Samantha Masunaga is an entertainment business reporter, with a focus on Hollywood studios and how the film business intersects with new industries. Since joining the Los Angeles Times in 2014, she has covered the aerospace industry, workplace culture and Southern California’s Japanese American community. Masunaga has previously worked for the Oregonian, the Orange County Register and the Rafu Shimpo, among other publications. A Southern California native, she is an alumna of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and UCLA.
Latest From This Author
‘Encanto’ and ‘Zootopia’ director Jared Bush has been named chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation as Jennifer Lee steps back and returns to filmmaking for ‘Frozen 3’ and ‘Frozen 4.’
Sept. 19, 2024
USC’s School of Cinematic Arts hosted a cohort of African filmmakers this summer as part of a State Department program for film diplomacy.
Sept. 19, 2024
“Hunger Games” and “John Wick” studio Lionsgate will partner with AI research company Runway to create and train an AI model that can be used to help augment Lionsgate’s work.
Sept. 18, 2024
The Murdoch family will battle in court this month over patriarch Rupert Murdoch’s plan to place eldest son Lachlan in charge of its news companies.
Sept. 16, 2024
As audiences get more savvy about CGI, studios are ramping up the practical effects. But sometimes, the promotion of those practical effects belies the work done by special effects teams.
Sept. 12, 2024
Activist investor Starboard is challenging the dual-class share structure of News Corp. that has amplified the Murdoch family’s say in the company.
Sept. 9, 2024
David Ellison is poised to become Paramount Global’s new CEO, but his father, Larry Ellison, will be controlling owner of the company, according to a recent federal filing.
Sept. 6, 2024
Pressman Film, the studio behind “Thank You for Smoking” and “American Psycho,” is looking to raise funds for its upcoming development slate through crowd investing, a twist on a tactic used by other producers.
Sept. 5, 2024
The Black List is known for highlighting unproduced screenplays and vaulting titles like ‘Spotlight’ and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ into the zeitgeist. It’s now expanding into fiction.
Sept. 4, 2024
Antipiracy group Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment and the Hanoi police have shut down Fmovies, which is the world’s largest pirate streaming operation.
Aug. 29, 2024