is ing. Here are the facts and the data. Decide “People sometimes say we’re preaching damning. And although there are several for yourself’ — although I have between to the choir,” Brett says. “But that’s exactly punch lines in the two-minute video, as the two minutes and 30 seconds to convince what Trump’s doing. We’re trying to pull closing words say, it’s not funny. my jury, which is the American people.” All together the biggest and loudest choir, and

That clip and more than a hundred three brothers collaborate on the clips, but get them to the polls.” JOHN SALANGSANG/VARIETY

14 VARIETY TOP BILLING

“You just go batty online, so you have Not Virtually Identical to cut the time [in the room] in half a little bit,” he says. “It has been a little bit of an adjustment over the course of the last WRITERS SEE PROS AND CONS TO WORKING REMOTELY couple of weeks to our calendars because of that aspect of it.” IN THE ERA OF SOCIAL DISTANCING By Joe Otterson DJ Nash, the creator and showrunner of “A Million Little Things” on ABC, agrees there are distinct advantages to the virtual writers’ room model. One is the ability to allow writers more full days to write and to simply check in with them at the beginning and end of the day rather than spending multiple hours online together. Another advantage Nash has enjoyed is breaking into smaller groups on a more TELEVISION WRITERS WERE forced to adapt To that end, Hannah says that three regular basis. at the beginning of the pandemic by shift- of the show’s writers, including Macma- “We’re in the big room if I need us to ing to virtual writers’ rooms for what they nus, are currently based on the East Coast. move story in some direction, or if I need were assured would be a temporary expe- They have adjusted accordingly by stipu- to recap the block or a shift we’ve made rience. As the months have dragged on, it lating that people on the West Coast must that affects a bunch of episodes, but then, has become clear that virtual rooms will turn in work by the end of the day, while as quickly as possible, we break off into be the standard for the foreseeable future. East Coasters must do so at the beginning. smaller rooms,” Nash says. “That actually The situation is not ideal. But some writ- “I think it ends up making it a very pro- has been great and very effective.” ers are finding advantages in the experience. ductive room, because people are kind of The one thing Macmanus, Hannah and Patrick Macmanus and Liz Hannah, always working,” she says. Nash agree on is that the camaraderie one the co-showrunners of the upcoming But that productivity did not come right normally finds when everyone is in the Hulu series “The Girl From Plainville” away. Macmanus says that he expected to same place is seriously lacking online. starring Elle Fanning, from Universal be able to plug the same system he has “Even though we may have had 8- to Content Prods., agree that the freedom used for delivering scripts on time directly 10-hour writers’ rooms in the past when to work from anywhere has been benefi- into the new method of working, but quickly we were in person, quite a bit of that was cial to them and their writers. learned that was not going to pay off. really just sitting around and talking,” “The need or obligation to be in Los Macmanus says. “It is like a release valve Angeles to spend 10 hours a day in one of sorts that allows you to just sort of be for room — obviously not having to do that, a bit. I’ve always found that the six hours there’s benefits to it,” Hannah says. of sitting around talking about little more “And I think there are benefits in sort o than what was in [your] lunch and what f a mental health way of ‘I can be wher- There’s half of our [were] the headlines of CNN and MSNBC ever I want to be,’ rather than ‘This is staff I’ve never been led to a lot of really good work in the two where I need to be.’ So I definitely think in the room with.” hours that were remaining in the day.” that is an enormous advantage.” DJ Nash, showrunner While writers are one of the few seg- ments of the production process whose workflow has not been completely upended by the pandemic, it is clear that even smaller-scale changes can have big impacts on the creative process. Nash says that when the writers on his show, a drama about the effects of a sudden death on surviving friends, delve into real personal pain when coming up with story ideas, being together had meant he and the others in the room were there to form a “nurturing environment” to make it easier to share. That process is now significantly more difficult, given the con- straints of meeting virtually. He also says that there is more of a dis- connect among writers than there has been in years past. “There’s half of our staff I’ve never been in the room with,” he says. “I don’t know how tall they are, and yet I know SUPPORT GROUP so much about their lives. In some ways, James Roday Rodriguez and Ron Livingston star in ABC’s “A Million Little Things,” about it’s more personal because we’re liter- the loss of a friend. Showrunner DJ Nash says ally in everyone’s house or apartment. writing episodes during the pandemic can But in some ways, we’re a little detached, be emotionally challenging. because we don’t have the normal bonding approaches that we’ve taken the previ-

SERGEI BACHLAKOV/ABC SERGEI ous years.”

VARIETY 15 TOP BILLING

AWARDS CIRCUIT Clayton Davis Will the Oscars Take Comedy Cues From the Globes?

IN A YEAR FILLED WITH HARDSHIP AND STRIFE, PERHAPS ACADEMY VOTERS WILL CONSIDER FILMS WITH LAUGHS MORE SERIOUSLY

DO THE OSCARS HATE comedies? If you lasting media effect on the awards season. music film “The High Note” hopes for awards look over their 92-year history, with so Sofia Coppola’s “On the Rocks” acts as a love in original song, along with boosts for many infectious films and performances love letter to New York City, and the hilari- Tracee Ellis Ross (playing a pop diva) and ignored in favor of more “serious” pieces ous, touching antics of stars Rashida Jones Dakota Johnson (as an ambitious assis- of art, the assumption could be made. This and Bill Murray have established them tant). Focus also is submitting Steve Carell year, faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the awards conversation. for “Irresistible” and Evan Rachel Wood for and with theaters not being the normal Max Barbakow’s “Palm Springs” is a “Kajillionaire” for Globes consideration. avenue to watch films, moviegoers and vibrant story about an infinite time loop Ryan Murphy’s “The Prom” will try to industry professionals are viewing that co-distributors Hulu and Neon are sweep the Globes’ musical/comedy cate- releases more differently than ever. actively pursuing for awards attention. A gories the way musicals like “Chicago” and The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. movie where Andy Samberg has a roman- “La La Land” did. At the Oscars, “The Prom” pushed the Golden Globes to Feb. 28, 2021, tic moment with Peter Gallagher could could be another potential home run for the last day of the eligibility window for the start moving to the top of major categories. 21-time nominee Meryl Streep, whose official Oscars. With their best comedy or musical “The Personal History of David Copper- category placement has yet to be confirmed. designation, the Globes can highlight the field” from Armando Iannucci has the Brit- The other musical in the mix? Jona- laughs in a year that’s seen so much tragedy. ish bent that Academy voters fall for, and than Butterell’s “Everybody’s Talking About It’s possible that Oscar voters, with fewer Searchlight Pictures is giving it gas, espe- Jamie,” which surely will strike delicate films to consider, will think outside the box cially for star Dev Patel, who is in the midst chords with industry professionals, with its when making selections for the Academy of filming his directorial debut, “Monkey story of a London teenager (played by Max Awards, which will be held in April 2021. Man.” Iannucci’s take on the Dickens classic Harwood) who wants to be a drag queen. Amazon Studios’ “Borat 2” may give began its journey at TIFF 2019 and looks to The Academy has flirted with Emily Blunt star Sacha Baron Cohen, who won the be an early player in categories such as pro- too many times, but she’s never been nom- Golden Globe for his initial portrayal of duction design, costumes and screenplay. COMEDY GOLD? inated for an Oscar. The actor has a résumé the Kazakhstan journalist in 2006, another Autumn de Wilde’s “Emma” is aiming Clockwise from right: that includes “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Mary WHILDEN/APPLETV+ bite of the Academy apple. There’s also a to be a sleeper contender. Focus Features Meryl Streep and Poppins Returns” and her SAG-winning role James Corden in “The good chance for newcomer Maria Bakalova, will steer the film, which opened in theaters Prom”; Bill Murray in “A Quiet Place” — and “Wild Mountain as his scene-stealing daughter Tutar, to in February, toward recognition in the arti- and Rashida Jones Thyme” may be the movie that finally turns crash the supporting actress race. The con- san categories, as well as Anya Taylor-Joy for in “On the Rocks”; things. As Blunt hones a perfect Irish accent Dev Patel in “The troversial on-screen encounter with former best actress. The distributor has no shortage Personal History of alongside co-star Jamie Dornan, both actors, NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani could have a of comedy and musical submissions. The David Copperfield” and the film, will likely be competitive at least with the HFPA, which loves star power. Azazel Jacobs’ “French Exit” received positive notices out of the New York Film Festival. Michelle Pfeiffer could be gunning for her long overdue Oscar following three big losses. It’s been 27 years since she was nominated for “Love Field,” and 17 years since she danced around an Oscar prospect in “White Oleander.” Pfeiffer is one of many female actors from the 1980s (e.g., Sigourney Weaver, Glenn Close) who missed the Oscar boat, and the lead category hasn’t typically been kind to veterans in recent years. Other comedians, on both sides of the camera, are hoping for Oscar attention. Among them: Judd Apatow and Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island”), writer-director-actor Radha Blank (“The Forty-Year-Old Version”) and former Oscar host Billy Crystal (supporting actor in “Standing Up, Falling Down”). In a year full of tears and sadness, maybe

the Academy will ﬁnd its funny bone. JOJO ON THE ROCKS: SUE GORDON/NETFLIX; MELINDA PROM: FOX; CENTURY DEAN ROGERS/TWENTIETH COPPERFIELD: OF DAVID HISTORY PERSONAL

16 VARIETY DEVOUR

Watch ‘Back to the Future’ Gift Set

The 35th anniversary 4K set of Blu-rays from the classic trilogy includes a levi- tating hoverboard replica and an hour of all-new content, plus deleted scenes.

Download ‘Louder Than a Riot’

Melding music and history, NPR’s podcast reveals how mass incarceration and hip-hop are interconnected, from Mac Phipps to Nipsey Hussle.

Read Eat ‘Paul Thomas Anderson: Enrique Olvera Debuts in L.A. Masterworks’

The Safdie brothers provide the forward THE OWNER OF MEXICO CITY’S PUJOL AND NEW YORK’S COSME has opened his ﬁrst Los Angeles for this midcareer overview of the restaurant — in the middle of the pandemic. Enrique Olvera’s Damian has a Mexico City-style American master’s work, packed with stills, archival photos and illustrations. court-yard, where a warmly sleek design showcases the artfully composed plates. “We wanted to embrace” the city’s huge Mexican inﬂuence and “make sure that we’re working with local products,” says Olvera. With a more relaxed approach than his tasting menu establishments, Damian’s bill of fare includes spiny lobster, beef birria quesadillas and albacore carnitas. 2132 E. 7th Place, L.A.

EDITED BY PAT SAPERSTEIN | [email protected]

Men’s Lifestyle Advice From a Red-Carpet Ace Ilaria Urbinati launches website Leo, including tips from her starry clientele

As the go-to stylist for a slew of Hollywood’s leading men, There’s even a weekly crossword puzzle. including Dwayne Johnson, Rami Malek, Bradley Cooper Look for pieces penned by Urbinati, as well as contribu- and Sacha Baron Cohen, Ilaria Urbinati knows a thing or two tions from her starry clientele, including Armie Hammer, about men’s fashion. who offers up grilling tips; Johnson, who shares his favorite Now she’s channeling that knowledge into a new project: tequila recipe; and a workout by Tom Brady. There’s also men’s lifestyle site Leo — a long-standing idea that Urbinati content devoted to dadhood, city guides (such as Casey introduced when the pandemic put a stop to her busy sched- Affleck’s Boston haunts and Lady A’s Nashville) and a ule of red-carpet appointments. Named after Urbinati’s son, shoppable style section where Urbinati curates clothes Leopold, the site and newsletter span everything from style, that are worthy of a best-dressed list. Leoedit.com LESLEY McKENZIE URBINATI: COURTESY ILARIA URBINATI COURTESY URBINATI: culture, fitness and travel to food, drink and sports.

VARIETY 17 DIRT

$4.75M

MANHATTAN 3 BEDROOMS 2,300 SQ. FT. 3 BATHS

The loft’s clean-lined and carefully Toni Morrison’s NYC unadorned architecture is softened with gently worn antiques, plush upholstered sofas, an eclectic smattering of artwork and, Loft Has Write Stuff of course, books — lots and lots of them. The capacious main living space stretches 40 feet, with a kitchen at one end and a simply designed fireplace at the other. The cen- The lower Manhattan loft of late literary lion Toni Morrison has come up for ter of the room holds a trestle-style dining sale with an asking price of $4.75 million, just a little more than a year after she table and book-filled shelves that extend died at age 88. The Nobel Prize-winning writer and university professor, whose from floor to ceiling. One of the two guest Pulitzer Prize-winning 1987 novel “Beloved” was adapted into the 1998 film of bedrooms is open to the living room and the same name, purchased the slightly more than 2,300-square-foot 10th-floor served as Morrison’s library/writing room. spread in the early days of 2014, for $3.8 million. The primary bedroom offers open city views to the north and east. Built at the turn of the 20th century, the grandiosely embellished neoclassical structure, converted to condos in 2001, pro- vides residents a 24-hour attended lobby, a MARK DAVID fitness center and a 5,000-square-foot roof THE REAL ESTALKER terrace, among other perks. Morrison’s unit carries monthly maintenance charges MORRISON'S HOUSE: BROWN HARRIS STEVENS; MORRISON: PETER KRAMER/AP IMAGES MORRISON: PETER KRAMER/AP HARRIS STEVENS; HOUSE: BROWN MORRISON'S

18 VARIETY DIRT

of $2,350, per listings held by Brown Har- ris Stevens agents Amanda S. Brainerd, Simone Mailman and Gerard Ryan.

Lati Grobman Aims to Produce Brentwood Sale It seems that film and television producer Lati Grobman has caught a case of the celebrity real estate fickle, hanging a not- quite-$7.15 million price tag on the Los Angeles home the horror and action genre specialist picked up just two and a half years ago for $6.8 million. Described in listings held by Ron Wol- otzky at Rodeo Realty as a contemporary farmhouse designed by high-end architect Ken Ungar, the stone-accented and tri- gabled home in the tony Brentwood area is $1.4M sheathed in humble board-and-batten sid- ing and topped by a metal roof. At slightly SILVER LAKE more than 6,500 square feet, the casually 2,000 SQ. FT. luxurious two-story house is ample with- 3 BEDROOMS out being unnecessarily huge. 2 BATHS Built in 2017 on just over one-third of an acre with five bedrooms and five full and two half bathrooms, the house has a tradi- The gourmet kitchen showcases wall, the stilted and entirely vine-en- tional exterior that belies crisply modern bespoke wood cabinetry and boldly veined crusted, three-bedroom and two-bath tree- interior spaces featuring milky white walls marblelike counters. A stone fireplace house-like home all but disappears into a free of fussy ceiling moldings. There are and wet bar enhance the family room, verdant tangle of foliage within the plung- in-ceiling speakers throughout the main where a bank of glass sliders disappears ing hillside at the back of the property. floor. An architectural glass railing borders into the walls and spills out to an alfresco With refinished, honey-toned oak the second-floor landing that overlooks a dining terrace and outdoor kitchen com- floorboards and a flat-beamed ceiling, double-height center-hall entrance gallery plemented by lush lawns and a simple the living room features a tiled fireplace flanked by formal living and dining rooms. rectangular swimming pool with inset spa. somewhat awkwardly pushed into a corner of the room next to a built-in ban- quette. French doors swing open to a deck Michael Angarano Lists with head-on views of Griffith Park Obser- vatory and the Hollywood sign. Giant pic- Silver Lake Treehouse ture windows in the adjoining dining Michael Angarano, at 32 already a showbiz space provide a foliage-framed view over veteran who first appeared on TV 25 years the city. The undeniably smallish and ago and last year was nominated for a guest partly upgraded kitchen is jazzed up with acting Emmy for popular ensemble series eye-catching stainless-steel appliances “This Is Us,” is seeking close to $1.4 million and new solid-surface countertops on for his home in L.A.’s fashionable Silver Lake old pale-gray cabinets. neighborhood. Tax records show the “Will & Privately located all by itself on the $7.15M Grace” alum has owned the not-even-2,000- lower level, the main bedroom offers a square-foot home since 2015, when it was fireplace between French doors to a large acquired for almost $1.1 million. deck. The property is represented by BRENTWOOD 5 BEDROOMS Invisible from the street behind a couple Susan Montgomery and Marlene Okulick, 6,500 SQ. FT. 7 BATHS of flowering trees and a high, vine-covered both with Sotheby’s Intl. Realty.

