Film Industry
Rising Star Rosie Maddox Brings Sapphic Rom-Com Joy with Wishing on Stars
In the vibrant world of indie filmmaking, few voices shine as brightly or as authentically as Rosie Maddox’s. A director, writer, and award-winning screenwriter based in Austin, Texas, Rosie is breaking new ground with her sapphic rom-com short Wishing on Stars—a bittersweet tale that has earned finalist honors at the prestigious Houston Comedy Film Festival, directed by Roselyn Omaka.
A Fresh Take on Young Love
Wishing on Stars follows Mare, a graduating high school senior grappling with a life-changing acceptance letter from her dream school out of state, alongside newly blossoming romantic feelings for her best friend Jules, who will remain local. Unlike many queer stories that lean into tragedy, Maddox’s film is a refreshing take on sapphic love—full of warmth, tenderness, and the nuanced complexities of coming of age.
“This story is bittersweet, but it’s ultimately about joy and hope,” Rosie explains. “I wanted to tell a sapphic love story that feels authentic and real, without the usual tragic overtones. It’s the kind of love story I wanted to see growing up.”
From Engineering to Filmmaking
What makes Rosie’s journey even more compelling is the unique path she took. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, Rosie originally earned a degree in electrical engineering. After burnout in the field, she eased into filmmaking through community college classes and corporate film production, and eventually committed to storytelling full-time.
Her technical background, she says, actually complements her filmmaking. “Being an engineer taught me problem-solving and creativity in new ways, which really helps me balance creativity with the practical challenges of production.”
Learning by Doing—and Collaborating with Family
Though Wishing on Stars is one of her best works to date, it’s not Rosie’s first film. She credits a “learning by doing” approach to her steadily improving craft, honed through numerous short films and collaborative projects. A special part of this journey has been working closely with her brother Sean, the film’s editor, to refine pacing and visual style.
“Sean and I have very different tastes and styles, which balances well,” she says. “He’s taught me a lot about when to cut things out—even if you love them—as it’s about keeping the story flowing and impactful.”
Casting Chemistry and Authenticity
Casting was another crucial element Rosie mastered with ease. She brought familiar collaborators like Fabiola and Rehea onboard, while introducing new talents like Olivia. The result? Performances that feel instinctive and deeply connected.
“I look for actors who are authentic even off-camera,” Rosie shares. “You can tell when someone is just acting lines versus truly embodying the character. These actors communicated so much with just their eyes, and that naturally translated to the screen.”
Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
For those eager to jump into directing, Rosie’s message is simple but powerful: just start.
“It’s terrifying, but you have to find your community,” she advises. “You don’t need a big budget or anything fancy at first. Work on others’ sets, find like-minded collaborators, and then take the leap and make your own thing.”
Looking Ahead: More Rom-Com Joy
Rosie is already deep into turning Wishing on Stars into a feature film and has another rom-com script, Detours and Destiny, waiting in the wings. Her focus is clear: telling joyous, sapphic stories that spotlight underrepresented love and authentically show young women’s experiences.
A Vision for Visibility
Ultimately, Rosie Maddox hopes her work resonates with those who often feel unseen. “I want the ‘weirdos’ and introverts out there to see themselves in my stories,” she says. “To know they’re not alone, and that love and joy are possible.”
Wishing on Stars is an exciting new voice in independent film that blends heartfelt storytelling with vibrant visuals inspired by K-pop and eastern media aesthetics. As it continues to gain momentum, Rosie Maddox’s heartfelt and joyous sapphic rom-com offers a much-needed spotlight on authentic queer narratives.
Catch Wishing on Stars and other brilliant works at the upcoming Houston Comedy Film Festival, proudly directed by Roselyn Omaka.
Follow Rosie Maddox and Wishing on Stars on Instagram at @WishingOnStarsFilm and @RosePedal818 or visit Dramaddox Pictures for more updates on her inspiring journey.
Disney is deepening its push into artificial intelligence with a $1 billion investment in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, in a far-reaching deal that will also license Disney’s iconic characters for use within OpenAI’s new conversational AI platform, Sora.
The agreement positions Disney at the forefront of the entertainment industry’s growing intersection with generative AI, blending the company’s extensive character library with OpenAI’s advanced technology. Under the terms of the partnership, OpenAI will deploy select Disney intellectual property — spanning its animation classics, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm — across AI-driven storytelling and interactive experiences within ChatGPT Sora.
Sources familiar with the rollout say users will be able to engage directly with Disney characters through immersive dialogues powered by Sora, with potential extensions into digital parks, virtual assistants, and cross-platform storytelling initiatives.
