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☆ How Ally Financial made women's sports a key focus in its marketing strategy and how it's measuring the results
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ally Financial made a pledge last year to invest equally in men's and women's sports media. The company is dropping a commercial featuring female athletes during the FIFA Women's World Cup. A year ago, an internal audit by Ally Financial revealed the company had spent 90% of its sports-media marketing budget on men's sports. The brand also signed 10 female athletes to create Team Ally, a group that posts about one another's games and increases visibility for women's sports. Notre Dame lacrosse player Kasey Choma, who's also part of Team Ally, is featured scoring a goal.

Persons: Ally Financial, Billie Jean King, Sophia Smith, Stephanie Marciano, it's, Ally, Marciano, Kasey Choma, who's, Choma, she's Organizations: FIFA, US Women's National Team, Ally, Labs, CBS, ESPN, INC, Fox, Notre Dame, Yale, III Locations: men's, Australia, New Zealand, US, Germany

On Douban, a popular Chinese movie review site, the movie is currently scored 8.6 out of 10, with nearly half of all viewers giving it full marks. Another top comment compared “Barbie” to another recent Chinese release, “Lost in the Stars,” which had previously received criticism for its portrayal of gender stereotypes. “There isn’t any new thinking about feminism, the movie is just an expression of old thoughts,” one person wrote on Douban. By Monday, cinemas had increased the number of screenings allocated to “Barbie” to make up 8.7% of all movie screenings, according to Maoyan. The film’s success is all the more notable given mounting challenges for US films to break into the Chinese movie market – the world’s second biggest, briefly holding the top spot during the Covid pandemic.

Persons: Barbie ”, “ Barbie ”, Greta Gerwig, Bird, don’t, ”, “ Barbie, China’s, Greg Baker Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Twitter, Weibo, Publishing, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Getty, Hollywood Locations: Hong Kong, China, United States, Shanghai, Beijing, AFP

☆ Twitter just announced the death of the little blue bird by projecting its new logo onto its San Francisco headquarters in the middle of the night
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter's new "X" logo was projected over its San Francisco headquarters two hours after midnight. Some of Musk's other big product launches have been riddled with misfires and blunders. In a strange nocturnal display, Twitter's new logo lit up the facade of the company's San Francisco headquarters a few hours after midnight. At around 2 a.m. EST on Monday, Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino gave the world the new X logo: "Lights. Shortly after the imagery was splashed on the building's facade, Twitter user @nearcyan posted a picture appearing to show people gathered outside the headquarters.

Persons: Linda Yaccarino, Elon Musk, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's, Tucker Carlson, puller Organizations: San, Florida Governor, Twitter, Fox News Locations: San Francisco, Florida

GAZA, July 24 (Reuters) - Archaeologists working on a 2,000-year-old Roman cemetery discovered in Gaza last year have found at least 125 tombs, most with skeletons still largely intact, and two rare lead sarcophaguses, the Palestinian Ministry of Antiquities said. In the past, local archaeologists reburied findings for lack of funding but French organisations have helped excavate this site, discovered in February last year by a construction crew working on an Egyptian-funded housing project. "It is the first time in Palestine we have discovered a cemetery that has 125 tombs, and it is the first time in Gaza we have discovered two sarcophaguses made of lead," Fadel Al-A’utul, an expert at the French School of Biblical and Archeological Research, told Reuters at the site. Gaza has been under an Israel-Egyptian economic blockade since 2007 when the Islamist militant group Hamas, which opposes peace with Israel, took control. U.S.-brokered peace talks, aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, collapsed in 2014 and show no sign of revival.

Persons: Fadel, A'utul, Jamal Abu Reida, Nidal al, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Palestinian Ministry of Antiquities, French School of, Archeological Research, Reuters, Urgance, Gaza's Antiquities Ministry, Hamas, West, Thomson Locations: GAZA, Gaza, Palestine, Israel, West Bank, East Jerusalem

NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) - It is Barbie’s world, and U.S. small businesses hope their social-media marketing can help them cash in on it. But as Mattel-licensed Barbie marketing and products flood big companies' stores, hotel suites and social media posts, small firms also seek to capitalize on the hype. “Small businesses may look at the Barbie promotions and dream of that kind of budget and mass brand awareness,” said Brianne Fleming, an adjunct marketing instructor at University of Florida. MoonFire, an arts boutique based in Dallas, Texas, hosted a Barbie-themed collaboration in person with ten small businesses selling hot-pink, Barbie-inspired products. So, for small businesses, the strategy is to be a quick follower,” he said.