Firm Offers Exorcism consultation with a paranormal DIGS to Cleanse Old Haunts professional who develops a course of action to cleanse the Live ‘Fast’ in West Hills Just in time for Halloween, abode of malevolent spirits before national real estate company it’s put on the market. Consultants The home in the West Hills section of ISoldMyHouse.com has launched may recommend rearranging Los Angeles that’s featured in the 1982 an exorcism service to help objects or furniture that have coming-of-age dramedy “Fast Times at homeowners rid their property of been targeted by the entity, Ridgemont High” recently hit the mar- paranormal entities. The service the study’s sample group of reciting prayers and lighting ket with a price tag just under $740,000. is in response to a study by the 5,000 participants, a “haunted incense or herbs. Each case will The three-bedroom, two-bathroom firm that 61% of Americans would house” will stay on the market be judged individually and given house looks much the same as it did not buy a house if they had any 133 days longer than similar a tailored solution. There’s no 38 years ago — iconic swimming pool reason to believe it was haunted. residences. The company’s home word on a course of action for the included. MAE HAMILTON They also discovered that, among exorcism service includes a video White House. MAE HAMILTON

VARIETY 19 ‘GREY’S ANATOMY,’ TV’s longest-running medical drama, has

P. 20 POWER OF WOMEN always been ahead of its time. And it’s not done yet

By KATE AURTHUR

Photographs by GIZELLE HERNANDEZ

P. 21 SHE MIGHT CHANGE HER MIND; she certainly has before. But mid- the drama has been among the two successful spinoffs for ABC, way through an interview, Ellen most popular series on TV, even “Private Practice” (which ran from Pompeo casually drops the bomb as the landscape of television has 2007 to 2013) and “Station 19” that after more than 360 epi- changed seismically. At its Sea- (which enters its fourth season this sodes, the upcoming 17th season son 2 ratings height, the program fall). “Grey’s Anatomy” has been HAWKINS; ROEMEHL STYLING: ALLEN, VERNOFF & WILSON’S’ ME AGENCY; of “Grey’s Anatomy” may be its last. drew an average audience of 20 licensed in more than 200 territo- DORI ANDERSON BLACKMAN DORI ANDERSON “We don’t know when the show million viewers. And all these ries across the world, translated is really ending yet,” Pompeo says, years later — in a TV universe now into more than 60 languages, and answering a question that was not divided by more than 500 scripted catapulted the careers of music art- at all about when the show might shows —“Grey’s” ranks as the No. 1 ists — from Ingrid Michaelson and end. “But the truth is, this year drama among 18- to 34- year-olds Snow Patrol to Tegan and Sara and could be it.” and No. 2 among adults 18 to 49. the Fray — whose songs have played Pompeo has played Meredith In delayed, multiplatform view- during key emotional sequences. Grey — the superstar surgeon ing, Season 16 averaged 15 mil- In its explosive initial success, around whom “Grey’s Anatomy” lion viewers. “Grey’s Anatomy” was an insur- revolves — since its start. The Strikingly, technology is such gent force in popular culture. The show, created by Shonda Rhimes, that teenagers who were born Season 1 cast featured three Black premiered on ABC on March 27, when the show premiered, and actors — Chandra Wilson, James 2005, and became an immediate, later binged “Grey’s” on Netflix, Pickens Jr. and Isaiah Washington noisy hit. Since then, for a remark- watch new episodes live with their — as doctors in positions of power ably long time in Hollywood years, parents. The series has spawned at the Seattle hospital where the

Women Rule ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ In addition to being overseen by showrunner Krista Vernoff, and having been created by Shonda Rhimes and executive produced by Betsy Beers, the show has many female department heads. Here are some of the key personnel:

P. 22 POWER OF WOMEN (PREVIOUS SPREAD) POMPEO’S STYLING: PETRA FLANNERY/TWO MANAGEMENT; HAIR; RYAN RICHMAN/A-FRAME AGENCY; MAKEUP: AMY ORESMAN/A-FRA MAKEUP: AGENCY; RICHMAN/A-FRAME RYAN HAIR; MANAGEMENT; PETRA FLANNERY/TWO STYLING: POMPEO’S (PREVIOUS SPREAD) MAKEUP: WILSON’S ANI MALONEY; MAKEUP: ALLEN & VERNOFF’S DOLVIK; KJERSTI HAIR: VERNOFF’S DESIREE DIZARD; HAIR: ALLEN & WILSON’S ELLEN POMPEO START DATE: Actor (Dr. Meredith Grey); producer 2005 DEBBIE ALLEN START DATE: Executive producer-director since 2015; actor (Dr. Catherine Fox) since 2011; 2010 directed her first episode (of 24 and counting) in 2010 show is set, and Sandra Oh played patient’s body, was in a plane crash, “He just didn’t get it; he didn’t the ambitious intern Cristina Yang, was widowed after Derek died in a like it,” Vernoff continues. “Hon- who would become Meredith’s car accident, was beaten nearly to estly, I’m going to say, I don’t think best friend. For the women char- death by a patient and, in a separate he liked the ambitious women hav- acters, the “Grey’s” approach to incident, actually did die briefly after ing sex unapologetically.” sex was defiant and joyful, starting a ferry accident — is intent on mak- Wilson, when she was cast as in the pilot with Meredith’s one- ing the show top itself once again. Miranda Bailey on “Grey’s,” was a night stand with Derek (Patrick “I’m constantly fighting for the New York theater actor (“Caroline, Dempsey), who turned out to be one show as a whole to be as good as or Change”) relatively new to series of her bosses at the hospital. it can be. As a producer, I feel like television. But she was well aware Rhimes presented these images I have permission to be able to do of the network’s issues. “We took a to the world like they were no big that,” Pompeo says. “I mean, this creative break around the Christ- deal, when in fact, nothing like is the last year of my contract right mas holiday, which to me meant “Grey’s” had ever been seen on net- now. I don’t know that this is the ‘Oh, we’re out of a job.’” work television. Krista Vernoff has last year? But it could very well Pompeo was frustrated: “Once been the “Grey’s Anatomy” show- could be.” we finally got an airdate, two weeks runner since Season 14, as anointed Pompeo has been refreshingly before that airdate they wanted by Rhimes, and was the head writer transparent about her fight to to change the title of the show to for the first seven seasons. She become the highest-paid female ‘Complications.’” remembers the moment she real- actor on television, having detailed In an email to Variety, McPher- ized how radical “Grey’s” was — a a few years ago how she negotiated son disputed these assertions, say- medical show driven entirely by its a paycheck for more than $20 mil- ing, “I made the original deal with characters instead of their surgeries lion a year. She clearly knows what Shonda. I developed ‘Grey’s Anat- — as she watched an episode early she’s doing with these frank pro- omy’ at the studio. I picked it up at in Season 1. “My whole body was “ nouncements as well. ABC.” He praised Patmore Gibbs, covered in chills,” Vernoff recalls. There’s As Pompeo laughs over the and added, “As for defaming me “I was like, ‘Oh, we thought we were phone from her car, she says in a again and again, I don’t know what making a sweet little medical show a sister- near shout: “There’s your sound to say other than it’s sad that any- — and we’re making a revolution.’” bite! There’s your clickbait! ABC’s one feels the need to spread lies Still, no one expected “Grey’s hood on the phone!” about me.” Anatomy” to become the lon- between Yet there was so little faith in the gest-running primetime medical show that the writers were asked THE drama in TV history, outlasting us — to clear out their offices when they “MASH” and “ER,” the previous I guess finished the season. But to Vernoff, record-holder. Since 2005, “Grey’s” “Grey’s Anatomy” team — led by who had clicked right away with has inspired countless women to you would Rhimes and executive producer Rhimes, the early episodes had “felt become doctors, and along the way, say it’s Betsy Beers — created the first sea- like a labor of love.” its depiction of illness has even son in a vacuum, because the show And it was worth the battle. saved a few lives. The show has almost a did not have an airdate. The 2004- “We fought for the right for Mere- remained popular through three 05 season was a comeback year for dith and Bailey to be whole human presidential administrations, the Blackness ABC because “Desperate House- beings, with whole sex lives, and Great Recession, tectonic shifts in that wives” and “Lost,” both of which not a network TV idea of likable,” how people watch TV and two cul- debuted that fall, became phenom- Vernoff says. “You might not have tural reckonings — one feminist, exists ena — not only ratings successes been likable, but now you’re iconic.” one anti-racist — that demonstrate between but also watercooler events. As far as the medicine went, how ahead of its time “Grey’s Anat- But at “Grey’s,” Rhimes was the cases were often ostentatious. omy” has always been. us. And getting noted to death by net- “Every kind of crazy accident that And they’re not done yet. When work president Steve McPherson. had ever caused terrible harm to Season 17 premieres on Nov. 12, she’s According to Vernoff, McPherson — any human ever, that was our home- “Grey’s Anatomy” will tackle the part of who resigned in 2010 under a cloud work at night,” Vernoff says. It was subject of the coronavirus as expe- of sexual harassment allegations — up to Zoanne Clack, an emergency rienced by the doctors at Grey our tribe.” stonewalled with “pushback every room doctor-turned-writer, to be Sloan Memorial, all while filming —Debbie step of the way,” as ABC’s then- a sounding board in the writers’ under strict COVID-19 protocols. head of drama, Suzanne Patmore room. She began as the only doc- The season is dedicated to front- Allen Gibbs, fought for the show. Vernoff tor on staff during the first season, line workers. And Pompeo, a pro- on Ellen was close with Patmore Gibbs, who and is now an executive producer. ducer on “Grey’s” — whose Meredith died in 2018, and recalls her talking “What was interesting was that the has removed a live bomb from a Pompeo about her clashes with McPherson. writers don’t have those boundaries

Women Rule ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ NICOLE CRAMER set decoration | KJERSTI DOLVIK department head, hair | ROEMEHL HAWKINS costume designer

POWER OF WOMEN P. 25 because they don’t know the rules, Pompeo says the cast was so rid of a lot of bad behavior? Let so they would come up with all of talented that it “was all worth it” people go home and sleep.” these scenarios, and my immediate — but yes, the transition to star- thought was like, ‘No way!’” Clack dom was hard for the group: “At DEBBIE says. “Then I’d have to think about the time, it was just a real com- it and go, ‘But could it?’” bination of exhaustion and stress When the program finally pre- and drama. Actors competing with Allen would eventually be Pompeo’s miered — on a Sunday night after each other — and envious.” savior in that regard, but that was “Desperate Housewives” — to mas- Heigl, Knight and Isaiah Wash- years away. Allen — an actor and sive ratings, it was a shock to the ington all went through press a dancer — began her directing cast and crew, given that they had cycles that made the show seem career when she was on the 1980s shot the first season under a cloud, scandal-prone. To rehash it all now TV series “Fame” as a “natural pro- Pompeo says, adding, “So the fact seems pointless; you can look it up. gression” because, she says, “I was that the numbers were that huge Washington was fired in June 2007. in charge of the musical numbers, the first time we aired was a big Knight and Heigl asked to be writ- and so many directors didn’t really fuck-you to McPherson!” ten out of the show preemptively, in know how to shoot them.” She went With Season 2 now a given, Seasons 5 and 6, respectively. on to be a prolific director and pro- everything changed, Vernoff says: Vernoff and the other writers ducer, most notably overhauling “It was like a hurricane-force gale, were watching the internal messes NBC’s “A Different World” after a and everyone was just trying to unfold. They had to deal with how tumultuous first season. As a fan of hold on.” They had made 13 epi- the fallout affected the show’s plot, “Grey’s Anatomy,” Allen wanted to sodes for Season 1, airing nine of as when Washington was fired just work on the show, and in Season 6, them and holding the final four for as Burke, his character, was about she was hired to direct. To prepare Season 2 — Meredith finding out to marry Cristina. “When word for it, Allen shadowed Wilson, who that Derek was actually married comes down that an actor is leav- had been tapped to direct by exec- (to Addison, played by Kate Walsh) ing the show, and what you’ve got utive producer-director Rob Corn. had felt like the perfect finale. But scripted is a wedding …” Vernoff (“He came to me and said, ‘You upon the writers’ return, Vernoff trails off, laughing. should direct,’” says Wilson, who says, the feeling was “Holy shit. We “There was a lot of drama on- has now helmed 21 episodes. “And have to make 22.” screen and drama off-screen, and I said, ‘OK.’ Because I didn’t know The entire cast — mostly unknown young people navigating intense what else to say.”) actors like Katherine Heigl as the “ stardom for the first time in their Directing that sixth-season epi- sunny Izzie Stevens, T.R. Knight as When lives,” she continues. “I think that sode led to Allen’s fruitful rela- the chummy neurotic George O’Mal- word a lot of those actors, if they could tionship with “Grey’s.” In Season ley, and Justin Chambers as the trou- go back in time and talk to their 8, Rhimes wrote Allen into the bled, secretly vulnerable Alex Karev comes younger selves, it would be a dif- show to play Catherine, a star sur- — had become famous overnight. For down ferent thing. Everybody’s grown geon, a love interest for Richard Wilson, whose Bailey was the stern and changed and evolved — but it Webber (Pickens) and the mother teacher the interns called “the Nazi,” that an was an intense time.” of Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams). it was a new experience. “Folks were Pompeo doesn’t want to talk Ahead of Season 12 in 2015, Allen scared to talk to me, like in the store actor is about what happened with indi- became the show’s EP/director. Her or in the Target — people would just leaving vidual actors from the show, duties included hiring all of the kind of leave me alone,” she says. “It because when she has in the past, directors, weighing in on scripts was like, ‘What’s going on?’” the show, “it doesn’t get received in the way and casting, and, as Allen puts it, According to Vernoff, “Paparazzi and what in which I intend it to be.” But she “minding that people feel good were following the cast to work — it does make a point about the way about themselves.” Several years was wild.” you’ve television is produced. “Nobody before the revived #MeToo move- The mid- to late-2000s were should be working 16 hours a ment would lead to calls for sys- the height of glossy gossip mag- got day, 10 months a year — nobody,” temic changes behind the camera azines such as Us Weekly (and its scripted she says. “And it’s just causing in Hollywood, Allen set a goal of copycats), as well as the inception people to be exhausted, pissed, hiring 50% women directors. She of TMZ and Perez Hilton as celeb- is a sad, depressed. It’s a really, really also increased the number of Black rity-hounding, news-breaking wedding unhealthy model. And I hope post- men who directed “Grey’s” during forces that fueled (and soiled) the COVID nobody ever goes back to 24 her first season as executive pro- fame-industrial complex. The cast …” or 22 episodes a season. ducer, among them Denzel Wash- of “Grey’s Anatomy” was firmly in —Krista “It’s why people get sick. It’s ington. (When she sold him on it, the sights of these new, often toxic why people have breakdowns. It’s she recounts, he said to her, “I’m forces in media. Vernoff why actors fight! You want to get going to say yes, Debbie Allen.”)

Women Rule ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ LINDA KLEIN on-set medical supervisor (co-executive producer) | ANI MALONEY department head, makeup

P. 26 POWER OF WOMEN KRISTA VERNOFF START DATE: Head writer, Seasons 1-7; showrunner and executive producer since Season 14 2005 CHANDRA WILSON START DATE: Actor (Dr. Miranda Bailey); director of 21 episodes so far 2005 Pompeo and Allen are close. are currently making is the show decision lightly,” Pompeo says. Allen began her new role the year that you want ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ to “We employ a lot of people, and we after Dempsey left, “at a time when be,” she recalls telling Rhimes, “I have a huge platform. And I’m very we were really broken,” Pompeo am, in fact, not the right writer for grateful for it.” says. “And so much of our prob- it.” But Rhimes was insistent, say- “You know, I’m just weighing lems were perpetuated by bad male ing it was time for a change after out creatively what can we do,” management. Debbie came in at a the mourning period for Derek. she says. “I’m really, really, really time when we really, really needed Vanessa Delgado, who started excited about this season. It’s prob- a breath of fresh air, and some new as a production intern during the ably going to be one of our best sea- positive energy.” seventh season and has worked sons ever. And I know that sounds Pompeo continues with a laugh: her way up to being lead editor and nuts to say, but it’s really true.” “Debbie really brought in a spirit to co-producer, says the show’s tra- Vernoff doesn’t worry about the the show that we had never seen — jectory shifted when Vernoff came creative well drying up. “We’ve we had never seen optimism! We back — it was a return to the orig- blown past so many potential end- had never seen celebration. We had inal, saucier tone of “Grey’s.” “We ings to ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ that I never seen joy!” changed the music completely,” always assume it can go on forever,” According to Pompeo, Allen Delgado says. “The dialogue felt she says. began advocating for her to have lighter and more fun, and we were And Wilson knows how import- more humane hours — Fridays off having fun again.” ant “Grey’s” is to its audience, in (Pompeo: “And I was like, ‘What? that the characters have essen- What? Fridays off?’”) — and for the tially become people who “live in THAT show to shoot 12-hour days maxi- their house.” As one of only three mum, and ideally no more than 10 actors who’ve been on “Grey’s” hours (Pompeo: “And I was like, I lightness will be difficult to main- since the beginning — the other is love this woman.”). tain this year, of course, when, as James Pickens Jr. — Wilson is in it Allen speaks affectionately about Allen puts it, “COVID is No. 1 on the until the end: “In my mind, Bailey is her bond with Pompeo. “Coming call sheet right now.” there until the doors close, until the out of Boston, she’s so earthy and Vernoff at first wondered whether hospital burns down, until the last real in a way that you might not “Grey’s” should ignore the coronavi- thing happens on ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ know,” Allen says. “There’s a sis- rus, thinking the audience comes to That is her entire arc.” terhood between us — I guess you the show “for relief.” But the doctors Whenever the show does con- would say it’s almost a Blackness in the writers’ room convinced her clude, part of its legacy will be that exists between us. And she’s “ this wasn’t the time for escapism, about the talent it launched into the part of our tribe.” It’s saying to her, “This is the biggest world, beginning with Rhimes, who medical story of our lifetime, and it will soon release her first shows for is changing medicine permanently.” Netflix, after her company, Shonda- ALLEN probably going to When they’ve had doctors and land, made a lucrative deal with the nurses come speak with them this streamer in 2017. has been a key member of the be one of season, Vernoff says, “they were But it will also be about the char- “Grey’s Anatomy” brain trust since different human beings than the acters of “Grey’s Anatomy”— mostly Season 12, and two seasons later, our best people we’ve been talking to every women and people of color — who Vernoff returned to run the show. seasons year. And I want to honor that, ton- are trying to make the world a bet- She’d left at the end of Season 7, ally. I just want to inspire people to ter place as they find friendship, consulted on “Private Practice” for ever. And take care of each other.” love and community. a few years, and then went to Show- I know Pompeo, who is not shy about “The show, at its core, brings time’s “Shameless” for five seasons. offering criticism, sounds positively people together,” Pompeo says. As her contract was set to expire, that enthusiastic: “I’ll say the pilot epi- “And the fact that people can come Rhimes asked Vernoff to lunch, and sode to this season — girl, hold on. together and watch the show, and told her she wanted her to take over. sounds “What nobody thinks we can think about things they may not “It felt like she was saying, ‘Hey, our nuts to continue to do, we have done. Hold have ordinarily thought about, kid needs you,’” Vernoff says. on. That’s all we’re going to say or see things normalized and Before accepting the offer, Ver- say, but about that!” humanized in a way that a lot of noff had to catch up on the show. it’s really Pompeo has a few more months people really need to see — it helps She had always written “Grey’s” as before she decides whether she you become a better human being. a romantic comedy, and what she true.” wants to continue — and as Rhimes If this show has helped anybody saw on-screen during her binge — Ellen and ABC have made clear in recent become a better human being, was dark as hell — especially after years, the show will likely end then that’s the legacy I’d love to Derek’s death. “If this show that you Pompeo when she leaves. “I don’t take the sit with.”

