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The royal family

WSJ: Meghan & Harry produce a major Hollywood flop..themselves

66 replies

RYGO · 24/06/2023 13:50

WSJ: Meghan & Harry produce a major Hollywood flop..themselves

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Produce a Hollywood Flop: Themselves - WSJ

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tigger2022 · 24/06/2023 14:08

It seems you have to have a subscription to read it unless I’m doing something wrong?

AliceOlive · 24/06/2023 14:47

You can read one article for free if you register.

AliceOlive · 24/06/2023 14:48

Oh, the archive link above works.

sashagabadon · 24/06/2023 15:07

That’s an elightening article. Sounds like Harry in particular was used to having an idea and then expecting others basically bringing it to fruition and seemed unprepared for the responsibility that having a production company meant you doing it yourself or employing others who will still come to you constantly for direction and questions that you need to answer or they can’t do their job.
and a inciteful comment about the problem of no longer having the stability of being a working royal ( ie a team to do things for you)

GlorianaCervixia · 24/06/2023 15:25

"Archewell employees and associates say the company often lacks direction, and that its founders at times seem surprised by the work required to finish entertainment projects. Most potential initiatives, they said, follow a similar route: Big idea, subpar execution."

That's very damaging for their prospects in Hollywood. What company would want to throw money at them when they've produced so little for Spotify and Netflix?

Serenster · 24/06/2023 15:37

It’s an interesting read - lots of behind the scenes details revealed. It’s also pretty fair in places, I think, pointing out that the Sussexes did come up with content ideas, but the broadcasters didn’t go for them. It also acknowledges the headwinds they had to face:

After booming during the early part of the pandemic, Netflix’s subscriber growth began to stagnate as streaming competition ramped up and consumers resumed more regular lives. Netflix is still recovering from a sharp drop in its stock in 2022 after it announced its first quarter of subscriber losses in a decade.
The downturn rattled Hollywood, leading to what is now called the “Netflix Correction,” a period in which studios began to prune their catalogs and become choosier about which projects to back. A Hollywood writers’ strike has put more pressure on entertainment companies to justify big payouts, and has closed writing rooms industrywide.

But then there’s also some comments that will really sting - raising their Archewell staff turnover, the fact that Netflix is also unhappy with their output, and then the Taylor Swift rejection of Meghan’s handwritten invitation to come on Archetypes. Taylor famously once dragged William up on stage to sing with John Bon Jovi at a charity gig, so she’s happy to be pally with royals - but not the Sussexes. Also interesting that it claims Meghan and David Furnish came up with Pearl while she was still a working Royal.

frootie · 24/06/2023 16:01

Gosh what an article. Seems much more solid and well sourced than the usual stuff that gets printed. It does appear that the sheen is off the brand. I actually work in brand and marketing and I must admit I'm not sure where they go from here. The only interesting thing about them is the RF imbroglio and I don't know how they reinvent themselves. it's true that unlike the Obama's they don't have a standing in international affairs / politics that give them depth and credibility. The charity work that he did with invictus was good but where is all that now?

00100001 · 24/06/2023 17:23

Interesting read

00100001 · 24/06/2023 17:25

frootie · 24/06/2023 16:01

Gosh what an article. Seems much more solid and well sourced than the usual stuff that gets printed. It does appear that the sheen is off the brand. I actually work in brand and marketing and I must admit I'm not sure where they go from here. The only interesting thing about them is the RF imbroglio and I don't know how they reinvent themselves. it's true that unlike the Obama's they don't have a standing in international affairs / politics that give them depth and credibility. The charity work that he did with invictus was good but where is all that now?

Well, if you read the article in the context of Invictus.... He and/or someone else probably had an idea about a verterans competition and other people did it for him and he was the 'face' of the games...

maranella · 24/06/2023 18:12

It really makes you wonder how much he had to do with it doesn't it @00100001? Not that that's surprising. None of it is surprising! What experience did either Harry or Meghan have in creating content for streaming platforms prior to 2020? None, as far as I'm aware. Meghan is a former C-list actress on a cable channel and Harry once guest-edited the R4 Today programme and interviewed Barack Obama. Apart from that, he's been Prince Harry his whole life and he was in the British army for several years. Quite why Netflix and Spotify thought that they'd suddenly morph into creators of content that would be hugely valuable to them, I don't know.

BasiliskStare · 24/06/2023 18:31

I do think that they over estimated the pull that Harry being 2nd son would be and I think they underestimated just how interesting and clever they were about creating content other than the RF thing. Were he not KCIII's 2nd son , ( and he might be lovely ) I am not sure a chap of Harry's capabilities would even be given an interview for much for those amounts of money. I think Meghan probably underestimated how much leaving the working RF would mean. But if she can do a blog whatever and earn money - good on her .

