With Apple’s release of "Submerged", its first original scripted film for the Vision Pro headset, director Edward Berger proclaimed it a turning point for filmmaking. This sentiment rings true as immersive technologies - spanning advanced spatial tech, LED screens, dome projections, and next-gen headsets like Vision Pro, Meta Quest, and HTC Vive - transform how stories are told. Despite limited mass adoption, these tools are unlocking unprecedented creative possibilities. "Submerged", the first short film scripted for Apple Vision Pro, exemplifies [...]

The term "Peak TV" refers to a golden age of television, characterized by an overwhelming volume of high-quality scripted series catering to diverse tastes and audiences. This phenomenon saw a dramatic expansion in the number of shows produced annually, driven by the rise of streaming platforms and increased competition to capture viewer attention. Iconic productions like Squid Game, which became a global sensation despite being a non-English series, exemplified the international reach of this era, while highly anticipated projects like [...]

French telecom corporation Orange has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI and Meta to develop artificial intelligence models tailored to African languages. This initiative, set to roll out its first models in early 2025, aims to address the gap in AI capabilities for understanding regional languages like Wolof and Pulaar, spoken by millions across West Africa. Wolof is widely used in Senegal, Gambia, and southern Mauritania, while Pulaar is prevalent in Senegal. Together, these languages represent over 22 million speakers, [...]

Music to the ears of cinephiles who love to show off hefty film books on their coffee tables. Mubi will launch a publishing arm, Mubi Editions, next April, focusing on titles on cinema and the arts. Following in the footsteps of companies like A24, which released novelizations of its X trilogy, and TikTok’s recent entry into the print world, arthouse distributor, streamer, and production company founded in 2007 by Efe Cakarel, is offering a fresh way to engage with its [...]

Thanksgiving 2024 just made Hollywood history. The box office exploded with Moana 2 leading the charge at $221M domestically—the biggest debut to date on this beloved Holiday. Joining the festive frenzy, Wicked and Gladiator II, which premiered the prior weekend, each crossed $300 million globally. This brought the U.S. and Canada’s five-day total from Wednesday to Sunday to an impressive $420 million, driven by the three heavyweights from Disney, Warner Bros., and Paramount. The Turkey Day successes have given theater [...]

Universal Pictures has addressed online rumors suggesting a pay gap between Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, emphasizing that both actresses received equal compensation for their roles in the highly anticipated film adaptation of the Broadway hit. The speculation, which originated on Reddit, claimed Grande earned $15 million for portraying Glinda, the “good” witch, while Erivo was allegedly paid only $1 million for her role as Elphaba, the “wicked” witch. Universal, however, dismissed these claims. "Reports of pay disparity [...]