Michael Gandolfini, left, and Alessandro Nivola star in “The Many Saints of Newark.” | AP Photos

Lines that once separated movies, TV movies and TV series are starting to fade — to the point where you have to squint to see them.

The trailer for “The Many Saints of Newark” features the song “Money” by The Flying Lizards.

One lyric poignantly captures the thematic heart of the prequel to the sprawling television series about mob boss Tony Soprano: “Money don’t get everything / It’s true / What it don’t get / I can’t use.”

It also reflects the milieu of a movie industry embroiled in a battle over release dates and release formats.

“The Sopranos” creator David Chase has expressed anger over HBO’s decision to simultaneously release “The Many Saints of Newark” in movie theaters and on HBO Max. In order for the new film to shed its “television image,” Chase thought it needed to do a traditional theater run before moving over to a streaming service.

Hollywood executives see things differently. To them, lines that once separated movies, TV movies and TV series are starting to fade — to the point where you have to squint to see them. They’ve embraced analytics and are increasingly interested in measuring movies using data that only streaming services can offer — numbers that can help them learn more about viewers, cut waste and boost profits.

The old model falls apart

As recently as a decade ago, the dominant movie distribution strategy involved what was called “exclusive window distribution.”

A big-budget movie usually debuted in theaters, which was often the first exclusive window. Then, between three and six months after its theatrical debut, the film became exclusively available as a DVD or home video. This was followed by pay-per-view distribution or cable TV distribution.

The rise of streaming services caused this model to crack.

Netflix could instantly disseminate movies and series to consumers online, removing the need to create physical DVDs and sell them at a steep discount to retailers like Best Buy.

Furthermore, what were once important distinctions between television shows and movies started to blur. On streaming services, you could easily watch movies and TV shows without periodic interruptions from ads. Television cinematography started to imitate movie cinematography. You could even argue that bingeing a series with connected episodes was no different from watching a long movie.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With theaters closed, studios started experimenting with digital movie distribution in new ways.

Unlike movie theater pricing models — which charge the same for all tickets regardless of demand — studios premiered films on streaming services at different price points. A study I’m conducting with media management scholar Ronen Shay details how movie studios actually shifted movie price points week by week, attempting to capitalize and exploit the hype and demand tied to each distributed movie.

For instance, Disney+’s “Mulan” maintained a price point of $29.99 during the first three months of its release. But starting in December 2020, Disney+ subscribers were able to view it for free, while on other platforms, it was made available for rent at $19.99.

A data portal

Streaming content isn’t used just to attract audiences. It’s used as an analytics tool to better understand audiences in ways you simply can’t by showing a film in a theater.

When people stream “The Many Saints of Newark,” HBO Max can capture audience information like demographics, lifestyles and viewing preferences. Using these consumer profiles, it’s possible to predict and understand what type of movie or genre customers will be drawn to in the future. These algorithms are fluid enough to adjust and refine themselves depending on what a subscriber watches.

Data can also be used to predict how many people will view a program and whether a certain movie or series will boost subscriptions. It can also help digital content distributors stifle subscription cancellations by strategically staggering the addition of new movies or series to keep subscribers on board.

For instance, if Warner Bros. — which owns HBO Max — determines that “The Batman,” set to be released in 2022, will boost subscription rates for HBO Max, it may elect to place the film in its content library alongside the film’s theater release. HBO Max will also be able to refine its algorithms for subscribers who watch “The Batman.”

Meanwhile, hardly any audience information will be collected on people who see “The Batman” in movie theaters. Aside from movie theater loyalty card programs and customer information gleaned by vendors like Fandango, it’s difficult for movie theater executives to capture audience data.

Swimming against the stream

Purists such as directors Christopher Nolan and Patty Jenkins have criticized movies debuting on streaming services, which they believe undermines the romantic and immersive experience of seeing a film on an 80-foot silver screen.

But they’re swimming against the stream. TVs are bigger and cheaper than ever before, while the prices of movie theater tickets and concessions continue to go up. It isn’t even clear whether bigger is better. Does it really matter if a rom-com appears on a jumbo screen? Moreover, younger viewers — a major consumer segment for movie theaters — are increasingly comfortable viewing movies from smartphones and other devices.

Studios, meanwhile, are already chasing the data. Traditional movie theater debuts simply “don’t get everything / it’s true / What they don’t get / the studio can’t use.”

Anthony Palomba is an assistant professor of business administration at the University of Virginia.

This article originally was published on The Conversation.

Send letters to: [email protected].

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Bears quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass Sunday against the Lions. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The Bears got what they wished for in rookie quarterback Justin Fields who looked worlds better in his second start than he did in his first:

When the Bears won the coin toss Sunday, coach Matt Nagy did something he’d only done once before in three-and-a-half years: he chose to receive to start the game rather in the second half.

