Section

Film & TV

In-depth coverage of the latest film and television releases, industry trends, and creative talent.

A cinematic scene depicting a retro-futuristic cinema lobby with a projector casting stylized imagery, symbolizing the debut of AI-generated vintage erotica at a film festival.

AI-Generated Vintage Erotica Collection Debuts at Cannes Film Festival

AI compute costs consumed $400,000 of the $500,000 budget for 'Hell Grind,' a 95-minute AI-generated film premiering at Cannes, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Julian Mercer· May 22· 2 min
5 Ways Studio VII is Redefining Mythological Fantasy Movies for a New Generation

5 Ways Studio VII is Redefining Mythological Fantasy Movies for a New Generation

Studio VII is an independent motion picture company led by Neil Karunatilaka that aims to redefine mythological fantasy movies for a new generation by blending high-concept worlds with a distinct artistic vision and immersive visuals. They focus on narratively complex, visually driven original dark fantasy worlds, reimagining ancient myths through a modern lens.

Sponsored· May 19· 6 min
PTZ Shot Director Review: The Ultimate Tool for Flawless, Repeatable Shots? (Our Verdict)

PTZ Shot Director Review: The Ultimate Tool for Flawless, Repeatable Shots? (Our Verdict)

PTZ Shot Director is a specialized software designed to transform chaotic manual PTZ camera control into flawless, repeatable automation, particularly benefiting production teams in hybrid worship environments. It offers advanced sequencing, seamless integration with tools like vMix and OBS, and empowers volunteer operators to achieve broadcast-quality shots.

Sponsored· May 19· 7 min
A young woman in an enchanted setting, representing Ella, with a hint of a magical boarding school in the background, symbolizing the new TV series.

Disney+ Develops Ella Enchanted TV Series With New Creative Team

Anne Hathaway, who famously starred as Ella in the 2004 film 'Ella Enchanted,' is now attached as an executive producer for a new TV series adaptation of the beloved fantasy tale for Disney+.

Julian Mercer· May 19· 2 min
Mystical forest clearing with ancient standing stones and ethereal mist, evoking the magical and ritualistic themes of the Puffball story.

Puffball Novel Adapted for TV; Kelly Reilly Starred in Film

Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly once embodied a young architect entangled in witchcraft and fertility rituals in the 2007 cult film 'Puffball', a story now being redeveloped for television from its orig

Julian Mercer· May 19· 2 min
Alien ships loom over the town of Hope Harbor, South Korea, as residents react with fear to the invasion.

Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' sequel links to alien invasion film

Before audiences even see Na Hong-jin's new sci-fi epic 'Hope' at Cannes, a full script for its sequel has already been completed.

Julian Mercer· May 18· 2 min
AI robots and human filmmakers working together on a futuristic film set, with holographic displays showing creative data.

Shanghai Film Festival Launches AI Backlot Lab for New Production

Nearly 500 creators from seven countries applied to the Shanghai International Film Festival's new AI Backlot lab, signaling an unprecedented global rush to integrate artificial intelligence into film

Julian Mercer· May 15· 2 min
Vin Diesel announcing the new Fast & Furious TV series for Peacock at an NBCUniversal event, with a car speeding towards the Peacock logo.

Peacock Developing New Fast & Furious TV Series

At a major NBCUniversal upfront presentation in New York, Vin Diesel himself announced a new 'Fast & Furious' series, planned exclusively for Peacock.

Julian Mercer· May 12· 2 min
Digital Cults and Urban Legends: How THE BAD ONES YouTube Series is Redefining Indie Horror

Digital Cults and Urban Legends: How THE BAD ONES YouTube Series is Redefining Indie Horror

THE BAD ONES YouTube series redefines indie horror by exploring digital cults and internet urban legends, presenting a sci-fi horror where a hidden alien society lives among us. This series, directed by Dempsey Tillman, taps into modern paranoia about the unknown next door, highlighting the rise of authentic, creator-driven horror content online.

