A day to remember. Happy Monday, Future Party people. Whether you’re celebrating Juneteenth, gearing up for the first day of summer (this Wednesday, ICYWW), or still spending time with Dad, we hope you’re making the most of the long holiday weekend. If you’re in NY or LA and are looking for something to do, we recommend checking out Asteroid City. It might be Wes Anderson’s most Wes Anderson movie ever (and we’re very much on board with that).
In other news… Hollywood’s elite battle for IMAX screens, the Grammys disqualify AI, and Rivian disrupts the dealership experience.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Summer tentpoles battle for IMAX screens
The Future. Next month, both Oppenheimer and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part I are hitting the big screens… but both movies are in a pitched battle for the largest screen of all: IMAX. While Mission would likely make more at the box office, IMAX is staying true to its word to keep Oppenheimer on its screen for most of the month. More than anything, the high-stakes battle may demonstrate that while moviegoing may take a while to recover, there’s never been more demand to watch blockbusters in the most epic way possible.
No Cruise control
IMAX is hosting the biggest cinematic fight of the summer: Chris Nolan vs. Tom Cruise.
The battle: Mission: Impossible is only playing in IMAX for one week before Oppenheimer rolls into town and takes over all the screens. So, Tom Cruise is calling exhibitors and trying to get them to reconsider, citing the success of Top Gun: Maverick.
The context: The problem is that Nolan, the closest thing IMAX has to a brand ambassador, got Universal to agree to rent out all 401 IMAX screens in North America for three weeks as part of his deal for Oppenheimer — an agreement made over two years ago.
The stakes: While domestic theater attendance is still down 33% from 2019, IMAX is up 50%. That means people really want to see movies in large premium formats, which can account for 30-40% of a blockbuster’s overall revenue.
While Tom Cruise is a guy used to getting what he wants — just look at the behind-the-scenes struggle to keep Top Gun from selling to a streamer — there’s not much Paramount (the studio behind Mission) can do to change IMAX’s mind. The exhibitor has an outsized hand in determining what movies can play on its screen and for how long.
But, there still may be hope for Mission’s chance to dominate the biggest screen. CEO Rich Gelfond told Variety, “I would hope after Oppenheimer’s run, we can bring back Mission.”
MUSIC
“Keep your metal off my Grammy.” // Illustration by Kate Walker
The Grammys are for humans only
The Future. The Grammys Board of Trustees announced new rules for the award show this Friday, with one effectively disqualifying AI-generated works. While the rules look cut and dry at first glance, they may actually leave loopholes for more AI-assistance than expected… or desired.
Muting the machines
The Grammys’ new rule dictates that “only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a GRAMMY Award. A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any Category.”
And if a work that does incorporate some AI wants to be considered, it must:
Have a “meaningful” amount of human work overall
Possess a “meaningful” (there’s that word again) amount of human work in whatever category it's being submitted for
And “the author(s) of any AI material incorporated into the work” won’t be eligible
While the Grammys seem to be positioning themselves as anti-AI (as most arts and entertainment organizations are), the wording may inadvertently lead to confusion — What is considered meaningful? Who is the author of AI-generated content? Are the authors of copyrighted material used to generate AI-assisted works barred from eligibility?
Yeah, we have questions… and we’re sure musicians, labels, rights holders, and everyone else also do. Well, everyone but Drake and The Weeknd, even if they’re no fans of AI.
TRANSPORTATION
Rivian powers a car dealership disruptor
The Future. Rivian is hoping to ease people into one of its cars with a new, more relaxed take on the showroom, taking the sleek storefronts popular with EV startups to a new level. By uncentering the vehicle in the showroom and leaning into experiences, people who walk through the “Spaces” may be subconsciously drawn to purchase a new Rivian. Whether that solves the company’s financial struggles in the short term and convinces customers to give a startup a shot is another question.
EV as a lifestyle
Rivian is giving customers a peak under the hood of its new “Rivian Spaces.”
The showrooms are more like community spaces, where families can hang out on vintage furniture, host events, plant a garden… and, oh, check out one or two cars.
The Spaces also have parts and materials on display, along with materials educating customers on the benefits and ease of going electric.
Additionally, employees can help customers plan road trips, which helps people understand Rivian’s unique features and “demystify” what EVs are capable of.
The flagship location just opened in NYC’s Meatpacking District, with additional locations set to open in a former movie theater in Laguna Beach, California, a former gas station near Yosemite National Park in Groveland, California, and in Austin, Texas, which will have views of downtown and access to offroad trails.
But for those that needed a Rivian right away, the company sold excess inventory from its factory parking lot in Normal, Illinois. Call it physical DTC.
Highlights
The best curated daily stories from around the web
Media, Music, & Entertainment
As part of the deal for Regal parent company Cineworld to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy, top execs, including CEO Mooky Greidinger, are being forced out of the company (with a $35 million parachute)... while the creditors take control. Read more → variety
There was so much international travel to see Beyoncé for cheap in Stockholm last month that Danske Bank said the resulting spike in demand for hotels and restaurants led to a 2% increase in Sweden’s inflation rate. Read more → complex
Secretive artist Banksy’s first solo show in 14 years, Cut & Run, opened this past weekend in Glasgow, giving patrons an inside look into his process and exhibiting stencils used throughout his career. Read more → hypebeast
Fashion & E-Commerce
As the battle between human work and AI generation takes over the cultural conversation, a similar debate is brewing over the use of natural and synthetic fragrances in perfumes. Read more → highsnobiety
DTC brands are getting into manufacturing to take control of their supply. Read more → businessoffashion
AMEX and Metalwood Studio collaborated on a golf-fashion capsule that was accessible as a Web3 shop while on the green for this past weekend’s Men’s Golf Championship in LA. Read more → hypebeast
Tech, Web3, & AI
Virgin Galactic is starting its commercial space flights this month, with the first, Galactic 01, set to launch sometime between June 27th and June 30th. Read more → engadget
A case in Georgia, where ChatGPT accused a nationally-syndicated talk show of embezzling money, could set a precedent for whether a chatbot could be found guilty of defamation. Read more → fastcompany
According to a new study by McKinsey, generative AI could disrupt high-paying, knowledge work, especially those focused on collaboration and consultancy, more than any other type of job. Read more → insider
Creator Economy
Twitch has finally launched shoppable livestreams for third-party brands. Read more → tubefilter
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman is not just doubling down on his API price hikes that resulted in a subreddit protest, but is now taking aim at moderators, signaling he plans on changing platform rules to curb their power. Read more → techcrunch
PewDiePie, once YouTube’s most-subscribed creator, is partnering with creator commerce platform Amaze to help execute a brand refresh. Read more → tubefilter
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Editing by Nick Comney. Publishing by Darline Salazar