DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Actors decry 'existential crisis' over AI-generated ‘synthetic’ actors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Synthetic performers. One issue is creating synthetic performers from an amalgamation of actors’ images. The producers have promised to obtain a performer’s consent, and bargain separately for subsequent uses of an actor’s doppelganger, sources say. The producers offered to seek a performer’s consent for any changes beyond typical alterations done post-production, sources say. SAG interprets this as AI overreach, and wants permission sought before any changes to an actor’s image, likeness or voice.

Persons: ”, Carly Turro, Duncan Crabtree, ” Crabtree, Crabtree, “, Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway, Kenneth Li, Deepa Babington Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Thomson Locations: Ireland, Los Angeles

☆ Barbie is everywhere this summer. Here are the stocks that can benefit from the highly anticipated film
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

But can the same be said for Mattel shares? Mattel stock is up more about 19% on a year to date basis after a mixed start to the year. Into the Barbie release, the stock reflects the growing buzz. Mattel shares moved from $17.59 on June 1 to breaking into the $20 range for the first time since February. Though Barbie is not a typical film in the space given its adult audience, Jefferies analyst Andrew Uerkwitz said, it can still help Mattel sales incrementally.

Persons: Gordon Haskett, Don Bilson, Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Bilson, Goldman Sachs, Stephen Laszczyk, Davidson, Linda Bolton Weiser, Bolton Weiser, Barbie, Brett Feldman, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, Roth, David Bellinger, Bellinger, Mario, Morgan Stanley, Benjamin Swinburne, ramped, Oppenheimer, Laszczyk, David Karnovsky, Karnovsky, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Mattel, Warner Bros, Lions, Lions Gate, Hasbro, MAT, Analysts, Universal Pictures, Mario Bros, Hollywood, JPMorgan, CNBC, Alliance, Television Producers, Guild of America Locations: 2H23

☆ How Netflix can end the Hollywood strike in a way Disney, Paramount can't afford
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

"The strike is not something we wanted," said Sarandos, whose company is negotiating jointly with competing movie studios like Disney and Paramount whose parent companies also own streaming services. Some big-media companies that own streaming services, like Paramount and Disney, have seen their shares drop even in the renewed bull market of the past year. LightShed Partners analyst Rich Greenfield says Netflix made $6.5 billion last year excluding interest, taxes, and non-cash charges, while rival streaming services at Paramount, Disney and NBC lost more than $8 billion. That's a relatively small number for an industry with revenues topping $70 billion, $31.6 billion of it last year at Netflix. Paramount Global's Paramount+ service lost $1.8 billion last year, but saw losses shrink in the first quarter.

Persons: Mike Blake, Mark Mahaney, Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, Michael Pachter, Robert Iger, Iger, CNBC's David Faber, Max, Rich Greenfield, Mahaney, hasn't, Jake Urbanski, Jamie Lumley, Peters, Spencer Neumann Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, Alliance, Producers, Wednesday, Writers Guild of America, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Disney, Paramount Global, Amazon, Wedbush Securities, Television Producers, CNBC, Walt Disney Co, Sun, Paramount, Warner Bros, LightShed, NBC, Hollywood, Moody's Investors Service, Writers ' Guild of America, WGA, Twitter, Hulu, Comcast, Apple Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S

☆ Hollywood strike may soon turn destructive for media stock investors, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

"We're getting to a point of being very destructive to the entertainment ecosystem," said Rosenblatt Securities analyst Barton Crockett. Bazinet said to expect the walkout to last into the fourth quarter, which would mean a writers' strike lasting between around 150 and 240 days and an actors' strike in a range of 70 and 160 days. The strikes could cost the film and TV industry about $150 million per week, Citigroup's Bazinet wrote, using inflation-adjusted data from the 1980 actors' strike. "The lasting impacts are: [it] makes the streamers stronger and the traditional media companies weaker," Crockett said. JPMorgan analyst David Karnovsky downgraded movie theatre chain Cinemark shares to neutral from overweight earlier this week, citing the strike.

