Stuck In Development

Carl and Helios & Matheson shareholder Eitan welcome guest Alex Pellegrino to retrace the glorious rise and fall of MoviePass. In their attempt to growth hack their way to Hollywood dominance, MoviePass gave away millions of movie tickets before becoming a user-hostile laughing stock. Alex, Eitan and Carl take this chance to fondly remember the lengths they would go to get free tickets through this quirky service.

In news this week, the impending doom of the Snyder Cut accidentally draws even closer, and California finally announces health guidelines for theme park reopenings.

The main topic starts at 21:16 this week.

Get your MoviePass joggers here: https://etsy.me/3vdbCU3

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Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

As the 2020 awards season and the streaming wars heat back up, Eitan and Carl spend an episode catching up with some major news items. First, they take a look at the Golden Globes and what they mean for this year’s Oscar race. They next check-in with the launch of Paramount+ before reviewing HBO Max’s Q4 results (spoilers: this sparks yet another debate around Wonder Woman 1984’s profitability). Finally, they both answer an eternal question: would you pay $75 to walk around a ride-less Disneyland?

The main topic starts at 00:00 this week. (!!)

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Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

On Disney California Adventure’s 20th anniversary, Eitan and Carl chauffeur you to the park’s grand opening. This park represented the culmination of a decade of disaster for Disney’s theme parks. Nothing exemplifies DCA's early, dark days more than one garish, dark ride: Superstar Limo. Carl and Eitan use this attraction as a case study to explore the tradeoff between artistic dreams and limited budgets.

In news this week, Eitan and Carl discuss Apple’s new distribution deal with Skydance Animation and the reopening of movie theaters in NYC. They also congratulate former Imagineering boss Joe Rohde on his next adventure at Virgin Galactic, and they take a look at a recently-announced Magic Kingdom Disney+ series from sci-fi legend Ronald D. Moore.

Click here for a ridethrough video showcasing the horrors of Superstar Limo.

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Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

Due to internet and power disruptions caused by winter weather, Carl and Eitan are taking an unexpected break this week. They'll be back next week with an episode celebrating Disney California Adventure's 20th anniversary through the prism of its infamously terrible opening day attraction: Superstar Limo.

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Music/FX:

Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

Walking Snow Sound by SPANAC – https://www.freesoundslibrary.com/walking-sound-snow/ 

Movies! Stars! Bad corporate activations! Specific and annoying logistical challenges! In a normal year, the Sundance Film Festival has everything Carl, Eitan and guest Christina Troitino could ever want. Sundance is the first big event of every film year, and even a pandemic couldn’t stop the festival from dominating the cultural conversation. The three recap the 2021 festival while also providing broader context for why Sundance still matters to Hollywood. They also share some of their favorite Sundance stories and experiences. 

In news this week, Eitan, Carl and Christina review the mixed bag of Golden Globe nominations, assign a valuation to the Gamestop short squeeze, and reckon with Marvel’s multiverse future.

The main topic starts at (*sigh*) 37:17 this week.

Follow Christina on Twitter @ChristinaTinNYC and on Instagram @ChristinaTroitino.

Follow us on Twitter @stuckindevpod

Music:

Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

Last fall, Eitan and Carl set out on a quest to understand the muted reaction to The Rise of Skywalker and the Galaxy’s Edge lands at Disneyland and Disney World. Along the way, this quest became about uncovering the very soul of modern Hollywood.

In the final episode of their miniseries on Disney’s Star Wars films, Carl and Eitan discuss the merits of Episode XI and Galaxy’s Edge. From reviewing Colin Trevorrow’s lost Duel of the Fates screenplay to nerding out over Disneyland ticketing systems, the two take you deep into the Star Wars rabbit hole to decisively determine what went wrong.

In news this week, correspondant Eitan reports from the (virtual) Sundance Film Festival.

The main topic starts at 17:14 this week.

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Music:

Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com 

Fanfare for Space Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Carl and Eitan take a tour of Night City with guest Pete Sampson. Pete talks them through the development and disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077. On one hand, the game is a case study in mismanaging hype, developers, and distribution channels. On the other, it’s a surreal, glitchy mess that is magnificent to behold.

In news this week, Eitan, Carl, and Pete debate the merits of postponing 2020 films yet again. They also begrudgingly accept the news of a new Harry Potter TV series.

The main topic starts at 20:40 this week.

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Follow Carl on Twitter @szmantics

Follow Eitan on Twitter @tanchoco

Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

Guest Sam Parker joins Carl and Eitan to take them from the sewers of Paris to the top of the Burj Khalifa. They discuss filmmaker Brad Bird and his place in the evolution of franchise filmmaking. The three also dig into how Bird’s influences and animation background shape his films’ visuals and narratives.

In news this week, Eitan and Carl skeptically respond to Netflix’s announcement that they will be cash-flow positive by the end of 2021. They also check in with WandaVision.

The main topic starts at 17:35 this week.

Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

A week in, predicting what will happen in 2021 already seems impossible. Eitan and Carl wanted to try anyway. They share their boldest predictions across every Stuck In Development vertical, tracing 2020’s impact on everything from Disneyland’s eventual reopening to visual effects labor reform. One thing is certain: Carl and Eitan will be here all year to make sense of any news story that develops.

In news this week, they address the week’s biggest political story: former T-Mobile boss John Legere’s political ambitions. Eitan also gloats about correctly guessing the sale price for Roku’s acquisition of Quibi’s content.

The main topic starts at 10:50 this week.

Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com

Happy New Year, #OakesHive! Carl and Eitan spent the last two weeks relaxing and watching films with loved ones. They caught the month’s two biggest films – Soul and Wonder Woman 1984 – and walked away (from their couches) with many questions. Join the two as they discuss the film’s releases and what they mean for their respective studios. 

In news this week, they react to a rumor that Roku is purchasing Quibi’s catalog.

Soul discussion starts at 30:29; Wonder Woman 1984 discussions starts at 50:51.

Music: Feather Duster by Silverman Sound Studios – https://www.silvermansound.com