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☆ Kanye West showed Yeezy staff an explicit video of Kim Kardashian and played his own sex tapes for them: Rolling Stone
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Cheryl Teh | Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

West also showed Yeezy's creative team an explicit video of Kardashian, per Rolling Stone's sources. At this meeting, West screened an explicit video of Kardashian, according to Rolling Stone's interview with a person who says they saw the video. The staff member told Rolling Stone that West whipped out his phone and said: "My wife just sent me this." Rolling Stone also reported on other incidents where West played pornography — not involving Kardashian — in front of Yeezy collaborators. A Yeezy collaborator told Rolling Stone West showed him an explicit video of porn star Francesca Le engaged in a sexual act with another woman.

☆ Bob Iger needs to fix Disney's 'Star Wars' problem
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

He said then that a movie-a-year strategy for "Star Wars" was "too much, too fast." But Disney might have slammed on the brakes a little too hard: The only "Star Wars" movie to be released since then has been "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," in 2019. And now, there isn't a "Star Wars" film on the theatrical release calendar until 2025. It's unclear if Iger foresaw a six-year wait, at least, when he said back in 2018 that "Star Wars" movie output would slow. But Lucasfilm hasn't made any public commitment to any of them as the next stage of "Star Wars" on the big screen.

☆ This TikToker went to the White House with Selena Gomez to talk about mental health. He shares the exact 2-page media kit he uses to pitch brands.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jorge Alvarez started posting on TikTok in April 2021 because he wanted more Latinx representation. He shares the 2-page media kit he uses to partner with brands like BetterHelp, Dove, and Taco Bell. Jorge Alvarez started posting mental-health content on TikTok last April because he didn't think there was enough Latinx representation on the social-media platform. Since he started posting consistently, Alvarez has made $30,200 through brand collaborations and speaking engagements, according to documentation verified by Insider. Here is what the latest version of his media kit looks like.

☆ Bob Chapek's Disney angered Scarlett Johansson, Florida's governor, and more in his two-plus years as CEO
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney announced Sunday that Bob Iger would return as CEO, replacing his successor Bob Chapek. Less than three years later, Chapek is out, and Iger, who led Disney through unprecedented success, is back in. By 2021, with theatrical attendance still rocky, Disney aimed to release some movies in theaters and, for a fee, onto Disney+ simultaneously. Star Scarlett Johansson sued Disney, claiming the move breached her contract, as her salary was based on a portion of box-office earnings. It also led to creatives speaking out on the lack of LGBTQ+ representation in Disney movies.

☆ Inside Bob Iger's return to Disney: A senior executive's outreach to the former chief followed months of complaints to the board about CEO Bob Chapek
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Bob Iger is returning to Disney as CEO, ending the rocky tenure of his successor, Bob Chapek. This person said the board realized its chief executive simply wasn't up to the job after the high-level company executives shared their frustrations. "Bob Iger is one of the top executives of the last decade. Daniel and a handful of other top executives are expected to find out their fate in the next 24 hours, said the senior Disney Insider. "I'm really happy pleased that Bob Iger has accepted this has decided to come back at a critical time for the company," the senior Disney insider said.

☆ Bob Iger moves fast to dismantle Chapek’s reorganization of Disney
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Disney’s shares ended Monday up more than 6% on a day that the Dow Jones was slightly down. Second, Iger is moving fast — not even waiting a full 24 hours to announce sweeping changes — to dismantle Chapek’s reorganization of the company. The speed at which Iger is hurtling is especially remarkable given that Disney’s board only made its overture for Iger to return to the embattled company on Friday. “Over the coming weeks, we will begin implementing organizational and operating changes within the company,” Iger wrote to employees. Looking further into the future, bigger questions abound: What will Disney look like when Iger’s two-year deal is up?

☆ 'Profoundly disturbing': The PR firm for the COP27 climate summit has a long history with Big Oil
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"Hill and Knowlton is the main lobbying communications firm for the oil industry," said Duncan Meisel, campaign director at Clean Creatives, a U.S.-based group working to disentangle the PR industry from the fossil fuel sector. "Any PR firm that is actively supporting to promote [a] narrative of continued fossil fuel expansion under any circumstances is a problem," Muffett told CNBC via telephone. watch nowIt comes at a time of growing momentum for calls to end fossil fuel production worldwide. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently called out what he described as the "massive public relations machine raking in billions to shield the fossil fuel industry from scrutiny." "Fossil fuel interests need to spend less time averting a PR disaster — and more time averting a planetary one."

