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FRIDAY 9AM: Let me answer some of your questions and ask a few of my own:
1) Why this transition took so long is because the new site had to be built from the ground up. That way we ensured a faster loading Deadline Hollywood that had better infrastructure and easier navigation. Now I can re-focus on reporting.
2) If you really hate the italics for comments, we'll change it back to regular type because that's your section of the site, not ours.
3) Yes, I agree that all the relentless SAG and WGA election news is a buzz killer. But with mainstream media so anti-union, it's important that Deadline Hollywood give you the other side that doesn't unfairly present Guild activists as "militants".
4) I'm not sure what metric to use to list indie pics that get squeezed out of the Top 10 box office because of their limited distributions but still deserve recognition. Nor am I clear how to define an indie pic these days. Any suggestions?
5) That button for "Premium Content" does not mean we intend to charge you for all Deadline.com content. No way, no how. We simply envision some extra news features that you might want to pay a small fee to see regularly in the near future.
So don't sweat the small stuff. Look at the big picture. The more Deadline.com grows, the more showbiz news and scoops and analyses and clashes and assholes for you.
FRIDAY EARLY AM: Successful transition! Deadline Hollywood's new look with improved infrastructure is now live on the newly branded umbrella site Deadline.com. It will become the home page for expanded coverage of the business of entertainment and media which I will report from Hollywood and oversee around the world as General Manager and Editor in Chief. The old url of DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com will automatically send you to the new home page.
Most, but not all, of the site's new features are ready, and those that aren't will be coming soon (some as quickly as later today). I will continue my journalism on Deadline Hollywood just as before. Immediate editorial plans also include a Deadline New York senior editor/writer, followed throughout the next year by correspondents in other cities like London, Paris, Mumbai, Hong Kong, and Sydney, all of whom will report to me. Other top priorities include a streamlined version of Deadline Hollywood/Deadline.com for Blackberry and iPhone, a Premium content section with extra news features, and other cool stuff. Enjoy!
THURSDAY PM UPDATE: The tech guys are gonna try this again. So I can't post for a bunch of hours. But when you wake up tomorrow, DHD should have its new look.
THURSDAY AM UPDATE: Well, as you can see, DHD looks the same. That's because of "unforeseen issues with site configuration that were unable to be resolved", according to the tech people. I have no idea what this means, except to say they're going to attempt the new look rollout this afternoon. So I'll post until they tell me not to. Are we having fun yet?
WEDNESDAY PM: I can't post until the changeover to DHD's new look takes place at about midnight (hopefully). Can't you just feel the excitement!?!
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no. no cutting of the slack. this is a news site. can we please get some industry news that is, for once, not related to SAG’s problems. JESUS.
Very very nice. I love the new look. And the content, of course, is always top-notch, which is the important thing.
I agree bill123 but look around, there is none. I’ve rarely seen Hollywood so moribund. No pitch sales, no development. It’s a desert.
One HUGE problem with the redesign: All this jumping to continue reading a post. I want to parse an entire post without having to jump back and forth.
I thought I was feeling the excitement, but it was just the General Tao chicken I had for supper.
Ain’t I a stinker.
Finally!
Jeez Nikki, you look nervous.
Sorry to be a killjoy, but I was more excited before DHD was sold.
i read u everyday – cool i’m psyched. chop chop.just kiddin…
who cares? we need a flashier site for the same old angry rants?
I don’t feel anything.
Congrats on everything and I’m pumped for the new look. And terrific coverage on Disney/Marvel.
heath
I do feel the excitement and looking forward!
Congratulations!
Regarding that picture, whatever did happen to Martin Short?
OMG the alarm clock is back — you can feel the excitement!
Baited breath!
I’m sure you’ll find a way to make this site even worse.
New look…same old crappy Nikki…can’t wait.
It’s after midnight on Wednesday and nothing’s changed. What does that remind me of?
“unforeseen issues with site configuration that were unable to be resolved”
I’ll try to use that one the next time I’m late on a deadline.
