Start-Up Backed by James Murdoch Launches AI Platform for Virtual Artists

Manori Ravindran International EditorRupert Murdoch’s News UK has backpedaled on plans to launch a Fox News-style U.K. news channel.

Laura Dern was among the Hollywood A-listers who were ready for a party tonight as the 93rd Academy Awards organized a safe in-person event at L.A.’s Union Station.That’s reflected in the look she put together with star stylist Elizabeth Stewart, a long-sleeve Oscar de la Renta gown featuring a skirt richly embellished with ostrich feathers, paired with jewels by Pomellato.

Marlee Matlin sparkles on the red carpet in a gorgeous black gown at the 2021 Academy Awards on Sunday (April 25) at Union Station in Los Angeles.

Media scion James Murdoch gave his current assessment of the state of play in the global entertainment business Tuesday during an opening keynote discussion at APOS, Asia's leading media summit.

Metallica‘s James Hetfield has made a special appearance at this year’s Little Kid Rock virtual benefit, where he stressed the importance of music education.The metal icon is known for his work with the music charity, having previously performed with children who have benefitted from their work at the Little Kids Rock Rockin’ the Bay Benefit in 2013.“Music has saved my life daily,” Hetfield told the virtual benefit on April 14.

Naman Ramachandran James Murdoch, former CEO of 21st Century Fox, and founder and CEO of Lupa Systems, is heralding a future that spotlights creator-led franchises.Delivering the opening keynote speech at the annual APOS conference, Murdoch said that the emergence of massive conglomerates meant that “there is less room for truly original work (and) lots more derivative work,” but with higher budgets, whether it’s in films or series.

EXCLUSIVE: Will Berson, who is up for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar as the co-writer of Warner Bros’ Judas and the Black Messiah, has joined A3 Artists Agency for representation.

James C. Nicola, whose tenure as artistic director of Off Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop included the development of such prominent stage works as Rent, Once,  Hadestown, What the Constitution Means to Me, Slave Play and David Bowie’s Lazarus, will leave the post next year, the company announced today.

EXCLUSIVE: Sister, the media co-venture owned by Elisabeth Murdoch, Stacey Snider, and Jane Featherstone, has posted a loss of $7.7M in its first 18 months of trading, during which it expanded its investment empire and was hit by the coronavirus production shutdown.

Moritz Polter, the executive producer behind Sky’s German series Das Boot and Netflix’s Freud, is setting up a production label with ITV Studios in Germany.

Naman Ramachandran Moritz Polter, executive producer of Sky series “Das Boot” and “Freud” for Netflix/ORF, is joining ITV Studios and establishing a high-end German scripted label.The label will be launched later in 2021.

Plex, a 12-year-old streaming provider with a unique combination of third-party access and management tools for users’ media assets, has raised $50 million in growth equity.

Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch responded to the Anti Defamation League’s call for the ouster of Tucker Carlson, concluding that the Fox News host was not advocating for “white replacement theory” in a segment last week.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentNetflix ushered in a new TV dawn in distribution. In reaction, Europe’s public broadcasters are driving a less vaunted but still significant revolution in production.

James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems has invested in Authentic Artists, a seed-stage startup that Wednesday launched a new AI-powered virtual artist platform for music, gaming and streaming applications.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorThe worlds of music and gaming are being pureed together by Authentic Artists, a startup touting an AI-powered virtual artist platform whose backers include James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems and Linkin Park cofounder Mike Shinoda.The San Francisco-based seed-stage company has created prototypes of 12 “supernatural” virtual-artist avatars, which it describes as ranging from a “lo-fi loving cyborg” to a “high-octane, half-iguana DJ.” Viewers are able to give those

Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights from Arclight Films, to distribute dramatic comedy Queen Bees which stars Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Ann-Margret, Jane Curtin, Christopher Lloyd, Loretta Devine, Elizabeth Mitchell, and French Stewart. A theatrical and PVOD release of June 11 is currently planned.

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LL Cool J is raising awareness about the COVID-19 vaccines.