Persons: Barbie, “ Barbie, Inditex’s Zara, ”, Brianne Fleming, there's, Iris, Wilglory Tanjong, Kimberly Wagner, Ken, Mica Garbarino, “ Barbie ”, Walker Smith, Smith, “, gatekeepers, Josie Kao, Nick Zieminski Organizations: YORK, Google, Mattel, University of Florida, Monday, Kailyn, Thomson Locations: Malibu, Friday’s, Airbnb, Instagram, New York City, New York, Blue Curacao, grenadine, Dallas , Texas, Soho, Kailyn Rhone

☆ A Crisis in America’s Theaters Leaves Prestigious Stages Dark
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Michael Paulson | More About Michael Paulson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Fewer productions. Fewer performances. Cal Shakes, a Bay Area favorite that staged Shakespeare in an outdoor amphitheater, is producing no shows this year. The Williamstown Theater Festival, known for its star-studded summer shows, has no fully staged productions at its Western Massachusetts home this season. Philadelphia’s Arden Theater Company expects to give 363 performances next season, down from 503 performances the season before the pandemic.

Persons: Shakespeare, Chicago’s, Mary Zimmerman’s, ”, Philadelphia’s Organizations: Cal, Area, Broadway, Williamstown Theater, Geffen Playhouse, Philadelphia’s Arden Theater Locations: America, Western Massachusetts, New York City, Los Angeles

☆ Who is Ken, really? The history of the world’s most misunderstood doll
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

March 11, 1961: When Ken met BarbieThis original Ken doll from 1961 was supposed to be so handsome and magnetic that Barbie fell instantly in love. 1970s -1990s: Ken tries to be trendyEven with an ever-fashionable companion like Barbie, Ken could never quite crack it when it came to personal style, though he certainly tried. Mod Hair Ken: A quintessentially ‘70s doll with a massive mop of hair, extra-long sideburns and bonus facial hair made for mixing and matching. Totally Hair Ken: It looks how it sounds — this ’90s Ken came with a long, unkempt mane, real hair gel and a small comb his owners could use to style him however they wanted. Mattel introduced a “new and improved” Ken doll almost two years to the day after his break-up with Barbie.

Persons: CNN — “ Barbie, Ken, Barbie, He’s, cinephiles, “ Barbie, Kenneth Carson, Ryan Gosling, Ruth Handler, ”, They’d, Ken wasn’t, diehard Barbie, ” M.G, Yvonne Hemsey, “ hipper, Dan Savage, ” Savage, Mattel, Savage, they’d, —, Russell Arons, Barbie “, ” Arons, Barbie – Blaine, Phillip Bloch, Bloch, Matthew McConaughey, Orlando Bloom, “ Ken, ” Bloch, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Michael Keaton, hadn’t, “, Valentine’s, Ryan Gosling cheesing, Gosling, Greta Gerwig, Robbie, Kenergy ”, ” Gosling, Ken’s, he’s, Jimmy Fallon, I’m, Ken —, Barbie ” Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, Mattel, New, Historical Society, New York Times, Pixar, ascot, Valentine’s, ” CNN, Facebook, Venice Locations: Barbie’s, Willows , Wisconsin, Cali, Europe, New York, Los Angeles

☆ A New Spin on Spin: Reviving a Bolognese Folk Dance
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Brian Seibert | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two men arrive on the dance floor, holding hands. This is the polka chinata, or crouched polka, a nearly defunct Bolognese folk dance. He had made other works using folk dance, but he had never heard of an Italian couple dance for men. He sought out Giancarlo Stagni, a dance teacher in Castel San Pietro Terme, near Bologna. Stagni told him that the number of people who danced the polka chinata had shrunk to just five.

Persons: ”, Alessandro Sciarroni, Sciarroni, “, Giancarlo Stagni, Stagni Locations: Italian, States, PS21, Chatham , N.Y, Italy, Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna

[1/2] Margot Robbie poses on the pink carpet for the world premiere of the film "Barbie" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake /File PhotoLOS ANGELES, July 21 (Reuters) - Film fans headed to cinemas in Los Angeles for early screenings of frothy comedy "Barbie" and nuclear arms biopic "Oppenheimer" - a double feature billed as "Barbenheimer." "Barbie" stars Margot Robbie as the Mattel doll, who is living her idyllic life in Barbie World, until one day she starts having dark thoughts and flat feet. Many of the fans coming to see "Barbie" dressed up in pink and posed for pictures in a makeshift Barbie toy box. Reporting by Omar Younis and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Mary Milliken and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Margot Robbie, Mike Blake, Oppenheimer, Joey Litvak, Barbie, Mattel, Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Jackie Brenneman, Cage, Claudia Ripper, Brenneman, Omar Younis, Rollo Ross, Mary Milliken, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Hollywood, National Association of Theatre, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles, LA