Women Rule ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ ALICIA ROBBINS director of photography | LISA TAYLOR, post-production supervisor

POWER OF WOMEN P. 29 P. 30

POWER OF WOMEN LOVE OF SARAH SCHECHTER brings an unmatched passion to her role as o THEPhotograph by MICHAEL BUCKNER By DANIEL HOLLOWAY ne of television’s most successful producers GAME BECOMING A PRODUCER MADE

Sarah Schechter love baseball again. Epix. Its second, “Equal,” for HBO exceeded all expectations for me,” Today the powerhouse behind a Max, debuted Oct. 22. says Chiodi. Indeed, Schechter’s record-breaking 17 current tele- “Working on so many scripted roots in the genre run deep. vision series, Schechter found her television series reignited my “I spent most of my childhood on way in the business making movies. interest in unscripted and this idea documentary shoots or interviews “When I first started working in that truth is stranger than fiction,” or just being very bored at various film, what became so nice about Schechter says. work locations,” Schechter says. watching sports was you didn’t “Equal” is narrated by Billy “What’s funny is how long it took to know what was going to happen,” Porter and features Samira Wiley, get back to it, in a way.” she says. “When you’re reading so Anthony Rapp, Cheyenne Jackson Her father, Danny Schechter, many scripts, you start to feel like and other actors reenacting scenes was a documentarian and producer you know what’s going to happen in from the lives of pre-Stonewall gay who was involved in the anti-apart- each one. Then you work on proj- rights activists, their portrayals heid movement and made six films ects where you read the script over interspersed with archival foot- about Nelson Mandela. Some of his and over again, and you don’t have age. The project originated with other work covered the 2000 Flor- surprises. So I kind of fell back in Scout Prods., which produced with ida presidential election, the life of love with baseball, particularly, Berlanti. Once aboard, Schechter Barack Obama and the 2008 finan- because it was like, “Oh, I don’t “quickly became the face of the cial crisis. know what’s gonna happen here. project,” says Scout documentary “He was always ahead of his There’s no script to read. You’re head Joel Chiodi. time,” she says of her father, who going to have to wait till the end.’” Key to the series’ success was died in 2015. “I also watched him Schechter doesn’t work in film Schechter’s efforts to bring greater make no money and struggle to have anymore. The president of Ber- inclusion to it, encouraging the hir- anyone see anything that he made. lanti Prods., she’s now one of the ing of women and people of color for So I think that was my initial draw most prolific producers of scripted important creative and craft roles. to Hollywood — to make things that series in television history. But she “We needed representation it was easy to get audiences for.” still reads a lot of scripts. across the board behind the scenes, Sarah Schechter started out As such, she and producing part- whether that’s the director or the in New York, working briefly for ner Greg Berlanti’s most recent day-to-day producer; she’s a big the doc director Barbara Kopple. expansion of their already vast advocate for that,” says Chiodi. Just She also worked on a handful of empire is a welcome change-up. as critical was Schechter’s knowl- independent films that, she says, The company’s first documentary edge of the craft of nonfiction. “you’ve never heard of. They’re ter- project, “Helter Skelter: An Amer- “She knows her ins and outs in the rible.” She moved to L.A. and got ican Myth,” premiered July 26 on documentary space in a way that a job as an assistant with the pro-

P. 32 POWER OF WOMEN HAIR & MAKEUP: ERICKA VERRETT HAIR & MAKEUP: ducer Barry Mendel, whom she she’s grown and manifested it into.” series of takes, affecting continuity. worked with for six years, during During the recent, record-break- Under normal circumstances, she which time Mendel produced ing years, Berlanti’s perspective says, “there are all kinds of checks “Rushmore” and “The Sixth Sense.” has remained that of a writer and and balances on a production. And Then she landed a job in develop- creator. Schechter, meanwhile, we don’t have those as much.” ment at Warner Bros. “I thought it has focused on scaling up, pour- As she sets about getting her would be just for a year and a half ing energy into getting shows sold shows back up and running, — just to learn so I could be a bet- and made, recruiting and nurturing Schechter is conscious of how ter producer.” She stayed for nine producing talent, guiding decisions many people are reliant on the work years, rising to senior VP. on directors and casts. hours they provide. In 2010, she worked on a feature Julie Plec, who is exec produc- “I felt a really heavy weight that I that Berlanti directed, “Life as We ing the upcoming Netflix series don’t think I’ve ever had the time to Know It.” The two clicked. “Greg “The Girls on the Bus” with Ber- stop and think about before — feel- is genuinely the kindest, most tal- lanti and Schechter, credits the lating a real responsibility to all the ented person in this business,” ter’s work ethic and “fearlessness” writers, all the support staff, all the Schechter says. And he saw in her for her success. crews, all the actors,” she says. “We a passion that did not necessarily “She’s unapologetically passion- don’t have a great government right serve her well as an executive. ate; she’s unapologetically intense,” now, and they don’t take care of “I noticed just the way that she Plec says. “She’s absolutely incredi- people properly. And a lot of people gave notes and the way that she bly intelligent, borderline brilliant, are left very high and dry. There’s a worked with me, and how protec- I would say, in certain areas. She lot of people that work paycheck to tive she was of me, and how pro- is unafraid of speaking her mind; paycheck, and just wanting to figure tective she was of the film, and her she’s unafraid of telling it how it is, out how to help as many of them as advocacy at all times,” Berlanti for better or for worse. I think that possible, I think that’s what it very says. “I said to her, ‘You’re a great that’s the beauty of her: If you need quickly became about for me.” executive, but I really think you’re her, if she’s in your corner, there’s The pandemic altered the future a producer.’ I associate being a pro- just nothing she holds back. And for everyone, even television’s big- ducer more with having to really I think that that — as a woman in gest producers. But Schechter fight for everything, and she just this business — that’s an incredi- remains focused on growing Ber- had that in her bones.” ble asset.” lanti Prods. as a whole. Documen- In 2014, Schechter joined forces Producing at the volume that tary will continue to be an area in with Berlanti, exiting Warner Bros. Berlanti Prods. does means that which the company is active. More to become a part of his production Schechter has been at the forefront immediately, Schechter wants to company. At the time, the Warner of the logistical battle to get televi- focus on the feature business. “The Bros.-based Berlanti had a respect- sion back up and running amid the rise of streamers has meant that able slate of shows on TV, including pandemic. At the moment she has 11 there’s a lot more room for mov- The CW’s “Arrow,” “The Flash” and shows in production, including “Bat- ies that we grew up loving,” she “The Tomorrow People.” woman,” “Riverdale” and “Prodigal says. Berlanti, who had his break- Six years later no producer has Son.” Schechter has been encourag- out as a director with 2018’s “Love, more series on TV than Schechter, ing the line producers on her shows Simon,” will be behind the camera who was named company chair- to talk with one another, creating again sooner rather than later. And woman earlier this year, and Ber- a sort of intelligence exchange on the company hired veteran TV exec lanti. In 2018, Berlanti Prods. signed what works and what doesn’t. David Madden as president in Feb- a six-year deal with Warner Bros. TV Some of the biggest challenges ruary, strengthening its scripted valued at more than $300 million. have been, as she puts it, “simple programming team. “Without her I’d be a guy with a problems.” For instance, the carv- “The market is ever changing,” couple of shows,” Berlanti says. “I ing up of crews into pods has meant Schechter says. “We want to just would be where my company was that hair and makeup people aren’t keep working with people that we 10 years ago, prior to her — which available on set for touch-ups. Thus, love that we believe in and tell sto- was fine and nice. But it wasn’t what an actor’s look can evolve over a ries that haven’t been told.”

“Without her I’d be a guy with a couple of shows.” — Greg Berlanti

POWER OF WOMEN P. 33 HOW WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD ARE PUSHING FOR INCLUSIVITY ON AND OFF SCREEN By JANET W. LEE

Filmmakers and executives weigh in on the importance of representation across the industry

With Hollywood’s growing appetite Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever” creatives remain “severely under- ing newer employees “is you might for diverse stories, women of color from Mindy Kaling also boasts represented” behind the scenes in be undoing a lot of the inclusive are beginning to make a bigger female actors of color, including Hollywood, according to UCLA’s 2020 work in recent years that has made mark on the big and small screens. breakout star Maitreyi Ramakrish- Hollywood Diversity Report. a lot of gains, so we must try to Alice Wu wrote “The Half of It,” nan. Of Tamil descent from Sri The latest report, released on make sure that people take time to a coming-of-age drama about a les- Lanka, the 19-year-old Canadian Oct. 22, found that women reached be intentional about what they’re bian Chinese-American teen, as a says she has witnessed progress parity with men among digital doing and understanding what love letter to her own mother. Star- even in her relatively short lifetime. scripted leads in television, reach- those ripple effects are.” ring Chinese American Leah Lewis, “Is it where it needs to be?”she ing a record high of 49.4%. While Gina Balian, president of original it debuted on Netflix in May. asks. “No, it’s two steps forward, actors of color posted their high- programming at FX Entertainment, “I’m very comfortable being a one step back kind of thing, and est share of lead roles, their share hopes her team’s reexamination of queer Asian-American filmmaker,” we have got to make sure that we remains at 24.1%, compared to past hiring practices will improve Wu tells Variety. “I write from a don’t stop the fight for women white actors’ 75.9%. the network’s storytelling. very personal place, but if I want of color, for these underrepre- From the 2018-19 season, men “It’s not that we haven’t been hav- to make any sort of change in the sented minorities.” of color (11.8%) directed twice as ing the conversations, and it’s not world, I knew this film might make While stories centering on women many episodes as women of color that we weren’t meeting lots of new an impact.” of color have grown overall, these (6.4%), while white women helmed writers,” she says. “But I think when 22.7%. In the writers’ room, women you look at who’s making the shows of color constituted 10.5% of cred- and really who’s telling their own ited writers, while white women story, I think there’s more work to do made up 29.6%. there. That’s where we have to really “Never Have I Ever” “People recognize a handful of look: We have to look at the top.” directors, writers who are women Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, EVP of of color, but they can name them entertainment diversity and inclu- off one hand. Especially in lead sion at ViacomCBS, echoes the need directing and writing roles, there for executives and creatives who are is a detriment to the industry that as diverse as their audiences. The they aren’t getting the perspectives, industry veteran, who launched stories unique to women of color,” Eye Speak to foster female empow- says Ana-Christina Ramon, director erment, believes permanent change of research and civic engagement is underway, however slowly. for the division of social sciences at “We hear these successful agent UCLA, and co-author of the report. stories: You start in the mailroom According to Ngoc Nguyen, head and you get on someone’s desk and of entertainment at Time’s Up, lay- so on,” she says. “These stepping offs during the coronavirus pan- stones are the systems that need to demic have rolled back progress be dismantled and reorganized. We that had been made in recent years. need to challenge ourselves to look “Sometimes executives used at talent and qualifications through what they felt were neutral crite- a different, wider lens — that’s a ria to furlough people, and one of place to start.” those things was tenure,” Nguyen — Danielle Turchiano contributed says. The problem with furlough- to this report.

P. 3 4 POWER OF WOMEN LARA SOLANKI/NETFLIX VARIETY CONVERSATIONS TACKLE POWERFUL ISSUES

A two-day virtual event boasts a heady lineup of Hollywood leaders

By DIANE GARRETT

Normally, Variety’s events and Lockdown “accelerated our think- Rashida Jones, lific musician and producer, refuse "The Old Guard" marketing teams would be busy ing, I would say, but I don’t think it director Gina Prince- to let anybody’s perception of him Bythewood and preparing for our annual lun- changed the strategy,” Sarnoff says Lena Waithe address as a Black man limit him, and she diversity issues in the cheon celebrating the accomplish- in her taped keynote conversation. #Represent panel. hopes to use her own power as a ments of women in Hollywood at “We had to be more creative in terms writer-producer-performer to help this time. But these are not nor- of the movies that we had finished. others in her community. mal times, as we are all painfully For example, we launched the movie “[Quincy] just refused to stay in aware. With the ongoing pandemic ‘Scoob’ digitally and had to make that one lane and did what he wanted making large gatherings problem- decision, which wasn’t quite so sim- to do with all of the skill and hard atic in the greater Los Angeles ple back in March, when you were work that it takes to do that, and just region, our team pivoted to a vir- thinking about it.” kept pushing, pushing people aside tual gathering bursting with top She says Universal’s decision to pushing boundaries,” says Jones. talent and executives, spread over make “Trolls World Tour” a premium Now in a position of power herself, two days. VOD offering in April influenced the “I can bring other people along, and Variety’s Power of Women Con- studio’s decision the following month; I hope to continue to do that.” versations will stream Oct. 28 and at the time they made this decision, In her Variety Conversation, 29, and features entertainment no one was certain how long pan- Chastain talks about creating her industry leaders including Ann Sar- demic shutdowns would last. Not long own opportunities — and speaking noff, Chair and CEO of WarnerMedia after that, Sarnoff gained oversight of up about inequities, pay or other- Studios and Networks Group; Sia; freshly launched HBO Max, as well as wise. “I’ll tell you, shame is a pow- Jennifer Lopez; Jessica Chastain; four basic cable channels including erful, powerful weapon, and I am and Lena Waithe. During their con- TBS, under a massive studio reorg. not above using it,” she says in her versations, they offer insights on She calls HBO Max “a future-fac- taped conversation with produc- pressing issues facing Hollywood, ing delivery system,” but cautions ing partner Kelly Carmichael. “So from gender parity and inclusion that “the linear networks are going if there’s someone who isn’t being to the challenged theatrical mar- to be around for quite some time.” fair and just, I will a hundred per- ketplace. Figures including Stacey During the #Represent roundta- cent believe that they need to be Abrams and Arianna Huffington will ble, “The Old Guard” director Gina called out.” address issues such as the upcom- Prince-Bythewood, Rashida Jones Chastain became a producer to ing election and female leadership. and Waithe discuss the challenges develop projects she wanted to see. The conversations, presented by for women of color in Hollywood Her mantra for fellow creatives: Ask Lifetime, are free but require regis- with fellow participants Yara Sha- yourself: “What can you do to move tration in advance. hidi and Mara Brock Ali. Thanks to things along on your own?” During her keynote session with Netflix’s reach, Prince-Bythewood’s “Pen15” writer-stars Maya Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia female-led action film has been dis- Erskine and Anna Konkle, mean- Littleton, Sarnoff discusses the tributed to 190 countries, and racked while, joke about the squeamish studio’s recent reorg and its plans up 78 million views its first four challenges of playing middle-school- for big movies such as “Wonder weeks of release. ers on the Hulu show in their session Woman 1984” in the wake of “Ten- “The more that we can have suc- with Chelsea Peretti. et’s” low-watt theatrical debut in cesses like this, I think it’s just going Says Erskine: “You just have to the U.S., where so many theaters to help us as a people,” she says. always look for that truthful thing are still closed, compared to greater Growing up in Hollywood, Jones that you think no one else is going traction internationally. watched her father, Quincy, a pro- to relate to.”