A limited launch is expected to debut in 2026 as Disney explores new ways to integrate AI into consumer experiences.
“This collaboration continues Disney’s legacy of innovation, combining our storytelling heritage with cutting-edge technology to reach audiences in remarkable new ways,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger in a statement.
For OpenAI, Disney’s backing represents both a financial boost and a creative endorsement from one of the world’s most influential content companies. The partnership could accelerate mainstream adoption of AI entertainment tools while positioning ChatGPT Sora as a leader in branded and interactive media spaces.
The investment also signals an industry-wide shift as studios seek to capture value in AI-driven content creation, distribution, and personalization. With Disney’s move, legacy media joins a growing list of entertainment heavyweights aligning with AI firms to future-proof storytelling — marking what could be a pivotal step in Hollywood’s technological reinvention.
Paramount has stunned Hollywood with a hostile, all‑cash offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery outright for about 108.4 billion dollars, topping Netflix’s already splashy takeover agreement. The proposal, disclosed in SEC filings and a tender‑offer announcement, would pay 30 dollars per share in cash, roughly a 139% premium to where Warner Bros. Discovery traded before sale talks heated up and several dollars per share higher than Netflix’s mixed cash‑and‑stock offer.
How Paramount’s Bid Beats Netflix’s
Netflix’s deal focuses on acquiring the core Warner assets—Warner Bros. studio, HBO and the Max streaming service—for a valuation in the low‑80‑billion‑dollar range, compensated partly in Netflix stock. Paramount Skydance, by contrast, is offering all cash for the entire company, valuing Warner Bros. Discovery—including its cable brands like CNN and Discovery—at about 108–109 billion dollars. CEO David Ellison is pitching the bid as “superior” because it gives shareholders a higher headline price, avoids stock‑price risk and comes with committed financing lines from banks and investment partners.
The Regulatory Chess Match
Both deals would face intense antitrust scrutiny, but the risk profiles differ. A Netflix–Warner tie‑up would marry the world’s largest subscription streamer with one of its biggest rivals, a combination analysts say could draw especially tough questions from U.S. and EU regulators about market dominance in streaming. Paramount is arguing that merging two diversified legacy media groups—Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery—creates a stronger competitor to Netflix, Disney and Amazon rather than a streaming near‑monopoly, and therefore should be easier to clear.
What a Paramount–Warner Giant Would Look Like
If Paramount wins, it would control a vast portfolio: Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures, HBO and Max alongside Paramount+, DC and Harry Potter next to Mission: Impossible and Top Gun, plus global news and lifestyle networks from CNN to Discovery. In pitch materials, Paramount has pledged to keep a robust theatrical pipeline of 30+ films per year from the combined studios while using the enlarged library and sports rights to turbo‑charge streaming growth.
What Happens Next
Warner Bros. Discovery’s board, which has already endorsed Netflix’s agreement, must now evaluate whether Paramount’s richer all‑cash offer is worth triggering a sizeable breakup fee and resetting the regulatory process. Shareholders will ultimately decide between a higher but potentially more complex studio‑merger path and a slightly lower, tech‑powered streaming combo with Netflix. Whatever the outcome, Paramount’s 108‑billion‑dollar cash swing has turned an already historic sale into one of the most dramatic bidding wars Hollywood has ever seen.
Studios almost left this Christmas staple on the cutting‑room floor. Executives initially saw it as a “small” seasonal comedy with limited box‑office upside, and internal budget fights kept the project hovering in limbo around an $18 million price tag.
The fear was simple: why spend real money on a kid‑driven holiday film that would vanish from theaters by January?
That cautious logic aged terribly. Once released, the movie exploded past expectations, pulling in roughly $475–$500 million worldwide and camping at the top of the box office for weeks.
That’s a return of more than 25 times its production budget, putting it among the most profitable holiday releases in modern studio history.
What some decision‑makers viewed as disposable seasonal content quietly became a financial engine that still prints money through re‑runs, streaming, and merchandising every December.
The story behind the numbers is part of why fans feel so attached to it. This was not a four‑quadrant superhero bet with guaranteed franchise upside; it was a character‑driven family comedy built on specific jokes, one child star, and a very particular vision of Christmas chaos. The fact that it nearly got shelved—and then turned into a half‑billion global phenomenon—makes every rewatch feel like a win against studio risk‑aversion.
When you press play each year, you are not just revisiting nostalgia; you are revisiting the rare moment when a “small” movie out‑performed the system that almost killed it.
Disney Brings Beloved Characters to ChatGPT After $1 Billion OpenAI Deal
Google Accused Of Favoring White, Asian Staff As It Reaches $28 Million Deal That Excludes Black Workers
