432 - Indie Talk - 2026 Oscar Snubs, Ben Affleck Controversy, and Google's Micro Drama Strategy

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude Pro when you use our link – This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at --- Hello, Hello! In this Indie Talk, we dive deep into the latest film industry developments, including Netflix's multi-million dollar acquisition of Ben Affleck's AI startup and Google's expansion into micro dramas with Range Media Partners. We explore how AI is reshaping filmmaking workflows, debate whether film festivals should include children's programming, and discuss the growing trend of vertical video content in entertainment. We also break down the recent Oscar winners, share audience poll results about preferred film genres, and offer our insights on snubs and surprises from this year's Academy Awards ceremony. We also talk about: • The controversy surrounding Timothy Chalamet's comments about ballet and opera being "irrelevant art forms." • How streaming has changed music structure and incentives, paralleling changes in film content • The disconnect between what audiences watch most (action/adventure at 65%) versus what wins awards (drama/thriller) • International film recommendations, including "No Other Choice" as a major snub • The future of micro dramas and whether they'll follow Quibi's failed model or succeed globally People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: Netflix Ben Affleck Range Media Partners Quibi New York International Children's Film Festival One Battle After Another Sinners Hamnet F1 The Bride Frankenstein Paul Thomas Anderson Michael B. Jordan Jessie Buckley Conan O'Brien Trevor Noah Gaithersburg, Maryland North Carolina South Carolina Australia We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. All Links: Advertising Inquiries: Privacy & Opt-Out:

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432 - Indie Talk - 2026 Oscar Snubs, Ben Affleck Controversy, and Google's Micro Drama Strategy is an episode from MAKE IT by Chris Barkley & Nicholas Buggs.

This episode is 118:10 long.

This episode was published on Mar 20, 2026.

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