☆ Los Angeles movie fans hit the multiplexes for 'Barbenheimer'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Margot Robbie poses on the pink carpet for the world premiere of the film "Barbie" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake /File PhotoLOS ANGELES, July 21 (Reuters) - Film fans headed to cinemas in Los Angeles for early screenings of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," a doubleheader being billed as "Barbenheimer". At the TCL Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, some movie-goers were fully getting into the global "Barbenheimer" craze, with plans to see both films on the same day. "Barbie" stars Margot Robbie as the Mattel doll, who is living her idyllic life in Barbie World until one day, she starts having dark thoughts and flat feet. Many of the fans coming to see "Barbie" dressed up in pink and posed for pictures in a makeshift Barbie toy box.

Persons: Margot Robbie, Mike Blake, Oppenheimer, Joey Litvak, Barbie, Mattel, Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Cage, Claudia Ripper, Omar Younis, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Hollywood, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles, LA

☆ 'Special Ops: Lioness' review: Zoe Saldana stars in Taylor Sheridan's toothless tale of female soldiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —“Yellowstone” writer-producer Taylor Sheridan has excelled at luring big stars to television with relatively thin material, a formula that feels especially transparent with “Special Ops: Lioness,” his latest series for Paramount+. Zoe Saldaña takes point in this fact-based tale of female special-ops soldiers, which races through the set up by relying on a litany of war-story cliches. “You came to the right place,” she’s told, before acing her training and being quickly drafted to join Joe’s unit. Nevertheless, when it comes to training an audience to come back week after week, “Special Ops: Lioness” feels about as basic as it gets. “Special Ops: Lioness” premieres July 23 on Paramount+.

Persons: Taylor Sheridan, ”, Zoe Saldaña, Joe, “, Laysla De Oliveira, ” she’s, De Oliveira, Netflix’s “ Locke, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman Organizations: CNN, Paramount, CBS Locations: Cruz

☆ Morning Bid: Barbie hits the box office
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A fan takes a photo of a Barbie doll at the world premiere of the film "Barbie" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 9, 2023. American Airlines (AAL.O) and Philip Morris (PM.N) are reporting. Market sources told Reuters that China's state banks were out in the Asia morning selling dollars offshore. Mattel says the Barbie movie is expected to boost global sales of Barbie dolls, which declined last year from record growth during the pandemic. Reuters GraphicsKey developments that could influence markets on Thursday:Data: U.S. jobless claims, housing startsEarnings: Philip Morris, American AirlinesReporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Tom Westbrook Barbie's, Elon Musk, Ansell, Philip Morris, Barbie, Tom Westbrook, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, American Airlines, Communist Party, Traders, Reuters, Aussie, Mattel, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Asia, China, Xinhua, Hong Kong, Greenland

☆ This exclusive chart reveals why the groundswell of buzz around 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' could help reverse Hollywood's box-office doldrums in spite of the actors' strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This year, a number of films have flopped at the box office, including "Elemental" and "The Flash." A social-media analysis from Diesel Labs points to possible success for "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" — here's why. Temperatures are rising all around the world, with one notable exception: the box office, where this year's film openings have mostly been, at best, lukewarm. Social-media attention on forthcoming and recent film releases looks to be generally trending higher for titles like "Barbie," "Oppenheimer," and "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Pt. This story has been updated to reflect new box office estimates and an estimate of how many moviegoers will see "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" on the same day.

Persons: Barbie, Oppenheimer, Mario Bros, tentpole, Indiana Jones, —, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Michael O'Leary, David A . Gross, Tom Cruise's, Gross, Screenrant, Ruby Gillman, Mario, America's, Christopher Nolan's, Greta Gerwig's, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Rami Malek, Reed Alexander Organizations: Diesel Labs, SAG, Writers Guild of America, www.diesellabs.com Diesel Labs, National Association of Theatre Owners, Warner Bros, Rotten, Entertainment Research, Variety, Disney, Mario Bros, Writers Guild, Wednesday, London Locations: Hollywood, North America

☆ Ally Financial made a huge commitment to invest in women's sports. Here's how it's going.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ally Financial made a pledge last year to invest equally in men's and women's sports. The company is dropping a commercial featuring female athletes during the FIFA Women's World Cup. The brand also signed 10 female athletes to create Team Ally, a group that posts about one another's games and increases visibility for women's sports. Its latest effort, the Women's World Cup commercial, will premiere on Fox and run throughout the year. Notre Dame lacrosse player Kasey Choma, who's also part of Team Ally, is featured scoring a goal.

