Hello!

I’m producing a short in Paris for around €20k. I was wondering is anybody had access to any comparable budgets from the last 5 years I could have a glance over, even if the numbers were redacted.

The film has quite a few street scenes.

Cheers.

Gathered at 16:35 Pacific. Not generated by AI.

Welcome to another week of news.

Stephen, Mod

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BUSINESS OF HOLLYWOOD

FROM: Deadline Business [2026-07-17] Netflix Says It Paid $587 Million For Ben Affleck AI Firm InterPositive, Confirming Previously Reported Estimate

[2026-07-17] Is ‘Obsession’ Technically A Blockbuster? Lawyers For Paramount, State AGs Spar At Court Hearing On WBD Merger

[2026-07-17] Judge Says She’ll Rule By Next Week On Emergency Motion In State AGs’ Challenge To Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery Merger

[2026-07-17] Lil Wayne To Host Weekly Video Podcast ‘The Joint Venture Show’ With Craig Carton

[2026-07-17] Elizabeth Warren And Other Democratic Lawmakers Warn Of Antitrust Issues With Fox-Roku Merger

FROM: The Hollywood Reporter [2026-07-17] Rachel Cusk’s New Novel May Be Dark Portrait of Natalie Portman

[2026-07-17] Kane Parsons, Curry Barker and the Multi-Million Dollar Battle for Gen Z Eyeballs

[2026-07-17] Netflix Paid $587 Million for Ben Affleck’s AI Company

[2026-07-17] Apple Music Raises Subscription Prices

[2026-07-17] Time Isn’t on Paramount’s Side

FROM: The Wrap [2026-07-17] Danny Boyle Thriller ‘Ink’ Lands at Netflix Ahead of Venice Debut

[2026-07-17] A24 Backs Down From ‘Backrooms’ Copyright Claim After Kane Parsons Intervenes

[2026-07-17] The 3 Best Movies to Watch on Netflix This Week

[2026-07-17] James Carville Slams Networks for Skipping Trump’s Prime Time Speech: ‘Acting Loonier Than a Tune Is Newsworthy’

[2026-07-17] Netflix Paid $587 Million in Cash for Ben Affleck’s AI Startup InterPositive

FROM: Deadline [2026-07-17] Netflix Snaps Up Rupert Murdoch Thriller ‘Ink’ From Danny Boyle Ahead Of Venice Premiere

[2026-07-17] ‘Stuart Fails To Save The Universe’: Here Is Why Episodes Of ‘Big Bang Theory’ Spinoff Are So Short

[2026-07-17] ‘The Odyssey’ Treks Toward Massive $117M U.S. Opening: Best Live-Action Haul Of 2026 & Record For Matt Damon As Lead – Box Office Update

[2026-07-17] ‘Herbert West: Reanimator’: First Look At Joseph Morgan & Katie Cassidy In Fantasy Horror Adapted From H.P. Lovecraft Story

[2026-07-17] Sony Pictures Lands Short Story “Renegades” By Will Simmons; Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley To Helm Feature Adaptation Of Action-Thriller

FROM: CinemaBlend [2026-07-17] The Fan-Favorite Wednesday Scene That Left Jenna Ortega Saying ‘This Is F---ing Ridiculous’

[2026-07-17] An NYPD Cop Has Been At It For 35 Years. He's Never Seen Anything Like Taylor Swift's Wedding

[2026-07-17] Cue The Awws! Heartstopper Forever Reviews Are Here, And I’m Pumped For This ‘Warm, Fuzzy Finale’

[2026-07-17] How Does Odysseus Die? What Happens After The Odyssey, Explained

[2026-07-17] ‘I Just Kept Saying Thank You.’ Seth Rogen On Filming Intimate Scenes With Penélope Cruz

FROM: New York Times [2026-07-17] ‘The Odyssey’ Review: Passion in Every Frame

[2026-07-17] Christopher Nolan on ‘The Odyssey’ and IMAX Technical Challenges

[2026-07-17] ‘The Real World’ and Nathan Fielder Can Both Thank Ross McElwee

[2026-07-17] ‘Heartstopper Forever’ Review: Facing a Grown-Up Reality

[2026-07-12] Don’t Try This at Home: How Performers Turn Stunts Into Movie Magic

FROM: Dark Horizons [2026-07-17] “Fallout 3” & “New Vegas” Remasters Planned

[2026-07-17] “The X-Files” Pilot Could Become A Movie?

[2026-07-17] Second “X-Files” Film Darker Cut Sets Date

[2026-07-17] Tom Cruise Gets AMC Workers Into “Odyssey”

[2026-07-17] Irish Actress Brenda Fricker Has Died

FROM: SlashFilm [2026-07-17] The Odyssey: Zeus' Law Explained

[2026-07-17] Emma Thompson's 2025 Action Thriller Is A Must-Watch On Prime Video

[2026-07-17] The Odyssey's David Keighley Tribute Explained

[2026-07-17] Why Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey May Disappoint Fans Of The Original Story

[2026-07-17] Why Shogun Actor Cosmo Jarvis Left Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey

FROM: Screen Rant [2026-07-17] 8 Movie Monsters Stronger Than Godzilla

[2026-07-17] Avengers' New Era Officially Begins September 16, Marvel Confirms

[2026-07-17] 3 Best Movies To Watch On Prime Video This Weekend (July 18-19)

[2026-07-17] The Odyssey Interviews with Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Lupita Nyong'o, Himesh Patel & More

[2026-07-17] Prime Video Is The Best Home For Fantasy Fans

FROM: Variety [2026-07-17] The Best 4K TVs to Turn Your Home into a Mini Movie Theater in 2026

[2026-07-17] Netflix Paid $587 Million for Ben Affleck’s AI Startup InterPositive

