Chloé Zhao by Reflects on Her Historic Oscar Kate Wins at Sunday’S Academy Awards Aurthur and Reveals What’S Next for Her

WITH NOMADLAND,’

EARNED A BEST PICTURE OSCAR AND BECAME THE SECOND WOMAN — AND FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR — TO WIN FOR DIRECTING BY KATE AURTHUR

CONTENTS VARIETY ● 3

P.30 Milestone Moment

“Nomadland” director Chloé Zhao By reflects on her historic Oscar Kate wins at Sunday’s Academy Awards Aurthur and reveals what’s next for her

P.38 Money Matters By David Shared sacrifice didn’t play Lieberman FEATURES much of a role in CEO and compensation drops for 2020 Brent Lang

30 38

P.30 Chloé Zhao took home statuettes for directing and picture for “Nomadland.” Hair: Richard Collins/TMGLA/Oribe; Dress: Hermès Dress: Collins/TMGLA/Oribe; Hair: Richard

Cover photograph by Andrew Eccles 4 ● CONTENTS 04.28.2021

P.46 Hollywood is trying new things to boost diversity and audience numbers. FOCUS Plus: 10 Innovators to Watch

P.54 Walk of Fame honoree Kathy Lee Gifford reflects on her career

BIZ + BUZZ

P.13 22

P.13 TV networks claim Nielsen underestimated viewership during the pandemic

P.16 Sony Pictures closes massive U.S. film licensing deal with Disney

P.20 The Oscar ceremony reflects a movie industry in the midst of transition

P.22 After months of lockdown, Hollywood celebrated its biggest night P.46 P.45 Big data is playing a role in creating diverse projects such as Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”

OUR TOWN ARTISANS REVIEWS

FILM TV

“Tom Clancy’s “The Mosquito Without Remorse” Coast” P.63 P.65 P.27 29 P.59 61 P.63 65

P.27 Joseph Fiennes shares what it was P.59 New agencies and databases are like filming “The Handmaid’s Tale” helping underrepresented composers amid the COVID-19 pandemic to get noticed — and hired

P.28 Christine Baranski and friends donate P.61 “Stowaway” production team built clothes to benefit The Actors Fund illusion of overcrowded spaceship

P.29 Artist B. Robert Moore puts more P.61 Variety looks ahead to below-the-line Casey color into well-known cartoons Oscar bait for next year’s films FACETIME P.66 Wilson

Variety, VOL. 351, NO. 19 (USPS 146-820, ISSN 0011-5509) is published weekly, except the first week of July, the first week of September and the last two weeks of December, with 22 special issues: Jan (1), March (4), April (1), May (1) June (5), July (5), and Aug (5) by Variety Media LLC, 11175 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025, a division of Penske Business Media. Periodicals postage paid at Los Angeles, CA and at other mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to: Variety, P.O. Box 15759, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5759. Canada Post International Publications Mail Product (Canadian Distribution)

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6 ● MASTHEAD 04.28.2021

VARIETY IS OWNED & PUBLISHED BY P-MRC HOLDINGS, LLC

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8 ● FIELD NOTES 04.28.2021

For the Oscars, I Wanna Be in the Room Where It Happens

During Sunday’s Oscars telecast, on the parade of bejeweled, decked-out stars. I may Sony Pictures Classics co-chief Tom Bernard as well just go in my sweats. and I were commiserating by text about how But I’ve got to say that there’s nothing like the strange it was to be watching the show from our shared experience of sitting with a live audience respective homes on the East and West coasts. as the show unfolds — especially when something He reminisced about the first time he went to goes off the rails! the Academy Awards as his wife’s guest in 1985 Top among those memorable, unexpected when she was nominated for editing “Amadeus” moments was what went down at the 2017 cere- and how he and longtime SPC partner Michael mony. When presenter Warren Beatty was handed Barker attended every year thereafter whenever the wrong envelope announcing best picture, we all one of their indie movies was nominated (which noticed his awkward pregnant pause before pass- is a lot — SPC films have been up for 155 Oscars ing the honors off to Faye Dunaway to reveal the and won 39). Bernard also texted me a photo that winner. As we all can recall, “La La Land” was mis- he had shot of me taking a shot of him on the red takenly named best picture only to ﬁnd out during carpet the last time we were at the Dolby Theatre, the acceptance speeches that in fact “Moonlight” on Feb. 9, 2020. was the actual victor. Not being there in person this year made me Our publisher Michelle Sobrino-Stearns and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF very nostalgic as it’s such a different experience I, seated next to each other, gasped out loud and sitting in your sweats, sharing carrots with your engaged in a chorus of WTFs as everyone tried to puppy and watching the show on television. As process the shock of what had just happened. Of relaxing as that is, I missed planning weeks in course, home audiences had reacted similarly, but advance what vintage jewelry and outfit I was there was something about being in that room that going to wear to Hollywood’s most glamorous fateful evening knowing we were ﬁrsthand witnesses night of the year — even knowing nobody would to what would go down as the biggest gaffe in Oscar Claudia Eller give a damn since all eyes and cameras are focused history that made it such a singular experience.

It’s such a different experience sitting in your sweats, sharing carrots with your puppy and watching the show on television.”

10 ● PLUGGED IN 04.28.2021

marketing and radio promotion. Stars Kemp The Biggest Powers People with knowledge of the deal of say the partnership is geared to Upcoming leveraging Interscope Geffen TV Stories of the A&M’s global presence to help Premieres expand Musgraves’ reach as an Week From international artist. The appeal to Musgraves’ management team, led by Sandbox Entertainment’s Our Reporters ‘Spider-Man’ Jason Owen, was IGA’s reputation Compiled by Joe Otterson Sequel Snares for launching a record or project. Directing Trio Owen and IGA chief John Janick have long wanted to work together. No details have been officially announced about the new album. A new directing team has joined — Shirley Halperin, Chris Willman the Spider-Verse. Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin CAA Signs LaKeith K. Thompson have been tapped by Animation Stanﬁeld Sony Pictures Animation to direct Yasuke House Cartoon Vscore = 85 the sequel to the Oscar-winning Saloon Voicing a samu- animated feature “Spider-Man: rai might ani- Into the Spider-Verse.” Although mate his score. Dos Santos’ directing role had been previously reported, the trio have been working together on the project from the start. Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Amy Pascal, Avi

Arad and Christina Steinberg are elles: Swan Gallet/WWD (2) all returning to produce the project. “Spider-Verse” director Peter Amanda Brugel The Handmaid’s Ramsey will executive produce, Tale along with Aditya Sood. Lord and Vscore = 72 Emilia Clarke Joins Marvel’s Miller are joining David Callaham Cartoon Saloon, the Oscar- Her number, too, has been ‘Secret Invasion’ at Disney Plus as credited screenwriters. The first nominated Irish independent rising up. “Spider-Verse” was directed by Bob animation studio behind Apple Persichetti, Ramsey and Rodney TV Plus’ “Wolfwalkers,” has Rothman. — Adam B. Vary signed with CAA. Formed by cre- Four-time Emmy nominee Emilia Clarke is in final ative heads Tomm Moore, Nora negotiations to join Marvel Studios’ “Secret Invasion,” Twomey and Paul Young in 1999, IGA, UMG the buzzy original series quickly coming together at the Oscar-, Golden Globe-, BAFTA- Nashville Disney Plus. The “Game of Thrones” headliner’s role is and Emmy-nominated studio will Pact on Kacey naturally under wraps, and marks her first foray into now be represented by the agency. Musgraves’ the Marvel universe. She joins previously reported “Wolfwalkers” marks Cartoon Justin Theroux New Album The Mosquito cast members Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Saloon’s fourth Academy Award Coast Kingsley Ben-Adir and Olivia Colman. “Secret Kacey Musgraves’ next album, animated feature nomination, Vscore = 70 Invasion” is said to follow a group of shape-shifting due out this year, will be jointly including each of the studio’s pre- He has an ideal platform aliens who have been infiltrating Earth for years. released via Interscope Records vious animated feature films — to boost buzz. Kyle Bradstreet is attached to write and executive and UMG Nashville. The partner- 2009’s “The Secret of Kells,” 2014’s produce. Kevin Feige’s Marvel Studios is producing ship will find the labels collaborat- “Song of the Sea” and 2017’s “The the series for the streamer. — Matt Donnelly ing on domestic and international Breadwinner.” — Angelique Jackson Uncovered

“We both share a love for the American wins. The L.A.-based photographer has Julia Goldani West and drew inspiration from Richard been shooting celebrities, politicians, Telles The Girlfriend Avedon’s portraits of drifters and nomads athletes and dancers for more than three Experience for our shoot,” says Andrew Eccles, who decades. His work has also appeared in Vscore = 58 turned his lens on director Chloé Zhao in Vanity Fair, Esquire and In Style, as well as Can a double identity build Los Angeles for Variety’s annual post-Os- on billboards across the country for movie a score twice

cars cover the morning after her historic and television advertising. as fast? T Theroux, Apple TV+; Brugel: Rob Latour/Variety; Damu Malik; Stanfield: John Salangsang/WWD; Clarke: WWD; Wolfwalkers: Powers:

04.28.2021 VARIETY ● 13 BIZ+ BUZZ

Major networks claim Down for the Count? Nielsen underestimated TV viewership during the height of pandemic lockdown

By Brian Steinberg

Nielsen and the networks it serves have long been at odds, like a student might be with a particularly tough college professor who always offers a B- but never an A. But lately, tensions have begun to boil over into the public sphere, raising anew the prospect that advertisers and media outlets may start using a broader range of measurement services as the benchmark for advertising and sponsorship sales. “If there is no off-the-shelf con- sensus” for how modern video viewers should be measured,

Illustrations by Cheyne Gateley 14 ● BIZ + BUZZ 04.28.2021

What we have seen is that the decline in linear is definitely increasing.” — Mainak Mazumdar, Nielsen says Krishan Bhatia, president viewers using new technologies. and chief business officer of NBC- As the networks see their au- Universal’s ad-sales division, “we diences spend more time watch- are going to continue to invest in ing ad-supported streamers such creating our own.” as Hulu, Peacock, Discovery Plus, The networks believe Nielsen Tubi, Pluto TV and Paramount undercounted TV viewing during Plus, they are open to testing the height of the coronavirus new measures. Smaller audiences pandemic last year because of mean media companies can sell methodology changes. Televi- other things than the number of sion executives want the matter total views. They can use technol- to be addressed before the start of ogy and consumer data to identify the industry’s annual upfront, the first-time car buyers or expectant period when networks tradition- mothers — and craft deals based ally book advance commitments on the number of visits customers for the bulk of their ad inventory make to auto showrooms or on for the coming season. sales of movie tickets. “We have brought Nielsen clear Discussions between Nielsen evidence of significant defects in and top network executives con- both their COVID-period out- tinue behind the scenes, accord- comes data and panel processes. ing to executives familiar with the Their collective response to the ear TV in favor of streaming and placed across NBCU platforms, discussions. But there is palpable calls for clarity and fair scru- mobile devices. which range from NBC to Bravo desire on the part of networks to tiny has gone from resistance to “What we have seen is that to MSNBC to E! Abcarian’s hiring use multiple measurement ser- refusal, much to the detriment of the decline in linear is definitely shows that NBCU is trying to bur- vices and let advertisers decide a 2021 TV marketplace that is owed increasing,” Mainak Mazumdar, row more deeply into the business which are most important. a better COVID TV data truth set,” Nielsen’s chief data and research of measurement — activity that That raises new issues: How says Sean Cunningham, CEO of officer, tells Variety. “There is an used to be the sole province of comfortable can advertisers be the VAB, an industry organization increase in streaming, but the Nielsen as the industry standard. with crafting deals based on one that represents the TV networks decline in linear is not offset by Feuding has become more fre- media company’s data? That to advertisers. total viewing.” The company has quent in recent months. In July, could be akin to buying eggs from Nielsen acknowledges changes repeatedly stated that it stands by Nielsen reversed a last-minute a farmer without having them were made to some of its pro- the integrity of its recent work. decision to delay implementa- inspected by local agriculture cesses for monitoring TV view- At a time when more viewers tion of a measure of “out of home” authorities. Do advertisers trust ership over the past 12 months. watch their favorite shows via viewing — audiences watching TV new measures — some ad-indus- “During the COVID-19 pandemic, streaming video, media compa- in offices, bars, hotels and the like. try observers call them “Franken- Nielsen made adjustments to its nies worry Nielsen’s isn’t captur- The networks had already started metrics” — that aren’t held to an data collection procedures where ing all the consumption, keeping to craft ad deals tied to it and went industrywide standard? possible without compromising them from revenue they ought ballistic over the delay. Nielsen So Nielsen may be on the griddle, the integrity of our data to reduce to collect. had cited the pandemic’s effects but the company isn’t cooked yet. the number of in-person inter- NBCU last week hired Kelly Ab- on viewership in those venues as Meanwhile, look for the networks actions,” the company said in its carian, a former senior Nielsen a reason for its rethinking. In early to press their case. NBCU’s Ab car- annual report filed with the U.S. executive, as its executive vice 2019, CBS and Nielsen came to an ian suggests sellers of ad time have Securities and Exchange Commis- president of measurement and impasse in contract talks, with the more options — and plenty of in- sion. Still, its executives believe impact, charging her with help- network pressing the measure- centive to test new yardsticks. the television industry must face ing advertisers figure out the ment company on the cost of ser- “Marketers don’t buy ratings,” reality: Viewers are leaving lin- effectiveness of commercials vices and how it would measure says Abcarian.“They buy results.”

16 ● BIZ + BUZZ 04.28.2021

Sony-Disney Deal Points to Future of Movie Licensing IN OUT UP By Cynthia Littleton

Fans will likely get to see Sony-owned Marvel titles like “Spider-Man” on Disney Plus.

impose limits on the timing and Sarah Amos Nancy Utley and Suzanna Makkos availability of movies even as they has joined Condé Nast as Stephen Gilula has been named head traveled to other licensees in later VP of development and are set to retire as co- of programming for Adult windows carefully delineated over production, nonfiction TV and chairmen of Searchlight Swim and HBO Max a six-year span. documentaries. She had been Pictures. Both had been with animation. She joined On the surface, Disney and Sony The Sony-Disney pact calls for chief of new media for Marvel. the film label for 21 years. HBO Max in 2019. Pictures Entertainment seem to be Disney to buy up most of the post- Mika Pryce Maximo Ibarra Jane Gould two studios heading in opposite Pay 1 windows. Because Sony has been named senior has exited his post as rises to VP of content research, directions when it comes to busi- brings such volume and a wide VP of production at managing director for Sky insights and scheduling for ness strategy. range of genres, the studio had Paramount Pictures. Italia. He’d been with the Disney General Entertainment Disney is investing huge sums of clout in its negotiations. Netflix She was previously at Don company since 2019. Content. She was a senior VP Cheadle’s Radicle Act. with Disney Channels. money and resources into building desperately needs strong movies direct-to-consumer streaming for its service, and so does Disney Kelly Abcarian Clint LaVigne Anastasia Ali and platforms. Sony Pictures has vowed to feed its many hungry linear and has joined NBCUniversal has left Amblin TV after seven Jan Coleman to stay on its traditional studio streaming platforms. as executive VP years as a development have been upped to VP status path, dealing high-end content to “That was our thesis — that the of measurement and executive. He is segueing as marketing executives. the highest bidders. But the two singularity of our corporate situa- impact. She had been to Netflix’s animation Ali joined Disney in 2013; with Nielsen. department as a director. Coleman signed on in 2011. companies found common ground tion and the excellence of our con- in a massive U.S. movie licensing tent and the unconstrained way in deal that was more than a year in which we could partner with the the making for Sony. right people could be very attrac- News of the agreement cheered tive,” says Keith Le Goy, Sony Pic- BACK TO More than a year into the pandemic, movie theaters are Marvel fans, as it promises to make tures’ president of worldwide THE BOX OFFICE well positioned to benefit from pent-up demand — 52% of Americans are looking forward to returning to cin- Sony’s Marvel titles — including distribution and networks. emas, a Morning Consult survey found. That’s compared various “Spider-Man” movies — Sony wasn’t sure if Disney would with those who are excited about going on vacation available alongside Disney’s Marvel be a contender in the sale process (63%), going to a concert (46%), attending a sporting event (41%) or going to the gym (32%). — Todd Spangler vault on the Disney Plus platform. that began in early 2020 with a For industry insiders, the real news roadshow presented by Le Goy. Very excited is how Disney and Sony rearranged For Disney, Sony’s willingness to Once the 29% the traditional post-theatrical map break with tradition and give Dis- pandemic for movies on their path to profit- ney plenty of options for running is under Somewhat excited ability through a maze of TV exhi- movies across Disney Plus, Hulu, control, how 23% excited are you bition windows. FX, ABC, ESPN, Freeform, National I already do this The deal that Disney struck start- Geographic and Disney Channels to go to the ing with Sony’s 2022 theatrical slate was crucial, says Chuck Saftler, movies? 6% was the completion of a larger strat- head of business operations for Don’t know/no opinion egy that included a separate movie ABC, Freeform, FX Networks and 18% pact that Sony unveiled last month acquisitions for Disney Media and Not very excited to do this again with Netflix for the so-called Pay 1 Entertainment Distribution. 13% window, or the first TV airing of a “This deal was negotiated with movie after its theatrical run and as much flexibility for what might Not excited at all to do this again home entertainment release. In the come in the future as any deal I’ve 12%

past, the Pay 1 rights holder could ever been a part of,” Saftler says. WarnerMedia Makkos: Variety; for Gilula: Rob Latour Searchlight; Utley: Fox Sony Pictures; Spider-Man: * Responses do not add up to 100% because of rounding. Source: Morning Consult poll conducted March 18-21 of 2,200 U.S. adults

