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☆ Dwayne Johnson reportedly peed in Voss water bottles on film sets and was up to 8 hours late to shooting 'Red One'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementIt also reported that he tried to save time on other sets by peeing in Voss water bottles, which upset some crew members. He pees in a Voss water bottle and his team or a PA has to dispose of it." When speaking to Esquire ahead of 2021's "Red Notice," Johnson admitted that he pees in water bottles during his lengthy workouts because the gyms he goes to don't have bathrooms. "Any reporting that implies that we got to this point with him showing up seven-eight hours late to set is both ridiculous and false." Representatives for Johnson and Amazon MGM Studios did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Dwayne, Johnson, there's, Adam, didn't, antihero, Johnson's, peeing, TheWrap, doesn't, It's, Dwayne Johnson Organizations: Service, WWE, Business, DC Studios, Amazon MGM Studios, Seven Bucks Locations: Voss, Hollywood, Seven

☆ The FTC says Jeff Bezos and Amazon execs used Signal to talk business — and it wants to know more
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon execs used messaging app Signal to discuss business matters, the Federal Trade Commission said. The agency wants to know if execs told Amazon staff to delete messages, and when to use Signal. AdvertisementAmazon's top executives used the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss "sensitive business matters," the Federal Trade Commission said in a court filing on Thursday. The founder said, "Are you on signal messaging app? "Amazon also recognizes that sellers believe 'that it has become more difficult over time to be profitable on Amazon,'" the FTC filing stated.

Persons: execs, —, Jeff Bezos, Andy Jassy, David Zapolsky, Jeff Wilke, Dave Clark, Tim Doyle, Mike Hopkins, Carlo Bertucci, Amazon's, Zapolsky Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, Service, FTC, Amazon MGM Studios

☆ Actor Chance Perdomo, star of ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,’ dies at 27 after motorcycle incident
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Sara Smart | Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Actor Chance Perdomo, star of the “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and “Gen V,” has died following a motorcycle accident, according to his representative. Perdomo played Ambrose Spellman across all four seasons of Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” which starred Kiernan Shipka in the title role. He also was known for his role of Andre Anderson in Prime Video’s “The Boys” spinoff “Gen V,” which debuted with its first season last year. “The entire Gen V family is devastated by the sudden passing of Chance Perdomo. The producers of “Gen V” remembered the actor as a charming, talented performer.

Persons: Chance Perdomo, Sabrina ”, ”, Chance Perdomo’s, Rachel Hunt, Hunt, Perdomo, Ambrose Spellman, Sabrina, Kiernan Shipka, Andre Anderson, Video’s, “, V ”, Chance, Hug Organizations: CNN, Local, Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures Television

☆ Insiders break down Amazon's sports strategy and the low-key but powerful exec behind it, as the tech giant eyes NBA rights
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One of them is Jay Marine, who oversees Amazon's sports business as VP of Prime Video and global head of sports. Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesMarine's next move could be for the NBA, which Amazon craves for its young, global fan base. Advertisement"For us, everything starts with Prime," Marine told CNBC in a rare interview last fall. AdvertisementApart from its big bet on "TNF," Amazon's sports moves have been largely incremental. The deal lets Diamond continue airing local NBA broadcasts, which makes it more likely Amazon will bid for national NBA rights, analyst Ben Thompson of Stratechery wrote.

Persons: —, Jeff Bezos, Jay Marine, Bezos, Andy Jassy, Chris Webber, Tyrone Wheatley, scrappy, Chris Graythen, Ben Thompson, Stratechery, Marine, Patrick Crakes, it's, Marie Donoghue, Mike Hopkins, Amazon's, John Kosner, Donoghue, Kantar, signups, He's Organizations: Service, Marine, Business, US, Premier League soccer, Industry, The, Sports, WBD, NASCAR, NBC, NBA, Amazon, Disney, Warner Bros, Discovery, Apple, Netflix, CNBC, Amazon MGM Studios, Premier Boxing Champions, Diamond Sports, Diamond, Premier League, WNBA, National Women's Soccer League . Media, ESPN, DraftKings, Warner Bros . Locations: London, The New Jersey, Amazon

☆ Popular YouTuber MrBeast strikes Amazon deal for competition reality show
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —MrBeast, the popular video creator known for big philanthropic gestures and extreme stunts, is making the leap from YouTube to Amazon Prime with a new reality competition show, Amazon announced Monday in a news release. The show, which was released in November, featured 456 participants vying for a cash prize of $4.56 million. MrBeast is one of the most popular YouTube channels on the platform, with 245 million subscribers. In recent years, each of his videos easily surpasses 100 million views, and at times has pushed half a billion. In November 2020, he opened his first burger restaurant, MrBeast Burger, near his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina.

