Erich Schwartzel
@erichschwartzel
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Reporter, The Wall Street Journal. Author of RED CARPET, a book on how China came to rule over Hollywood. Next: EMPIRE, a book about Star Wars.
Los Angeles
Joined November 2008
I am working now on my second book: a dive into Star Wars and its singular place in our culture and commerce. It will be published by @penguinpress, and it will be called EMPIRE. More information — and ways to get in touch with tips or thoughts — is here:
erichschwartzel.com
Erich Schwartzel is currently at work on his second book: EMPIRE, an examination of Star Wars and its singular place in global commerce, politics, and culture. This will be his second book with...
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NBCUniversal just got a very expensive new employee. My 2023 story with @JBFlint on Taylor Sheridan's exorbitant spending, down to the cows that cost $25 a head and the show that costs $500,000 a minute to produce. https://t.co/kxcyJSpOtC
wsj.com
Taylor Sheridan writes most of the company’s hits, giving him clout to dominate the big-budget productions through his network of commercial projects, pushing costs to among the highest in Hollywood.
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SPIKE LEE processes the world through movie titles, and on a Monday morning in Fort Greene, there’s one that keeps coursing through his mind. The Year of Living Dangerously. From my afternoon with the poet laureate of Brooklyn, for WSJ Magazine: https://t.co/PoI1OnO6bJ
wsj.com
Thirty-six years after “Do the Right Thing,” the director remains the unofficial poet of Brooklyn.
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David Geffen Left Hollywood a King. Now a Messy Divorce Might Ruin Everything. @erichschwartzel
wsj.com
The entertainment legend wanted to spend retirement donating his $9 billion and sailing on his yacht. Instead he’s starting his 80s in an explosive battle with an ex who is a half-century his junior.
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From @WSJ: David Geffen Left Hollywood a King. Now a Messy Divorce Might Ruin Everything. by @erichschwartzel Instead of retiring on his yacht and spending his time donating his $9B fortune, he's now battling an ex 50yrs his junior. #Longreads #Longform
https://t.co/zqqQSW6lrg
wsj.com
The entertainment legend wanted to spend retirement donating his $9 billion and sailing on his yacht. Instead he’s starting his 80s in an explosive battle with an ex who is a half-century his junior.
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Inside the reality show that is David Geffen's divorce. From @erichschwartzel Te billionaire is fighting for his fortune in an explosive divorce with a model 50 years his junior. What went so wrong?
wsj.com
The entertainment legend wanted to spend retirement donating his $9 billion and sailing on his yacht. Instead he’s starting his 80s in an explosive battle with an ex who is a half-century his junior.
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My latest for @WSJMag: The story of David Geffen vs. Donovan Michaels. It's a messy divorce drama that includes gay-for-pay porn, life-changing wealth, and a family in Michigan who had never heard of David Geffen before learning he was their in-law. https://t.co/vprXPqe9gf
wsj.com
The entertainment legend wanted to spend retirement donating his $9 billion and sailing on his yacht. Instead he’s starting his 80s in an explosive battle with an ex who is a half-century his junior.
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A Dwayne Johnson deep fake on the new "Moana" tells you a lot about Disney's hopes, fears, and stagnation on AI. My latest story, w/ @jtoonkel
https://t.co/x1JoBqjV8P
wsj.com
The studio is caught between how to use artificial intelligence in filmmaking and how to protect its characters against it—and a “Moana” deepfake and a cursing Darth Vader have provided a few early...
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A ‘Moana’ deepfake and a cursing Darth Vader: Inside Disney’s AI trials
wsj.com
The studio is caught between how to use artificial intelligence in filmmaking and how to protect its characters against it—and a “Moana” deepfake and a cursing Darth Vader have provided a few early...
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Favorite reader comment on this story from @erichschwartzel & @jtoonkel: "I'm already tired of all the AI slop in movies. Just don't tell my AI girlfriend I said that. " https://t.co/5UeVrmUxP1 via @WSJ
wsj.com
The studio is caught between how to use artificial intelligence in filmmaking and how to protect its characters against it—and a “Moana” deepfake and a cursing Darth Vader have provided a few early...
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A ‘Moana’ deepfake and a cursing Darth Vader: Inside Disney’s AI trials. Our latest w/ @erichschwartzel
https://t.co/XoJHaM4vxM via @WSJ
wsj.com
The studio is caught between how to use artificial intelligence in filmmaking and how to protect its characters against it—and a “Moana” deepfake and a cursing Darth Vader have provided a few early...
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More than 30 years ago, Donald Trump saw a performance of "Les Miserables" on Broadway (Debbie Gibson was playing Eponine). On Wednesday he'll see a second--this time at a Kennedy Center he has bent to his will. My latest story, w/ @jtoonkel & @johnjurg
https://t.co/H39djmLg4x
wsj.com
Ticket sales are down amid Trump’s overhaul of national arts center, which includes ‘common sense’ programming, a prayer wall and refurbished decor; $2 million gold-tier fundraiser.
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Ticket sales are down amid Trump’s planned overhaul of the Kennedy Center, which includes ‘common sense’ programming, a prayer wall and refurbished decor. W/@erichschwartzel @johnjurg
wsj.com
Ticket sales are down amid Trump’s overhaul of national arts center, which includes ‘common sense’ programming, a prayer wall and refurbished decor; $2 million gold-tier fundraiser.
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A scene from Biden's post-presidency: In March, Biden attended the opening of the Broadway revival of “Othello,” the drama about a military commander who is deceived by those he perceived to be his allies. My latest, w/ @AnnieLinskey & @EmilyGlazer: https://t.co/W6qNmZUJ0W
wsj.com
A fight against cancer and a struggle to amass an inheritance for his family are setting up a somber final chapter.
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From McDonald's to L'Oreal and BMW, the refrain of growth in China has been replaced by slumping sales. “It’s unnecessary to stick to foreign brands,” said one Sichuan woman. Now American brands face an even bigger test. My latest piece, w/ @QiLiyan
https://t.co/zcTcrfq6KK
wsj.com
The tariff fight is deepening Chinese consumers’ preference for domestic goods.
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Trump’s Trade War Deepens Threat to U.S. Brands in China—Tariff fight arrives as Chinese consumers are turning to domestic goods @QiLiyan @erichschwartzel
https://t.co/eSdmdA2SLJ
https://t.co/eSdmdA2SLJ
wsj.com
The tariff fight is deepening Chinese consumers’ preference for domestic goods.
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Disney’s New ‘Snow White’ Movie Is Making Pretty Much Everyone Mad. “Early reviews have been positive if you don’t count the online mobs.” Fun read by @erichschwartzel
wsj.com
The live-action remake of the studio’s beloved classic managed to hit every possible cultural land mine on its journey to theaters.
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Just reupping this piece here. Shaken and stirred: James Bond is stuck in a tug-of-war between the family that controls 007 and his new overlords at Amazon w/@erichschwartzel
wsj.com
A clash between the Broccoli family, which has creative control over 007, and the e-commerce giant, which owns the franchise, has put Bond’s future on pause.
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Laurene Powell Jobs was going to take over the Kennedy Center if Harris won, per this WSJ heave. https://t.co/brUbugiuKG
wsj.com
After mostly steering clear of the national cultural center during his first term, Trump has moved quickly to take control as he returns to office.
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