One of the things most interesting about Netflix is its ‘throw everything at the wall and see if it sticks’ approach. Something they’ve dabbled in has been streaming live-recorded stage performances. There was the Nick Kroll/John Mulaney Oh Hello and a recent Bruce Springsteen concert. And now there's Kerry Washington starring in Broadway play American Son.
It will be recorded without an audience, which strikes me as interesting. Surely you lose a lot of the energy that comes from playing against a live audience. So, it has me wondering whether they might be filming it less like a stage play and more something like the Denzel Washington filmed adaptation of Fences - stage-like in its performance, but returning a fourth wall to its filmed world.
Rolling Stone has a fun interview with Conan O’Brien discussing all the times Donald Trump appeared on his show - including the time he stormed off of his set.
He was pissed. He was really mad. I went to commercial. He stood up. I don’t think he said goodbye to me, and he walked over to my producer and said, “That’s the last time I’m gonna be on this fucking show. He humiliated me in front of everybody.” He stormed out. Cut to me seven more times [over the years]: “Ladies and gentlemen, Donald Trump!” He got over it, clearly.
He would shoot bits for us: “Can we get Nipsey Russell to come shoot something? He’s not available? Well, then try Donald Trump. Donald will do it.” Anyone who would do that, and then is the leader of the free world, is not going to make sense to me.
MGM has a new show hitting the air - Personal Injury Court. It joins Paternity Court and Couples Court for seasons 7 and 3, respectively.
Netflix has joined the MPAA. Because, post Bird Box, they are truly in the movie business. Oh, and today Netflix production Roma was nominated for an Academy Award.
SBS Australia drama Safe Harbour has been picked up by the BBC to air on BBC4. It’ll air on Saturday nights where BBC4 usually screens foreign language crime dramas.
DISCLOSURE: In my day job, I work on the SBS website, The Guide.
Ray Romano’s first stand-up special in 23 years will stream on Netflix. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full special with Romano’s stand-up, but he was always a favourite of mine doing bits of his on Dr Katz, back in the pre-Everyone Loves Raymond days.
And finally…
I’m no believer that you need to watch everything on the biggest screen possible. Some of the best movie experiences I’ve had is with small personal screens watching movies. Screen-size should match the viewing experience.
So, maybe a coffin could be the perfect place to watch a movie?
The "sarcophagus screening" — during which eight volunteers at a time will be shut into specially made caskets outfitted with screens, speakers and air vents — is designed to enhance the bleak themes of the movie's late-era capitalism dystopian setting, according to the festival's director, Jonas Holmberg.