20 ● BIZ + BUZZ 04.28.2021

The ceremony wasn’t The Oscars good, but there’s reason Channeled a Movie to hold out hope Industry in Transition

By Owen Gleiberman

There are two ways to view this year’s Academy Awards telecast. One of them isn’t pretty. The other is strangely … hopeful. But both speak to the powerful transitional moment in which the movie industry is now caught. Version #1: This year’s Oscar night, by bending over back- ward to “reinvent” itself, wound up as a weird kind of dull fizzle. There was no snarky, let’s-bait- the-stars opening monologue — which seemed, in theory, an enlightened way to go following already scratching its head over like a voyeur on a movie set, and about all the sexiest, high-profile a year of unending casualty and too many of the nominated films. Questlove laid down a groove that movies cruelly put on hold and cut turmoil. But after not too long, Steven Soderbergh, the telecast’s tantalized our sonic cinematic out of the picture, the industry you began to crave the oxygen of co-producer, promised to play memory banks. And by cutting could offer up a vibrant roster of a few jokes, anything to lighten the around with the Oscars but ended down on the snark, the ceremony films it believed in. samey-same mood of social-po- up deconstructing them, turning showcased the nominated films Given the historically low rat- litical reverence and speeches the awards into a high-minded with an enraptured pride, pre- ings for this year’s Golden Globes that droned on without end. The British garden party. At a certain senting Hollywood’s image-mak- and Grammy Awards shows, it decision to introduce a lot of the point I realized I was actually missing mythology as the vanguard was all but preordained that the nominees with spoken thumb- ing the Zoom acceptance speeches of a moral revolution (which, in Oscar telecast would follow suit nail biographies threatened to from home we saw during the fact, it often has been). It’s true and generate in-the-basement turn the night into the Wikipedia Golden Globes. At least they had a that the movies being honored viewer numbers. Yet too many Oscars. And though Union Station, rude spontaneity. weren’t popcorn hits, yet most of have been eager to pounce on an art deco landmark dotted with Version #2: This year’s Oscars them were passionate and potent those cliff-drop ratings as evi- sunlit windows and abstract art, added up to a canny balancing act, dramas that touched a nerve in dence that the Oscars — and, just proved to be a gorgeous setting, dancing between the restrictions those who saw them. In honoring maybe, the movies — are dying on Swankie, Chloé watching the talent sit there in Zhao and Frances required by COVID-19 (no oversize “Nomadland” and “The Father,” the vine. For this was a very spe- all those velvet banquettes just McDormand auditorium) and the promise of “Promising Young Woman” and cial year. In the same spirit, too made the ceremony feel glazed, take the stage a post-lockdown world (in-per- “Judas and the Black Messiah,” the many are now eager to declare, as “Nomadland” hermetic, like an elite cabaret cut receives the son ceremony with no masks!). Academy demonstrated that even amid the anomaly of a pandemic,

off from a mass audience that was best picture Oscar. The camera bobbed and ﬂowed in this pandemic year, with just that going to a movie theater is ABC/AMPAS 04.28.2021 VARIETY ● 21

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A STUNNING OSCARS AUDIENCE DECLINE

By Gavin Bridge The award for lowest-watched Oscar telecast goes to ... the 93rd Academy Awards. Given the overall slide awards shows have seen in the past 12 months, analysts were predicting a ratings plummet, but hitting sub-10 million for the first time was a surprise. Even the lowest-rated Oscarcast since 2010 — last year’s — reached viewer numbers that becoming the horse-and-buggy to come close to being great to were 2.4 times Sunday’s. The good news, if it could be considered good, experience of our time, just wait- fulfill a streaming service’s met- is that the Oscars remain the most watched of all awards ceremonies. ing to be put out to pasture by ric priorities), and the magic of Still, given viewership trends, the worry is that this is not the end the cathartic convenience of the movies will wither. of the slump, with 2022 threatening to bring even grimmer results. streaming revolution. The movies that won Oscars this Sorry, but there’s more to life year were not “great escapes.” Not For more data from VIP+, visit variety.com/vip. than convenience. There is also the way the films of old Hollywood excitement, the thrill of collec- were; not the way a terrific James tive experience (i.e., being part Bond movie is. Yet I would gladly of an audience) and the grand take “Nomadland,” with its finely intoxication of art. It’s trendy to cut empathy and ravaged spirit see the future of movies as a mat- of survivalist adventure, over 50 ter of inevitable “market forces,” such venerable and stodgy past but it’s not like some preordained Oscar winners as “Out of Africa” algorithm will determine whether or “The English Patient.” The film or not people continue to seek confirmed Chloé Zhao as a major out movies in theaters, and what voice (and Frances McDormand 40 those movies will be. To quote a as the flinty voice of our underly- corny old song: It’s a choice we’re ing desperation), and it spoke to a making. Despite wins in seven year when people couldn’t escape, categories, Netflix, at the Oscars, when just hanging on was as dra- went another year without tak- matic as it got. ing home the headline prizes it That said, there’s never been a 30 seeks, and maybe that should year quite like this year. And one of tell us something. Maybe Netflix the key messages — of the Oscars, should stop working so hard to and of the streaming revolution — triumph in the movie awards and is that it’s time for Hollywood to kill movies as we know them at take the high and the low and put 20 the same time. them back together, to enlighten Should the movies now just audiences while entertaining become spectacle — the equiva- them, to provide an experience lent of a gladiatorial contest or a you want to escape your home to trip to the CGI planetarium? Many seek out. In that sense, this year’s say so. But if you eat nothing but Oscars, full of reverence but 10 popcorn, you should probably see purged of show business, elegant a doctor, and Hollywood, by serv- and lofty but missing that crucial ing nothing but popcorn, could spark of vulgarity, were not just a wind up starving itself. If what we stopgap but a lesson, a warning, now call movies for adults (what almost a vaccination. The cere- we used to just call, you know, mony said: Yes, this is what the 0 movies) become the sole prov- Oscars look like after a year of ince of Netflix and other stream- lockdown. And no, we can’t do 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 ing services, those movies will be this again. Instead, it’s time to do seen (sorry, but there’s no other what the movie industry has done phrase for it) as TV movies, and so many times before, usually bet- they will become trivial, shoddier ter than anyone. It’s time to go back in quality (since they don’t have to the drawing board. Source: Nielsen (live + same-day total audience) 22 ● BIZ + BUZZ 04.28.2021

Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford RED-CARPET ARRIVALS Despite a subdued awards season, there was glitz and glamour before the Oscars kicked off at Union Station By Marc Malkin

Nicole Newnham, Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher James Lebrecht and Sara Bolder and Steven Soderbergh

Aldis Hodge, Regina King and Andra Day

Paulina Porizkova and Aaron Sorkin Colman Domingo

Rita Moreno and Fernanda Luisa Gordon Chris Pizzello/AP Photo (11) ChrisCh Pizzello/AP

StevenSteven YeunYeun

Angela Bassett Viola Davis Halle Berry 04.28.2021 VARIETY ● 23

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS Satellite hubs around the world allowed those who couldn’t make it to Los Angeles to be a part of the show

Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher in Sydney

Amanda Seyfried Alan S. Kim and Christina Oh

eld: Alberto Pezzali/AP Photo (2); Stolze: Petr David Josek/AP Photo Photo David Josek/AP (2); Stolze: Petr eld: Alberto Pezzali/AP Leslie Odom Jr.

FatFat Max Gsus in StockholmStockholm

Kenny Lucas and Keith Lucas Ri

LaKeith Stanﬁeld in London Paul Raci and Liz Hanley Raci

Olivia The Academy’s David Rubin Claudia Stolzetolze Colman in ZendayaZe and Dawn Hudson in Prague

Red Carpet Arrivals: Chris Pizzello/AP Photo (7); Cohen/Fisher: Rick Rycroft/AP Photo; Gsus: Fredrik Persson/AP; Colman, Stanfi Photo; Persson/AP; Gsus: Fredrik Photo (7); (7); Cohen/Fisher: Cohen/Fisher: Rick Rycroft/AP Chris ChrisRed Carpet Arrivals: Pizzello/AP Pizzello/AP London 24 ● BIZ + BUZZ 04.28.2021

Daniel Kaluuya WINNERS’ CIRCLE While it’s great to be nominated, nothing beats going home with a shiny new Oscar By Marc Malkin

TiaraTiara ThomasThomas,, H.E.R. aandnd DernstDernst EmileEmile II

MiaM NeNeal,al, JaJJamikaamikka MartinMartin Jon Batiste, WilWilsonson andannd SergioSergrgioio DesmondDesmonnd RRoeoe Trent Reznor and LopLoLLopez-Riveraopopez-ezez-z-RivR veera andananndd TravonTrTravoaavvvoon FreeFreee Atticus Ross

Emerald Fennell Mikkel E. G. Nielsen

ScottScott FisFisherher Chris Pizzello/AP Photo (8) Chris Pizzello/AP 04.28.2021 VARIETY ● 25

THE WINNERS

BESTBE PICTURE MAKEUP AND “Nomadland”“N HAIRSTYLING FFrancesr McDor- “Ma Rainey’s Michael Govier and ThomasTThThohhomammasasa AliceAlice DoDoyardyard and mmand,a Peter Spears, Black Bottom” Will McCormack ViVinVinterberginteteerrberbe g AnthonyAnthony GiacchinoGiacchino MMollyeo Asher, Dan Sergio Lopez- JJanvey,a Chloé Zhao, Rivera, Mia Neal, prproducers Jamika Wilson

DDIRECTORI SOUND ChChloé Zhao “Sound of Metal” ““Nomadland”N Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, LLEADE ACTRESS Michelle Couttolenc, FrFrances Carlos Cortés, MMcDormand Phillip Bladh “N“Nomadland” ORIGINAL LLEADE ACTOR SCORE PiPippappa AnthonyAn Hopkins “Soul” Erik Messerschmidt, EhrliEhrlichch “T“The Father” Trent Reznor, Donald Graham Burt aandnd JaJamesmes Atticus Ross, and Jan Pascale SSUPPORTINGU Jon Batiste RReedeed ACACTRESS Yuh-Jung Youn ORIGINAL SONG “Minari” “Fight for You” (“Judas and the SUPPORTING Black Messiah”) ACTOR music by H.E.R. Daniel Kaluuya and Dernst Emile II; “Judas and the lyric by H.E.R. and Black Messiah” Tiara Thomas

ORIGINAL VISUAL SCREENPLAY EFFECTS “Promising “Tenet” Young Woman” Phillip Bladh, Carlos Cortés, Andrew Jackson, Emerald Fennell Michelle Couttolenc and David Lee, Jaime Baksht ADAPTED Andrew Lockley, SCREENPLAY Scott Fisher “The Father” Dana Murray and DOCUMENTARY Christopher Pete Docter FEATURE Hampton, Florian “My Octopus Zeller Teacher” ANIMATED Pippa Ehrlich, FEATURE James Reed, “Soul” Craig Foster Pete Docter, INTERNATIONAL Dana Murray FEATURE CINEMA- “Another Round” TOGRAPHY (Denmark) “Mank” LIVE-ACTION Yuh-Jung Youn Erik Messerschmidt SHORT PeterPeter SpeSpears,ars, PRODUCTION “Two Distant FrancesFrances DESIGN Strangers” McDMcDormand,ormand, “Mank” Travon Free, Martin ChlChloéoé ZhZhao,ao, production Desmond Roe Mollye Asher designer: Donald and DaDann Graham Burt; DOCUMENTARY JanJanveyvey SHORT set decorator: Jan Pascale “Colette” Anthony Giacchino, COSTUME Alice Doyard DESIGN “Ma Rainey’s ANIMATED Black Bottom” SHORT Ann Roth “If Anything Happens I FILM EDITING Love You” “Sound of Metal” Will McCormack,

Press Room: Chris Pizzello/AP Photo (7); Youn, Spears/McDormand/Zhao/Asher/Janvey: ABC/AMPAS (2) ABC/AMPAS Photo Photo Spears/McD Spears/McDormand/Zhao/Asher/Janvey: (7); (7); Youn, Youn, Room: Chris Room: Chris Pizzello/AP Pizzello/AP Press Mikkel E.G. Nielsen Michael Govier

04.28.2021 VARIETY ● 27 OUR TOWN

JUST FOR VARIETY (1)

When “The Handmaid’s Tale” began shooting Season 4 last September in Toronto, Joseph Fiennes (1) says he felt safe from COVID-19. However, it shook him up men- tally. “It was the ﬁrst time in my life where I felt mildly depressed and hugely emotional at not being able to physically get to my family and know I wouldn’t see them (2) for two and a half to three months at a time,” says Fiennes from his home in Spain. The soft-spoken actor plays the stoic and sadistic Commander Fred Waterford on the Hulu series, which begins its latest season on April 28. “I felt like I was letting them down; there was a sense of guilt of not being there.” Production on the season began days before the onset of the pandemic, then was shuttered for months. “I think we had 27,000 or more [COVID] tests since October,” he says. The continued comparisons between “The Handmaid’s Tale” and the Trump administration were not lost on Fiennes after Jan. 6. “I couldn’t help but have a self-di-

Gillies: Stephen Lovekin/Variety alogue on the nature of and the fragility of democracy and the storming of Congress,” (3) he says. He recalls Waterford turning to his wife during a flashback in Season 2 to tell her the Capitol and the White House were stormed. Fiennes shakes his head: “Just a few years later that same event happened.”… Justin Theroux (2) was filming the Apple TV Plus series adaptation of “The Mosquito Coast” in Mexico City when he finally met Harrison Ford. Theroux stars as Allie on the show, the part Ford played in the 1986 movie version of the novel written by Ther- oux’s uncle, Paul Theroux. “He happened to come through for work and was staying at the same hotel as me,” Theroux says on this week’s “Just for Variety” podcast. “We had a mutual friend in common, who was like, ‘You’re both in Mexico City; you should (4) get together.’ … We had this wonderful long tequila-filled night. We did talk about ‘Mosquito Coast,’ but it wasn’t central. He’s a much more fascinating man than the guy who just played that part.” … Sean Hayes (3) has a good reason for launching his latest podcast, “Hypochondri- Actor.” “I did this for free medical advice,” the former “Will & Grace” star cracks. The podcast, which debuts May 5, features Hayes and Dr. Priyanka Wali (4), who is also a stand-up comedian, interviewing guests with incredible medical stories. “I constantly think about everything that’s wrong with my body,” Hayes says. “You can say any part of my body on the inside or outside, and I’ll probably have a story about it.” “Hypo- chondriActor” is the second podcast he’s co-hosting since launching “Smartless” with (5) Jason Bateman and Will Arnett in July 2020. Hazy Mills, Hayes and Todd Milliner’s production company, has about a dozen podcasts… in development. Elizabeth Gillies (5) is pulling more than double duty on “Dynasty.” Not only does she star as Fallon on the CW reboot of my favorite 1980s primetime soap, but she exclusively tells me she’s going to make her directing debut with an upcoming episode. “I’ve always wanted to do it,” Gillies says. “I think it was last year I really made it clear my pitch to direct.” She’s also set to sing a song that she wrote for Fallon to per-

Fiennes: Chelsea Lauren/Variety; Theroux: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP; Hayes: John Salangsang/Variety; Wali: Cynthia Smalley; Wali: Hayes: John Salangsang/Variety; Shotwell/Invision/AP; Richard Theroux: Fiennes: Chelsea Lauren/Variety; form at her wedding. Miranda Parton include adress worn by on “Cybill,” items ontheblock she was nominatedfor herwork star wore tothe1996 Emmys when Turturice gown the“Good Fight” tion to thegold-beaded Robert beneﬁts TheActors Fund.Inaddi- celebrity auctiononApril 28that wonderful way togo.’” careers.’ said,‘Itwould Meryl bea where couldendour we said,‘This it together, we hadaphonecall cracks. we “When were putting done inourback ofﬁces,” Baranski to EndPoverty. raised money tion for during avirtualbirthday celebra- dition of“LadiesWhoLunch” went viral withtheirboozyren- Streep Christine Baranski It was thisweek ayear ago that By MarcMalkin Fund The Actors Raid Their Closets for and Friends Christine Baranski 28 Auctioneers &Appraisers for a again by teaming upwithDoyle “It was asloppy, drunken mess Now Baranski isgiving back ● OUR TOWN and Stephen Sondheim , apairof ’s bootsfrom “Hamilton” Audra McDonald

for Artists Striving Lin-Manuel , Meryl Dolly that that have thatplotline.” anymore. At least Idon’t have to play atTrump Dianebeingangry happy Iamthatdon’t have to Ican’tsky’s thelimit. tellyou how “We’re livingincrazy times,sothe Gilded Age.”drama series“The also stars inHBO’s upcoming some case,” says Baranski, who representingLockhart RuPaul in the cards? “IcouldseeDiane Plus, couldacrossover bein Race” runningonParamount and“RuPaul’sGood Fight” Drag lier thatyear. With both“The logue whenhehosted “SNL” ear- had onduringhisopeningmono- and theensemblethat on theshow inDecember2020 wore while playing outﬁt that Lorne Michaels “Everyone hasbeensogenerous.” to donate,” Baranski tells a drawer andpicksomethingout had to go into theircloset orinto from and aleatherWolverine jacket “Saturday NightLive” boss Hugh Jackman TimothéeChalamet handedover the Harry Styles Harry doyle.com . “People just RuPaul Variety

