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Actors secured these new safeguards as part of a deal announced late on Wednesday, according to Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator for the SAG-AFTRA actors union. The proposed agreement sets a minimum compensation level for AI uses, Crabtree-Ireland said. Crabtree-Ireland said the proposed contract also included safeguards around the use of generative AI to create synthetic actors. "They are being ultra cautious," said Scott Mann, co-CEO and founder of Flawless, a company that uses AI for film dubbing and editing. Film and television writers also won protections around AI use after a five-month-long strike by the Writers Guild of America this year.

Persons: Duncan Crabtree, Carlos Osorio, Crabtree, Walt Disney, Scott Mann, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Mary Milliken, Bill Berkrot Organizations: National, SAG, The, Toronto, Film, REUTERS, Actors, Reuters, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt, Warner Bros Discovery, Netflix, Technology, Writers Guild of America, Thomson Locations: Ireland, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Crabtree, Hollywood, Los Angeles

To studio executives who negotiated with the SAG-AFTRA president, the former star of "The Nanny" prolonged a strike while she relished her high-profile role. As president of the 160,000-member SAG-AFTRA union, Drescher won widespread praise from performers for her tenacity in fighting for better wages and protections against the rising threat of artificial intelligence technology. Drescher framed her actions as part of a broader labor movement battling Corporate America, where, in her view, executives place Wall Street's approval and their own compensation ahead of the welfare of workers. Studio executives, who declined to criticize Drescher publicly to avoid inflaming labor talks, said the 66-year-old Drescher delivered similar unvarnished critiques to industry leaders during closed-door negotiations. "Her interest as the union president is to see all performers, from background to the top 2%, succeed in a vibrant industry for the next century and beyond."

Persons: Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Fran Fine, Drescher, Kate Bond, Jill Morgan, AFTRA, Wall, Norma Rae, Ivy Kagan Bierman, Loeb & Loeb, Shari Belafonte, Belafonte, Bob Iger, Ted Sarandos, Kimberly Westbrook, Fran, Westbrook, Justine Bateman, Alex Plank, Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro, Ezra, She's, Plank, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Mary Milliken, Rosalba O'Brien, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SAG, Writers Guild of America, Hollywood, Netflix, Broadway, CBS, Corporate America, Loeb &, NBC, Walt Disney, Amazon Studios, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, ANGELES, Queens, Ireland

Toy figures of people are seen in front of the displayed Disney + logo, in this illustration taken January 20, 2022. For the fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 30, Disney reported adjusted per-share earnings of 82 cents, topping an average forecast of 70 cents, according to LSEG data. The company said it added nearly 7 million Disney+ streaming subscribers in the quarter, with the inclusion of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar together boast 150.2 million subscribers, ahead of Visible Alpha's estimate of 147.4 million. "Our results this quarter reflect the significant progress we've made over the past year," Iger said in a statement.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Walt Disney, Bob, Kevin Lansberry, Iger, Disney, Nelson Peltz, Trian, Paolo Pescatore, Paul Verna, Verna, We've, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Chavi Mehta, Peter Henderson, Sayantani Ghosh, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, ABC, Disney, Guardians, Trian, Management, Warner Bros Discovery, SAG, Insider Intelligence, Hulu, ESPN, Shanghai Disney, Walt Disney, Disney's Entertainment, Star, Big Ten, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, Hong Kong, Florida, India, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

The SAG-AFTRA union posted a message on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, saying its negotiating committee is determined to secure the best deal and bring a responsible end to the strike. "We need a fair contract to make sure this career is viable now AND in the future." Last week, union leaders expressed "cautious optimism" that a deal could be reached soon but also said there were gaps between the two sides on various issues including the use of AI. Actors are seeking assurances that their digital likenesses will not be used without their permission. Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles Editing by Mary Milliken and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Duncan Crabtree, Fran Drescher, Walt Disney, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Mary Milliken, Matthew Lewis Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Amazon, Hollywood, Walt, Netflix, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Los Angeles

Smartphone with Netflix logo is placed on a keyboard in this illustration taken April 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES Oct 19 (Reuters) - Streaming pioneer Netflix (NFLX.O) showed resilience by gaining more quarterly subscribers than in the past three years despite strikes by Hollywood's writers and actors, sending its shares up 13.5% in premarket trading on Thursday. Shares rose to $393.45 in an indication that the company was set to add nearly $21 billion to its market capitalization. "The management deserves an Emmy for managing investor expectations," Bernstein analysts wrote in a note, adding that paid-sharing has opened up a bigger-than-expected market of potential subscribers for Netflix. "Due to its large international presence, Netflix is positioned better than most entertainment companies in plugging programming gaps from the writers' and actors' strikes," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Ross Benes.

