Together with
McCallister money. Have you ever wondered how wealthy the family in Home Alone is? Well, thanks to the NYT, we now have an idea. The publication recently teamed up with the Federal Reserve to do a deep-dive into the McCallister’s finances, and the findings are pretty interesting.
Who knew Kevin was in the 1%?
In other news… CAA clones its clients, pickleball gets some competition, and MrBeast fuels a new American Dream.
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI Carrie Fisher in The Rise of Skywalker // Courtesy of Lucasfilm
CAA is multiplying its clients with AI
The Future. CAA is helping clients in-house create digital duplicates that they own and control, giving them more opportunities for work… and more opportunities for the Hollywood agency to make some commissions. With AI firms like Deep Voodoo (a CAA client) developing unique creative opportunities for talent, digital duplicates could even craft a new type of art form.
A-list, squared
CAA is cloning its clients in order to protect them.
The CAA Vault in LA creates the duplicates through four methods — scanning their body, movement, face, and voice.
The facility is a one-stop shop, with the entire process able to be completed in a single afternoon.
The composite captures are then used to build a verified deepfake that can be licensed for projects, used in reshoots or ADR, or simply held for posterity.
CAA clients own the duplicates, giving them complete control over how they’re used.
CAA felt that it needed to build a pipeline for creating the clones to push back against the studios already doing so without their permission — a major flashpoint during the strikes earlier this year.
But you don’t have to be a CAA client to access these kinds of services. AI startup Metaphysic also offers services to create, copyright, and store a deepfake. To note, they also have a strategic partnership with CAA, having worked with clients like Tom Hanks and Octavia Spencer.
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SPORTS
Break out the padel
Padel is trying to steal pickleball’s thunder
The Future. Padel, a racket-based sport that started in Mexico in the 1960s, is finding new life in the US on the heels of the pickleball craze. With pickleball quickly growing into a legit organized league with several celebrity backers, watch for padel to follow a similar trajectory.
Courting popularity
Move over, pickleball… padel is now all the racket.
The sport. It’s a cross between tennis and squash that’s played on a four-walled court with a net that’s a little bigger than a pickleball court. Also, it’s a doubles game only.
The reach. It has 25 million players across 90 countries, with the sport especially popular throughout Europe and Latin America.
The forecast. With celebrities like David Beckham and tennis star Andy Murray fans, the sport is blowing up in the US, with new facilities popping up in high-class high-rises, luxury condos, and multi-million dollar homes.
Padel is still in its infancy in the US, counting only 4.5 million players… and only an estimated 200 courts to service them.
In other words, padel is a real estate goldmine ripe for the mining.
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Are you a gifty?
‘Tis the season to be a giver. So, kudos to you.
Now, you can give a group gift without having to chase people down for money or wrangle them to sign a card. You can do it all online with GroupTogether.
Yes, we’re speaking to you, last-minute holiday shopper. Get your fam or friends together and send that perfect eGift card to whoever is still on your list.
It’s easy! All you have to do is:
CREATE: Invite people to join your group gift or card via WhatsApp, email, or SMS.
COLLECT: Share a safe link so your friends can click to pay and sign the card.
GIFT: Grab one of their 150 eGift cards.
CULTURE
Dystopia or documentary? // Illustration by Kait Cunniff with Midjourney
MrBeast might be Americans’ best form of debt relief
The Future. MrBeast’s videos increasingly involve competitions that reward people with cash for surviving difficult experiences. While the winners receive life-changing amounts of money, the rising popularity of this entertainment suggests that many Americans may see no other way out of crippling debt.
Squid reality
MrBeast’s recent content entertains by providing individual solutions to a larger problem.
The YouTuber’s most recent video awarded two strangers $185,000 each for spending 100 days trapped in a room together.
He’s also given people cash for surviving in a grocery store or fighting each other. He even did his own (non-lethal) version of Squid Game.
Demand for MrBeast’s money and content is only rising. US student debt has tripled since 2008, surpassing $1.77 trillion, and over 100 million Americans struggle with heavy medical debt.
Life or debt
MrBeast isn’t doing anything wrong — he’s helping people. But if unpleasant contests thrown by the rich are Americans’ best shot at a debt-free life, systemic solutions aren’t working. Improving them might be more productive than supporting the contests.
Wouldn’t it be nice to get health care without having to suffer for it?
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YOUR DAILY POLL
We ask the hard-hitting questions.
What’s your favorite Christmas song from a former Beatles member?
You were split 50/50 in yesterday’s poll: Are you celebrating the winter solstice today?
“I hate the dark. Ready for sun, sun, sun!”
“I live in Australia. It’s hot.”
“It’s just another day.”
“The daylight gets longer starting today! Summer is just around the corner.”
“A concert and drinks following. Heaven-gazing if the skies allow.”
Highlights
The best curated daily stories from around the web
Media, Music, & Entertainment
2023 was the worst year yet for grassroots music venues in the UK, which have suffered record closures and face more if they don’t receive government aid. Read More → nme
China’s waning demand for Hollywood movies coincides with a burst of investment and creativity in Chinese cinema — and a relaxation of the country’s prohibition against some US films. Read More → variety
Investors don’t like the proposed Warner/Paramount merger, as evidenced by drops in the stock prices of both companies yesterday. Read More → deadline
Fashion & E-Commerce
In partnership with Tiege Hanley
The fashion industry failed to keep its progressive promises this year, prizing white male designers and ultrathin models just like always. Read More → nyt
Rolex has been fined €91.6 million by regulators for banning the online sale of watches by Rolex-authorized distributors. Read More → hypebeast
“Green” branding in fashion rings as false to consumers — and has led to multiple lawsuits over deceptive marketing practices. Read More → tfl
Forget about resolutions. In 2024, it's all about good skin. And we know the secret — it's Tiege Hanley, the easy-to-use skincare system designed specifically for men. With Tiege Hanley, you'll receive all the basics — a daily face wash, exfoliating scrub, AM moisturizer with SPF 20, and PM moisturizer. And as a special offer for TFP readers, you'll receive an exclusive 30% off your first box and a free gift. Say goodbye to complicated skincare routines and hello to healthy, glowing skin. Try Tiege Hanley today and see the difference for yourself.
Tech, Web3, & AI
AI Santas are the new norm as corporations, police departments, and other organizations issue holiday messaging. Read More → wsj
X suffered a global outage yesterday, affecting over 94,000 users. Read More → theinformation
Microsoft partnered with music startup Suno to create Copilot, a text-to-music generative AI program. Read More → venturebeat
Creator Economy
Music creation is projected to snag a larger chunk of the creator economy, as AI programs enable amateurs to make music. Read More → musictech
According to Goldman Sachs, the creator economy is going strong and set to double in size by 2027. Read More → insider
A year’s worth of data suggests that creator startups are suffering but individual creators are making more money. Read More → theinformation
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Today’s email was written by David Vendrell and Luke Perrotta.
Edited by Nick Comney. Copy edited by Kait Cunniff.
Published by Darline Salazar.