☆ As shoppers flood back into stores, retailers are scrambling to merge e-commerce and in-store experiences
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Danni Santana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Retail entered into a new normal in 2022 — one where shoppers returned to stores in droves. Nike, Walmart, and startups like Tradeblock are developing new ways for consumers to shop. But unlike pre-pandemic times, consumers are now looking at brick-and-mortar as an extension of retailers' online offerings, rather than a siloed part of the business. Some of the most innovative brands like Nike, Walmart, and startups like Tradeblock are developing new ways for consumers to shop in-store and online. Each is unlike the company's previous retail stores.

☆ I've been an actor on Disney Channel and cast shows for Netflix. Now I'm an executive producer — here's how I networked my way through Hollywood.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Katherine Stinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Dru Davis is an executive producer for "Monica," which aired at the 2022 Venice Film Festival. He got his start acting on kids shows and networked with casting directors to change roles. I was born and raised in Santa Monica, and my parents inspired me with their work on the executive and creative sides of Hollywood. From there, I went on to cast talent on shows like "The 100" on The CW, "UnREAL" on Lifetime, and "Altered Carbon" on Netflix. I established myself as a reliable executive producer on multiple projects, including "The Trial of the Chicago 7."

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery layoffs, cuts, and 'ill will' over canceled shows have tarnished HBO with TV creators
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"I'm super, super nervous, because HBO has always been my favorite place to do business," said one TV agent. But concerns about new corporate leadership, layoffs, budget cuts, and the future of HBO Max — the streaming home of HBO — kept bubbling to the top. "I'm super, super nervous, because HBO has always been my favorite place to do business," one TV agent said. Even original series created just for the streamer, such as "Little Ellen," "Summer Camp Island," and "My Dinner with Hervé," were pulled. Read all of Insider's 2022 report here: 14 TV insiders rank the streamers where they want to sell shows: HBO is No.

☆ I built a name and career on Twitter. I'm worried Elon Musk will destroy opportunities for creatives like me.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Scott Bryan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Scott Bryan used Twitter to build a career as a journalist writing and commentating about TV. He fears Musk's takeover will drive people from the platform, which would deny others its benefits. For people interested in entering journalism, Twitter provides a network of pretty much every single editor and journalist in the country. Beyond my following, I use Twitter to sense how much the wider public is reacting to a new TV story. My tweets show editors and producers what I'm knowledgeable about and have led to invitations to go on radio and TV.

☆ ‘Black Panther’ cast says we need more Black heroes after Chadwick Boseman’s death
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Candice Williams | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which will be released nationwide Friday, is already on track to become a critical success. It offers a poignant and powerful tribute to the film’s original Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, who died in August 2020 from colon cancer. I still feel there’s a long way to go.”Studies have shown that it’s important for children to see superheroes that look like them. Gurira, who said she never had anything like “Black Panther” growing up, said experiencing this film as an adult “sparked a hunger” in her as a creative. Gurira said it’s imperative that Black creatives continue to push for change in the film industry so movies like “Black Panther” can become the norm.

☆ Facebook employees react to being laid off
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

After the company let go thousands of employees on Wednesday, some took to social media to discuss being fired and search for new jobs. Meta employees are taking to social media to discuss layoffs. After the company laid off more than 11,000 workers, some are turning to LinkedIn or Twitter to share their accounts of the layoffs and search for new jobs. Regulatory filings show Musk sold 19.5 million of the company's shares following his $44 billion Twitter buyout. Microsoft's former VP of HR shares three questions job candidates can use to nail an interview.

☆ 14 TV insiders rank the streamers where they want to sell shows now as Apple TV+ closes in on HBO Max amid turmoil at Warner Bros. Discovery
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Elaine Low | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

"It's definitely been not the most exciting and robust year," said one TV agent at a major agency. Around 70 people at HBO and HBO Max have been let go this year, and their comedy development teams have merged. While WBD doesn't break out streamer-specific figures, it said on Thursday's earnings call that HBO Max, HBO, and Discovery+ have a combined 94.9 million subscribers, ensuring that any show on HBO Max has the chance to get a lot of eyeballs. They'll also take smaller swings in the genre department, do things at a lower budget," said the second TV agent. Echoed the first TV agent: "You pitch and sell to them if no one else wants it."

☆ Shopify's startup investments this year include millions into companies that focus on NFTs, Web3 apps, customer-engagement, and financial services
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

In its press release announcing the new funding, Wati said the investment was Shopify's first in a startup operating in Southeast Asia. The goal is to make Thirdweb's tools available to Shopify merchants who want to bring Web3 products and experiences to their online stores. Shopify recently participated in Gorgias' $30 million Series C round, which valued the startup at $710 million. According to the company, merchants using its technology report a 96% increase in sales on average. Flexport announced it had received a strategic investment from Shopify as part of its $935 million Series E on February 7.

