DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Hollywood’s actors are back to work—here’s what they actually got in SAG-AFTRA’s new contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

On Nov. 8, after 118 days of striking, Hollywood actors reached a tentative agreement with studios and streamers regarding the working conditions of their industry. Wage increases, new streaming bonuses and limits on self-tapesSAG's new contract covers numerous aspects of actors' jobs. Actors will get a hike in basic wage minimums for a variety of projects across both film and television. For anyone with a speaking role, minimums will increase by 7% effective Nov. 9, another 4% effective July 2024 and another 3.5% effective July 2025. Background actors will get an increase of 11% on Nov. 9 and the same increases as others going forward.

Persons: Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, AFTRA, minimums, Jonathan Handel, Tallie Medel, who's, they've, Handel Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Sony, CNBC Locations: Ireland, Los Angeles , California

☆ Hollywood insiders are bracing for M&A activity to make a comeback, as 10 experts reveal the deals they're predicting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"The unknown is hard to transact in," Sam Powers, the global head of technology, media, and telecommunications for Bank of America, told Insider. Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision , which was completed Thursday, has also put media and tech M&A back in the spotlight. "People have been holding their breath in nervous anticipation" about the idea of tech buying big media , one investor told Insider. Private-equity bets on media and Hollywood have seen mixed resultsPrivate-equity firms may have the cash to finance major media acquisitions, but they're reckoning with market volatility. Are you a Hollywood insider?

Persons: Hollywood dealmakers, Jonathan Handel, Sam Powers, Bob Iger, —, Byron Allen, Greg Doherty, Iger, Disney's, Byron Allen —, Allen, Disney, it's, Handel, It's, you've, Reese Witherspoon, Dave Kotinsky, Moonbug, Reese Witherspoon's, Jeff Zucker, Abu, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Lucia Moses, Reed Alexander Organizations: Hollywood, Puck News, Bank of America, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Disney, ESPN, Activision, Byron Allen The Weather, Wall Street shareholders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hulu, ABC, Nexstar Media Group, Allen Media Group, Weather, Lionsgate, Starz, Paramount, BET, Warner Bros, Games, Disney Digital Network, Maker Studios, Observers, Comcast, Paramount Global, Tech, MGM, Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, RedBird Capital Partners, RedBird IMI, Private, SP, G Global Market Intelligence, Bloomberg, Media, Apollo Global Management, Yahoo Locations: Hollywood, Blackstone, Abu Dhabi, lmoses@insider.com, ralexander@insider.com

☆ TV and film writers prepare to return to work under new contract: 'I feel like we're entering a new era'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

After 148 days of striking, TV and film writers reached a tentative agreement with studios and streamers regarding their work contracts. WGA members will vote on ratifying the agreement between Oct. 2 and 9, with some writers going back to work as early as next week. That could mean more early career writers get an opportunity to work and gain experience on the ground. Without an opportunity for syndication and international distribution on streaming services, residual pay for writers has been cut significantly as well. The contract also hikes minimum pay for various types of television shows and establishes minimum pay for late night talk shows on streaming services, like "The Amber Ruffin Show," which did not previously have established minimums.

Persons: Dylan Guerra, Guerra, Jonathan Handel, Amber Ruffin, Kyra Jones, who's, Handel Organizations: Writers Guild of America, United Auto Workers, UAW, Alliance, Television Producers, Warner Bros ., Netflix, WGA, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, CNBC Locations: Ontario , California

☆ 29-year-old background actor on the SAG-AFTRA strike: AI could mean 'I have nothing new to offer'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Among those on strike are the many extras who fill screens countrywide, performing nonspeaking parts, often in the background of a scene. She's since made a living as a background actor in shows like "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Succession," "Law and Order: Organized Crime" and "Blue Bloods." The ninth and tenth hours pay time and a half and any hours worked beyond that pay double. Being on set shows you 'how different actors behave'It's hard to say how many people do background work in the U.S. "My whole New York network has been built through background," Cunningham says.

