🎬 Indie's In Trouble 😰

👋 Good morning! Welcome aboard the Dailies.

We're excited to have you, whether you're a longtime subscriber or a fresh face. Twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, we'll be your trusted guide, taking you on a journey through the world of Hollywood, and bringing you the juiciest industry scoops right to your inbox.

🎞 Here’s what’s on the reel today:

• Closeup: Indie’s In Trouble!

• National Cinema Day 2023

• DCU’s Lost Fans

• Hollywood’s AI Revolution

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

• Video Village: The latest trailers

• Martini Shot 🍸

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

LAST WEEKEND’S
🎟️ BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN 🎟️

Gran Turismo 🚗: This Sony Pictures auto racing flick has a tight race at the box office, debuting with $17.3M, just slightly ahead of ‘Barbie’ by a mere 1%. When compared to other racing films and game-based action movies, it's doing okay, but not spectacular. It’s earned a neat $53.8M globally, thanks to a good run overseas. 🌍

Barbie 🎀: Warner Bros' comedy keeps impressing! In its sixth week, it raked in $17.1M and ranks as the #14 biggest movie of all time. With a whopping global total of $1.34B, ‘Barbie’ is owning the box office! It's the queen of 2023 so far. 👸

Blue Beetle 🐞: The superhero flick experienced a 49% drop from its debut, pulling in $12.7M this weekend. It's performing a bit better than some of its DC Universe counterparts, but still lagging behind big hitters. With $81.8M globally, it might end up as one of the less successful DC movies. 😅

Oppenheimer 💥: Universal's war drama brought in $9.0M, marking its sixth weekend. It's showing impressive resilience and has earned a respectable $777.1M globally. This film is also setting records, becoming Christopher Nolan's biggest non-Batman hit! And the fun fact? It's the highest-grossing movie to never be #1 on a weekend. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, eh? 🥈

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 🐢: With a 29% drop, this animated reboot has secured $6.1M in its fourth week. With a total of $135.1M globally, it's doing alright, but won't likely touch the heights of its 2014 predecessor. Cowabunga, but not too loudly. 😜

Strays 🐶: This R-rated doggo comedy took a bit of a tumble with a 43% drop, fetching $4.6M in its second week. Comparing it with other R-rated comedies, it’s in the middle of the pack. Not the top dog, but certainly not in the doghouse either! 🐾

Indie’s In Trouble!
🪧 And Other Strike Updates 🪧

Hopes of a bustling Hollywood set post-Labor Day have taken a hit. As the WGA and SAG strikes continue in the hopes of a favorable settlement (here's to hoping 🤞), California's economy has lost a staggering $3 billion. Everyone, from agents and lawyers to managers and publicists, is feeling the pinch.

As for the sizzling releases we eagerly await every fall? It's looking shaky. Several anticipated blockbusters might be on hold till 2024. Even awaited sequels like ‘Dune: Part Two’ aren't immune. 😔

SAG Gives Nod for Film Festival Promos 🎭

SAG-AFTRA has cleared its members to promote their films at this year's fall festivals, provided they have obtained an interim agreement. These agreements ensure producers commit to terms set to be resolved with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's National Executive Director, stressed the significance of these agreements, highlighting them as a cornerstone of their strategy and a testament to member unity. They aim to bolster truly independent productions while pressuring AMPTP. Many projects, backed by renowned directors and actors, have already gained from these terms.

Interim Agreements Obstacles

Some indie producers find the interim casting agreements to be challenging, however. Why? Well, these interim agreements are typically reserved for projects with their financing locked in and production dates set. 📅

This makes it nearly impossible for early-stage projects to get off the ground because they rely heavily on cast attachments to complete their financing. So, many indie projects are on standby, awaiting interim agreements, which many fear won’t come any time soon.

With significant film markets like the Toronto Film Festival around the corner, the need for a better process is palpable. ⏰ 

📣 Here’s what people have to say:

Venice Awaits Hollywood's Elite

With the Venice Film Festival on the horizon, speculation is rife about which stars will shine at the Lido. Insider buzz confirms Adam Driver, the face of ‘Ferrari’, will be there to plug Michael Mann's new flick. 🚗 

Celebs like Mads Mikkelsen, Caleb Landry Jones, and the pair from Sofia Coppola’s 'Priscilla', Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, are on the list too. 😎

Still, some biggies like Penélope Cruz and Shailene Woodley might skip the limelight. ❌ The festival is set to start next Wednesday. So, keep your eyes peeled. 👀

AMPTP Hires New PR Group

In other strike-related news, the AMPTP has decided to up their PR game. They've brought on board The Levinson Group from D.C., steered by Molly Levinson, a PR heavyweight with a knack for managing some pretty high-profile crises. Think everything from the “Pizzagate” scenario to the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team's fight for pay equity. 🍕⚽️

The AMPTP has a history of reaching beyond Hollywood's boundaries when the stakes are high. Oh, and the AMPTP aren’t the only ones playing the PR card — SAG-AFTRA's teamed up with Precision Strategies, led by an Obama campaign alum.