[2026-07-17] Netflix Buys Danny Boyle’s Rupert Murdoch Movie and Venice Opener ‘Ink’

[2026-07-17] Shane Gillis Breaks Guinness World Record for Most Tickets Sold for a Solo Comedy Show (EXCLUSIVE)

[2026-07-17] ‘The Odyssey’: All the Ways Christopher Nolan’s Movie Is Different From the Book

FROM: Bloomberg [2026-07-17] Baker Tilly Eyes $3 Billion in Debt to Replace Private Credit

[2026-07-16] Chip Stocks Slide Into Bear Market in AI Unwind: Markets Wrap

[2026-07-17] Gauge of Oracle’s Credit Risk Hits Fresh All Time High

[2026-07-16] CoreLogic Wraps Up $5.25 Billion Debt Deal With Hefty Yields

[2026-07-17] ‘Sea of Red’ Hits Emerging Stocks as AI Concerns Jolts Markets

FROM: Forbes (Business) [2026-07-17] GIRLSET Will Tell You Everything, But A ‘CHAT’ Comes First

[2026-07-17] ‘The Odyssey’: Early Weekend Projections Peg A $117 Million Opening

[2026-07-17] F-15EX Eagle IIs Conducted First Bomb Drop Test, Air Force Confirmed

[2026-07-17] Who Do SC Voters Want To Replace Lindsey Graham On Ballot? New Poll Shows It's 'Anyone's Race'

[2026-07-17] 'We Deserve Better': Scott Peters Proposes Body Cam, Training Reforms After Fatal ICE Shootings

INTERNATIONAL

FROM: Cineuropa [2026-07-17] The San Sebastián International Film Festival announces another major Spanish presence - San Sebastián 2026

[2026-07-17] TIFF: The Market unveils its first Innovation Hub selection of immersive projects - Toronto 2026 - TIFF: The Market

[2026-07-17] Giovanni Veronesi’s Dio ride to close the 83rd Venice Film Festival - Venice 2026

[2026-07-17] Glassriver and Network Movie team up on Áróra TV drama adaptation - Production / Funding - Iceland/Germany

[2026-07-17] Ladj Ly’s Dumas : Diable noir now in post-production - Production / Funding - France

AWARDS

FROM: Awards Daily [2026-07-17] 2027 Oscar Predictions: Can Matt Damon Finally Win a Best Actor Oscar for The Odyssey?

[2026-07-15] Let’s Talk Cinema with Jerm: Back to the ’70s! [pinned]

[2026-07-15] Fantastic Trailer Drops for “I Play Rocky”

[2026-07-15] The Odyssey Opens with Rapturous Reviews

[2026-07-14] Oscartastic Teaser Drops for Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!

TAX INCENTIVES

FROM: Budapest Reporter [2026-07-16] Hungary Signals Fresh Momentum for International Production With Planned Tax Rebate Reform

[2026-07-10] Hungary’s NFI Leadership Is Out — Now Global Producers Want Clarity on the 30% Rebate

FROM: Screen Daily [2026-07-17] Hungary removes cap on production incentive to end uncertainty for international producers

TELEVISION

FROM: TVLine [2026-07-17] Emmys To Cut Five Categories From Main NBC Ceremony — See Full List

[2026-07-17] Why Belle Skinner From Marshals Looks So Familiar

[2026-07-17] Save The Dates: Extended X-Files Sequel, Mortal Kombat II Hits Streaming, And More

[2026-07-17] 10 Best TV Shows Like Lucky

[2026-07-17] What Would Have Happened Next If Prodigal Son Hadn't Been Canceled

PREVIEWS & REVIEWS

FROM: RogerEbert.com [2026-07-17] “The Map of Longing” Offers Real Catharsis Despite Its Teen Melancholy

[2026-07-14] “Ride or Die”: Two Best Friends, Too Many Lies, and a Good Reason to Get a Fake Passport

FROM: Film Threat [2026-07-17] The Road To Everywhere

[2026-07-17] Strawstalker

[2026-07-17] A Game of Double Standards

[2026-07-16] Satoru

[2026-07-16] Memorizu

FROM: The Playlist [2026-07-17] ‘Heartstopper Forever’ Review: A Sweet, Imperfect Farewell To Nick & Charlie

[2026-07-17] Jon Bernthal Defends Lupita Nyong’o’s ‘Odyssey’ Casting: “I Can’t Imagine Anybody Else”

[2026-07-17] ‘The Hawk’ Review: Will Ferrell’s Golf Comedy Finds Soul In The Rough

[2026-07-16] ‘The Odyssey’ Lives Up To The Hype And Is Set To Dominate Oscar Season

[2026-07-16] Jon Bernthal Says He Rewrote Punisher’s ‘Born Again’ Return & Resisted A “Lighter Version” Of ‘One Last Kill’ For Five Years

ANIMATION

FROM: Animation World Network [2026-07-17] ZDF Joins Dandelooo and TFOU’s ‘Hold on Gaston!’ Animated Preschool Series

[2026-07-17] Nina Gantz’s ‘Wander to Wonder’ Now Available on YouTube

[2026-07-17] Foundry Releases AI-Powered SmartRoto Plugin for Nuke

[2026-07-17] SIGGRAPH 2026 Experience Hall to Showcase 5 Interactive Programs

[2026-07-17] Watch the Trailer: 4K Restoration of René Laloux's ‘Gandahar’ Coming to Theaters

FROM: Cartoon Brew [2026-07-17] Three Tiny TV Stars Face A Grim Fate In Nina Gantz’s Oscar-Nominated ‘Wander To Wonder,’ Now Online

[2026-07-17] Disney Jr. And French AI Animation Outfit Animaj Quietly Release ‘Ozzy Fox’ On YouTube

