Business
Laugh, Learn, and Connect: Houston Comedy Film Festival Oct 5th
Located in: EADO Workspaces
The Houston Comedy Film Festival is set to return on October 5th, 2024, and it promises to be an exciting day filled with laughter, learning, and networking opportunities for comedy enthusiasts and aspiring filmmakers alike. This year, the festival welcomes Roselyn Omaka as the new festival director, bringing her expertise and innovative vision to the event.
Attendees can look forward to engaging sessions led by industry professionals. Joan Montreuil from The Newbie Film Academy will provide invaluable insights into financing films and raising capital, helping aspiring filmmakers navigate the often complex world of film funding. Meanwhile, Deloris from DD’s Showbiz will host an interactive acting workshop designed to enhance participants’ skills and confidence in front of the camera.
Although LemarKus Tinker from Friday Night Lights won’t be attending in person, he will offer an exciting virtual one-on-one guidance session for aspiring directors. This unique opportunity allows participants to connect directly with him from the comfort of their homes, gaining personalized advice and insights that can help shape their directorial vision. Imagine having a chance to ask questions and receive feedback from a seasoned professional in the industry—this virtual interaction is sure to be a highlight!
In addition to these educational opportunities, festival winners will have the chance to receive valuable resources from sponsors to further improve their films and business outcomes. This support could be the stepping stone that many emerging talents need to make their mark in the competitive world of filmmaking.
The festival kicks off at 12 PM sharp, so attendees are encouraged to arrive 10 minutes early to ensure they don’t miss any of the action. It’s important to note that everyone must purchase a ticket to attend this fantastic event. Tickets are available for $50, which grants full access to all festival activities. Attendees can purchase their tickets through different platforms: filmmakers (not screenwriters) are encouraged to buy their tickets on filmfestivalcircuit.com, while guests and screenwriters should secure their tickets via meetup.com/bolanlemedia. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on the day of the event.
The Houston Comedy Film Festival has been a cornerstone of the independent film community since its inception in 2008 by author and retired filmmaker Mikel Fair. Over the years, it has consistently ranked in the FilmFreeway Top 100, cementing its status as a must-attend event for comedy filmmakers and fans.

Houston Comedy Film Festival Feb 2024
With Roselyn Omaka’s leadership, the star-studded lineup of industry professionals, and the diverse array of films and activities planned, the 2024 Houston Comedy Film Festival is shaping up to be an unmissable experience. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, a comedy enthusiast, or simply looking for a day filled with laughter and learning, this festival has something for everyone.

Houston Comedy Film Festival Feb 2024
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of comedy filmmaking. Grab your tickets now and be part of the Houston Comedy Film Festival experience! Join us on October 5th at the Coronation Theatre in Houston for a day of creativity, laughter, and cinematic celebration! Your next big break could be waiting for you!
Advice
How AI Is Forcing Everyone Into the Entrepreneur Game

Remember when having an ordinary job felt safe? Those days are over. The arrival of artificial intelligence isn’t just automating tasks—it’s blowing up the very idea of job security and ushering in an era where adaptability and entrepreneurship aren’t optional, they’re survival skills. Welcome to the new game. Average is automated, and now, everyone needs to think—and act—like an entrepreneur.

AI Isn’t Coming—It’s Already Here (And It’s Taking Jobs)
It’s not sci-fi anymore. By 2025, AI and automation are expected to displace as many as 85 million jobs worldwide, from customer service roles to entry-level tech positions, with 13.7% of U.S. workers already reporting being replaced by robots or AI-driven systems. Young people are especially hard-hit: tech unemployment among 20- to 30-year-olds has jumped 3% this year alone in AI-exposed roles. And the impact isn’t slowing down. Analysts say up to 60% of jobs in advanced economies could see tasks automated in the near future, with 30% of workers fearing outright replacement.
Why Average Isn’t Enough Anymore
The old industrial world ran on “the bell curve”—reliably rewarding the middle. If you were competent, you were comfortable. But in the digital age, AI is programmed to do average things perfectly and instantly. Now, the top 10%—the specialists, the creators, the difference-makers—snap up 90% of the rewards, while the rest get left behind.

Enter: The Entrepreneur Game
Here’s the twist: being entrepreneurial isn’t just about starting a business. It’s about building a personal brand, mastering a specialty, and continually learning or creating something valuable that AI can’t easily duplicate. Tech isn’t killing opportunity—it’s changing what it looks like.
- 20 million Americans now expect to retrain for new, more creative or tech-forward careers in the next three years.
- The fastest-growing “jobs” are digital and entrepreneurial: creators, consultants, coaches, prompt engineers, content strategists, AI-human collaboration experts, and niche community builders.
- Nearly half of companies that adopted AI are now automating roles, but they’re also creating demand for new skills and products almost overnight—a perfect playground for entrepreneurial thinking.
Survival Guide: How to Play (and Win) the New Game
- Pick Your Niche: Get laser-specific. Being “good at business” is out. Being the best at “helping consultants automate YouTube marketing with AI tools” is in—and global.
- Build Digital Assets: Write, film, code, design, research—create things that can scale, sell, and build your brand, wherever you are.
- Stay Adaptable: Reskill, upskill, and don’t be afraid to jump into new industries. Today’s winners are the ones who can pivot quickly and ride the next wave, not cling to what worked last year.
- Own Your Audience: Whether it’s a newsletter following, a YouTube channel, or a private Slack group, your future depends on connecting with people who value what you do—AI can’t compete with real, human influence.

