Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 55! The week we're pulling back the curtain on the maybe not-so-quiet retreat. The numbers are in for 2025, and they're brutal in terms of women directors, and in some ways, non-white directors over all. E-Kan and Rían break down to what might be driving that, and what that means for us performers and creators moving forward and some bright spots.  Michael Caine announced he will be licensing his voice to an AI-startup backed up by Matthew McConaughey while Morgan Freeman fires shots, saying his lawyers are busy hunting all those out there stealing his voice without his consent. Welcome to the Wild, Wild, West, and the guys try to make sense of it. Also, we talk more about Abba, as you know we love here at the podcast.  There are some bright spots, including Paramount and Disney commit to putting in more money aimed towards content, and the one thing we know-if you want it, you have to go out there and make it.  Follow us @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts, and on all social media, including TIkTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Substack.  @ekansoong @riansheehykelly https://www.ign.com/articles/michael-caine-says-licensing-his-voice-to-matthew-mcconaughey-backed-ai-audio-company-is-using-innovation-not-to-replace-humanity-but-to-celebrate-it https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/10/01/abba-voyage-ticket-sales-revenue-2024/ https://theankler.com/p/female-directors-and-hollywoods-grim https://theankler.com/p/hollywoods-backslide-into-white-male https://finance.yahoo.com/news/paramount-plans-price-increase-1-095028265.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAL-kpmkYFLUqK_wWZM9Ynkn0Kdk7rYTqVusPhPQ5u5TYinbShkDVVavLpugzh6Lgzpb8NdbE1iEmN1_XVKROop_1e9NUlqty01zULXk2ldKrNVEKuIXx3PeLAOp9kOa3xvTCho0pTkFcv5BLQ3vk9jHqB_BLaXlJnJFMOVr8Kar0 https://wdwnt.com/2025/11/disney-increasing-content-spending-1-billion/ https://deadline.com/2025/11/nearly-half-lgbtq-tv-characters-canceled-glaad-1236608720/ https://deadline.com/2024/11/afm-film-sellers-tell-ifta-they-wont-return-las-vegas-2025-will-set-up-own-market-1236177365/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQclLZ9Eo6-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Hidden Gems:  Turn off "Access When Locked" on Iphone - "General", "Face ID & Passcode", Allow Access When Locked- Turn Off Control Center Petit Salons Monday Screening Nights at Petit Ermitage Hotel Time Stamps:  (0:00) Intro (3:00) Great CD Patrick Rush appearance at Lesly Kahn (6:25) Michael Caine licenses his voice at AI startup (11:45) AI chatbots are causing psychosis (17:33) Abba's virtual show sells a million tickets (24:40) Hollywood migration to Nevada and AFM  (29:20) Women filmmakers drastically down in 2025 (31:20) How scared is Hollywood?  (36:50) Paramount and Disney commit billions of dollars to new content (39:10) If you believe in it, make it  (40:53) The genius of Chad Sanders and the black art bubble (45:27) Hidden Gems