Persons: New York CNN — MrBeast, Jimmy Donaldson, Colin, Samir, Donaldson, MrBeast, ” Jennifer Salke, Jimmy, ”, “, Burger Organizations: New, New York CNN, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Amazon, Netflix, Amazon MGM Studios, Beast Games, Time Magazine Locations: New York, Greenville , North Carolina

☆ YouTuber MrBeast teams up with Amazon's MGM Studios for 'biggest reality competition series ever'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Zach Vallese | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast on the internet, on Monday announced a new reality competition show in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios, aiming to further blur the lines between YouTube and traditional television. The new series, "Beast Games," is billed as "the biggest reality competition series ever" and will feature 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million cash prize. "It's like our normal videos, but just 20 times better," Donaldson said on the podcast. "This will probably be six plus hours of content, where my normal videos are 20 minutes long. The character building, the storytelling, will be out of this world compared to our normal videos."

Persons: Jimmy Donaldson, Donaldson, TikTok, Colin, Samir, D'Amelio Organizations: Monday, Amazon MGM Studios, YouTube, Lamborghini, Puck, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu Locations: U.S

☆ You'll start seeing ads on Amazon Prime Video today — unless you pay an extra $3 a month to remove them
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Read previewIf you use Amazon Prime Video, expect to start seeing some ads today unless you're willing to shell out a few more bucks a month. The streaming service began to roll out ads on Monday unless subscribers pay an additional $2.99 per month to avoid them. Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month, or $139 if bought for the year. While Amazon increases the price of Amazon Prime Video, the company is also paring back its labor costs. Amazon earlier this month announced layoffs affecting "several hundred" people in its Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios divisions.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney, Paramount, Showtime, Amazon Prime, Amazon MGM Studios Locations: UK, Germany, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Australia

It was down only 14% from the previous weekend and brings its running domestic total to $42.3 million. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThis was the first moviegoing weekend following Oscar nominations. Searchlight’s “Poor Things,” nominated for 11 Oscars, including best picture, best director and best actress for Emma Stone, got a 43% boost from last weekend with an estimated $3 million. And A24’s “The Zone of Interest,” which had five nominations, including best picture and best director for Jonathan Glazer, expanded to 317 screens, where it earned $1.1 million. Universal had leading Oscar nominee “Oppenheimer” in 1,262 theaters, where it earned an additional million dollars this weekend.

Persons: holdovers, “, Jason Statham actioner, It's, “ Oppenheimer, ” “ Barbie, ”, Jeffrey Wright, Emma Stone, Jonathan Glazer, Alexander Payne's “, Glazer's, Jonathan Organizations: American, Amazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros, Universal Locations: North America

☆ Tech layoffs are expected to continue as companies seek to hire more AI talent, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

And more Big Tech layoffs may be coming this year as companies bet big on AI, an analyst told CNBC. As of January 2024, 89 tech companies have laid off almost 25,000 employees, according to tracker site Layoffs.fyi. "Google and the rest of Big Tech are betting big on AI while cutting back on non-strategic areas," Dan Ives, a tech analyst at Wedbush Securities, told CNBC. Layoffs will continue in some areas, while"the hiring frenzy in AI will be unprecedented as this arms race continues across the tech world." But while growing investment in AI may soon put more out of work, new roles are being created within the AI space.

Persons: —, it's, Dan Ives, Ives, Sundar Pichai Organizations: Big Tech, CNBC, Google, Service, Wedbush Securities, Business, Amazon, Prime, Amazon MGM Studios, SAP, Apple, Meta, Nvidia

☆ TECH'S JOB-CUTS JANUARY
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But by the third week of the month, layoffs had become a reality for many in tech. More than 70 tech companies have swung the ax so far this year, affecting more than 13,000 workers, according to tracker Layoffs.fyi. January is historically a common month for layoffs as companies adjust budgets and plans for a new year. In January 2023, more than 270 tech companies laid off nearly 90,000 employees, according to Layoffs.fyi.

Persons: —, Sundar Pichai, Dan Clancy, it's, Jason Citron Organizations: Industry, Google, Service, Tech, Workers, Prime, Amazon MGM Studios, YouTube, eBay Locations: TikTok, overhiring

☆ Corporate America's loyalty problem is on display in Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In today's big story, we're looking at how there's no more loyalty in corporate America between employers and their workers. Business Insider's Aki Ito, who has covered workplace trends better than anyone, dove into the deterioration of loyalty in corporate America. The best example of the deterioration of loyalty in corporate America these days is in Big Tech. AdvertisementOne year later, Big Tech's layoffs are back and could become the new normal, Business Insider's Peter Kafka writes. However, the best representation of the growing employee-employer chasm in Big Tech is at Google.