Emmys in1996. wore tothe the golddress she auction includes Baranski’s charity Christine an actorbestknownfor playing the newsontheirInstagram “Glee”; Renee is a musician “Glee”; Reneeisamusician are expectingtheirsecond child. Thecouplerevealed teacher Will Schuester on teacher WillSchuesteron Cocoanut Grove,” hesaid.“Everyone wasdoing thetwist.” the theater,whichwasthennamedGrauman’s. “There wasabigpartyatthe recalledendary moviehouse.Chakiris thepremiere of “West SideStory”at winners whohaveputtheirhandsandfeet inthecementfront of theleg- help unveilaplaquecommemorating themore than100AcademyAward on April21attheTCL Theatre Chinese inHollywood.Theactorwasthere to 1961’s “West SideStory,” poseswiththecast’shandprintsandfootprints George Chakiris is 3years old.Matthewis Stories. Theirson, Matthew Morrison and MatthewMorrisonand Renee Morrison ReneeMorrison and model. andmodel. Photograph byMichaelBuckner , whowonanAcademyAward for hiswork asBernardo in EXPOSURE Revel

Newborns Nuptials , & child, son pro wrestler; Browne isamixed Compiled by Haley Bosselman Keawe gave birth to her and husband gave birthtoherandhusband are expectingtheirﬁrst child. Mitchell Z.Markowitz at Sunshine Sachs; Mitchell at SunshineSachs;Mitchell JamieKronfeld Markowitz on April9inNewYork City. Jamieisavicepresident Browne hastwo children, relationship. Rouseyisa Ronda Rousey and RondaRouseyand and Travis Browne is anattorney. Asher NoahMarkowitz martial artist. martial artist. Publicist Publicist Kaleo 04.28.2021 , from aprior

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Baranski: zz/John Nacion/STAR MAX/IPx/AP Images; Baranski (Gold Dress) Ramey Photo Agency/Mega Agency; Morrison: Faye Sadou/MediaPunch/IPX/AP Images 04.28.2021 VARIETY ● 29 Bringing Color to Cartoons MUST ATTEND

By Antonio Ferme

Growing up in a predominantly What ﬁrst inspired you to paint white area in Des Moines, Iowa, these cartoon characters? April 29 B. Robert Moore didn’t see many I picked those cartoons because • Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, Jordana Black and brown faces in cartoons. I actually liked “Peanuts.” I have Brewster, Darius Rucker and Jimmy Years later, as his artistic career a daughter, and I went online to Jam & Terry Lewis appear at the took off, he wanted to change that look for an artist of color that “Home Together” fundraiser for — or at the least, put his own spin painted a Black girl from the LA Family Housing. Matt Rogers is the host; event co-chairs are Blair on the seemingly all-white world “Peanuts” series because there Rich, Karen Brodkin and Zeeda of children’s cartoons. Moore was only Franklin. Couldn’t ﬁnd Daniele. lafh.org/hometogether2021 recently debuted “Imagine a it, so I said, “Screw it — I’m gonna • Mj Rodriguez, Indya Moore and World; Brown Like Me,” a series of paint it.” Dominique Jackson walk the red paintings using acrylics, oil sticks, Have you reached out to the carpet at the final-season premiere Schulz family? of “Pose” at Jazz at Lincoln Center. charcoal, pastels and spray paints fxnetworks.com that reimagine kids favorites, I found an old letter that Charles • The premiere of “Tom Clancy’s including “Peanuts,” “The Jetsons” Schulz wrote about Franklin and Without Remorse,” starring Michael and “The Flintstones.” “I want to how he thought that diversity B. Jordan, includes an immersive paint Scooby-Doo and that cast and characters needed to hap- after-show with a live deejay. amazon.com because I’m like, ‘They should have pen. So, no, I never did. It was had locs. Velma should have Afro more of an ask for forgiveness puffs,’” Moore, 37, tells Variety from than permission mentality. If it April 30 his home in Des Moines. “I have my organically happens where our own vision, and the story would paths cross, I hope it’s more in a • Jimmy Kimmel and NASA scientist- turned-YouTube star Mark Rober be more true to me because they collaboration tone than a cease co-host Color the Spectrum to raise would look like me.” and desist. money for Next for Autism. Guests include Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Jack Black and Andy Samberg. nextforautism.org

MayMay 2

• OctaviaOctavia SpencerSpencer hhosts City Year Los Angeles’Angeles’ SprSpringing BBreak:r Destination Education,Education, wwithith apappearances by SterlingSterling K. Brown, America Ferrera, ReginaRegina KingKing, JesJessese Williams and SSteventeven YYeuneun. MMiguel performs. cicityyear.orgtyyear.org

Mj Rodriguez

Iowa-based artist B. Robert Moore paints “Peanuts” characters with Black

Moore: Courtesy B. Robert Moore (3); Rodriguez: Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/AP Images USA/AP Rodriguez: Anthony Behar/Sipa (3); Courtesy B. Robert Moore Moore: and brown faces.

THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO WIN THE OSCAR FOR BEST DIRECTOR, ‘NOMADLAND’S’

IS PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW GENERATION OF STORYTELLERS BY KATE AURTHUR

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW ECCLES On Monday morning, the day after making history with her two Oscar wins, Chloé Zhao is beaming. Her happiness is detectable even over Zoom. “It was just so, so beautiful to be in the room with people, and to be able to actually talk to them and to cele- brate with my peers,” she says. Not everything went as planned at the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night; witness the show not ending with the usual best picture category, instead unexpectedly honoring an actor, Anthony Hopkins, who wasn’t even there, as its climax. But at least one thing went very right: Zhao landed the trophy for best director for “Nomadland,” and also received the top prize for picture. She’s only the second woman to win an Oscar for director — after Kathryn Bigelow (for 2009’s “The Hurt Locker”) — and Zhao, who was born in Beijing, is the first woman of color to receive the prize. “Nomadland,” released by Searchlight Pictures, led all films with three Oscars, including actress for Frances McDormand. Zhao went into the night with four nominations: In addition to producing and directing, she was up for adapted screenplay and editing. And after doing countless virtual panels, particularly with her fellow directors, she was at last together in person with the other nominees on Sunday night. Describing meeting nominee Emerald Fennell — both Zhao and the “Promising Young Woman” director wore sneakers — Zhao says she was able to “finally give a hug.” “I think there’s a picture somewhere out there of the two of us with our sneakers together,” she says with a laugh. Zhao’s “Nomadland” journey began in 2017 after McDormand sneaked out of her “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” promotional duties at the Toronto International Film Festival to see Zhao’s second film, “The Rider.” McDormand and producer Peter Spears had the rights to Jessica Bruder’s nonfiction book “Nomadland,” which chronicles the post-Great Recession stories I TAKE A LOT OF INSPIRATION of older Americans who’d been forced out of their homes and into their vehicles, traveling the country in search of work. After FROM FRANCES MCDORMAND, buying a van, Bruder immersed herself in the nomads’ world — AND I LEARNED A LOT FROM as Zhao had done for both “The Rider” and her first movie, 2015’s “Songs My Brother Taught Me.” To McDormand, “Nomadland” HER THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. seemed like perfect material for Zhao. — CHLOÉ ZHAO And it was. “Nomadland” premiered to raves at the September film festivals, where it began racking up awards. Critics prizes, Golden Globes, and Producers Guild, Directors Guild, and Independent Spirit awards followed, making “Nomadland” the most-awarded film in modern history. The movie captured the anxious, melancholy mood of the pandemic year: The iso- lation of Fern (McDormand) as she travels from place to place — sometimes connecting with fellow nomads, other times choosing solitude — felt authentic to this moment in history. As did the movie’s longing for a better future. Linda May is one of the real-life nomads in the movie, and she accompanied Zhao and Joshua James Richards — the “Nomadland” cinematographer and Zhao’s partner — to the Oscars Sunday night. In an interview, May recounts working closely with Zhao to craft her character, as well as the film’s portrayal of the nomad community. “No one could have done better than she did,” May says. It wasn’t only that Zhao had to understand the story of “Nomadland” and its characters on a cellular level. Producer Dan Janvey describes the immense technical challenges of the shoot, which Zhao spread over fall 2018 and winter 2019 — with a rare hiatus in between — so that the movie could appear to capture a full year in Fern’s life. Zhao was so good at each of her roles on the movie — writer, director, producer, editor — that it was as if different specialists were doing each of them, Janvey says: “And what’s crazy about it is the degree she harmonizes those different skills into one person. That’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.” A woman filmmaker with a singular point of view? It hasn’t always been seen as a good thing, as Barbra Streisand reminds Variety. “When I began shooting ‘Yentl’ in 1982, I had a clear vision of the film I wanted to make, so I ended up directing, acting, producing and writing,” Streisand says. “A lot of people were upset that I was assuming all those roles, and I remember getting attacked for wanting to have control over my work. “So it’s wonderful to see Chloé Zhao be in full control of her movie by doing multiple jobs — which ensures the final cut is completely what she envisioned. I’m very happy for her and for the state of women filmmakers today. We’ve come a long way.” And at 39, Zhao is just starting. Next up is her massively ambi- tious Marvel movie “Eternals,” based on Jack Kirby’s comic series, with a large ensemble cast featuring Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek and Kumail Nanjiani. It’s a huge leap from her first three films, and after several COVID-19 delays, “Eternals” will hit theaters in November. Zhao — a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the comics from which it originates — approached the company herself. She was originally considered for “Black Widow,” according to Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, but took herself

(Previous Spread) Hair: Richard Collins/TMGLA/Oribe; Dress and Sneakers: Hermès and Sneakers: Dress Collins/TMGLA/Oribe; Spread) Hair: Richard (Previous off the list. Eventually, Zhao and Marvel executive Nate Moore began working together on an “Eternals” pitch, which Feige calls “spectacular.” It was, he says, “a very bold and very ambi- tious, sprawling 7,000-year story of humanity and our place in the cosmos.” In a movie that would be full of visual effects and greenscreen I HAVE NEVER MADE A FILM — as all Marvel movies are — Feige says Zhao “was really fight- ing for practical locations” in accordance with her vision for ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE it. At one point, they cut a sample reel of “Eternals” for Disney ELDERS. AND JUST BEING higher-ups to watch. “And I had to keep saying, ‘This is right out of a camera; there’s AROUND THEM, AND JUST no VFX work to this at all!’” Feige says. “Because it was a beautiful GETTING THE WISDOM FROM sunset, with perfect waves and mist coming up from the shore on this giant cliffside — really impressive stuff.” Later, watching THEM ABOUT LIFE AND “Nomadland,” he saw similar shots. “Oh! That is not just what she wanted to bring to Marvel,” he remembers thinking. “This ABOUT MORTALITY, ABOUT is a signature style.” WHAT’S IMPORTANT — IT WAS Just hours after the ceremony ended, Zhao met with Variety for a photo shoot and a Zoom interview about her historic journey LIFE-CHANGING. to the 93rd annual (semi-socially distanced) Academy Awards. — CHLOÉ ZHAO In your speech for best director, you quoted a saying from the Chinese text “Three Character Classic”: “People at birth are inherently good.” How did you decide what you wanted to say? Just at 2 in the morning in my room alone. We had a really fortunate [awards] season, and I got to thank a lot of people along the way. I thought if I was fortunate enough to win, I wanted to think about where it all started. It’s definitely a sentiment that was very important to me, had an impact on me when I was a kid, and I carry that with me. On a more trivial matter, people were obsessed with your choice of footwear. I take a lot of inspiration from Frances McDormand, and I learned a lot from her through this journey. It’s a long night, a lot of walking — and I don’t have the courage to be in heels. What was your creative partnership like with her? I think we have a lot in common, Fran and I. We both like comfortable footwear, and also really like to work. Not a lot of words, more like a lot of doing. And through that process, I just learned so much from her. As a mentor, as a person — how she carries herself in the industry. Linda May told me that the money from “Nomadland” has changed her life — which is amazing, but it shouldn’t be that way for a 70-year-old who’s worked her whole life. Can you talk about how the real stories of the nomads illustrated the points you wanted the movie to make? When I read Jessica Bruder’s book — beautiful, beautiful work — there’s so much that she touched on. Almost behind every page, I felt this very universal emotion she captured, which is this collective feeling of loss, a loss of a way of life. And that’s what I wanted to focus on. Having made three films the way we did, by just telling human stories, the audience is going to take away the things that they need to take away. And they could have conversations and discussions like the one you just talked about, which is one that’s very dear to me: how we treat our elders in our society. When we go into each scene, that’s not what I think about. But I think by humanizing these characters, and making their stories universal, it will hopefully make the audience relate with them first, emotionally. And then ask the question you did: Why are they in that situation? You don’t just intellectually think about it, but you’re emotionally invested in it. And, obviously, in a capitalist economy, if you don’t contribute to the survival of the economy, you are disposable. What’s been your takeaway from the conversation about how Amazon is por- trayed in the movie? I love that people are talking about it. I love movies that don’t necessarily tell me how I should feel or how I should think but give me this canvas that I can go away and have a conversation with myself and people around me. And I think we tried to do that with “Nomadland.” And the fact that people are having conversation is a good thing. Kevin Feige said your original plan was that you were actually going to finish “Eternals” and it was even going to come out before you edited “Nomadland.” But because of COVID, you finished “Nomadland” so that was ready first. Is that right? Yeah, I think so. I mean they were really back-to-back, those two movies. That would have changed the course of history! Is it wild to think that if COVID hadn’t hit, “Nomadland” wouldn’t have come out this year? I have gone through ups and downs in my relatively short career. And one thing I’ve learned is a bit of a cliché, but everything does happen for a reason. We never expected “Nomadland” to resonate the way it did. But everything worked out. “Nomadland” seems like the kind of experience that would stick with you. Did making it change your life? I have a whole new group of friends, people who are going to be in my life forever. Swankie is going to go kayaking, and Josh is going to go with her to Channel Islands this week. But also, I have never made a film about people who are elders. And just being around them, and just getting the wisdom from them about life and about mortality, about what’s important — it was life-changing. This was your first major Oscar cam- paign. How was it for you? From top: It was longer than I thought. Look, we’re alone in our homes. Frances McDormand playfully frames Zhao on set; the director We can’t see our family; we can’t see our friends. And being on checks out McDormand’s Zoom, even though we all make fun of it, just seeing Emerald’s barbering skills on Swankie. face, David [Fincher], Lee [Isaac Chung], Thomas [Vinterberg], and Aaron [Sorkin], doing all these panels with everyone, and seeing their homes, seeing their dogs and their families — it did make me feel less alone in this process, in this whole situation. So I’m grateful for this award season. I’m grateful for the people that came along. How has it felt to navigate Hollywood as an Asian woman? Have you experienced any obstacles? I’m sure I have. I know I have. The one thing that I learned really early on is that you’ve got to surround yourself with the right people. Because you can’t change how people think — you can’t control how they’re going to think, how they’re going to behave. But what you can do is make sure the people that are around you not only protect you but want to be with you because of who

Searchlight Pictures (2) Pictures Searchlight you are as an individual. I’ve been lucky in my whole career so far. Every single film we’ve made, I’m surrounded by people like that. So even though I can sense things, and I’ve heard, obviously, people, my peers, experiencing these unfortunate situations, I have been very lucky that I’ve been protected. What has this year of anti-Asian violence and hate crimes WHAT YOU CAN DO IS MAKE directed toward Asian people been like for you? SURE THE PEOPLE THAT We’ve got to check in with each other. And I was very grateful for the phone calls, the messages, the Zoom calls I received. I think ARE AROUND YOU NOT ONLY Tyler Perry said it really well last night. Sometimes it’s hard to have these conversations, but just by reaching out and to ask, “Are you PROTECT YOU BUT WANT TO BE OK? What can I do?” It means so much. Walk down the street and WITH YOU BECAUSE OF WHO smile at a stranger — that might just make your day. So I think we have to start with ourselves — the small community and circle YOU ARE AS AN INDIVIDUAL. that we’re in. And if we all do that, I think we can make a change. — CHLOÉ ZHAO “Eternals” will have Marvel’s first gay superhero, a deaf character, a huge international cast. Did Marvel say yes to all those things? It’s just been such an incredible experience working with the team at Marvel. I want to be careful saying “my vision,” even though I do want people to know they did support what I wanted to do. I want people to know that. But I also want to make sure they know that I got the support of this incredibly talented team, some of the most talented artists in the world. And it really is a village to make this film, but they did let me lead. Yes. I know you’ve worked with small, tightly knit crews on your other movies. How different was “Eternals”? Props to Marvel — from early on, they knew the way I wanted to make this film, how I wanted to shoot. It can’t be hundreds of people standing around. So they very much adapted how to run the set the way that I wanted to work. I’m still surrounded by 25 people. They just have armies, and each of them knew they needed to keep the army away. During a conversation you had with Barry Jenkins for Variety earlier this year, when you were talking about “Eternals,” you said, “Can I put a spin on it while still being true to the essence of it?” How did you do that? Jack Kirby and his imagination, his incredible work, is really the foundation of it. On top of that, there is what Marvel Studios has built, this incredible journey they have going on. And then on top of that is me as a fan of the MCU. And then, me as a fan of the genre, but also growing up with sci-fi and manga and fantasy films. And how can we have this big melting pot and cook up something that may just taste a little bit different? It was just an exciting thing; all of us went in wanting to do that. We’ll see. You’ve said you’re getting a writing credit on it, and I know you’re in post-production now. Are you editing it too? No. I’m working with two incredible editors, Craig Wood and Dylan Tichenor. And they’ve taught me so much. They were very patient with me, because they know it’s the first time that I’ve col- laborated with editors that way. They’ve really helped me find the language to be able to communicate with them in a way that I hadn’t had to do to this extent. Where are you with “Eternals” right now? Final stretch. Just like sculpturing, you never want it to end. You just want to keep going until they tell you you can’t keep going anymore. What can you tell me about your Dracula project for Universal that has been described as a “futuristic sci-fi Western”? I love that you have the question mark at the end — a “sci-fi Western”? Those things don’t necessarily go together! No, I like that. It’s just like looking at Jessica Bruder’s book, and

