David Vendrell

Entertainment

Kathleen Kennedy Plans Retirement from Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is reportedly planning on retiring from the George Lucas-founded production company at the end of the year. The Big Picture: Lording over all things Star Wars (and Indiana Jones, but that franchise seems to have run its course) is one of the most enviable and anxiety-inducing jobs in Hollywood… almost as much as running James Bond. With Kennedy stepping down, […]

February 26, 2025

1 min Read

Entertainment

Survivor 50 Wants Fan Input For Challenges

The 50th anniversary of Survivor is planning on experimenting with a new format: letting fans vote on the main elements of the game. The Big Picture: While Survivor remains a hallmark of broadcast TV, the last five years have  consistently seen the show dip below 10 million viewers and continue to decline — a stark difference from its peak of almost […]

February 25, 2025

1 min Read

Culture

Wealthy Americans Aren’t Feeling Inflation

The top 10% of earners in the US — households that make $250,000 or more annually — are powering the economy with increased spending… while the bottom 80% of earners cut back to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living. Why It Hits: The US is increasingly becoming a country of haves and have […]

February 25, 2025

1 min Read

Stories

Los Angeles Project is Genetically-Modifying Pets

A bio-hacking startup called the Los Angeles Project is working on genetically modifying animals to be sold as made-to-order pets. The Unique Take: Co-founder Dr. Josiah Zayner is an infamous figure in the bio-hacking world, executing some very risky experiments with CRISPR technology to push the boundaries of gene editing. While the Los Angeles Project is seemingly another stunt, it could find […]

February 24, 2025

1 min Read

Culture

Startups Offer Eccentric Perks to Stand Out

Employees at newish startups are being offered modern, specialized, and personalized perks designed to communicate the culture companies hope to foster… and why they should choose to work there over blue-chip firms. Why It Hits: The battle for who had the most generous perks became something of an absurd competition in the last decade. But post-pandemic, those same companies have […]

February 24, 2025

1 min Read

Gaming

Rockstar Games to Turn Grand Theft Auto Into a Metaverse

Rockstar Games is exploring turning its bestselling Grand Theft Auto franchise into a metaverse platform with the upcoming GTA 6, paving the way for user-generated content (UGC) creators to develop the video game. Why It Hits: Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft are some of the biggest names in gaming today, thanks to their ability to be endlessly built on by players. But there’s nothing really comparable […]

February 21, 2025

1 min Read

Entertainment

EON Productions Hands Over Control of 007 to Amazon

EON Productions, the production company that’s guided every aspect of the James Bond franchise for decades, is handing creative control over to Amazon MGM Studios… for a price. The Big Picture: Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the heads of EON and the children of original Bond producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, have ruled Bond with an iron […]

February 21, 2025

1 min Read

Business

Fetii Brings Ridesharing to Large Groups

Fetii, a large-vehicle rideshare service that caters to college students, raised a fresh round of financing to expand nationwide. The Big Move: Despite the rideshare market being dominated by Uber and Lyft, no one has quite cracked the code on offering rides for groups larger than a family (other than a brief journey with Uber Charter). If Fetii […]

February 20, 2025

1 min Read

Entertainment

Brady Corbet Didn’t Make Much Money Directing The Brutalist

Brady Corbet, the Oscar-nominated director of The Brutalist, said on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast that he made “zero dollars” directing the movie… kicking off a debate on the long, complicated way filmmakers get paid for their work. The Big Picture: The glitz and glamour of an awards press tour makes it seem like filmmakers are not just the toast of […]

February 20, 2025

1 min Read

Media

Kai Cenat Plans to Launch a Streamer Masterclass

Kai Cenat said he plans on launching a “streaming university” to teach creators (with followings of all sizes) the lessons he learned in becoming one of the biggest influencers in the world. The Big Picture: There are plenty of masterclasses, camps, and even actual college courses on how to become a successful digital creator… but there’s never been an actual […]

February 19, 2025

1 min Read