Channels with Peter Kafka Matt Belloni on the Oscars, the Ellisons, and Hollywood’s Next Chapter
18 snips
Mar 11, 2026 
Matt Belloni, veteran Hollywood journalist and Puck founder, offers insider perspective on awards season and industry shakeups. He talks Oscars attendance, how YouTube might reshape the show, and the impact of a potential Ellison-led Paramount/Warner deal. He also explores betting markets, studio strategy shifts, and the rising role of creators in Hollywood’s next chapter.
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Matt's Mezzanine Oscar Ticket Reality
- Matt Belloni attended the Oscars and expects his seats to remain in the mezzanine because tickets are assigned the night before.
- He jokes about hoping to return to orchestra seats but accepts the Academy's ticketing process.
Warner Bros Awards Peak Amid Ownership Shift
- Warner Bros had its best awards season while being acquired, highlighting a tension between creative risk and corporate ownership.
- Matt Belloni says Warner bet on auteur films like Sinners and One Day After Another, which proved critically valuable even if not all were profitable.
Ellison Ownership Threatens Auteur Budgeting
- The Ellisons' takeover may end the high-budget auteur bets that produced award contenders.
- Belloni contrasts David Ellison's Skydance track record of franchise/throwaway films with Warner's recent expensive auteur gambles.