☆ Is This the End of the Red Carpet?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Vanessa Friedman | More About Vanessa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At first it seemed impossible to imagine: No more red carpets! No more photos of movie stars and names to watch in fabulous gowns blanketing the internet. Could “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” be the last gasp of that marketing Valhalla of fashion and film that was the modern premiere — at least for the foreseeable future? That means film festivals with all their associated dressing and posing opportunities. Actors sign contracts that can be worth millions, negotiated by agents and managers, to be brand ambassadors, appearing in some combination of advertisements, front rows, store openings and red carpets, dressed by stylists, generating coverage, desire and, most of all, publicity for everyone involved.

Persons: “ Oppenheimer, Barbie ”, — Organizations: SAG

☆ New data reveals why the groundswell of buzz around 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' could help reverse Hollywood's box-office doldrums in spite of the actors' strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

This year, a number of films have flopped at the box office, including "Elemental" and "The Flash." A social-media analysis from Diesel Labs points to possible success for "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" — here's why. Temperatures are rising all around the world, with one notable exception: the box office, where this year's film openings have mostly been, at best, lukewarm. Social-media attention on forthcoming and recent film releases looks to be generally trending higher for titles like "Barbie," "Oppenheimer," and "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Pt. Diesel Labs’ data has found that social-media buzz about the forthcoming launches of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” is trending ahead of last year’s benchmark levels.

Persons: Barbie, Oppenheimer, Mario Bros, tentpole, Indiana Jones, —, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, David A . Gross, Tom Cruise's, Gross, Screenrant, Ruby Gillman, Mario, America's, Christopher Nolan's, Greta Gerwig's, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Rami Malek, Reed Alexander Organizations: Diesel Labs, SAG, Writers Guild of America, www.diesellabs.com Diesel Labs, Warner Bros, Rotten, Entertainment Research, Variety, Disney, Mario Bros, Writers Guild, Hollywood Locations: Hollywood, London

☆ Steve Pieters, Pastor Who Spoke of AIDS in Famed Interview, Dies at 70
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Neil Genzlinger | More About Neil Genzlinger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

(A stage musical, “Tammy Faye,” which opened last year in London, also incorporated the 1985 interview.) “That interview was why I needed to make the movie,” Ms. Chastain told Variety at the movie’s New York premiere in 2021. I’m 100 percent convinced that there were people — conservative Christians watching at home — who realized that they had judged their family members unlovingly. I’m convinced that that interview saved families and saved lives.”If Ms. Bakker defied expectations with that interview, Mr. Pieters long defied AIDS, surviving for decades despite repeated health struggles. What a privilege to have reached the age of 70, still dancing with joy.”

Persons: Jessica Chastain, Bakker, Tammy Faye, ”, Pieters, Randy Havens, “ Tammy Faye, Ms, Chastain, Variety, —, unlovingly, I’m, Harlan Boll, “ Locations: London, York, Glendale , Calif, Los Angeles, Hope

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoLOS ANGELES, July 19 (Reuters) - Margot Robbie recalls being at a rehearsal for the upcoming "Barbie" movie and experiencing an existential crisis. "So I was like, ‘I've got to make this movie and it's the biggest movie I've ever produced, and I've got to answer to two humongous corporations and a director I really respect and actors."" Similar to Robbie's existential crisis, the "Barbie" movie follows the doll who suddenly has an existential crisis in the middle of a dance number. Even though the Barbie doll first debuted in 1959, it has taken more than 60 years for the character to get to the big screen. It's kind of for everyone," he told Reuters during the "Barbie" world premiere in Los Angeles.

Persons: Margot Robbie, Mike Blake, Robbie, ‘ I've, I've, Greta Gerwig, Barbie, Rather, Ryan Gosling, Ken, Rollo Ross, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, Jamie Freed Organizations: Warner, REUTERS, Mattel, Warner Bros, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ James Cameron says AI-produced scripts are regurgitated 'word salad' and are unlikely to replace human writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Titanic" and "Avatar" director James Cameron doesn't think AI will replace human writers. Cameron said he "certainly" wasn't interested in AI writing his scripts, but he could be forced to reassess his stance in the future. The Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild are currently on strike for the first time since 1960. A significant factor in their protest is the fear of being replaced by AI, Insider previously reported. Richard Walter, the former chairman of UCLA's screenwriting program, told Insider writers should not fear AI.