I still don't like - my family cut me off financially from a 35 36 year old who has been left 10s of millions is a good look. But there you go. They have cut their cloth & I hope it goes well & they are happy.

shockthemonkey · 24/06/2023 18:44

Finally, what feels like a balance and fair article. Thorough too. Very credible.

Thanks OP.

Riapia · 24/06/2023 19:32

They stumble along from one disaster to the next.
Time for Harry to go grovel to daddy.
Should have stuck with what you know Harold.

00100001 · 24/06/2023 19:36

BasiliskStare · 24/06/2023 18:31

I do think that they over estimated the pull that Harry being 2nd son would be and I think they underestimated just how interesting and clever they were about creating content other than the RF thing. Were he not KCIII's 2nd son , ( and he might be lovely ) I am not sure a chap of Harry's capabilities would even be given an interview for much for those amounts of money. I think Meghan probably underestimated how much leaving the working RF would mean. But if she can do a blog whatever and earn money - good on her .

I still don't like - my family cut me off financially from a 35 36 year old who has been left 10s of millions is a good look. But there you go. They have cut their cloth & I hope it goes well & they are happy.

Yeah, I know, me a wealthy grown man, husband and father who quit my job! I can't believe my father cut me off after a few months of me doing fuck all to earn any money... It's utterly ridiculous that me and my millionaire wife have to earn our own money now, honestly, it really isn't fair. I mean, yah, there's the millions my mummy left me, but I don't want to spend that, because we think of it as the kids money really... So yah, can't use that at all. It's almost as if daddy wants my children to starve... It's so unfair.

BasiliskStare · 24/06/2023 19:49

@00100001 That made me giggle . I do think that Harry hasn't got a clue how to earn money & is so used to being looked after financially & given a house etc. & did it ever occur to him not being a working member of the RF means - you aren't paid for. Or perhaps the BP machine kept you out of trouble rather than briefing against you . Be careful what you wish for. You wanted to earn your own money ( and you very may will ) but do stop with the 30 odd year old man - my father isn't bank rolling me. It sounds a bit weak.

00100001 · 24/06/2023 19:57

I wish people would stop referring to a 38 year old father of two as a young man.... Drives me bananas!

Tigger1895 · 24/06/2023 20:16

Murdoch owns that rag, him being the same guy Harry is suing. It’s unlikely they are going to give Harry glowing commentary.

BasiliskStare · 24/06/2023 20:25

@00100001 I think I was agreeing with you at his age ( and indeed a decade or so before ) Dh & I were earning our own money and did not expect handouts. Although to be fair neither of us had parents worth multi millions. At 38 with two children and money in the bank - he really ought to be able to think this through a little better rather than talking about the family who supported him / gave him money for so many years.

00100001 · 24/06/2023 20:28

BasiliskStare · 24/06/2023 20:25

@00100001 I think I was agreeing with you at his age ( and indeed a decade or so before ) Dh & I were earning our own money and did not expect handouts. Although to be fair neither of us had parents worth multi millions. At 38 with two children and money in the bank - he really ought to be able to think this through a little better rather than talking about the family who supported him / gave him money for so many years.

That comment wasn't really directed at you 🙂 just a general moan!

BasiliskStare · 24/06/2023 20:31

@00100001 😀💐

Milcar · 24/06/2023 20:35

From what I remember (wasn't paying much attention) they were quite popular as members of the RF?

But thought that meant they were popular for themselves, rather than as part of an ensemble cast, so to speak. And their spin off show without the others hasn't worked. It has all got a bit self-indulgent.

Serenster · 24/06/2023 20:42

From what I remember (wasn't paying much attention) they were quite popular as members of the RF?

Indeed. At the time of his engagement announcement Prince Harry polled better than QEII, with 81 percent of the country viewing him positively in a November 2017 YouGov poll. 69 percent said they were not bothered by a royal marrying someone of a different ethnicity. His newly announced fiancée Meghan got a 49% approval rating at the same time - this later went up too.

RoseAndRose · 24/06/2023 20:43

Tigger1895 · 24/06/2023 20:16

Murdoch owns that rag, him being the same guy Harry is suing. It’s unlikely they are going to give Harry glowing commentary.

Wall Street Journal - a rag!?

I've heard it all now

DreamTheMoors · 24/06/2023 20:52

Riapia · 24/06/2023 19:32

They stumble along from one disaster to the next.
Time for Harry to go grovel to daddy.
Should have stuck with what you know Harold.

And I’ll never understand the hatred for someone people don’t know, will never meet and who has absolutely no effect on their lives whatsoever.
It’s absurd.

DreamTheMoors · 24/06/2023 20:56

@RoseAndRose

The Wall Street Journal isn’t a rag, no - but they aren’t exactly unbiased, are they.
Murdoch’s only in it for the cash - so as long as the cash is in the negativity, that’s what his publications will be printing.
Not a real stretch to figure that out.

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