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Podcast
How Production Accounting Keeps TV Shows Like 'Grey's Anatomy' Running
In the latest Beyond the Budget, Bishop Porter sits down with payroll accountants Candy Carstensen and Brad Rees, who pull back the curtain on what it takes to keep cast and crew paid accurately across one of television's longest-running dramas. They discuss the shift from paper timecards to digital workflows, beta testing Showbiz Budgeting, and the rollout of Hours+ across multiple departments.
Technology
Sony Pictures Just Bet $100 Million on the Future of Shared-Reality Cinema
Sony Pictures Entertainment has made a $100 million investment in Cosm, the immersive dome venue company bringing sports and film to wrap-around 12K LED screens across the country. Sony plans to bring its own IP to Cosm screens and will take a seat on the company's board, signaling a major push into experiential entertainment.
Awards
The Academy Just Invited Its Most Diverse Oscar Voter Class Yet
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members for 2026, with 56% from underrepresented communities and 53% based outside the United States. Notable invitees include Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, Teyana Taylor, the Safdie Brothers, and new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro.
Business
Google Is Investing $75 Million in A24 To Build AI Filmmaking Tools
A24 and Google's DeepMind unit have struck a research partnership to develop new AI-powered technologies for filmmakers, with Google putting roughly $75 million behind the deal. DeepMind researchers will work directly with A24 to build out new production workflows, marking one of the most significant AI investments in the independent film space to date.
Film
The Search for the New James Bond Is Moving Into Its Next Round
Director Denis Villeneuve has begun personally calling actors to inform them they have advanced to the next round of auditions for the 007 role, with those sessions set for August. The next Bond film also has a director in Villeneuve, a producer team in Amy Pascal and David Heyman, and a script from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
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