James C. Oliver
@olivercommajames.bsky.social
Living in LA. Writing for the screen with my wife @sharlaoliver.bsky.social (you may have seen our work on Marvel's #AgentsofSHIELD). Raising a nerdy daughter. He/Him
Finally deactivated my old Twitter account. I hadn't posted in over a year and had left it dormant in the hope that perhaps one day it would change owners and return to something like what it used to be, but I think we're past that now. It was a fun place once, but not anymore.
December 5, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Finally deactivated my old Twitter account. I hadn't posted in over a year and had left it dormant in the hope that perhaps one day it would change owners and return to something like what it used to be, but I think we're past that now. It was a fun place once, but not anymore.
Reposted by James C. Oliver
“Netflix is the biggest streaming service in the world. Consolidating its power over the streaming video market not only kills jobs but also raises prices and hurts the U.S. entertainment industry.” www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
Hollywood Labor Comes Out Swinging Against Warner Bros.-Netflix Deal: “This Merger Must Be Blocked”
The most severe in its criticism was the Writers Guild of America, so far.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
“Netflix is the biggest streaming service in the world. Consolidating its power over the streaming video market not only kills jobs but also raises prices and hurts the U.S. entertainment industry.” www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
Part of why the election went the way it did last year is that the media companies wanted an administration that would allow them to merge into a select few mega corporations.
December 5, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Part of why the election went the way it did last year is that the media companies wanted an administration that would allow them to merge into a select few mega corporations.
Plagiarism is bad for artists and a huge legal issue for the studio/streamer. Of course they had to pull the series .
But so called "A.I." does the same thing this guy did. The only difference is Big Tech is plagiarizing thousands of human writers simultaneously.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/a...
But so called "A.I." does the same thing this guy did. The only difference is Big Tech is plagiarizing thousands of human writers simultaneously.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/a...
Apple TV Series ‘The Hunt’ Is Pulled Amid Accusations of Plagiarism
www.nytimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Plagiarism is bad for artists and a huge legal issue for the studio/streamer. Of course they had to pull the series .
But so called "A.I." does the same thing this guy did. The only difference is Big Tech is plagiarizing thousands of human writers simultaneously.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/a...
But so called "A.I." does the same thing this guy did. The only difference is Big Tech is plagiarizing thousands of human writers simultaneously.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/a...
Took the kiddo to #GeekyTeas in Burbank and let her pick out a shiny purple d20 from the chest of random dice. Her first roll with it was a natural 20.
November 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Took the kiddo to #GeekyTeas in Burbank and let her pick out a shiny purple d20 from the chest of random dice. Her first roll with it was a natural 20.
If A.I. were even half as good as they're claiming it is, they would not need to do much to promote it. The results would speak for themselves. Instead, they're spending a fortune to convince us to use it or they're literally forcing people who work for them to use it.
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 AM
If A.I. were even half as good as they're claiming it is, they would not need to do much to promote it. The results would speak for themselves. Instead, they're spending a fortune to convince us to use it or they're literally forcing people who work for them to use it.
As someone who has to see this guy's fucking signature every time I look at my diploma, here's what I have to say: please go away Larry. Nobody wants to hear another goddamn word out of you.
NYTimes www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
NYTimes www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
Larry Summers to Step Back From Public Commitments Over Emails With Epstein
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:51 AM
As someone who has to see this guy's fucking signature every time I look at my diploma, here's what I have to say: please go away Larry. Nobody wants to hear another goddamn word out of you.
NYTimes www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
NYTimes www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
My kid rarely sees commercials but just said, "An ad for pizza? But we already know about pizza."
She's not wrong.
She's not wrong.
November 18, 2025 at 1:09 AM
My kid rarely sees commercials but just said, "An ad for pizza? But we already know about pizza."
She's not wrong.
She's not wrong.
Just got a LinkedIn message praising me for my "commentary" at a film festival I've never attended and inviting me to attend some event in a few months. Is this a new scam that people are seeing?
November 10, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Just got a LinkedIn message praising me for my "commentary" at a film festival I've never attended and inviting me to attend some event in a few months. Is this a new scam that people are seeing?
So if you add up all the innings we're essentially starting game nine of a seven game series.
November 2, 2025 at 3:43 AM
So if you add up all the innings we're essentially starting game nine of a seven game series.
How is this not already an animated movie?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
Sea Otters Are Stealing Surfboards in California. Again.
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:17 AM
How is this not already an animated movie?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/s...
When Google Glass and Apple Vision Pro came out I was one of many science fiction writers who thought the future would be a sleeker version of that.
Now that it's fallen by the wayside, I can admit that was a bad prediction.
I think about this whenever someone assures me that the future is AI.
Now that it's fallen by the wayside, I can admit that was a bad prediction.
I think about this whenever someone assures me that the future is AI.
October 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
When Google Glass and Apple Vision Pro came out I was one of many science fiction writers who thought the future would be a sleeker version of that.
Now that it's fallen by the wayside, I can admit that was a bad prediction.
I think about this whenever someone assures me that the future is AI.
Now that it's fallen by the wayside, I can admit that was a bad prediction.
I think about this whenever someone assures me that the future is AI.
It was already an annoying morning because the file I needed for work wouldn't open, but what made it worse was that I had to sift through a bunch of AI slop tech support recommendations before I found the actual solution (written by a human).