NOT EVEN COVID COULD STOP CEOS FROM MAKING BANK IN 2020

in Compensation Advisory Partners. “I good by getting rid of their CEO salaries. don’t think there has ever been an event They didn’t make big announcements when for these businesses as catastrophic those salaries returned.” as COVID.” Now, with the release of annual reports media barons believe in shared sacrifice? But the belts that companies tightened and proxies, we see how little media chiefs When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, still seemed to stretch a lot with bonuses gave up at a time when total employment several CEOs made headlines by voluntarily and perks that ensured media CEOs will at AT&T, Comcast, Discovery, Disney, Fox, cutting their take-home pay or forgoing continue to rank among the nation’s high- Lionsgate, Netflix and ViacomCBS dropped salaries. After all, the global health crisis est-paid executives. by 57,153 — an 8% decline over the previ- had closed movie theaters and theme parks “It was largely cosmetic,” says Rosanna ous year. and brought film and television production Landis Weaver, program manager of the But we can already see that the absence of to a standstill, forcing companies to lay off CEO pay program at shareholder advo- special deal-related bonuses, not shared sac- or furlough thousands of workers. cacy group As You Sow. “Most of these rifice or even falling stock prices, accounts “Everything stopped. Everything closed companies issued huge press releases for much of the 12% drop in average com- down,” says Bertha Medusa, a partner announcing they were doing something pensation, to $28.9 million, for the chiefs 38 BY DAVID LIEBERMAN AND BRENT LANG

of AT&T, Comcast, Disney, Fox, Lionsgate, what the CEOs averaged in 2020 alone Media companies usually say that their Netflix and ViacomCBS — the companies, based on each company’s calculation of CEOs earn their high pay by meeting the among the ones we track, that have released median worker pay. That’s an improve- high goals their boards set. But as you’ll their 2020 proxy reports disclosing com- ment from 416 years in 2019, but remains see in some of the profiles below, direc- pensation for top executives. Discovery has a far higher ratio than you see at most top tors frequently move the goal posts when yet to file its 2020 report. U.S. corporations. it suits them. “Some people took salary cuts, but The gross-pay disparities tell us how They also rarely tie compensation to it hasn’t affected overall compensa- highly the leaders of the nation’s top news the CEO’s treatment of workers, custom- tion,” says Charles M. Elson, director of and entertainment companies regard ers, communities, the environment and the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate themselves. But to appreciate the breadth of ordinary shareholders. To see those dis- Governance at the University of Delaware. their sense of entitlement, you have to look parities, we once again include assess- “Most of what they lost in salary will be — as we do here — at the fantastic justifi- ments of each company’s strengths made up for in long-term incentives.” cations they offer for pocketing so much and weaknesses from JUST Capital — a Looked at another way, a typical employee wealth even during an emergency that nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates would have to work 306 years to match devastated employees and shareholders. stakeholder capitalism. 39 Notes: WORKING ENVIRONMENT • Most of the information in this story comes from the Assessments of firms’ strengths and weaknesses from JUST Capital, a nonprofit that advo- proxy statements and reports that the Securities and cates stakeholder capitalism (rank = position among largest publicly traded companies) Exchange Commission requires publicly traded U.S. companies to file each year. Overseas companies Company Stakeholder Strength (Rank) Stakeholder Weakness (Rank) such as Sony, and privately held ones such as MGM, AT&T Environment: Develops and Communities: U.S. job creation; do not file and are not included in our tally. The SEC supports clean, sustainable products recruits from local communities (572) filing requirements are designed to help people com- and services (1) pare information from different companies. There Comcast Workers: Workplace diversity; equal Environment: Pollution minimization; are some caveats: Companies file reports for their hiring, advancement and pay (13) efficient resource use (468) fiscal years. Most coincide with the calendar year, but Discovery Customers: Transparent communica- Shareholders: Board diversity, several do not: Lionsgate’s fiscal year ends in March, tions about products and services (1) stakeholder protection, executive Fox’s ends in June and Disney’s ends in September. compensation (775) Our data is from their most recent annual filings. Disney Communities: U.S. job creation; Workers: Protects workers’ health, • Our data about the composition and ages of com- recruits from local communities (1) safety and well-being; quality benefits package (708) pany boards also reflects the information included Fox Environment: Combats climate Workers: Workplace diversity; equal in the latest proxy statements. change, carbon emissions (115) hiring, advancement and pay (785) • The SEC requires companies to disclose a median employee compensation figure, along with a ratio Lionsgate Shareholders: Leadership ethics (100) Workers: Protects workers’ health, safety and well-being; workplace diversity (856) derived from that total paid to the principal executive officer. Companies calculate the medians Netflix Workers: Fair pay maintained during Communities: Community development; differently, so they aren’t comparable. the pandemic (19) use of local products and resources (655) • Our list focuses on CEOs but also key decision-makers ViacomCBS Environment: Combats climate Workers: Workforce investment, stability, — especially those overseeing content production. change, carbon emissions (115) training (700)

Disney’s board responded to two irresist- businesses,” resulting in a $2.8 billion net ible forces last year when it decided how loss in continuing operations, down from much to pay top execs. a $10.4 billion net proﬁt in 2019. One was the investor revulsion over The board jettisoned performance Robert Iger’s gargantuan compensation. bonuses for all leaders even though the proxy MEDIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION: $51,073 Owners of more than half of Disney’s shares says that “there were other performance fac- IGER/CHAPEK PAY RATIO TO MEDIAN EMPLOYEE: 412/293 opposed the board’s outlays in a 2018 advi- tors that would have supported a bonus.” sory vote, and just 53% supported in 2020. That decision hit Iger hard: He made 2020 TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN: -5.4% Robert Chapek, who was named CEO $21.8 million from his bonus in 2019 — 80% BOARD: 6 MEN/4 WOMEN in February 2020, won’t be as generously more than his target — for what the board AVERAGE AGE OF BOARD MEMBERS: 61 compensated. Being “responsive to those called “a year of extraordinary accomplish- [shareholder] concerns,” the latest proxy ment”with th acquisition of Fox’s studio says, Chapek’s package is “considerably and other entertainment assets. Directors below” what Iger made. Shareholders wel- also gave him a $2.4 million grant for comed the change, with 68% approving the Fox deal. the current pay packages at the company’s Iger was still Disney’s highest-paid execu- recent annual meeting. tive, by far, in 2020. It would take the average Chapek made $14.2 million last year. If the Disney employee 412 years to match what he ROBERT IGER contract he signed on becoming CEO was earned that year alone, according to the com- Executive chairman annualized, then he would have made nearly pany’s calculation of average employee pay. 2020 Iger $15 million — meaning the average employee Disney’s history of paying executives so compensation would have to work 293 years to match his. extravagantly still sticks in some people’s $21.0M -55.7% The board didn’t reduce Iger’s compen- craw. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in October sation agreement when he became exec- that high rewards for executives and stock- ROBERT utive chairman, with plans to leave at the holders “weakened Disney’s ﬁnancial cush- CHAPEK end of 2021. ion and ability to retain and pay its front-line CEO Still, he was pinched by a second irresist- workers amid the pandemic.” The company 2020 Chapek compensation ible force: the COVID pandemic, which the pushed back in a letter, calling the senator’s $14.2M NA board says “took a substantial toll on our remarks “ill-considered and misleading.” Popko/Disney Ty BRIAN ROBERTS CEO 2020 Roberts compensation $32.7m -11%

MEDIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION: $89,399 JEFF SHELL STEPHENSON/STANKEY/KILAR PAY RATIO TO MEDIAN CEO, EMPLOYEE: 326/227/584 NBCUniversal 2020 Shell 2020 TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN: -22.1% compensation BOARD: 9 MEN/3 WOMEN $16.5M NA AVERAGE AGE OF BOARD MEMBERS: 63

It must have been hard to persuade Jason Kilar to bring what AT&T’s latest proxy calls his “unique exper- tise” to WarnerMedia, where he has overseen its news and entertainment assets since last May. How else can you explain the deal that valued his 2020 compensation at a cool $52.2 million — about the same amount the telco paid Randall Stephenson, who moved from CEO to executive chairman in July, and his successor, John Stankey, combined? Directors put up $48 million worth of restricted stock units — equal to more than 1.6 million shares — to “attract Mr. Kilar and to provide an incentive for him to create stockholder value and to remain” with AT&T, the proxy says. Although the total value is in the 2020 proxy, Kilar will receive a quarter of the shares each year over four years. All told, AT&T figures his MEDIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION: $86,206 annual compensation will hover around $17 million. ROBERTS/SHELL PAY RATIO TO MEDIAN EMPLOYEE: 380/192 Fortunately for Kilar, the board pegged the num- 2020 TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN: +19% ber of units he’ll receive to equal $48 million on the BOARD: 7 MEN/3 WOMEN value of AT&T’s COVID-depressed stock price on AVERAGE AGE OF BOARD MEMBERS: 64 March 31, 2020. That gives him the opportunity to make much more than $48 million if the telco’s Here’s some surprising news return in a fund where Roberts shares appreciate. The units also entitle him to in Comcast’s latest proxy: The has parked about $119 million. collect quarterly cash dividends. COVID crisis ended in September. The annual interest payments now In addition to that award, directors gave him a $2.5 Yes, the death rates continued to come from more conventional million annual base salary and short-term incentive soar through January. But Comcast investment funds. payment targeted at $2.5 million. Those were prorated said last year that CEO Brian Directors call their decision an for the eight months he worked at AT&T in 2020. Roberts and other executives “enhancement” to the compen- After the pandemic hit, the board argued that its would donate their entire salaries sation plan. That’s a change from 2020 goals to determine executive bonuses were “no to COVID relief efforts from April last year, when they defended it as longer relevant.” Directors decided that — except for 2020 “through the duration of this “a unique compensation feature” Stankey and Stephenson — it would “compensate situation.” But they started keeping that attracts and retains talent. the executive officers as a team,” giving them 75% of their salaries after six months. Maybe money isn’t everything: the target awards. Roberts gave up $1.7 million for Comcast seems happy enough Stankey asked to have his salary and short-term COVID. He also lost $2.2 million with Jeff Shell, who last year bonus for the last six months of 2020, the period RANDALL from the drop in his cash bonus as replaced Steve Burke as CEO of when he was CEO, cut by 50%. Stephenson gave up STEPHENSON Comcast fell short of some financial NBCUniversal — and saved the all his salary for the second half of 2020 and limited Executive chairman goals. He made $7.7 million in his company a bundle. Burke often his short-term award to half of the 75% that AT&T 2020 bonus, which amounts to 75% of his made more than Roberts, includ- offered the top executives. Stephenson compensation target versus the more than 100% ing in 2019, when the NBCU chief $29.2M the board awarded him in 2019. took in $42.6 million. -9% The board credited Roberts for By contrast, Shell made $16.5

JOHN “successfully leading the company million in 2020, not including the STANKEY during this unprecedented period.” $1.3 million he gave up for COVID CEO and Roberts also lost nearly $4.7 relief. Directors credit him for president million from Comcast’s decision having “successfully launched 2020 Stankey compensation to slash the amounts it kicked in Peacock” and offering new $21.0M to one of the company’s sweetest Universal Studios movies to home -6.5% and most controversial perks: the viewers “as more consumers shift

JASON deferred compensation fund. to viewing streaming content.” KILAR Many shareholders complained Comcast reports that women CEO, that the beneﬁt, which guaranteed account for 36% of all employees WarnerMedia 9% a year in interest, was too gen- and 40% of those ranked at or above 2020 Kilar compensation erous and not tied to Comcast’s vice president. People of color $52.2M performance. This past March the make up 44% of the workforce NA Roberts: Comcast company ended the guaranteed and 22% of those at or above VP. 41 MEDIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION: 2019 TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN: $115,604 -61.1% BOARD: 9 MEN/4 WOMEN FELTHEIMER/BURNS PAY RATIO TO MEDIAN EMPLOYEE: 96/55 AVERAGE AGE OF BOARD MEMBERS: 61

costs for the personal use of the company-leased aircraft for which Feltheimer stuck shareholders with the bill, while Burns racked up $28,225 in private-jet fees. Most of the pair’s pay packages MEDIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION: $81,307 came in the form of bonuses, RUPERT MURDOCH/LACHLAN MURDOCH PAY RATIO TO with Feltheimer earning $6.3 mil- MEDIAN EMPLOYEE: 418/359 lion and Burns netting just over 2020 TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN: -24.4% $3 million. That bonus has been BOARD: 6 MEN/1 WOMAN the subject of criticism, which AVERAGE AGE OF BOARD MEMBERS: 62 Lionsgate acknowledges in public filings, noting, “Mr. Feltheimer’s tar- Lionsgate’s fiscal year ended get bonus is over 400% of his base Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch sent a swell-sounding in March 2020 as COVID-19 salary and higher than the median message to employees last April as the serious- JON was upending the landscape. annual incentive award opportu- ness of the COVID pandemic became clear. He and FELTHEIMER But the board left Jon Felt- nity of CEOs in the Company’s peer his father — executive chairman Rupert Murdoch CEO 2020 Feltheimer heimer and Michael Burns group.” But the compensation com- — and other execs would forgo their salaries from compensation fortified as the pandemic tight- mittee countered that the incen- May to September “to continue providing your salary $11.01 ened its grip. Feltheimer’s com- tives were justified because the and benefits throughout this crisis.” +67.4% pensation nearly doubled, rising Lionsgate chief’s “base salary (of $1.5 How much did the two Murdochs sacrifice? The MICHAEL from $6.6 million to just over $11 million) is only slightly above the proxy for the fiscal year that ended in June tells us BURNS million, while Burns’ increased 25th percentile of CEOs.” Because 2% was subtracted: $500,000 and $800,000 respec- Vice chairman by nearly 25%. That’s to say noth- Lionsgate’s fiscal year unfolded tively. (Salary losses for July to September will appear 2020 Burns ing of $52,239 in club membership largely in 2019, our chart does not in next year’s report.) compensation dues, $7,200 in security service reflect the 146% improvement in They more than made up for those losses with $6.4M +23.1% costs and $110,116 in incremental the stock’s 2020 performance. “annual incentive compensation” that the board determined beat their targets by more than 40%. These awards are tied to the company’s financial performance, so the pair were helped by Fox News’ elec- tion-year ratings and ad rate hikes. Directors appear unmoved by multiple studies that concluded misinformation on Fox News weakened efforts to slow COVID. The network provided the public with “information to better understand the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on a national and local level,” the proxy says. To be sure, the two Murdochs made a lot less in 2020 than they did the year before. But that’s mostly due to the absence of rewards for negotiating Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition in 2019 of Fox’s movie studio and other entertainment assets. If you compare 2020 with 2017 — when they were executive chairmen of 21st Century Fox — Rupert’s tally is 16% larger and Lachlan’s is up 41%, even though the current company is much smaller than its predecessor. Directors didn’t change the overall structure of the RUPERT MURDOCH executives’ pay to account for COVID. But they did Executive move the goal posts to compute long-term incentive chairman stock awards beginning in 2021. Rather than calculate 2020 the awards for a single year’s performance, they will compensation $34.0M look at results over a three-year period. -19.4% The board has “little expectation that the performance goals previously established for the fiscal LACHLAN 2020-2022 performance period will be achieved,” the MURDOCH proxy says. CEO 2020 The body, comprising one woman and six men, says compensation it believes diversity “is fundamentally woven in the $29.2M -30.8% fabric of the Company.” Bakish: Asa Mathat/ViacomCBS Stephen Lovekin/Variety; Murdoch: 42 MEDIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION: $219,577 BOARD: 9 MEN/3 WOMEN

HASTINGS/SARANDOS PAY RATIO TO MEDIAN EMPLOYEE: 197/179 AVERAGE AGE OF BOARD MEMBERS: 59 2020 TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN: +67.0%

It was a good year for Netflix, options. Other entertainment that he profited handsomely from which was the rare media com- players reward their teams with a the streamer’s surging share pany to see its business model blend of salary, stock grants, non- price, exercising $612 million in benefit from a pandemic that left stock bonuses and options. In the options during the past year. Ted much of the population home- past, that’s led to shareholder dis- Sarandos’ compensation package bound and desperate to be enter- satisfaction, with a mere 49.8% of is structured differently, with $20 tained. Watercooler hits such shareholders approving the 2019 million coming in the form of sal- as “The Queen’s Gambit” and Say on Pay vote. However, Netflix ary and an additional $18.3 million REED HASTINGS “Bridgerton” helped the com- assuaged some concerns, giv- coming from options. His package Co-CEO pany add a record 37 million new ing more insight into how these also included nearly $1 million in 2020 paying subscribers to its ranks. options are awarded and why it residential security costs, while compensation But Netflix also must deal with maintains its system works. That Hastings racked up $147,146 in use $43.2M 12.1% added competition from new led more than 60% of sharehold- of the company’s private plane.

streaming services like Disney ers to vote their approval in 2020. Even as COVID raged, Netﬂix’s TED Plus and HBO Max. Reed Hastings draws only brass opted not to forgo salary SARANDOS Netflix approaches compen- $650,000 in salary, while a mas- or bonuses, as the compensation Co-CEO sation differently from its peers, sive $42.4 million of his pay committee “determined not to 2020 compensation giving its executives a mixture package comes from options. make any changes to executive $39.3M of cash and fully vested stock Additionally, public ﬁlings reveal compensation for 2021.” 13.4%

MEDIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION: $94,989 BOARD: 6 MEN/7 WOMEN BAKISH PAY RATIO TO MEDIAN EMPLOYEE: 411 AVERAGE AGE OF BOARD MEMBERS: 64 2020 TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN: -8.5%

Few works of literature offer as the Dec. 4, 2019, merger of Viacom rank among 2020’s highest-paid Directors further boosted his many surprises as a proxy with the and CBS “was a success.” media chiefs: He saw a 6.6% boost grand total with a 115% “individual name “Viacom” or “CBS” on it. And That’s an odd way to describe a in his full year as CEO compared multiplier.” the latest from ViacomCBS is a year when net earnings dropped with the 2019 pay figure the com- It would take an average worthy sequel — even if it doesn’t 26.8% and employment fell by pany estimated he received from ViacomCBS employee in the U.S. amaze as much as last year’s $125.4 1,880, or 8%. 11 months running Viacom plus 411 years to earn what Bakish made million payout to then-CEO Joseph Executives set up a $100 million one month at ViacomCBS. in 2020, up from 349 years in 2019. Ianniello, whom directors believed relief fund for displaced workers The board gave him a $19.7 mil- ViacomCBS has the only major- ROBERT they couldn’t live without, until they — just $17 million more than the lion bonus for 2020 — 59% above ity female board in our group. BAKISH decided it was time for him to go. total compensation for its six his target of $12.4 million. Directors At year end, women accounted President, CEO Let’s start with the board’s highest-paid executives. said the company achieved 133% for 49% of the company’s U.S. 2020 Bakish compensation conclusion that “despite the chal- Indeed, the board says it didn’t of its financial goals after “taking workforce, and 48% of those who $39.0M lenges presented by the COVID- change its 2020 compensation into account items ... that may oth- ranked vice president or higher. 6.6% 19 pandemic, social unrest in the “to account for the impact of the erwise distort the calculation.” In Self-identified racial and ethnic (based on U.S. and the unanticipated shift to COVID-19 global pandemic.” addition, Bakish hit 150% of his minorities were 37% of the work- estimated 2019 remote work,” the first year after That positions Robert Bakish to subjective qualitative goals. force and 26% of the upper echelon. pay figure)

Hastings: Netflix; Serandos: Paul Zimmerman/Variety Paul Hastings: Netflix; Serandos: David Lieberman is an associate professor in the graduate Media Management program at The New School. Xinran Qi contributed to this report. 43

GutterJasin Boland/Marvel Credit Studios/Disney Diverse Fare Big Data Uncovers 04.28.2021 projects Agencies a diverse cast. projects featuring Hollywood the big-budget Ten Rings,” oneof the Legend of the “Shang-Chi and Marvel Studios’ Simu Liustars in XX.XX.2021 for use new analytics voices to create By Karen Idelson fresh revenue

streams streams and open up up VARIETY VARIETY ● ● 45 45 says Keith chiefan- Friedenberg, writlarge,”tainment industry such asourswell asthe enter- depth ofdataavailable toagencies ration process inthebreadth and as green. where thepastures mightnotbe or projects. Theycanalso tell you opment ordecisionsaboutcasting dorsement deals,product devel- knew?!) thatcouldleadto en- andlovecial services dogs?Who fan basealsotendstousefinan- potentialindexingearth (Your ties for theirclients. to uncover powerful opportuni- with talentagencies for years ing and strategists have beenwork- social mediabutdataanalysts stream-ing and entertainment data produced by suchthingsas of itasapivotal timefor the Hollywood willprobably think we back look When 46 “There’s beenanabsolutematu- Strategists canusedatatoun - ● FOCUS ● 10 INNOVATORS TO WATCH on2020, Regé-Jean Page. including lead its diverse cast, be attributed to “Bridgerton” can flix hit series success of Net- Part of the right down tothethumbnail. and refine acelebrity’s brand, social mediacanbe usedto tweak of datathatcanbeobtainedfrom you’d expect, thedistinct nuggets andfiercely guarded.prietary As the datatogether ishighly pro processes andtheway theput internal information-gathering you’d expect, theymay alsohave derive thesestories.” extensive toolkittoleaninto clients thatthere’s amuchmore ultimately totheobjectives ofour to usasanagencyI think, and can assess.It’s very empowering, [key performance indicator]you can lookatandthedifferent KPIs and thevast array ofmetricsyou tion andescalationinthequality ence. “It’s beenamassive evolu- than three decadesofexperi an analyticsveteran withmore alytics officerfor Endeavor, and the outsideanalyticspartners While most rely onmany of - - We runitthrough thewringer one. Maybe itwasn’t thetopic. we handleourmarketing onthis put underamicroscope how did care dogs.We’re alsoabletoreally Well, maybe ouraudiencedoesn’t minutes before theytunedout.’ we only hadpeoplewatch for two around dogsonyour last video, you didaconcept ‘Then ing out. minutes ofthevideobefore tun- people basically watched about10 through a15-minutevideo.’ So, ness andwe hada75%retention a conceptaround healthandfit- you oryou didafood concept, did data for aclientandgo, ‘Oh, wow, rate. Icango into the the drop-off about consumptionsowe know with platforms onaregular basis Partners. “We have conversations head ofdigitalventures for ICM over time,” says ChrisSawtelle, are basicallyhelpingaccumulate our analyticsthatNielsenratings “We applythesamemathwith go asdeeptosay you over-in- view.better 360-degree Soitcan titude ofdifferent thingstoget a ity andtrustworthiness. It’s amul- level. There are traits like likabil- you andhere’s your awareness But also, here’s what theythinkof audience isandwhat they’re into. sources andtells you where your thesizes from allthesedifferent cial endorsementsgroup. “Itsyn- Lucas, aCAA agent initscommer- third-party resources,” says Rick from eightto adozendifferent platform pullsfrom anywhere form calledCAA Intelandthis house technology team—aplat- audiences viewtheirclients. develop anoverall senseofhow Agencies usedatascienceto of metricsbutnotallthem. make thatvideo.” doesn’t work againthenwe don’t and thenwe itagainandif try “We’ve created —withourin- Social mediaprovides dozens 04.28.2021

Liam Daniel/Netflix 04.28.2021 VARIETY ● 47

Steve McQueen’s “Lovers Rock,” part of his “Small Axe” anthology, galvanized British audiences with its depiction of Black life in the U.K.

Data can be incredibly powerful in helping create more opportunities for diverse talent across entertainment. … It can prove to studios that an audience craves increased representation.” — Kendall Ostrow

dex with Ford or some car brand. across every department of the And [the client] says, ‘You know, agency,” says Ostrow. “We’re my first car was a Ford.’ So there’s a instrumental in client signings story there so can we call Ford and because we can uncover oppor- talk to them and maybe a partner- tunities and areas of interest and ship can be done.” exploration for those talents.” Lucas’ long list of clients include Ostrow has developed UTA Mindy Kaling, Trevor Noah, Eva IQ’s Talent Discovery Initiative, Chen and Leslie Jones. which uses data to spot talent Kendall Ostrow, head of client that’s having an impact upon con- The agency also partnered with With all the third-party data strategy for UTA IQ, has recently temporary culture. She also hosts Shift7 to take a deep dive on the providers and internal data syn- worked with Ali Wong, Anthony a weekly webinar series called “So- correlation between women-led thesizing that can be done, there’s Hopkins, Chris Pratt and Pitbull, cially Relevant” that aims to help films and box office success. They still definitely an art to reading the among others, to help them to use the agency’s staff and clients un- found that female-led pics out- data and knowing when to trust data to expand their audiences derstand and utilize social media. performed male-led movies at all the analysis. Great analysts comb and discover new opportunities. Data can also be a significant budget levels. the numbers to uncover any pos- Ostrow is also a two-time Day- force for diversification and rep- “We want the conversation sible oversights and then there

time Emmy nominee in the New resentation. In late 2020, CAA Disney Plus’ “The to be about [how] audiences are those times when something Approaches – Daytime Entertain- partnered with Parrot Analytics to Falcon and the are becoming more diverse and might just not feel right. ment category for her work on create the CAA/Parrot Analytics Winter Soldier,” these are the kinds of stories that “We might do a multi-country starring Anthony the social media channels for the Television Diversity Study, which Mackie (left) and they’re gravitating to, and this is study for a particular artist and “Ellen DeGeneres Show.” showed that demand for diverse Sebastian Stan, how we should think about mak- you might get the numbers out “Every year we’re probably put- debuts in the top 100 doubled to includes storylines ing our creative decisions and of a particular country and you about the Black ting together decks and materials surpass non-diverse titles for the experience in ultimately have a critical eye to think something isn’t right,” says for more than 1,000 negotiations first time in 2019. America. the impact we have through con- Friedenberg. “It just doesn’t pass tent across the board,” says Ruben the sniff test. There’s a gut check Garcia, co-head of cultural busi- here and then you dig a little bit ness strategy for CAA. deeper into the methodology Ostrow adds: “Data can be and you do a little bit of an audit of incredibly powerful in helping what went down in that particu- create more opportunities for lar territory to discover that there diverse talent across entertain- was an actual group error in how ment. It is one of the most telling the certain study went to field.” indicators of cultural relevance, Friedenberg gets to his refined which in turn drives studios’ insights by knowing his data decision-making on what talent providers and practicing a disci- to work with and what projects plined examination of the data. to purchase. For instance, it can “As an old-school analyst, not prove to studios that an audience a number leaves our depart- craves increased representa- ment that hasn’t been properly tion, such as through the online sourced. I do not believe in secret conversation, the social-media sauce analytics or smoke-and- following of talent from diverse mirror analytics. The narrative backgrounds, or the performance that comes out of it can be unique of previous projects that cele- but, the underlying metrics, they

Lovers Rock: Parisa Taghizedeh/Amazon; Falcon and Winter Soldier: Chuck Falcon Zlotnick/Marvel Studios/Disney+ Taghizedeh/Amazon; Rock: Parisa Lovers brate diversity.” are what they are.” Leveling Up Activism Agencies ferent ways tocommunicate, such He knows thatwithsomany dif- political figure such asAbrams. Strom says of representing a and shapinginculture,” Darnell of allthatisgoing onandmoving sure that ourfinger isonthe pulse their clientstoanewlevel. political figures, theyare alltaking the agencies have always repped of premiere clientele. Andwhile speaker. SheispartofUTA’s roster tured asapanelist orkeynote ous booksandisendlessly fea- Democracy,” haswritten numer- “Alldocumentary In:TheFightfor voting rights—shestarred inthe nationwide narrative around nization Fair the Fight—shifting addition to launchingtheorga- andnotjust inpolitics.In talent, is Stacey Abrams 48 “It isourjobasagents to make ● FOCUS see ● 10 INNOVATORS TO WATCH and create top-tier greater Democracy.” In: The Fight For documentary “All featured inthe Abrams was activist Stacey UTA client and potential out aplatform thathelpsthem lect voices andhelpthembuild resources tosurround thosese - at aplacelike UTA, we have the menu,”carte Strom says. “[Now] people was usually like anala perspective for thosetypesof that timefrom arepresentation publishing andspeaking. president was abletogenerate in he saw thebusinessformer numerous agents, from where included liaisingwithClinton’s part ofStrom’sof scheduling, role President BillClinton’s director vices.” Having formerly served as streamlined fashion. navigate theircareers inamore need tocreate a“suite ofser leadership division,hesaw the clients require therightexperts to for “What was inthelandscapeat “What As headofUTA’s culture and political figures - By HaleyBosselman but we alsocanbuildastrong reach andgrow theiraudience, cent opportunities. and otherentertainment-adja digital business development for documentaries,podcasts, offer itsexpertise andservices sions, butadditionallywanted to publishing andspeakingtodivi- had recently officethrough left its successfully handledclientswho class clientele.Theagency had holistic approach for itsbest-in- istration, CAA implementeda fore theendofObamaadmin- and activist MalalaYousafzai. mittee chairmanJaime Harrison sich, Democratic NationalCom- Tubbs, former OhioGov. JohnKa - business around themaswell.” Stockton, Calif., mayor Michael Similarly, acoupleofyears be- UTA alsorepresents former - sion, helmedby politicalstrate- develop anentire politicaldivi- the norm.ICM’s response was to shophasbecomeof aone-stop sent politicalfigures intheform Kamala Harris. Dr. JillBidenandVice President Craig Gering. says motionpicture literary agent change agents comingoutofD.C.,” tainly theforemost thinkers and out ofpoliticsandpolicycer- tionally include leaderscoming the world [and]thatshouldaddi- tainly shapedculture andinspire to representing peoplewho cer- engagement.” change theculture around civic says. bigimpactishelping “The they’re working in,” Merriweather tionship withthecommunitythat tohavetainment industry arela- Asian- Americanstudies. Indiana University’s director of from theACLU andDr. EllenWu, Condor,and Lana CeciliaWang which featured Cola actors Sherry the Stop Asian Hate Town Hall, Recently,ing. theagency puton launched atICM’s build- office Black Lives Matter protest, which WME, CAA andUTA toorganizea Lastprofit. summer, ICMjoined a civil-wrightsadvocacy non- tions includingColorofChange, ple, itlinkswriters withorganiza- screen representation. For exam- together on- tobetter diversify brings activists andstorytellers activism,” Linkenhoker says. ofpolitical service tional advisory cial capacity, butaddingthataddi- already work withinacommer- working withtheclientsthatwe infrastructure oftheagency and political consultancy. sion grew outofICM’s in-house explains thattheirpoliticaldivi- president in2016,Linkenhoker the electionofDonaldTrump as more politically active following Travis Merriweather. gists HannahLinkenhoker and President lady JoeBiden,first expand what we doasitrelates Talent agencies’ pivot torepre CAA previously represented “We saw anopportunityto “It’s importantfor theenter- Under thisumbrella, ICM “It’s plugginginto thetraditional Noting thatHollywood became 04.28.2021 -

Amazon Mitelberg/Sergent: Kirby Elliott Forward Progress Tech Makes 04.28.2021 Variety are ableget anall-access passto est merchandise. Registered fans album release orshare theirlat- their followers topromote an ists canalsodirectly message to promote their tourdates.Art- and artists toaccessadashboard ing managers, labels,agencies is intuitive andpersonal,allow- musical acts. concertgoers withtheirfavorite streams toconnectpotential expanded itsreach ofonlinelive- of thepandemic,Bandisintown closing theirdoorsinthewake With live performance venues artists from around theworld. lion registered users with540,000 live musicthatconnects60mil- Bandsintown isa global hubof Co-Founder andManagingPartner Fabrice Sergent Co-Founder andManagingPartner Julien Mitelberg BANDSINTOWN The musicdiscovery platform

highlights these 10 — Daron James — Daron ent newmusicand sellmerch.” tickets,in-person concert pres- mote theirtour, sellvirtualand registered artists tobetter pro- “more innovations offered toour grow, Sergent says there willbe more tocome. Wallows andToro yMoi,with Chromeo, FlyingLotus,BigThief, indie favorites Phoebe Bridgers, through intimate experiences.” ists become more approachable and more affordable where art- makes live musicmore accessible theshow.after Bandsintown Plus a uniqueabilitytoaskquestions introduces theactsandoffers fans ajournalist thoroughly concert, scription,” says “For Sergent. each for one$9.99 permonthsub- 25 exclusive permonth concerts subscription fee. live shows for onelow monthly gives fansaccessto dozens of thatkind subscriptionservice Bandsintown Plus,afirst-of-its- Sergent pioneered thelaunch of 2020.successful Duringthattime, an incredibly, andunexpectedly, ence ofregistered fans,marking cost onBandsintown toitsaudi- 18,930 artists were marketed atno and Dec.9,62,765 livestreams by live chats andartist interviews. live, exclusive concerts, Q&As, secured performances from 2020 launch,theplatform has curates, produces andmarkets Bandsintown Plus carefully single andsimplesubscription. ’n’-play solutionsto fansfor a Innovators Last year, between March 25 AsBandsintown continuesto Since Bandsintown’s January offers plug- “No otherservice to Watch who create 10 INNOVATORS IN THE WATCHTO VARIETY JOIN APRIL 28. MACH-E ON MUSTANG BY FORD PRESENTED ROOM STREAMING solutions VARIETY ’S ’S duction andbeyond. every stage, from to post-pro- pre- allowing pros towork together at and full-spectrumstereo audio ferencing, HDlive-streaming platform combinesvideo con in Hollywood. Theweb-based real-time collaboration solution cast hasemerged asthego-to Engineering Emmy winnerEver- Co-Founder Roger Barton Co-Founder andCOO Brad Thomas CEO andCo-Founder Alex Cyrell EVERCAST on a global scale scale 10 INNOVATORS TO WATCH - gory earlierthisyear.gory product inpost-production cate- inated themintheoutstanding Cinema Audio Societyhadnom- wart “Jimmy KimmelLive.” The on HBOandABC’s latenightstal- “Chernobyl” onNetflix, Gambit” Queen’sprograms, including “The jumped to 200nationally televised has surged by andusehas 1,400% ects duringthepandemic. right resource tocompleteproj- veteransindustry lookingfor the ity through word-of-mouth from space. Itgainedmassive popular- ing for theentertainment industry several collaboration toolsfight- time last year, Evercast was oneof creators. including independent content levelsibility to entry creatives, is alsolookingto provide acces- and advertising.” Thecompany the adjacentmarkets ofgaming and filmproduction aswellin pand itsusecaseswithintheTV cast are plansto “continue to ex- on thefly. tual room andmake changes inthevir-to theparticipants ly content from acomputer direct- since teams cansimply livestream load any mediafilestoEvercast, aborate. There isnoneedto up- teams cansi multaneously coll- Premiere Pro orPro Tools so ative software includingAvid, live orfrom cameras cre- onset, too, allowing artisanstostream 24/7 support. notes.Plus,there’stime-stamped of changes andfeedback with tools, andtheabilitytokeep track on-screen drawingeasy-to-use reviewing key sessionmoments, includingrecordingflows, and have toolsfor collaborative work- the sameroom.” like they’re working together in low latency, Evercast makes itfeel weighing invirtually. With ultra- live from locationwithproducers director, oradirector canstream tor canwork sideby sidewiththe Cyrell. “For example, edi- afilm for creative collaboration,” says “Evercast was builtspecifically Since, thecompany’s revenue With just eightemployees atthis Cyrell says what’s next for Ever- Evercast iscompletelysecure The platform offers allmust- — Daron James — Daron ● FOCUS ● 49

50 ● FOCUS ● 10 INNOVATORS TO WATCH 04.28.2021

Technology is one such tool, which where she was president of the they expedited during the shut- Entrepreneurial Club, and a year down to launch the world’s first later it made headlines when ticketed virtual concert experi- it secured an $8.6 million seed ence for SM Entertainment, which funding round led by Lightspeed manages K-Pop artists and is one Venture Partners and Maveron of the largest entertainment com- with participation from director panies in South Korea. Giantstep Michael Bay’s 451 Media. developed a proprietary XR solu- Illumix went on to raise a total tion wherein the artists could per- of $13 million in venture capital Jichul Lee form “live” on a virtual stage with Kirin Sinha funding, while attracting the Partner and Executive Creative Director animated background elements CEO interest of Hollywood studios, GIANTSTEP and the ability to shoot with a ILLUMIX live event companies and other multi-camera setup. entertainment entities, which Giantstep was established in From a revenue standpoint, SM When Illumix released its first have commissioned it to create Seoul as a traditional CG, anima- Entertainment has earned $20 mobile AR game, “Five Nights at AR experiences for theme parks tion and VFX studio for adver- million-plus from global online Freddy’s AR: Special Delivery,” in and sports and music venues. tising, feature films and other ticket sales during the pandemic, August 2019, it generated over 6 With AR experiences, “you can creative content. Having opened without the overhead of tradi- million downloads and earned have ghosts walking through its Los Angeles office four years tional live shows. XR Live Concert glowing reviews from critics and the walls and talking to people or ago, the company is primed for a Technology isn’t limited to con- users alike. It was a big score for pick up your phone to take a selfie, big splash in the U.S. market. certs. Producers of Broadway, the Redwood City, Calif.-based and all of a sudden golden snitch- Through its internal research gaming and TV events all have an startup and an even bigger vali- es are flying around your head,” and development team, GX Lab, opportunity to leverage it. Even dation for its young CEO Sinha, says Sinha. which got off the ground in 2016, Naver (the Korean equivalent of one of the only minority female Illumix has also entered the it’s developing a suite of tools Google) has invested in Giantstep’s tech company founders in the e-commerce space with a web- for virtual production, real-time XR Live Concert Technology. Silicon Valley. based application that enables rendering solutions and graphic “We want to be a content leader The game is the combined consumers to hold their hands integrations with the goal of shap- of the future, so we are doing a lot product of Sinha’s childhood love in front of their webcam and vir- ing the future of entertainment of experimentation with virtual of fantasy books (“Harry Potter,” tually try on rings. through extended reality (XR). humans, virtual celebrities and “The Lord of the Rings”), movies “There are very large markets “What differentiates us from digital influencers —all created (“Star Wars”) and video games that are opening up and growing other companies in this space with real-time engines. Clients (“Zelda,” “Mario Bros.”) and a right now for augmented reality is how we incorporate game will need content for both the passion for machine learning today, and that’s where I think engines into our workflow to pro- ‘real world’ and the digital expe- she developed as an undergrad Illumix fits,” says Sinha. “It’s a huge duce a new type of content that rience, so with the future in mind, at MIT in the early 2010s. Sinha way for brands and IP to reach enables realistic graphic expres- we are very much interested in launched Illumix in 2017 while that audience.” sions and real-time consumer the Metaverse. In the simplest completing her MBA at Stanford, —Todd Longwell interactions,” Lee says. terms, that means transforming For Giantstep it’s beyond mak- reality into the virtual world. It ing cool stuff, but recognizing presents a great deal of potential ian Electra in shareable videos. that the technology is a big fac- as far as fan and consumer expe- The son of an English-teacher tor in shaping the future of con- riences go. It’s exciting,” Lee says. father, Malik grew up in a small tent. Giantstep’s XR Live Concert — Daron James town in Pakistan, where he began designing websites when he was just 11 years old. At 16, his life took a dramatic turn when he received a scholarship to an international high school in the Netherlands. “It was quite a culture shock,” Asad J. Malik observes Malik. “During that time, Founder I started diving deeper into tech- JADU nology, entrepreneurship and the idea of building a company.” Malik is working on the bleed- Malik came to the U.S. to study at ing edge of entertainment tech Bennington College in Vermont, We want to be a content leader of the future, with Jadu, which uses volumet- where he began working on AR so we are doing a lot of experimentation ric capture to create mobile- projects. His first major effort, with virtual humans, virtual celebrities and based immersive experiences “Terminal 3,” in which the viewer that enable fans to interact with takes on the role of an airport se - digital influencers — all created with real- holograms of artists such as Lil curity officer interrogating a pas- time engines.” — Jichul Lee Nas X, Poppy, K Camp and Dor- senger, was an official selection Narayanan: Steven Cotton; Parker: Andrei Luca Andrei ways,” hesays. be comingsoon. band Palaye Royale, andmore will from theCanadian-American creepy interactive experience is “Curse ofCalypso,” adarkand their work. Itsmost recent release connect withfansandmonetize giving artists analternateway to shutting down live performances, 2020, just asthepandemicwas Sundance FilmFestival. best augmented reality atthe2019 Tale,” whichtheVerge namedthe Co. Hefollowed upwith“A Jester’s intense ARexperience” by Fast where most itwas dubbed“the at the2018Tribeca FilmFestival, 04.28.2021 product, theydon’tproduct, feel like they’re ber sothatwhenthey’re using the “How does [it] present to the mem- right UIfor you,” says Johnson. it’s going tobethe on theplanet, the UIsonomatter where you are make sure thatwe canpersonalize looking atrightnow ishow we can globe accessandenjoy content. million-plus membersaround the impact onhow theservice’s 200 to Johnson, they have amajor according inconsequential, but, on. Thesesubtlechoicesmay seem there iswhensomethingclicked the shapestohow muchlatency interface (UI),from thecolorsand ers see,feel andread onitsuser that designseverything subscrib Johnson leadstheteamatNetflix VP, Product andStudioDesign Steve Johnson NETFLIX have much bigger artists per have much bigger surroundings in more complex to you andengagingwithyour ences inyour room andtalking forming longer form experi- “By thissummer, we could Malik launchedJadu inMarch “The biggest pushthatwe“The are — Todd Longwell - - — Todd Longwell turn meinto,” says Johnson. to people outsidekept ontrying me tobeandmore thanwhatthe than just what theworld expected that showed meIcouldbemore setkid inthe’70s,itwas theTV masses viaNetflixtoday. to bringdiverse content to the then, andtheyinform hismission inspirational touchstones for him tured amulti-racial were cast, including “StarTrek,” which fea- only Blackkidinschool.Shows father, usually windingupasthe two steps aheadofhisabusive withhismother,try to stay trying that offer curated suggestions. via suchfeatures asscreensavers vidualized memberexperiences also working onexpanding indi- Mirror: Bandersnatch.” They’re ing experiences suchas“Black as well asinteractive storytell- shuffleplay button,Something” and they’re beingspoken with?” they’re partoftheconversation theyfeelbeing spoken like at, youth moving across thecoun mobile devicesandthe“Play the “Fast Laughs”clipsfeed for John son and his teaminclude — Asad J.Malik in yourroom.” form experiences performing longer bigger artists could have much By summer, we “Growing upasayoung Black Johnson spentmuchofhis Recent innovations from - million ofwhomare in theU.S., than 20millionusersglobally, 5 TikTok was banned.With more hotness, especiallyinIndiawhere isthenew with episodiccontent, ashort-videoplatformRizzle, When itcomesto socialmedia, CEO andCo-founder Vidya Narayanan ant. By combininginnovativeant. tion hasnever beenmore import- way we work, remote collabora- With thepandemicchanging CEO Chuck Parker from TikTokRizzle isthatitallows series. short ions, discussionsandscripted comedy shows, talkshows, opin- includevlogs,inal RizzleSeries able onthebuddingslateoforig- typesofcontentview primary with production costs, too. The be eligiblefor fundingtoassist Selected pitchesthe content. may productions, paying creators for Studios,whichgreenlights Rizzle form seriestoitsproduction arm, allows anyone topitchashort- Hollywood hasyet todiscover. voicesdiverse, up-and-coming ments sectionandamplifying eliminating trolls from thecom- the appischanginggameby RIZZLE SOHONET Narayanan says what separates videoplatform The 60-second - services, Sohonethelpsprofesservices, technologies withworld-class with teamsanddeliver content and advertising to collaborate sionals working across TV film, bonus distribution. monthly for any appropriate All the3MinSeriesare reviewed and endtold inthree episodes. may have middle abeginning, These seriesare mini-stories that gible toreceive abonuspayment. hashtag #3MinSeriesandbeeli- seriesusingthea three-minute in whichcreators canproduce without leaving thefeed.” watching episodesinsequence Rizzle’s feed allows binge-mode creating connectedstories and ferent channels.Channelsenable different typesofcontent indif- four channelsonaverage, creating nels each,where creators host “creators tohost multiplechan- the production workflow. securely andeasilythroughout move, manage andstore content process, by enabling usersto that get inthe way ofyour creative experts isto remove theobstacles sole aimoftheirteamtechnical users collaborating remotely. The solutions towork even harder for shutdown, Sohonet hastailored community. with solutionsbuiltfor themedia their own part. to by addto theRimix recording track, andtheyalsohave achoice of theirchoiceonaparticular between two tofive videos Rizzle single touch. Creators canmix favorite witha videosonRizzle to create various mixes oftheir ing feature thatenablesusers apatent-pend isitslatest, Rimix features basedonuserfeedback. week andisconstantly evolving dialog between users. ingful exchanges andinsightful positive environment withmean- a videoofthemselves, creating a able torespond isby recording app, andtheonlyway usersare of written commentswithinthe though,istheelimination Rizzle, The truestandout feature of alsohasits3MinSeries, Rizzle Since thebeginningof releases updateseveryRizzle — Daron James — Daron VARIETY ● 51 - - 52 ● FOCUS ● 10 INNOVATORS TO WATCH 04.28.2021

“Keeping all parties aligned on tives working from home during Bozeman, where they were study- The idea was a hit with investors, creative vision is paramount to the lockdown.” ing software engineering and attracting $2.26 million in fund- the success of your project and ClearView Flex has already marketing, respectively. ing from Bozeman-based New having the right tools to execute been recognized with an Emmy “We recognized that every- Frontier Capital, 30 West in Los that shared vision, regardless of Engineering Award and is used one wanted to build a mobile app Angeles, former NBCUniversal location, is key,” says Parker. by every major distributor, and no one knew how to, and I CEO Steve Burke and film pro- Sohonet’s real-time ClearView including Netflix, HBO, Disney, knew all the people who wanted ducer and venture capitalist Da- collaborative tools have been NBC Universal, Amazon Studios, to build software and he knew vid Fialkow of General Catalyst, built to bring remote teams Warner Bros. and Sony. how to build it, so we linked up,” among others. together through a secure eco- — Daron James Lucas says. No matter what happens go- system, offering workflow col- While still students, they ing forward, Lucas and Burton labs across production and launched Triple Tree Software, a have no plans of moving their post from editorial, sound mix- company that designed mobile headquarters to Hollywood or ing, color grading and visual and web apps, and backend APIs Silicon Valley. effects reviews. for startups. After two clients paid “We’re proud of not being With ClearView Flex, teams them to develop custom VOD plat- bred from the traditional media have tools to stream live en- forms, and more followed asking space,” says Lucas. “It enables us crypted content in real-time them to do the exact same thing, to approach new problems with from any source to collaborators they decided they’d be better off new thinking and new solutions.” that’s viewable on any tablet, launching their own service. —Todd Longwell phone, computer or Apple TV. It’s de signed to make “over the shoulder” viewing, discussion grew up on a farm in Kansas, then and approval between creatives did a seven-year hitch in the and clients easy. The low-latency army, serving as an executive streaming service doesn’t even assistant to four-star generals require content to be uploaded and diplomats at the Pentagon before sharing either. and at NATO headquarters in As more creatives started Belgium. Following stints at com- working from home, Parker panies including CyberCash, spearheaded a move to sup- Time Warner Cable and Yahoo, port ClearView Flex streaming she made her ﬁrst foray into tech Sam Lucas options to match slower con- entrepreneurship in 2006 with Paul Burton Teresa Phillips sumer internet connections. “We Co-founders CEO and co-founder Graspr, a social network for immediately deployed ‘super low’ SPECIAL.TV SPHEREX user-generated instructional vid- bit rates for those in extremely eos that attracted $2.5 million in challenged environments. We The state of Montana is gener- Phillips offers a cutting-edge Series A funding. Unfortunate- also scaled out the infrastruc- ally not considered a hotbed for solution for an increasingly ly, her thunder was stolen by an- ture to support 15 viewers as the tech or entertainment, but Lucas global entertainment biz, hyper- o ther video sharing startup, norm and allow up to 30 viewers and Burton could help change conscious about offending view- YouTube, which was acquired by in a multi-hour session to meet that perception with their Boze- ers’ cultural sensibilities. Using a Google for $1.65 billion in stock the changing work habits of crea- man-based startup Special.tv, combination of AI, machine learn- the same year. which provides a platform for ing and old-fashioned human “I actually was talking to [You- creators to launch their own curation, her company analyzes Tube] about joining them and I subscription video-on-demand movies and TV series to ensure said ‘No, I’m gonna do my own (SVOD) channels with no fees they are relevant and appropri- thing,’” she says. “That’s one of other than a 10% cut of their ate for 240 different territories those things where you say, ‘What subscription revenue. around the globe, assessing was I thinking?’ [Graspr] got off We’ve really “There’s no exclusivity con- everything from legal compli- the ground, but I didn’t have the created a cultural tracts or licensing agreement,” ance and appropriate audience runway to scale it.” playbook for how Lucas says. “Creators own and range to religious references and Today, Spherex counts Google/ control 100% of their content, so cultural taboos. YouTube as one its clients, along content providers you’re free to premiere a ﬁlm on “We’ve really created a cultur- with Paramount, Lionsgate, Com- and platforms your channel and keep it there al playbook for how content cast/NBCUnversal, HBO, AMC, should operate in forever as you develop your cat- providers and platforms should Starz, PBS and Samsung, and the alog, move it to another platform operate in a regulated interna- business continues to grow. a regulated internat- or keep it on both.” tional environment, and that “I just got an email this morning ional environment, Burton and Lucas, both in their has never existed before,” says from one of our clients and they and that has never mid-20s, met through Launch- Phillips, who launched Spherex said, ‘We’ve got 100,000 titles that Pad, an entrepreneurial accel- three years ago. need ratings for these 25 markets,” existed before.” erator for students and alumni Phillips took a circuitous route she says.

— Teresa Phillips at Montana State University in to Silicon Valley moguldom. She —Todd Longwell Phillips: Anthony Lindseys

Kathie Lee Gifford GoesFullHollywood The ing anddoingwhatever they’ve so many otherpeopleare retir- a happinessinmenow, just when born todo,” Gifford says. “There’s star ontheWalk ofFame. witha place inHollywood history around thesunandcementsher as shecontinuesher67thturn believes thebest isyet to come and perennial dreamer —truly Gifford —abornentertainer roles.various andTV Yet films books, herwinebrand and musical “Scandalous,” hitsongs, tions, hershort-lived Broadway the Daytime Emmy nomina for decades.Andyes, there are intotheirlivingroomsco-host and Kathie Lee”and“Today” ing theformer “Live With Regis ting started. GiffordKathie Lee dream jobwhenIwas growing those jobs.Butit was never my ple through theyears because of I was abletohelp somany peo- wererecalls. “They great jobsand you leaving she your dream job?’” that’s ﬁckleatbest. industry her sanityorgratefulness inan and leaving somequestioning height ofsuccess,surprisingfans away from both shows atthe hour of“Today.” Gifford walked side HodaKotb onthefourth 11-year daytime marathon along- on “Live” andhermore recent, gig withthelate Regis Philbin on by arevolutionary, 15-year the limitingschedules brought totally andcompletelypursueit.” do, butnow Ihave thefreedom to stopped doingwhatIwas bornto always longed todo. Inever 54 The personalityisreferring to “I amﬁnallydoingwhatIwas Sure, fanshave beenwelcom- “A lotofpeople asked, ‘Why are ● multihyphenate FOCUS ● WALK OFFAME HONOR isjust get- is getting - a star on the Walk of Fame after decades in showbiz By AmberDowling 04.28.2021

Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

56 ● FOCUS ● WALK OF FAME HONOR 04.28.2021

up. There were no talk-show show, she puts out albums, she hosts — it didn’t exist. My dream does a television show, she did was to become an actress and a a movie. She says something is singer and a writer.” going to happen and she wills it Since leaving “Today” two years into existence.” ago, Gifford has pursued it all. Things didn’t always come She left her home in Connecticut so easily, though. After Gifford and now resides in Nashville, graduated from Oral Roberts where she continues to pursue University in 1975, she moved to a prolific music career. Last year Los Angeles, found a cheap rental she released the movie “Then and gave herself a year. She took Came You,” which she wrote odd gigs, including serving at a for herself and Craig Ferguson Mexican restaurant on Ventura after hosting a series of “Today” Boulevard and singing on faith episodes with the comedian. healer Kathryn Kuhlman’s pro- And she continues to work on a gram “I Believe in Miracles,” series of “Godwink” movies for and she recalls crying herself to Hallmark, producing oratorios sleep many nights. During that and writing her 21st book, a com- time she also did commercials, pilation of 25 interviews she did a “miserable” month-long show with people of varying faiths on with the Windsong Trio at the their impressions of Jesus. Landmark Hotel in Vegas and “I feel like Waldo from those worked as an extra on “Days of ‘Where’s Waldo’ books. Waldo’s Our Lives.” everywhere and you say, ‘What It wasn’t until about nine the hell is he doing there?’ That’s months into her journey that she me. My whole career,” Gifford auditioned for a part on a kids’ says. “What am I doing here? So television show, where a writer many people can do so many named Gary Bloom decided she more things than they believe would be perfect for NBC Studios’ they can. But they’re paralyzed “Name That Tune.” Never one to whether she’d make it had she At the time viewers wrote into with fear of failure, I suppose.” disappoint, Gifford learned 200 Hoda Kotb and come up in today’s social-media “Live” and demanded she be fired, “Kathie is somebody who’s songs in five days and shot an Kathie Lee driven culture. Despite her will- despite all her clothing line profits Gifford co-hosted always bubbling with ideas,” entire year’s worth of life-chang- “Today’s” fourth ingness to open up about her per- going to fund children’s charities. says Kotb, who credits Gifford ing shows in a few short weeks. hour together sonal life on-air and tackle issues “It made no sense at all, but with helping her discover how Looking back, Gifford never for more than a with honesty and candor, she’s it didn’t need to, because they decade. to be herself on-air. “She is dreamed she’d have the kind always said no to reality televi- wanted to sell newspapers,” always thinking about the next of successful career that she sion in order to preserve control. Gifford says. “I’m not perfect, but project. She put on a Broadway has had, but she also questions She says she’s well aware of the I was doing good in the world: disconnect between what is taking care of AIDS babies, tak- often presented and what is, in ing care of crack babies during fact, reality. the pandemic in New York. She learned that firsthand Somebody had to, and frankly, when she turned down a pro- I felt like the Lord was calling ducer who wanted to film her me to it.” life, and suggested Kris Jenner A month later the man who instead. (Gifford is Kylie and made the allegations publicly Kendall Jenner’s godmother.) apologized to Gifford. “Not one That producer mentioned [outlet] carried the apology,” the idea to Ryan Seacrest, she adds. and “Keeping Up With the The fact that some continued Kardashians” was born. “But to hope for her failure wasn’t mom,” Gifford remembers her lost on Gifford. In 1997 a tabloid then-14-year-old daughter, paid a flight attendant to seduce Cassidy, saying after watch- her husband, former football ing the 2007 premiere episode. star and sports commentator “They’re not like that.” Frank Gifford, and lure him into Kathie is somebody who’s always bubbling In the 1990s, Gifford also had a hotel room with a hidden cam- with ideas. ... She says something is going to a taste of cancel culture when alle- era. Gifford eventually forgave happen and she wills it into existence.” gations arose that her Walmart the father of her children and clothing line was being produced they remained married until his

58 and DollyParton plantospeak ceremony, asFerguson, Kotb well represented inthevirtual induction. Still,Gifford willbe natural persontospeakatthe summer, hewould have beena right upuntilhisdeathlast long friendship, whichextended Given Philbin andGifford’s life- Kellyreplacement, in2015. Ripa, in 2003andtoGifford’s “Live” something presented toPhilbin honoring Gifford withastar — Walk ofFame for only now forgivehopefully theHollywood early on.” learned toforgive very, very been inmy entire life, ifIhadn’t Tennessee, thehappiest I’ve ever You know, pickin’ andgrinnin’ in bouquet ofﬂowers. sentanenormouswife, Beth, Gifford exited “Today” heandhis Stern later apologizedandwhen —andwishedhimluck.apart date tokeep thepersonalities — despiteabuilding-wideman- up tohimmid-hairandmakeup Got Talent.” Gifford went right mote thelaunchof“America’s was atthe“Today” studios to pro- gave Stern years later whenhe Super Bowl. Gifford ofﬁciallyfor- national anthematthe1995 boo Gifford when shesangthe late totry.” best they canbe.It’s never too to encourage people tobethe I stillhard do. atit. Ijust want good singer andIworked really the best singer. ButIwas areally working. Iwas certainly never actress, andyet Inever stopped Gifford says. “Iwas never thebest I never willbe,especiallynow,” girl inany casting call.Ever. And was never theprettiest woman or the kindofsuccessI’ve enjoyed. I longtime.”deserved itfor along, getting astar,” Kotb says. “She’s on herbehalf. husband. Iwould notbehere. or inprisonfor murdering my I would Ford beinBetty clinic forgiveness,” Gifford says. “Or who encouraged hisfansto drew theire ofHoward Stern, Given fanscan thatsentiment, “I never dreamed Iwould have “I’m beyond thrilled thatshe’s “I would bedeadwithout GiffordAt somepoint, also ● FOCUS ● WALK OFFAME HONOR

show for 15 years. live daytimetalk partners ontheir were co-hosts and Kathie Lee Gifford Regis Philbinand “Late Show With David “Late ShowWithDavid “Live WithRegisand hit becauseittalked about the Gifford recalls. “It was abig I’d doneatRainbow &Stars,” written, called‘You Sell’ that the first songI’d ever really “I tookasongoutofmothballs, woman to ever host theseries. accepting shebecamethefirst offered oneofthespots.By It Together” whenshe was the Broadway runof“Putting tute gigfor Carol Burnett in wrapped atwo-week substi show Gifford running. hadjust helped keep hislate-night rotating panelofguest hosts 2000, inFebruary asurgery from quintuplebypass heart As David Letterman recovered we were offtotheraces.” days Iwas ableto, andthen Andmostevery morning. seconds. Thatwas my goal to make himlaughwithin10 Gifford recalls. “Ialways tried and forth, backandforth,” whack thatpingpongballback tosittherefun withandjust banter. “Nobodywas more Philbin’s signature unscripted a week tohearherandRegis tunedinfivethe country days national andviewers across years latertheshow went in1985; threeShow” co-host Abernathy Morning as“The Kathie LeeGifford replaced Ann Hits Greatest Gifford’s Kathie Lee By AmberDowling Letterman” (2000) Kathie Lee”(1985-2000) - “Scandalous: TheLife “Today WithKathieLee And itjust worked beautifully.” press andhow Idealwiththem. mance. “Ittookme 13years to nomination for herperfor later, Carmello received aTony shut down lessthanamonth leading role. Althoughtheshow with Carolee Carmellointhe brought theshow toBroadway, (and tears)laterthepersonality McPherson inVirginia. Years cal aboutevangelist Aimee she premiered astage musi her entire career, butin2007 stage presence throughout Gifford hashadarecurring of my life, withoutquestion.” her. She changed thetrajectory am today withoutbeingnext to a factthatIwouldn’t bewhere I I’m forever indebted.Iknow for andjustple think, doyou. And Kotb says. “Get ridofwhatpeo rules ofwhatpeopleexpect,” me tosometimesget ridofthe eternally grateful. “Shetaught an experience for whichKotb is show for thenext decade.It’s andwoundco-star updoingthe then shefell inlove withher only going tostay ayear, but with HodaKotb. shewas Infact, when sheagreed todoashow back intothedaytime game Gifford wasn’t lookingtoget and Trials of Aimee and TrialsofAimee and Hoda”(2008-2019) Semple McPherson”(2012) - - - Yes. Myshow wasn’t asuc professionally. Was Icrushed? brutal thingIever went through says Gifford. “Itwas themost and closedwithinthree weeks,” that finallycametoBroadway write theBroadway musical ings are still inexistence. or AIDS.To thisday bothbuild being borninfected with HIV ing thechanceoftheirchildren decreasahead ofgivingbirth, at-risk women couldbetreated to unblindHIVtesting sothat Gifford fought alsosuccessfully lived longer withthedisease. dedicated tohousingbabieswho herdaughter),afacility after with Cassidy’s Place(named until theyeventually died,along rocked andheld AIDSbabies Cody House,where volunteers Gifford went ontoestablish the “It’s Never2020 book, Too Late.” changed me,” shewrote inher tice ofthatonemomentforever newborn son,Cody. injus “The was herown healthy, 11-pound than 2pounds,andintheother held thechild,weighing inatless first AIDSbaby. Inonehandshe the 1990s whensheheldhervery Gifford willalways recall aday in world does,it’s arabbit hole.” If Idefinesuccesstheway the that show changed theirlife. people still tothisday whosay know. Iget alotofletters from cess. Andyet, was it?I’llnever Cody House(ongoing) Cassidy’s PlaceandThe 04.28.2021 - - - -

©Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection Film Movement “Blizzard of Souls”features theworkof Lolita Ritmanis,theonlywomanshortlistedthisyearbymusicbranch voters for origi Lift Diverse Voices New Composer Agencies 04.28.2021 ARTISANS nal score. up amonolithicsector practices to open promote equalhiring underrepresented talent Databases of By JazzTangcay (“News oftheWorld”), Alexandre Bloods”), James NewtonHoward Batiste), Terence Blanchard (“Da5 and “Soul,” thelatter alongsideJon landed nominationsfor “Mank” Reznor andAtticus Ross (who considered alongshot. Emmy-winning composerwas “Blizzard ofSouls.” Even then,the inal score for —LolitaRitmanis poser madethecutfor best orig- February, only onefemale com- its shortlists in ninecategories in Picture andSciencesreleased Arts When theAcademy ofMotion Ritmanis was up againstRitmanis Trent VARIETY ● 59 working withateam to find women practices withintheindustry. ducers andpromotes equalhiring posers thatoffers choicestopro- helping to grow adatabaseofcom- poser advocate for Free the Work, director atSixtyFour, isthecom- in TV, filmandmarketing. creatorssented below-the-line foropportunities underrepre- Free theWork istoprovide more by director Theaimof AlmaHar’el. talent discovery initiative founded ner ofFree theWork, anonprofit SixtyFour Musicisanofficial part- film musicindustry. a fresh wave ofcomposersinthe agencies are beingsetuptofoster voices andpeopleofcolor, new on representing women, diverse “Round Midnight”). (Herbie Hancockwon for 1986’s taken hometheOscarfor score second timeaBlack personhas representsthe category just the not make thefinalfive. song categories). did Ritmanis only three have won (excluding women have beennominated, and ing outmusicOscars,atotaloffive flew undertheradar. (“Emma”) were amongthosewho Thyme”) andIsobelWaller-Bridge Amelia Warner (“Wild Mountain kali (“Shirley,” Assistant”), “The contributed to filmscores: Tamar- were female composerswhohad Göransson wasn’t nominated. Ludwig Göransson Only (“Tenet”). and MidnightSky”) Desplat (“The 60 Since 2017, Grierson hasbeen Rebecca Grierson,managing companyMusic supervision As Hollywood shiftsto focus Meanwhile, Batiste’s winin Since theAcademy beganhand- Notably missingfrom thatlist ● ARTISANS Arbel Bedak Agency founder Spectra Creative and AnnaBooty; Rebecca Grierson SixtyFour Music’s From top: Ronit Kirchman, “Evil Eye” composer,believesinitiativeslike Free theWork are aproactive waytoboostdiversity. — Rebecca Grierson, SixtyFour Music couldn’t counterargue that these peoplehadnoexperience.” experience of composing for film, orTV gamessopeople We wanted tobuild database the some had withwomen who out there.” not reflective ofthetalent thatis ing,” says Grierson,“because it’s 1% fewer thanin2019. the top250 grossing filmsof2020, just 5% ofcomposersworking on revealed thatwomen comprised Film atSanDiego State University Study ofWomen inTelevision and Ceiling report by theCenter for the the namesof212female composers. says. Thedatabasesofarincludes were notgoing tohire them,” she people hadnoexperience andso couldn’t counterargue thatthese orgamessopeople TV for film, some experience ofcomposing database withwomen whohad tation. “We wanted to buildthe composers whohadnorepresen- “We feel like this isreally shock- The most recent Celluloid this sounding?’” this sounding?’” your ‘How mentors andask, is ers shouldn’t beafraid to“find compos- that up-and-coming thing todowithit.” Shesuggests says. “Maybe thathassome be politeandstand back,” she pushy enough.“We’re taughtto get ajobbecauseshewasn’t a female composerwho didn’t trates thepointby mentioning might becultural, andillus- son for thelack ofopportunity friends onboard.” she says. “People are bringingtheir categories. “It’s anoldboys club,” one thatwomen faceacross all for women composersisthesame & TV, pointsoutthatthebarrier sor andSixtyFour’s headoffilm Booty notes thatanotherrea Booty Anne Booty, amusicsupervi- - -

job would bepretty transforma- ber ofwomen andmenfor agiven track. “Lookingatanequalnum- like Free the Work are ontheright of colortocompose this.’” explains. “‘We needtoget aperson follows a person ofcolor,’” Booty say, “They’ll storyrytelling. ‘This that canoffer authenticity insto- approaching herlookingfor talent value ofdiverse voices. People are toward anunderstanding ofthe one, amongthosedoingthehiring albeitasmall has noticedashift, seems to behaving Booty aneffect. posers,” hepointsout. ing space,oreven com- nonbinary trans representation inthescor- trum. “Ifeel there’s notenough for artists across thegender spec- of thatchampioning.” “Historically, there’s beenalack people,” hesays ofhisapproach. ties, genders andsexualities. a spectrumofcultures, personali- ﬁlm music.Hisclientsrepresent to advocate for diverse voices in Spectra Creative Agency inMarch is deﬁnitelystarting tohappen.” compiling theirshortlists. That to take aproactive stance when Peopleual project hiring. need would have aneffect onindivid- tutional standpoint thatIbelieve that couldbedonefrom aninsti- tive,” shesays. something “That’s Kirchman believes initiatives just for women composersbut lead tomore not opportunities to useischampioningthese of composers,oneword Itend Stay Proud launched Project”) “Evil Eye” composerRonit The advocacyThe ofthesegroups ishopinghisworkBedak will Italkaboutmy“When roster (“The Composer ArbelBedak 04.28.2021