Persons: Esther Cunningham, Cunningham, Maisel, AFTRA, Jonathan Handel, it's, Kendall Roy, Jeremy Strong, Kate Fortmueller, it'll, It's, She's Organizations: NBC Universal Screen Actors, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Wheaton College in, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, New York Times, HBO, Georgia State University, Labor Locations: Cincinnati , Ohio, New York, Wheaton College in Illinois, Cincinnati, Coney, U.S

☆ Inside the actors' strike: Why Netflix, Max, and Paramount+ series stars are bringing their 'war' over pay and AI to Hollywood companies that are 'trying to kill our industry'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

With both writers and actors on strike, Hollywood hasn't faced this situation in more than 60 years. SAG-AFTRA union members on Friday hit the picket lines alongside Hollywood writers, who've been striking for nearly three months. Any other use requires the background actor's consent and bargaining for the use, subject to a minimum payment," the spokesperson said in a statement. Union members were quick to decry his remarks as incendiary and out of touch. The 25-year-old has been there since May, when the writers' strike all but paralyzed production in Los Angeles and New York this spring.

Persons: Hollywood hasn't, Laci Mosley, Mosley, Mosley —, Lopez, —, Conan O'Brien's, Coco —, Fran Drescher, Drescher, We've, who've, CHRIS DELMAS, We're, they're, Rather, AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree, Sam Russell, Russell, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Rami Malek, we've, AFTRA who's, Bobby Quillard, Bob Iger, Iger, Bob — they're, Iger's, Jonathan Handel, Puck, you've, Carson Rowland —, it's, Rowland, Carson Rowland, Maria, Rodin, WireImage Rowland, he's, Reed Alexander Organizations: SAG, Hollywood, Paramount, Sirius XM, Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, WGA, Getty, Disney, CNBC, Union, Atlas Financial Advisors, Television Locations: Los Angeles, Los Angeles and New York, Sun Valley , Idaho, South Florida, Boca Raton, LA

☆ There's going to be a lot less new TV for a while. And that's brilliant.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hollywood is facing its first strike by both writers and actors in more than six decades. It's going to mean a lot less new television this year, but that may not be such a bad thing. Almost 600 scripted TV shows were released in the United States alone last year. If that is the case, there might be a very big silver lining for us viewers: a break from the relentless release of new TV shows. Likewise with Donald Glover's often truly astonishing piece of performance art masquerading as television that's also known as "Atlanta."

Persons: they're, Jonathan Handel, you'd, I've, They're, Jeffrey Dahmer, Max, Donald Glover's, that's Organizations: Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Netflix, Apple, Paramount, Lionsgate Locations: United States, Hollywood, Hulu

☆ Actors on strike over pay and the threat of AI are ready for 'war' and vowing to outlast Hollywood execs in 'ivory towers': 'They've already been starving us'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Persons: Hollywood hasn't, Laci Mosley, Mosley, Mosley —, Lopez, —, Conan O'Brien's, Coco —, Fran Drescher, Drescher, We've, who've, CHRIS DELMAS, We're, they're, Rather, AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree, Sam Russell, Russell, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Rami Malek, we've, AFTRA who's, Bobby Quillard, Bob Iger, Iger, Bob — they're, Iger's, Jonathan Handel, Puck, you've, Carson Rowland —, it's, Rowland, Carson Rowland, Maria, Rodin, WireImage Rowland, he's, Reed Alexander Organizations: SAG, Hollywood, Paramount, Sirius XM, Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, WGA, Getty, AMPTP, Disney, CNBC, Union, Netflix, Atlas Financial Advisors Locations: Los Angeles, Los Angeles and New York, Sun Valley , Idaho, South Florida, Boca Raton, LA

☆ Hollywood actors join writers on strike: ‘There's a lot of bitterness and mistrust’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Hollywood actors are joining TV and film writers on the picket lines. Later that day, the union officially issued a strike order for its actors. On a granular level, there are several sticking points on which actors and studios could not ultimately agree. As with writers, actors' wages account for taxes, team members such as managers (agents get their own commission on top of actor pay) and for the unpredictability of their industry. "There's a lot of bitterness and mistrust at this point," says Handel, "both in terms of the actors and the studio alliance and also the writers and the studio alliance."