October 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
It was already an annoying morning because the file I needed for work wouldn't open, but what made it worse was that I had to sift through a bunch of AI slop tech support recommendations before I found the actual solution (written by a human).
Seems like OpenAI is desperately trying to make this app ubiquitous before the lawsuits catch up. If there were enough legit uses of this technology to justify the investment, why would they be pushing the legally dubious uses so fervently?
OpenAI is preventing people from making AI videos of King on its Sora app after the estate of the civil rights leader complained about the spread of offensive and vulgar portrayals.
OpenAI blocks MLK Jr. videos on Sora after 'disrespectful depictions'
OpenAI is preventing people from making AI videos of King on its Sora app after the estate of the civil rights leader complained about the spread of offensive and vulgar portrayals.
n.pr
October 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Seems like OpenAI is desperately trying to make this app ubiquitous before the lawsuits catch up. If there were enough legit uses of this technology to justify the investment, why would they be pushing the legally dubious uses so fervently?
We have a hummingbird feeder on our balcony and it attracts birds which is great and adorable, right up to the point that one hummingbird is straight up trying to murder another hummingbird right next to the feeder. It's grim.
October 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
We have a hummingbird feeder on our balcony and it attracts birds which is great and adorable, right up to the point that one hummingbird is straight up trying to murder another hummingbird right next to the feeder. It's grim.
Reposted by James C. Oliver
Great piece with level-headed insight into AI and our industry.
studio execs & major outlets claim AI is "inevitable" and poised to take over Hollywood. the reality is much different. i spoke with filmmakers, producers, and editors about how AI is actually showing up in productions – and what it still can't do:
Hollywood Has a Major AI Hype Problem
Studio execs and major media outlets claim that AI is "inevitable" and poised to take over film and TV. The reality is much different.
movieweb.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Great piece with level-headed insight into AI and our industry.
Something that is only 80% accurate (and getting less so as it eats its own tail) cannot be relied upon. This is why the AI bubble will burst eventually. The only question is how bad the collateral damage will be.
AI-generated content is flooding the internet, and we're entering a new era of information overload. Watch our latest video to find out how AI slop affects the internet and why kurzgesagt videos will always remain human-made: https://kgs.link/AISlop
October 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Something that is only 80% accurate (and getting less so as it eats its own tail) cannot be relied upon. This is why the AI bubble will burst eventually. The only question is how bad the collateral damage will be.
AI slop video generators will mean every rando who says, "I've got an idea for a movie..." can prompt a janky clip that will be ignored just like their elevator pitch would be ignored. The difference is the AI clip will contribute to everyone having higher electricity bills.
October 6, 2025 at 9:50 PM
AI slop video generators will mean every rando who says, "I've got an idea for a movie..." can prompt a janky clip that will be ignored just like their elevator pitch would be ignored. The difference is the AI clip will contribute to everyone having higher electricity bills.
Reposted by James C. Oliver
Daughter of Robin Williams, Zelda Williams 💔
October 6, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Daughter of Robin Williams, Zelda Williams 💔
Reposted by James C. Oliver
The Sora AI disinfo nightmare is here
For more like this:
tiktok.com/@drewharwell
instagram.com/bydrewharwell
For more like this:
tiktok.com/@drewharwell
instagram.com/bydrewharwell
October 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The Sora AI disinfo nightmare is here
For more like this:
tiktok.com/@drewharwell
instagram.com/bydrewharwell
For more like this:
tiktok.com/@drewharwell
instagram.com/bydrewharwell
The Pitt is really well done, but she's right -- an eight episode season would not have been able to hit as deeply with that many different characters. And the heaviest action episodes only work when you have the baseline chaos of an ER established over half a season. More long seasons please!
The Pitt is fantastic & deserved the win on quality alone—but that 15 ep order is a ray of hope for me as well. Thought experiment I always ask people to do; what if there had only been 8 episodes in S1? Or 10? Doesn’t bear thinking about. The season was a terrific rich meal & I’m so happy for them.
the pitt meant so much to me this year, i'm so grateful for it
September 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The Pitt is really well done, but she's right -- an eight episode season would not have been able to hit as deeply with that many different characters. And the heaviest action episodes only work when you have the baseline chaos of an ER established over half a season. More long seasons please!
Sometimes writing a bad guy plan necessitates inventing an evil but commercially viable novel business model.
August 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Sometimes writing a bad guy plan necessitates inventing an evil but commercially viable novel business model.
I've been hearing people talk about "vertical video" production lately, and am I wrong that a lot of it basically sounds like a non-union version of Quibi?
August 13, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I've been hearing people talk about "vertical video" production lately, and am I wrong that a lot of it basically sounds like a non-union version of Quibi?
Reposted by James C. Oliver
Sunk-cost fallacy and cheating students are the only things keeping AI in business at this point.
Just look at how usage of ChatGPT plummets as soon as the semester ends.
Just look at how usage of ChatGPT plummets as soon as the semester ends.
August 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Sunk-cost fallacy and cheating students are the only things keeping AI in business at this point.
Just look at how usage of ChatGPT plummets as soon as the semester ends.
Just look at how usage of ChatGPT plummets as soon as the semester ends.