Podcast
Ankler Agenda
Hosted by TheAnkler.com · EN
"Ankler Agenda" breaks down the headlines, trends and creativity shaping the evolution of Hollywood, the creator economy and entertainment.
The show is hosted by Elaine Low, author of Ankler Media’s popular “Series Business” Substack newsletter, who is joined weekly by her colleagues Sean McNulty (“The Wakeup”) and Natalie Jarvey (“Like & Subscribe”) -- in addition to Richard Rushfield, the Ankler himself. Episodes will also be available every Thursday on YouTube.
55episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
L.A. Production Spiral. Trump to the Rescue?
Jan 17, 202500:43:13Tap to summarizeCan Jon Voight save Hollywood? Probably not. But President Trump’s announcement that the Midnight Cowboy, Mad Max (Mel Gibson) and Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) would be his “special envoys” in L.A. on the eve of his inauguration followed the latest report on L.A.’s continued production exodus. Sean McNulty, Elaine Low and Richard Rushfield dissect the numbers and where the industry is heading in 2025. Plus: How is Gen Z outfoxing studio and streaming marketers? Matthew Frank explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →‘An Intense Couple of Days’
Jan 10, 202500:33:59Tap to summarize“Everybody was feeling really optimistic going into this year,” says Elaine Low — and while there are encouraging signs for Hollywood, from new business models to a return to the fundamentals, she and Richard Rushfield tell Sean McNulty about friends who have lost homes, Richard’s memories of growing up in Pacific Palisades, and Elaine’s anxiety over suddenly preparing a go-bag. On a lighter note: They also dissect their night at Netflix’s WWE Raw premiere — with Richard announcing whom he’ll be fighting at the next WrestleMania.We’re collecting stories of how the entertainment community is coping with the Los Angeles fires. Submit yours here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Tales From the ’90s: How New Line Dominated the Decade
Jan 6, 202501:03:57Tap to summarizeFor the capstone of his Hollywood Stories series exploring the 1990s — an era of explosive creativity and innovation in the entertainment industry — Richard Rushfield talks to two execs who helped New Line Cinema become the movie studio of that golden moment. Mike De Luca is today the co-chair and CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, but in the ’90s he was the head of production at New Line, a powerful role he stepped into at the tender age of 27. Richard Brener started as a temp at New Line in 1995 and never left, working his way up to run the studio (now a division of Warner Bros.) as its president and chief creative officer. Together they recall how the indie house launched by Bob Shaye in 1967 struck gold nearly 30 years later with comedy blockbusters (Austin Powers, Dumb and Dumber, Rush Hour, The Wedding Singer) and revered auteur-driven dramas (American History X, Boogie Nights, Se7en). As an indie, "you were kind of locked into lower-budget acquisitions and films — that all coalesced into a business plan of sleeper hits," De Luca says. “We were not afraid of trying things that we liked, even if other people had passed on them.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Lively vs. Baldoni: Lawsuits! Exposés! Rumors!
Jan 3, 202500:40:23Tap to summarizeBlake Lively alleges a full-on smear campaign aimed against her. Justin Baldoni claims the star of his It Ends With Us used the New York Times to destroy his reputation. Sean McNulty, Elaine Low and Richard Rushfield discuss the fallout of the feud heard round the world, the YouTube journalist roped into the ruckus, and why Richard boils it all down to typical Hollywood bluster. Plus: The crew breaks down how animation and IP defined the 2024 box office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Trends Giving Us Hope in 2025. Seriously
Dec 27, 2024Tap to summarizeOne sure precursor to any Golden Age in Hollywood? A long fallow period preceding it, not unlike the one we’ve been in. Now, with a spec market for originals coming back to life, and fresh opportunities for producers and writers to make money through YouTube, branded content, podcasts and yes, AI, Sean McNulty, Elaine Low, Richard Rushfield and Janice Min take stock of where the industry is heading in 2025 with cautious optimism. Plus: The gang dissects the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni smear campaign revelations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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