Persons: Dado, Bernstein, Walt Disney, Ross Benes, Benes, Ted Sarandos, Sarandos, Sophie Lund, Yates, Hargreaves Lansdown, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Chavi Mehta, Gerry Doyle, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Netflix, REUTERS, Paramount Global, Warner Bros Discovery, Writers Guild of America, Intelligence, vise, Netflix's U.S, USA Network, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Bengaluru

[1/2] SAG-AFTRA members walk the picket line during their ongoing strike outside Sony Studios in Culver City, California, U.S. September 29, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Santa Claus will not be coming to Hollywood this year. The strike, which has entered its 14th week, is scrambling next year’s film slate and delaying the return of primetime television comedies and dramas. Some have sold rights to film and television libraries to keep the lights on, one buyer told Reuters. Some major studio films scheduled for next year could slip into 2025 if the work stoppage continues, according to the studio executive, raising concern that audiences will get out of the habit of going to theaters.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Santa Claus, “, ”, Farrelly, Satan, Bob Marley, Guy Ritchie’s, Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, Doug Creutz, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Ken Li, Rod Nickel Organizations: Sony Studios, REUTERS, Reuters, Media, Warner Bros ., Television, CSI, CBS, Thomson Locations: Culver City , California, U.S, Santa, Hollywood, North America, Spain, Los Angeles

Taylor Swift attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., September 12, 2023. In her next act, Swift is poised to lift another corner of the economy: a movie box office still trying to recover from the pandemic and Hollywood strikes. “Swift and Beyonce will certainly fill some of the gaps,” said Box Office Pro senior analyst Shawn Robbins. BLOCKBUSTER SALESAdvance sales for "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" are on pace with a Star Wars or Marvel blockbuster. “But there's no question that the Eras Tour with Taylor Swift has really launched that into a new atmosphere.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Andrew Kelly, Swift, Taylor, Beyonce, ”, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, “ Swift, Shawn Robbins, “, it's, Hunter, “ We’ve, Rolando Rodriguez, Brock Bagby, Queen Bey, Bruce Nash, Nash, Riley, Eric Wold, Dawn Chnmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Kenneth Li, Mark Porter Organizations: Prudential Center, REUTERS, AMC Theatres, Hollywood, Pro, SAG, Marvel, National Association of Theatre Owners, B, ”, Wedbush Securities, Thomson Locations: Newark , New Jersey, U.S, United States, Canada, Missouri, Los Angeles, New York

SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. Writers and actors share common concerns, including the desire for higher pay and for curbs on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in entertainment. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), which went on strike May 2, reached a tentative deal with studios Sunday. Negotiators for the SAG-AFTRA actors' union have not held talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents Walt Disney (DIS.N), Netflix (NFLX.O) and other studios, since this summer. As with writers, actors are looking for compensation that reflects the value they bring to streaming, specifically, in the form of revenue sharing.

Persons: Mike Blake, Mel Shimkovitz, Walt Disney, AFTRA, Pedro Pascal, Bob Odenkirk, We're, Lisa Richwine, Dawn Chmielewski, Rollo Ross, Miral Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Disney Studios, REUTERS, Guild of America, Netflix, WGA, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt, Entertainment, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Los Angeles

Strike signs await striking SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. The WGA, which represents 11,500 film and television writers, described the deal as "exceptional" with "meaningful gains and protections for writers." While writing may resume, the SAG-AFTRA actors' union remains on strike. Efforts to restart daytime talk shows without writers, such as "The Drew Barrymore Show," collapsed this month, in the face of criticism from striking writers and actors. Even as studio executives celebrated the end of the longest-running writers' strike since 1988, it is only half the labor battle.

Persons: Mike Blake, Caroline Renard, Hollywood's, Drew Barrymore, Bob Iger, Iger, It's, Brandon K, Hines, Kevin Klowden, David Zaslav, Ted Sarandos, Donna Langley, AFTRA, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Danielle Broadway, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Disney Studios, REUTERS, WGA, Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, Disney, Milken Institute, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, California, New Mexico, Georgia, New York, Los Angeles

While such "carriage disputes" are commonplace in the media world, with TV channels going dark as cable companies negotiate with media companies over how much its channels are worth and how to package channels, this fight is different. Companies like Charter say rising distribution fees are forcing cable companies to increase prices, causing consumers to leave. The nation’s second-largest cable operator said viewership for Disney’s sports, entertainment and children’s programming has declined as the media conglomerate invested in its Disney+ streaming service. Disney is trying to manage declining cable subscribers as it builds streaming offerings. It wants to keep as many cable subscribers as possible while it prepares to offer ESPN directly to consumers on an app.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Walt Disney, Christopher Winfrey, We’re, Winfrey, “, SVB, Disney, Rich Greenfield, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Charter Communications, ESPN, ABC, Disney, Charter's, U.S, Media, Charter, FX, Los Angeles . Companies, NFL, NBA, Hulu, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Los Angeles

Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros.” movie and Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” both animated films, have racked up big ticket sales this year. The successes of "Super Mario Bros." and "Spider-Man" also reflect a new post-COVID-19 trend at box offices, Hollywood insiders say. In his book, “Creativity, Inc.,” Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull credited Pixar's brain trust with the studio’s early box-office triumphs. Catmull and other members of the original brain trust are gone, though Docter remains, now in the role of chief creative officer. During the pandemic's peak, when many cinemas were closed, Disney launched three Pixar films directly to Disney+_in the U.S., bypassing theaters.