Persons: —, hustleharder, Insider's Aki Ito, they're, Insider's Peter Kafka, Kali Hays, BI's Eugene Kim, Ashley Stewart, Long, Sundar Pichai, BI's Hasan Chowdhury, Brian Moynihan, Moynihan, Laura Labovich, Asher, Emerson, Bill O'Leary, there's, Frederic J . Brown, haven't, Christian Dior, Dan DeFrancesco, Diamond Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb Organizations: Service, Big, Workers, Amazon MGM Studios, Big Tech, Google, OsakaWayne, Investment, New, Bank of America's, Fed, Washington, Getty, Meta, OpenAI Mafia, Shoppers, Spotify, Couture, United Airlines, The, Business Locations: America, Big Tech, Big, Bethesda, That's, Paris, New York, San Diego, London

With a dearth of new releases in cinemas, Paramount Pictures' Tina Fey-scripted musical “Mean Girls” pushed its two-week total past $50 million, along with $16.2 million internationally. The top 10 films collectively accounted for just $51.3 million in box office, according to Comscore. The Jason Statham thriller “The Beekeeper,” from Amazon MGM Studios, remained in second place, grossing $8.5 million in its second weekend to bring its total to $31.1 million. Warner Bros. “Wonka,” six weeks into its smash run in theaters, was third, with $6.4 million in ticket sales. In its fourth week of release, the Blitz Bazawule-directed film starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks, grossed just $720,000.

Persons: Oscar, Tina Fey, it's, Ariana DeBose, Jason Statham, “ Wonka, It's, Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Bridget Jones's Baby, Ava DuVernay's “, Aunjanue Ellis, Taylor, Isabel Wilkerson, Yorgos, Emma Stone, Cord Jefferson's, ”, Jeffrey Wright, Jonathan Glazer’s, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P, Henson, Danielle Brooks, Comscore, “ I.S.S Organizations: Paramount Pictures, U.S, Bleecker, Audiences, Hollywood, Amazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Searchlight, Globe Locations: Russia

☆ Jacob Elordi finally sniffed the 'Saltburn' bathwater candle and thinks it smells like detergent
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Jacob Elordi smelled a "Saltburn"-themed scented candle on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." Elordi appeared on Thursday's episode of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," and host Jimmy Fallon gifted him a candle. AdvertisementOliver (Barry Keoghan) puts his face in Felix's (Jacob Elordi) bathwater in "Saltburn." Amazon MGM StudiosAlthough the bathtub scene is not the only explicit scene in "Saltburn," it is the most talked about scene on social media. While viewers found the bathtub scene disturbing, Elordi defended the scene in an interview with USA Today.

Persons: Jacob Elordi, Jimmy Fallon, —, Jacob Elordi's bathwater, Felix, masturbates, Oliver, Barry Keoghan, Elordi, Fallon, Priscilla, Cailee Spaeny, Suzie Davies, Keoghan, Davies, Emerald Fennell, Fennell Organizations: Service, MGM Studios, Business, USA Locations: Felix's

☆ Amazon entertainment layoffs stir 4 big questions for insiders about the tech giant's Hollywood ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The layoffs hit Prime Video and the Amazon MGM Studios division, with many of the cuts related to Amazon's $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM in 2022, the second biggest deal in the tech giant's history. The layoffs, combined with other factors straining the entertainment business — from strikes to content spending pullbacks — have heightened concerns about the future of the company's entertainment ambitions. These are the questions that came up the most about that future, according to conversations with six people close to Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. As part of the layoffs, two MGM teams were integrated under Chris Brearton, a business-side exec who joined Amazon with the MGM acquisition in 2022. How will sports impact original content spending?

Persons: what's, Jen Salke, Freevee, didn't, Who's, Chris Brearton, Salke, Mike Hopkins, What'll, there's Organizations: Amazon, Amazon MGM Studios, MGM, Amazon's, Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood, Diamond Sports, MLB, NHL, NBA Locations: Salke, Africa, MENA, Northern, Central

☆ 'Saltburn' production designer explains how they made the bathroom scene, from finding a tub that fit Jacob Elordi to creating his bathwater
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Oliver spies on Felix as he pleasures himself in a clawfoot tub. After Felix finishes and leaves the room, Oliver crawls into the tub and drinks the last bit of water from the bath as it swirls down the rusty drain. The scene's shocking nature has led to countless TikToks and jokes, including a cocktail recipe inspired by the moment. "The bathroom was described along with the whole walkthrough scene when Felix walks through showing Oliver the house," Davies told Business Insider. "It was a spare bedroom with tapestry on the walls and a cream color," Davies explained of their chosen room.