POWER OF WOMEN P. 3 5

Untitled-3 1 10/23/20 6:24 PM L.A. WOMEN’S IMPACT REPORT Whether top execs, artisans or creatives, these women overcame unprecedented hurdles during a challenging time in the industry

The past few months has been such a dynamic time for this industry that it has been a challenge keeping up with all the realignments while put- ting together this year’s report. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has accelerated change, disrupting business models and personal lives. Still, the L.A.- based women on this list have found ways to innovate, and many are hopeful for the future. Gina Balian =(THE WOMEN OF) Amazon PRESIDENT, ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING, • ANDI FRIEDER, head of theatrical and FX ENTERTAINMENT home entertainment advertising In her first full year as original program- • JULIE RAPAPORT, co-head movies, ming president, Balian launched sev- Amazon Studios eral critically acclaimed series on the lin- Amazon’s movie division has been turning ear FX networks and the newly created heads with recent deals including “Coming FX on Hulu streaming platform. Highlights to America 2,” starring Eddie Murphy and for her include “Devs” from Alex Garland, originally planned for theatrical release the multi-Emmy-nominated “Mrs. Amer- by Paramount, plus the “Borat” sequel, ica” from Dahvi Waller and Noah Hawley’s which debuted last week, and “One Night highly anticipated new season of “Fargo.” in Miami,” Regina King’s feature directorial “These shows have something to say, but debut, which premiered at the Venice Film the way they say it is very unique and in Festival in September and will get a the- their own voice,” Balian says. “I don’t want atrical debut in December. “Films should us to ever be pinned down to doing one reflect the same diversity that makes our type of tone or one this or that. I think the world vibrant and beautiful,” says Rapa- breadth is what is exciting.” port. “I’m humbled to get to work with some of the brightest talent, emerging and established filmmakers, to tell their stories to a global audience.” Frieder’s team partners with major studios to engage audiences across Amazon’s suite of media and marketing channels. Acknowledging that PROFILES BY: Thomas K. Arnold, Jem it has been a challenging year to promote Aswad, Andrew Barker, Jon Burlingame, moviegoing, the former Spotify exec says Shalini Dore, Diane Garrett, Paula Hen- “it has also been a year of unprecedented drickson, James Patrick Herman, Dan Hol- innovation in bringing customers new ways loway, Carole Horst, Janet W. Lee, Todd to enjoy premium feature-length content, Longwell, Addie Morfoot, Jenelle Riley, whether that be in theaters or in the home Malina Saval, Ellise Shafer, Jazz Tangcay, Denotes alumni update via the new premium VOD model.” Danielle Turchiano

POWER OF WOMEN P. 37 RAPAPORT: AMAZON STUDIOS; BALIAN: MICHAEL BECKER/FX BALIAN: STUDIOS; AMAZON RAPAPORT: Ivy Kagan Bierman (THE WOMEN OF) (THE WOMEN OF) Tara Duncan PARTNER, LOEB & LOEB Capitol Music Group City National Bank PRESIDENT OF FREEFORM When the pandemic hit hard in March, • BRITNEY DAVIS, VP of artist • LINDA DUNCOMBE, EVP and chief Named Freeform president in May, Dun- Bierman put her decades of dealing with relations, marketing & special projects, marketing, product and digital officer can spent the summer getting to know Hollywood unions and guilds to work for cli- Capitol Music Group • MARTHA HENDERSON, EVP and her new colleagues virtually while also ents, first assisting them with the shut- • CINDY JAMES, head of commercial manager of entertainment banking focusing on “articulating our vision for down of their productions, then advising marketing, Caroline Music Faced with an unprecedented crisis the Freeform brand and reimagining what them how to restart safely and legally. She Davis arrived at Capitol Music Group shortly brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, our future could look like in the larger advised Time’s Up on guidelines for inti- after Lil Baby signed there three years ago Henderson called on her 40 years of Disney ecosystem.” Prior to joining Dis- mate and simulated sex scenes and Fre- and worked on his double-platinum album, experience in entertainment banking, not ney’s young adult cabler, Duncan served mantle on SAG-AFTRA investigations of “My Turn,” as well as his powerful single to mention her ability to navigate govern- as an executive at AMC and Netflix, over- Gabrielle Union’s allegations against it. “The Bigger Picture,” released after the kill- ment red tape, and secured nearly 6,000 seeing “Orange Is the New Black” and She also recently advised AMPAS on its ing of George Floyd, with proceeds partially Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans “Narcos” at the latter. “You have to be new standards of conduct. “Instead of benefitting Black Lives Matter. “He is a true totaling more than $800 million for her willing to take risks when it comes to sto- going into defense mode, I like to say let’s storyteller,” she says of the artist. “He was show business clients. At the same time, rytelling,” says Duncan, who signed an get to the facts and resolve this as quickly speaking purely as a Black man of 25 — it Duncombe, who joined City National Bank overall deal for Hulu in April and is devel- and painlessly as possible,” Bierman says. was so emotional and raw and authentic.” in January 2019, directed the bank’s phil- oping an adaptation of “The Other Black As head of commercial marketing, James anthropic efforts, quadrupling its support Girl” for the streamer. “I’m passionate strives to build connections and create for industry charities and orgs including about narratives and characters that repeat listens. Beyond the reign of Lil Baby, Broadway Cares, MusiCares, SAG-AFTRA, challenge convention.” who held the top album spot for five con- ACM Lifting Lives and the Actors Fund, secutive weeks, she’s pleased with the per- as well as favored causes such as Proj- formances of singer-songwriter Clairo and ect Angel Food. She also launched major Texas band Surfaces, two acts she’s been sponsorships of the Tribeca Film Festival developing over the past year. During the and Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, while con- second quarter, with lockdown measures tinuing its role as the official bank of the in place, “paid subscription revenues grew Tony Awards. “It was very important that Karey Burke significantly faster than they did in the first we showed our support,” says Duncombe. PRESIDENT, ABC ENTERTAINMENT quarter,” James says of streaming services. “This is the time when character is tested, The COVID-19 pandemic required Burke “So that’s really encouraging.” and we’re standing up to it.” to pivot from her plans “to bring the swag- Jane Gowen ger back to broadcast” and double-down EVP OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT on eventized programming, tailoring “The & MARKETING, UNIVERSAL Disney Family Singalong” to audiences MUSIC ENTERPRISES, UNIVERSAL largely stuck at home and shooting the MUSIC GROUP upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” As U.S. head of A&R and marketing for “in a bubble.” “It is a perfect example of the catalog division of the world’s largest the kind of ingenuity that this situation has music company, Gowen works with begat,” she says of the latter. “The chal- music’s top acts day in, day out. “In the lenge will be for us to take what worked out past year there’s been projects from Bob of these new, innovative ways of making Nicole Clemens Liesl Copland Marley, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, of television and imbue them in the work PRESIDENT, PARAMOUNT EVP, ADVISORY, NON-SCRIPTED GROUP, John Lennon and Cat Stevens, and U2 going forward so TV does feel refreshed.” TELEVISION STUDIOS ENDEAVOR CONTENT and Elton John are coming up,” she says. Clemens is especially proud of how her Copland specializes in music docs and “I’m very lucky.” In the streaming age, the team has not only maintained its collabo- sold “Beastie Boys Story” to Apple TV sky’s the limit for catalog sales: “Now, it’s rative and inclusive culture, but also nur- Plus, she oversaw the team that brought really about finding the story around a

tured it throughout the pandemic. “Our “Hamilton” to Disney Plus for a hefty catalog,” says the Los Angeles-based U.K. BOB D’AMICO/ABC team is closer than ever and we’ve contin- price. She helped launch Endeavor Con- transplant, who started her career at ued to keep our development and produc- tent’s investment practice and nailed the Virgin Records in London. Listening hasn’t tion pipelines full and stay optimistic about Amazon Studios deal for Rihanna’s docu- dipped with so many people stuck at the future.” Clemens points to Paramount mentary (reported to be $25 million). “My home. “In fact, it’s thriving.” Television Studios’ renewals, pilot orders reason for being in documentaries in the and 2021 series “The Offer” —as well as first place is that these are crazy, inspira- Rebecca Campbell the success of “Defending Jacob” and tional, true stories, and they can actually CHAIRMAN, DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER & “The Haunting of Bly Manor”— as evidence impact change,” she says. Copland sits INTERNATIONAL, WALT DISNEY CO. that content is king. A new series for HBO on the advisory board of One Community, Campbell stepped into her current role Max, “Station 11,” examines humanity in which invests in projects including “Just in May and soon presided over the hit the wake of a pandemic. “Who knew how Mercy” and calls that work “the best thing streaming release of “Hamilton” on Disney prescient that would be?” I do all day.” Plus. With theme parks shuttered and so many multiplexes still dark due to the pandemic, streaming is more important than ever to Disney, which shuffled “Mulan” to an exclusive premium VOD release on the service last month. “Whether it’s continu- ing to launch Disney Plus into new markets or bringing iconic, culturally significant programming to fans on Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, Hulu and Hotstar, I’m incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication “ of our teams,” says Campbell, previously president of the Disneyland Resort, who This is the time when reports directly to CEO Bob Chapek on international matters. character is tested, and we’re standing up to it.” –Linda Duncombe

P. 3 8 POWER OF WOMEN DUNCAN: RICK PROCTOR/FREEFORM; BURKE: CRAIG SJODIN/ABC; CLEMENS: MICHAEL BECKER/FX; COPLAND: PAUL SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY; CAMPBELL: CAMPBELL: SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY; PAUL COPLAND: CLEMENS: MICHAEL BECKER/FX; BURKE: CRAIG SJODIN/ABC; RICK PROCTOR/FREEFORM; DUNCAN:

(THE WOMEN OF) Grey’s Anatomy • DEBBIE ALLEN, EP, director, recurring actor • ELLEN POMPEO, actor, producer • KRISTA VERNOFF, showrunner • CHANDRA WILSON, actor, director One of the first major shows to halt production during the pandemic, ABC’s long-running medical show ended its 16th season early and debated whether to tackle the pandemic in its upcoming season before deciding to lean in and dedicate it to first responders. From the Nov. 12 season premiere on, it tackle the pandemic as experienced by the show’s doctors — all while (THE WOMEN OF) filming under strict COVID-19 protocols. As EP, director and recurring star Allen puts it: “COVID is No. 1 on the call sheet right now.” Hello Sunshine For her part, star and producer Pompeo hopes that the global health crisis will help • SARAH HARDEN, CEO change Hollywood’s attitude toward pro- • LAUREN NEUSTADTER, head of film & TV duction. “I hope post-COVID nobody ever • REESE WITHERSPOON, founder goes back to 24 or 22 episodes a season,” she says. “It’s why people get sick.” Read more, p. 20 Any lingering Max. Books — some of which are doubts about Hello selected for Witherspoon’s affil- Sunshine’s produc- iated book club — are often the ing acumen have basis of television projects or surely faded with the streamer movies produced by the company. launches of “The Morning Show” “When we set out to build the on Apple TV Plus and “Little Fires company, we knew we had a wor- Alison Hoffman Everywhere” on Hulu, which gar- thy mission that was important," PRESIDENT, DOMESTIC nered 13 Emmy nominations says CEO Harden, right. “But we NETWORKS, STARZ between them. The second sea- also knew it was good business.” Starz has experienced exceptional growth, especially in the OTT realm, according to son of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” also “When I started Hello Sunshine, Hoffman. But she’s also excited by the received five noms, bringing Hello I often found myself talking to peo- network’s ongoing commitment to telling Sunshine’s nomination haul to 18 ple about female representation women’s stories. “Eleven of our 16 showrunners are women, a third of those are this year. “Morning Show” co-star and saw blank faces staring back women of color,” she says, including those Billy Crudup ultimately snagged a at me,” Witherspoon says. “That behind renewed series such as “Hightown,” supporting actor Emmy, the first doesn’t happen as much now, and “P-Valley” and “Power Book II: Ghost,” as well as upcoming comedy “Run the World.” Emmy win for the fledgling Apple there’s definitely momentum in “Almost 70% of our shows feature women TV Plus service, while Jennifer Anis- Hollywood to diversify storytelling.” in a leading role, and half of those are ton won a SAG trophy for her per- The company has doubled down women of color.” Per Hoffman: Starz will continue providing viewers with premium formance. A second season of “The on optimistic storytelling in the programming while supporting and ampli- Morning Show” is in the works, with wake of the pandemic. “As quaran- fying women’s voices and diverse voices. key talent returning. tine has made clear, people want to Witherspoon, who co-starred in be entertained and sometimes need all three, founded Hello Sunshine a reprieve from bad news,” Wither- four years ago to focus on female- spoon says. “We want to give them led stories. And it turns out having uplifting and hopeful TV shows and a woman propel a narrative — be films.” Adds Neustadter: “Hope is an it a novel, a television show or a essential ingredient. The character film — isn’t such a bad idea from can go through really challenging a financial or creative standpoint. stuff, but we always want to show Hello Sunshine has projects in the our audience that there is light at works at Amazon, Apple, Hulu, the end of the tunnel.” Netflix HBO, MGM, Starz and HBO — Addie Morfoot

P. 40 POWER OF WOMEN ALLEN, VERNOFF: ABC (2); POMPEO: SHAYAN ASGHARNIA; WILSON: TINA BERNARD; HELLO SUNSHINE: JORDAN STRAUSS/INVISION/AP SUNSHINE: JORDAN HELLO TINA BERNARD; WILSON: ASGHARNIA; SHAYAN ABC (2); POMPEO: ALLEN, VERNOFF: AMAZON STUDIOS PROUDLY CONGRATULATES

Regina King Director, One Night in Miami… Julie Rapaport Co-Head of Movies, Amazon Studios

Sarah Streicher Creator & Executive Producer, The Wilds

Untitled-6 1 10/26/20 12:55 PM (THE WOMEN OF) Hulu • KELLY CAMPBELL, president • BEATRICE SPRINGBORN, VP, content development This strange year had its upside for Hulu, home to Emmy nominees including “Nor- mal People” and “Little Fires Everywhere.” “Hulu’s grown to 35.5 million paid subscribers, and 3.4 million of those are live subscribers,” Campbell says. TV might seem frivolous compared with COVID and the never-ending news cycle, Springborn says, but it’s essential. “What’s important is to remind ourselves that there is still art being made, people need comedy to let off steam, and when we can’t hug our loved ones, being able to experience the intimacy of ‘Normal People’ is actually a lifesaver. We may not be doing God’s work, but if we’re able to bring moments of joy, reflection and levity during this strange time, then I know Regina King my job has meaning and light.” Campbell says advertisers are following consumers to Actor, director streaming. “They’re looking at streaming TV as an essential part of their marketing mix, not an afterthought.” Already on an of time in one room. So we decided awards tear, King to use artistic license and make made her feature the room considerably bigger than film directorial what the actual room would have debut with “One Night in Miami,” been. To help lean into the vitality which premiered at the Venice of these men, we decided to keep Film Festival, and then proceeded the camera moving at all times to pick up her fourth Emmy — throughout the film.” Pearlena Igbokwe this time for her performance in Featuring discursive, play- CHAIRMAN, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS GROUP, NBCUNIVERSAL “Watchmen” — two weeks later. ful and, at times, incendiary Elevated to her current role in NBCU’s Sep- There are normal mid-career exchanges between these four tember reorg, Igbokwe counts maintaining Hollywood renaissances, and then famous men, “Miami” often can’t human connections and figuring out how to safely resume production during the pan- there’s whatever you call King’s help but feel like it’s speaking demic among her most significant accom- past half-decade. A working actor directly to the present moment, plishments of 2020. She says adaptabil- since the mid-1980s, with roles in which was something King didn’t ity proved vital. Pitching shows via Zoom, establishing safety protocols and remote “Boyz N the Hood,” “Friday” and hesitate to lean into. “The dis- productions including the “Parks and Rec- “Jerry Maguire,” King has won a cussions between Malcolm and reation” and “30 Rock” specials and NBC’s Golden Globe and an Oscar for Sam were happening before any- new series “Connecting,” helped create other production models. Igbokwe hopes acting in addition to her Emmys one knew about a Malcolm X or a societal inequities brought to light this within the past five years. Sam Cooke, so for Black people the year will ultimately improve representation Adapted from Kemp Powers’ moment is always now, regardless among industry decision-makers. “We went through the #MeToo era seeing more play, “One Night in Miami” fea- of what year the conversation is women empowered, and now, more peo- tures a speculative imagining of a taking place.” ple of color being empowered in from of the real-life 1964 meeting of the minds And for that reason, King felt camera as well as behind it,” she notes. between Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, it important to move full-steam Jim Brown and boxer Cassius Clay, ahead with the film’s rollout — it soon to change his name to Muham- will receive a limited Christmas mad Ali. King had directed TV epi- release before hitting Amazon sodes before, but her debut feature Prime in early January — despite offered plenty of fresh wrinkles. the pandemic. “The biggest challenge was to “With all of the devastation we make it not feel like a play,” King are in the midst of, I believe we says. “That outcome may have been are at a precipice,” King says. “We inevitable in certain moments. But I felt strongly that if this film can felt Kemp’s dialogue was so power- have a positive impact on anyone ful that with the right actors those at this juncture, we should get it moments, if they came up, would out there.” be forgiven. We spend quite a bit — Andrew Barker

P. 42 POWER OF WOMEN KING: DIANA L. RAGLAND; CAMPBELL: AUSTIN HARGRAVE/HULU; SPRINGBORN: HULU; IGBOKWE: CHRIS HASTON/NBC SPRINGBORN: HULU; HARGRAVE/HULU; AUSTIN CAMPBELL: KING: DIANA L. RAGLAND; congratulates our clients

ALICE WU Women’s Impact Report LA: Up Next Honoree

MINDY KALING ELLEN POMPEO GINA PRINCE-BYTHEWOOD REESE WITHERSPOON ZENDAYA

and our very own

LISA JOSEPH-METELUS Women’s Impact Report LA Honorees

Untitled-1 1 10/22/20 7:51 PM Laura Karpman COMPOSER Karpman won her first primetime Emmy for music in the documentary series “Why We Hate” in September and found ways to record orchestral film scores remotely during the pandemic, culminating in an operatic sequence for HBO’s “Lovecraft Country.” Next up: Marvel’s animated “What If?” series for Disney Plus. The co-founder of the Alliance for Women Film Compos- IMAGES ers is also the first female music governor in the Motion Picture Academy. “When you do advocacy work, you create a community of people that cares about each other. Whether it’s recording musicians, or pro- motion of women, we’re a family and we need to help each other,” she says.