Persons: ”, Universal’s, Mario, Tony Chambers, Disney's, don’t, Chambers, DreamWorks Animation’s, “ Ruby Gillman, Tom Sito, King, Sito, Jeff Bock, Ed Catmull, — John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich, Joe Ranft —, Docter, Domee Shi, Soul’s ’ Kemp Powers, Pixar’s, Brad Bird, Oscar, “, Darla K, Anderson, “ Coco ”, Bob Chapek, there’s, we’ve, ” Docter, it’ll, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Kenneth Li, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Pixar, Inc, Walt Disney, Universal Studios, DreamWorks, University of Southern, Netflix, Disney, Apple, Relations, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, U.S, Canada, Disney, University of Southern California, ”

The movie is projected to debut with a modest $31 million to $41 million this weekend in the U.S., according to the Box Office Pro website. That is well shy of the recent $120.5 million haul for Sony’s critically acclaimed animated hit "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Pixar is looking to rebound from the box office disappointment of 2022 release "Lightyear," the origin story of "Toy Story" hero Buzz Lightyear. "Judging Pixar on the recent past, history would not be kind," said SVB MoffettNathanson media analyst Michael Nathanson. But the move dealt a blow to creatives who had hoped their films would be seen on the big screen, according to one Pixar director who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Persons: Athie, Leah Lewis, Pete Docter, Denise Ream, Peter Sohn, Adele Exarchopoulos, Vincent Lacoste, Jim Morris, Read, Buzz Lightyear, Pixar, Michael Nathanson, Sohn, Mario, Shawn Robbins, Robbins, Bob Chapek’s, Luca, creatives, Sohn’s, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Nathan Frandino, Kenneth Li, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Cannes Film, Pixar Animation Studios, Box, Pixar, Reuters, Walt Disney Co, Reuters Television, Comcast, Universal Pictures, Mario Bros, Sony Pictures, Pro, Disney, U.S, Cannes, Rotten, Thomson Locations: U.S, City, Los Angeles, San Francisco

DeSantis, who is expected to soon announce that he will seek the 2024 Republican nomination for U.S. president, then moved to strip Disney of its long-standing self-governing power over Walt Disney World in Orlando. Democratic State Sen. Linda Stewart, who represents part of Orange County, called it "disappointing" that Florida would lose jobs. Iger's predecessor announced plans in July 2021 to relocate jobs from Southern California to a new facility in central Florida, citing its "business-friendly climate." "I remain optimistic about the direction of our Walt Disney World business," D'Amaro wrote. We have plans to invest $17 billion and create 13,000 jobs over the next ten years.

LOS ANGELES, May 18 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) is scrapping plans to relocate 2,000 jobs to Florida in part because of "changing business conditions" in the state, according to an e-mail to employees seen by Reuters on Thursday. Disney parks chief Josh D'Amaro said "leadership changes" and "changing business conditions" prompted Disney to reconsider its 2021 plan to relocate employees, including its Imagineers who design theme park rides, to a new campus in Lake Nona. The original decision to relocate employees to Florida from California had prompted complaints from many employees who did not want to move across the country. DeSantis, who is expected to soon announce that he will seek the 2024 Republican nomination for U.S. president, then moved to strip Disney of its long-standing self-governing power over Walt Disney World in Orlando. Iger's predecessor announced plans in July 2021 to relocate jobs from Southern California to a new facility in central Florida, citing its "business-friendly climate."

[1/2] Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger poses on the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 12, 2023.... Read moreMay 10 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) Chief Executive Bob Iger on Wednesday accused Florida politicians of retaliating against the company and questioned the state's interest in the entertainment conglomerate's continued investment in Walt Disney World. It plans to invest $17 billion over the next decade expanding Walt Disney World. And by the way, we pay them above the minimum wage, substantially above the minimum wage dictated by the state of Florida," Iger said in remarks made during the company's quarterly investor call. He said Disney has been forced to file a lawsuit in federal court to protect its business interests. Iger disputed that, noting some 2,000 special districts exist in Florida to foster development and that "we were one of them."

