Television
Spotlight on Safety: New Study Shares Statistics on Gun-Related TV Content
A recent study conducted by USC Annenberg's Norman Lear Center titled "Trigger Warning: Gun Guidelines for the Media" reveals that approximately one in three episodes of popular television series portrays a character discharging a firearm. However, the report refrains from explicitly mentioning the names of specific television series. The primary objective of the study was to analyze the impact of these gun-related storylines on the perspectives of diverse audiences, irrespective of their gun ownership status.
Movie Theaters
IMAX Explores New Tech and Booming Industry in China
IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond has observed a significant trend this year, with Hollywood blockbusters being screened in China's theaters at an earlier stage than ever before. This development has resulted in a consistent flow of movie releases, demonstrating China's heightened interest in revitalizing its film industry. Furthermore, IMAX has demonstrated its global expansion efforts by acquiring Ssimwave, a Canadian tech company, aimed at enhancing the content distribution pipeline.
Film Festival
Docs on the Croisette: Cannes Puts on Human Rights Documentary Showcase
Docs-by-the-Sea, an esteemed international documentary Labs and Forum from Asia, is set to make its highly anticipated Cannes debut, featuring a captivating selection of four films in progress. Gugi Gumilang, executive director of In-Docs, highlights the importance of this milestone, as it addresses the lack of Asian representation at Cannes while meeting the audience's demand for engaging content.
Technology
AI Incoming: Technology Will Be Vital Part of Production by 2028
The renowned Goteborg Film Festival in Sweden has recently unveiled its eagerly awaited tenth annual Nostradamus report, which offers a comprehensive overview of the audiovisual industry's future through a compilation of interviews and expert analyses. As per the report, industry experts foresee a significant development within the next 3-5 years, as artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to seamlessly integrate into the production processes of both film and television.
International
Saudi Support Programs: How the Country Empowers Emerging Talent
Thanks to the remarkable talent within Saudi Arabia, a dynamic wave of cinema is emerging in the country, shattering box office records along the way. At the heart of this transformative shift lies Saudi Arabia's burgeoning ecosystem, characterized by local facilities and funding that nurture and empower aspiring filmmakers, enabling them to connect with audiences and achieve commercial success for their projects.
High five! Another Friday Five is going live next week—same time, same place. We know what caught our eyes, but we’re all ears. Tell us what you’d like to learn more about in our upcoming editions by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Be sure to tag #FridayFive in your comments.
Want an even more convenient way to stay in the know? Get Friday Five sent right to your inbox each week by signing up for our direct newsletter below.
See you next Friday at 10 a.m. (PT).