[2026-07-17] Mexican Animation Crisis; Netflix’s AI Surge; ‘Avatar’s’ Two Token Theaters

[2026-07-17] Netflix Used GenAI Workflows On Nearly 300 Titles This Year So Far

[2026-07-17] Pearl Studio’s ‘All Wishes Come True!’ Trailer Turns The Eight Immortals Into A Heist Crew

BROADWAY & THEATER

FROM: Broadway News [2026-07-17] 5 types of content shoots every Broadway campaign needs

[2026-07-16] ‘Hamilton’ to release tenth anniversary album box set

[2026-07-15] China Anne McClain to make Broadway debut alongside Ryan McCartan in ‘The Great Gatsby’

[2026-07-15] Eddie Cooper joins Broadway’s ‘Chicago’ as Amos Hart

[2026-07-15] Exclusive: Alicia Keys’ Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation announces partnership with musical ‘Wanted’

FROM: New York Times Theater [2026-07-17] ‘Shifters’ Review: Fast-Forwarding Through a Predictable Romance

[2026-07-16] At Hudson Valley Shakespeare, a ‘King Lear’ Worth Traveling For

[2026-07-16] Isabelle Huppert Speaks Across a Language Divide at the Avignon Festival

[2026-07-15] ‘The Potluck’ Review: The Greensboro Massacre, and a Heavy Legacy to Bear

[2026-07-15] ‘Hadestown’ Hits Movie Theaters, and Theater to Stream in July

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

This list is compiled using custom code (not AI) written to help me cull through the troves of sites I would regularly want to visit - but have less time than I might like. I decided to share the compilation here on a weekly basis. Have a source you might like to have included? Let me know. Thank you.

I am looking for a fellow filmmakers who live in Los Angeles who may happen to have vault space where I could store some 35mm film reels (9 reels) of a film. I would of course pay a bit for the space. Simply looking to maybe use a bit of space in a vault before simply getting my own.

Likewise, if anyone has suggestions for good vault options, I am open to thoughts. I have called around to a few, but still looking for the right one.

Any leads appreciated. Thank you.

Stephen, Mod

Travel day counts as a work day, right? Does that mean it's cheaper to travel a SAG actor on Saturday after working Mon-Fri or traveling them on Monday? Wouldn't traveling them on Saturday trigger OT / 6th day?

For the sake on this argument/scenario, it's for a SAG Low Budget feature and the actors would be on a weekly deal (not sure if that changes anything).

Thanks!

Hey,

Does anyone have access to the most recent DGA rate card as of yet OR know when its due to be issued? Thanks!

Hi all. I have a budget in two different currencies which collates as one master currency in the top sheet. I’m trying to find a way to break down the budget into its parts so I can see how much spend there is in each currency and I just can’t figure it out. Can anyone help?

Stumbled across this listing for an upcoming free online seminar. Thought others may find it interesting as well.

Thursday, 9 July 2026 10am Pacific

https://collab.sundance.org/catalog/Bridging-Divides-Through-Storytelling

Stephen, Mod

European here trying to get my head around the IATSE agreement:

The definition of "production costs" in the 2026-2028 Low Budget Theatrical Agreement seems quite basic, and I keep seeing references to a "sideletter" which defines exclusions and so on to calculate the production cost. For example here: https://cmsproductions.com/blog/production-savings-iatse-low-budget-theatrical-agreement/

I would love to double check this by having a look at the actual text, does anyone know where to find it?

I've worked on 10-15k budgets for short digital projects in the past, and I just used google sheets to handle the budgeting, as they were typically one day, small cast & crews, etc. Now may have the opportunity to start budgeting out a few unscripted shows around 25-30k/show, approx 10 episodes over the course of ~2 weeks. While it's easy enough to ballpark the number of dayrates, etc, it is starting to feel like I need something more dedicated. I've heard of Movie Magic, and I'm seeing that someone here just launched their own line budgeting app? Just wondering what's going to be worthwhile to learn without bloating the process, or what's overkill.

I'm on a ~20k budget project where we would like to pay people at least minimum wage. Does anyone have any recommendations for payroll companies on a project this small? I reached out to wrapbook and greenslate about a few years ago for a similar situation and iirc they said our total payroll spend didn't qualify us for a license.

Gathered at 09:12 Pacific. Not generated by AI.

Welcome to another week of news.

Stephen, Mod

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

BUSINESS OF HOLLYWOOD

FROM: Deadline Business [2026-06-06] Madonna Greets Adoring Tribeca Festival Crowd With Tales Of Clubbing, Cinephilia & Emotional NYC Return

[2026-06-05] Paramount Reboots Video Game Strategy, Forming New Studio

[2026-06-05] Reed Hastings Officially Exits Netflix As Shareholder Vote Confirms New Board Chairman

[2026-06-05] Debra Messing Signs With Paradigm

[2026-06-05] D.C.’s AI Honors Reflect Innovation Breakthroughs — But Also Public Anxiety And Concern

FROM: The Hollywood Reporter [2026-06-06] Zegna Transforms Malibu Pier Into a Fashion Oasis With Rami Malek, Mahershala Ali and Paul Dano

[2026-06-06] Madonna Brings ‘Confessions II’ to Tribeca Festival: Short Film Features Benedict Cumberbatch, Julia Garner and “Lasers Coming Out of Every Orifice”

[2026-06-06] Run-A-Muck Pushes Into Short Stories With Sights Set on Adaptation

[2026-06-06] Tonys: Apple TV, Backer of ‘Schmigadoon!’ on Screen and Stage, Poised to Become Fastest Streamer to an EGOT

[2026-06-06] ‘Next Life’ Review: Emilia Clarke Leads Drake Doremus’ Underbaked Romantic Thought Exercise

FROM: The Wrap [2026-06-06] ‘Scary Movie’ Scores $56 Million Box Office Opening As ‘Masters of the Universe’ Sinks Fast

[2026-06-06] Erika Kirk’s TPUSA Speech Interrupted by Heckler Claiming She ‘Protects Pedophiles’ | Video

[2026-06-06] Jimmy Kimmel Says Trump Should Actually Support the Spurs Over the Knicks: ‘It’s What Got Him Out of Vietnam’ | Video

[2026-06-06] Bill Maher Claps Back at Trump’s ‘Fake Laughing Machine’ Accusation: ‘Can We Get a Shot of Our Audience?’

