On today’s episode, Variety’s Elsa Keslassy explains the significance of the big move by France to expand its national production tax incentive and why it matters to the U.S. And Jazz Tangcay reports on Variety’s Artisans Awards that were handed out at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

On today&rsquo;s episode, Variety&rsquo;s Elsa Keslassy explains the significance of <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/global/france-tax-rebate-hollywood-shoots-actors-salaries-1236655753/">the big move by France to expand its national production tax incentive</a> and why it matters to the U.S. And Jazz Tangcay reports on Variety&rsquo;s <a href="https://variety.com/2026/artisans/news/variety-artisans-awards-2026-santa-barbara-film-festival-1236641014/">Artisans Awards that were handed out at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.</a>

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.

Strictly Business

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment on Variety's weekly interview series.

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment on Variety's weekly interview series.

Variety's Strictly Business

Daily Variety -- France Adds Above the Line Costs to Production Tax Incentives; Variety Artisans Awards at Santa Barbara Film Festival

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/016a9718-eeea-461d-8ccb-b3ed0152b952/transcript

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down a typically weak Super Bowl weekend at the turnstiles in the U.S., and she examines “Zootopia 2’s” staying power at the international box office. Marc Malkin presses Netflix’s Ted Sarandos about the fate of the Warner Bros. Discovery deal at the Directors Guild Awards.

On today&rsquo;s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety&rsquo;s Rebecca Rubin <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/melania-box-office-plunges-send-help-stays-first-slow-super-bowl-1236656120/">breaks down a typically weak Super Bowl weekend at the turnstiles in the U.S.</a>, and she examines <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/stray-kids-k-pop-concert-doc-tops-global-box-office-zootopia-2-milestone-1236656185/">&ldquo;Zootopia 2&rsquo;s&rdquo; staying power at the international box office</a>. Marc Malkin presses <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/ted-sarandos-trump-netflix-warner-deal-1236655948/">Netflix&rsquo;s Ted Sarandos about the fate of the Warner Bros. Discovery deal</a> at the Directors Guild Awards.

Daily Variety -- Super Bowl Stomps Domestic Box Office, 'Zootopia 2' Rules Global Turnstiles; Ted Sarandos Has Confidence in WBD Deal

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dc81f1d3-5ee9-4ba6-9ffb-b3ec0131d183/transcript

On today’s episode, Russell Hollander, national executive director of the Directors Guild of America, gives a wide-ranging interview as Hollywood contract negotiations begin Feb. 9 with SAG-AFTRA sitting down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Hollander addresses the precipitous drop in TV and film employment, efforts to secure a federal production tax incentive, "raging healthcare inflation," what the guild wants to achieve on AI and why the DGA is not first up at the table with the AMPTP this time around.

On today&rsquo;s episode, Russell Hollander, national executive director of the Directors Guild of America, gives a wide-ranging interview as Hollywood contract negotiations begin Feb. 9 with SAG-AFTRA sitting down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Hollander addresses the precipitous drop in TV and film employment, efforts to secure a federal production tax incentive, "raging healthcare inflation," what the guild wants to achieve on AI and why the DGA is not first up at the table with the AMPTP this time around.

DGA Chief on TV and Film's Downturn, Fighting for a Federal Production Tax Incentive and Hollywood's Health Plan Problems: 'Our No. 1 Priority is 'Jobs, Jobs, Jobs'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5b557d41-b6f7-4601-8d12-b3e9011d8ca3/transcript

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Daniel D’Addario details his behnd-the- scenes reporting on “Love Story,” the latest installment of the FX franchise, this time focusing on the romance between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. And Jennifer Maas explains how she pulled off a meeting of great minds of D&D -- Brennan Lee Mulligan and Matthew Mercer -- for a video that is burning up Variety’s YouTube page.

On today&rsquo;s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety&rsquo;s Daniel D&rsquo;Addario details his behnd-the- scenes reporting on &ldquo;Love Story,&rdquo; the latest installment of the FX franchise, this time focusing on<a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/features/love-story-fx-jfk-jr-carolyn-bessette-sex-politics-1236648235/"> the romance between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.</a> And Jennifer Maas explains how she pulled off a meeting of great minds of<a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/brennan-lee-mulligan-matthew-mercer-critical-role-dimension-20-1236644036/"> D&amp;D -- Brennan Lee Mulligan and Matthew Mercer -- for a video</a> that is burning up Variety&rsquo;s YouTube page.

Daily Variety -- COVER STORY: 'Love Story' Revisits JFK Jr., Carolyn Bessette and the Kennedy Mystique; Top D&D Game Masters Meet

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/790fc27f-9420-4739-9bd0-b3e801636267/transcript

Daily Variety -- France Adds Above the Line Costs to Production Tax Incentives; Variety Artisans Awards at Santa Barbara Film Festival

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