Summer Is Here: Lobster Rolls, The Bear, and a Cannes Revelation

Discussed in this issue: The creator economy, lobster rolls, and The Bear returns.

From Jamie’s Desk:

As a twenty-five year veteran of the film business, the holy grail has always been the Cannes Film Festival. If you’re a regular reader of Jamie’s List, you know that some of the most memorable moments of my career have happened along the Croisette. There’s truly nothing that compares to a Cannes premiere. The feeling of arriving at the Palais for your own screening is something that pictures cannot do justice. I know that everyone in the industry would agree: it’s a life-changing experience. 

Having said that, after attending Cannes Lions for two years straight, it has opened my eyes to an entirely different side of the business that takes place on that same Croisette. The core of Lions is still the advertising awards, highlighting the best commercials and campaigns of the year. Winning one of those awards is an honor that is the pinnacle of the advertising business. And there’s industry overlap, too. Over the years, recipients have included my friend and collaborator Derek Cianfrance, as well as Spike Lee, David Fincher, and Wes Anderson. 

This year, I want to give a special shoutout to Rich Kleiman, Kevin Durant, Michael Rattner and the entire OBB/Boardroom/L’Oreal teams for the Gold Lion they received from their Cerave spot. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out. 

However, like the Cannes Film Festival, awards are just a small part of the ecosystem of Lions. What’s really happening is a convergence of all the biggest brands in the world, activating in one place for a week. From Chase to Google to Amazon to Snapchat to Spotify to MLB to Netflix and beyond, they all come here to make deals that will ultimately transact on billions of dollars in business. Not to mention, the Croisette is brimming with talent: KD, Oprah, Shaq, Scott Galloway, Colin Jost, and Alex Cooper, just to name a few. 

This week has led me to finally understanding the new era we have entered: the creator economy. For some of you, this is not new. We have been living in this economy for years, but it has not been at the forefront of the film and TV conversations that make up the majority of my days. I’ve heard the term thrown around left and right, but the actual meaning has eluded me. The most simple definition of creator is a person or thing that brings something into existence. Now I realize that’s a very broad definition, but as we live through a time where consumption is rampant – everything we watch, read, or listen to (from online to in theaters) is the product of creators. 

Rick Rubin wrote an amazing book that was designed for artists, titled The Creative Act: A Way of Being. In the opening of his book, he talks about how everyone – from a plumber to Jay-Z – is an artist. I’ll let you read the book (he explains it much more eloquently than I can), but I’m now on board with this idea that everyone is part of the creator economy. 

Sure, there are tons of different types – from the filmmakers I referenced above to the “micro-influencers” that try to sell you products, to the streamers who wander the streets, filming everything they do. Obviously the level of skill and talent differs – but I do believe it still exists in everyone who participates. If people manage to get millions of eyeballs to watch them go through the motions of their everyday lives, it’s hard to argue they’re not making some kind of impact. Mr. Beast, the most successful of all the new-era creators, just passed 400 million subscribers to his Youtube channel. That’s more than the entire population of the United States. Mind blowing. 

For some reason, “content creator” has become a term with negative connotations. I’m not sure why – because the creator economy is here to stay, and only getting bigger. Personally, it never crossed my mind that I was part of that ecosystem. I made movies, TV shows, and documentaries. I’m a filmmaker, but at the end of the day, I too am a creator. 

Not to mention that Jamie’s List includes a newsletter, podcast, live events, and books. So by definition, I am in the middle of this economy. This week, I went to an event to celebrate the launch of Oprah’s new Amazon deal, and she was introduced as “the original creator”. I can’t imagine that Oprah ever thought of herself as part of the creator economy – but to be honest, she’s one of the GOATs. 

On top of the social and cultural impact, the creator economy is making a huge economic dent. Estimates state that in 2026, it will be responsible for $250 billion dollars of revenue – yes, BILLION with a B. Goldman Sachs predicts that in 2027, that figure will nearly double and reach $480 billion. 