[2026-06-06] ‘Obsession’ Art Director Calls for Industry Reform After Getting Paid Less Than $7,000 as Film Nears $175 Million

FROM: Deadline [2026-06-06] Bruce Campbell Explains ‘Evil Dead’ Has “Moved Away” From Ash: “Not Part Of Any Big Overriding Story Or Scheme”

[2026-06-06] Madonna Hopes ‘Confessions II’ Visualizer Makes Fans “Put Your F*cking Phones Down And Connect”

[2026-06-06] ‘The Yogurt Shop Murders’ Director Talks Racing To Get Cameras Rolling Again After Austin Detectives Finally Solved 34-Year-Old Cold Case

[2026-06-06] Red Sea Film Foundation MD Shivani Pandya Malhotra Departs As Questions Swirl Around Future Direction Of Its Festival

[2026-06-06] ‘Next Life’ Review: Emilia Clarke Lives Alternate Life-Changing Choices In Drake Doremus’ Rich And Jazzy Rom-Dram – Tribeca Festival

FROM: CinemaBlend [2026-06-06] Oopsie, Universal Accidentally Dropped A Date For The New Fast & Furious Coaster, Then Apologized

[2026-06-06] Insiders Weigh In On Why Taylor Swift’s Plan To Get Married At Madison Square Garden Is A ‘Devastating’ Blake Lively Diss

[2026-06-06] The Four Seasons Absolutely Needs To Bring Back (Spoiler) If Season 3 Happens

[2026-06-06] ‘Oh, F--k I Hate This.’ Kit Harington Just Dropped A Game Of Thrones Fact On Peter Dinklage That Will Have You Feeling Old

[2026-06-06] ‘I'm Not OK.’ Sarah Michelle Gellar And More Pay Tribute After Anthony Head, AKA Giles, Dies At 72

FROM: New York Times [2026-06-04] ‘Scary Movie’ Review: Wayans Brothers Return to the Horror Parody Franchise

[2026-06-05] For Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein, Romance Is Everything

[2026-06-04] ‘Masters of the Universe’ Review: Becoming a He-Man

[2026-06-04] ‘Underland’ Review: Subterranean Adventurers

[2026-06-05] MoMA’s ‘Universal Westerns’ Retrospective Shows Why They Matter

FROM: Dark Horizons [2026-06-06] “Hitman: Classic Trilogy Remastered” Announced

[2026-06-06] Uncharted’s Hennig Moves To Paramount Games

[2026-06-06] “Alien: Earth,” “Isle of Man,” “Quiet Place 3” Filming

[2026-06-06] “Backrooms” Director Wants To Make “Portal”

[2026-06-06] “The Acolyte” Showrunner Still Wants A Season 2

FROM: SlashFilm [2026-06-06] Anthony Head Reprised His Role As Giles For This 2023 Buffy Spin-Off Project

[2026-06-06] 10 Best Rock And Roll Movies Of All Time, Ranked

[2026-06-06] Masters Of The Universe Gives He-Man A Transformation Straight Out Of Anime

[2026-06-06] 10 Years Ago, Audiences Failed Lonely Island's Popstar - Today It's A Perfect Cult Classic

[2026-06-06] Masters Of The Universe Is So Much More Than A Nostalgia Play – And Some People Will Miss The Message Entirely

FROM: Screen Rant [2026-06-06] Modern Warfare 4's DMZ Was In Development Before Warzone Existed, Infinity Ward Reveals

[2026-06-06] Pierce Brosnan's Overlooked Action Thriller Based On 25-Year-Old Novel Becomes Overnight Streaming Sensation On Netflix

[2026-06-06] George R.R. Martin's The Winds Of Winter Spoilers Make Game Of Thrones Season 8 Worse

[2026-06-06] 2 Years After Halo, Paramount+ Quietly Drops One Of The Best Video Game Shows Of The Decade

[2026-06-06] Marvel Officially Unveils Corrupted American Flag For Avengers' Next Appearance

FROM: Variety [2026-06-06] Box Office: ‘Scary Movie’ Starts Strong With $24.7 Million on Friday; ‘Masters of the Universe’ Takes Second With $11.7 Million

[2026-06-06] ‘House of the Dragon’ Showrunner on Season 3’s Battle of the Gullet: ‘This Sequence Is Unlike Anything That’s Ever Been Done in Television Before’

[2026-06-06] ‘Office Romance’ Star Betty Gilpin on Using a Prosthetic Vagina for Her Birthing Scene: ‘I Was Pretty Freaked Out’

[2026-06-06] Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn on ‘Scandal’ Fans Telling Them to Run for President and Why Fitz and Olivia Are Still Together — and in Couples Therapy

[2026-06-06] Madonna On Technology Ruining the Concert Experience: ‘Put Your F–king Phones Down and Connect’

FROM: Bloomberg [2026-06-06] War in Iran Approaches 100 Day Mark

[2026-06-06] Pointed News Quiz | AI, Securities Fraud, Movies

[2026-06-06] FIFA Prepares for World Cup 2026

[2026-06-06] Frasers Weighs £500 Million Bid for Shopping Center, Sky Reports

[2026-06-06] How Bolivia's Plans to Tap Mineral Riches Are Being Tested by Mass Unrest