By going against the grain — 81 percent of coaches deferred between 2013-2020 — Nagy wanted to show his offensive players he believed in them after they gained 47 yards on 42 plays. He also wanted his defense to be able to play with the lead.

It was no surprise, then, that Nagy decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Bears’ own 47 on the first drive of the eventual 24-14 win against the Lions. The Bears converted and, six plays later, scored.

“If you could wake up in the morning and say, ‘I wish this could happen on the first drive’ — that’s what happened,'” Nagy said after the game.

The Bears got what they wished for in rookie quarterback Justin Fields, too, who looked worlds better in his second start than he did in his first:

Big throws

Fields made two killer throws Sunday, producing two of the Bears’ three longest passes of the season.

He threw a “perfect ball” to Darnell Mooney for a 64-yard gain in the first quarter, Nagy said Monday. The receiver ran a skinny out-and-up route to steer clear of safety Will Harris, who crashed down toward the line of scrimmage.

Fields’ ability to read the safety qualified as progress. The Lions were disciplined Sunday, trying to confuse Fields by holding their two safeties in place during the rookie’s pre-snap read and bringing one down just as the ball was snapped.

“I thought he did a good job of understanding that post-snap,” Nagy said. “In Cleveland, it wasn’t always like that every snap. But I felt like for all of us it was more looking at the offense [in Cleveland] and looking at what was going on with the offensive players. …

“[On Sunday] there was a lot of looking at what’s going on with the defense. That’s a positive step right there for him.”

So was a gorgeous throw to receiver Allen Robinson on a corner route with about two minutes to play in the third quarter. Robinson caught the ball along the right sideline, between the cornerback and safety, and got both feet in.

After completing only one pass of 20-plus yards all year, the Bears had five Sunday.

“We need to get more of those,” Nagy said. “You don’t want to go on 12- and 13-play drives all the time. [Fields and Mooney] worked on that in practice, and then to have that come to fruition during the game, that’s a big play, it gets everybody going. And that’s the growth of a quarterback.”

Protection

On first down with about 10 minutes to play, Fields took the snap from under center and faked a handoff to Damien Williams. Tight end Cole Kmet, who had lined up to the right, pulled as though the team was running a counter play and set up to block outside linebacker Charles Harris along the left flank.

Harris spun, ducking inside Kmet, and sacked Fields from behind, popping the ball loose with his right arm. In the scramble for the fumble, center Sam Mustipher dove and knocked the ball back from the Bears’ 30 to the 20. Fields, who had been knocked down 12 yards downfield, stood up and ran back to fall on the ball. It was reminiscent of Week 2, when Fields army-crawled to recover a fumble.

“That’s two times now with Justin playing quarterback where there was a sack fumble and out of nowhere he comes to get the ball,” Nagy said. “That’s huge.”

Fields had Williams open in the right flat after the play fake and should have dumped the ball to him.

“The O-line did a great job,” Fields said. “They only let up one sack and that sack was on me. I should have checked the ball down in the flat faster than that. But the O-line played great.”

One week after giving up nine sacks — the second-most in franchise history — the Bears allowed only one.

The Bears also cleared the way for rushers to gain 4.82 yards per carry, the 12th-most in 54 games of the Nagy era. Credit new play-caller Bill Lazor, who used blocking tight ends Jesse James and J.P. Holtz for a combined 20 snaps. They combined to play one against the Browns.

“The tight ends … I thought did a good job of really saying, ‘You know what, we’re gonna get after it in the run game a little bit and we’re gonna be a big part of it,'” Nagy said.

Third-down struggles

After going 12-for-37 through three games, the Bears converted only 1-of-8 third downs Sunday. On the last play of the first quarter, Fields dropped back against a four-man rush and looked right. Seeing no one open, he rolled right.

A full 15 yards upfield from the dropped-back Fields, Harris spied the quarterback and sprinted toward him. He took a bad angle, though. Fields beat him to the corner and turned up the sideline, sprinting past the first down and gaining 11 yards. The Bears would score on the next play. Fields only ran three times — but chose wisely to convert the third down.

The Bears now need to do it on other third downs.

“We’ve just got to keep getting better there,” Nagy said.

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Sun-Times file photo

A 17-year-old boy was one of the homicide victims. Four other teens were injured.

At least four people were killed and 41 others were wounded — including four teens — across Chicago over the weekend.

The weekend was significantly less deadly than the last, when 10 people were killed and 58 others wounded across the city.

