Emerald Pictures has expanded the sales territory handled by independent creative management firm MilkToast, which took on East Coast representation for the production company back in 2020. While continuing its East Coast duties, MilkToast now has taken on the West Coast market as well. MilkToast’s Bryan Farhy and Jen Herrera will head up sales on the West Coast for Emerald, the shop co-founded by Mara Miliฤeviฤ and John Duffin in 2019. Emerald’s directorial roster includes Alexander Alexandrov, Gabrielle Blackwood, Kosta, Kay Lindhout, Peter O’Brien, and the talent at Camp David in Sweden (such as Camp David founders Robert Jitzmark and Sebastian Reed). MilkToast was formed by Philip Fox-Mills in 2016. Rounding out the MilkToast team are Jake Strom and Dani Ostrowski on the East Coast….
Comcast has appointed Toni Murphy as sr. VP of sales & marketing at its Central Division headquarters in Atlanta. In this role, Murphy will lead that division’s sales and marketing functions, including overseeing brand and product marketing, sales and customer retention strategies for Comcast’s largest operating division which spans 12 states. With more than 15 years of financial, strategic planning and operational experience, Murphy has held multiple leadership positions at Comcast. Most recently, Murphy served as the sr. VP of the Keystone region, where she led the operational, strategic and financial performance of that four-state territory. Murphy has also served as the VP of sales & marketing for the Keystone region, VP of Comcast Business, as well as the VP of project management office & customer experience. Prior to joining Comcast, Murphy worked in private equity at The Gores Group in investment banking at UBS Investment Bank….
Is “Glicked” The New “Barbenheimer”? “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” Hit Theater Screens
"Barbenheimer" was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn't stopped people from trying to make "Glicked" โ or even "Babyratu" โ happen.
The counterprogramming of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office.
And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, "Saw Patrol" ).
This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation "Wicked" opens Friday against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic "Gladiator II." Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy โ it was already halfway there before the name game began: "Wickiator," "Wadiator," "Gladwick" and even the eyebrow raising "Gladicked" have all been suggested.
"'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more," actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of "Gladiator II" this week. "I think we should all band around 'Glicked.' It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it."
As with "Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, "Glicked" also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins; The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging... Read More