FROM: Forbes (Business) [2026-06-06] Elton John Charts A New Top 10 Hit In America — With A Decades-Old Song

[2026-06-06] Mirra Andreeva Becomes Youngest Roland Garros Champion in 34 Years

[2026-06-06] Luke Combs Joins Justin Bieber With Multiple Returning Smashes

[2026-06-06] Graham Platner Says His Past Was ‘Weaponized’ In Latest Public Appearance Amid Mounting Allegations

[2026-06-06] ‘Disclosure Day,’ ‘Peddi,’ ‘Toy Story 5’: 11 Highly Anticipated Movies Releasing In June 2026

INTERNATIONAL

FROM: Cineuropa [2026-06-05] Episode 90: Strange River (Spain/Germany) - The Co-production Podcast

[2026-06-05] The Biarritz Film Festival - Nouvelles Vagues reveals its line-up - Festivals / Awards - France

[2026-06-05] European filmmakers call for vigilance - Institutions / Legislation - Europe

[2026-06-05] Bipuljit Basu’s Redlight to Limelight scoops Best Documentary Film at Doxumentale - Doxumentale 2026 – Awards

[2026-06-05] Daniel Calparsoro wraps the shoot for The Confidant - Production / Funding - Spain/France

AWARDS

FROM: Awards Daily [2026-06-05] Taylor Swift Releases New Song for Toy Story 5

[2026-06-03] Let’s Talk Television with Jerm: The Universal Theme of Parenting

[2026-06-02] Obsession and Backrooms Validate YouTube to Box Office Pipeline

[2026-06-01] NextGen Oscarwatcher: What the Producers Guild might nominate

[2026-05-31] Uwe Boll’s New Film Citizen Vigilante Banned in Germany, Will Screen in US June 19th

TELEVISION

FROM: TVLine [2026-06-06] 15 Major Movie Stars Who Appeared On Criminal Minds

[2026-06-06] TVLine's Performer Of The Week: Colman Domingo

[2026-06-06] The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'s Unofficial James Bond Crossover Featured A Former 007 Star

[2026-06-06] What To Watch Saturday: Stanley Cup Final Game 3, UFC Fight Night, And More

[2026-06-06] Hacks Creators Talk Spin-Off Chances, That Perfect Judy And Barbra Duet, And Why We Didn't See DJ's Reaction To Deborah's Illness

PREVIEWS & REVIEWS

FROM: RogerEbert.com [2026-06-04] AMC Turns “Interview With a Vampire” Into the Delicious, Malicious “The Vampire Lestat”

[2026-06-02] Hulu’s Limp Sitcom “Not Suitable for Work” Is Hardly Suitable for Primetime

FROM: Film Threat [2026-06-05] Bloodthirsty

[2026-06-05] IX XI

[2026-06-04] State of Weightlessness

[2026-06-04] Capio

[2026-06-04] Love Letter

FROM: Screen Rant [2026-06-06] Capy Castaway Preview: A Cozy Game With Lots Of Charm

FROM: The Playlist [2026-06-06] ‘Cop Land’ Series From James Mangold & ‘The Old Man’ Co-Creator Robert Levine Scooped Up By Paramount+

[2026-06-05] ‘Wrong Move’: Wim Wenders Pulls 1975 Film From Circulation Over Scene Featuring 13-Year-Old Nastassja Kinski

[2026-06-05] ‘The Acolyte’ Season 2 Would Have Connected To The ‘Star Wars’ Sequels, Showrunner Leslye Headland Says

[2026-06-04] ‘RAFA’ Review: Netflix’s Rafael Nadal Docuseries Finds Weight, Access, And Limits In A Tennis Legend’s Long Goodbye

[2026-06-03] ‘A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’: Director Owen Harris On Tackling The First-Person POV Of ‘In The Name Of The Mother’ [Interview]

ANIMATION

FROM: Animation World Network [2026-06-05] Pola Maneli: From Poster Illustrator to Director of ‘Apart’

[2026-06-04] Prime Video Sets ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ Season 2 Premiere

[2026-06-04] Disney Drops ‘Ice Age: Boiling Point’ Teaser Trailer

[2026-06-04] Reza Memari Dives into Unreal Engine for ‘The Last Whale Singer’

[2026-06-04] Netflix Renews ‘Devil May Cry’ for Season 3

FROM: Cartoon Brew [2026-06-05] DNEG Buys Anima Kitchent As Spain Invests $28.8M In Further Canary Island Animation Growth

[2026-06-05] New Zealand’s First Stop-Motion Feature ‘Kiri And Lou Go Raaa!’ Gets Trailer Ahead of Annecy Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

[2026-06-05] Netflix’s ‘Swapped’ Soars Past 100 Million Views, Sets New Animation Record

[2026-06-05] The Amazing Digital Circus Heads For Milestone Opening Weekend After $6 Million+ Thursday

[2026-06-04] DreamWorks Vet Liron Topaz Heads To Tribeca With His Indie Short ‘Saba,’ Turning Grief Into A Visually Stunning Tale Of Love And Loss (EXCLUSIVE TRAILER)

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

This list is compiled using custom code (not AI) written to help me cull through the troves of sites I would regularly want to visit - but have less time than I might like. I decided to share the compilation here on a weekly basis. Have a source you might like to have included? Let me know. Thank you.

Hello! I was recently interviewed on a podcast called "Make-It". Was super fun, really great conversation with the guys on the show. Please do check it out with a listen / watch when you can!

We chatted about a wide range of subjects from history of film to best practices in production - and yes, of course, how Cloud Atlas is a great film. ...of course!

Here is the link!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkmvi1Eyq9E

Sundance Collab is advertising producing courses, I'm considering doing the last one, "How to Schedule, Budget, and Prepare Your Production for Financing."

