435 - Kanye Deserves More Credit, Jaafar Jackson’s “Michael” Performance, “Interest Tentpoles” and a Chat with The Napa Boys, Nick Corirossi & Armen Weitzman

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it&#39;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 – www.claude.ai/makeitHello, Hello! In this episode, hosts Chris Barkley and Nicholas Buggs dive into current events ranging from recent political incidents to Kanye West&#39;s public apology, before exploring the massive success of the Michael Jackson biopic and what it reveals about Hollywood&#39;s &#34;interest tent pole&#34; strategy. They discuss how studios now greenlight films based on search trends and IP rather than storytelling merit, and examine the challenges facing independent filmmakers in today&#39;s market. The conversation concludes with insights from indie filmmakers Nick Corirossi and Armen Weitzman about their comedy &#34;The Napa Boys&#34; and how Hollywood has commoditized nostalgia at the expense of genuine storytelling.We also talk about:• The difference between what audiences want (horror) versus what they need (comedy) based on audience polling• How modern filmmaking has lost essential storytelling elements that create lasting nostalgia• The rise of &#34;interest media&#34; and how search algorithms influence film production decisions• Why physical newsletters and tangible media create deeper fan connections than digital alternatives• The challenge of maintaining artistic integrity while pursuing commercial success in independent filmmakingPeople, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned:People:Nick CorirossiArmen WeitzmanKanye West / YeJoe JacksonTaylor SwiftJay LenoDana WhiteJoe RoganTucker CarlsonDick GregoryNia LongJaafar JacksonCheryl HinesHenry Martínez BC (Brian Comer, Cards and Capes)Nick BarnesNate BargatzeDanielle VegaAndrew SchulzCompanies, Platforms &amp; Organizations:Panini (trading cards)Magnolia Pictures  Lionsgate  NetflixA24USPS.Wall Street JournalSundance Film Festival Cannes Film Festival TIFF White House Secret ServiceUS Congress IMAX DolbyPodcasts, Shows &amp; Internal Series:Mistakes in the Making (series on the MAKE IT Podcast)Films, TV, IP &amp; Characters:<a