The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice have drafted new merger guidelines outlining how the agencies should approach corporate consolidations. Here are the key points: Mergers should not significantly increase concentration in highly concentrated markets. Mergers should not eliminate substantial competition between firms. Mergers should not increase the risk of coordination. Mergers should not […]
Film Industry
The One with Patton Oswalt
Episode - 589
John and Craig welcome comedian, actor, writer and Jeopardy! champion Patton Oswalt to discuss joke structure and building standup specials. Patton pulls back the curtain on his writing process, how he develops a comedic premise, and earning an audience’s trust. We also dissect M.O.D.O.K., punching up other people’s scripts, and the art of adaptation. We […]
Whither Westworld
Like most writers, I’m trying to understand these wild moves at HBO Max. Cancelling Westworld? Sure. Happens all the time. That’s TV. Ditching an unaired season you’ve already shot, like what just happened to Minx? That’s heartbreaking, but I guess not unprecedented after Batwoman. Pulling Westworld off the service is just bonkers to me. My […]
PayUpHollywood progress, an update from ‘Christian’
Three years ago — October 8, 2019 — a writer who went by “Christian” emailed about their experience as a writer’s PA, explaining how they were expected to do the jobs of multiple support staff on a tiny salary. We discussed their email on the show, including the issue of needing to have a car. Last […]