Jennifer Lane EP, “QUEER EYE” Last month, Lane won her third consecutive Emmy for structured reality program as EP of (THE WOMEN OF) Netﬂix’s revived “Queer Eye,” the gold standard of nonscripted series. (It’s snagged 17 noms and eight wins overall since its Net- ﬂix debut in 2018.) Lane has led the Fab Five ‘The Old Guard’ in their quest to transform lives, and throw • DANA GOLDBERG, producer a spotlight on the people who comprise • BETH KONO, producer the diversity of modern America. “As these • KIKI LAYNE, actor kinds of shows become more popular, I think • GINA PRINCE-BYTHEWOOD, director it’s because it’s kind of nice to just see real • CHARLIZE THERON, actor, producer human interaction,” she says. As for the next season, it’s been put on hold because of COVID. “I’m proud of our great American cities and their diversity.” Netflix hit action The film was “really showing movie “The Old what so many of us are capable of

Guard” busted ste- doing, and have a desire to do but AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP EVAN THERON: IMAGES; USA/AP AGENCY/SIPA PRESS IMAGE LAYNE: IMAGES; CHRIS PIZZELLO/AP KONO: SSO/PARAMOUNT; reotypes onscreen have not been given the opportu- and off: The director is a Black nity because of false narratives woman, both lead actors are that have been perpetuated for women, and most of the heads of years” — namely that women don’t the departments and post crew like action films, don’t want to Donna Langley were women. make them and are not capable of CHAIRMAN, UNIVERSAL FILMED Was that intentional? “It was all making them, Prince-Bythewood ENTERTAINMENT GROUP intentional — 100% — to go in and says. “So I was absolutely grateful Langley tackled the pandemic’s challenges head-on in her leadership role at Univer- disrupt the genre, not only the film for the opportunity.” sal, as the studio made the bold decision on screen, but who put it together,” The movie debuted mid-pan- to release “Trolls World Tour” direct to PVOD says director Prince-Bythewood. demic and Greg Rucka is working and forged a deal with AMC that will allow Universal titles to premiere in the home as Theron got the script for "The on a script for a planned sequel, early as three weeks after their theatrical Old Guard” while shooting “Bomb- Theron acknowledged to Vari- debut. She also ran the working group for shell,” and signed on to star and ety recently, but it’s unclear when film and TV on the L.A. County Economic Resiliency task force to help get produc- produce, joining producing part- that might move forward due to tion back up and running. “Distribution is ner Kono and Skydance’s Gold- COVID-19. incredibly dynamic, and the trends that berg in that capacity. Layne, best “For me, in my work, my hope were happening pre-COVID have just been accelerated,” says the British native. “But known for “If Beale Street Could is that in doing films like the ‘Old theatrical will continue to be the bedrock Talk,” jumped at the chance to play Guard,’ women, girls, teens can of our business model.” Nile, the unwitting new recruit to look up on screen, see themselves the team of immortals led by Ther- reflected in a way that inspires on’s weary Andi, calling it “super them,” says Prince-Bythewood. dope to be an action star.” — Carole Horst

P. 4 4 POWER OF WOMEN KARPMAN: JAY L. CLENDENIN/LOS ANGELES TIMES/CONTOUR RA/GETTY IMAGES; LANGLEY: ART STREIBER/UNIVERSAL PICTURES;GOLDBERG: JOHN RU PICTURES;GOLDBERG: STREIBER/UNIVERSAL ART LANGLEY: IMAGES; RA/GETTY ANGELES TIMES/CONTOUR L. CLENDENIN/LOS KARPMAN: JAY Congratulations, WOMEN’S IMPACT HONOREES Including our very own Linda Duncombe and Martha Henderson for the second year in a row! Your strong leadership in banking and beyond continues to inspire us every day.

Linda Duncombe Martha Henderson Executive Vice President Executive Vice President Marketing, Product and Digital Entertainment Banking

Proud to be one of America’s best employers for women.*

*Forbes listed City National Bank as one of America’s Best Employers for Women in 2020. City National Bank Member FDIC. City National Bank is a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada.

Untitled-3 1 10/22/20 7:53 PM Annie Lee Carianne Marshall (THE WOMEN OF) (THE WOMEN OF) CFO, INTERSCOPE GEFFEN A&M CO-CHAIR AND COO, MGM Netflix With artists including Lady Gaga, DaBaby, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC • PAMELA ABDY, president, • BELA BAJARIA, VP of global TV Selena Gomez and Juice WRLD on its ros- Marshall and CEO Guy Moot have used motion picture group • AMY REINHARD, VP of studio operations ter, Interscope Geffen A&M is a mar- the lockdown to reimagine what a publish- • LORI SILFEN, EVP and head of music • BOZOMA SAINT JOHN, CMO ket-share leader this year. And Lee, pro- ing company can be. They’ve leaned into Abdy joined MGM in April and is working The pandemic has been a boon to Net- moted to CFO in 2019, is at the financial virtual songwriters’ camps, launched a roy- with new chairman Michael De Luca to beef flix, which landed a record 160 Emmy noms and operational helm of the Universal alties app and inked deals with Quincy up the venerable studio’s lineup. Acquisi- (winning 21), and continued to pump out Music Group label. The daughter of immi- Jones, Frank Ocean, Thomas Rhett, Mike tions include Ron Howard’s “Thirteen Lives” programming for domestic and interna- grants from Taiwan, Lee credits her par- WiLL Made-It, the Pop Smoke estate and and Tommy Kail’s “Fiddler on the Roof”; tional audiences. Bajaria expanded her ents for their “tenacity and drive to create Duran Duran. “Doing all this during a pan- Abdy, who produced last year’s “Queen & duties in September and now oversees all a life in a foreign country. It’s a reminder demic has been a bit like fixing a plane Slim,” is also overseeing development for English- and local-language scripted and that I can overcome any task.” Lee has while it’s flying,” she says. “But we’ve suc- Orion Pictures, focused on fostering under- unscripted series. Among the notable offer- been an advocate for diversity and inclu- cessfully transitioned to become a fully represented voices in film. “I believe there is ings: Emmy-nominated “Unorthodox,” shot sion at IGA, determined to lead by example remote company, and, for better or worse, space for bold stories with real authorship in Brooklyn and Berlin. “Accomplishments and to mentor up-and-coming executives. all these Zoom calls have enabled us to from underrepresented voices,” Abdy says. during the pandemic are a tall order,” says deploy our new strategies all at once, “We are living in an era where art and con- Bajaria. “But I do feel proud that we’ve been rather than through a series of town halls. tent will directly reflect what the world looks able to bring the world some comfort and A lot of teams that were previously siloed like.” Silfen oversees MGM’s music oper- entertainment this year.” are now really excited about bringing ideas ations across film and TV; notable devel- Also elevated to her new role in Sep- to the whole company.” opments include Billie Eilish’s theme song tember, Reinhard oversees physical pro- for the next Bond movie, “No Time to Die,” duction for all original programming as and gaining rights to iconic Aretha Frank- well as IP management. She closed deals lin songs for “Respect.” A recent high point, for “Avatar” and “Seinfeld”; a “Stranger she says, was “getting to watch Jennifer Things” drive-into experience will enable Jennifer Lee Hudson perform those songs on set, which fans to interact in a socially distant man- was very special given the fact that Aretha ner. “Over the last year, audiences around CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, had handpicked Jennifer to play her.” the world have turned to entertainment WALT DISNEY PICTURES ANIMATION; for moments of escape, nostalgia, laughter WRITER-DIRECTOR, “FROZEN 2” and everything in between,” Reinhard says. Beyond her executive duties, Lee wrote Jennifer McDaniels Saint John, named CMO in June, and directed “Frozen 2,” which has become recently launched Netflix’s first global the highest-grossing animated film of all G.M., MUSIC, SB PROJECTS A full slate of stars — including Justin Bie- brand campaign, “One Story Away,” about time since its November release, a title it the power of stories to stir emotions and seems unlikely to surrender any time soon. ber, Ariana Grande, J Balvin and Demi Lovato — keep McDaniels busy at SB Proj- create bonds among viewers. “My big- And yet, having taken the top job of chief gest accomplishment this year is in sim- creative officer at Walt Disney Animation ects. In May she helped orchestrate Bie- ber and Grande’s hit “Stuck With U,” which ply being,” she says. “If you aim to disrupt Studios just two years ago, we may only be the disruption of the global pandemic com- seeing the beginning of Lee’s stewardship. raised funds for the First Responders Chil- Vanessa Morrison dren’s Foundation. “Our whole team just pounded by racial and social unrest, you Up next, the Southeast Asia-set “Raya and PRESIDENT, STREAMING, WALT DISNEY may find yourself and your brand irrecov- the Last Dragon,” about which she says: really came together and felt like we were doing something great and very special STUDIOS MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION erably damaged. So this year, it has been “I’m most proud of our studio for making In March, Morrison segued from Fox Fam- much more of a positive accomplishment an entire animated feature from over 400 at that moment,” McDaniels says of the song. Her next focus: The presidential elec- ily to Disney, where she oversees some of to be human.” different homes and, while apart, finding the same film projects — but they will now ways to be just as connected.” tion, with the release of Lovato’s politi- cally charged single “Commander in Chief” be distributed on Disney Plus, an even big- and the creation of March on Ballot Boxes, ger corporate focus thanks to the pan- which has partnered with HeadCount and demic. Among her upcoming projects: Black Voters Matter to increase registra- a multiracial version of “Cheaper by the PHOTOGRAPHY BOB METELUS METELUS: JEFF NEWTON; LIFFORD: FOX; CENTURY LMAN; MORRISON: RICHARD RADSTONE/20TH tion and fight against voter suppression. Dozen” from Kenya Barris; “Godmothered” with Isla Fisher; an adaptation of “Flora and Ulysses”; and an animated version of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” “When you’re in family content, you look at Disney from afar and see the power of that brand and the power Pam Lifford of what it means to people all around the world,” she says, “and now to kind of be a PRESIDENT, GLOBAL BRAND AND part of it is really exciting.” EXPERIENCES, WARNER BROS. Lifford orchestrated DC FanDome, a virtual event that generated 22 million views Lisa Joseph Metelus across 220 countries and territories over CO-HEAD, BASKETBALL a 24-hour period in August, engaging fans MARKETING AND SERVICING AND at a time when so many in-person events BOARD MEMBER, CAA have been curtailed due to the pandemic. Metelus handles all the off-court deals Beyond DC, Lifford also oversees brand for players. For a client such as retired experiences for themed entertainment NBA star Dwayne Wade, that includes “ (including the Wizarding World of Harry everything from brand partnerships, a Potter at Universal Studios) and consumer We’re living in a

second book for HarperCollins and his MILAN SPEL MCDANIELS: LEE: RICKY MIDDLESWORTH/DISNEY; CAREN; ELISABETH products for all Warner Bros. properties. wine company D Wade Cellars to his role She calls fans “the lifeblood of our busi- as Lamont in a Zoom table read of “San- time when art and ness” and maintains that, “with the cur- ford & Son.” She also reps Zion William- rent environment, reaching fans today has son, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Collin Sexton. content will directly become more important than ever.” “The conversation is always, are you doing this because it’s something you’re reﬂect what the excited about or is it just because of a check?” she says. “Nine out of 10 times, world looks like.” if it’s just because of a check, it doesn’t bode well for either side.” –Pamela Abdy

P. 46 POWER OF WOMEN LEE: INTERSCOPE GEFFEN A&M; MARSHALL: RYAN FORBES; ABDY: ABDY: FORBES; RYAN GEFFEN A&M; MARSHALL: LEE: INTERSCOPE Congratulations to Ivy Kagan Bierman for recognition of your impactful culture transformation work, and to all of our friends on Variety’s 2020 Women’s Impact Report Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES WASHINGTON, DC NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO CHICAGO BEIJING NASHVILLE HONG KONG loeb.com

1028 WV Stacked Ads_MGO & LOEB.indd 6 10/26/20 5:12 PM (THE WOMEN OF) ‘Never Have I Ever’ • LANG FISHER, co-creator • MINDY KALING, co-creator • MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN, actor When Netflix approached Kaling about doing a show based on her memoirs, she chose to update it from Boston in the 1990s to a teen living in today’s San Fer- nando Valley. The biggest challenge was finding the right girl to play Devi, the teen at the center of the drama. Ramakrish- nan, a Canadian of Sri Lankan descent, was discovered after a massive search, and made her professional debut in the series. But beyond Devi, Kaling and co-creator Fisher also wanted to create a strong maternal character, played by Poorna Jagannathan. “Both Mindy and I have moms who are doctors,” says Fisher. “We both were very close to our moms who were incredibly smart women and we wanted to embody Nalini with that kind of well-rounded strong, smart persona. Kind of an homage to our own mothers.” The series debuted in late April, and quickly became a pandemic hit. Ramakrishnan has a simple explanation Susan Rovner for its success: “If you are South Asian you can relate to Devi, but there are other Chairman, entertainment content for television and streaming, NBCUniversal things you can relate, too, like the loss of a parent,” Ramakrishnan says. “That’s not something that just South Asian people go Earlier this month, During the end of her WBTV run, through. All people go through that. And Rovner left her Rovner spent a lot of time focused even the teen angst of just being a high- schooler. We’ve all been 15 at one point, perch as co-presi- on COVID-19 safety protocols, and right? Devi, her character is very relatable, dent of Warner Bros. she expects the pandemic to have but so are the rest of the characters.” TV for NBCUniver- permanently altered how the enter- Kaling and Fisher, who both gave birth to sons in the past 12 months, have since sal, attracted by the opportunity to tainment industry will approach been working on Season 2, slated to go work in a more horizontal structure. production. “I think productions back into production in November. Zoom “I really liked the ability to will never look the same,” she says. writers’ room are more efficient and have led to Zoom table reads, they say. come in here and really focus “I think we will take what we’ve on, what is the best content? And learned in all these COVID proto- what is the best way for us to dis- cols into the future.” tribute it?” says Rovner, who sold Working at home since the pan- shows to myriad buyers during demic shutdown, Rovner has been her 22-year run at Warner Bros. getting to know her new colleagues “Distribution systems are going via Zoom calls and will soon begin to constantly change; obviously, socially distanced forays to her Catherine O’Hara right now everything is moving to new studio home. ACTOR streaming and on demand. While NBCU has begun to start O’Hara won the lead actress in a comedy “But what will never change is back production of scripted pro- Emmy last month after presenters Jimmy the need for great content. That gramming such as “This Is Us,” she Kimmel and Jennifer Aniston lit the card on fire — and she now owns that charred is always going to be a constant. doesn’t really expect the industry card. “My name was read, and that was the And that’s how I approach things to settle back into a new normal beginning of a crazy, dreamy, are-we-mak- because I think, however, wher- until after a vaccine has become ing-this-up, night of happy tears and fearless embraces,” says the “Schitt’s Creek” ever, you watch it, if it’s a great widely available. star. As former soap star Moira Rose, show, you’ll find it.” “We’re testing a lot, and every O’Hara parodied the shallow, self-cen- At Warner Bros., she over- time your stomach drops if you get tered world of Hollywood while also creating a character that audiences came to saw development of more than a positive and what that means. love. Though O’Hara was born and raised 70 live-action shows, and counts But I’m so happy that we’re back in Toronto, Canada, she’s also a longtime Emmy-winner “Watchmen,” Apple in production,” she says. “It’s the Angeleno, where she makes her home with her husband, production designer Bo TV Plus’ “Ted Lasso” and “You,” a first step towards some normality. Welch, and has previously stolen scenes in show that segued from Lifetime to “Until there’s a vaccine,” how- films from “Beetlejuice” to “Best in Show.” Netflix, as three standouts from ever, “everything’s going to be a What recent achievement is she most proud of? “I voted! I hope that counts.” the past year, noting that all three little more challenging.” were backed by strong writers. — Diane Garrett

P. 4 8 POWER OF WOMEN RAMAKRISHNAN: VINSIA MAHARAJAH; ROVNER: TERENCE PATRICK/NBCUNIVERSAL ROVNER: RAMAKRISHNAN: VINSIA MAHARAJAH; Wendy Ong Ann Sarnoff Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i Robin Thede PRESIDENT, TAP MANAGEMENT CHAIR AND CEO, WARNERMEDIA EVP OF ENTERTAINMENT DIVERSITY & CREATOR, SHOWRUNNER, PERFORMER, Ong oversaw the opening of the Lon- STUDIOS AND NETWORKS GROUP INCLUSION, WEST COAST, VIACOMCBS “A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW” don-based company’s Los Angeles office Under a massive WarnerMedia shakeup Now charged with leading diversity and Thede calls the three Emmy noms for her and worked extensively on two major lock- in August, Sarnoff gained expanded inclusion initiatives for CBS Entertainment, HBO comedy “such a reward for so many down releases — Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostal- duties, now overseeing a newly formed Showtime and Paramount, Smith-Anoa'i people who worked incredibly hard to help gia,” considered a top Grammy contender, studios and networks group that com- began developing diversity programs for me make my dream of a cinematic, narra- and Ellie Goulding’s “Brightest Blue Eyes” — bines original production and program- CBS more than a decade ago. Among the tive, all-Black woman sketch show come as well as the forthcoming release of Lana ming across Warner Bros., HBO and HBO initiatives: annual symposiums with cast- true.” She’s eager to get back for Season Del Rey’s sixth album in eight years, “Chem- Max, and basic cable channels TNT, TBS ing directors to improve diversity and Eye 2 of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” “when it’s trails Over the Country Club.” “One skill I and TruTV. Her elevation came one year Speak to foster female empowerment. “I safe to do so” and has also entered into honed in doing international marketing is after she officially took the reins as the took a deep breath, trusted and valued an overall TV deal with Warner Bros. If any- how to be a diplomat — how to get other first female chair-CEO of Warner Bros. my voice and believed in something that thing, the shutdown has made her more people to do what you want them to do, and “I’ve never been shy at taking risks and had never been presented to the network,” passionate about her work. “The time for also how to spend their money for them taking on challenges,” says Sarnoff. One says Smith-Anoa’i, who joined CBS as a voices like mine and other Black women is wisely,” says Ong, a native of Malaysia who of the highlights of the past year? See- publicist in 2000. To foster greater inclu- now. More people are listening, but there’s became president of TaP in 2018. ing Joaquin Phoenix win best actor, both sion, she recruits community college stu- still a long way to go.” at Golden Globes and the Oscars. “Those dents for intern openings and invites every were big moments because ‘Joker’ was a employee to executive meetings. “Talent is challenging movie,” she says. universal, but opportunity is not,” she says. “And we change that by inviting young people to challenge our outdated system and values.”

