Latest news with #SXSWFilm&TVFestival
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Seth Rogen reveals Apple's surprising request for his show 'The Studio'
Seth Rogen refused Apple's request to replace Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos with Tim Cook in his new comedy series " The Studio ," which streams on Apple TV+. The creator and star revealed the streaming giant's attempt to substitute their own chief executive in a cameo role that was specifically written for their rival's leadership. "They asked if we could use Tim Cook instead, and we said no," Rogen told Business Insider during a red carpet interview at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in March. Operation Sindoor 'Did not want to...': Pak def min gives absurd excuse for army's failure to withstand Op Sindoor Blackouts, sirens & Pak's failed attacks: 10 things that happened in the last 36 hrs '1971 war was not remotely as terrifying': Residents of border areas shell-shocked Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos cameos as himself in Apple's show The cameo in question appears in the eighth episode of "The Studio," which aired Wednesday. Sarandos plays himself in a memorable scene where he reveals to Rogen's character that Netflix contractually requires award winners to thank him in acceptance speeches. The scene underscores the show's central theme about the tension between art and commerce in Hollywood . Sarandos's character forces Rogen's studio head to acknowledge they are both "bean counters" supporting real artists, not artists themselves. Apple representatives did not respond to requests for comment about the casting decision. The irony of featuring Netflix's CEO on an Apple TV+ show is particularly striking given the competitive landscape. Apple's streaming service reportedly loses over $1 billion annually with approximately 45 million subscribers, while Netflix has become highly profitable with over 300 million subscribers as of late 2024. "The Studio" draws heavily from Rogen's personal experiences in the film industry. He created, directed, and stars in the series as Matt Remick, a newly appointed studio head navigating the challenges of producing quality content while meeting financial expectations—a balancing act Rogen himself has faced throughout his career in Hollywood. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Business Insider
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Seth Rogen gave Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos a cameo in 'The Studio.' He says Apple wanted Tim Cook instead.
"The Studio," Seth Rogen 's new Apple TV+ comedy, is stuffed with cameo appearances from real famous people playing themselves. But one guest star is more surprising than the others: Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Apple TV+'s streaming rival, Netflix. Apparently, Apple had some notes on that casting, but Rogen didn't take them. "They asked if we could use Tim Cook instead, and we said no," Rogen told Business Insider at the red carpet premiere for "The Studio" at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in March. Reps for Apple TV+ did not respond to a request for comment. Sarandos appears in episode eight, which aired Wednesday. In the episode, Rogen's beleaguered studio head Matt Remick attends the Golden Globes, where a film he greenlit is nominated. Matt is stressed about the idea of not getting a shout-out in the acceptance speech — an ongoing bit is that every winner from a Netflix project effusively thanks Sarandos in their speech without fail. In the end, Matt has an encounter with Sarandos, who reveals he puts it in artists' contracts that they have to thank him in acceptance speeches. He also forces Matt to reckon with the fact that neither of them are artists — they're the "bean counters" supporting the real artists. The fictional world of "The Studio" seems to closely mirror the real world, where Netflix is dominating the streaming game while the streamer actually airing "The Studio" is struggling. Apple is losing over $1 billion a year on its streaming service and has roughly 45 million subscribers. For comparison, Netflix also lost money its first few years in streaming, but it's now extraordinarily profitable and reportedly had over 300 million subscribers by the end of 2024. 'The Studio' is inspired by many of Rogen's personal experiences in Hollywood Rogen created, directs, and stars in "The Studio," a loving send-up of the flawed movie industry. The show follows his character Matt Remick, a newly appointed studio head at the fictional Continental Studios, as he struggles to simultaneously make good art and make his company money. The story's central theme of art versus commerce hit close to home for Rogen, and that's by design, as he and his producing partner Evan Goldberg incorporated their own experiences into the show. In fact, at least one memorable line in the pilot is lifted directly from Rogen's real life: Matt saying he got into all this because he loves movies, but now he fears it's his job to ruin them. Rogen remembers an executive telling him those same words as he reluctantly gave notes to him and Goldberg early in their career — and yes, the exec in question is still a major player in the industry. "I saw him the other day. He's Steve Asbell. He runs Fox," Rogen said, laughing.