[1/2] Workers and supporters of the Writers Guild of America picket outside Sunset Bronson Studios and Netflix Studios, after union negotiators called a strike for film and television writers, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, May 4 (Reuters) - The Hollywood writers' strike that kicked off this week could last well into the summer and likely beyond, top executives close to the discussions told Reuters this week. Moody’s estimates a three-year contract with writers ultimately will cost the media industry $250 million to $350 million per year, a more modest estimate than the guild's projections of about $429 million per year. Television writers say their pay has suffered, as studios squeeze writers into smaller rooms for fewer weeks at minimum pay, despite financing lavishly produced streaming series. Hollywood writers must pay their agents and managers out of their wages -- and, unlike staff writers, can go long periods between gigs.

LOS ANGELES, May 3 (Reuters) - Hollywood writers have for decades penned sci-fi scripts featuring machines taking over the world. The Writers Guild of America is seeking to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in writing film and television scripts. A spokesperson for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which is negotiating the contract on behalf of the studios, did not comment. The dispute over AI is one of several issues that led Hollywood’s film and TV writers to strike Monday, marking the first work stoppage in 15 years. Screenwriter John August, a member of the WGA negotiating committee, said writers have two concerns regarding AI.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. "Disney now is forced to defend itself against a State weaponizing its power to inflict political punishment," the company said. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in Florida, had been enjoying unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight body on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks are located and attract millions of visitors each year. In the action filed in federal court in Tallahassee, Disney said it had no choice but to take legal action. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in the Florida, had been operating with unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight board on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

April 26 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) sued Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a court to overturn state efforts to control the Walt Disney World theme parks and intensifying a battle between a global entertainment giant and a potential White House contender. A DeSantis spokesman called Disney's action "an unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of Florida voters." Disney also argues it was denied its First Amendment rights to free speech. State Republicans last year targeted Disney after it publicly clashed with DeSantis. But before the takeover by DeSantis' appointees, Disney pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limit the board's action for decades.

Giant screen options include pioneer IMAX and various premium large formats (PLF) created by theater chains. For Missouri-based B&B Theatres, about half of a multiplex's grosses now come from premium formats, compared with 30% before the pandemic, said Chief Content, Programming and Development Officer Brock Bagby. B&B operates 531 screens in 14 states and offers large format screens with heated recliners, 270-degree Screen X screens, immersive audio and MX4D seats timed to rumble with the action. "Post-COVID, our premium screens are selling better than ever," Bagby said. As a sign of its importance, Universal's Orr and other studio distribution executives said they consult Gelfond about IMAX screen availability before setting movie release dates.

April 19 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' new oversight board has discovered another "11th hour agreement" that allows Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) to set its own utility rates at its Orlando theme parks, the board's chairman said on Wednesday. A Disney subsidiary, which provides utility services to the central Florida district that includes the Walt Disney World Resort, negotiated an agreement in February to extend its contract through 2032, Chairman Martin Garcia said at a public meeting. "Last Friday afternoon I learned for the first time about one of these new 11th hour agreements entered into between Disney and the district. "We'll have to evaluate the legality of that agreement, that essentially enables Disney to set their utility rates. The board was established to provide state oversight of a special district around Walt Disney World.

Revenue and earnings for the first quarter came in roughly in line with the average analyst estimates from Refinitiv. Shares of Netflix dropped as much as 11% in after-hours trade following the report but recovered to gain 1.4%. From January through March, Netflix added 1.75 million streaming subscribers, missing analyst estimates of 2.06 million additions. The clampdown on password sharing will begin in the United States during the current quarter, Netflix said. UBS media analyst John Hodulik wrote that the password- sharing crackdown could well fuel Netflix's nascent advertising business, as it drives these "sharers" to the lower-priced version of the service.

Revenue and earnings for the first quarter, revealed in an earnings report on Tuesday, came in roughly in line with Wall Street expectations, according to analyst estimates from Refinitiv. From January through March, Netflix added 1.75 million streaming subscribers, missing analyst estimates of 2.06 million additions. Wall Street had been projecting $8.476 billion for revenue and $3.05 for diluted EPS. The company has said 100 million households are sharing passwords, including about 30 million households in the U.S. and Canada. If Netflix could convert 100% of those password-sharers, that would generate $4.4 billion in incremental revenue, according to MoffettNathanson estimates.

DeSantis told an Orlando radio station on Monday that the bill would "formally nullify" a development agreement Disney struck with outgoing members of the oversight board that ties the hands of DeSantis' appointees. "To do an end-run around the people of Florida shows how arrogant they are," DeSantis told the host of WFLA's "Good Morning Orlando." He and the Florida legislature have been working to eliminate the virtual autonomy the company enjoyed over Walt Disney World for more than century. Before the takeover by DeSantis appointees, Disney pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limit the board's action for decades. It also ensures that future boards would honor a commitment to $527 million in planned capital improvements to support Walt Disney World’s growth over the next decade.

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