Hollywood, The Sequel

Author Cheryl Strayed and showrunner Liz Tigelaar on the new Hulu series Tiny Beautiful Things. And as Hollywood  faces a looming Writers Guild strike, a production slow down has already begun. Listen and subscribe to Retake at https://laist.com/podcasts/retake or wherever you get your podcasts. Support Retake by donating now at LAist.com/join  

Introducing Human/Nature, from LAist Studios, a podcast with a wild yet inspiring thesis: if you step outside and reconnect with nature in your own city, you’ll feel better, reconnect with yourself, and find your place in the world. This podcast will empower you to reclaim your attention.  In Episode 1, host and nature activist Marcos Trinidad talks with Jenny Odell, an artist and author of the book, “How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy.” O’Dell talks about birdwatching, the repose of Oakland’s bustling Morcom Rose Garden and why seeing a Wilson’s Warbler always puts her in a good mood. Human Nature is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/nature Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and LAist Studios present a new multi-season audio series that examines the myriad of stories of our cinematic history. Jacqueline Stewart, Chief Artistic and Programming Officer of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and a MacArthur Fellow, hosts the series.  The Academy Awards have been a source of iconic moments and cultural impact since the award ceremony began in 1929. The awards often reflect and amplify the political, economic, and the cultural movements of the time, and that’s what season 1 of this podcast (“And the Oscar Goes To…”) is all about.  “And The Oscar Goes To…” premieres on Friday, March 25. This 10-episode season goes behind the scenes of touchstone years of the Academy AwardsⓇ, probing key social and cultural moments that have come to define the film industry and the broader artistic community. Episodes include revelatory interviews and in-depth conversations with Oscar winners, film artists, industry leaders, activists, and scholars, as well as archival audio and other exclusive content that will only be accessible through the podcast. Academy Museum digital engagement platforms, including this podcast, are sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

We don’t know yet how the entertainment industry will adapt and respond to the traumas of 2020 when production resumes full time. But from an Oscar winning director to gig workers behind the scenes, there’s broad agreement that not everything in Hollywood should return to the “good old days.”   Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: Korea Tourism: Visit Korea and experience delicious food, vibrant cities, and natural beauty. Please visit https://www.visitkorea.com.my/ Caltech: Cal Tech Science Exchange provides trustworthy answers, clear explanations, and fact-driven conversation on critical topics in science and technology. Please visit scienceexchange.caltech.edu 

Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and Casting Director David Rubin predict how the crises of 2020 will be represented by Hollywood’s storytellers, from scripting to casting. And Indie filmmaker Ana Lydia Monaco tells how she was able to shoot a short film in July, despite the challenges of Covid-19 safety protocols.  

Glenn Close is hoping for a new “golden age of storytelling;” costume designer Ruth Carter is hoping for a new Hollywood with a much wider world view. But if there’s one thing they have in common, it’s that they can’t wait to get back to work. Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: Watch Emmy®-eligible programs from HBO at hbofyc.com With critically acclaimed dramas and insightful documentaries. FX Networks has important content to help understand the world today. The limited series “Mrs. America,” with Cate Blanchett and Sarah Paulson explores the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and the backlash that shifted the political landscape. And the documentary “AKA Jane Roe” reveals the complex truth behind Norma McCorvey’s role in America’s abortion debate. Available on Hulu, and also for Emmy consideration at https://www.fxnetworks.com/fyc

Full Frontal’s” Samantha Bee and Ramy Youssef, of Hulu’s “Ramy,” are making us laugh despite the times we’re living in.  But in their different ways, each is also trying to be an agent for change in how, and by whom, stories are told on television.  Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: HBO: Watch Emmy®-eligible programs from HBO at hbofyc.com FX: With critically acclaimed dramas and insightful documentaries. FX Networks has important content to help understand the world today. The limited series “Mrs. America,” with Cate Blanchett and Sarah Paulson explores the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and the backlash that shifted the political landscape. And the documentary “AKA Jane Roe” reveals the complex truth behind Norma McCorvey’s role in America’s abortion debate. Available on Hulu, and also for Emmy consideration at https://www.fxnetworks.com/fyc