It's a self-run course of video modules that runs for about a month at $395.

Anyone have experience with these courses? I am a creative producer from the reality & commercial world looking to up by skills in finance and accounting as I try to break into the indie film world, and I'm wondering if this might be worth it.

Any thoughts appreciated!

Hi all, I'd appreciate any feedback on this tool, hoping it addresses a common problem with us in the industry -- spreadsheet hell. filmwaterfall.com But my question is, do these genuinely help or do you just get accountants to do all the work?

Hello,

I have worked on a dozen feature films as crew and have produced a short. Each of these had used a professional payroll company and it's my recollection that we almost always used a 10 hour day. 10 hours at base hourly pay, then 1.5x up until 12 hours then 2x after 12. This was regardless of the hours worked in a week. I used wrapbook for payroll on a short I did and now am using Greenslate. Greenslate is insisting that I must do overtime at 40 hours. Now in my state it is accurate that by state law overtime must be paid after 40 hours but on that short I did I paid overtime on a daily basis starting at 10 hours and I've had no issues after two years. Does anyone have any insight into this concern? I am now producing a feature and budgeted for 10 hours days with the expected overtime after that. Paying overtime at 40 rather than 50 is going to be a really really big deal. Thanks for any input into this.

EDIT: Thanks for the replies. I wasn't thinking this through properly. As many of you pointed it is in fact overtime after 8 hours or really technically in my state after 40 hours. I am going to just adjust the hourly rate with the overtime included to come to what the deal memos state. I was overthinking it. Thanks for setting me straight.

Gathered at 10:55 Pacific. Not generated by AI.

Welcome to another week of news.

Stephen, Mod

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BUSINESS OF HOLLYWOOD

FROM: Deadline Business [2026-05-17] Cate Blanchett Says, “MeToo Got Killed Very Quickly” And That “A Systemic Layer Of Abuse” Remains

[2026-05-17] Triple Threat: Natasha Lyonne, Sean Lennon & Evan Ross Launch Ariadne; ‘Vitruvian Scumbag’ Transhumanism Docuseries Inaugural Offering From Indie Studio

[2026-05-16] Mark Ruffalo Assumes “I’m Already On A List” For Opposing Paramount-Warner Bros Merger: “Vindictive Motherf*ckers”

[2026-05-16] Sophie Okonedo Says Taking ‘Clarissa’ From Nigeria To Cannes Made Her Cry Tears Of Joy; Directors Arie and Chuko Esiri Are “Very Singular With Their Vision”

[2026-05-15] UTA Signs ‘Rivals’ Showrunner & EP Dominic Treadwell-Collins

FROM: The Hollywood Reporter [2026-05-17] Box Office Thriller: ‘Michael’ Sashays Past ‘Prada 2’ With Stunning $26M After Returning to Imax and Other Premium Screens

[2026-05-17] ‘Nemesis’ Creator Courtney A. Kemp on Making Her Explosive Netflix Debut and Crafting a Finale That Ushers in a Season 2

[2026-05-17] ‘Full Phil’ Review: Kristen Stewart and Woody Harrelson Head to Paris in Quentin Dupieux’s Latest Hit-or-Miss Weird-Out

[2026-05-17] ‘Moulin’ Review: A Hero of the French Resistance Is Given Tribute in Grinding, Only Occasionally Effective Prison Drama

[2026-05-17] Ron Howard on Documentary Filmmaking, Richard Avedon and “Creative Endurance”

FROM: The Wrap [2026-05-17] White House Suggests Trump for James Bond After Casting Director Nina Gold Says Next 007 Must ‘Ooze Sex Appeal’

[2026-05-17] Cannes Day 6: ‘Paper Tiger’ Earns Raves, ‘Club Kid’ Ignites Bidding War

[2026-05-17] ‘Garance’ Review: Adele Exarchopoulos Shines in Bruising, Formulaic Addiction Drama

[2026-05-17] Adam Driver Rebuffs Lena Dunham Question, James Gray Dings Trump at ‘Paper Tiger’ Press Conference

[2026-05-17] ‘Full Phil’ Review: Kristen Stewart Eats Woody Harrelson Up in Quentin Dupieux’s Slight, Silly Farce

FROM: Deadline [2026-05-17] Moby Joins Paris-Set Queer Comedy ‘Jim Queen’ Ahead Of Cannes Premiere

[2026-05-17] Spencer Pratt Plans To Leave L.A. If He Loses Mayoral Bid: “I Will Be Done”

[2026-05-17] White House Posts Image Of Trump As Famously British 007 Amid James Bond Casting

[2026-05-17] No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer: ‘Michael’ No. 1 Around The Globe With $704M WW Cume; ‘Devil 2’ Va-Va-Vooms Past Half Billion – Global Box Office

[2026-05-17] James Gray Gives Update On Scarlett Johansson’s Absence From ‘Paper Tiger’ Premiere In Cannes

FROM: CinemaBlend [2026-05-17] Kaitlin Olson's High Potential Co-Stars Take Sides In Morgan's Wagner Vs. Karadec Romance Debate, And I Need Season 3 Stat

[2026-05-17] Zoe Saldaña Turns Two-Toned Lingerie Into A Lacy Event Dress That's Perfect For Summer

[2026-05-17] I Finally Caught Up On Top Chef, And I Love This Aspect Of Season 23

[2026-05-17] One Major Event That Could (Allegedly) Prompt Timothée Chalamet To Propose To Kylie Jenner

[2026-05-17] I’m Pumped About Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Getting The Symbiote Suit In Awesome Brand New Day Fan Art

FROM: New York Times [2026-05-15] At Cannes, the Specter of Hollywood Always Looms Large (Even in Its Absence)

[2026-05-16] How the ‘Is God Is’ Playwright Aleshea Harris Became a Director

[2026-05-15] ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’ Review: The New Rasputin