Sponsored· May 11· 6 min
A vibrant, fantastical scene from a new animated Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film, showcasing imaginative candy landscapes and characters.

Netflix Announces 'Charlie vs. Chocolate Factory' at Annecy

At the Annecy Animation Film Festival, Netflix unveiled an unprecedented animation push, announcing a robust slate for 2026-2027.

Julian Mercer· May 7· 2 min
Hogwarts Castle illuminated at dusk, with a banner suggesting a renewal for the Harry Potter series' second season.

HBO renews Harry Potter series for Season 2, writing begins

Seven months before its first season even debuts, HBO has formally renewed its 'Harry Potter' series for a second season.

Julian Mercer· May 7· 2 min
Los Angeles skyline at sunset with symbolic representations of film production and economic growth, highlighting the city's appeal for TV series.

Tracker's Los Angeles Move Promises Economic Boost

CBS's hit series "Tracker" is moving its entire production from Canada to Los Angeles for its fourth season, a relocation sweetened by a record $48 million California tax credit.

Julian Mercer· May 5· 2 min
Robert Greenblatt, a prominent TV executive, seals a new first-look deal with Universal Television, signifying a return to NBCUniversal.

Robert Greenblatt Signs Universal TV First-Look Deal Amid Dual Pacts

Just months after signing a first-look deal with Lionsgate Television, veteran executive Robert Greenblatt has inked a new pact with Universal TV, marking his return to NBCUniversal.

Julian Mercer· May 5· 2 min
Diverse group of filmmakers and actors collaborating in a studio, discussing storyboards and scripts, representing inclusive Hollywood storytelling.

CAA and GLAAD Relaunch Full Story Initiative for Inclusive Hollywood Storytelling

Films with a cast at least 30% non-white consistently outperform less diverse releases across all budget levels, delivering a $116 million average box office advantage for blockbusters, Variety report

Julian Mercer· Apr 30· 2 min
A vibrant scene at Deadline's Contenders Television event, showcasing the diversity of current TV series and the industry's competitive landscape.

Deadline Contenders TV event highlights key trends and upcoming projects

This weekend, 29 television series—from established hits like 'SNL' and 'The Boys' to newcomers 'Chad Powers' and 'Spider-Noir'—will vie for attention at Deadline's Contenders Television event .

Julian Mercer· Apr 26· 2 min
Jez Butterworth shakes hands with a Universal Pictures executive, symbolizing a new five-year film and TV deal set to begin in 2027.

Jez Butterworth signs five-year Universal film, TV deal for 2027

Jez Butterworth's series 'MobLand' launched as the streamer's biggest global hit in March 2025, drawing 2.

Julian Mercer· Apr 24· 2 min
Homer Simpson holding a giant donut in front of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, celebrating the confirmed release of The Simpsons Movie 2.

Simpsons Movie 2 Release Date Revealed for 2027

Twenty years after its predecessor, The Simpsons Movie 2 is set to receive approximately $21.

Julian Mercer· Apr 23· 2 min
A busy film production set in the scenic landscape of Northern Ireland, showcasing the region's thriving film and television industry.

NI film/TV production reports £477M boost (2022-2026)

Northern Ireland's film and television industry has reported delivering £477 million to the local economy for productions between 2022 and 2026, exceeding its target by £35 million, according to ITVX and The Irish News.

Julian Mercer· Apr 20· 2 min
An independent filmmaker strategizing film festival submissions, surrounded by paperwork and a world map, symbolizing the global reach and challenges of festival circuits.

How Film Festival Submission Strategies for Independent Filmmakers Work in 2026

Submitting a short film to Sundance can cost up to $95, a fee that multiplies quickly across multiple festivals and categories for independent filmmakers.

Julian Mercer· Jul 10· 5 min
Director and cinematographer collaborating on a scene, emphasizing the technical and artistic aspects of visual storytelling in film and TV.

What Are Visual Storytelling Principles in Film and TV?

