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☆ Disney's parks division is driving big profits, a bright spot as the streaming biz struggles and ESPN's future is unclear. Here's how that could factor into Bob Iger's CEO succession plans.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger has reorganized the company into 3 core units: entertainment, ESPN, and parks. Parks' growing prominence comes as the company faces looming decisions over Iger's CEO. Travel bans "dramatically impacted" results for Disney Parks during the intense early years of the coronavirus pandemic, Heger noted, adding that parks are now generating more revenue and operating profit than they did in pre-COVID times. The parks' success is "helping to offset" losses from Disney's "DTC," or direct-to-consumer streaming business, Heger added. Josh D'Amaro, the current chairman for Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, would be a likely figure appearing on any shortlist of CEO contenders.

Persons: Bob Iger, Parks, It's, Dave Heger, Edward Jones, Heger, AECOM, Iger, Josh D'Amaro, Christine McCarthy —, Iger's, Bob Chapek, Ron DeSantis, Chapek, Hollywood creatives, Tom Staggs, Iger —, —, Chapek's, it's, you've, Jeffery Merola, he'd, DeSantis, Reed Alexander Organizations: Disney, ESPN, Disney Parks, Walt Disney, Disneyland, Products, Florida Gov, Hollywood, Los Angeles Times, Sunshine State Locations: Tokyo, Shanghai, Orlando , Florida, Anaheim , California, execs, Chapek, Syracuse , New York, Orlando

The movie is projected to debut with a modest $31 million to $41 million this weekend in the U.S., according to the Box Office Pro website. That is well shy of the recent $120.5 million haul for Sony’s critically acclaimed animated hit "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Pixar is looking to rebound from the box office disappointment of 2022 release "Lightyear," the origin story of "Toy Story" hero Buzz Lightyear. "Judging Pixar on the recent past, history would not be kind," said SVB MoffettNathanson media analyst Michael Nathanson. But the move dealt a blow to creatives who had hoped their films would be seen on the big screen, according to one Pixar director who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Persons: Athie, Leah Lewis, Pete Docter, Denise Ream, Peter Sohn, Adele Exarchopoulos, Vincent Lacoste, Jim Morris, Read, Buzz Lightyear, Pixar, Michael Nathanson, Sohn, Mario, Shawn Robbins, Robbins, Bob Chapek’s, Luca, creatives, Sohn’s, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Nathan Frandino, Kenneth Li, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Cannes Film, Pixar Animation Studios, Box, Pixar, Reuters, Walt Disney Co, Reuters Television, Comcast, Universal Pictures, Mario Bros, Sony Pictures, Pro, Disney, U.S, Cannes, Rotten, Thomson Locations: U.S, City, Los Angeles, San Francisco

☆ ‘Never Have I Ever’ comes to an end. Its stars reflect on what made the show so special
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For one, she wasn’t the only South Asian person there. For another, she and her fellow South Asian castmates Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Poorna Jagannathan were the leads of the show. “From that day forward, every day that I was on set until the last day we wrapped up season four, that realization hit me every single day,” Moorjani said in a Zoom call. And as the beloved show comes to an end, its stars are reflecting back on its legacy. That she is the lead of the show is in itself significant for South Asian representation.

Persons: Richa Moorjani, ”, Poorna Jagannathan, Devi, Kamala, ” Moorjani, Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher, she’s, ” Ramakrishnan, “, There’s Nirmala, Ranjita, Megan Suri, That’s, it’s, Jagannathan, ” “, subtler, Nalini, Mohan, ” Jagannathan, I’ve, you’re, “ It’s, Kaling’s Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Princeton, Variety Locations: United States, Devi, Indian, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks , California, American, India

☆ A filmmaker used AI to create an IKEA-like catalog full of bomb shelter furnishings. It's mesmerizing — and dystopian.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

He used AI platform Midjourney to create a catalog of bomb shelter furnishings in the style of an Ikea catalog. He's generated more than 24,000 images using Midjourney; Ikea, of course, wasn't involved. He prompted the tool to create images of bomb shelter furnishings and the results look like they're straight out of an Ikea catalog. For creatives like Filkovic, AI tools could ultimately serve as a breakthrough for bringing abstract concepts to fruition. Take a closer look at the images that AI-powered Midjourney generated for Filkovic's bomb shelter series:

Persons: Filip, Philatz, wasn't, Filkovic, Pope Francis, Donald Trump, He's, Wes Anderson, Midjourney, it's Organizations: Ikea, Facebook Locations: Croatia

From influencer marketing trends to new creator startups, the creator economy is evolving rapidly. Some voices have become authorities in the space, delving into the industry through podcasts, newsletters, and more. Insider is highlighting 23 creator-economy experts to know to stay up-to-date on the industry. Won launched his podcast in 2020 to elevate the Asian creator community and regularly interviews Asian and Asian American creators, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Here are 23 creator-economy experts who share their insights on podcasts, newsletters, and LinkedIn, listed in alphabetical order:

Persons: Jerry Won, Kamala Harris, Won, Avi Gandhi, Instagram influencer Vivian Tu, BFF Organizations: LinkedIn Locations: United States

☆ The Venice Architecture Biennale puts Africa center stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Marianna Cerini | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Venice, Italy CNN —Until recently, the Venice Architecture Biennale — arguably the world’s largest architecture exhibition — has drawn crowds for its (mainly Western) star appeal. In a May 20 Facebook post titled “Venice Biennale Blues,” Zaha Hadid Architects’ principal, Patrik Schumacher, wrote that “the ‘Architecture’ Biennale is mislabeled and should stop laying claim to the title of architecture. The German pavilion, which is displaying construction waste produced by 2022’s Venice Art Biennale is a case in point. The German Pavilion at the 18th Architecture Biennale is displaying and repurposing constuction waste from the city's Art Biennale last year. The British Pavilion curators Meneesha Kellay, Joseph Henry, Jayden Ali and Sumitra Upham, with commissioner Sevra Davis, photographed in London.

☆ How TikTok is shaking up the entertainment business and changing power dynamics, according to dozens of authors, comedians, dancers, music-industry professionals, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Dan Whateley | Shriya Bhattacharya | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

TikTok has become a de facto audition stage for musicians, dancers, comedians, and even authors. "TikTok has to find that balance with not pissing off the major labels," a music marketer told Insider. Launching a writing career via the app is real if an author can get enough attention on their videos, writers told Insider. Author Alex Aster used TikTok to post about her book idea and ultimately scored a publishing deal that ended up being worth $460,000. "That's the power of TikTok," she told Insider.

☆ Sci-fi author says he wrote 97 books in 9 months using AI tools, including ChatGPT and Midjourney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sci-fi author Tim Boucher says he's created 97 books in nine months with the help of AI. In a Newsweek article, Boucher said he used Midjourney, ChatGPT, and Anthropic's Claude. Sci-fi author Tim Boucher says he's created 97 books in nine months with the help of AI. In an article for Newsweek, Boucher said he'd used AI image generator Midjourney to illustrate the books, and ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude for brainstorming and text generation. He wrote in Newsweek: "AI has proven to be a remarkable catalyst for my creative work.

☆ AI music could revolutionize the industry — and this artist is leading the way
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Drew Austin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Despite this widespread apprehension, Holly Herndon — an experimental musician and artist — doesn't think AI is nefarious or will ruin art. Herndon's usage of AI shows a way forward for not just artists but also the rest of us. In her blog post announcing Holly+, Herndon said she envisioned a future where digitally created voices "soon become standard practice for artists and other creatives." While the project has yielded an ever-growing array of fascinating art, Holly+ also raises questions about the future of that art. (Anyone can use the Holly+ voice tool itself without submitting the output to the DAO, however.)

☆ 'Avengers' director Joe Russo says everyone should be scared of AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

"Avengers" director Joe Russo says everyone should be scared of artificial intelligence. The director told Variety AI must work as a "tool servicing us rather than us servicing the tool." "Avengers" director Joe Russo has weighed in on the development of artificial intelligence. "I think everyone should be scared of AI," Russo told Variety at the Los Angeles premiere of "Citadel." Russo told Variety AI must work as a "tool servicing us rather than us servicing the tool."