Bruna Papandrea Karen Rupert Toliver TV AND FILM PRODUCER EVP CREATIVE, SONY PICTURES Normally based in L.A. with her family, ANIMATION Papandrea has temporarily moved back to Sarah Schechter Toliver calls working on the Oscar-win- her native Australia, where she’s gone back CHAIRMAN AND PARTNER, ning “Hair Love” a highlight of her career, into production on projects her company BERLANTI PRODS. not just the year. “For me, it signaled a had on the runway prior to the industry’s Elevated to her newly created role in Feb- Cathleen Taff strong embrace of depicting positive Black COVID-19 shutdown. Post-“Big Little Lies” ruary, Sarah Schechter oversees film and PRESIDENT, PRODUCTION images and normalizing the Black experi- projects include HBO’s “The Undoing,” with TV projects for the prolific production com- SERVICES, FRANCHISE MANAGEMENT ence,” she says. Toliver is hoping success Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant; Hulu’s “Nine pany, serving as EP on shows including & MULTICULTURAL ENGAGEMENT, will inspire filmmakers to be bold in depict- Perfect Strangers”; and “Pieces of Her” for “Riverdale,” “You” and “All American.” Its WALT DISNEY CO. ing different ethnicities and experiences, Netflix. “Penguin Bloom,” starring Naomi first documentary project, “Helter Skel- Taff oversaw a record-setting $11 bil- and show studios what audiences really Watts, debuted at the Toronto Film Festival. ter: An American Myth,” premiered on Epix lion haul at the global box office last year, want. She is excited for the studio’s first Earlier in the pandemic, she co-founded It this summer and its second, “Equal,” for fueled in part by the latest “Star Wars” musical, “Vivo,” with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Takes Our Village, an industry initiative that HBO Max, debuted last week. “The market movie, live-action version of “The Lion and about using animation to tell relevant raised almost $1 million for below-the-line is ever-changing,” says Schechter, whose King” and “Frozen 2.” Then the pandemic and diverse stories. “We’re just starting workers. “Even in Australia, where there’s father is a documentarian. “We want to hit, upending the theatrical business; to scratch the surface of where animation very little COVID,” new precautions guard- just keep working with people that we love, “Mulan” eventually debuted on Disney Plus can go, and I’m looking forward to being ing against its spread have quickly become that we believe in and tell stories that domestically. “We’re monitoring the virus surprised by what that looks like.” normalized, Papandrea says. “People adapt, haven’t been told.” and are incredibly optimistic about return- TOMMASO BODDI; TAFF: BOBBY QUILLARD; TOLIVER: SONY TOLIVER: QUILLARD; BOBBY BODDI; TAFF: TOMMASO because they’re so excited to work.” For more, read the feature on p. 30 ing the movies to cinemas as soon as we can,” says Taff, who just segued to new duties following a massive studio reorg. In her new role, she leads a production services group that includes operations, technology and labor relations, and will continue to oversee franchise management and multicultural engagement.

Vanessa Pappas Nicole Sexton INTERIM GLOBAL HEAD, TIKTOK PRESIDENT AND CEO, The pandemic boosted TikTok’s popular- ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY ity even further, creating viral stars rang- FOUNDATION ing from comedian Sarah Cooper to a Since the COVID-19 pandemic, EIF has dis- guy skateboarding to Fleetwood Mac’s bursed more than $10 million in grants “Dreams” while drinking Ocean Spray. “Tik- to those in need, including ﬁrst respond- Tok has become a home for these cul- ers. Sexton was also an executive pro- tural zeitgeist moments,” says Pappas, who ducer of Graduate Together, a star-stud- became interim chief following Kevin May- ded telecast created in tandem with XQ er’s exit in August. “No one could have been Institute that celebrated 3 million high- able to predict the impact TikTok has had in school seniors and drew some 20 million “ such short order.” The silver lining: “Despite viewers in May. “Seeing all of this kindness The time for voices being physically separated from the ofﬁce, and people coming together, it really has we’ve embraced the humanizing moments been so beautiful, like this kind of unbe- like mine and other — whether it’s your 4-year-old making an lievable symphony,” says Sexton, who has appearance on a video conference or your headed the charitable org since 2017. “Our dog who simply won’t stop barking — that role, and our hope, is that EIF will continue Black women is now.” help us connect in a more real and per- to be the go-to organization to help those sonal way.” in need.” –Robin Thede

POWER OF WOMEN P. 49 ONG: MYLES PETTENGILL; SARNOFF: ROBERT VOETS/WARNER BROS.; PAPANDREA: HILARY BRONWYN GAYLE/HBO; THEDE: ANNE MARIE FOX; SEXTON: SEXTON: THEDE: ANNE MARIE FOX; BRONWYN GAYLE/HBO; HILARY PAPANDREA: BROS.; VOETS/WARNER ROBERT ONG: MYLES PETTENGILL; SARNOFF: (THE WOMEN OF) Dahvi Waller Emma Watts Jana Winograde UTA CREATOR, “MRS. AMERICA” PRESIDENT, MOTION PICTURE GROUP, PRESIDENT OF ENTERTAINMENT, • ANDREA NELSON MEIGS, partner Waller’s FX on Hulu series about the estro- PARAMOUNT PICTURES SHOWTIME • CHERYL PAGLIERANI, gen-fueled battle over ERA ratification in The former Fox exec, who joined Para- Showtime planned ahead for a work stop- partner and agent, music the 1970s received 10 Emmy nominations, mount over the summer, is looking forward page due to Writers Guild negotiations, • TONI WALLACE, co-head of music including for limited series, and won a sup- to building the next slate of Paramount so was well-prepared when COVID-19 hit. brand partnerships porting actress trophy for Uzo Aduba’s por- films, the safe return of movies to theaters Having leaned further into docuseries, the Nelson Meigs exited ICM Partners for UTA trayal of 1972 presidential candidate Shir- and actually setting foot on the Paramount network had a high volume of titles (such last week, repping a diverse stable of cli- ley Chisholm. Waller, who grew up a political lot. She says creative ways of addressing as “Outcry” and “Love Fraud”) for prime ents ranging from music superstar Beyoncé junkie in Canada, devoted installments of the pandemic — from her informal water- Sunday night spots previously reserved to Oscar-winning 80-something actress “Mrs. America” to feminists such as Gloria cooler Zoom sessions in lieu of office con- for scripted fare. “The Chi’s” third season Ellen Burstyn. A onetime child actress, she Steinem and Chisholm in addition to conversations, to finding ways to get people ticked up in its ratings and social conver- eventually became the second Black talent servative leader Phyllis Schlafly, highlight- back to work safely — are spurring inno- sations, while new limited series “The Good agent in CAA’s history. Other clients include ing gender issues that seem eerily relevant vation. “There’s a benefit from really trying Lord Bird” and “The Comey Rule” also cap- Oscar-winning writer-director Matthew A. today. “Anytime you take a period in history, to figure out the balance between stream- tured zeitgeist discussions. Showtime’s Cherry (“Hair Love”) and actor Aunjanue and you’re doing it for today’s audiences, ing and theatrical, and how they can both success, Winograde says, comes from Ellis (“Lovecraft Country”). “You’re really you choose the stories to tell that are going serve each other and create an even bet- “distinguishing ourselves and really try- starting to see a lot of the talent say how to resonate for today,” says Waller, a vet of ter theatrical experience for audiences.” ing to be the boutique, bespoke operation meaningful it is to have representatives “Mad Men” and “Halt and Catch Fire.” amidst the big-box stores.” that look like them, so they have a short- hand where they can say, ‘You know what I’m talking about, right?’” she says. Paglier- ani, recently promoted to partner, orchestrated Post Malone’s livestreamed Nirvana tribute in April, which raised half a million dollars for COVID-19 relief, and with Wal- lace helped organize the Offset & Friends benefit, which provided more than 300,000 meals for an Atlanta food bank. “Every- Cori Wellins one is more than ready to get back on the PARTNER, TV SCRIPTED, WME Zendaya road, and I believe we will see an increase A longtime key player at the agency, WME ACTOR in the amount of people looking to attend scripted television partner Wellins rep- Zendaya made history when she became live shows once it is safe to do so,” Paglier- resents a broad array of producers and the youngest woman to win the lead ani says. Wallace also struck a partner- talent. Wellins’ clients Bruna Papandrea, actress Emmy for drama series, best- ship between Chance the Rapper and Ver- Amy Schumer, Lilly Singh, Leah Fong and ing stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Sandra izon to raise money for small businesses, Carla Kettner all had new series ordered Oh and last year’s victor Jodie Comer for plus a pact between rapper 21 Savage and this year. And the agent negotiated fresh her performance as Rue Bennett, a teen mobile banking provider Chime to create a (THE WOMEN OF) overall deals on behalf of Alan Yang, Adam grappling with bipolar disorder, in HBO’s financial literacy program for underserved WarnerMedia Goldberg, Liz Meriwether, Lee Eisenberg, “Euphoria.” Zendaya, the second Black youth. “Since COVID-19 struck in March, we • SARAH AUBREY, Lizzie and Wendy Molyneaux, Liz Flahive woman to win a trophy in that category, is have secured over 200 partnerships with head of original content, HBO Max and Zander Lehmann. Wellins’ program reprising her “Euphoria” role for a second emerging and established artists across • AMY GRAVITT, EVP and head of comedy, Femtor, which pairs 44 female mentor season, and is starring in “Malcolm and all genres of music,” Wallace says. “And we programming, HBO television executives with women at the Marie,” written and directed by “Euphoria” have built an eight-figure business for UTA • CORIE HENSON, EVP, head of unscripted beginnings of their careers, also extended creator Sam Levinson, as well as “Dune” and our clients.” programming, TNT, TBS, truTV into its third year. “It is incredibly important opposite Timothée Chalamet; another • FRANCESCA ORSI, EVP and head of to me that women coming up know that “Spider-Man” installment is also in the drama, programming, HBO there are many paths to success in this works. Now 24, the former Disney Channel CHAN VINTEN: LILY JEFF KRAVITZ/FILMMAGIC/HBO; ZENDAYA: JEFF KRAVITZ/FILMMAGIC.COM; RSI: Collectively, this development quartet has business,” Wellins says. “I was inspired to star began producing while still a teen, and Variety overseen the launch of a streaming ser- start the L.A. Femtors program because I told earlier this year that she hopes vice and buzzy shows including “Watch- wanted to be a part of a change.” to work behind the scenes to uplift voices men,” “Succession” and “I May Destroy “that aren’t necessarily mine.” Her advice You.” At HBO Max, Aubrey has assembled a Emmy night: “Take your time and be easy team that’s 81% female, developing original on yourself.” offerings with a slant toward Gen Z, millen- nial and female audiences. Early offerings Katie Vinten include “Class Action Park,” “An Ameri- FOUNDER OF BLACK DIAMOND ARTIST can Pickle” and “Love Life.” “It is incredi- MANAGEMENT AND CO-FOUNDER AND bly gratifying to see our HBO Max originals PARTNER OF FACET HOUSE, FACET break through and connect with viewers,” RECORDS AND FACET PUBLISHING says Aubrey. “And this is just the beginning.” The paint was barely dry on the walls Gravitt’s comedy lineup at HBO includes of West Hollywood-based Facet House, “I May Destroy You” and Issa Rae’s “Inse- the label and publishing venture Vinten cure,” while Orsi’s drama-focused team launched with hitmaker Justin Tranter in won Emmys for “Watchmen,” “Succession,” 2018, when COVID-19 hit. But while Vinten, “Euphoria” and “I Know This Much Is True.” a mother of two, has been working from “We are incredibly proud of the diverse slate “ home since then, the new space has been of high-quality programming our teams I’m more optimistic put to good use: Facet is cobbling together have delivered, and will continue to deliver, the soundtrack for “Happiest Season,” the despite the obstacles that COVID-19 has than ever because first LGBTQ holiday film from a major stu- presented,” Gravitt says. “Curation is in our dio. “The past couple of months have been DNA,” Orsi adds. Among the unscripted pro- I’ve realized the insane because producers have been grams in the works for Henson: a revival of working day and night to meet the dead- “Wipeout,” and “Go-Big Show” with Snoop positive impact we line,” says Vinten. “I’m more optimistic Dogg as one of the hosts. “Finding shows than ever because I’ve realized the posi- that offer joy and escape during a pandemic can make.” tive impact we can make. As a woman in like ‘Wipeout’ and ‘Go-Big Show’ requires this industry, that’s the kind of confidence greater teamwork and a more decisive and I’ve needed to keep going.” compassionate leader,” says Henson. –Katie Vinten

P. 50 POWER OF WOMEN NELSON-MEIGS: BERLINER STUDIO/BEIMAGES.NET; WALLACE: JOANNA WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY; WINOGRADE: SHOWTIME; AUBREY: TERENCE PATRICK; O TERENCE PATRICK; AUBREY: WINOGRADE: SHOWTIME; PHOTOGRAPHY; WILSON JOANNA WALLACE: BERLINER STUDIO/BEIMAGES.NET; NELSON-MEIGS: UP NEXT Jenna Santoianni EVP AND HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT, PARAMOUNT TELEVISION STUDIOS Second in command to division president Nicole Clemens, Santoianni has built out the division’s development team since joining Paramount Television Studios in March 2019, now leading a team of 10. The studio has been on a selling spree, with a handful of series orders lined up for early 2021, including “Devil in the White City” for Hulu, while HBO Max will debut “Made for Love” and “Station 11.” Santoianni also oversaw the launch of “Paradise Lost” for Spectrum Originals and “When the Street Lights Go On” for Quibi.

Zelda Barnz Tabitha Jackson Sarah Streicher WRITER, EP, “GENERATION,” HBO MAX DIRECTOR, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL CREATOR, “THE WILDS” Barnz was just 17 when she sold the pilot The pandemic struck a month after Jack- Streicher is the creator of the much-bal- for her scripted series “Generation” to son was named long-time director John lyhooed TV series “The Wilds,” debuting HBO Max. A year later, the dramedy about Cooper’s successor, tapped for the role in December on Amazon. The buzz around high schoolers exploring modern sexual- after six years running the fest’s docu- the show – an uplifting look inside the ity, which she co-directed with her father, mentary film program. She immediately set mind and struggles of teenage girls and Daniel, became the first pilot the fledgling about reimagining the event, which typi- the flagship title in Amazon’s YA push – streamer ordered to series. Raised in Los cally runs for 11 days and attracts upward of has been so great that Season 2 is already Angeles, Barnz was co-leader of Oakwood 120,000 people to Utah. Next year’s short- in the works. Streicher, who has an overall Secondary School’s Rainbow Alliance. ened fest will revolve around a custom-built deal with ABC Signature, worked on Domee Accepted by Yale, she deferred going until digital platform, complemented by arthouse Shi’s next Pixar feature and was previously fall 2021 to shoot “Generation.” cinema screenings around the country. Its a staff writer for “Daredevil.” mantra with Jackson at the helm: We’re doing things a bit differently in 2021.