Persons: Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, AFTRA, Paul Hardart, we've, Jonathan Handel, Handel, who've, That's, Tallie Medel, who's, they're, They're, Oppenheimer, Hardart, they'll Organizations: Hollywood, Alliance, Television Producers, Warner Bros . Discovery, Universal Pictures, Hulu, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, New York University's Entertainment, Media, Technology, SAG, Productions, Paramount, Netflix, Writers Guild, CNBC Locations: Los Angeles , California, Hollywood, Ireland

☆ Actors are joining writers on strike against the Hollywood companies, and they're driven by a fear plaguing workers everywhere: Robots are coming for our jobs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Hollywood writers are entering their third month on strike. Film and TV writers say they're among those who have fared the worst as their industry has been remade, even as others reap the rewards. These Hollywood storytellers share something in common with workers in every industry: Everyone is afraid that the robots are coming for their jobs, Terminator-style. Now, they're some of the dominant forces controlling new content development in the entertainment industry. Recently, I reported on how the Hollywood writers' strike is dispiriting industry hopefuls at the outset of their careers — you can read it here.

Persons: Everything's, Fran Drescher, Adam Conover, Ted Sarandos, Bob Iger, Goldman Sachs, You've, We've, Jonathan Handel, Puck, they'll, Zayd Dohrn, —, Dohrn, Reed Alexander Organizations: Morning, NBC, Nickelodeon, Disney, Hollywood, Netflix, Wall, ., Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Apple, Big Tech, WGA, Northwestern University Locations: Hollywood, West Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York, Chicago

☆ With actors poised to join film and TV writers on strike, Hollywood insiders lay out the dream and nightmare scenarios: 'There's going to be no cash flow'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For the first time since 1960, Hollywood actors and writers could be on strike at the same time. If the actors union, SAG-AFTRA, hits the picket lines, it would cause an even deeper disruption to the entertainment industry. Stakes were high enough with the writers' strike. The movement is having a moment, as has been evidenced by other unions — from teachers to truck drivers — joining Hollywood writers on the picket line. A combined writers' and actors' strike "could well go into the end of the year," Handel said.

Persons: Jonathan Handel, that's, Handel, —, AFTRA, it's, Paul Hardart, Bob Iger, Peter Chernin —, Fox —, Iger, Alan Bergman, Dana Walden, I've, he'd, Hardart Organizations: Hollywood, Guild of, SAG, WGA, Alliance, Producers, Netflix, Disney, Guild of America, Entertainment, Media, Technology, NYU's Stern School of Business, News Corp, Disney Entertainment, United Locations: California, Hollywood, United States

☆ Actors are poised to go on strike against studios and streaming services
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The actors could be on strike themselves without a last-minute deal with studios and streaming services on Wednesday. Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980. Just before the last deadline, it seemed as if an actors strike could be avoided.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Robyn Beck, It’s, Tom Nunan, Jonathan Handel, Handel, “, it’s, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, —, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Drescher, –, Vanessa Yurkevich Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., Federal Mediation, Conciliation Service, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, AMPTP, Gabbana’s Locations: New York, AFP, Moda, Southern Italy

☆ The fear driving Hollywood writers to strike — and soon, maybe actors too — is the same one roiling every industry: Robots are coming for our jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Hollywood writers are entering their third month on strike. Film and TV writers say they're among those who have fared the worst as their industry has been remade, even as others reap the rewards. Either way, the bottom line is this: Everyone in Hollywood is afraid that the robots are coming for their jobs, Terminator-style. Now, they're some of the dominant forces controlling new content development in the entertainment industry. Recently, I reported on how the Hollywood writers' strike is dispiriting industry hopefuls at the outset of their careers — you can read it here.