When Netflix began its streaming service in 2008, the movie studios were happy to sell the company their old films and shows. In doing so, they ended up inadvertently creating their biggest rival. As Co-CEO and Chief Content officer Ted Sarandos says, being fast and nimble, and not fearing their bigger competitors, turned out to be Netflix's superpower.  Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: HBO: Watch Emmy®-eligible programs from HBO at hbofyc.com FX: With critically acclaimed dramas and insightful documentaries. FX Networks has important content to help understand the world today. The limited series “Mrs. America,” with Cate Blanchett and Sarah Paulson explores the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and the backlash that shifted the political landscape. And the documentary “AKA Jane Roe” reveals the complex truth behind Norma McCorvey’s role in America’s abortion debate. Available on Hulu, and also for Emmy consideration at https://www.fxnetworks.com/fyc

With the FX series "Pose," writer/director Janet Mock became the first trans woman of color to write and direct a TV episode. The show features more transgender actors in regular roles than any other scripted series. That kind of representation, Mock says, has real power to change attitudes and behavior toward trans people. She also believes that the industry gatekeepers are beginning to realize that she’s able to tell more than one kind of story.

While the pandemic rages on,  “Homeland” director Lesli Linka Glatter is part of a select group crafting safety protocols designed to allow production to resume. But she’s worried about another danger--that some of the gains made in racial and gender equity will slip away. She’s calling on her peers and the studios to make a firm commitment to hire outside their comfort zones.

For Hollywood executives trying to fix the industry’s diversity problem, producer and actor Gloria Calderon Kellett has a simple piece of advice: just do it--even if it means you have to work through your own discomfort. The showrunner of “One Day at a Time” points to her own writers’ room and cast as proof that it’s not a “favor” to hire a diverse team--it makes everybody’s storytelling richer and more honest.  Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: Stream We Are Freestyle Love Supreme beginning July 17, only on Hulu

When work resumes in Hollywood, the business of show business will be very different, from how films are made, to where they’re shown, to what defines a box office hit. “Mulan” Producer Jason Reed is dealing with those challenges now, as he waits for the much-delayed release of his film. But he’s hopeful that some of the changes will lead to lasting solutions to Hollywood’s problems. He’s advocating for better financial support for the freelancers who are the backbone of Hollywood’s gig economy. He’s also calling for changes in the executive suites, so that more diverse voices can “shift the dominant paradigm.” Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: Stream We Are Freestyle Love Supreme beginning July 17, only on Hulu

With his comedy series  “Black-ish” and  “#blackAF,” Kenya Barris has never avoided difficult conversations about race. Entertainment, especially comedy, he says, will push those conversations forward, but there need to be many more versions of what Black lives and other underrepresented experiences look like. Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: Stream We Are Freestyle Love Supreme beginning July 17, only on Hulu

Just as advocates for meaningful police reform say you can't simply reassemble broken pieces, Ava DuVernay argues that reform won’t be enough to fix Hollywood. The director of “Selma” and “When They See Us” believes it’ll take drastic change in the executive suites of the networks and studios if Hollywood wants to rid itself of bias.  Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: Stream We Are Freestyle Love Supreme beginning July 17, only on Hulu  

The ACLU lawyers in “The Fight,” Kerry Washington’s new documentary, want justice for all. And so, too, does Washington. The actor and producer says when work begins again, it won't be enough for Hollywood to be not racist. It has to be actively anti-racist if the industry wants to be an agent of change.  Hollywood, The Sequel sponsors include: Stream We Are Freestyle Love Supreme beginning July 17, only on Hulu

Introducing a new podcast from LAist Studios hosted by John Horn. Entertainment decision makers, celebrities, creators and beyond discuss how to fix Hollywood.