Persons: We're, Barton Crockett, Jason Bazinet, Bazinet, Douglas Mitchelson, Mitchelson, Goldman Sachs, Brett Feldman, Philip Cusick, Cusick, Goldman's Feldman, Citigroup's Bazinet, Rosenblatt's Crockett, Crockett, Feldman, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Stephen Laszczyk, David Karnovsky, Karnovsky, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Screen, – American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Television Producers, Writers Guild of America, Rosenblatt Securities, Media, AMC, Disney, Warner Bros, Discovery, Paramount, Netflix, UFC, Endeavor, WWE, SAG, Credit Suisse, JPMorgan, AMC Networks, WBD, Covid, Comcast, CNBC

☆ The best ways to support members of SAG-AFTRA and the WGA on strike, as actors and writers exit film and TV productions to hit the picket lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The SAG-AFTRA actors' union went on strike Friday, joining the ongoing WGA writers' strike. You can support actors and writers on strike by donating to the hardship funds that help entertainment workers. "Any non-member seeking future membership in SAG-AFTRA who performs covered services for a struck company during the strike will not be admitted into membership in SAG-AFTRA," the union's strike notice outlines. While the writers' strike largely shut down development and production, especially in Los Angeles and New York, some film and TV shoots were able to continue. Others have said the sides are so far apart that this work stoppage could outlast the 100-day WGA strike of 2007-8, which cost the California economy roughly $2 billion.

Persons: Adam Conover, AFTRA, who've, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Oppenheimer, thay Organizations: SAG, WGA, Morning, Alliance, Television Producers, Hollywood, Financial, Disaster Relief Fund, Welfare Emergency, The Entertainment, Washington Post, Mattel Locations: Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York, California

☆ JPMorgan downgrades this movie theater chain as actors strike shutters Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The actors strike rattling Hollywood could spell trouble for shares of Cinemark Holdings in the near term, according to JPMorgan. Analyst David Karnovsky downgraded the movie theater chain to neutral from an overweight rating, viewing the strike as a near-term impediment for shares limiting box office visibility. "Absent a resolution, we expect the strike will remain an overhang to CNK shares and limit upside." "Visibility into this, however, is now limited by the SAG-AFTRA strike, which has already shut down production for several films slated for 2H'24." Given the near-term headwinds, JPMorgan adjusted its price target to $18 from $21 a share, reflecting 17% upside from Tuesday's close.

Persons: David Karnovsky, Karnovsky, CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Cinemark Holdings, JPMorgan, Alliance, Producers, SAG, 2H

☆ Universal under investigation after it trimmed trees that shaded SAG-AFTRA protesters
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Los Angeles City Controller’s office is investigating after NBCUniversal severely trimmed a row of trees outside its studios where members of SAG-AFTRA were picketing company executives, eliminating shade during a searing heatwave. Our Office is investigating the tree trimming that occurred outside Universal Studios where workers, writers, and actors are exercising their right to picket. The trimmed trees are LA City managed street trees. “Quick shoutout to the good people at @UniversalPics for trimming the trees that gave our picket line shade right before a 90+ degree week,” he wrote. “We understand that the safety tree trimming of the Ficus trees we did on Barham Blvd.

Persons: Kenneth Mejia, Chris Stephens, ”, NBCUniversal, Mejia, Ron Perlman, Instagram, “, ” Perlman, There’s, Pinkerton Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles City, SAG, Universal Studios, LA City, Twitter, Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Disney, Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, ”, Los Angeles Public Works Department, National Weather Service, WGA, Labor Locations: LA, Los Angeles, America

☆ AI is a concern for writers. But actors could have even more to fear
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —How many actors does it take to make the movies and shows produced by studios and streaming services? SAG-AFTRA, the actors union that has had 160,000 members on strike since last week, is afraid that artificial intelligence will lead to far fewer employed actors in the future. And winning limits on AI is an issue for the Writers Guild of America, which has been on strike against the same studios and streaming services since May 2. The fight over virtual actors and performancesComputer-generated imagery, or CGI, to create virtual actors and extras is somewhat old hat in Hollywood. “The actors and writers, they’re kind of a canary in the coal mine,” said David Gunkel, a communications professor at Northern Illinois University who tracks AI in media and entertainment.

