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☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ How the actors strike will affect your favorite movies and TV shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The awards show, as with much in the TV and movie industry, is also very much uncertain right now. But what you can count on is more reality shows, and maybe game shows, and probably more opportunity to binge shows that have already been on your favorite streaming service. Data from film permits in California indicates that production of most shows and movies already has been halted by the writers strike. But most other actors will stop working as soon as the union’s government board votes to go on strike later Thursday. Of course, the writers strike brought an immediate halt to new episodes of US late night shows, so the opportunity to do that sort of publicity was already limited.

Persons: You’ve, ”, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, “, Ted Sarandos, Ronald Reagan, Bob Iger didn’t, Iger, they’ve, Duncan Crabtree Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Netflix, Screen Actors, Disney, Guild, CNBC Locations: New York, California, Ireland

LOS ANGELES, July 13 (Reuters) - Hollywood actors will go on strike at midnight on Thursday after talks with studios broke down, joining film and television writers who have been on picket lines since May and deepening the disruption of scores of shows and movies. The actors' union announced at a Thursday press conference that the strike will begin at midnight after its national board unanimously authorized the walkout. Fran Drescher, former star of "The Nanny" TV show and the president of SAG-AFTRA, called the studios' responses to actors' concerns "insulting and disrespectful." But the loss of actors, who will also not promote their films or TV shows while on strike, will put more pressure on media companies to find a resolution. The economic damage is expected to spread after actors join the picket lines on Friday.

Persons: Fran Drescher, Drescher, AFTRA, Rather, Duncan Crabtree, Ridley Scott, Bob Iger, Iger, Matt Damon, Oppenheimer, Lisa Richwine, Jonathan Allen, Dawn Chmielewski, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Mark Porter, Bill Berkrot Organizations: SAG, Writers Guild of America, Television Producers, Netflix Inc, Walt Disney Co, Reuters, Alliance, Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, WGA, Screen Actors Guild, Disney, CNBC, Comcast, Paramount Global, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, United States, Hollywood's, Morocco, Malta, Idaho, California

☆ Union fears Hollywood actors' digital doubles could live on 'for one day's pay'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Actors have used contract talks with the Hollywood studios to assert control over how these digital simulations are used on screen. Such protections, the studios noted, would include gaining an actor's consent to create and use a digital replica, or digitally alter their performance. "So if you think that's a groundbreaking proposal, I suggest you think again." Any other use would require that actor’s consent and bargaining for the use, subject to a minimum payment, the studios said. SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's largest union, representing 160,000 film and television actors, announced its members would go on strike at midnight.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Walt Disney, Duncan Crabtree, Crabtree, AMPTP, Dawn Chmielewski, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Hollywood, Walt, Netflix, SAG, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Ireland, Hollywood's

Members of the Writers Guild of America walk a picket line outside of Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif., in May. Like the striking writers, leaders of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, have described their labor dispute in stark terms, calling the present moment “existential” for their members. But the core issues have been about compensation, as well as the use of artificial intelligence. The actors also have grave concerns about artificial intelligence, and how the technology could be used to replicate their performances using their previous work without their being compensated or consulted. Tara Kole, a lawyer with the entertainment law firm Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, which represents actors like Emma Watson and Ashley Judd, said in an interview that the potential use of artificial intelligence was “terrifying” to actors.

Persons: “, ” Duncan Crabtree, —, We’re, Mr, Tara Kole, Johnson Shapiro, Emma Watson, Ashley Judd, that’s, ” Ms, Kole, ” Mr, A.I, we’re, ” “, AFTRA Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Warner Bros ., SAG, Alliance, Television Producers Locations: Burbank , Calif, Ireland, Crabtree

☆ 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

☆ A Second Strike Is Threatening Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Why It Matters: A second strike could shut Hollywood down completely. Hollywood is already 80 percent shut down since the writers went on strike on May 2. While some television shows and movies continued filming, the writers were surprisingly effective in shutting down shows in production. During the last writers’ strike 15 years ago, the Los Angeles economy lost an estimated $2.1 billion. The effects of a dual strike would also soon be coming to your television, with network shows going into reruns and a likely proliferation of reality television.

