Newsroom

News & Stories

Announcements, events and behind-the-scenes from across Art City's divisions. Like the stories you love and save them for later.

19 Oct 2026Casting

Search for Young Talent in Australia and Background Casting Call for Universal's Freefall

Two key developments have been announced in auditioning and casting:

AACTA Young Stars 2027 in Australia: The initiative continues its search for young actors aged 13–18 via self-tape auditions. Renowned casting director John Papsidera sits on the judging panel, with a submission deadline of October 23, 2026.
Casting Call for Universal’s Freefall: Producers for Freefall, starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, are casting background actors and individuals with real-world experience, such as law enforcement officers.
Source: AACTA & Universal Pictures Casting Call

Casting

Oct 19, 2026

Search for Young Talent in Australia and Background Casting Call for Universal's Freefall

Two key developments have been announced in auditioning and casting: AACTA Young Stars 2027 in Australia: The initiative continues its search for young actors aged 13–18 via self-tape auditions. Renowned casting director John Papsidera sits on the judging panel, with a submission deadline of October 23, 2026. Casting Call for Universal’s Freefall: Producers for Freefall, starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler, are casting background actors and individuals with real-world experience, such as law enforcement officers. Source: AACTA & Universal Pictures Casting Call

Music

Oct 19, 2026

Global Concerns Over AI Music Training and Goldman Sachs Predicts Global Music Revenue to Hit $198B by 2035

Two major updates have emerged concerning the economics and copyright landscape of the music industry: Copyright & AI Concerns: On October 19, 2026, the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) warned against proposed Australian copyright law changes aimed at facilitating AI model training without proper licensing or creator compensation. Goldman Sachs' Growth Forecast: In its new Music in the Air report, investment bank Goldman Sachs projects that global music industry revenues will soar to $198.1 billion by 2035, driven by surging paid streaming subscriptions, price hikes, and a booming live concert market. Source: ICMP & Goldman Sachs Report

Three Films Start Shooting in Oklahoma & Historical Drama in Spain, Netflix Comedy Kicks Off, and Chicago Boosts Hollywood Incentives

Productions

Oct 19, 2026

Three Films Start Shooting in Oklahoma & Historical Drama in Spain, Netflix Comedy Kicks Off, and Chicago Boosts Hollywood Incentives

Four major updates have emerged from the global film and television production industry: Production Starts in Oklahoma: According to the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, three new film projects (To Make the World Quiet, His Heart, and Pipe Cleaner Boy) begin shooting today, October 19, 2026, leveraging the state’s financial production incentives. Netflix Comedy in Madrid: Netflix announced on October 16, 2026, the start of principal photography for its new comedy film Rata (a remake of the French film Radin!), starring Paco León and directed by Oriol Pérez Alcaraz. Chicago Courts Hollywood Giants: The City of Chicago is aggressively competing for major studios like Netflix, Disney, and Amazon by boosting tax incentives to 35% through the Greenlight Chicago & Illinois initiative. Historical Feature Blanco Begins Filming: Directed by Félix Viscarret, the historical drama Blanco begins shooting on October 19, 2026, exploring the human and journalistic dimensions of the 1997 ETA kidnapping of Miguel Ángel Blanco. Source: Official Production Press Releases

Universal Pictures Content Group acquires Harry Styles concert documentary

Distribution

Oct 19, 2026

Universal Pictures Content Group acquires Harry Styles concert documentary

Filmmaker John Wilson is capturing the pop star's historic 30-show Madison Square Garden run for an upcoming feature co-produced by Peanut World Pictures and Styles. Universal Pictures Content Group has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to a feature documentary chronicling pop singer Harry Styles during his record-setting 30-show residency at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Directed by John Wilson, best known for the HBO documentary series How To with John Wilson and The History of Concrete, the film is co-produced by Universal Pictures Content Group, Styles, and Peanut World Pictures. A theatrical release through Universal is reportedly being considered, though distribution terms have not yet been finalised and no release date has been set. Filming began at the arena in August, according to Variety. The completed feature will combine live performance footage with behind-the-scenes material focusing on crew members and the audience during the run. The Madison Square Garden engagement, running from August 26 through October 31, marks the largest single run in the venue's history. The shows also featured the live debut of an unreleased song, "What Is Enough", on the second anniversary of Liam Payne's death. The residency is part of Styles's global "Together, Together" tour supporting his fourth album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. The artist is set to play Australian stadium dates later this year before resuming the tour across North America and Europe through 2027. Source: consequence.net