Persons: ”, Fran Drescher, AFTRA, Tom, “, Duncan Crabtree, AMPTP, don’t, Anthony Palomba, wasn’t, Nancy Marchand, Tony Soprano’s, HBO’s, Rowan Curran, Forrester, Joshua Glick, Bard, University of Virginia’s Palomba, “ I’m, Andrea Schneider, Goldman Sachs, David Gunkel Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, University of Virginia’s, Cardozo Law School, Northern Illinois University, UPS Locations: New York, Hollywood, Ireland

☆ Actors and Hollywood Studios ‘Remain Far Apart’ on Crucial Issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( John Koblin | More About John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As tens of thousands of actors go into their fifth day of a strike versus the Hollywood studios, the two sides have shown no signs of returning to the bargaining table — and are even exchanging barbed messages that underscore how far apart they are. Late on Monday night, leadership of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, sent out a 12-page memo to members laying out their demands and the studios’ counterproposals. They “remain far apart on the most critical issues that affect the very survival of our profession,” the note said. “A strike is not the outcome we wanted,” the alliance said. “For SAG-AFTRA to assert that we have not been responsive to the needs of its membership is disingenuous at best.”

Persons: “, ” Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, The Alliance, Television Producers

☆ In Hollywood’s Labor Tumult, Directors Stand Apart
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the Directors Guild of America agreed to a new three-year contract with the major Hollywood studios last month, the union hailed the agreement as “unprecedented” and “historic.”With screenwriters on strike and the actors’ union still in negotiations, the directors saw their deal as a first step on the way to labor peace in the entertainment industry. It included improvements in both wages and the amount of royalties that directors would receive from projects on streaming services, and it placed guardrails around the use of artificial intelligence. “The parameters of the deal are certainly going to help the other guilds in negotiations,” Christopher Nolan, the director of “Oppenheimer,” told The Hollywood Reporter. That did not happen. When the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, went on strike last week, the directors found themselves as outliers in Hollywood.

Persons: ” Christopher Nolan, “ Oppenheimer, ”, ’ Organizations: Guild of America, Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers

☆ 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

☆ Actors’ Strike Won’t Halt 39 Independent Projects, Union Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Hollywood actors’ union said Tuesday that it had exempted 39 independent film and TV projects from its strike, including two movies from A24, the secretive New York company that has become a force at the Academy Awards. Talks between the union and the alliance for a new three-year contract broke down on Thursday, and tens of thousands of actors went on strike on Friday. The productions will become subject to the final deal between the union and the studio alliance. The 39 projects include “Mother Mary,” a melodrama co-financed by A24 and starring Anne Hathaway as a fictional musician and Michaela Coel (known for “I May Destroy You” on HBO) as a fashion designer. The second A24 project, “Death of a Unicorn,” stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, who is known for “Wednesday” on Netflix.

Persons: ’, AFTRA, Mary, ”, Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega Organizations: New, Academy, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, HBO, Netflix Locations: New York

☆ 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

☆ Hollywood studios say they offered actors $1 billion in gains before strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, July 17 (Reuters) - Major film and television studios offered Hollywood actors more than $1 billion in higher compensation and enhanced benefits before the SAG-AFTRA union called a strike last week, a group that represents media companies said on Monday. "For SAG-AFTRA to assert that we have not been responsive to the needs of its membership is disingenuous at best," the AMPTP added. The union said the studios countered with an offer of 5%. "We moved on some things, but from day one they wouldn’t meaningfully engage on the most critical issues," SAG-AFTRA said. The actors have joined members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which went on strike May 2 after failing to reach a deal with the AMPTP.

Persons: AFTRA, Lisa Richwine, Robert Birsel Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Netflix Inc, Walt Disney Co, Warner Bros Discovery, Writers Guild of America, Thomson Locations: ANGELES

☆ Why celebrities are on strike: Not every actor makes Tom Cruise money
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

However, the BLS noted in the data that actors aren’t paid full-time year-round due to the nature of the job. Screen Actors Guild members and supporters on a picket line in Times Square in New York, US, on Friday, July 14, 2023. Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesBefore the contract between actors and movie studios officially expired this week, SAG-AFTRA members had negotiated specific minimum rates for performers. For example, an actor who worked on a television show for one week was paid a minimum of $3,756. According to Shaan Sharma, an actor and SAG-AFTRA board member, just 12.7% of SAG-AFTRA members qualify for the union’s health plan.

