Best in Fest
Best in Fest
AI, Big Tech & Hollywood: What Creators Need to Know About the Next Media Revolution with Laura Sydell
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In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage speaks with Laura Sydell, an award-winning journalist, audio producer, and storyteller best known for her work covering digital culture and technology for NPR programs including Planet Money, This American Life, and more.
After two decades reporting from the front lines of Silicon Valley, Laura now brings that insider perspective to narrative storytelling and screenwriting, developing techno-thrillers and sci-fi projects inspired by the real forces shaping our digital world.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- 🎙️ How Laura transitioned from public radio journalism to screenwriting and TV development
- 💻 What it was like covering the rise of Silicon Valley and the early internet era
- 📀 How Napster and digital file sharing reshaped the entertainment industry
- 📺 The rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and the transformation of television storytelling
- 🤖 What artificial intelligence could mean for writers, filmmakers, and creatives
- 🎬 Why human storytelling still matters in the age of AI
- 📱 How new technology tools are empowering independent creators
- 🌍 Why international TV markets are growing while Hollywood faces disruption
- 🧠 How real-world tech trends inspire speculative fiction and techno-thrillers
Laura also discusses how years of reporting on big tech influence her current writing projects, including stories about data privacy, AI, and the growing power of Silicon Valley companies.