When AI Knows How Much You Are Willing to Pay; The Risks of Surveillance Pricing

Marketing

Oct 19, 2026

When AI Knows How Much You Are Willing to Pay; The Risks of Surveillance Pricing

«Imagine this; you and someone else are buying the exact same product, at the same store, at the exact same time, yet you both see a different price! Not because of a discount, but because AI knows who is willing to pay more.» This is one of the major concerns increasingly being discussed in the market alongside the rapid growth of AI Pricing and the phenomenon of "Surveillance Pricing." According to an Associated Press report, the use of AI, dynamic pricing, and digital price tags in retail stores has raised significant questions among consumers regarding transparency and price fairness. The problem isn't just the speed at which prices change. The real concern is this: What happens if a customer's personal data is used to evaluate exactly how much each individual is able and willing to pay? This is where the delicate line between "Personalization" and "Surveillance Pricing" becomes clear. In the former, data is used to provide you with a better, more relevant offer. In the latter, your data becomes a tool to estimate your purchasing power and impose the highest possible price on you. What is the lesson for marketers? A personalization strategy only creates value up to the point where it does not destroy consumer trust. Customers appreciate personalized offers, but if they feel a brand is using their data to figure out "how much more money they can extract," the very data meant to improve the customer experience will permanently destroy that trust. In the age of AI, the strategic question isn't just: "What can we do with customer data?", but rather the most critical question is: "What shouldn't we do with customer data?". Ultimately, AI might find the perfect price to maximize profit; but if that price results in the loss of customer trust, the brand will have paid a far heavier price.

Casting

Oct 18, 2026

Zendaya Boards New Sci-Fi Project, and Casting Call Opens for Ramy Youssef's Film

Two major casting updates have been announced in the film industry Zendaya's New Project: Actress Zendaya has joined an upcoming A24 project directed by Civil War filmmaker Alex Garland. The film's title remains under wraps, with production expected to begin in 2027. Casting for Ramy Youssef's Film: According to Backstage, a new A24 feature written and directed by Ramy Youssef and featuring Sharon Stone is casting two supporting roles for actors aged 25–50 of Middle Eastern or West African descent (with one role requiring English as a second language). Source: PEOPLE & Backstage

Mediawan acquires Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine from Candle Media

Distribution

Oct 18, 2026

Mediawan acquires Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine from Candle Media

The Paris-based production powerhouse will integrate the banner alongside Chernin Entertainment and See-Saw Films, with Witherspoon investing an undisclosed sum and joining the group board. Paris-headquartered studio Mediawan has acquired Hello Sunshine, the production banner and intellectual property catalogue led by Reese Witherspoon, purchasing the business from Candle Media. Under the agreement, Witherspoon is contributing an undisclosed personal investment to help facilitate the transaction, though comprehensive financial terms have not been disclosed. The acquisition covers the company's development pipeline along with Reese's Book Club, which maintains a direct audience across millions of readers. Following the completion of the deal, Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine co-founder Seth Rodsky will join the Mediawan board of directors alongside representatives from the French group. The sale marks the conclusion of a five-year period under Candle Media, the Blackstone-backed venture founded by former Disney executive Kevin Mayer, which bought the banner at a reported valuation of roughly $900m. Hello Sunshine was established in 2016 with backing from Jesse Jacobs and Chernin through The Chernin Group, assembling a catalogue that features The Morning Show, Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere, Where the Crawdads Sing, and the Apple TV project Lucky. The company had previously reorganized its executive ranks roughly one year ago following the departure of chief executive Sarah Harden. Backed by private equity firm KKR, Mediawan oversees nearly 100 production labels globally, including Plan B Entertainment, See-Saw Films, and Chernin Entertainment. Mediawan said the move provides Hello Sunshine with access to worldwide production infrastructure across five continents while maintaining the label's creative independence. Witherspoon noted that Mediawan has built a global independent studio by prioritizing creators, aligning with her long-term vision for the production company. Source: vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com

Marketing

Oct 18, 2026

When the Algorithm Makes a Mistake and the Brand Pays the Price; Why National Trust Paused Its Campaigns

«Artificial intelligence can speed up production and cut costs, but a minor algorithmic error can deal a massive blow to your brand's trust and reputation!» The National Trust, one of the UK's largest and most renowned conservation charities for historic and natural places, was forced to halt all its advertising campaigns on TikTok. The reason? A glaring error discovered in content generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The issue began with an ad for the organization's membership campaign, in which the AI included factually incorrect information about one of the historic sites. Upon discovering this, the Trust didn't just delete the flawed ad; it paused the entire campaign to conduct a thorough review of its systems and its content creation and verification processes. This incident serves as a stark example of the risks associated with "AI Hallucination"—when AI presents false information in a highly confident and convincing manner. Why is this important for marketers? This is a major wake-up call, especially when we consider (as mentioned earlier in the Bench Media study) that 38% of marketing executives are willing to approve AI recommendations without any human review. The lesson here is simple: the speed of AI must never replace human fact-checking. Artificial intelligence is excellent for generating ideas and accelerating the creative process, but when a brand's name and logo are attached to the final output, the liability falls entirely on the brand, not the algorithm. In the era of AI, the real competition in the market isn't just about who can produce content the fastest; it is about who builds the best systems to review, verify, and protect their brand's hard-earned trust.