I realize that many of my friends in the film business will scoff at this – but these are the facts. The great news is that as we move forward, and brands continue to try to reach people – I believe that the core members of the filmmaking community will be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

The reality is that filmmakers are the OG’s of this creator ecosystem. While doing my research, I found that in 1896, the Lumière brothers premiered the first “promo film”, a roughly 50-second short film called Laveuses – which was just three women doing laundry, with two crates of Lever Brothers’ Sunlight Soap, turned label-out toward the camera. Through a deal with Swiss businessman François-Henri Lavanchy-Clarke of Lever Brothers, the Lumière brothers were rewarded with decreased production costs and Lever Brothers were provided with promotion on the silver screen. Sound familiar? The original example of branded content.

Procter & Gamble brought us The Guiding Light for 72 years. In life, things are cyclical. I wouldn’t be surprised if JP Morgan Chase, Gatorade, or Door Dash are working on bringing us the next Anora, One Battle After Another, or Roofman. And most likely along with those films there will be a podcast, a newsletter, or a live event.

If you haven’t been to Cannes Lions yet, and you’re part of the creator economy – yes, I’m talking to you, directors, producers, actors, and studio execs – you’re missing a major opportunity. See you next year on the Croisette.

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!

Summer is here, which means summer Fridays, weekend getaways, and camp. One of the greatest areas of our country is New England (minus their sports teams) and those lucky enough to live on the east coast get to experience that regularly. One of the main reasons people not from that area visit is predominantly for camp drop off, which is overwhelmingly in Maine. Given that, here are some of the best spots along the coast, as recommended by my crew of experts. Whether it is for a weekend getaway with your friends or a family camp drop off, I hope you’re able to hit some of these spots.

Maine is synonymous with one thing: LOBSTER. Steamed, in a roll, in bisque, or on top of a salad — its a can’t-miss food group for New England summers. So while there are plenty of spots along the coast that have other cuisines — we’re focusing on seafood here. As always, send your recs to [email protected]!

📍South Thomaston, ME: McLoons Lobster Shack (reviewed by Joseph Varet)
Cuisine: Seafood
Crew: Adam Saper, Anthony Jacobson, David Nathanson, James Ponsoldt, Jordan Okun, Kate Burr, Matt Karatz, Condé Nast Traveler, The Infatuation, The NY Times
Good For: Casual, Take Out, No Reservations
Pro Tip: Get a root beer float at the shack next door.
What to Order: Lobster Roll with Mayo and a Side of Drawn Butter for Dipping, Grilled Littleneck Clams
Notes: There are hundreds if not thousands of lobster roll spots in the great state of Maine. McLoons is not the most convenient to get to, but it is the best. All elements of their lobster roll are 11 out of 10–from the perfectly textured subtly sweet lobster to the gently toasted cut bun. It's just perfection on a roll. Also, they have extraordinary grilled clams that naturally taste of sea salt and butter. This place is worth the two-hour detour.

📍Portland, ME: Scales (reviewed by David Nathanson)
Cuisine: Seafood
Crew: Adam Saper, Joseph Varet, Kate Burr, Matt Karatz, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, The Infatuation
Good For: Small Groups, Date Night, Good Cocktails
Pro Tip: If you’re solo, grab a specialty cocktail and small plates at the bar.
What to Order: Anadama Bread, Fresh Oysters, Tuna Crudo, Fried Clams, Vanilla Custard Sundae
Notes: Anchored on Portland’s working Maine Wharf, Scales blends coastal heritage with refined execution in a space that feels both industrial and warm. The restaurant features sweeping bay views and a bustling open kitchen where live lobsters and freshly caught local fish are chilled beneath a steady fall of nugget ice. Start with one of the restaurant's signature cocktails and the house-made Anadama bread—rich with molasses and served warm with sea-salted butter. For appetizers, the daily selection of oysters, the bright and clean tuna crudo, and the perfectly crisped fried whole-belly clams make a compelling case to go heavy on the small plates. For a main course, the pan-roasted scallops in a delicate morel cream sauce showcase the kitchen’s precision and restraint. Don’t skip dessert: the vanilla custard sundae topped with caramel popcorn is a pitch-perfect finish.

Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Rice, Condé Nast Traveler, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Iman Dakhil, Infatuation, James Beard Award, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Alagem, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, The LA Times, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michelin Guide, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, The NY Times, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phill Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.

Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan