🎬 Film Fest Moments Everyone Is Talking About 🫢

👋 Good morning and happy post-Labor Day! Welcome back to the Dailies.

Whether you're a seasoned subscriber or new to the party, we're excited to have you! 🎉 Now that the holiday weekend is behind us, let's get back to exploring the intricacies of the entertainment industry.

🎞 Here’s what’s on the reel today:

• Closeup: Fall Festivals Update

• CHARTER’S Labor Day Showdown

• Barry Diller’s Call to Studios

• Real vs. Reel

• Last Looks: 👀 Bite-sized scoops on developing stories/projects

• Video Village: The latest trailers

• Martini Shot 🍸

But first, let’s take a look at what happened at the box office this past weekend!

LAST WEEKEND’S
🎟️ BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN 🎟️

The Equalizer 3: 🌟 This Sony hit snatched the crown with a $34.5 million debut. With a dazzling CinemaScore and RottenTomatoes rating, it's setting itself up for a killer run, just like its predecessors. 🎬

Barbie: 🎀 Still sparkling in its seventh weekend, it raked in $10 million, keeping its title as Warner Bros.' highest-grossing film EVER. That's right, Barbie's not just a doll; she's a box office queen. 👸

Blue Beetle: 🦋 Third place isn't too shabby for this DCEU entry, pulling in $7.2 million domestically. Latin America is vibing with it, especially Mexico and Brazil. 🌎

Gran Turismo: 🏎️ Slid down to fourth place with a $6.5 million haul. It's been in the market for only ten days but seems to have lost some horsepower. 📉

Oppenheimer: 💣 Scored fifth place with $5.5 million but made a big bang in China, lifting its global status. IMAX theaters are loving it! 🎥

Fall Festivals Update
Here’s What You Need To Know

The Venice Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival is in full swing, and as expected, it has been a hotbed of discussions, celebrations, and, of course, controversies. While many films have been lauded and acclaimed, some have faced criticism, and certain issues outside of the films themselves have taken center stage.

🤩 Among the standouts of the festival are a slew of films that have had critics and audiences alike buzzing with excitement:

• Priscilla (Sofia Coppola): A powerful takedown of Elvis; a strong comeback from Coppola.

• Evil Does Not Exist (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi): A captivating gentrification tale with a divisive narrative twist.

• The Caine Mutiny Court Martial (William Friedkin): Solid and entertaining, but lacks a distinct flair.

• Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos): A masterful examination of female power; Oscar-worthy.

• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Wes Anderson): A refreshing, short Roald Dahl adaptation by Anderson.

• The Killer (David Fincher): A gripping blend of action, humor, and reflection that challenges genre norms.

• Dogman (Luc Besson): A forceful return from Besson showcasing deep emotion through Caleb Landry Jones' portrayal.

• Maestro (Bradley Cooper): An epic portrayal of talent, genius, and Hollywood finesse by Bradley Cooper, both behind and in front of the camera.

👎🏼 On the flip side, not every film managed to hit the mark:

• Ferrari (Michael Mann): Visually appealing but lacks substance.

• El Conde (Pablo Larraín): An innovative concept diluted by overemphasis.

• Comandante (Edoardo De Angelis): A perplexing blend of genres that falls flat.

• The Palace (Roman Polanski): A fierce yet limited film, showcasing a gallery of exaggerated characters.

The Woody Allen Stir 😬

Woody Allen's ‘Coup de Chance’ has been a talking point. Premiering to roaring applause and a standing ovation, Allen was visibly moved. Yet, protesters outside highlighted concerns, questioning the festival's choice to feature directors like Allen, Luc Besson, and Roman Polanski due to past allegations.

Adam Driver's Callout 📣

Adam Driver, known not just for his role in ‘Ferrari,’ took to the stage to highlight concerns about Netflix and Amazon's approach to SAG-AFTRA demands. Having previously worked with Netflix, Driver's critique was noteworthy, emphasizing the importance of SAG's interim agreements. The streaming giants, however, have kept their counsel.

Gabriel Guevara Detained on Sexual Assault Charge 🚔

Spanish actor Gabriel Guevara was arrested at the Venice Film Festival due to an international warrant for alleged sexual assault in France. This came just before he was to receive a best young actor award from Filming Italy, which was subsequently canceled. The festival has since distanced itself from the actor's presence and arrest.

Telluride Film Festival

The Telluride Film Festival simultaneously dazzles in the Rockies, churning significant buzz for its roster of films. Here's a snapshot of some of the most talked-about films from this year's festival lineup and what people are saying about them:

• All of Us Strangers (Andrew Haigh): Andrew Haigh's probing narrative raises more questions than it answers, challenging yet rewarding.

• The Bikeriders (Jeff Nichols): Jeff Nichols captures the collision of old and new eras in a vivid, connection-driven narrative.

• Daddio (Christy Hall): Christy Hall’s poignant debut intertwines a seasoned New York cabbie and a young woman's journey of self-discovery.

• The Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer): Glazer crafts a chilling, anthropological look into the everyday lives of a Nazi family, highlighting the terrifying banality of evil amidst domestic bliss.

• The Holdovers (Alexander Payne): Alexander Payne crafts an everyday tale of individuals united by fate, punctuated by impeccable casting.

• Saltburn (Emerald Fennell): Emerald Fennell’s energetic narrative is packed to the brim, driving forth its vigorous life force.

• Tuesday (Daina O. Pusic): Daina O. Pusic’s heart-wrenching tale highlights Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a narrative of faith, love, and acceptance.