Kirchman: Shane Lopes 04.28.2021 VARIETY ● 61

Spaceship ‘Stowaway’ A Peek Below the Line Happily Cramps Production Into Oscar’s Future Designer’s Style By Jazz Tangcay By Jazz Tangcay

to the [spinning] exterior?” he Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” asked. “How do they get from A showcases his design team as it to B? What are the connections steps back into the ’80s in this between the modules?” true-crime tale that mixes murder From sleeping quarters to the and fashion. Costume designer Much of the action in science- cockpit to the other wings, Rosser With deserving artisans having Janty Yates, who won an Oscar fiction thriller “Stowaway” takes built a modular set that consid- taken home their Oscars, Variety with Scott for “Gladiator,” has place inside an overcrowded ered the spatial restrictions. Each looks ahead to the below-the-line built-in buzz after looks for stars spaceship. The challenge for pro- module was 26 feet to 32 feet long contributions for films voters Lady Gaga and Adam Driver went duction designer Marco Bittner and wide enough for the cast to might see on the ballot next year. viral on Instagram. Production Rosser: making the set seem as stretch out their arms. For film- Wes Anderson’s much-antic- designer Arthur Max is a three- . small as possible yet functional ing purposes, he added removable ipated “The French Dispatch,” time Oscar nominee alongside for the shooting crew. walls every four feet. about a fictional American maga- Scott, and DP Dariusz Wolski is The film, which debuted April Rosser says the craft’s window zine based in France, includes the coming off a nomination for Paul 22 on Netflix, stars Anna Kendrick, strongly references the cupola on work of many of his frequent col- Greengrass’ “News of the World.” Toni Collette and Daniel Dae Kim the Space Station — that ship’s laborators: Composer Alexandre Don’t count out Olivia Wilde’s as astronauts on a mission to observation window. “It gives Desplat, production designer “Don’t Worry Darling,” a horror Mars. Shamier Anderson plays maximum exposure to the out- Adam Stockhausen and costumer thriller about a utopian com- the fourth astronaut — a surprise side,” he explains. For the cockpit, designer Milena Canonera all won munity that might not be so per- addition who compromises the the designer homed in on Penna’s Oscars on the director’s similarly fect. Costume designer Arianne mission with his presence. desire to keep everything believ- quirky “The Grand Budapest Phillips, a three-time nominee, Screenwriter-director Joe able. He labeled every cable to Hotel”; cinematographer Robert creates looks for the likes of Penna immersed himself in space lend the visuals authenticity. D. Yeoman was nominated. Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. design research, and chose the Rosser, who served as set Liesl Tommy’s biopic of Aretha DP Matthew Libatique is a two- International Space Station for designer on “Alien vs. Predator,” Franklin, “Respect,” stars Jennifer time Oscar nominee. his model. The idea of artificial says “Stowaway” has been his most Hudson as the Queen of Soul. Kris And watch for WETA’s VFX gravity became the basis for the fun project. In his earliest concep- Bowers, recently nominated as team on “Black Widow,” “La La space shuttle’s rotating design. tualizations of the ship, he built a co-director for short doc, is the Land” cinematography winner Rosser’s earliest conversa- set out of plywood and cut holes in composer. Tony-winning cos- Linus Sandgren on Adam McKay’s tions with Penna were technical. it. “We were putting rubbish bins tume designer Clint Ramos and “Don’t Look Up” and “Dune” “How do elements that are in the on our heads with backpacks to DP Kramer Morgenthau (a five- production designer Patrice script have to work function- imitate the costumes,” he says, “and time Emmy nominee) are cross- Vermette (“Arrival”), paired again ally inside the ship, then relate we crawled through the space.” over candidates. with director Denis Villeneuve.

It’s a tight ﬁt for Shamier Anderson aboard the ship designed by Marco Bittner Rosser. Timothée Chalamet strikes a pose amid one of Patrice Vermette’s futuristic “Dune” sets. Augenschein Filmproduktion GmbH/RISE Filmproduktion GmbH; Dune: Chia Bros Bella GmbH/RISE Filmproduktion James/Warner Augenschein Filmproduktion Stowaway: Stowaway Productions LLC/ Stowaway: Stowaway Productions

Nadja Klier/Amazon Studios By OwenGleiberman Without Remorse Tom Clancy’s Jodie Turner-Smith andMichaelB.Jordan starin“Tom WithoutRemorse.” Clancy’s 04.28.2021 REVIEWS his pregnant wife, Pam (Lauren go afterKelly too, gunningdown Russian nationals.Theassassins are killed,execution style, by who were ofthemission part the States,several oftheSEALs ing tokeep from them.Back in Robert Ritter (Jamie istry- Bell), team’s CIAoverseer, theweaselly a surprise,butsomethingthe forces —whichisnotonlytary turn outto beRussian ex-mili- hostage. Theenemy combatants a CIAoperative who’s beentaken up amissioninAleppoto rescue a teamofU.S. Navy heads SEALs, (Michael B.Jordan), theleaderof of “FullMetalJacket,” JohnKelly shotintherubble Dark Thirty” looks like anouttake from “Zero the openingsequence,which ing ofacommercial thriller. In bend andheightenthemean a resourceful leadactorcan grunge, thatdemonstrates how origin story, dunked incombat is alively formulaic action-hero “Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse” Bell, GuyPearce,Bell, JodieTurner-Smith Starring: Director: FILM REVIEW Stefano Sollima Michael B.Jordan, Jamie VARIETY ● 63 - Brian Oliver, BradleyBrian Oliver, J.Fischer,Valerii Stewart,Gregory Lessans. An,AlanaMayo,DenisL. CREDITS: Merab Ninidze. diplomat playedby a corruptRussian John Kelly confronts Michael B.Jordan’s MPAA Rating: 64 ● AnAmazonrelease of aParamount Pictures, Skydance,Weed RoadPictures, NewRepublicPictures production. REVIEWS R. Running time: kind ofnew-world-order version ures to thepresent day, offers upa and Will Staples’scriptreconﬁg- Remorse,” whichTaylor Sheridan was and“Without hisfulcrum, down between theU.S. andRussia were authenticaswell. Theshow- hawkish espionage morality plays readers into thinkingthathis hardware,itary andthatseduced had thelowdown onthelatest mil- munitions fetishism. Hisbooks War righteousness withinsider rity pulpnovelist by fusingCold who diedin2013,becameaceleb- from theJack Ryan series.Clancy, Clancy novel thatwas spunoff which isbasedona1993 Tom sion haunts“Without Remorse,” dial setto“bloodyrevenge.” now aticking timebombwithhis escapes. Which meansthathe’s London), thoughKelly himself 109 MIN. The specterofRussian aggres- • • Unmatched Awards Coverage • Invites to Please updateyour contact information toreceive: or mailthisform. UPDATE INFO AT ATTENTION VOTING MEMBERS Variety Cast: MichaelB.Jordan, GuyPearce, JamieBell, JodieTurner-Smith, Lauren London, Brett Gelman,JacobScipio,JackKesy, ColmanDo Magazine(For AMPAS Members only) Variety 's Exclusive VirtualEvents

VARIETY.COM/AWARDSUPDATE Director: cool vengeful-dynamo mode.He cool vengeful-dynamo play Kelly inthestandard angry- Jordan istoointenseanactorto by hisoverseers asRambodid,but with attitude. Hefeels asbetrayed to turnto, he’s thewalking dead Karen Greer (Jodie Turner-Smith) Commander friend andofﬁcerLt. With noonebuthistough-love he’s hellbentbecausehe’s OnceKellyto it. loseshisfamily, his own scowling renegade spin of Amazon. at homeonthestreaming venue “Patriot Games,” itwilllookright with thebest oftheRyan ﬁlms,like Remorse” feels generic; compared “Without film, a good “Bourne” of itsformer self. Compared with tension isnow anostalgic shadow but more thanthattheColdWar Theplotissometimesmurky,of it. grammed for payback, brings Yet Jordan, asamanpro- Stefano Sollima. Screenplay: Producers:

Taylor Sheridan,WillStaples. Akiva Goldsman,JoshAppelbaum,André Nemec,MichaelB.Jordan. in hell. Jordan makes quite convincing. floor —astrategy thepumped-up his fist inatowel andfloodingthe an army ofguards by wrapping lante fireworks, Kelly off fights thesevigi- to aprisoncellafter wife’s killeroutofhim.Confined can death-wishthenameofhis and setsitaflame,allsothathe poursgasolineonhiscar Airport, Ninidze) toDullesInternational rupt Russian diplomat(Merab like oneinwhichKelly tailsacor- handful oftasty actionset-pieces, “Without Remorse” features a (“Sicario: Day oftheSoldado”), these movies don’t usuallyhave. his scenesanundercurrent that and torn upinside,which lends makes himdisturbed, bothered that’s because it’s only pretending that’s becauseit’s onlypretending rather prosaic actionmovie. And “Without Remorse” becomesa crew arrive though, inMurmansk, vas offear. OnceKelly andhis stages asavast can- underwater extended sequencethatSollima by aRussian tracking plane,an Russia, they’re shotoutofthesky into thebellyofbeast. part ofanelite taskforce to travel a bargainingchip, Kelly ismade Victor Rykoff (Brett Gelman),as offering uptheassassin’s name, GuyPearce, diffident-to-trust and ofdefense, playedtary by atoo- meetingwiththeU.S.after secre- He’s onamissionofnomercy, and As directed by StefanoSollima On the flight toMurmansk,On theflight Camera: Philippe Rousselot. Philippe mingo, Merab Ninidze TT ZIPCODE CHECK ALLTHAT APPLY EMAIL STATE CITY STREET COMPANY NAME PGA AMPAS Editor: MatthewNewman. SAG-AFTRA ATAS Executive producers: when Jack Ryan ruled.Ontheone ing haschanged sincethe’90s, much franchise thrillerfilmmak- worldview hasfaded—andhow a signofhow much theClancy but “Without Remorse” isstill than theyhave beenfor awhile, Russia may beatafullerboilnow cal politicalintent. counterattacks, allwithdiaboli- have beendesignedtotrigger paranoia, presenting attacks that follows atinny logicoftortuous Instead,cially menacing. the film thatnever becomesespe- “they” shallow state —anamorphous case theDeepState isreally a hangs over theaction,butinthis AnominousDeepStatevibe flick. revengeto beadown-and-dirty litik outofthepicture. square-jawed armchair realpo- be wisetoleave theauthor’s producers, going forward, would has launchedthisfranchise, the now thattheghost ofTom Clancy teamhero-style of agents), but promises aseriesaboutsuper- He’ll beback (aclosing teaser todoit.himself intoa“ghost” payback, thoughhehastoturn end, Kelly doesget hischanceat enough toseemlike arelic. Inthe of aconspiracy that’s just rickety chewinggum the three-day-old Yet thefilmisheldtogether by the desperation ofthemoment. supple alienationthattapsinto hand, Jordan plays Kelly witha Music: HFPA Tensions between theU.S. and OTHER North Hollywood,CA 91606 12444 VictoryBlvd Fl4 Attn: IllescasMitchell Variety Jónsi.Reviewedonline,NewYork, April21,2021. DavidEllison,DanaGoldberg, DonGrange,

BAFTA DGA 04.28.2021 Q0AAMP3 WGA

Nadja Klier/Amazon Studios Apple TV+ April 30 (seven episodes;allreviewed); Limited series:AppleTVPlus TV REVIEW George, Logan Polish, GabrielBateman Starring: By DanielD’Addario The Mosquito Coast custody creative ina feat of risky ter (Logan Polish) frees himfrom from policeafterAllie’s daugh- up inMexico: They’re ontherun have madethisseries. perhaps, theonly onethatcould gins, Allieprotests aculture thatis, spiracy. Increasingly from themar- violence andsketchily drawn con- proportion ofthestory that’s about decenters Allieandampsupthe character. This“Mosquito Coast” clear understanding ofAllieFox’s thathasmanyfilm buta flaws material for a1986 Peter Weir Theroux; that novel was source of thesametitleby hisunclePaul a star, isworking to adaptanovel the executive producers aswell as disposable itfeels. Theroux, among enjoyed thentossed. products meantto beindifferently erism, theway creates ourcountry including andespeciallyconsum- by all aspectsofAmericanculture, genius inventor whoisinfuriated Allie, played by Justin Theroux, isa especially onthelives ofhisfamily. rage everywhere —includingand spreads Mosquito his Coast” “The The leadofthenewlimitedseries 04.28.2021 show thatcontainsAllieishow Consider theway thefamilyends What’s surprisingaboutthe Justin Theroux, Melissa Coast.” “The Mosquito Apple TVPlus’ Theroux topline and Justin Gabriel Bateman Logan Polish, Melissa George, a momentreal. Hiswife (Melissa lam seemexotic, rather thanfor as farmakingtheir timeonthe its imaginationextends precisely show asitbecomesevidentthat the airbeginstoseepoutof “Alias”-level escapeartists, and executedtrickery by afamilyof is thefirst ofseveral daringbitsof universe canbealotoffun,butthis age. Astretchy andelastic creative ingenuity thatbeliesheryoung violence andsketchily drawn conspiracy.” proportion of the story that’s about This ‘Mosquito Coast’ampsup the standing ofwhat’s ahead. of thehazinesstheirunder- want to useLatinAmericafor, and early sign ofwhat thesecharacters Boys’the Beach “Kokomo”; it’s an her dreaminess underscored by through Mexico andtotheshore, George) fantasizesaboutgetting host nationfor afamily’s group presents Mexico as,alternately, though: More theshow often This isabriefsideadventure, epiphanies andviolentforce mer, Peter 60MIN. Bookman. Jaysen,Bob Theroux, JustinTheroux, Edward McDonnell,AlanGas- L. Theroux, Melissa George,Logan Polish, GabrielBateman CREDITS: acknowledge it. contradiction, rather thanmerely togenuinelystory explore this would take amore carefully built goes; hecannotescapehimself. It yet bringsitwithhimwherever he culture, hates hishomecountry’s view asfullof“badhombres.” Allie have beenconditionedfor years to more witha setting thatAmericans This seriesdoesn’t todomuch try nificantly more thoughtfulshow. difficult needletothread for asig- attempts to progress — would bea slap backateachoftheFox family’s responds withacrispandefficient the vexed andhostile placethat Mexico — asthe“MosquitoCoast” pushing thatfamilyaway. Treating

Executive producers: VARIETY Rupert Wyatt, Paul Cast: ● Justin 65 66 ● FACETIME 04.28.2021

“I was ready to write when I realized that I’m Casey Wilson actually not going to try to reverse engineer this.”

By Danielle Turchiano

Things you is difficult when someone’s not didn’t know about alive. And I wanted it to be a love Casey Wilson: letter to my mom, but also a realistic portrayal. And so I did ask my Age: 40 dad and brother about that, and --- Hometown: they said, “This is your story to Alexandria, Va. tell.” And my brother said, “I really --- actually think Mom would want Cause she most cares about: her story out there, and if it can The Kathy Wilson help anyone, she would love that.” Foundation, So I took that and ran with it. named in honor of her mom, which • You have a very honest, seri- helps children with ous essay about your son and special needs the food sensitivities he lives --- Hidden talent: with, but also the journey to get She has that properly diagnosed. Did you perfect pitch have different rules about what --- If she wasn’t you were willing to share when it in entertainment: came to your kids? There’s defi- “I’m waffling nitely some darker elements of between being in politics those stories that I just knew or being a floral instinctively, “That’s too far; it’s arranger.” too much to share.” In this partic- --- Childhood hero: ular instance, my son ended up “Alex P. Keaton having such a major health prob- minus his lem that it, almost in a slightly political leanings” comical way, had nothing to do with me — although it does have Casey Wilson may be best known • “Wreckage of My Presence” to reverse engineer this in terms to do with my genes, so I’ll take as an actor, with roles in “Gone does talk about some of your work of what people would think, or that on. But sharing that, and Girl,” “Atypical,” “Happy Endings” experiences, but it also digs deep would they want that story, or also just sharing this notion that and “Black Monday,” as well as a into your personal life. How did had they heard this? I just said I’m moms do have such an instinct stint as a “Saturday Night Live” you know how much of each part going to tell the stories that are about our kids, I want to empower cast member and as a podcaster of you to include? Some stories funny, make me laugh and that moms. We do know when some- (“Bitch Sesh”). However, she also just aren’t concluded yet, and I are meaningful to me, and hope- thing’s wrong, and it doesn’t have has an extensive writing résumé, think it’s easier to write things in fully they resonate with someone. to always be that we’re doing including feature comedy films hindsight. I used to not talk about • What happened with the things something wrong. “Bride Wars” and “Ass Backwards.” my experience on “SNL” because that were still a bit raw, that • How did some of your other cre- Now, she’s about to publish her I think it was such a mixed bag maybe you didn’t want people ative endeavors affect your work first book, “The Wreckage of of exhilarating and really pain- to laugh at or even know about? on the book? Writing TV and mov- My Presence,” out May 4 from ful. And now, I’m so many years My therapist always says that ies or acting, it’s such a process HarperCollins, a collection of on, I genuinely laugh about it when you can make something done by committee that there was essays reflecting on her familial and I’m so grateful that I can tell into a funny story is when you’ve actually something wonderful and romantic relationships and that story a bit removed. I was processed something. A lot of about once I got over the fear of some of her past work, all through ready to write when I realized my mom’s story in the book, I’m writing alone, just getting to do

a humorous lens. that I’m actually not going to try revealing things about her, which what I wanted to do. Clayton Hawkins