☆ Here's how to use AI to make a commercial in 3 hours, according to the guy whose creepy pizza ad grabbed the attention of Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Here's how you can make your own AI commercial. Use an image generator to come up with artThe stills in the AI pizza commercial, including the final exterior shot of the phony pizzeria, were created using Midjourney, which Pizza Later described as "mind-blowing." Midjourney // PIzza LaterUse a video generator to come up with clipsThe most noticeable aspect of the Pizza Hug Spot commercial was the video clips created using AI. For the Pepperoni Hug Spot commercial, Pizza Later also used Runway AI, a text-to-video generator, to create short clips to add to the commercial. Put it up for the world to seeAfter releasing the commercial, Pizza Later said he was surprised by the widespread online reaction.

☆ I made $194,000 in a year as a freelancer taking pictures of M&Ms, Burt's Bees, and other products. Here's the exact email I used to land clients.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

See the email template Schlabs uses to land clients such as Burt's Bees and M&M's. I studied marketing at college and had a marketing job lined up but decided to instead go into freelance product photography after I graduated. I decided to try product photography freelanceWhen I left college in May 2020, I decided to try out product-photography freelancing. My name is Deidre Schlabs, I own Fluff Media, a full-service photography agency focusing on editorial and content product photography. I am reaching out to see if you are in need of product photography and/or social media content creation.

☆ The best of Milan Design Week 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Marianna Cerini | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Milan CNN —The design world’s largest annual fair enjoyed a return to full pre-pandemic form with its 2023 showcase, transforming the city of Milan with hundreds of exhibitions, site-specific installations, pop-ups and public projects. Almost everywhere, the focus was on sustainable design, circular economy, material innovation and artistry combining craft with innovation. Some of the most interesting ideas were those that looked at waste – literally – to rethink what design can do when it uses what is already there. Shown in various stages of decomposition, the chair challenged viewers to approach products with the end of their lifecycle in mind. Top image: One of two bags design legend Gaetano Pesce created for Bottega Veneta’s Milan Design Week installation.

☆ AI is disrupting Hollywood, and one investor sees huge potential in startups harnessing data to identify valuable IP for TV and film
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A private credit investor explains why Wall Street sees the potential for big returns from the tech. "What we're interested in right now are companies that are creating a more automated way of identifying valuable IP," Aria Vossoughi of Serengeti Asset Management told Insider. To be sure, Hollywood has been taking steps toward fusing data, algorithms, and creative content for years. Michael Blank, head of consumer investing at CAA, previously told Insider that investments in this arena are "blowing up right now." It supplements it more than replacing it," he told Insider of AI tech.

☆ 6 Podcasts for the Fashion-Conscious, and Curious
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Emma Dibdin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Last year, the show debuted its first mini-series, “American Ivy,” on the perennial popularity of the preppy look. Starter episode: “Pockets”Begun in 2014, this weekly fashion podcast offers a rare blend of down-to-earth comedy and sartorial commentary. Starter episode: “Fashion Inferno”The Business of Fashion, which started life as a Typepad blog in 2007, has grown into a resource for news and analysis within the fashion industry. Its accompanying podcast has found similar success, with Imran Amed, its chief executive and founder, delivering coverage geared toward fashion creatives and executives. In May 2021 came the brand’s first podcast, offering trend analysis, runway coverage and interviews with designers, stylists and celebrities.

☆ ChatGPT course instruction is the newest side hustle on the market. Meet the teachers making thousands from the lucrative gig.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

ChatGPT course instructors told Insider they have made between $10,000 to $52,000 in a few months. In late December, he launched a ChatGPT course on online education platform Udemy called "ChatGPT Masterclass: A Complete ChatGPT Guide for Beginners." But some struggle to integrate ChatGPT into their workflow, three ChatGPT course instructors told Insider. Skillshare, another online learning platform, offers 61 ChatGPT courses, while online course provider Coursera offers 10, according to searches made at the time this story was published. ChatGPT instructors aren't necessarily AI expertsThe ChatGPT course instructors who spoke to Insider are all self-taught.

☆ Disney begins the second round of 7,000 planned job cuts — targeting ESPN, theme parks, entertainment, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Disney is starting the second round of its planned cuts on Monday, with divisions like ESPN getting hit, the company confirmed to Insider. Disney told The Wall Street Journal that several thousand employees would lose their jobs this week at divisions across the company, spanning from entertainment to theme parks. Disney does not expect hourly frontline operations roles at its parks and resorts to be impacted, the company told Insider. "When [Iger] was last at the helm, money was practically free," Mike Bloxham, EVP global media and entertainment at consultants Magid, previously told Insider. The company also created a new finance team pulling together staff from Disney Entertainment and ESPN, Insider reported Friday.