The "empty shot"—a scene devoid of characters—appears simple, yet its definition and application remain contentious in academic research.

Julian Mercer· Jul 1· 5 min
Split screen comparing ad-free and ad-supported streaming interfaces, illustrating consumer choice in a value-driven market.

Hybrid Streaming Models Outpace SVOD Growth Amidst Consumer Value Search

By early 2026, the majority of entry-level streaming plans are projected to exceed $10/month, significantly altering consumer expectations for content access, according to spglobal .

Julian Mercer· Jun 20· 4 min
Split image contrasting an intimate artist-focused film festival gathering with a bustling market-driven film industry trade show.

What are market-driven vs artist-driven film festivals?

Last year, a major 'artist-driven' festival saw 80% of its selected films arrive with pre-secured distribution deals, blurring the lines of true discovery and challenging its foundational mission, acc

Julian Mercer· Jun 8· 5 min
Young people dancing energetically at a party, with a vintage record player in the foreground, symbolizing TikTok's revival of older music.

How TikTok's Algorithm Revives Older Music Content

In British TikTok posts this year, tunes more than five years old accounted for 19 out of the 50 top tracks, the highest proportion since TikTok started monitoring the trend in 2021, according to The Guardian.

Julian Mercer· Jun 8· 5 min
A family interacting with a holographic TV screen displaying a branching narrative, showcasing the rise of interactive storytelling in home entertainment.

Viewers Want Control: Interactive Storytelling Transforms Film in 2026

A recent YouTube job posting for a UX Designer explicitly calls for harnessing 'the power of real-time interaction' for its TV presence.

Julian Mercer· Apr 20· 3 min
Cinematic representation of virtual reality and artificial intelligence merging for future visual storytelling, with abstract data and immersive environments.

Visual Storytelling in 2026: Principles for VR and AI

An unedited virtual reality movie can elicit the highest visual attention, measured at a total display fixation duration (TDF) of 18,953.

Julian Mercer· Apr 17· 5 min
Filmmaker working late on a laptop, surrounded by film equipment, applying for the NEH Media Projects grant with new federal requirements.

What Are NEH Media Projects Grants for Filmmakers?

While the NEH Media Projects grant technically offers a minimum award of just $1, applicants for awards issued after October 1, 2024, must navigate significant revisions to federal administrative requ

Julian Mercer· Apr 16· 7 min
A film set with a red 'X' over money bags and a broken Oscar statue, illustrating the financial pitfalls of film incentives.

US state film incentives generate revenue loss despite awards allure

Twenty-three US states independently evaluated their film and TV production incentive programs through 2018, and every single one concluded that the incentives were strongly revenue negative, accordin

Julian Mercer· Apr 15· 4 min
A diverse team of TV professionals collaborating in a futuristic control room, led by a decisive showrunner, illustrating the complex creative leadership in modern television production.

What is the role and responsibilities of a television showrunner in 2026?

On a TV set, the director, often seen as the ultimate creative voice in film, answers directly to a single individual: the showrunner.

Julian Mercer· Apr 15· 5 min
Screenwriter's hands typing on a vintage typewriter at a desk, surrounded by script pages and a coffee mug, in a dimly lit room.

How to Write Compelling Dialogue for Screenplays: A Complete Guide

In the 2026 film 'Don't Worry Darling,' lead character Alice speaks only 33% of the total dialogue, yet achieves an impressive 93% narrative centrality, proving that compelling dialogue for screenplay

Julian Mercer· Apr 14· 7 min
A split image showing the evolution of film scoring, from a vintage theater pianist to a modern composer in a high-tech studio with digital audio workstations and virtual orchestras.

The Sonic Screen: Charting the Evolution of Film Scoring Technology and Composer Techniques

Film scoring is the invisible character guiding our emotional journey through cinema. This article charts the dramatic evolution of film scoring technology and composer techniques, revealing how tools have changed storytelling.

Julian Mercer· Apr 6· 7 min