Persons: they’ve, Meryl Streep, Matt Damon, Fran Drescher, you’re, aren’t, Yuki Iwamura, Kellee Stewart, ”, “, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Forbes, Johnson, Cruise, Tom Cruise, Barry Diller, ‘, ” Diller, “ I’m, Shaan Sharma, Rod McLachlan, it’s, ” McLachlan, Chris Pizzello, ” Stewart, Stewart, “ There’s, Bob Iger, ’, Iger, Netflix’s, Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, “ Rather, AFTRA, Kevin Klowden, Klowden, Natasha Chen Organizations: CNN, SAG, Hollywood, Hollywood’s, Guild of America, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, Guild, Bloomberg, Getty, Forbes, Variety, CBS, Sunday, Paramount, Netflix, Twitter, Disney, CNBC, Walt Disney Studios, The Alliance, Television Producers, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Apple, Warner Bros, Milken Institute Locations: California, New York, Los Angeles, London, Australia, New Zealand

☆ The media industry is in turmoil, and that's not changing anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

All of this turmoil will be on investors' minds as the media industry kicks off its earnings season this week, with Netflix up first on Wednesday. Netflix, with a new advertising model and push to stop password sharing, looks the best positioned compared with legacy media giants. At the top of the list is contending with Disney's TV networks, as that part of the business appears to be in a worse state than Iger had imagined. The labor fight blew up just as the industry has moved away from streaming growth at all costs. Last week's ruling from a federal judge that Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard should move forward serves as a rare piece of good news for the media industry.

Persons: Mike Blake, Bob Iger, Iger, Bob Iger's, Michael Nathanson, SVB, CNBC's David Faber, Nathanson, Producers –, Mark Boidman, Ross Benes, Benes, Comcast's NBCUniversal, Solomon, Boidman, Random, Paramount's Simon, Schuster, Tegna, Jason Anderson, Peter Liguori, Anderson, HBO Max, Homer, Marge Getty Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, Alliance, Producers, Reuters, Disney, Disney's, Paramount Global, Comcast, Warner Bros, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Media, Solomon Partners, CNBC, Hollywood, Intelligence, ABC, Paramount, BET, NBC Sports, USA, Discovery, Activision, Federal Trade Commission, dealmaking, Microsoft, Tribune Media, Max, HBO, Amazon, MGM, Sky, Fox Corp, FOX Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, MoffettNathanson, Hulu

☆ Would you let movie studios use an AI likeness of you in exchange for a day's pay? That's what striking actors say was offered to them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Striking actors say studios want full discretion over any digital replacements of background actors. It evoked a recent "Black Mirror" episode in which actors on screen turn out to be digital versions. In the real world, members of the actors' union SAG-AFTRA worry that such a dystopian future may not be far off. He said that the studios had proposed to pay background actors for a day in exchange for companies taking scans that can be used to create their digital likenesses. "Any other use requires the background actor's consent and bargaining for the use, subject to a minimum payment."

Persons: Joan, Salma Hayek, Duncan Crabtree, Crabtree, AFTRA Organizations: Morning, Netflix, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America Locations: Ireland

☆ 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

☆ Biden throws his support behind Hollywood actors' strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

230712Count President Joe Biden among the supporters of the actors strike in Hollywood. "The President believes all workers — including actors — deserve fair pay and benefits," White House spokesperson said Robyn Patterson in a statement Friday. "The President supports workers' right to strike and hopes the parties can reach a mutually beneficial agreement." Biden, a proponent of organized labor, previously backed striking members of the Writers Guild of America in May, when Hollywood's scribes started picketing. Disney CEO Bob Iger told CNBC this week that he believes the writers and actors' expectations are "just not realistic."

