Disney’s Bullying Tactics Against the Press Failed—David Sims looks at how after the company barred Los Angeles Times journalists from its movie screenings, the film-critic community united to push back.
Is Making a Marvel Movie Good for Directors?—David Sims notes that nine years into the studio’s colossal franchise experiment, most filmmakers haven’t parlayed their success with comic-book projects into anything greater.
The Chilling Implications of a Disney-Fox Merger—David Sims writes that the movie business is changing rapidly, and reported talks of a studio buying one of its biggest rivals could be part of an ongoing seismic shift.
The ‘Weinstein Effect’ Is Changing Movie-Making—David Sims interprets the news that Kevin Spacey’s scenes in the Ridley Scott film All the Money in the World will be reshot with just weeks left before the release date.
How Should Hollywood Respond to Mass Shootings?—Sophie Gilbert considers Showtime’s documentary series Active Shooter as standing in opposition to the entertainment industry’s avoidance of an increasingly urgent subject.
Universal
Music
The Pitfalls of Taylor Swift’s Anti-PR Campaign—Spencer Kornhaber points out that a cease-and-desist letter to a blogger earned rebuke from the ACLU and attention to the star’s white-supremacist following.
The CMA Awards Address Las Vegas, Lightly—Spencer Kornhaber watches the country-music ceremony, which mostly focused on uplift, unity, and maintaining the status quo in the face of tragedy.
The Old Taylor Swift Is Hiding Within Reputation—Spencer Kornhaber listens to the singer’s hugely anticipated new album, which nestles moments of lovelorn bliss among chaos, noise, and trend chasing.
Louis C.K. and the Abuse of Power in the Comedy World—David Sims states that the industry will have to grapple with what many have called an open secret after reports of sexual misconduct by the influential comic emerge.
Zynga
Games
TFW You Can Play ‘TFW’ in Words With Friends—Ben Zimmer dives into why the popular mobile game is adding certain abbreviations to its lexicon, breaking with a rule held sacred by its forebear, Scrabble.