Bottom Line
AI didn’t just move the goalposts—it changed the field. Being “average” is now a risk, not a guarantee. The winners in this new economy aren’t waiting for work to come to them—they’re proactively creating, collaborating, and cashing in on the skills, products, and experiences AI can’t touch. The entrepreneur game isn’t just for founders anymore. Ready or not, it’s for everyone.
Business
Disney Loses $3.87 Billion as Subscription Cancellations Surge After Kimmel Suspension

Market Response to ABC’s Programming Decision
Walt Disney Co. has lost an estimated $3.87 billion in market value since ABC preemptively suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a move widely interpreted as a response to political pressure from both affiliated broadcasters and government regulators. The resulting controversy is multifaceted, with both supporters and critics examining the ripple effects in the context of broader media and political dynamics.

Repercussions Across Entertainment Channels
Within days of the suspension, reports of subscription cancellations on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN surfaced, with social media sentiment amplifying consumer calls for boycotts. Some prominent actors and personalities, such as Tatiana Maslany and Damon Lindelof, publicly announced their own cancellations and urged others to follow suit. Google Trends data shows a marked increase in searches for how to cancel various Disney-affiliated services, indicating elevated subscriber churn rates. Though Disney has not released verified internal figures on subscription losses, independent estimates suggest millions of dollars in monthly revenue could be at risk if the momentum continues.
The Stock Market’s Reaction
Disney’s stock fell roughly 2.5% to 3.5% in the wake of the announcement, representing nearly $4 billion in lost market capitalization. While some analysts caution that this drop reflects general volatility and may be mitigated as investor sentiment shifts, others point out that this is one of Disney’s most substantial short-term hits in recent memory tied directly to a content-related controversy.

Stakeholder Perspectives
Reactions from within the entertainment industry have ranged from concern to open dissent. Several guilds and talent representatives have criticized Disney for ceding to perceived political intimidation. Affiliate groups such as Nexstar and Sinclair initiated the preemption not only due to regulatory threats but also as they undergo major business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions that require FCC approval.
On the other hand, some Disney stakeholders assert that the company is acting in accordance with broadcast partners’ expectations and regulatory compliance, citing the need to balance business interests, political realities, and community standards.
A Complex Financial Picture
While the immediate market value loss is significant, financial impacts from subscription cancellations and advertising revenue declines may be more gradual and difficult to quantify. Disney remains fundamentally robust due to its diversified portfolio—theme parks, sports, and legacy franchises continue to provide financial insulation even as the streaming and TV sectors experience volatility.

Conclusion
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and its fallout reflects the complex interplay between political influence, corporate governance, and consumer activism in today’s media landscape. Disney’s market value decline is indicative of heightened sensitivity around free speech, regulatory power, and the economic consequences of content decisions—issues that are increasingly central to both business strategy and public discourse.
Business
YouTube’s New Sponsorship Update Could Make Creators Richer

YouTube is preparing to roll out a feature that could dramatically reshape the creator economy: dynamic brand integrations. Announced by YouTube CEO Neil Mohan during the recent Made on YouTube showcase, this change opens up a brand-new era of recurring revenue opportunities for creators — and could make old videos more valuable than ever before.

Why the Old Model Held Creators Back
Traditionally, when a creator uploads a sponsored video, the integration is permanently “burned in” during editing. That means once the partnership ends, the branded message stays locked into the video forever, even if the video keeps attracting thousands of views years later.
For creators, this has been a huge missed opportunity. A video from 2022 could still be pulling 5,000 fresh views per month in 2025, but there was no way to replace outdated sponsorships with new, relevant ones. Until now.
How Dynamic Brand Integrations Work
Dynamic integrations transform sponsorships from static to flexible. Instead of editing an ad directly into the content, creators can:
- Upload a clean version of the video without a permanent sponsor.
- Use YouTube Studio to designate “ad slots” within the video.
- Rotate different brand messages in and out over time, managed on the backend by YouTube.
For example, a tech review from last year that originally featured a productivity app can now showcase a web hosting platform, a project management tool, or virtually any new sponsor — without ever touching the original video file.
The Impact on Creator Revenue
This feature has the potential to create recurring, long-term revenue for every single video in a creator’s library.
- Ongoing Earnings: A video that once brought in a single $3,000 deal could now generate that same amount every month or quarter, depending on consistent traffic.
- Proven Performance Over Hypotheticals: Brands no longer have to gamble on a brand-new upload. They can invest in videos with demonstrable audience engagement and demographic reach.
- All Videos Become Ad Inventory: Instead of limited sponsorship opportunities tied to new uploads, creators can offer brands access to their entire catalog as campaign vehicles.
This shift essentially turns every video into a renewable sponsorship asset, similar to how syndication functions in television.
Why This Is a Big Win for YouTube
While TikTok and Instagram focus on short-term viral content, YouTube is doubling down on its core strength: long-form videos with lasting relevance. It’s one of the only platforms where a tutorial from 2018 or a documentary from 2020 can still generate significant traffic years later.
Dynamic integrations give YouTube a competitive edge by transforming its massive content library into a continually monetizable marketplace for brands.
When Will It Launch?
YouTube is currently testing dynamic brand integrations, but the feature isn’t expected to roll out fully until 2026. Until then, YouTube is encouraging creators to share feedback so the system can be fine-tuned ahead of launch.

The Bottom Line
Dynamic brand integrations could mark the single biggest change to how creators earn money on YouTube. Think of it less as a feature update and more as a paradigm shift in the creator economy. Every past upload becomes a fresh canvas for sponsorship opportunities, transforming YouTube channels into living, breathing portfolios of brand-ready content.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make your old videos work harder for you, YouTube may have just given you the answer.
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