Persons: Everything's, Adam Conover, Ted Sarandos, Bob Iger, Goldman Sachs, You've, We've, Jonathan Handel, Puck, they'll, Zayd Dohrn, —, Dohrn, Reed Alexander Organizations: Morning, NBC, Nickelodeon, Disney, Hollywood, Netflix, Wall, ., Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, WGA, Apple, Big Tech, Northwestern University Locations: Hollywood, West Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York, Chicago

☆ Actors poised to join writers on strike against studios and picket lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Industry experts like Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike! Production of many movies and television shows have already been shutdown by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. There has been no visible progress in ending the writers strike since it started. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: Jonathan Handel, ”, Handel, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Interestingl, Drescher, “, “ It’s, Tom Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, Disney, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ Actors delay potential strike against studios and streaming services, extending contract negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A union representing about 160,000 actors has put plans to go on strike against major studios and streaming services on hold. But that doesn’t mean that a strike will now be avoided, said Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike! Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. The actors union has not been on strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: “, ”, Fran Drescher, Drescher, Jonathan Handel, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Tom Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, ”, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Hollywood, Guild of America, Blockbuster, Disney, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., AMPTP, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ Actors union vote to authorize July strike, possibly joining writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If the actors do walk out, they would join members of the Writers Guild of America already on picket lines. The DGA tentative deal “doesn’t hurt the leverage or the pursuit of better working conditions for the writers and possibly the actors. : An Industry at War in the Internet Age.” He puts the chance of an actors’ strike at about two to one. Some television shows, particularly late night shows that are written daily in order to be timely, have had their production halted by the writers’ strike. Some shows and films that have had scripts already completed have continued to film since the writers went on strike.

Persons: isn’t, Radio Artists “, ”, Fran Drescher, “ I’m, AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree, “, Tom Nunan, doesn’t, Jonathan Handel, Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, — American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Companies, Amazon, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, Warner Bros ., Guild of America, DGA, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ 'I got a check the other day for $8': TV and film writers share why they're on strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

TV and film writers at the picket line in New York on the first day of the WGA strike, May 2, 2023. Every three years, the Writers Guild of America, the TV and film writers' union, negotiates a contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. "You go from job to job," and each contract can look different from writer to writer depending on their experience, for instance. TV writer Sheri Holman on strike in New York. TV and film writer Chisa Hutchinson.

☆ Cord cutting, streaming losses and the ‘terrifying math’ driving the writers strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

So why was management willing to pay whatever it took to avoid a strike then, but is poised for a long strike now? The sea change in the so-called “streaming wars.”The about face in the streaming warsTwo years ago, the war between competing streaming services was all about subscriber growth, no matter the cost. But the media companies’ streaming services are faced with competition from tech companies such as Amazon and Apple and that’s resulted in continued losses – outside of Netflix. Even before the start of the strike, there had already been thousands of layoffs across media and tech companiesA long strike? The key to how long the strike goes could be how long subscribers stay with multiple streaming services once they run out of new content.

☆ Hollywood braces for writers strike with two sides are apart
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The clock is ticking toward a costly strike that could shut down production on most television shows, pushing back the return of many programs now set for the fall. With less than a day left before the deadline, the two sides appear far apart. Many of the media and tech companies producing shows that use the writers have seen drops in their stock price, prompting deep cost cutting, including layoffs. Handel is one of those who thinks a strike, quite possibly a months-long strike, is likely. “The tune today is profits.”The union represents 11,500 writers for television shows, both for networks and streaming services, as well as many motion pictures.

Search resuls for: "Jonathan Handel"

18 mentions found