Amazon CEO Andy Jassy asks for detailed budgets of all the biggest shows made by its Hollywood studios. Why now? Plus, another polemic involving David Zaslav. Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director Billy Ray talks with Kim Masters about the guilds' battle surrounding AI, its limitations and dangers in the workplace, and whether it can really take over the WBD CEO’s job.

Screenwriter Billy Ray on WGA battle with AI; Amazon CEO probes shows’ budgets

Lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors, hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter.

TV & Film

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss why Comcast’s proposed bid for NBA TV rights put Warner Bros. Discovery in a tight spot. They also get into the latest at Paramount as a potential merger inches closer. 
 Plus, Eric Deggans speaks to legendary actress Pam Grier about her storied career in filmmaking and appearing in Prime Video’s horror anthology series, Them. The pioneering female action star explains the origins of the term “Blaxploitation” and shares how she accidentally left Quentin Tarantino hanging for three weeks after he sent her his script for Jackie Brown.

Pam Grier on ‘Them’; Comcast prepares bid for NBA TV rights

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni examine the surprising decision made by the New York State Court of Appeals to overturn Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction. 
 Plus, Masters speaks to writer Justin Kuritzkes about the rollout of his first effort at writing a movie, Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers. He talks about how the Zendaya-led film was inspired by a particular US Open match that turned him into a tennis obsessive. And he shares how he and his wife, Celine Song — known for her Oscar-nominated Past Lives — manage to keep their work separate from their relationship.

Writer Justin Kuritzkes on ‘Challengers’; Harvey Weinstein rape conviction overturned

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni take a look at Jeff Skoll’s decision to close Participant Media after 20 years. And the banter partners break down why two congress members sent a letter addressed to the heads of Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery about their in-development joint sports streamer affectionately nicknamed “Spulu.” 
 Plus, Masters speaks to Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz about their investigative documentary series, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV . The filmmakers talk about working with Business Insider contributor Kate Taylor to uncover years of inappropriate behavior that took place on the sets of Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider. They also share how Investigation Discovery went from ordering a three episode series to five episodes with more on the way as the cameras continue rolling.

‘Quiet on Set’ filmmakers Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz; Congress vs. Spulu

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni dive into the challenges faced by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola as he struggles to find distribution for his self-financed passion project, Megalopolis. The Banter partners also take a look at the risks behind David Ellison’s bid to acquire Paramount parent company National Amusements. 
 Plus, Eric Deggans speaks to comedian Mike Birbiglia and documentary filmmaker Eddie Schmidt about their new special, Good One: A Show About Jokes. They share how they approached adapting a popular Vulture podcast into their Peacock special, and talk about sticking with the truth in autobiographical comedy following allegations that Hasan Minaj falsified elements of his award-winning special Homecoming King.

Mike Birbiglia and Eddie Schmidt talk ‘Good One: A Show About Jokes’; Coppola seeks home for passion project

Kim Masters and Matt Belloni take a quick look at Ari Emanuel-led Endeavor going private, and the banter partners break down the outcome of the long battle between Nelson Peltz and Disney. 
 Plus, on this special episode of The Business, Kim Masters speaks to director James Hawes about his film One Life, which tells the story of Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved more than 600 children, including Masters’ own mother, from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Hawes talks about how after years as a television director, he found his feature directorial debut in One Life, and Masters shares her deeply personal family stories connected to Winton’s rescue efforts.

Screenwriter Billy Ray on WGA battle with AI; Amazon CEO probes shows’ budgets

Download our free app to listen on your phone