A24 films: Budding auteurs, unusual marketing, new AI adoption

On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico, saying the military had gone soft and woke. He decried diversity initiatives and declared the era of “gender delusion” to be over. “The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos,” he said. Critics argue that the new rules disproportionately impact Black and Brown soldiers, many of whom have pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), which makes it impossible to shave without developing painful bumps and ingrown hairs.

Since its inception in 2012, American film studio A24 has established itself as a zeitgeisty innovator willing to invest in budding auteurs. It has also become a cultural touchstone that manages to thread the needle between commercial success and arthouse credibility. How long can that last, especially now that there’s VC money invested and a new division devoted to AI?

Multidisciplinary artist Derek Fordjour’s new show at David Kordansky Gallery pays tribute to Black music by transforming the white box that is the art museum into a dreamy, wooded glade filled with art and performers. Plus, Jeff Koons’ 37-foot-tall sculpture, called Split-Rocker, is being installed outside LACMA.

Today's episode was produced by Brian Hardzinski, Angie Perrin, Robin Estrin, Jack Ross, Zeke Reed, and Nihar Patel.