Persons: —, Barry Keoghan's Oliver slurps, Felix, Jacob Elordi, Oliver, Jill, Jacob Elordi's Bathwater, Jacob Elordi's bathwater, I've, Suzie Davies, Davies, Fennell's, Oliver's, Fennell, Emerald Fennell, Jacob, Barry slurping, Barry Keoghan, Linus Madekwe's, Barry Organizations: Service, Business, Oxford University, Drayton House, MGM, Amazon MGM Locations: Drayton, Northamptonshire

☆ Amazon is laying off 'several hundred' employees across Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios — read the memo
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Lucia Moses | Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The company is laying off "several hundred" employees across Prime Video and Amazon MGM studios. "As a result of these decisions, we will be eliminating several hundred roles across the Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios organization." In April 2023, Amazon Studios (now Amazon MGM Studios) and Prime Video teams cut about 100 people — a tiny fraction of Amazon's 27,000 layoffs last year. As a result of these decisions, we will be eliminating several hundred roles across the Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios organization. Prime Video is one of the most popular benefits for Prime members, and one of most widely used entertainment destinations in the world.

Persons: Mike Hopkins, Hopkins, Amazon's, Jen Salke, Freevee, We've, we've, Amazonians who've, Mike Organizations: Service, Prime, MGM, Amazon MGM Studios, Business, Hollywood Reporter, Bloomberg, Hollywood, Amazon Studios Locations: Americas, Hollywood

☆ Amazon will cut hundreds of jobs, including at game streaming firm Twitch
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Clare Duffy | Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Amazon on Wednesday cut hundreds of jobs across two different business units: streaming platform Twitch and its film and television studios division. Amazon is cutting “several hundred” roles across Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, according to an internal note shared with CNN. In addition, video game streaming company Twitch, which is owned by the tech giant, said Wednesday it is laying off 500 workers as part of ongoing cost-cutting efforts. Wednesday’s announcement comes after Twitch laid off 400 workers in March of last year as part of broader cuts at parent company Amazon. The layoffs point to ongoing challenges at Twitch, although Amazon does not break out specific results for the unit.

Persons: Mike Hopkins, “, ”, Hopkins, Dan Clancy, Twitch, we’ve, ” Clancy, Clancy, Dataminr Organizations: New, New York CNN, Amazon, Amazon MGM Studios, CNN, MGM, Amazon Prime, Bloomberg, Google, Spotify Locations: New York

☆ Amazon cuts hundreds of jobs in Prime Video and MGM Studios: Read the memo to employees
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Here's the full memo from Hopkins:Team,We've taken significant steps towards our long-term vision of making Prime Video the first-choice entertainment destination for customers worldwide, and I'm proud of everything we've accomplished as a team to date. And, through our acquisition of MGM, we've increased our investments in theatrical films and driven growth in MGM+ and our licensing and third-party production businesses. As a result of these decisions, we will be eliminating several hundred roles across the Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios organization. It is hard to say goodbye to talented Amazonians who've made meaningful contributions on behalf of our customers, team and business. Prime Video is one of the most popular benefits for Prime members, and one of most widely used entertainment destinations in the world.

Persons: We've, we've, Amazonians who've, Mike Organizations: Amazon, Hopkins, MGM, Prime, Amazon MGM Studios Locations: Americas

☆ Amazon insiders are bracing for changes at Freevee now that Prime Video is adding ads
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewSpeculation about the future of Amazon's free, ad-supported streamer Freevee is swirling now that sibling service Prime Video is about to launch ads itself. People who work for the service have been reassigned or told they'll add Prime Video duties, said three insiders familiar with the matter. Ryan Pirozzi, who previously ran the business side of Freevee, is now head of Prime Video Channels, US. People who worked on Freevee teams will be doing double duty for Prime Video, a sign that Amazon no longer sees Freevee as a freestanding business. Amazon describes Freevee as a service, with Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon's film and TV division, developing the content for Prime Video and Freevee.

Persons: —, Lauren Anderson —, Ryan Pirozzi, Freevee, James Marsden, It's, Jenny Burke Organizations: Service, Business, Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon, Freevee . Company, Hollywood, Prime, Freevee, Video Locations: Freevee

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