The first homicide this weekend left a 17-year-old boy dead in a Rosemoor home on the Far South Side. Martinus M. King was shot by someone in a basement around 6:10 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of East 107th Street, Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He was struck multiple times and taken to Christ Medical in Oak Lawn, where he died less than an hour later. Police reported no arrest.
Saturday night, a man was fatally shot in Burnside on the Far South Side. Police found Edward Hudson, 44, lying outside with a gunshot wound to the chest in the 600 block of East 92nd Place about 10:40 p.m., authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Early Sunday, three people were shot, one of them fatally, on the Near North Side. They were in the 1200 block of North Dearborn Street when gunfire erupted, police said. Demetrius Reed, 27, was struck in his head and pronounced dead, authorities said. A 23-year-old man and 29-year-old woman were wounded in the attack.
Sunday afternoon, a man was killed in a drive-by shooting in Lawndale on the West Side. The man, 43, was standing in front of an apartment building about 3 p.m. in the 3400 block of West Douglas Boulevard when a light-colored car pulled up and someone from inside opened fire, police said. He was struck in the head and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name hasn’t been released.

Triple shooting in Gresham

Three people were wounded in a shooting Monday morning in Gresham on the South Side. The men were standing in a street about 2:35 a.m. in the 8800 block of South Parnell Avenue when they were struck by gunfire, police said. The men, ages 27, 28 and 33, were treated at hospitals.

Four teens wounded

Early Saturday, a teen was in the 2900 block of North Halsted Street when he was shot in the back, police said. The boy, 16, walked into Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition, police said.
On Friday, two other teens were wounded in a shooting in Austin on the West Side. They were walking about 5 p.m. in the 300 block of North Pine Avenue when someone opened fire, police said. A 17-year-old boy was struck in the foot, and a 16-year-old boy was struck in the shoulder, police said. They were both in good condition.
A teen was shot and wounded Sunday morning in West Garfield Park on the West Side. The 16-year-old was a traffic light about 4:10 a.m. in the 300 block of North Hamlin Avenue when a dark-colored car stopped next to him and someone inside opened fire, striking him in the left calf, police said. The boy’s condition was stabilized.

At least 32 others were wounded in shootings across the city from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

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Modernist designs in the Chicagoland area, from a home on the Fox River to a residence that uses passive solar energy.Read More

After an impressive Week 4 victory, the Chicago Bears felt mighty good about themselves on both sides of the ball. The offense woke up from an embarrassing loss a week ago, which was at the hands of head coach Matt Nagy’s play calling and failure to scheme around the strengths of Justin Fields. Well, the […] Chicago Bears: Matt Nagy is an arrogant, narrow-minded buffoon – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

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Dirksen Federal Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St. | Rich Hein/Sun-Times | Sun-Times Media

Justin Hines has been described by the feds as one of the largest agents for the massive, international gambling ring once run by Vincent “Uncle Mick” DelGiudice.

A man described by the feds as one of the largest agents for a massive, international gambling ring pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to his role in the conspiracy.

Justin Hines, 42, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall and faces sentencing Jan. 7. He is the latest person to plead guilty to allegations revolving around the ring run by Vincent “Uncle Mick” DelGiudice.

Several of the eight people charged along with Hines and DelGiudice in a February 2020 gambling indictment have already been sentenced. Charges are still pending against two defendants, Keith Benson and Vasilios Prassas.

The defendants charged in that and a handful of related cases have mostly avoided prison time. Just two of the seven sentenced so far, Chicago Police Officer Nicholas Stella and bookie Gregory Paloian, have been given time behind bars. U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow gave Paloian until August 2022 to report to prison for health reasons.

Another defendant, Mettawa Mayor Casey Urlacher, was pardoned in January by then-President Donald Trump.

DelGiudice pleaded guilty in February but has not been sentenced.

The indictment that charged Hines, DelGiudice and the others alleged that DelGiudice recruited Hines and most of their fellow defendants to work as agents for the gambling ring. DelGiudice ran it through the website unclemicksports.com, paying a company in Costa Rica $10,000 a month for use of the site.

Hines told DelGiudice on Dec. 14, 2018, he had 10 “guys” who lose $15,000 a year, according to the indictment. Hines also told a gambler by text message he was “down 1450” on Dec. 27, 2018, it said.

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Justin Fields got his first two NFL starts the last two weeks. Will he get a third in Las Vegas on Sunday? | Nam Y. Huh/AP

Andy Dalton was out with a knee injury the last two games, but there’s a good chance he’ll be healthy enough to play Sunday against the Raiders.

Bears coach Matt Nagy said he will evaluate quarterback Andy Dalton’s knee injury Monday and Tuesday before making a decision on whether he or Justin Fields will start against the Raiders on Sunday.

“The next two days are going to tell us a lot,” Nagy said. “We’ll update you on Wednesday.”

If Dalton is healthy by Wednesday, which is the start of the practice week, Nagy said he will be the starter. He reiterated that Dalton is first on the depth chart, followed by Fields and Nick Foles.

Last week, Nagy’s decision dragged all the way to Saturday as he held out hope Dalton would recover enough to play. The Bears ruled him out the night before the game and went with Fields in their 24-14 win over the Lions.

