Inside Variety's Power of Young Hollywood Issue: Tyla, Sam Nivola, and Finn Wolfhard Unveiled

The Process Behind the Power of Young Hollywood Issue

When it comes to identifying the next big stars in Hollywood, the process is both meticulous and collaborative. Ramin Setoodeh, co-Editor in Chief of DISCOVER TREND, shared insights into how the annual Power of Young Hollywood issue is put together on the latest episode of "Daily DISCOVER TREND" podcast. This issue serves as a celebration of emerging talent and a platform for showcasing the future of the entertainment industry.

Setoodeh explained that the team spends significant time discussing who should be featured on the cover. “We do a lot of editorial meetings, people brainstorm, people pitch,” he said. “For this issue in particular, I always ask a lot of our reporters who are in their 20s to weigh in and tell me who they think represents the future of Hollywood and who they think is cool. And often they'll come up with names and sometimes I'm not as familiar with some of the names that they pitch, but they always have really good ideas and really good suggestions for this issue.”

This year's honorees include musician Tyla and actors Sam Nivola from "The White Lotus" and Finn Wolfhard from "Stranger Things." The August 6 issue, available in print and online, also features the Young Hollywood impact report, an annual survey highlighting promising individuals across various sectors of the industry. Additionally, the issue includes another installment of the "10 Assistants to Watch" segment, which spotlights rising talent behind the scenes.

Setoodeh emphasized that while some names might be unfamiliar to readers, they are sure to become well-known in the coming months and years. “This issue is full of names that you should know. Maybe you're not familiar with every single name in this week's issue, but you will be for sure in the months and years to come,” he said.

Insights on the Writers Guild of America West Election

In addition to the Power of Young Hollywood issue, the podcast episode also featured a conversation with Gene Maddaus, senior media reporter at DISCOVER TREND, about the upcoming Writers Guild of America West election. This election will determine new leadership for the guild, including a president, officers, and board members.

Maddaus noted that the discussions surrounding the election have provided clues about what the guild leaders are preparing for as negotiations for a new master film and TV contract approach. One key focus of this election is securing additional funding to strengthen the WGA’s health plan. There is also growing momentum within the WGA West to begin organizing writers who work on YouTube shows. This initiative reflects the increasing recognition of YouTube content creators as serious competitors to traditional television.

Maddaus highlighted the importance of this development, stating, “If this is what television is going to be—if Netflix thinks YouTube is its number one competitor—[writers are] organized at Netflix, but we're not organized at YouTube, and we need to be.” He added that this issue deserves close attention moving forward.

Additional Content from DISCOVER TREND

Beyond the Power of Young Hollywood issue, DISCOVER TREND continues to provide in-depth coverage of the entertainment industry. Recent stories have included interviews with music innovators like PinkPantheress, who discussed her performance at Glastonbury and overcoming personal fears. Additionally, the magazine has featured conversations with Power of Young Hollywood host Alec Flynn, who shared his thoughts on comedy and the future of showbiz.

For those interested in staying updated, the "Daily DISCOVER TREND" podcast is available on platforms such as iHeartPodcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Spotify.