Persons: Joe Biden, —, Robyn Patterson, Biden, They're, Bob Iger, Sen, Alex Padilla, Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff Organizations: NATO, Vilnius University, Writers Guild of America, Ford, General Motors, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Television Producers, Hollywood, CNBC, Democratic, U.S, Reps, SAG Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Hollywood, California, Democratic California

☆ Actors set to hit picket lines Friday in largest US strike in 26 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Actors are set to hit picket lines Friday morning in their first strike against film and TV productions since 1980 and the nation’s largest strike since 1997. This is the largest number of union members to be on strike since 180,000 Teamsters walked out on UPS in 1997. The Teamsters, who have 340,000 members at UPS, are threatening to strike the parcel delivery giant on August 1 without a new contract. The actors also join more than 11,000 member of the Writers Guild of America who have been on strike against the same studios and streaming services since May 2. Actors are due on picket lines in Los Angeles and New York at 9 am PDT and noon EDT Friday.

Persons: It’s, Ronald Reagan, ”, “, Duncan Crabtree, Fran Drescher, –, Natasha Chen Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Teamsters, UPS, Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors, Management, Alliance, Television Producers, ” Locations: New York, Southern California, Los Angeles and New York, Ireland

The actors' union said on Thursday its board had unanimously agreed to a strike after failing to reach a deal with studios, including Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Netflix Inc (NFLX.O). Officials said actors would join picket lines in New York and Los Angeles starting on Friday. The economic damage is expected to spread after actors join the picket lines. The actors' walkout will shut down the studios' remaining U.S.-based productions of film and scripted television and hamper many overseas shoots. Britain's main entertainment industry union Equity said it backed its U.S. counterpart and would be bringing up many of the same issues in its own contract negotiations over the next 12 months.

Persons: Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Drescher, Rather, AFTRA, Paul Fleming, Lisa Richwine, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Diane Craft, Andrew Heavens, Barbara Lewis Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Studios, Britain's Equity, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Walt Disney Co, Netflix Inc, Los Angeles, Equity, U.S ., Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hollywood's, New York, Los, California, Britain, London

☆ 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

☆ Hollywood actors set to strike after talks with studios and streaming services fail to reach a deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It could be the first simultaneous strike by actors and writers in more than 60 years. The union representing 160,000 actors is set to call for a strike after contract talks failed to reach an agreement. And not since 1960 have both the actors and writers' unions taken industrial action at the same time. The union's negotiating committee voted unanimously to recommend a strike, on which its national board will vote Thursday morning. The results of SAG-AFTRA's national board vote on strike action are due to be announced at a press conference at 12 p.m. PT Thursday.

Persons: Netflix —, AFTRA, Fran Drescher, Rodin Eckenroth, Duncan Crabtree Organizations: SAG, Morning, Alliance, Television Producers, Warner Bros, Disney, Netflix, Guild of America Locations: Ireland

☆ Hollywood actors set the stage for strike action after contract negotiations fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Daniel Arkin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Scenes of the mountains in front of the hollywood sign On March 5th 2017 in Los Angeles, United States of America. The contract between the two sides expired just before midnight on Wednesday, capping days of high-stakes negotiations and suspense. (The group represents Comcast, the corporation that owns NBCUniversal; some employees of the NBCUniversal News Group are represented by the WGA.) The actors' strike will likely force other sets to go dark. SAG-AFTRA members authorized a strike on June 5 by an overwhelming margin: 97.91% of the nearly 65,000 members who cast votes.

Persons: Fran Drescher, AFTRA Organizations: SAG, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, AFTRA's, Apple, Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Writers Guild of America, Comcast, NBCUniversal, WGA, Guild of America, DGA, CNBC, Alliance, Television Producers Locations: Los Angeles, United States of America, Hollywood, NBCUniversal

☆ Actors union will join writers on strike, shutting down Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hollywood actors are officially headed to the picket line. Unable to reach a deal with producers, members of The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will join up with more than 11,000 already striking film and television writers starting at midnight. The failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers means film and television productions featuring actors will immediately halt, essentially shutting down Hollywood. "We are the victims here," said Fran Drescher, president of the actors union, during a press conference Thursday. During the strike actors will not be permitted to promote past projects through conventions, interviews or panels.

Persons: It'll, Fran Drescher, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Drescher Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, Alliance, Producers, Hollywood, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Television Producers, SAG, Fox, WGA Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Hollywood, London

Search resuls for: "Television Producers"

25 mentions found