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Meet Another Simple Favor director Paul Feig's wife Laurie Feig: she was accused of ‘pretending' to be a Blake Lively fan at SXSW, and donated thousands to LGBTQ causes after Donald Trump's victory
The cast of Paul Feig's Another Simple Favor – the highly anticipated sequel to his hit 2018 psychological thriller A Simple Favor – has kicked off the film's UK press tour. Stars Blake Lively , Anna Kendrick and Henry Golding, along with Feig himself, attended the film's screening at London's Ham Yard Hotel on April 15. Director Paul Feig, producer Laura Fischer and actors Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick and Henry Golding at a screening of Another Simple Favour in London on April 15. Photo: DPA Another Simple Favour enjoyed its world premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival back in March. And while the event – which marked Lively's return to the red carpet after the It Ends with Us drama with Justin Baldoni blew up – was met with enthusiasm, it had its fair share of controversies. Rumours of discord between the film's heroines were rampant as Lively and Kendrick appeared to avoid each other on the red carpet. Advertisement Another fan theory on social media suggested that Feig's wife Laurie, who was seen eagerly interacting with the former Gossip Girl star, was placed in the crowd to play the role of a passionate supporter for her. The claim was debunked when it became clear that Mrs Feig was on the red carpet and not with fans, who were waiting in a different area that Lively had moved to, per the Daily Mail. So, who is Laurie Feig, who according to C Magazine, goes by the nickname Tipsy Faunt? What does she do for work? Director Paul Feig's wife, Laurie Feig, is a producer. Photo: @paulfeig/Instagram Laurie Feig is a producer and consultant, according to her Instagram bio. She was also an executive producer on the 2015 documentary It's Better in Italian, about a group of voice over actors that dub English language films into Italian. She supposedly defended Blake Lively Laurie Feig reportedly stood up for Blake Lively on social media. Photo: @paulfeig/Instagram Rumours about Feig's support for Lively spread when a video by an influencer named 'Elsrich' highlighted comments apparently left by Laurie under posts attacking Lively. In those comments, Feig appears to be calling Lively's critics 'bots' and 'woman-hating Trumpers'.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Peachtree Group-Financed Films We Bury The Dead and The Surfer Premiere at SXSW 2025, Marking Further Expansion in Entertainment Financing
ATLANTA, March 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peachtree Group (Peachtree), a leading private equity firm, successfully showcased two of its financed films, We Bury the Dead and The Surfer, at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival, further solidifying its presence in the entertainment financing sector. SXSW, which took place March 7-15 in Austin, Texas, is one of the industry's most influential festivals, bringing together filmmakers, industry leaders and media professionals. The selection of Peachtree-backed films at SXSW 2025 underscores the firm's expanding role in providing senior-secured financing for compelling storytelling. We Bury the Dead made its World Premiere in the Narrative Spotlight section, telling the story of a woman searching for her missing husband in the aftermath of a military experiment gone wrong—only to make a chilling discovery when the dead begin showing signs of life. Starring Daisy Ridley, who 'stuns in this beautifully horrific road trip,' and backed by reviews praising its aesthetics—such as, "The film's visuals highlight this delicate balance, showing how grief can be both painful and profoundly beautiful"—it is sure to be an enormous success. The Surfer, which had its North American premiere in the Festival Favorite category, follows a man who returns to his childhood beach with his son, only to find himself locked in a tense conflict with a powerful group of locals that pushes him to his breaking point. Peachtree's involvement in SXSW 2025 follows The Surfer's world premiere at prestigious Cannes Film Festival, which scored a six-minute standing ovation, and cemented the firm's reputation as a prominent lender in TV and film productions. "Our increasing activity in film and television financing is a natural extension of our lending capabilities," said Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree. "The entertainment industry presents unique investment opportunities, and our goal is to provide financing solutions that align with the creative vision of filmmakers while delivering strong returns for our stakeholders." Peachtree