Marley Dias Milana Rabkin Lewis Alice Wu HOST AND EP, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, STEM WRITER, DIRECTOR, “THE HALF OF IT” “BOOKMARKS: CELEBRATING Lewis’ mission is to help artists run their Wu wrote and directed “The Half of It,” a BLACK VOICES,” NETFLIX businesses independently – and lucra- Netflix coming-of-age drama about a les- Just 15, Dias is host and executive pro- tively. In February, the financial platform, bian Chinese-American high school stu- ducer of a Netflix series that addresses which allows music creators to track mon- dent, as a love letter to her own mother. difficult topics about the Black experience etization streams, launched Scale, a $100 “I sent [Ellie] to do the things I’m scared through children’s books written by Black million advance fund that allows artists to to do and face the failures I’m terrified authors. Dias also has launched her own set their own payback terms. Stem also by,” says Wu, who previously wrote and movement, #1000BlackGirlBooks, to col- includes an option to donate a percentage directed “Saving Face.” “I sent her to show lect and donate children’s books that fea- of their profits to charitable organizations. my mom how much I understand how ture Black girls as the lead character. Says Lewis: “I just want the music business much she loves me.” An outspoken activist for social justice to behave in a more forward-thinking way.” and equality, Dias commanded the spotlight over the summer with her speech on the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

POWER OF WOMEN P. 51 SANTOIANNI: ERIC CHARBONNEAU; DIAS: CIPRIANI PHOTO; LEWIS: PATRICK STRATTNER; WU: KC BAILEY/NETFLIX KC WU: STRATTNER; LEWIS: PATRICK CIPRIANI PHOTO; DIAS: ERIC CHARBONNEAU; SANTOIANNI: MUSIC FOR SCREENS FOCUS

the 1932 short essay “Poem 8” by the COVID CHECKS artist Emlen Etting, known for illustrating Kafka books, to French think piece “Den- dromite,” a 2017 work by Karine Bonne- PRIMO DOC EVENT val that uses thermographic imagery to explore “philosophical-ethical questions JIHLAVA PLANS TO MAKE HYBRID FESTIVAL about the possibilities of man’s intimate relationship to nature.” A PERMANENT FEATURE By Will Tizard The fest sees its mission as expand- ing horizons for ﬁlmmakers and for audiences, Hovorka says, citing the Black Cin- ema Matters focus as a striking example. Noting that a survey on docus from FROM ITS FIRST EDITION 24 years ago, the and CEO of Black Women in Science Africa was already gaining momen- Jihlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival has (BWIS), as part of a panel on progressive tum during 2019’s fest, Hovorka says always gone its own way — largely thanks technology in “Cool Africa.” Black Cinema Matters will celebrate to director Marek Hovorka and his team, “We really want to create a social life, Afro-American-made docs dating who never wanted to run just another a kind of information stream [to share from the late 1960s to the ’90s. In venue for screening docs. discussions of issues] that all of us are researching and curating the section, These days, the Czech Republic’s prime going through now,” Hovorka says. he says, the Jihlava team was struck by doc event, running Oct. 27-Nov. 8, contin- Some talks will also cover “this tough how rarely Black voices have been heard ues that mission even as it’s been forced time for cinema,” he adds, highlight- in nonfiction film. by government COVID-19 safety restric- ing the role Jihlava has had for years in “We were really surprised,” he says. tions to go fully online. A digital version helping develop doc makers and their Lineup includes “Black Celebration will in fact be a permanent Jihlava fea- colleagues. Emerging Producers 2021, (A Rebellion Against the Commodity)” ture going forward, Hovorka says, but an event that focuses on the work of by Tony Cokes, an unconventional 1988 after this year it will be balanced with doc backers from Central and Eastern look at urban riots of the 1960s; “AKA live events to create a hybrid fest format. Europe, will again fete the best work of Mrs. George Gilbert” by Coco Fusco, a For 2020, rather than simply stream- early career professionals and include 2004 examination of racialized imag- ing films, he says, Jihlava will cre- talks with mentors on issues they face. ery; “Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take ate a rich experience online and on the Experimental film is another Jihlava One,” a 1968 doc about a doc by Wil- ground with top doc makers and lead- forte as seen in the Fascinations section. liam Greaves; “An I for an I” by Lawrence ing thinkers visiting the central Bohe- This edition is built around the theme of Andrews, a 1987 statement on the inter- mian town for talks to be aired live from gardens with some 15 films ranging from nalization of racism and violence; and the Lighthouse. This glassed-in ship- “Tongues Untied,” a 1989 experimen- ping container converted into a studio is tal doc by Marlon Riggs that explores the installed on Masarykovo nadrazi, the his- challenges gay Black men face in the U.S. toric town’s main square. Another signature Jihlava event is the KAFKA-ESQUE “We will stream everything from Testimonies sidebar, which focuses on morning till late night,” Hovorka says. It 1932 short essay “Poem 8” by the artist Emlen Etting will screen at Jihlava. global issues, with films such as Ai Wei- will include not just film talks and mod- wei’s “Vivos,” about the aftermath of the erators’ commentary but also guests disappearance of scores of students in from the fest’s trademark Inspiration Mexico in 2014, making for powerful cin- Forum, a unique event in the doc fest ema. “Sanctuary” by Spanish actor, direc- world focused on people doing things tor and producer Álvaro Longoria (“Che to inspire doc makers. Past guests have Guevara”), also in Testimonies, looks at included human-rights crusaders from a plan to establish a vast marine nature around the globe, climate activists and preserve off Antarctica. An impressive civic organizers who have risked their eco-survey of Jordan, meanwhile, “Liv- lives for social justice. ing Water” by Czech anthropologist Pavel Inspiring speakers this year include Borecký, examines the desperate search anthropologist Andrej Grubacic, speak- for hydration in one of the driest places on ing on how to feed the world without Earth, where the king plans to make Aqaba destroying it, and Ndoni Mcunu, founder into “the next Dubai.”

52 VARIETY GREEN TEAM Javier Bardem films on the bridge of Greenpeace ship the Arctic Sunrise during an expedition in support of the largest protected area on Earth, an Antarctic Ocean sanctuary, in Álvaro Longoria’s documentary “Sanctuary,” which plays at Jihlava. CHRISTIAN ÅSLUND/GREENPEACE CHRISTIAN

VARIETY 53 FOCUS GRAY’S GOLD

Probably the closest parallel to the Oscar dilemma occurred after the Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor bombing. That was ACADEMY AWARDS — a dire time and awards decisions were based on daily news developments, with uncertainty and confusion.

ON OR OFF? A brief timeline: DEC. 8, 1941: HOW OSCAR, COVID AND PEARL HARBOR ARE LINKED AMPAS prez Bette Davis confirmed the 14th annual awards By Tim Gray ceremony would be held Feb. 26, 1942. DEC. 18: Change in plans: Variety’s banner announced “Academy Dinner Called Off.” The story said voting would proceed but Acad execs would devise “some other method” of presenting Oscars instead of the banquet because “the outstanding film achievements of the past year should not go unrewarded.” DEC. 31: Another reversal: Variety reported the banquet appeared “a certainty.” JAN. 5, 1942: AMPAS officials insisted the evening was indeed canceled: Variety reported, “The Academy officers were plenty burned (because) someone talked out of turn” and gave out wrong info. As a side note, board member Darryl F. Zanuck was distressed because he’d invited 1940 presidential nominee Wendell Willkie to be guest of honor and Willkie had rearranged his schedule accordingly. Awkward …! Even more awkward: other board members said they hadn’t known about Zanuck’s invitation. JAN. 6, 1942: Zanuck told Variety that the board DID approve the idea of Willkie before the invitation went out. THE CENTRAL QUESTION of this awards One possible template was the Golden WILL THEY, FEB. 2, 1942: Walter Wanger — the season: Will the Oscar ceremony take Globes of Jan. 8, 2008. Due to the Writers WON’T THEY new Academy president after Bette place April 25 as announced? Guild strike, the Hollywood Foreign Press Gary Cooper Davis resigned amid all the confusion — (left), Joan This decision will affect hundreds Assn. held a ceremony without stars or Fontaine, Mary confirmed the event WILL be held Feb. of people and millions of dollars. Oscar glamour; it lasted 35 minutes. But the Astor and Donald 26, at the Biltmore Bowl. is the alpha dog and that one evening results were telecast on NBC and after- Crisp backstage The event was “strictly informal at the Oscar Variety has a ripple effect on every other year- ward, everybody simply moved on. ceremony in 1942. and without dancing,” as report- end kudos, similar to the scrambling This year’s Emmys offered other pos- ed. And yes, to end your suspense, when Oscar shifted dates in 2003 and sibilities: It was a fast-moving show, cen- Willkie did speak. again this year. tered on interaction with quarantined The weeks following Pearl Harbor Gut instinct says yes, of course the nominees at home. Oscars could have a were a time of tension and confu- ceremony will happen, but maybe in a fun pre-show alternative to “Who are you sion. Decisions were made, minds were different format. The bad news: If history wearing?” by looking at the nominees’ changed, tempers rose. is any indication, we may not know for surroundings: “Who are you sitting on?” We are living in another time of a long time. tension and confusion, so it’s realistic Throughout the decades, no major to expect similar reactions. AMPAS and awards show — Oscars, Golden Globes, ABC may make decisions, and may Emmys, Tonys, et al. — has been totally reverse themselves — maybe more than canceled. There have been three Oscar once. They’re entitled. postponements, in 1938, 1968 and 1981. Awards center on two factors, both But in each case, it was just a matter of important to Hollywood: ego and money a few days. (not necessarily in that order). So hold For 2020 voting and awards, the on, because there may be a lot of plot Academy of Motion Picture Arts & twists on the road to 2020 Oscars. But let’s Sciences execs have several options — assume they’re happening: As AMPAS said but in terms of a telecast, ABC is in in 1941, “film achievements of the past

the driver’s seat. year should not go unrewarded.” AP PHOTO

54 VARIETY ARTISANS TOPARTISANS BILLING

VARIETY HORROR MONTH elements ended up being the blueprint for me as a designer. “It was important for me that each girl had their own distinct style Key to Updated Witchy and character pieces — creating a strong, distinct and powerful closet.” Tabby (Simone) represents fire; orange Wardrobe Is Elemental is her main color. But Plewes turned to women in the gaming business for styling. “There’s a lot of utilitarian cargo pants,” ‘THE CRAFT: LEGACY’ COSTUME DESIGNER DRAWS ON A NATURAL she says of her research, noting that Tabby has a cool confidence about her. SOLUTION TO DRESS CONTEMPORARY COVEN By Jazz Tangcay “Her wardrobe was laid-back, and she was [sometimes] adorned with jewelry. There were elements of flame, and most of that jewelry has orange in it.” EARTH, WATER, FIRE AND AIR — the four and Zoey Luna — who discover their pow- But the accessories weren’t always elements of nature — were the inspirations ers and lean into their newfound magic on show. To create a relatable look, the for costumer Avery Plewes in designing the while forming a sisterhood. designer drew on her observations of ado- wardrobes for “The Craft: Legacy,” which In both films, the girls are meant to be lescents: “When you’re a teenager, the way drops on demand Oct. 28, just in time for a outsiders, but Plewes found that the clothes you dress can be chaotic at times.” With

witchy Halloween. SPELLBINDING that set the friends apart in the ’90s were Tabby, for example, “one day she’d be Director Zoe Lister-Jones helms the WARDROBE no longer outrageous. “It was a bit daunt- wearing a lot of jewelry and other days not Sony Pictures/Blumhouse Prods. sequel to The costumes for ing at ﬁrst,” she says of the assignment. so much.” Gideon Adlon, Lovie 1996’s cult classic “The Craft,” with a fresh Simone, Cailee “The way the girls dressed in the original Simone calls her character’s style “very coven of high school witches — played by Spaeny and Zoey Luna is very popular today. If I dressed them like relaxed and comfortable. She’s a cool Cailee Spaeny, Lovie Simone, Gideon Adlon are keyed to nature. the original, they would feel normal, so the chick into those warm colors.” Plewes RAFY PHOTOGRAPHY/SONY PICTURES RAFY PHOTOGRAPHY/SONY

VARIETY 55 ARTISANS

adds that she figured Tabby for someone PLANNING A LOONEY TUNE who shopped at Free People, Topshop and Julie and Steve Urban Outfitters. Bernstein review Spaeny plays Lily, the new witch in town, cues in the who represents water. Her costumes are mixing room. predominantly blue. But she’s also a loner whose best friend has been her mother. When we meet her, her look is baggy and oversize, but it evolves as she’s introduced into the world of the occult. Luna portrays Lourdes, as earth, dressed mainly in green tones and plaid sweaters to represent the highlands. But Plewes also mixed her own high school experiences with current fashion when devising designs for the character. At a party, Lourdes wears a dress made entirely Spielberg’s Orders: Zany of safety pins over a mid-thigh-length black-ribbed sweater. Plewes says that Score —With Orchestra while the look may have channeled Alex- ander Wang — “That’s where the concept of that dress came from” — its spirit grew EMMY-WINNING COMPOSERS ASSEMBLE FULL ‘LIVE’ SOUND from one time as a teenager when she FOR RETURN OF WARNERS, AMBLIN’S ‘ANIMANIACS’ ON HULU covered a T-shirt in pins. “When you’re By Jon Burlingame in high school and you don’t have a lot of money, you get into DIY,” she explains. The clothing for Adlon’s Frankie, who represents air, was the most chaotic. With WHEN “ANIMANIACS” RETURNS with all-new were wah-wah trumpets, comic bassoons purple tones serving as the base, Plewes episodes Nov. 20 on Hulu, a key ingredi- and xylophone runs for the cartoon trio dressed her in stripes, “almost rain- ent of the original animated series will also dashing across the Warner lot, all “Anima- bow-like. I put her in random outfits that return: orchestral music by Steve and Julie niacs” trademarks rooted in the classic weirdly worked well together.” Bernstein, two of the series’ primary com- approach of composer Carl Stalling for vin- Going a step further to develop the char- posers from its 1993-98 run. tage WB cartoons from the ’40s and ’50s acters’ witchy personas, Plewes and pro- Five of the show’s eight Daytime Emmy featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. duction designer Hillary G Awards were won by the “Animaniacs” Steve, conducting a 39-piece orchestra, urtler went to a local occult store in music team, including the Bernsteins, who kept the players amused with wild musical Toronto, where the film was shooting, to have spent most of their careers in War- gestures, while Julie — seated beside engi- pick out crystals for each girl. “We spoke ner Bros. animation, from “Tiny Toons” neer Damon Tedesco at the mixing board with the owner about what the most pow- and “Taz-Mania” to “Pinky and the Brain” in the booth behind them — conferred with erful crystal would be based on their ele- and “Histeria!” her husband via intercom, offering sugges- ments,” Plewes says. Tabby, for instance, And while their work brings a sonic con- tions for performance improvements. was given a red-and-orange sunstone. sistency to Warner brothers Yakko (voiced Reflecting weeks later, Steve explains: The costumer also took the time to by Rob Paulsen) and Wakko (Jess Harnell), “The main vocabulary that was established honor the 1996 movie, and challenges fans and Warner sister Dot (Tress MacNeille) in the original shows has stayed the same. to find her homages: “Throughout the film — as well as world-domination-seeking What’s different now is there’s more of a you’ll see Easter eggs — nods to the orig- Pinky (Paulsen) and the Brain (Maurice cinematic approach to chases or a special inal on each girl — but I won’t say where LaMarche) — what’s unusual is the pres- event. That style has become bigger. The they are.” ence of 30 to 40 musicians on every score. scores are tailored to the individual stories; Ultimately, Plewes hopes the movie’s Virtually all TV animation is now scored they’re little movies.” fashions are accessible and aspirational with samples and synthesizers emulating Adds Julie: “There is a style, but there’s for young viewers, adding: “I wanted the sound of an orchestra, with the occa- not a playbook. It’s more of a feel, because them to be rooted in something relatable sional addition of a real player or two to we know the characters so well. There’s and affordable.” help breathe life into the drawings. “Ani- a little less Mickey Mousing,” she notes, maniacs” will be the exception, and exec- referring to the expected synchroniza- utive producer Steven Spielberg is said to tion of music to image. “If there’s a joke, or have insisted on “live” music as before. something scary, it’s a little less cartoony.” (“He’s very hands-on,” exec producer The pandemic threw everyone a curve Wellesley Wild told a recent New York Com- beginning in March, but the Bernsteins ic-Con audience.) have continued via the new trend of remote All of the raucous fun of the series, visu- recording, having 30 musicians perform ally and musically, was on display when their parts in their homes, then combining Variety visited the first session in January and editing the tracks into a unified whole, at the Warner Bros. scoring stage. “Are you which they send to mixer Tedesco. (He was “It was important Steve and Julie’s parents?” asked concert- an assistant on the WB stage 25 years ago for me that each master Bruce Dukov, tongue planted firmly while the Bernsteins were recording the girl had their own in cheek, as the composers welcomed their earlier incarnation of “Animaniacs.”) distinct style.” musicians, many of whom played on the “We give him 30 soloist tracks,” says original series in the ’90s. Steve Bernstein, “and he gives us back an

Avery Plewes, costume designer What followed over the next six hours orchestra in the room.” BERNSTEIN EVAN

56 VARIETY are embroidered on the sleeves, represent- Costumes Tell the Regal Tale ing Chang’e and Houyi [and] connoting the idea of husband and wife pairing off wing to wing. The two ﬂowers also send the message of a Goddess’s Loneliness about married couples being inseparable. The pattern on the back of the royal DESIGNER GUO PEI INCLUDED IMAGES INSPIRED BY CHINESE dress represents Chang’e’s nostalgia for the human world. The pistillate and staminate LEGEND AND CULTURE FOR ANIMATED FILM ‘OVER THE MOON’ ﬂowers bloom alternately on the sleeves.

