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Reel AI: Erik Barmack’s biweekly article for The Ankler
Grok, Kling, Runway: AI Video’s Future Has Hollywood on the Outside Looking In
Erik Barmack’s Reel AI Column from The Ankler
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Grok, Kling, Runway: AI Video’s Future Has Hollywood on the Outside Looking In
Post-Sora, the space is fragmenting into separate ecosystems — and studios and streamers aren’t in any of them
UK Government Signals Stronger AI Copyright Enforcement Ahead
New guidance issued this week by the UK government highlights growing regulatory pressure that could influence how global studios approach generative tools
OpenAI Faces Renewed Pressure From News Publishers Over Training Data
A fresh wave of complaints in early April underscores how unresolved licensing questions continue to complicate OpenAI’s push into media and entertainment
Meta Expands AI Video Tools Across Instagram and Facebook
New features introduced by Meta this week signal a broader push to integrate generative content directly into Instagram and Facebook
Why OpenAI Needs ‘TBPN.’ Badly
Sam Altman now knows the next AI arms race isn’t about tech — it’s about narrative
Music Labels Push for Stronger AI Training Controls in New Negotiations
Ongoing talks with tech platforms highlight growing pressure to define how copyrighted material is used in generative systems
Paramount Tests AI Tools in Development as Cost Pressures Mount
Internal experiments at Paramount focus on script analysis and greenlight modeling, reflecting a broader shift toward data-assisted decision-making
How Sora Played Hollywood On Its Way to Dying
It turns out entertainment was too small for OpenAI. The bigger game is still coming.
Val Kilmer and Immortal IP Stars: Private Equity’s Next Play
Hollywood’s answer to the music catalog boom may be here
Cannes Programmers Debate AI Disclosure Ahead of 2026 Festival
Cannes Film Festival discussions reflect growing uncertainty over how to evaluate films that incorporate generative tools without clear industry standards
Runway’s Funding Round Signals Continued Demand for AI Video Tools
The company’s latest raise reflects growing enterprise interest as studios and creators test generative workflows beyond early experimentation
Why Did Ben Affleck Start an AI Company in Secret?
Hollywood stars issue stern warnings while quietly building startups behind the tech
OpenAI Moves Closer to Hollywood’s Gatekeepers
Early March conversations with agencies signal a shift from technology rollout to rights negotiations and talent representation
How Hollywood Choked Sora 2’s Rise
The numbers don’t lie. And it turns out this industry still knows how to close ranks
The Digital Crowd Is Replacing the Background Actor
AI crowd simulation tools are quietly changing how large scenes get made
Liza Minnelli and the Consent Case for AI
Why one artist’s embrace of generative tools complicates Hollywood’s moral line
Adobe’s Hollywood Strategy Comes Into Focus
Why Firefly’s studio partnerships signal a different AI endgame
Hollywood’s “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” Moment
Why a new artist coalition is forcing AI training out of the shadows
The Oscars’ AI Lie: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Last year’s ‘Brutalist’ controversy gave way to a landscape where the tech is rewarded — as long as it’s cloaked in prestige
Brad Pitt and the Economics of the Digital Double
Why A-list stars are renegotiating longevity, not novelty, in the AI era