‘Megalopolis’ Finds a Fall Guy for AI Trailer Snafu and Hollywood Cries Foul

Megalopolis Finds a Fall Guy for AI Trailer Snafu

As a lifelong New Yorker and a lover of the arts, I can’t help but be moved by Patti Smith’s fight to save the Elizabeth Street Garden. The city that never sleeps is losing its charm at an alarming rate, and it’s heartening to see someone like Patti standing up for the beauty and tranquility that these small pockets of nature provide.

We’ll determine if Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” is a masterpiece or a flop when it hits theaters on Sept 27, but behind-the-scenes events have been quite intriguing. The latest drama involved the removal of the sci-fi drama’s trailer by distributor Lionsgate on Aug 21, after only one day, following revelations that the critic quotes in the teaser were fabricated. Lionsgate acknowledged their error and apologized, but it was what happened afterward that has caused some stir in Hollywood; they terminated Eddie Egan, a longtime marketing consultant who had been working on the film, even though everyone at the studio had also been misled by an AI bot into believing the quotes were genuine. “They scapegoated Eddie,” a Hollywood executive who has worked with Egan in the past told Rambling Reporter. “Egan is known for his integrity, a humble man who shuns the limelight. Now, his entire professional legacy will be associated with attempting to manipulate the system through misinformation.” According to THR‘s sources, Egan (who declined to comment for this article) did not intentionally manipulate anything. The concept behind the trailer was to emphasize “Megalopolis”‘ negative press by highlighting poor reviews of Coppola’s other films that ultimately became cinematic masterpieces. However, the AI tool used to find examples of such reviews took creative liberties, fabricating quotes from Andrew Sarris (who never stated that “The Godfather” was a “sloppy self-indulgent movie”) and Pauline Kael (who never referred to “Apocalypse Now” as “hollow at the core”). It was an oversight, indeed, but one that cannot be solely attributed to Egan. As a prominent producer told THR, the trailer likely went through several reviews by others, including high-ranking studio officials and its marketing team, none of whom spotted the mistake, and they kept their jobs. Lionsgate declined to comment and did not provide a date for when a new, presumably quote-free trailer would be released

Robert Downey Jr., Have We Got a (Non-Marvel) Role for You

What do Dennis Hopper, Ike Turner, Robert Blake, Rob Lowe, Heidi Fleiss, and various mafia leaders share in common? They were all once defended by attorney Peter Knecht, whose recently published memoir, “Blood & Justice on the Sunset Strip“, has been released (by BearManor Media) – almost a decade after his death from cancer at 78. This revealing book recounts Knecht’s extraordinary experiences, from fleeing the Nazis with his family in 1936 to enduring a brutal attack on his home above the Strip in 1998, where an angry former client viciously slit his throat from ear to ear. Police initially believed that the assailant might have been hired by Knecht’s wife, Ava Cadell, who had made brief and scant appearances in films such as “Smokey and the Bandit Part 3” before becoming a sexologist. “The younger wife is always the prime suspect,” Cadell tells THR, “which was so devastating.” In reality, not only did Cadell stop the bleeding and save her husband’s life, but she spent a decade after his death working to get his manuscript published. “My favorite parts of the book”, she laughs, “are the ones that talk about our amazing love story.” She is now discussing turning the book into a movie or series. Who does she envision playing Knecht? Unsurprisingly, another former client. “I think Robert Downey Jr. would be excellent to portray Peter.”

Patti Smith (and Pals) Battle City Hall Over a Garden

In New York City, a tree could potentially thrive in Brooklyn, but Nolita might miss out on its chances. Plans are currently being made to knock down the Elizabeth Street Garden to pave the way for low-cost senior housing – unless a save-the-park movement led by Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, and Patti Smith can sway City Hall’s decision. “It’s an ideal spot,” Smith shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s smack dab in the city, but you can relax among fig trees and statues, listening to birds chirp – it’s a wonderful experience.” Smith and fellow garden supporters have written letters to the mayor begging for a delay of the execution – the park is set to close on September 10th – proposing alternative sites in the neighborhood for housing. “Many people fighting for the gardens are my age or older, and I’m 77,” Smith added. “There are other places they can construct senior housing.” However, it appears that Smith’s appeals have not been heard so far. Joseph Reiver, who oversees the gardens, stated that the city is perpetuating a false dilemma by suggesting that either the garden or affordable housing must be sacrificed

If Starting a Streaming Service Were Easy, Everyone Would Do It. Oh, Wait, They Are

What’s the difference between chicken nuggets and streaming content? An eight-episode order doesn’t come with fries. Still, Chick-Fil-A is reportedly launching its own subscription service, a bird-brained idea but hardly the first time a non-entertainment company gave streaming a try.

Overstock.com

Back in 2015, I, as a representative of the online retailer, declared our plans to launch a streaming platform to compete with Amazon’s. With the traffic we already had, I proudly proclaimed that we were aiming for a larger slice of their spending pie. Unfortunately, the service never came to fruition, and I, Patrick M. Byrne, stepped down in 2019 (after an intricate affair with a Russian agent, but let’s save that tale for another time)

Hasbro

In 2010, the creator of popular screen-friendly toys like My Little Pony and Transformers, Hasbro, attempted a cable channel called The Hub in collaboration with Discovery. However, four years later, Hasbro withdrew from the joint venture, leading to The Hub’s discontinuation. Now, Hasbro has once again entered the scene by announcing a streaming service for Dungeons & Dragons

Brewdog

Back in 2019, the Scottish brewery company introduced The Brewdog Network, a subscription service costing just $5 a month. This service offered content such as “Are You Smarter Than a Drunk Person?” Unfortunately, it seems this service is no longer operational. However, you can still enjoy some of its offerings on Prime Video, where the series “Brew Dogs,” focusing on brewing in San Diego, is available for rental at $2.99 per episode

Scientology

The round-the-clock service, which remains accessible and free, might require a different form of payment – perhaps your spirit? Now in its sixth year, it consistently churns out programs such as “L. Ron Hubbard: His Own Words“. It’s puzzling that with the wealth of talent at their disposal, they haven’t ventured into grander projects. One might wonder where the sequel to “Battlefield Earth” is hiding

Originally published in The Hollywood Reporter’s September 4th edition, you can find it there if you subscribe by clicking here

2024-09-04 20:28