Keep doing what you’re doing Nikki. Ignore the douchebag Tea Party comments and keep doing your thing.
This new ‘look’ has been more overhyped than any of the summer movies. And I don’t care if i never hear one more piece of news about SAG again…til those greedy bastards go on strike again in a couple years.
Othwerwise, best of luck with the new site.
Hey, I love the SAG/WGA stuff. It has totally replaced the soaps for me.
tease
I haven’t been this excited since I was waiting for The Phantom Menace … oh, wait… never mind. Well, that project also had unforeseen issues with casting configurations that were unable to be resolved.
Seriously though, you do a great job Nikki and can’t wait til manana. It’s hard to be an original in this town and you are definitely one!
Welcome to Publishing 2.0 – it’s always the same.
Tech people don’t or can’t, deliver what the marketing people promise.
This has turned into quite a cliffhanger…
You really fo need a new technology group…this isn’t that difficult! (But it’s hilarious to track)
Nice job … very classy. Just one thing. I think the maroon (or plum or burgundy) is a bit too dark. Have the graphics guy lighten the background color up a bit. That will make the contrast a little less stark and make the site easier to read. And you’re the Babe! And don’t let them edit or tone down your “sassyness” (i.e. cuss words) either! Keep up the tough words, and the contrast with the new classy site will create TONS of charisma. (And tons of interest and intrigue.) So that even your detractors, can’t stand to stay away. They really love you – they just can’t bring themselves to show it. (Could it be jealousy? – or greed? – or both?) AAAAhhhh yes … Showbiz!
Cool new URL too. How much did that cost??? (Congratulations.)
Pretty nice new look here. Like the option to subscribe to comment threads.
Now, can you get the tech guys to do a mobile phone-friendly version of DHD? That’d be really great for keeping up with your site when on the move.
- Richard
Really like the new look ! Good job, designers and tech guys.
Looks pretty good from here, how do the links to New York, London, Paris, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Sydney work?
Thank god for taking 30 stories off your homepage…it loads so much faster!! god speed finskter
Italics? I fucking hate italics! It’s 2 AM and the new look is up. Am I first?
And there it is.
I like that we can tab through recent columns instead of having to scroll down through them. Nice!
Finally!
And I have to say that it’s looking good. I’m going to have take some time to learn the new features, but so far, it’s a big thumbs up.
I have to say, normally I hate it when websites change their design. But, this is very well done. It looks enough like the old design that it’s not jarring and the new features blend in very well. I am one of your “Non-Hollywood” readers, and while I think you can be a bit heavy handed and even seem stuck up at times, I enjoy reading your site and always make it a point to check into the site a couple of times a day.
Keep up the good work.
Web design 101: Italics are hard to read in bulk and should only be used for emphasis. I don’t know how much you web design team gets paid, but it’s way too much.
Ignore the rude comments made by angry people.I like it. The features are cool and helpful and i’m wondering what “premium” will get us… yes, the background is dark and i think you might want to lose the ad unit at the top and keep the big blue box we are all used to, but congrats on the progress. These things are never easy, and lord knows, this is a tough crowd to please…
the new site design is nice, attractive, easy to use. but i really wish there was a way to compress those guild flack releases for those of us reading through quickly. also do you have to run the melrose place ads in between posts? but that’s pretty obnoxious.
Nikki, he’s right. Replace the long boring text with a rubber stamp graphic that reads YADA YADA YADA and is clickable. Click on the graphic and it takes you to the boilerplate if you care to read it.
The new layout looks great, Nikki. Looking forward to what you’ll bring to the new, updated website.
Looks entirely good. Including the ads. Stop whining, people
The content here has been going downhill for at least a year. This new ownership/site will only hasten its demise.
Oh, an lose the italicized comments. What is this, 1998?
Why is there a premium button up top? You going to start charging us?
Nikki,
Congrats and best wishes for success and happiness with the site upgrade!!
I’m not crazy about the italics either, but I like the look of the rest of the site.