[2026-05-15] How Meryl Streep Delivers Criticism in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

[2026-05-14] ‘Is God Is’ Review: The Fires This Time

FROM: Dark Horizons [2026-05-17] Tom Francis Has Auditioned For James Bond

[2026-05-17] Jackson May Get To Adapt Tolkien’s “Silmarillion”

[2026-05-17] Quick News: XBOX, Who, Psycho, Gold, Chum

[2026-05-17] “Paper Tiger” Leads Early Cannes Standing Ovations

[2026-05-16] Gold: New James Bond Must “Ooze Sex Appeal”

FROM: SlashFilm [2026-05-17] Edward James Olmos Would Have Left Battlestar Galactica Over One Condition

[2026-05-17] Dutton Ranch Episode 2 Reveals The Replacement For Yellowstone's Train Station

[2026-05-17] A Key Foundation Writer Co-Created An Underrated Sci-Fi Series Streaming On Prime Video

[2026-05-17] 10 Best Slasher Movies Nobody Talks About Anymore

[2026-05-17] Margaret Atwood Has One Valid Problem With The Dragons On HBO's Game Of Thrones

FROM: Screen Rant [2026-05-17] Beef Season 2 Is A Lesser Version Of The White Lotus

[2026-05-17] Elden Ring Meets The Witcher In Must-Play New PlayStation Freebie

[2026-05-17] Resident Evil Leak Teases "Strong Horror Direction" For Upcoming Remake

[2026-05-17] Viggo Mortensen Paid Lord Of The Rings Stunt Performers' Lawyer Fees

[2026-05-17] Paper Tiger Review: Miles Teller & Adam Driver Shine in James Gray's Underwhelming Crime Drama [Cannes]

FROM: Variety [2026-05-17] Barbra Streisand Unable to Attend Cannes Closing Ceremony to Accept Honorary Palme d’Or After Knee Injury

[2026-05-17] Ryan Gosling Was Fired From ‘Lovely Bones’ After Gaining 60 Pounds. Peter Jackson Now Speaks Out: ‘Anytime We Recast an Actor, It’s Actually Our Fault’

[2026-05-17] The Oscars’ New Inclusion Rules Wouldn’t Disqualify Any Best Picture Nominee in History. So Why Is Elon Musk Melting Down Over ‘The Odyssey’?

[2026-05-17] ‘Laalo’ Producers Soul Sutra Unveil 12-Film Gujarati Slate at Cannes Film Market, Eye Global Co-Productions (EXCLUSIVE)

[2026-05-17] Happy 60th Birthday, ‘Pet Sounds’: Beach Boys Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston Recall the Making and Aftermath of One of Rock’s Greatest Albums

FROM: Bloomberg [2026-05-17] Bloomberg This Weekend 5/17/2026

[2026-05-17] Gundlach Says It’s ‘Just Not Possible’ for the Fed to Cut Rates

[2026-05-17] School Buses, Tipping, Dog Companions | BTW: Headlines You Should See

[2026-05-17] Rep. Clarke on Impact of Supreme Court's Redistricting Decision

[2026-05-17] NVIDIA Earnings Anticipated Amid Supply Constraints and China Uncertainty

FROM: Forbes (Business) [2026-05-17] Sabrina Carpenter Hits One Chart For The First Time, Thanks To An Icon

[2026-05-17] A Dozen Songs By Michael Jackson Soar To New Peaks On The Same Charts

[2026-05-17] Ella Langley Matches Two Of Country Music’s Longest-Running No. 1 Hits

[2026-05-17] The Rolling Stones Return To The Top 10 In America With A New Smash

[2026-05-17] WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak In Africa ‘Extraordinary’ Public Health Emergency

AWARDS

FROM: Awards Daily [2026-05-14] The Buzzmeter: Is Nolan’s Odyssey Peak Woke or Is the Outrage Overblown?

[2026-05-13] Let’s Talk Cinema with Jerm: An Ode to the Mothers of Cinema

[2026-05-11] NextGen Oscarwatcher: The Calm Before the Storm of Cannes

TAX INCENTIVES

FROM: The Hollywood Reporter [2026-05-17] As Hollywood Pulls Back, Northern Ontario Steps Up

FROM: Film New Europe [2026-05-17] Latvia Approves Additional Funding for Cash Rebate Scheme

[2026-05-17] Hungarian Zhang Ge’s Debut Feature My Turn Hits Hungarian Cinemas in May

[2026-05-14] FNE at Cannes Film Festival 2026: Protagonist Pictures Launches Sales of Canadian/Slovak The Exiled Starring Alessandro Nivola

TELEVISION

FROM: TVLine [2026-05-17] Joey King Had A Small But Memorable Role On New Girl

[2026-05-17] Quotes Of The Week: The Comeback, Chicago Med, Georgie & Mandy, And More

[2026-05-17] 10 Strongest Legendary Pokémon In The Anime Series, Ranked

[2026-05-17] David Lynch's Twin Peaks Was Inspired By Two Real-Life Murders

[2026-05-17] What To Watch Sunday: Family Guy And SNL UK Wrap, ACM Awards, And More

PREVIEWS & REVIEWS

FROM: Film Threat [2026-05-16] Obsession

[2026-05-15] Beneath The Night

[2026-05-15] The Kinderhook Creature

[2026-05-15] Daggers Inn

[2026-05-14] Birita

FROM: The Playlist [2026-05-17] ‘John Lennon, The Last Interview’ Review: Steven Soderbergh’s Immersive Documentary Finds A Lost Future In Lennon’s Final Hours

[2026-05-17] ‘Sheep In The Box’ Review: Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Sweet & Sad Sci-Fi Drama Could Dare To Dream A Bit Bigger [Cannes]

