Blumhouse’s AI Scares

PRESENTED BY SHOPIFY

What’s up, soon-to-be weekend warriors? If you’re in the mood for a major boost of nostalgia, gaming company Analogue is set to release an upgraded 4K version of the Nintendo 64 early next year. That’s right. If you’re over the age of 30, your childhood dreams are about to come true all over again. And yes, it’ll play your old game cartridges. Time to dust off GoldenEye…

DAILY TOP TRENDS

Blumhouse Scares Up Some AI Short Films

Blumhouse and Meta announced a partnership to test the tech giant’s AI video generation tool, Movie Gen, kicking it off with the release of three short films that were made using it.

The Big Picture: Every major AI player is trying to break into Hollywood with a video-creating tool, so whoever gets the biggest buy-in may soon see their tool on the big screen — the best marketing for why the average consumer should adopt it.

Behind The Scenes: Blumhouse and Meta’s partnership may be the first high-profile case of generative AI video and audio being used in Hollywood.

• Blumhouse produced three shorts from filmmakers Casey Affleck, the Spurlock Sisters, and Aneesh Chaganty (i h8 ai, which you can watch here).

• The filmmakers worked with Meta’s researchers and provided feedback on the process of using the tool.

• Meta said that the company hopes to make Movie Gen a “useful tool for creativity and ensure its responsible use.”

• Blumhouse’s Jason Blum said, “These are going to be powerful tools for directors, and it’s important to engage the creative industry in their development to make sure they’re best suited for the job.”

Closing Credits: Movie Gen won’t be publicly available until next year (when it’ll be integrated into Instagram), but working with Hollywood talent ensures that the tool is being put through the wringer. It also demonstrates that Meta is keen to get buy-in from the creative class before it disrupts, just as it’s been doing with chatbots based on the likeness of celebrities. As long as Hollywood is willing to test the technology, Meta may generate a long-term re-entrance into the entertainment industry.

Go Deeper: OpenAI and Runway would also very much like to play in Hollywood.

Together With Shopify

From Passion To Profit: The Rise Of The Side Hustle

“When opportunity comes your way, you just have to take it,” says Madison Stefanis.

That’s exactly what Madison did when she built 35mm Co. from scratch out of her dorm room and left college with one semester to go.

Here’s how it went: Madison sold an old SLR film camera for $250. She realized that she could turn Gen Z’s obsession with nostalgia into a business — a vintage-style, reusable film camera company. She earned seven figures while still in school and now captures more than $4 million in yearly revenue.

35% of entrepreneurs juggle their businesses with regular 9-to-5 jobs, and 18% started as side hustles before going full-time. Entrepreneurship is no longer a one-size-fits-all thing. It can be built in a way that fits your lifestyle.

In other words, it’s the best time to become an entrepreneur. Shopify is your go-to for helping to make that happen.

Learn more today.

Noice Gives Creators A Cut Of The Company

Livestreaming platform Noice is giving creators who share content a share in the company.

Why It Hits: New social apps are a dime-a-dozen, so finding unique ways to get potential users invested in a platform may be giving them the opportunity to literally invest in their growth — a microcosm of the growing trend of having creators maintain ownership of their content.

Between The Streams: Noice, which has raised $27 million in funding so far, is taking some lessons from the blockchain without relying on the blockchain.

• As the streamer goes into open beta this month in the UK and EU, it’s allowing users to earn Partner Reward Units (PRUs) that can be “cashed out” if the company is acquired or IPOs.

• Users can earn PRUs by logging watch-time and engaging with viewers — so, the more you’re on the platform, the more money you can potentially make if the platform succeeds.

• One wrinkle: there’s little detail on how much a PRU is worth — i.e., what are the cents on the dollar?

The Future: The PRUs could be a boon for a popular livestreamer ready to make a move and bring their viewership with them. Despite livestreamers making Twitch what it is today, none got a cut of its billion-dollar sale to Amazon. Considering that Kick was able to break through this year, there may be enough of an appetite for streamers to give a novel platform like Noice a try.

DEEP DIVES

• Listen: Decoder chats with Digitas CEO Amy Lanzi about how creators are leveraging insights found through AI to supercharge influencer-driven advertising on social media.

• Watch: Forbes profiles Andrew Lau, who details his rise from intern to CEO of the startup unicorn Jellyfish by sticking with the execs who first hired him.

• Read: WSJ spotlights the insane rise in popularity of the WNBA over the past year, assisted by some new celebrity players.

You were split down the middle in yesterday’s poll: Are you into Batman?

“My favorite superhero. Growing up with Batman: The Animated Series in the 90s surely helped that cause.”

“Only peripherally. I like that he’s a smart guy without supernatural powers. You can aspire to be Batman.”

“Batman has a nostalgic appeal, and I’ll dip in every so often, but I find myself losing interest when the rest of the DC universe shows up and ruins my noir vibe.”

“Not as much as I used to be, but man, the new Penguin series on Max is outstanding!”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our Poll Of The Day newsletter so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

QUICK HITS

→ Entertainment / Media

🎢 Universal Orlando announced that its huge Epic Universe theme-park expansion is set to open May 22, 2025.

🗳️ Amazon is making its first move into TV news with an Election Night special hosted by veteran anchor Brian Williams.

🧇 Netflix is going all-out with Stranger Things collabs and experiences in the run-up to the final season.

→ Technology

🚗 Chinese EV startup BYD is winning the global race for electrification… so, the US is trying to keep the brand out.

💻 Squarespace is a private company again after being bought out by PE firm Permira for $7.2 billion.

🛻 Rivian is rolling out “car costumes” that change the screen themes to the DeLorean from Back to the Future or KITT from Knight Rider.

→ Fashion / E-commerce

👟 Billie Eilish and Converse have collabed on a signature shoe.

💸 Klarna is exploring launching a stock-trading tool similar to Robinhood.

🥡 Glovo is bringing social-sharing to its food-delivery app so you can see what your friends are eating.