By Jazz Tangcay The patterns on the bottom of the sleeves are inspired by the traditional patterns of bronzeware. The pattern on the back of the costume records the myth of Houyi shoot- CHINESE DESIGNER Guo Pei was the woman The Royal Dress ing the sun. The goat head pattern in the responsible for Rihanna’s 2015 Met Gala “As a goddess, Chang’e should be gorgeous. middle of the bronzeware patterns symbol- dress that left fans with the indelible image But she must also be lonely because she izes sacrifice. After Chang’e gains immor- of her imperial yellow gown against the separated from her beloved [when she tality, she feels endless loneliness; she backdrop of the red carpet. became immortal]. The red is inspired by hopes to change back to human and expe- So it seems only fitting that director the Han brocade unearthed in [Chinese rience reincarnation.” Glen Keane would bring Pei on board to archaeological dig site] Mawangdui. Red create the costumes for the moon goddess can perfectly [highlight] Chang’e’s supe- The Pop Goddess Chang’e (voiced by Phillipa Soo of “Ham- rior image as a goddess while also showing “The top of the pop look has padded shoul- ilton”) in the animated feature “Over the her sorrow more profoundly against such ders. When Chang’e appears as a rock star Moon,” now streaming on Netflix. Meet- a joyful color. [to welcome Fei Fei to the moon], the lower ing Chang’e is the focus of a young girl I designed some elements of ancient part of the costume is a huge long dress named Fei Fei (Cathy Ang), whose mother Chinese royal dresses in Chang’e’s cos- with a mysterious feeling that conforms to has recently died. Fei Fei builds a rocket tumes, such as wide cuffs, long tails and a Chang’e’s image as a supreme god. But ship to meet the goddess, who has powers stand-up collar like the tail of a phoenix. when she begins dancing, the dress trans- of reincarnation. These elements all strengthen the dramatic forms into a skirt with layers. The idea is Whether Pei is designing for anima- tension and contrast her image as a god that the fabric of the costume is certainly tion or real people, her goal is to “express and as a human being. The patterns come not of the earth — it might be a special WEARING HER STORY the emotion behind the design,” she says. from the precious ancient Shu collections energy or texture from the moon — and the The color of For Chang’e, the signature color was red, Chang’e’s royal red in the [Sanxingdui] Museum, including the fabric would flow and change like moon- which in China symbolizes happiness and dress was based on Han brocade discovered in Mawangdui and light according to Chang’e’s movements. good fortune. Here, the designer breaks a Han brocade the bronzeware discovered in Sanxingdui. This costume is more in line with a unearthed at an down two key looks to show how she archaeological dig. The front of the royal dress is made up traditional Chinese costume. When she embedded the love story between Chang’e The design, noted of husband-and-wife trees interlocked and sees Houyi, Chang’e wants to return to and her husband, Houyi (voiced by Con- in the accompanying sprawling to her sleeves. The two trees are her original look that he’s familiar with sketch, includes rad Ricamora), into the fabric of the husband-and-wife of different genders with their pistillate and rather than the superior goddess persona moon goddess. trees and a phoenix. staminate flowers, and a pair of phoenixes she portrays.” OVER THE MOON: (LEFT) NATE CHARPENTIER/NETFLIX (RIGHT) NETFLIX THE MOON: (LEFT) NATE OVER

VARIETY 57 Can’t decide what to watch? We picked the best TV shows and movies to stream.

BINGE NOW Variety.com/WhatToWatch REVIEWS TOPREVIEWS BILLING

OCTOBER SURPRISE Sacha Baron Cohen’s reality- blurring “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” arrives just in time for the presidential election.

FILM REVIEW Now, Baron Cohen is back in character, but surprisingly tough to tarnish, as count- BY PETER DEBRUGE just in time for the 2020 U.S. presidential less caricatures have demonstrated. Rather election, with stealth sequel “Borat Sub- than attack the president outright, Baron Borat sequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Cohen and his team of co-writers (all seven Bribe to American Regime for Make Ben- of his collaborators are back on the case) efit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” chip away at Trump’s reputation by pre- Subsequent Here, shot and delivered amid an unprec- senting Borat as a long-distance admirer, edented global pandemic, is a staggering impressed to see a world leader who speaks Moviefilm act of comedic revolt with built-in viral his language of misogyny and racism. potential. Rowdy and relevant, the film is But how do you dupe Americans when shaping up to be the kind of October sur- so many of them are in on the joke? To prise capable of sparking laughs, fueling the extent that the comedian’s strategy DIRECTOR: Jason Woliner WITH: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova, public discourse and engaging voters as depends on punking people while in Dani Popescu serious-minded messaging can’t. character, will that work now that Borat It seems almost fitting that such a is a widely recognized comic star? Turns critique should come in the guise of out, if you lose his trademark gray suit, pseudo-socialist propaganda — another you can get away with an awful lot. NO ONE KNOWS “fake news” better than state-sanctioned Kazakh “documentary.” Even more than in his previous feature Sacha Baron Cohen, who pioneered a form With disruptive stunts directed at such outing, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” of bogus journalism as political satire with high-profile Republican operatives as delivers a consistent, coherent feature- “Da Ali G Show” and 2006 spinoff feature Mike Pence and Rudy Giuliani, plus length narrative, punctuated with outra- “Borat.” That film — which I considered revo- boundary-pushing bits involving abortion geous, unpredictable set-pieces. Director lutionary enough to merit a place on Sight & counseling, right-wing conspiracy theories Jason Woliner (who’s worked with post- Sound’s 2012 poll of the greatest films of all and a Ku Klux Klan cameo at a CPAC event, Borat stunt comics Brett Gelman and time — brilliantly blurred the lines between “Borat 2” finds the fearless comedian tak- Nathan Fielder) spins a story of evolving staged shtick and candid camera routines, ing indirect aim at America’s “magnificent father-daughter dynamics along which bending the mock-doc format to reveal new premier,” “McDonald” Trump. the team orchestrates what will prove to both the bigotry and generosity of everyday Oblique is a smart way to play it, since be unforgettable real-world sketches. Americans as they interacted with what they Trump has proven virtually impervious to The sequel catches up with Borat in perceived to be a clueless foreign reporter. parody during his term. He’s easy to tease a Kazakh prison as he’s finishing out AMAZON STUDIOS AMAZON

VARIETY 59 REVIEWS

a hard-labor sentence for bringing shame to his shithole country via the previous XXXXX film. Called in by the propaganda min- Si perius tant. M. Evignat rei patum ister, he’s given a new mission: Earn in tem ingulique Trump’s respect — and by extension, the eresendeo aperbes world’s — by delivering a ridiculous gift, ignocciem atiam iam inul te quempli a chimpanzee, into the corrupt politi- ntemusatu qua erem, cian’s inner circle. nost virium ex sed At first, Borat’s goal is to present Johnny the Monkey to “No. 1 ladies’ man” “Mikhael” Pence. Failing that, he decides to offer Pence his 15-year-old daugh- GHOSTING AROUND ter, Tutar (Maria Bakalova), as a child Emma D’Arcy, Nick Frost and Samson bride, which vaguely explains what Baron Kayo star in Cohen was doing crashing the Conserva- “Truth Seekers.” tive Political Action Conference in full- body Trump disguise earlier this year. For the most part, the filmmakers have done an amazing job of keeping the lid on TV REVIEW a minor storyline in his role as Gus’ boss, the sequel’s biggest surprises, and it would BY CAROLINE FRAMKE Frost gets to play the kind of part assigned be a shame to spoil them here. Still, it’s to his collaborator in their films: the con- important to acknowledge that in an era Truth spiratorial fanboy turned righteous cru- of deep fakes, it’s not always clear what sader, with a heart of gold that keeps him Baron Cohen got away with and what was from tilting into the misogynistic carica- shaped in the editing room. Seekers ture he could otherwise become. Kayo, then, In some scenes, as with a Republican takes on the typical Frost role of the sidekick women’s meeting, one wishes the film- who has more to offer than anyone — much makers had come up with a more effective less he himself — quite realizes. The actors plan than simply trying to embarrass a COMEDY: Amazon Prime (8 episodes; all ease into a friendly chemistry within min- room full of conservatives. But contrary reviewed); Oct. 30 utes of Elton’s introduction, which comes in STARRING: to the more equal-opportunity satire in Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Samson handy, since Gus and Elton also encounter Kayo, Malcolm McDowell, Emma D’Arcy his Showtime series, “Who Is America?,” their first apparitions in no time. Their ban- Baron Cohen lets Democrats almost ter develops so naturally that by the end of entirely off the hook — with one major the first episode, when it becomes clear that exception: “Borat Subsequent Movie- IT’D BE EASY TO GLANCE at “Truth Seekers” there’s more to Elton than meets the eye, it’s film” constitutes a wholesale assault on and mistake it for a satirical farce. The new a bit of a shock to remember that he and Gus political correctness. Amazon series comes from Nat Saunders, haven’t known each other that long. In that sense, it pushes Trump’s own James Serafinowicz and the vaunted duo of Susan Wokoma, a delight in Michaela tactic of spewing hyperbole and toxic Nick Frost and Simon Pegg, who have collab- Coel’s “Chewing Gum” and a highlight in Net- stereotypes to such extremes, even free orated on genre comedies like “Shaun of the flix’s “Enola Holmes,” is a particularly good speech advocates may find themselves Dead” and “The World’s End.” Starring Frost addition as Elton’s nervous sister. Whether wanting Baron Cohen to rein it in. Seeing as a wireless service repairman slash ama- she’s doing special effects makeup tutori- that nothing the comedic actor has done teur paranormal investigator, “Truth Seek- als for her YouTube channel, bonding with since “Borat” (not “Brüno,” not “The Dic- ers” has small-town British charm to spare McDowell’s similarly lonely Richard or steel- tator”) has had quite the same impact, it’s as he travels from one haunted house to ing herself to venture outside the confines of a relief that the “Subsequent Moviefilm” another. But the series also quickly reveals her home, Wokoma makes Helen so engag- is no dashed-off affair, but a parody on itself to be a genuinely creepy bit of hor- ing that one can readily imagine a version par with the original. Granted, audiences ror, with ghost stories that are tragic and of “Truth Seekers” in which she’s the star. have a better idea of what to expect now. poignant, startling and violent. It channels The first half of the eight-episode season But Borat has lost none of his bite, tread- everything from “The Exorcist” to “Doctor errs toward the procedural-monster-case ing that same fine line between sopho- Who” to create set-pieces that keep the show -of-the-week style that something like moric humor and pointed political satire. from getting stuck in a single comedic gear. “Doctor Who” has long leaned upon, and At a time when our reality-TV president It helps, too, that “Truth Seekers” cre- it works. The second half, however, opens treats his rallies like stand-up comedy ates a memorable ensemble of characters the story up into something more complex shows, cracking offensive jokes to cheer- who make sure the stories stay relatively and conspiratorial, especially as it reveals ing crowds, this may be one of the few grounded. Gus (Frost) has been doing his a big bad villain in Dr. Peter Toynbee (Julian counterpunches to cut through the noise. best to fly solo after the untimely death of Barratt), a self-made celebrity expert on The movie’s big twist involving a key cam- his wife, Emily (Rosalie Craig), some 10 all things supernatural. This sudden turn paign adviser may be “fake news,” but years earlier, though his cranky father-in- works only occasionally; the loss of the it’s also a case of Baron Cohen trumping law, Richard (Malcolm McDowell), keeps self-contained episodic framework notice- Trump at his own crooked game. interrupting his attempts at being a true ably slackens the show’s grip on its over- hermit. Gus spends his off-hours poking all narrative. And yet, the season moves

CREDITS: An Amazon Studios release and presentation of a Four by around the British countryside for signs briskly enough that it’s hard to fault its Two Films production. Producers: Monica Levinson, Anthony Hines. Executive producers: Buddy Enright, Nicolas Hatton, Peter Baynham, of the paranormal, which Emily studied detours too much. Eight episodes are just Dan Mazer, Stuart Miller. Co-producers: Skye Wathen, Robert Michael Nilio, Jonathan Levene, Daniel McGilvray, Debra Neil-Fisher, Julia Pyzik, all her life. Not until he gets a new assistant enough to spend some time in its world, Alexis Sampietro, Todd Schulman, Ashley Underwood. Director: Jason Woliner. Screenplay: Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan in Elton (Samson Kayo), though, does Gus and the spiritual one lurking beyond. Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; story: Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer see a single ghost — at which point, & Nina Pedrad, based on a character by Sacha Baron Cohen. Camera: CREDITS: Executive producers: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Nat Saunders, Luke Geissbühler. Editors: James Thomas, Craig Alpert, Mike Giambra. he’s suddenly seeing them everywhere. James Serafinowicz, Miles Ketley, Jim Field Smith. 30 MIN. Cast: Frost, Music: Erran Baron Cohen. Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova, Dani Pegg, Samson Kayo, Malcolm McDowell, Emma D’Arcy, Susan Wokoma,

Popescu. Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova, Dani Popescu With Pegg more or less siloed off into Julian Barratt COLIN HUTTON/AMAZON

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How did you strike the tonal balance Susanne Bier between family drama and thriller- mystery whodunit within “The Undoing”? I wanted the whodunit or the thriller ‘No One Is Exactly or, you could say, the sense of the world falling apart because nobody can trust anyone to be the red line or the stron- Who They Seem to Be’ gest trait. And then I wanted the family story — the forgiveness or the not forgiveness, and [Grace and Jonathan] try- By Danielle Turchiano ing to talk through it — to be a result of the existential confusion that it brings when you realize that no one is exactly EMMY-WINNING DIRECTOR SUSANNE BIER has been on a hot streak for the past who they seem to be. few years, with projects ranging from thought-provoking limited series (“The Night Manager”) to intensely emotional ﬁlms (“Bird Box”). Her latest venture That feels like such a fine line to walk with Nicole and Hugh, in terms of not is a six-part adaptation of Jean Hanff Korelitz’s 2014 novel “You Should Have wanting to give away the secrets too Known,” retitled for HBO as “The Undoing.” Bier executive produces and soon. They are both incredibly gener- directs all episodes of the series, which was created by David E. Kelley and stars ous actors, and very emotional actors. Nicole Kidman as Grace, a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended At times we would be oversharing while shooting and then paring back in the edit. when her husband, Jonathan (Hugh Grant), disappears right around the same Something I feel is often a mistake in a time Elena (Matilda De Angelis), a parent at their son’s school, is found dead. thriller is when the actor feels that they have to carry that responsibility and they have to hold back — because what happens is they become disengaged. MYSTERY FOR OUR TIMES And so I think it’s about letting the cast Director Susanne Bier discusses a scene with stars know that you are aware of who knows Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman what at what point, so you don’t feel that on the set of “The Undoing.” in the scene, as an actor, you need to edit at the same time.

Did that lend itself to giving Grace more agency and capability? There’s a huge gap between her inner turmoil and her outer efﬁciency — because that efﬁciency doesn’t go away. There was a calibration of when is it enigmatic and when is it weird? And I think that calibration is made sympathetic by her strong relationship with her son [played by Noah Jupe] and with becoming much, much closer with her father [Donald Sutherland] throughout the course of the series. They start out being polite and slightly cold, and then you realize that underneath the formality, there is a real deep connection. And I think it’s part of why we love her and are, at the same time, slightly intimidated by her.

What were the conversations behind the scenes about Elena’s race and how hard to hit the discussion of bias within the police or these communities? It was more a comment on the funda- mentals of the justice system, opposed to a comment on the specific. But there’s no doubt there’s a comment on it [in the show]. There’s a comment in Episode 1, where you look at a totally white group of people wearing long dresses and tuxedos, and they’re talking about making sure the school

THINGS YOU DIDN’T AGE: 60 HOMETOWN: Copenhagen COMMUTE ARTIST: “Stevie Wonder. You have to write that I’m laughing is diverse, and you go, “This is prob- KNOW ABOUT because it’s not part of the show at all, but it put me in such a good mood going to set every day.” ably the least diverse group of people CAUSE SHE CARES MOST ABOUT: “Women’s equal rights — women’s equal pay in the world” SUSANNE BIER LAST SHOW SHE BINGE-WATCHED: “The Good Fight” WHAT SHE’S READING: The “Outline” trilogy by Rachel Cusk I’ve ever seen.” And so it’s there, but

it’s an undercurrent. TAVERNISE/HBO NIKO

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