Scouting Hollywood: Jan. 18-24

A roundup of news, gossip and history of the entertainment business brought to you from Hollywood, Calif.

The TikTok (TT) juggernaut continues to grow and a new report shows how much Hollywood has embraced the service to promote its products. TT is now the first choice for streaming services to post clips of their programming. As recently as 2021 Facebook and YouTube were the preferred outlets followed by Instagram and then TT. By mid 2022, TT overtook all but YouTube and by the end of 2023, the Chinese owned platform was the undisputed leader in spreading awareness of programs. 

NEWS: Monument Health, former neurosurgeon in dueling lawsuits

In 2024, Disney, Comcast, Amazon and Netflix are EACH expected to spend $20 billion on original series, features and documentary projects. Sports will add an additional $17 billion in total revenue across the four companies. These numbers, while up from 2023, do not match the record amounts spent in previous seasons.

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has announced the nominees for the 2023 DGA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film: Greta Gerwig Barbie, Yorgos Lanthimos Poor Things, Christopher Nolan Oppenheimer, Alexander Payne The Holdovers and Martin Scorsese Killers of the Flower Moon. Traditionally, the DGA award portends the Oscar winner for Directing as well as the leading candidates for the Oscar Best Picture. The DGA 76th Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, Feb. 10.

In the “is nothing sacred?” category, the Michael Kors suit that Nicole Kidman wears in the overly played AMC pre film ad (“Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this.”) is up for auction at Sotheby’s. Part of a collection titled Visions of America, the suit is included with fine art, furniture, fashion, manuscripts and more with a theme of celebrating American craftsmanship. Pre-auction estimates are $5,000 - $10,000, and the auction closes Jan. 29. Personally, I’d be happy if they’d sell the promo and promise to stop running it pronto.

Sioux Falls races to bond for new pools ahead of council turnover

One film I recently watched was disturbing on many levels. The Zone of Interest is a German language production set during World War II in a house adjacent to the Auschwitz extermination camp. Loosely based on a novel by Martin Amis, it tells the story of the idyllic family life of the camp commandant. The horrors on the other side of the wall are only expressed via the soundtrack and the distant glow of the crematoriums. The wife’s life is thrown into turmoil when her diabolically efficient husband is promoted and posted far from her peaceful garden. The film has won numerous awards worldwide, including at Cannes, and is well worth a view.