Have you ever wondered how Netflix knows exactly what to recommend to you? Or why some movies seem to dominate the box office while others struggle to find an audience? The answer lies in the numbers—data are everywhere in the entertainment world. From casting decisions to streaming algorithms, to the box office projections that decide whether a film even gets made, Hollywood is using data in ways we’ve never seen before.  

But here’s the big question: What happens when data meets art? Can we quantify creativity? Or are we at risk of letting the numbers dictate what stories get told?  To help unpack this, we sat down for lunch with former SAG President Courtney B. Vance.

In this episode, we’ll start with Hollywood by the Numbers, where we break down how data analytics drive decisions in the entertainment industry—from predicting box office success to shaping the stories that get told.

Next, in Beyond the Spotlight: Life Lessons from Courtney, I’ll share a more personal side of our conversation—how a near-accident on set led him to a powerful realization about self-advocacy, and what we can all learn from it.

Then, in The Science Behind a Blockbuster: Can Data Predict a Hit?, we’ll dive into how predictive analytics influence casting, marketing, and even the types of movies Hollywood prioritizes.

So, grab your popcorn and settle in. This is going to be a blockbuster of an episode.