targets productions ranging from $5 million to $50 million, a segment experiencing growing demand for flexible capital solutions. "By combining capital investment with deep industry expertise, we deliver tailored financial solutions that align with the evolving demands of today's entertainment market," said Joshua Harris, managing partner of Peachtree. Peachtree continues to expand its film and television portfolio, with roughly 15 projects in development. In addition to The Surfer and We Bury the Dead, the firm has financed several high-profile films, including: Mary with Anthony Hopkins The Fabulous Four with Susan Sarandon and Bette Midler Muzzle with Aaron Eckhart Sleeping Dogs with Russell Crowe As digital transformation accelerates, premium content expands and consumer viewing habits shift, the demand for entertainment financing continues to grow. Peachtree, a fully capitalized lending platform and one-stop shop for entertainment financing and production, offers deep industry expertise—providing creators with the capital and strategic support to bring their projects to life. About Peachtree Group Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Charles Talbert678-823-7683ctalbert@
Associated Press
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Peachtree Group-Financed Films We Bury The Dead and The Surfer Premiere at SXSW 2025, Marking Further Expansion in Entertainment Financing
Peachtree Group (Peachtree), a leading private equity firm, successfully showcased two of its financed films, We Bury the Dead and The Surfer, at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival, further solidifying its presence in the entertainment financing sector. SXSW, which took place March 7-15 in Austin, Texas, is one of the industry's most influential festivals, bringing together filmmakers, industry leaders and media professionals. The selection of Peachtree-backed films at SXSW 2025 underscores the firm's expanding role in providing senior-secured financing for compelling storytelling. We Bury the Dead made its World Premiere in the Narrative Spotlight section, telling the story of a woman searching for her missing husband in the aftermath of a military experiment gone wrong—only to make a chilling discovery when the dead begin showing signs of life. Starring Daisy Ridley, who 'stuns in this beautifully horrific road trip,' and backed by reviews praising its aesthetics—such as, 'The film's visuals highlight this delicate balance, showing how grief can be both painful and profoundly beautiful'—it is sure to be an enormous success. The Surfer, which had its North American premiere in the Festival Favorite category, follows a man who returns to his childhood beach with his son, only to find himself locked in a tense conflict with a powerful group of locals that pushes him to his breaking point. Peachtree's involvement in SXSW 2025 follows The Surfer's world premiere at prestigious Cannes Film Festival, which scored a six-minute standing ovation, and cemented the firm's reputation as a prominent lender in TV and film productions. 'Our increasing activity in film and television financing is a natural extension of our lending capabilities,' said Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree. 'The entertainment industry presents unique investment opportunities, and our goal is to provide financing solutions that align with the creative vision of filmmakers while delivering strong returns for our stakeholders.' Peachtree targets productions ranging from $5 million to $50 million, a segment experiencing growing demand for flexible capital solutions. 'By combining capital investment with deep industry expertise, we deliver tailored financial solutions that align with the evolving demands of today's entertainment market,' said Joshua Harris, managing partner of Peachtree. Peachtree continues to expand its film and television portfolio, with roughly 15 projects in development. In addition to The Surfer and We Bury the Dead, the firm has financed several high-profile films, including: Mary with Anthony Hopkins The Fabulous Four with Susan Sarandon and Bette Midler Muzzle with Aaron Eckhart Sleeping Dogs with Russell Crowe As digital transformation accelerates, premium content expands and consumer viewing habits shift, the demand for entertainment financing continues to grow. Peachtree, a fully capitalized lending platform and one-stop shop for entertainment financing and production, offers deep industry expertise—providing creators with the capital and strategic support to bring their projects to life. About Peachtree Group Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit SOURCE: Peachtree Group Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 03/17/2025 08:55 AM/DISC: 03/17/2025 08:55 AM