☆ 36 Hours in Savannah, Ga.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Ariel Felton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

There is more to Savannah than its alluring green spaces and centuries-old Colonial, Georgian and Greek Revival architecture. In recent years, tour guides at places like the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters are focusing more on the stories of enslaved people, offering visitors a fuller historical picture. Savannah is also a beacon for young creatives, thanks in part to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and the city now has many contemporary galleries as well as newer, locally focused artist hubs like Sulfur Studios. Venture outside of the Historic District, too: In the city’s east and west, you can find a variety of Black- and immigrant-owned restaurants and bars; and the up-and-coming Starland District has plenty of attractions. But be warned — it’s not uncommon for visitors to fall in love with the city and become locals.

To see how much jobs in the creator economy pay, Insider analyzed salary data from 142 work-visa applications filed with the US government and decided on between October 2020 and June 2022. The pay data includes salaries ranging from a data scientist position that offers $170,000 per year at Discord to a staff engineer role that earns $250,000 or more at Patreon. At Cameo, a principal software engineer would make $230,000Steven Galanis, CEO of Cameo. Senior Manager, DevOps : $140,000: $140,000 Statistician: $116,979 to $170,000 (Spotter said it internally calls this position "Data Analyst.") At Teachable, a senior software engineer would make $150,000Teachable is a platform where creators can build and sell online courses and coaching programs.

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☆ Issa Rae's best career advice: Don't be afraid of being labeled a 'difficult' person to work with
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Even right before her TV show "Insecure" premiered in 2016, Rae was "scared of being seen as difficult" to work with, she said at the Indeed FutureWorks 2022 conference earlier this month. In response, she sought guidance from other Black women she admired in the entertainment industry: Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, Debbie Allen and Mara Brock Akil. At the Indeed conference, Rae called it "the best career advice" she ever received. "I don't care how settled I may feel in my career, I don't care how much praise I get," she said. The advice Rae received from her career idols helped, she added: "I take away the fear of being labeled as [difficult].

Sam Zimmerman, AMC NetworksZimmerman. AMCWant to break bread with Zimmerman, VP of programming at AMC Networks' horror destination, Shudder? One of the first original documentary projects he commissioned for Shudder was "Horror Noire," focused on Black stories and creators. Zimmerman oversees a team of creatives who acquire and develop feature films and television series. "She taught me a lot about building audiences for films and when they'll reject new discoveries," Zimmerman said.

☆ Universal film boss Donna Langley reveals how her studio changed the way you see movies and her hopes for an all-female 'Fast & Furious'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Universal film chief Donna Langley says movies will never go back to "those exclusive traditional windows" in theaters. "I would love to see a female 'Fast,'" she said about the future of the "Fast & Furious" franchise. Though it seems Langley has an insatiable drive to dominate the cutthroat film industry, she revealed to Insider in a recent phone interview that her mission is simple: "Make the right kind of movies that fit the cultural zeitgeist globally." Steven Spielberg and Donna Langley at "The Fabelmans" world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. We are a theatrical business and theatrical will always lead our business.

The Musk video by reAlpha included “robust disclaimers” establishing it as satire, said Christie Currie, chief marketing officer. The first Musk video went live days after reAlpha launched a public offering under regulation A+ in 2021. But the ease of creating deepfakes means some celebrities could soon be deluged by ads featuring their unauthorized, but very convincing likenesses, Mr. Moss said. At the same time, the language in contracts written years before the technology existed may be vague enough to allow marketers to use existing footage to create new deepfake videos. Companies most often request celebrity deepfake videos to use internally for training, communications, parties or other purposes—but not for ads, said Daynen Biggs, owner of Slack Shack Films, which produced the Elon Musk videos.

☆ Apple's top designer is leaving the company three years after taking over from Jony Ive
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Apple's vice president of industrial design, Evans Hankey, is leaving the company, Apple confirmed to CNBC on Friday. Hankey took over for former Apple design chief Jony Ive three years ago when he left to start his own independent firm. Still, she was often quoted in the media after new products were launched, discussing specific design decisions and the way Apple's design team works. "Apple's design team brings together expert creatives from around the world and across many disciplines to imagine products that are undeniably Apple. The senior design team has strong leaders with decades of experience.

☆ These artists found out their work was used to train AI. Now they’re furious
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Rachel Metz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

AI Image/Stable DiffusionHanson, who’s based in McMinnville, Oregon, is one of many professional artists whose work was included in the data set used to train Stable Diffusion, which was released in August by London-based Stability AI. Once available only to a select group of tech insiders, text-to-image AI systems are becoming increasingly popular and powerful. A piece by illustrator Daniel Danger that was included in the training data behind the Stable Diffusion AI image generator. But removing pictures of an artist’s work from a dataset wouldn’t stop Stable Diffusion from being able to generate images in that artist’s style. Hanson, for her part, has no problem with her art being used for training AI, but she wants to be paid.

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