Navigating the SAG Strike

At Telluride Film Festival, stars are finding unique ways to roll with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strike. Julia Louis-Dreyfus took the stage to thank SAG for their interim agreement, letting her promote her A24 film 'Tuesday.' She's been a die-hard union supporter for 41 years and used the moment to question why big studios can't meet SAG's demands if A24 can.

Meanwhile, Emma Stone went for a different strategy. Stone's film 'Poor Things' is under Searchlight, part of the AMPTP, so she's keeping a low profile, not participating in Q&As or press gigs. She literally bought a pass and flew under the radar.🛫 Other actors like Laura Linney and Dakota Johnson are also utilizing interim agreements to promote their films.

Amid the strike, it's a choose-your-own-adventure kinda vibe at Telluride and Venice this year. 🎭✊

CHARTER’S Labor Day Showdown 📺🔥CHARTER Communications and Disney began a heavyweight showdown this Labor Day Weekend. 🎬🍿How it all started: CHARTER’S deal with Disney expired, which means if you're a CHARTER customer, say bye-bye to channels like ESPN, ABC, and Disney Channel. This is the largest blackout ever for CHARTER, costing Disney a whopping $190 million a month! 🤯 On a holiday weekend (I mean, who does that?!), CHARTER dialed in investors for a public call and laid it out: "We're done with Disney's expensive games and B-list channels!" 🛑💸 What's at stake: Both parties are basically at a stalemate. CHARTER wants some big changes, like not including "meh" channels and even giving their customers Disney+ and Hulu for free. Disney, on the other hand, ain't moving an inch. They want their long-term deal and higher prices to stay, and said they offered “most favorable terms” to CHARTER. 🙅‍♀️What's next? CHARTER’S not playing around. They're giving Disney a couple of weeks to get their act together or they're peacing out. They're even saying other big studios could face the same fate if they don't pay attention. 🚨

So here's the bottom line: This is a seismic shift. 😲 It's not just a CHARTER-Disney issue; it’s setting the stage for the entire Cable TV and streaming landscape. Everyone’s watching to see who blinks first. 🍿✨

📈 Barry Diller Advocates for Studios to Forge Independent Paths from Netflix and Amazon 🎬 Barry Diller, the influential IAC mogul, strongly urges Hollywood studios to rethink their partnerships with streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon. In a recent podcast with Kara Swisher, Diller highlights the current SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes as a wake-up call for the industry. He argues that Netflix, due to its unique business model, will emerge stronger post-strike, leaving traditional studios at a disadvantage. Diller's solution? Studios should approach guilds directly to negotiate individual deals, leaning into their historical relationships as "natural allies." While Diller's advice provides a strategic pathway for studios, he remains cautious about their ability to adapt quickly to these changing landscapes.

🎬 Real vs. Reel: VFX Artists Speak Up on Hollywood's Hidden Costs 🎨Hey, ever heard a filmmaker boast about "doing it all for real"? 👀 Yep, we're talking about those high-octane chase scenes and gravity-defying stunts. Hollywood's been increasingly playing up the "practical effects" angle in films like 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Oppenheimer'. But VFX pros say hold up 🖐️—it's not always the full picture. Visual effects still play a huge part, even if they don't always get the limelight. Sometimes studios straight-up suppress talk of VFX, overshadowing the talented artists behind the scenes. This not only affects awards but can also make recruiting top talent tough for VFX firms. 🏆 So next time you're wowed by an 'all-real' car chase, remember, it probably had a digital helping hand. 🎨

Development 🗒️

• ‘How I Met Your Father’ is cancelled at Hulu. (more)

• ‘Interview With the Vampire’ and ‘Walking Dead’ spinoffs receive SAG interim agreement. (more)

• Amazon outbids Netflix for rights to crime thriller ‘Crime 101.’ (more)

Releases 📅

• Taylor Swift concert film will bring the Eras Tour to movie theaters in October. It has already hit $26 million in ticket pre-sales for AMC Theaters. (more)

• MAX releases teaser and announces October 5 debut for ‘Our Flag Means Death’ S2. (more)

• Marvel shuffles around TV calendar for ‘Agatha,’ ‘Echo’ and ‘X-Men ‘97.’ (more)

• The Hollywood Reporter publishes a guide to TV premiere dates this fall. (Check it out 👉here👈)

• ‘She Came to Me’ starring Peter Dinklage and Anne Hathaway moves release date to October. (more)

• ‘The Goonies’ will be re-released in theaters for Warner Bros. 100th anniversary. (more)

• ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ will now release one week earlier to avoid showdown with Taylor Swift concert film. (more)

• ‘I Am Legend’ writer Akiva Goldsman confirms that ‘I Am Legend 2’ is in the works. (more)

Buzz 🗣️

• MAX launches a top 10 trending list for TV shows and movies. (more)

• ‘Hijack’ becomes second Apple series to make streaming charts. (more)

• SAG-AFTRA is now gearing up for another possible strike against the video game industry. (more)

• French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault’s pending $7 billion deal to acquire a majority stake in CAA may close soon. (more)

Records 🏅

• ‘Barbie’ is official the highest-grossing release of the year with $1.36 billion globally. (more)

• ‘Oppenheimer’ crossed $850 million in global ticket sales. (more)

Other News 🚨

• New York City filming permits drop 53% in first month of Dual WGA and SAG strikes. (more)

• AMC Theaters announces that it is considering feature-length films from independent film makers amid the SAG and WGA strikes. (more)

• Hollywood job losses hit 17k amid strikes. (more)