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
Activision Blizzard will begin layoffs at its Irvine and Santa Monica locations next month. Layoffs at its Playa Vista facility will start in November.
Sept. 27, 2024
Attorneys for “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez told a judge that she should be released from state prison and given a new trial due to alleged mishandling of evidence in her case by a special prosecutor.
Sept. 26, 2024
SAG-AFTRA said it has filed an election petition to represent intimacy coordinators employed by companies in the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Sept. 25, 2024
Paramount Global is now going through Phase 2 of its planned layoffs, which started in August. After Tuesday, 90% of the layoffs will be finished.
Sept. 24, 2024
‘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