Four months later, 26-year-old Huang fled to Germany and decided to speak out in support of fellow demonstrators, some of whom remain in detention. "I feel like I need to speak up for Cao Zhixin and the other detained protesters... China has not commented officially on the protests, whether they triggered the end of the zero-COVID policy or subsequent detentions. He was then sat near the front of a police bus full of other detained protesters. "As long as one protester is still detained, the world cannot stop paying attention to the white paper movement."

☆ YouTuber Casey Neistat let ChatGPT direct and write one of his vlogs: 'That was the worst video I've ever made'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

YouTuber Casey Neistat, popular for vlogging about his NYC life, asked ChatGPT to write him a script. Neistat asked GPT-4 to write a vlog that takes place in downtown Manhattan, and includes his wife. YouTuber Casey Neistat asked the latest version of ChatGPT to write a script for his latest vlog, and the resulting dry dialogue is unintentionally hilarious. Neistat asked GPT-4, which is available via OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus, to write a three to four minute video that includes dialogue and a shot list for downtown Manhattan in the daytime. "Let's take a quick look inside Brookfield Place, one of my favorite spots in downtown Manhattan," Neistat reads, while shaking his head in disagreement.

☆ These are the tech jobs most threatened by ChatGPT and A.I.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Mikaela Cohen | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A recent Goldman Sachs report found 300 million jobs around the world stand to be impacted by AI and automation. Just like similar trends in history, creative jobs will be in demand after the widespread inclusion of generative AI and other AI tech in the workplace. But even though these jobs will still exist, their tasks and responsibilities could likely be diminished by GPT and generative AI. But other forms of generative AI can go further, reconstructing different outcomes based on patterns and learnings, and almost mirroring a human brain, he said. In this broader set of tasks, generative AI can mimic what an engineer would do through the development cycle.

☆ A stranger hired me as her assistant so I could quit my day job and turn my photography side hustle into a full time business. Here's how I did it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tiana Duarte-Kargbo took her photography side hustle full time after a stranger offered her a job. Lean in to opportunitiesA photo from Tiana Michele Photo. Tiana Michele PhotoI always thought photography was fun but never took it too seriously. I was a dancer, but when COVID-19 hit, dance jobs became nonexistent and I was suffering from some serious injuries. Those jobs paid the bills until I was ready to take Tiana Michele Photo full time.

☆ Inside Disney it's 'Revenge of the Creatives' and 'Shields Up!' against outside foes as returned CEO Bob Iger is taking no prisoners
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Since returning as Disney CEO, Bob Iger has vanquished foes and dumped many of predecessor Bob Chapek's hires. But it's a supercharged Bob Iger who is really taking command. "If I'm inside Bob's head coming back, after the downfall of Bob Chapek, this is all about taking no prisoners," said Will Schutte, a high-level executive coach. Disney World is scheduled to host a major conference on gay rights in September, according to the Miami Herald. Even if he wants to be the Bob Iger of old he can't be.

☆ Eve Jobs recommends iPhone 14 after mocking it a few months ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Apple cofounder Steve Jobs' daughter, Eve, told The Strategist she "can't live without" her iPhone. Jobs shared a meme on her Instagram story in September that poked fun at the iPhone 14. Insider also hasn't confirmed whether Jobs actually uses the iPhone 14. "I'm gonna keep it brief," Jobs told The Strategist about the iPhone 14. She's also a model and accomplished equestrian, who once told World of Showjumping that competing in the Olympics and at the World Equestrian Games "would be a dream."

☆ Is AI coming for Hollywood? A Wall Street investor breaks down why he's bullish about a growing class of startups harnessing data to identify the next big blockbuster.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

☆ A CEO shares the 5 toxic personality types he sees 'over and over' again—'watch for these signs'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Matt Higgins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The world is filled with toxic people, and working with them is a pain. So when I find someone hard to get along with or who displays behavior I can't explain, I get away quickly. WithholdersWithholders are unable to deliver praise or feel happy when someone else steps up and contributes to a group success. They resent anyone who possesses skills they don't have or who doesn't feel the same self-loathing that they are plagued with. They don't feel entitled to success, so they're thrilled and thankful when it arrives.

Search resuls for: "Creatives"

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