Latest News in Tech + Entertainment
Explore discussions and interviews on the crossroads of tech, media, and entertainment in Metaverse experiences and beyond.
October 06, 2023
LMU Ignite – Ignite Innovation with Justin Trevor Winters, Screenwriter and Futurist
Justin Trevor Winters channels that energy into his screenwriting class at LMU School of Film and Television, where he shares industry insights and helps students hone their writing skills. He is also the CEO of Verified Labs, a virtual production studio. When applying his experience to the classroom, he reminds students of the key ingredient to their future success: passion.
September 24, 2023
Will SEC’s ‘Stoner Cats’ Action Have a Chilling Effect on NFT Media Projects?
Justin Trevor Winters runs Verified Labs with numerous partners, including co-founder and “Napoleon Dynamite” actor Jon Heder. Together, their team has funded multiple television projects by selling NFTs to loyal fans that offer access to content and exclusive perks. Winters doesn’t think Verified’s projects, or “Stoner Cats” for that matter, should be reprimanded for the way they fundraised or engaged with their NFT holder communities. For this reason, he intends to push full steam ahead with Verified’s slate of projects.
September 05, 2023
Coindesk – The Hash – How Web3 is Transforming the Entertainment Industry
Verified Labs co-founder Jon Heder, who is also known for the smash hit comedy “Napoleon Dynamite,” joins Verified Labs CEO Justin Trevor Winters on "The Hash" to discuss the upcoming animated comedy about the FTX debacle called "FORTUN3," debuting this fall. Plus, the two discuss their plans to bridge the gap between entertainment and Web3.
July 24, 2023
Entertainment Weekly – T.J. Miller Zooms into Comic-Con in crypto-scammer cosplay: ‘AI will not replace us!’
The comedian appeared remotely during the "Audience Is King" panel as a version of Sam Bankman-Fried.
July 20, 2023
Comic Con 2023 Panel – Audience is King
Comedian TJ Miller (Silicon Valley, Deadpool), Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory), John Attanasio (CEO of Toonstar), Amber Rose, Hollywood veteran writers "The Daves:" Dave Ihlenfeld and David Wright (Family Guy, Star Trek: Lower Decks), and Dominic Russo (Workaholics) with moderator Harry McCracken (global technology editor of Fast Company) discuss the future of franchise creation where fans and creators collaborate in new ways, leveraging Web3, AI technology, and dynamic gameplay. They will also unveil their upcoming community-driven story world that's ripped straight from the headlines where fact is stranger than fiction.
July 20, 2023
Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX Get Spoofed in New Animated Comedy Starring T.J. Miller
An upstart Web3 studio satirizes the FTX saga in a new “interactive” series called "FORTUN3," debuting this fall. The “FORTUN3” cast includes Jon Heder (best known for the movie “Napoleon Dynamite”) and actress/model Amber Rose in its supporting cast. Heder co-founded Verified Labs, a creative agency that partners with Toonstar on Web3 projects. Their last collaboration was “Space Junk”, which also starred Heder and premiered at CoinDesk’s Consensus conference in April.
July 20, 2023
T.J. Miller, Jon Heder to Star in Web3 Animated Comedy Inspired by Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX
T.J. Miller and Jon Heder will lead a new animated, interactive social comedy based on Sam Bankman-Fried and the implosion of FTX. The latest series from Web3 story studio Toonstar FORTUN3 will see comedian and Silicon Valley actor Miller portray a character inspired by Bankman-Fried, the alleged fraudster and founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the Alameda Research trading firm. Both companies collapsed in 2022 and filed for bankruptcy before its CEO faced more than 12 criminal charges related to fraud and conspiracy.
July 20, 2023
‘Fortun3’: T.J. Miller & Jon Heder To Lead Web3 Animated Workplace Comedy Series Inspired By Sam Bankman-Fried’s Crypto Firm Collapse
Jon Heder and T.J. Miller are set to star in a web3 animated series inspired by the collapse of crypto bank FTX. Miller (Silicon Valley) has been cast to play a character inspired by Sam Bankman-Fried in workplace comedy Fortun3 loosely inspired by the implosion of FTX last year. Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) is also joining the series.
July 19, 2023
Podcast – Justin Trevor Winters – Bridging Hollywood into Film3 Immersive Experiences
Justin Trevor Winters, Co-Founder & CEO of Verified Labs, an award-winning Web3 team joins Jordan on the Film3 OG and the Next Wave of Cinema. brought to you by The Squad.
July 14, 2023
The Squad Podcast with Host Jordan Bayne
🏁LEGENDS. 🏁STEVE MCQUEEN is a HOLLYWOOD legend. 🏁TRIUMPH is a motorcycle legend. 🔥Pull up as I welcome @ChaseMcQueen @TriumphAmerica @KalishArt @V3rifiedLabs @ImmersiveEntLab to a @Film3Squad POP UP SHOW Celebrating this historic moment on @ThetaDrop Cool AF #Film3