The Algorithm Is Hollywood’s New God
The Gist
Mike Pesca
4.4 • 3.6K Ratings
🗓️ 29 July 2025
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Filmmaker Justine Bateman argues that Hollywood’s creative spark has been smothered by fear, corporate consolidation, and algorithmic decision-making. In her view, true artistry requires fearlessness—and God, or something like it—but today’s studios follow data, not inspiration. Also in the episode: Trump’s presidential library fund keeps growing thanks to defamation settlements and nearly launched merch like MAGA-branded Instant Pots. In the Spiel, The European Union's timid trade posture, favoring compromise over confrontation in the face of bombastic American tactics.
Produced by Corey Wara
Production Coordinator Ashley Khan
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I've got a great substack live coming up. I mean, I assume we haven't done it yet. It's live |
| 0:05.4 | on July 30th at 6 p.m. The guest is Chris Dalariva, who writes the can't get much higher |
| 0:13.6 | substack. It's about music, the billboard charts. He uses an empirical analysis to figure out |
| 0:19.1 | why pop songs are successful or unsuccessful |
| 0:21.8 | or different trends. |
| 0:23.0 | But I gave him an assignment and giving you the assignment. |
| 0:26.4 | Watch the Billy Joel documentary. |
| 0:29.2 | I should say I think part one, only part one is out. |
| 0:31.6 | It takes three hours to watch part one. |
| 0:33.2 | It doesn't even get to the nylon curtain. |
| 0:35.9 | So I may be right. |
| 0:37.4 | You may be crazy or vice versa. |
| 0:39.2 | But I think it's a great documentary. |
| 0:41.0 | And we're going to talk all things Joel, a human being who never gets called by his last name, |
| 0:46.1 | nor does the other piano man, John. |
| 0:48.7 | Remember when Joel and John were touring? |
| 0:51.4 | Yeah, Elton, Billy Joel. |
| 0:53.8 | And I'm going to get |
| 0:55.0 | Chris's insight |
| 0:56.2 | on Billy Joel, |
| 0:57.5 | the chart topper, |
| 0:58.7 | the musician, |
... |
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