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KCRW's The Business The Business is a weekly podcast featuring lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors. The show is hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter and produced by KCRW. Past guests include Norman Lear, Ava DuVernay, Matt Damon and Ice Cube.
KCRW's The Business

Podcast Directory
KCRW's The Business

KCRW's The Business

From KCRW

The Business is a weekly podcast featuring lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors. The show is hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter and produced by KCRW. Past guests include Norman Lear, Ava DuVernay, Matt Damon and Ice Cube.

Most Recent Episodes

Gareth Edwards' 'The Creator' zeroes in on AI tension as WGA leaders make a deal

WGA leaders reached a deal this week with Hollywood studios, ending 148 days of work stoppage. What did they get? Where did they compromise? And will SAG-AFTRA be next? Plus, director Gareth Edwards discusses his new AI-centric film The Creator and its timeliness within our current cultural climate. He also gets real about behind-the-scenes drama on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Gareth Edwards' 'The Creator' zeroes in on AI tension as WGA leaders make a deal

Rupert Murdoch steps down, hip-hop femmes shine in the Dream Hampton produced docuseries '...

First, Rupert Murdoch has announced that he is stepping down as the head of both Fox Corp. and News Corp. What will this mean for the Murdoch family line of succession? Plus, Warner Brothers Discovery announces a new paid tier to offer live sports coverage on Max. Then, Ladies First executive producer Dream Hampton talks to NPR's Eric Deggans about why she doesn't hesitate to call out misogynists by name in her new documentary series spotlighting women in hip-hop. Plus, she gets real about initially not wanting to do the project at all.

Rupert Murdoch steps down, hip-hop femmes shine in the Dream Hampton produced docuseries '...

Assessing the strike's damage, plus an encore with 'Navalny' director Daniel Roher

First, what lasting damage to the entertainment industry will the extended impasse between striking Hollywood creatives, and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers leave in its wake? Then, in an encore interview, Navalny director Daniel Roher and investigative journalist Christo Grozev discuss how they came to pursue a film about Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader. They also talk about the risks they faced to make the Oscar-winning documentary, and the eventual arrest and sentencing of the politician in Russia.

Assessing the strike's damage, plus an encore with 'Navalny' director Daniel Roher

'Reservation Dogs' director on Indigenous representation, Disney exits Spectrum

First, the Walt Disney Co. has pulled all programming from Charter Spectrum in early September. What ripples does this create for Disney, other networks, and the cable industry? Then, Reservation Dogs director Danis Goulet talks about working on the final season of the FX hit, representation in Hollywood, and Taika Waititi's integral role in creating a platform for Indigenous stories.

'Reservation Dogs' director on Indigenous representation, Disney exits Spectrum

'Telemarketers' unpacks systemic scamming, CNN gets a new CEO

First, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav hires former New York Times executive Mark Thompson to head CNN. Will Thompson turn the struggling network around? Then, directors Sam Lipman-Stern and Adam Lough talk with NPR TV critic Eric Deggans about their HBO documentary, Telemarketers and share how their work helped investigate fraudulent charitable organizations. They also discuss how the Safdie brothers came on board to executive produce the series, and how HBO came to be at the helm.

'Telemarketers' unpacks systemic scamming, CNN gets a new CEO

Encore: Steve Martin can't imagine 'Only Murders in the Building' without Selena Gomez

First, the AMPTP released its latest offer to the WGA in a press release this week. Will the studio's move work or backfire? Then, actor, comedian, musician, and producer Steve Martin and co-creator of Only Murders in the Building, John Hoffman, explain how they met and what it took to get this idea from paper onto the screen.

Encore: Steve Martin can't imagine 'Only Murders in the Building' without Selena Gomez

Blumhouse CEO breaks down real Hollywood horror as strikes rage on

First, Hollywood strikes throttle on, despite recent talks between AMPTP and WGA, complicating industry plans for the season ahead. What will this mean for upcoming film festivals and fall television? Then, Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse, discusses the latest on the work stoppages, and the (spooky) current state of Hollywood. But it's not all horror talk with one of our leading experts on the genre — the powerhouse producer has advice on amplifying profitability across the industry.

Blumhouse CEO breaks down real Hollywood horror as strikes rage on

Bill Kristol on Fox Corp. accountability, Emmys postponed

The 2023 Emmy ceremony has been rescheduled for January 2024. How will it contend with the NFL playoffs? And Disney presents more changes via its latest investor call. Political analyst Bill Kristol joins to break down an FCC petition to deny a Fox Corp. affiliate's license renewal and his larger role in seeking accountability for the organization.

Bill Kristol on Fox Corp. accountability, Emmys postponed

Sam Pollard on making 'The League,' AMPTP reopens negotiations

After months of stagnation, the AMPTP has asked the Writers Guild back to the negotiating table. Is there a deal to be made? Plus, Disney re-hires some familiar faces as consultants. Then, director Sam Pollard discusses his new doc The League, which pairs his love of baseball with his ongoing examination of Black history, and discusses working with producer Questlove and the "uphill climb" of documentary filmmaking.

Sam Pollard on making 'The League,' AMPTP reopens negotiations

Gloria Calderón Kellett calls for equitable storytelling, 'Barbenheimer' wins the box office

Barbie and Oppenheimer have proven to be massively successful at the box office, but where does that leave the comparatively underwhelming performance of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and other tentpole hopefuls? Then, The Horror of Dolores Roach Executive Producer Gloria Calderón Kellett talks to NPR TV critic Eric Deggans about the challenges of making a screen adaptation of a hit podcast. She also explains the significant impact of residuals throughout her career, and why she thinks writers need a better deal in the streaming age.

Gloria Calderón Kellett calls for equitable storytelling, 'Barbenheimer' wins the box office

KCRW's The Business

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