Persons: James Cameron doesn't, Oscar, James Cameron, Cameron, they've, we've, Timnit Gebru, Emily M Bender, Oppenheimer, —, Richard Walter Organizations: CTV News, Canada's CTV, Guild, Screen, Writers Guild of America, TechCrunch, Microsoft

☆ Peacock hikes prices for the first-time ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Peacock, the NBCUniversal-owned streaming service, is getting its first-ever price hike. Current subscribers will get one additional month at the old prices before being charged more on their next billing plan. The streaming service hopes to stem the losses by raising prices. Peacock was the lone holdout among streamers in hiking rates: Netflix, Paramount+, Disney+ and Max (owned by CNN’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery) have all increased the prices of their services in recent months.

Persons: New York CNN — Peacock, Peacock Organizations: New, New York CNN, Netflix, Paramount, Warner Bros, Premiere League football, WWE Locations: New York

☆ Who is Elon Musk dating now? The answer isn't clear
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It's not clear who, if anyone, Elon Musk is dating at the moment. Before Bassett, Musk dated Grimes for almost three years and before that, actress Amber Heard. But what about Elon Musk? Before Bassett, Elon Musk dated Grimes, an avant garde pop singer, whom he dated for almost three years and had two kids with. Felt nothing then," Heard told Hughes about the Musk relationship, according to Hughes' notes.

Persons: It's, Elon Musk, Natasha Bassett, Bassett, Musk, Grimes, Amber Heard, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Elon, Dixie Locke, Elvis Presley's, Baz Luhrmann's, Elvis, Shanahan, didn't, Maye Musk, Heard, Johnny Depp, Depp, Heard's, Dawn Hughes, Hughes, Talula Riley, Justine Wilson Organizations: Hollywood Life Locations: Australian, Los Angeles, Cannes, American

☆ Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Before talks between the Hollywood actors’ union and major film and TV studios broke down, the SAG-AFTRA union enlisted Tom Cruise to lobby on behalf of its members, according to the Hollywood Reporter. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 03: Tom Cruise attends the Australian premiere of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" on July 03, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Lisa Maree Williams/Getty ImagesSAG-AFTRA did not respond to a request for comment on the report and a representative for Tom Cruise declined to comment. Hollywood’s actors joined with the 11,000 members of the Writer’s Guild of America that have been striking against the AMPTP since early May. Cruise himself was portrayed in a series of deepfakes created by a visual and AI effects artist on TikTok earlier this year.

Persons: Tom Cruise, Cruise, Lisa Maree Williams, AFTRA, “, ”, Fran Drescher Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, SAG, Getty, AFTRA, Alliance, Television Producers, Writer’s Guild of America Locations: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Sydney, Australia

☆ 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

☆ A viral clip of Johnny Cash singing 'Barbie Girl' is uncanny and indicative of the internet's latest AI obsession — and its creator wants to incorporate the tech into live performances
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dustin Ballard, who runs the channel, said he wants to take AI covers to the live stage. Dustin Ballard, who runs the channel, told Insider in an email that videos like these take a few days. Finally, I use an AI voice model trained on snippets of the original artist's singing to transform my voice into theirs. "AI voice training is currently not a very user-friendly process, but it's rapidly getting easier," Ballard told Insider. Legal ramifications concerning music and copyright law, are what is driving the debate on AI covers in the music industry.

Persons: Johnny Cash, Dustin Ballard, Greta Gerwig's, Elvis, Sir, Frank Sinatra, Lil Jon, Ballard, It's, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Spongebob's Patrick belting, Drake, Jered Chavez, it's, Travis Scott, Evan Dhillon Organizations: YouTube, Universal Music Group, Financial, Arpeggi Labs Locations: Folsom, Argentina

☆ How the Hollywood Strikes Could Affect Fall Festivals and Oscar Season
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Kyle Buchanan | More About Kyle Buchanan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

With summer movie season at its midpoint, Hollywood typically begins to turn its gaze toward the fall, when a trio of major film festivals acts as the unofficial kickoff to Oscar season. That’s because SAG-AFTRA is prohibiting members from promoting any film while the strike is on, an across-the-board ban that includes interviews, photo calls and red-carpet duties. Without those appearances, festivals will be sapped of the star power that is invaluable to raising a film’s profile. The first event that will probably be affected is the Venice Film Festival, which begins its 80th edition on Aug. 30 with the premiere of the sexy tennis comedy “Challengers,” starring Zendaya. Venice has lately rivaled Cannes for glamour and headlines, so the loss of famous actors would be a big blow.

Persons: ”, Zendaya, Brendan Fraser, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Florence Pugh Organizations: SAG, Writers Guild of America, Cannes Film, Venice Film Locations: Hollywood, Venice, Telluride, Colo, Toronto, Cannes

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