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Reel AI: Erik Barmack’s biweekly article for The Ankler
Call My Agent: Hollywood’s Data Wants a Deal
Erik Barmack’s Reel AI Column from The Ankler
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Call My Agent: Hollywood’s Data Wants a Deal
New middlemen are breaking the standoff between studios and Big Tech — and bringing in millions for clients
CAA Pushes Deeper Into AI Likeness Licensing Conversations
The agency’s latest negotiations suggest Hollywood is moving toward structured digital-rights management instead of broad resistance to synthetic media
Lionsgate's AI Chief Explains the Studio's New Tech Job
Kathleen Grace’s role shows how Hollywood is moving from experimental AI deals to internal governance, workflow testing and executive accountability
Why Did Ben Affleck Start an AI Company in Secret?
Hollywood stars issue stern warnings while quietly building startups behind the tech
When Mickey Met Sam Altman — and What It Means for Every Other Studio Now
Scorched by the Streaming Wars, Bob Iger won’t let Mickey Mouse be steamrolled by Big Tech again. And eventually, all our studios will follow
Fade to Black: Hollywood’s AI-Era Jobs Collapse Is Starting
Amazon plans a 75 percent automated workforce. Now full human creativity may soon only exist for a few indie weirdos
CAA Tells OpenAI: Pay the People Who Built Hollywood Before Your Bots Replace Them
The powerhouse agency pushes regulators and studios to guarantee consent, credit, and compensation as Sora’s viral video tool tests how far creators’ rights can bend before breaking.
Disney’s Lawyers Strike Back: Character.AI Ordered to Delete Fan-Made Elsa, Moana, and Darth Vader Bots
The takedown draws a legal boundary between fandom and infringement, signaling how aggressively studios will guard signature voices and personalities in the conversational-AI era.
Sphere’s ‘Wizard of Oz’: Hollywood’s Dazzling Future or Dark Warning?
Sphere’s ‘Wizard of Oz’: For audiences, it’s breathtaking; for the workforce, it’s a test
‘What’s Ethical AI?’: The AI CEO Netflix, A24 & Disney Rely On (But Can’t Control)
Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela tells me regulation will ‘stifle’ innovation, and he won't put the genie back in the bottle: ‘You take the responsibility’
Creative Artists Agency Invests in Moonvalley to Build Hollywood‑Friendly AI Video Tools
CAA joins a $84 million funding round for Moonvalley’s Marey platform, aligning with a growing push for licensed, ethical AI tools in filmmaking and Hollywood’s fight against unauthorized generative content.
Steven Spielberg Draws Clear Line: No AI in Front of the Camera
Academy Award‑winning director Steven Spielberg voices caution over artificial intelligence taking on creative or acting roles, while acknowledging AI’s utility behind the scenes in Hollywood operations.
VFX Legend Ed Ulbrich Joins AI Firm Moonvalley to Bridge Tech and Hollywood
Oscar-winning visual effects veteran Ed Ulbrich leaves traditional studios for Moonvalley, aiming to integrate AI ethically into entertainment visual workflows and support creator-friendly tools.
Runway CEO Cris Valenzuela Champions AI as Hollywood-Friendly, Not Hollywood-Hostile
Runway’s founder Cris Valenzuela, endorsed by major studios, argues generative video tools can democratize filmmaking—aiming to reassure Hollywood wary of unlicensed AI use.
Google's AI on Screen Initiative Aims to Shift Hollywood's AI Narrative
Google partners with Range Media Partners to fund short films portraying AI in a more optimistic light, enlisting talents like Michael Keaton to reshape public perception.
Promise Studio Teams with Google to Bring AI Into the Heart of Film Production
With backing from Andreessen Horowitz and new support from Google, Promise is betting big on generative AI to streamline—and possibly rewire—how Hollywood makes movies.
Google’s Veo 3 Blurs the Line Between AI and Human Filmmaking
The tech giant’s latest AI video generator Veo 3 adds synchronized audio to hyper-realistic visuals, raising both creative possibilities and ethical concerns in Hollywood.
China's AI Made Slick Memes of Fat U.S. Workers. H'wood Should be Scared
A new category leader is poised to do to entertainment what TikTok did to Silicon Valley — at $79 a year
Arcana Labs Launches AI-Powered Content Production Studio
New Los Angeles-based studio secures $5.5 million in funding to develop AI-driven tools for streamlined film and television production.
Fremantle Launches Imaginae Studios to “Harness the Power of AI”
Fremantle opens a new division focused on developing AI-powered entertainment formats, partnering with tech leaders to push the boundaries of scripted and unscripted storytelling.