Dalton exited after a game and a half when he injured his knee against the Bengals. He completed 73.5% of his passes for 262 yards with a touchdown and an interception for an 83.9 passer rating.

Fields replaced him near halftime of the Bengals game and held on for a win. His starting debut came Week 3 in Cleveland, and the Bears were a total disaster in their 26-6 loss.

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People sit on the street near the 1200 block of North Mason Avenue in the Austin neighborhood, where a person was fatally shot and two were injured, Friday morning, Oct. 1, 2021. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

The suspects are members of two warring factions of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang who allegedly shot it out Friday morning in the 1200 block of North Mason Avenue, where more than 70 shell casings were found.

Five men linked to a deadly gang-related shootout Friday in Austin were released from custody after prosecutors declined to charge each of them with a pair of felonies, including first-degree murder, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The brazen mid-morning gunfight, which left one shooter dead and two of the suspects wounded, stemmed from an internal dispute between two factions of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang, according to an internal police report and a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation.

The source said police sought to charge all five suspects with murder and aggravated battery. By Sunday morning, a Chicago police spokeswoman acknowledged the suspects had “been released without charges.”

In a statement later Sunday, Cristina Villareal, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, explained that prosecutors had “determined that the evidence was insufficient to meet our burden of proof to approve felony charges.” Police officials agreed with the decision, Villareal added.

While she wouldn’t specify what other evidence prosecutors needed to file charges, the police report acknowledged that victims of the shootout weren’t cooperating with investigators.

But the report also framed the state’s attorney’s office’s decision to decline charges in a different light: “Mutual combatants was cited as the reason for the rejection.” Mutual combat is a legal term used to define a fight or struggle that two parties willingly engage in.

Last week, Cook County prosecutors came under fire after reportedly making a similar argument after a teenager was stabbed to death during a fight in suburban Schaumburg. The family of the victim, 18-year-old Manuel Porties Jr., later told WGN that prosecutors specifically said they weren’t charging the 17-year-old suspect with murder because the fatal fight amounted to mutual combat.

Meanwhile, as the city grapples with a spate of rolling shootouts that have erupted over the past week, the law enforcement source raised concerns that the rejection could encourage more brash violence. Much like those shootouts, the narrative of Saturday’s gun battle in Austin was reminiscent of an action movie scene.

“It’s just like the Wild West,” the source said of the exchange of gunfire in the violence-plagued neighborhood on the West Side.

Over 70 shell casings, a torched car and a SWAT situation

About 10:30 a.m., two Dodge Chargers driven by members of the Body Snatchers faction of the Four Corner Hustlers drove to the 1200 block of North Mason Avenue and exchanged words with members of the gang’s Jack Boys set, according to the source and the police report.

After circling the block and coming back, at least three individuals jumped out of the Chargers and began to shoot into a brick house using handguns equipped with “switches” that made the weapons fully automatic, noted the source and report. Members of the Jack Boys who were inside the home then began firing back.

Two of the Body Snatchers were left wounded, including an unidentified 32-year-old man who was later pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the report and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. A 29-year-old man aligned with the Jack Boys was also struck.

While the source confirmed over 70 shell casings were found outside the home, that likely doesn’t reflect the number of shots that were fired from inside.

The gunfight, which was caught on a police POD camera, came to a halt when a police cruiser pulled up to the block, according to the report and the source. The Body Snatchers then fled in the Chargers, leaving their fatally wounded accomplice behind.

One of the cars was later “found engulfed in flames nearby,” the report states. The other was used to drop off the non-fatal gunshot victim at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, where it was later spotted by local police.

During a brief chase, the 20-year-old driver crashed and he was taken into custody, according to the source and the report. An AK-47 assault rifle was found in the car, though police don’t believe it was used in the shooting.

Both Chargers were likely stolen, according to the source, who said one car had a “dealer plate” and the other had no license plates at all.

Those affiliated with the Jack Boys, meanwhile, refused to leave the home on Mason, causing a standoff that required a SWAT team to respond, the source said.

Police looked to charge three Jack Boys who were eventually taken into custody, including the man who was shot, the source said. Investigators also sought charges against two members of the Body Snatchers — the driver who crashed the Charger and the 20-year-old man he took to West Suburban.

The Sun-Times isn’t naming the suspects because they haven’t been charged with any crime.

Detectives wanted to charge the Body Snatchers affiliates with the killing of their slain accomplice under Illinois’ controversial felony murder rule, which allows a defendant to be convicted of first-degree murder if they commit certain felonies that ultimately lead to another person’s death.

The rule was recently curtailed in the sweeping criminal justice reform bill signed in February by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, but attorneys on Sunday agreed the gang members could still potentially be charged under the revised language.

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