“Aborted” Message three times!…..and are you freakin kidding me?
Links to MMC and OnCars…this is a joke right? The real “new” page is coming later…..right?….RIGHT? Total crap fest!
Premium, coming soon. This does not bode well.
Ugh, whats with the italics being used in comments?!?! WHY DON’T YOU CHANGE ALL THE POSTS TO BE AUTOMATICALLY IN CAPS ALSO? BOTH ARE EQUALLY ANNOYING AND SOMEONE ELSE POINTED OUT ABOVE ITALICS SHOULD BE USED TO EMPHASIZE A POINT ONLY. Premium content? Uh oh, you’ve been taking ideas from Mr. Murdoch I see… Tsk, tsk, tsk…
Looks like every other WordPress site. Lots of hype for so very little.
Hopefully the content won’t change.
The italic comment font is very VERY hard on the eyes and all the ad movement is extremely distracting and way over the top! But, I’m sure the little cubicle programmers are all hi-fiving their flash-n-dash accomplishment! Congratulations on your blog sale, but it’s very overwhelming… Hopefully, the real news will, somehow, get through all the glitz…
Nikki is working it! Nice re-design! Good luck with all the expansion of coverage. I would love to read cutting film biz news from everywhere in the world.
It was well worth the wait. The new site looks wonderful, Nikki! It is definitely a sign of more great things to come. And while I can’t help but fear that with the addition of correspondents in the future, that the intimate feel of what was deadlinehollywood.com (your unique voice and style that have attracted your legion of supporters — and detractors — to the site) will eventually be lost, you can’t stop progress. Congratulations!
Where’s the music blasting in the background?! How about QUICK SILVER MESSENGER SERVICE?!
fondu:
So glad someone in addition to me remembers Quick Silver Messenger Service! Heard ” I’ve Got A Line On You, Babe ” in the Coen Bros. trailer and was so disappointed it was not in ” Burn After Reading”.
Looks good.
Much deserved congrats Nikki.
Premium Content Tab????? MMMM, Interesting!
Premium tab?
Buh-bye.
Love the faster load times, also fewer ads seem to crash the site loading (a definite good thing).
Italicized comments should be changed back to plain for easier readability.
For all the people whining about the union news go read Entertainment Weekly or Variety. It is legit entertainment business news more so than what even Variety & THR deign to run.
So far I’m impressed, the cleaner design is much appreciated.
Premium content? “We simply envision some extra news features that you might want to pay a small fee to see regularly in the near future.” Nikki please don’t sell out! I hope we don’t have to envision more and more content moving into that section over time, like some other anti-union and pro-mogul trustworthy titles.
Great new look. But a bit taken aback that for all of the money you’re getting for the site, you intend to charge a “small fee in the near future?” You used to rail against this kind of greed.
You were right. The italics need to go back to normal, please. I feel like I should be whispering when I read the comments
Is “Premium Content” taking a page from Rupert Murdoch? He has announced that he’s going to charge for all of his Fox News stories, as well as for his other sites. If that’s the case, the exit doors will be jammed. — The italicized comments are eye-crossing.
this is what all the drama was over?? you’ve got to be kidding me? zzzzzzzzzzz
Put me down as someone in favor of removing the italicized comments. Harder to read and serves no purpose.
love the new format.
one thing: the ratings tab for the top 10 tv shows should be 18-49 (not HHs), right?
thanks
Nikki, I don’t know of any other site that provides union election info like you do. Thank you for doing that. Even though I don’t plan on voting this go around because I feel we are doomed.
Re: #4 – I’d be thrilled if you (and other media outlets) would also rank box office results by per-screen average, rather than just the total gross. Because it’s a very meaningful measure, and would offer a better at-a-glance picture of how indie films in limited release are doing.
(And congrats on the new and improved site, btw.)
Tell mail.com to stick the premium crap up their ass…..
Lovin the new look Nikki.. so fierce!!!