[2026-05-17] ‘Karma’ Review: Marion Cotillard Gets Trapped In Guillaume Canet’s Punishing Cult Thriller [Cannes]

[2026-05-17] ‘Paper Tiger’ Review: Adam Driver, Miles Teller & Scarlett Johansson Anchor James Gray’s Searing New York Crime Drama [Cannes]

[2026-05-16] ‘Forge’ Review: Rich Visuals, Miami Locations & Kelly Marie Tran Can’t Save A Thin, Predictable Art-World Scam

ANIMATION

FROM: Animation World Network [2026-05-15] ‘Decorado’: Stranger Than Fiction But Cute as a Button

[2026-05-15] Nickelodeon and Spin Master Renew ‘PAW Patrol’ and ‘Rubble & Crew’

[2026-05-15] Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and Green Bay Packers Drop Animated 2026 Schedule

[2026-05-15] CTN Foundation Launches Roger Allers Legacy Scholarship Award

[2026-05-15] Exclusive ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Season Finale Clip: ‘Stuck in the Middle with Hu(go)’

FROM: Cartoon Brew [2026-05-15] Oscar-Nominated ‘A Cat in Paris’ Director Alain Gagnol Assembles A New Team For ‘Dog My Cats!’

[2026-05-15] Signe Baumane’s ‘Karmic Knot’ Builds Buzz Ahead Of Busy Festival Season

[2026-05-15] Netflix Is Staffing Up A ‘GenAI-Native Animation Studio’ Called INKubator

[2026-05-14] Ha-Clay-Luiah! U.K. Stop-Motion Artists Get A New Plasticine Option With Chroma Clay

[2026-05-14] How ‘Blaise’ Evolved From An Underground French Comic Strip To A Cannes-Playing Animated Feature

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This list is compiled using custom code (not AI) written to help me cull through the troves of sites I would regularly want to visit - but have less time than I might like. I decided to share the compilation here on a weekly basis. Have a source you might like to have included? Let me know. Thank you.

Hello,

My $350k indie's budget is in Excel format. This is small show and as producer I am doing all accounting myself and using GreenSlate for payroll. I have not been too worried about the excel format as I've got it setup perfect for my use. I am using chart of account codes and more or less following what I think is standard film format. GreenSlate seems to prefer Movie Magic and wants me to re-format my excel budget. My question if anyone can help: If I switch over to Movie Magic Budgeting will it be a really large creating the new project and entering all of my existing data? It's a small show and I would not have a problem manually entering everything but I just have not used it before and don't know if it's very time consuming getting a project setup. Thanks for any insight.

I am currently working part time at a major studio in production finance, and I was just offered a full time position at a much smaller company with one show. This one show is pretty well known, and the position would be working under the one key accountant that the show has as a coordinator.

I really like the team I am currently with at the major studio, and even though I'm not making much, the exposure and experience I am getting here has so far been invaluable. I did not get great vibes from the smaller company, as everyone seemed very overwhelmed and clearly expressed a "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" and "get shit done" attitude. I'm also worried that I would be boxed in at the smaller company, working on one show and working for the one key accountant, as opposed to working on multiple projects at the major studio.

Anyone have any advice for what to do here? The major studio has said they are not looking to hire anyone full time in my role for the foreseeable future. I'm fairly early in my career and don't have many financial responsibilities, but a full time job + benefits is pretty attractive. Also maybe at the smaller company I would be able to make my mark and really rise to the occasion?

Would like to hear thoughts from the industry vets on this sub.

USUALLY, Producers hand me a few key amounts to put in the budgets I make... Director, them (the producers), the writer(s), and... cast. I was recently asked about doing a speculative budget but to put 'what I feel is right' for the cast. Now, if the cast was 'whomever' and was right for the role and could work for scale or just above - fine... but, then they said two names that are... HUGE. I kept a straight face and nodded.

...but... I have no idea. Could be $4M... could be $10M.. could just be $1M. No clue. This overall budget can not handle $5-6M in cast alone, so before I tell them "Ha, no way!" ... I would like to see if I can find out real or real-ish figures for these two main cast.

So, this is where I am looking for the hive mind here to help.

How do you / where do you find information to help ballpark "established star cast" rates?

Appreciate any advice, thanks!

Christine

Hey there! Indie producer here who dabbles in line producing… prepping a feature budget for ~900k for a client and would love if anyone would be willing to share examples or advice in this range? I’ve prepped a fair amount of budgets but usually for smaller budgets or for my own company so theres less pressure. I’m mostly concerned about missing major elements or formatting incorrect or not using MMB to its maximum benefit in a way that could embarrass me with the client. appreciate any help!!

Hi all,

What's the range of production service fees that you've seen or have personally budgeted for? I know in the commercial world it can go up to 20% but the dynamic there is pretty different than the one in the narrative world.

The reason behind this ask is that the production company that me and a few friends have started are looking into how to present us as professionally as possible and this question naturally came up. Basically what CAN we charge and what SHOULD we charge. The follow up question is what is the client getting from paying said production service fee?

Any experience from either the production, the line producer, or the actual prodco's perspective is very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Always a bit of a tricky dance for me figuring out when to share the movie magic file. I generally won't unless it's requested but even then I have a bit of hesitancy and especially unless we're underway and I'm getting paid. Would love to hear others experiences or wisdom. Thanks!

Hi,

I am producing a very low budget feature and will have about $110k in payroll. I have used Wrapbook in the past (which was really great) but they seem to have gone dark. No response from them except their AI chat bot thing which doesn't help. I need to setup a new company in my account which requires an actual person. I need to get rolling soon so am looking for suggestions for other film based payroll companies. This is a small local non union/sag project but I need to use a film based payroll company to qualify for our state incentives. Thanks for any suggestions.