With the Writers Guild and AMPTP butting heads, the Levinson Group's hire seems timely, especially after AMPTP's recent, kinda controversial, public release of a studio counteroffer. There’s currently no date on the books to return to the negotiating table. 🤦🏻‍♂️

National Cinema Day 2023: Remarkable Sunday Surge 🍿🎬 As National Cinema Day took place yesterday, and there's an intriguing shift in moviegoers' behavior. EntTelligence reported that Sunday's pre-sales outpaced Saturday's by a staggering 700%. 📊 This year, all films, regardless of format, were available for a flat rate of $4 this past Sunday—a significant factor in the uptick. The event, in its second year, has pivoted from its previous Saturday focus. And with blockbuster releases like ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ on the roster, Sunday saw an impressive turnout. Cities such as LA and NYC had robust ticket sales.

DC's Cinematic Struggles: Searching for Lost Fans 🎬 Over the last decade, the DC Extended Universe has experienced its share of upheavals. With significant changes in casting, most notably Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill's exits as Batman and Superman respectively, and shifting leadership roles, as James Gunn steps in, the cinematic direction has become increasingly complex. As Warner Bros. attempts a relaunch, now branded as the DCU, it's faced with dwindling box office numbers and a confused audience. Titles like "Blue Beetle" have sparked more questions than excitement. The prevailing issue? The missing loyal DC fanbase. The studio's challenge now is not just to produce compelling content but to articulate a coherent vision that resonates with both die-hard fans and a broader audience.

Hollywood's AI Revolution: Fears, Hopes, and the Future 🤖🎬 AI continues to be a focal point in town, especially as the SAG and WGA strikes continue. 💬 NVIDIA's CEO, Jensen Huang, labels our current time the "iPhone moment of AI." 📱 The film industry has played with AI for ages, like the armies in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ 🧝‍♂️🎥 But now, with terms like "responsible AI" floating around, folks are both excited and cautious. 🤷‍♂️ Some see huge potential, like better digital humans (think young Harrison Ford in ‘Indiana Jones’), while others worry about job security and copyrighting scans of actors. 🔍 Amidst the debate, one thing's clear: AI's in Hollywood to stay, and Tinseltown's got to find its groove with it. 🌟🤝

Development 🗒️

• Isabella Gomez-led indie horror film ‘The Mannequin’ receives SAG-AFTRA interim agreement. (more)

• ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ will not move forward at Disney+, and is being shopped by Paramount TV Studios. (more)

Releases 📅

• Wes Anderson’s ‘Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’ sets September 27 release date on Netflix. (more)

• A24’s Nicolas Cage comedy ‘Dream Scenario’ is set to open Zurich Film Festival. (more)

• ‘Dune: Part Two’ is delayed to 2024 amid strikes. Meanwhile, ‘Aquaman 2,’ ‘Wonka,’ and ‘Color Purple.’ are sticking to 2023. (more)

• ‘Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim’ Release Delayed Until December 2024 (more)

• ‘Rick and Morty’ sets its S7 premiere on Adult Swim. (more)

• Barbie gets a one-week IMAX release starting September 22 with never-seen post-credit footage. (more)

Buzz 🗣️

• Dennis Villeneuve hints at possible Dune 3. (more)

• Bob Barker, longtime host of ‘The Price Is Right’ dies at 99. (more)

• WGA has updated the settlement estimates — see how much it will cost each company 👉🏻 (more)

• Los Angeles is experiencing a notable resurgence in its cinema landscape after the pandemic setbacks. (more)

• With the U.S. Open starting up, Disney and ESPN are buzzing with optimism, especially after ad slots sold out thanks to last year's ratings boom. (more)

• SAG suspends LA picketing today and tomorrow due to heat. (more)

• AMC stock drops following its reverse split. (more)

• Stunt doubles weigh in on the SAG strike, saying the “current residual model is outdated.” (more)

• Arleen Sorkin, the original voice of Harley Quinn, has passed away (more)

Records 🏅

• ‘Barbie’ surpasses ‘Super Mario Bros Movie’ at the domestic box office as top-grossing film of 2023. (more)

• ‘Barbie’ becomes Warner Bros. biggest film ever. (more)

• Superhero series ‘Moving’ becomes most-watched Korean original on Disney+ and Hulu. (more)

First Look 👀

• The official poster for J.A. Bayonne’s ‘Society of the Snow’ is unveiled. (Take a look 👉 here👈)

• The official poster for Bertrand Bonello’s ‘The Beast’ is unveiled. (Take a look 👉 here👈)