In regards to item #4, I’ve always liked the “per screen average” rankings. It highlights movies out that week that could never make the pure gross rankings due to lack of screens (which are generally indie films), but that are grossing well considering the number of screen they are on.
Looking gorgeous!
I do not like the type face. Part of what worked for your site was that it did not feel “slick”, now it does. Too many bells and whistles. I just want the data and nothing more.
I agree. I do not love the type face. The whole design is all over the place and too busy. Too many colors, too. Not pleasant to read and look at. I am not moaning just suggesting.
But Nikki, your writing and news and talent are fab as always!!
No charge, please. They need to sell advertising and I (with my Ad sales background who loves your product) will gladly sell some if needed!!!!
Keep up the great work and congrats!!!!
Beware Nikki internet denizens have a natural proclivity to piss and moan about how much better things were prior to even the slightest of changes.
Brava, Brilliant!
I like the look. My only comment is, I don’t like it that some stories are only half there; to read a whole story, another link, “Read More,” has to be clicked. I like much more the style where the whole fucking piece is published all together. If I want to leave a comment, I’ll click another fucking link. Know what I mean? Hate that shit.
Nice change. The old site, but sleeker.
DH has become my primary source for news on the biz. My bookmarks for Variety and THR must feel neglected.
Nikki,
Like the new look… except for putting the comments in italics. Hard on the eyes. Please return them to a normal font.
Brava, Nikki! Congratulations on your productive progression.
Notes:
(1) Italics are distracting, please change back to norm.
(2) Please continue your union/guild coverage! Do not stop! Your
coverage reads clear and clean.
(3) Oh wait a minute – “Premium Content” ??? Not so clear.
In fact, downright suspicious. We know you don’t do this work
for free, but please find some other way to increase revenue.
If the “Premium Content” section stays, I and many others will
be forced to see you as part of the problem instead of part
of the solution. Perhaps you could have a PayPal donation bar?
Or charge for email alerts? Anything but the idea of you being
beholden to the mindless monied overlords who see this industry
as just another paycheck. Please remedy this before too much
damage is done.
Cheers, and keep on keepin’ on!
I REALLY hope the news from correspondents in London, Paris, Mumbai, Hong Kong, and Sydney will be put in a different, international section of the site. Because I come here to read about Hollywood, not Bollywood. Too much extra will make this site hard to get through.
And on that note, I HATE that I have to click a link to get to the rest of the story – this site used to be a fast place to glance through or hours if I wanted to read all the comments. Clicking out and clicking back makes it hard to just skim. Made this site easier than say, Defamer.com. If it stays this way, I’ll have to start to ween myself off this site.
Also, beware the PREMIUM content. You should have waited to add a tab later when you actually had some. Also, FYI – I wouldn’t pay anything for content, and if the good news ends up getting put there, I won’t be back on this site.
The new site user experience design is a great evolution and supports your mission and voice.
Nikki, congratulations to you and your unsung heroic tech team!
Website is much easier on the eyes, but my eyes got kind of used to the old look. So, miss the old look a little, but . . .
Still, like this look better.
All the ads mean that DH is a success and deservedly so. However, all the ads mean more suits for DH to be beholden to. With the fees rolling in, will the ad takers start demanding softer commentary about their entertainment product? Remember the soup the LA Times got into when the Studios threatened to pull their advertising if the paper didn’t ease up… We’ll see…
I haven’t read most comments since my creaky old Mac now takes forever to download a page on this site (and post). I also didn’t want to be negative about a new venture. However, though this is now a slicker site, I do miss the homey one-woman feel. It was all about your words and nothing but your words. Now, the ads are overwhelming, and I can’t distinguish this site much from any other site.
I am also most alarmed about the promise of future reportage from around the world.
1. Meh. I don’t care about anything but Hollywood (okay, and NY).
2. If you are the editor then when will you have time to do what you do best? Even this change has taken you from the centre of all things to dealing with technicalities which means we don’t hear from you that often. Will it get better when more people and reportage is added?