Music

Oct 18, 2026

US Lawsuit Targets Concert Ticket Rescaling, and Catalog Music Surges on Spotify

Two major updates have emerged from the global music industry: Ticket Resale Lawsuit: The US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have filed a lawsuit against REPS & Company for illegally acquiring and reselling over 18.5 million concert and event tickets valued at more than $1.3 billion using automated mass-account systems. Catalog Music Surge on Spotify: A new analysis by Music Business Worldwide reveals that older catalog music is increasingly dominating Spotify’s top-streaming charts throughout 2026, making the competition significantly tougher for brand-new releases. Source: Music Business Worldwide & FTC

Film Production Updates: US Tax Incentive Proposed, LAIKA Pushes Stop-Motion Limits, and Tyler Perry Studios Expands

Productions

Oct 18, 2026

Film Production Updates: US Tax Incentive Proposed, LAIKA Pushes Stop-Motion Limits, and Tyler Perry Studios Expands

Three major updates have emerged from the US film and television production industry: US Tax Incentive Proposal: A legislative bill titled the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act has been introduced to Congress, proposing a 20% federal tax incentive for film and TV projects with budgets over $1 million and at least 75% domestic production. LAIKA's New Film: LAIKA revealed details about Wildwood, directed by Travis Knight, a monumental stop-motion project that took 7 years to make and involved over 1,000 crew members. Tyler Perry Studios: A former 368-acre military base in Atlanta has been transformed into a massive production hub—hosting major projects like Black Panther—and is integrating virtual production technology in partnership with Synapse. Source: Official Production Press Releases

Sky UK acquires full Little Princess catalogue alongside wider European deals

Distribution

Oct 18, 2026

Sky UK acquires full Little Princess catalogue alongside wider European deals

Banijay Kids & Family Distribution has licensed the complete animated preschool series to Sky UK while securing additional territory agreements across the Nordics, Italy, and Slovenia. Banijay Kids & Family Distribution has finalized international licensing agreements for Little Princess, placing the entire animated library with Sky UK alongside multiple European platform sales. Commercial arm Banijay Kids & Family Distribution has sold the complete multi-season catalogue and specials of the preschool series to Sky UK for broadcast and streaming across the territory. The animated programme is produced by The Illuminated Film Company, with Banijay overseeing worldwide distribution rights. The distributor also closed deals across Europe for earlier runs of the show. Nordisk Film picked up seasons one through three and the specials for SVOD availability in the Nordics, while Italian platform aggregator TIMVISION and Slovenian public broadcaster RTV Slovenia both acquired the first two seasons. Adapted from the book series by author and illustrator Tony Ross, the animated show first debuted in 2006 and has aired across more than 140 international territories. Julia Rowlands, senior vice president of sales, co-productions and acquisitions at Banijay Kids & Family, said the agreements reflect sustained buyer appetite for established intellectual property that can cut through a competitive market. Source: banijay.com

Disney licenses Percy Jackson and Pixar films to Netflix in short-term deal

Distribution

Oct 17, 2026

Disney licenses Percy Jackson and Pixar films to Netflix in short-term deal

The multi-title agreement covers limited three-month streaming windows for selected franchises alongside catalogue animated features, while core Disney-branded content remains exclusive to the company's own platforms. Disney has agreed to license a collection of film and television titles to Netflix, making select franchise entries available for limited windows while retaining exclusivity for its core branded catalog. Under the terms announced on Friday, the first two seasons of Percy Jackson and the Olympians will stream worldwide for three months starting October 4, alongside all five Ice Age feature films ahead of the theatrical debut of Ice Age: Boiling Point early next year. The arrangement also encompasses the drama series Will Trent, followed by global rollouts for Disney and Pixar animated features including Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Elio in early 2027. Disney affirmed that flagship Disney-branded intellectual property will largely continue to stream solely on its proprietary direct-to-consumer services and linear television networks. Speaking on Disney's August earnings call, chief executive Josh D'Amaro cautioned against shifting away from direct streaming toward broad third-party syndication, noting that licensing remains a volatile, lumpy business that could harm the studio strategically and financially. The limited Netflix windowing follows a similar catalogue licensing agreement Netflix secured in July for AMC Global Media's The Walking Dead. The licensing initiative comes as Disney reported quarterly revenue growth of 7 percent and a 21 percent rise in operating income, backed by a 13 percent operating margin in streaming and $10 billion in experiences revenue. As management raises annual share repurchases to at least $9 billion, Disney+ is slated to incorporate gaming and merchandising elements beginning in spring 2027. Source: vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com

Wonderphil Entertainment Acquires International Rights To MR RED BEAN

Distribution

Oct 16, 2026

Wonderphil Entertainment Acquires International Rights To MR RED BEAN

The global sales deal covers all international distribution territories outside Australia and New Zealand theatrical windows for the 91-minute Australian indie comedy-drama. Wonderphil Entertainment has secured exclusive worldwide distribution rights, excluding Australian and New Zealand theatrical releases, for director Tony Chu's feature film Mr Red Bean. The 91-minute comedy-drama features Australian actors Alan Zhu and Imogen Trevillion. Written and directed by Chu, the story follows a misunderstood protagonist in Sydney who turns into a viral sensation while administering unorthodox first-aid treatments to strangers, blending live-action framing with anime influences for family audiences. Chu explained that the production was designed to bridge cultural divides through an imaginative story, while Wonderphil's Phil Gorn remarked that "in these times, maybe a crazy little comedy is what the planet needs." Source: filmink.com.au

13 of 284