3. This ambitious project for worldwide coverage sure doesn’t sound like a Nikke Finke production. Not your vision. I loved this site because it was all yours and reflected that and your personality. That’s why I love Crazy Days and Nights. Now I love this site not so much.
I do wish you the best. I am sure you will get a bigger audience if that is what this is about. But I can’t help feeling you’ve sold out to “the man”. And as long as I’m using this Mac, I won’t be refreshing like I used to the in the good old days. Sigh. Plus ca change.
Agree that it’s a huge improvement — congrats, Nikki, and on the sale as well.
Strongly agree with an earlier poster: please get rid of the jump to read the whole story. Okay to jump for comments, but put full stories on the front page. It was something that made DHD an easier page to get to ten times a day, scan, scroll, and get the whole story. Reading from anything other than a T line makes jumping a pain in the ass. Please rethink.
Other than that, huzzah.
A) I never knew Italics where so offensive to anyone. Interesting.
B) PLEASE keep reporting on the guild nonsense. You do it well and no one else does. It’s important.
C) “Premium Content”…sounds like porn to me. I say go for it.
Bravo, love it.
You’ll have to post the company that designed it. Unless I am being ignorant and the company who designed it and code, etc. is actually your new parent co (I must admit I can’t recall what they do at this time. Bravo to all parties involved.
- T
per screen is a great way to track all films but give indies their due. and since indiewire is all about nepotism and back patting, ignoring true independents in favor of their friends, i’d love to see more such coverage about the independent film space on ddh. lots of juice news there too.
good work.
The grey text on dirty white background is really hard to read. I have to change everything up to about twenty points just to be able to read it. Really, grey on grey is misery making.
Always wary of ‘Premium’ content, but my biggest complaint: DON’T make me go to another page to read the whole story! ARG! Annoying and unnecessary. Makes skimming take WAY too long.
The site looks good – it was worth waiting for.
One type of “premium” I would be willing to pay, as long as the charge was not unreasonable, would be to be albe to view the site sans all advertising. The owner of the other (non-industry) site that I spend most of my Internet time on does this, and it is a godsend.
In a more joking vein, the only other type of fee-based content I am willing to pay for is photo spreads of Nikki clad in classic, noir-ish lingerie (to fulfill my reverse-cougar fantasy).
Oh, and please consider adding a “Preview” button so that we can view and edit the post before submitting it. Thank you.
WOW! I love the new look and feel of the site. Nice update but still keeps the flavor of the original. Great job!
it’s funny how people are threatening to not visit the site just because they don’t want to click on one link to view the entire story…damn lazy americans…
Site looks nice…. gonna be tough to get many people to actually pay for Hollywood news: to the real world, movies and movie people are nothing but the Toy Department.
Hey there, love the new look. Very clean. I have one beef, though. It loads lickity split in Mozilla but in Explorer, well, I have to hit end program because it freezes my computer.
Count me as another person who will be reading a lot less now that I have to – for every single item posted on this board – click a link to continue reading. Often times, the sentence I am in the middle of is interrupted. Very annoying.
Congrats on the new site and all that Nikki, but…
REALLY HATE THE ADS POPPING UP IN THE MIDDLE WHEN I’M READING…
Please put a stop to it.
You want ‘em at the top and the bottom, fine. But not in the middle of the article!!!! Please!
It’s enough to send me to the Christian Science Monitor!
The “Top 10 Movie Numbers” is hard to read. Might want to consider columns.
I like it.
I’m guessing that the purpose of the page jump is to increase the amount of ads shown per column. Every other site that I read splits up their stories like this, except for those sites with the floating popups that block the text until you do something about them.
One way or another, you pay for free content with annoyances.
Keep SAG news coming, in fact we need more. Some one has to tell the other side of the story. We are middle class workers, not “greedy bastards”.
“more deadline” feels like your going to see previous items… confusing when you get to the bottom of the page and the “Previous deadline” tab is next to the “More deadline” tab