Persons: ’, Ronald Reagan, Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Drescher Organizations: Screen, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers Locations: Hollywood, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York City, Ireland

☆ Reducing renewable energy costs is the first step to accessibility: U.S. Department of Energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailReducing renewable energy costs is the first step to accessibility: U.S. Department of EnergyBrad Crabtree, assistant secretary for fossil energy and carbon management at U.S. Department of Energy, discusses how to deploy renewable energy technology more widely in the global South.

Persons: . Department of Energy Brad Crabtree Organizations: . Department of Energy, U.S . Department of Energy

People picket outside of FOX Studios on the first day of the Hollywood writers strike on May 2, 2023 in Los Angeles. Hollywood is gearing up for another labor fight, and once again worries about artificial intelligence are front and center. Hollywood's talent wants to create guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in future television and film productions. "Our members are human beings, not puppets, and it is a violation to use AI technology to make them do or say something without their informed consent." Actors have varying comfort levels with how AI is used, which is why SAG-AFTRA is looking to advocate for informed consent when it sits down with the AMPTP.

Persons: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Timothee Chalamet, Wes Anderson, Duncan Crabtree, AFTRA, Crabtree, James Earl Jones, Jones, Darth Vader, Obi, Wan Kenobi, Anderson Organizations: FOX Studios, Hollywood, Alliance, Television Producers, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Star Wars, SAG, CNBC, of America, Writers Guild of America, Disney Locations: Los Angeles . Hollywood, Ireland

☆ Hollywood actors authorize strike as writers still out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, June 5 (Reuters) - Hollywood's actors union voted to authorize a strike if contract talks break down, turning up the heat on major film and television studios already grappling with a monthlong work stoppage by writers. No new negotiations are scheduled with the striking Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents 11,500 film and TV writers. A strike by actors would lead to a broader shutdown across Hollywood and increase pressure on studios that need programming to feed their streaming services and the fall TV broadcast schedule. In the negotiations, actors are seeking higher pay and safeguards against unauthorized use of their images through artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA leaders said the industry had changed dramatically with the rise of streaming television and the emergence of new technology such as generative AI.

Persons: AFTRA, Bravo, Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Lisa Richwine, David Gregorio, Lisa Shumaker, Kim Coghill, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Bravo SAG, Guild of America, Warner Bros, HBO, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney Co, Netflix Inc, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Hollywood, Ireland

☆ 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

☆ Actors Authorize Potential Strike With Hollywood Writers Still Picketing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

According to the writers, the studios offered little more than “annual meetings to discuss” artificial intelligence, and they refused to bargain over limits on the technology. Background: It has been a long time since the last actors’ strike. The last time the actors went on strike was in 2000, in a dispute over commercial pay. What’s Next: Negotiations begin on Wednesday. With negotiations expected to begin on Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA is bullish about what this strike authorization means.

Persons: ’, We’re, ”, Duncan Crabtree, “, we’re Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG Locations: Ireland

☆ Hollywood's next big fight is over how actors will get paid for work by their AI 'digital doubles'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hollywood actors want to get paid for work done by their AI "digital doubles." SAG-AFTRA starts negotiations this week for a new contract with Hollywood studios, and AI is a hot topic. Hollywood is gearing up for another union battle this week, and a big topic will be how actors are paid for work done by their "digital doubles" created using artificial intelligence. Crabtree-Ireland told the FT that the starting point for negotiations would be getting union-scale payments for work using digital doubles. And while the use of AI might scare some actors, others in Hollywood are embracing the potential paydays the tech could bring.

Persons: Duncan Crabtree, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford, James Earl Jones, Darth Vader, Crabtree, AMPTP negotiaotors, Hilary Krane Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, Morning, Financial Times, Alliance, Television Producers, Reuters, Guild of America, Saturday, CAA Locations: Ireland, Crabtree, Hollywood

☆ Digital doubles, fake trailers: AI worries Hollywood actors before labor talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

AI already has divided studios and striking film and television writers, who want assurances that the emerging technology will not be used to generate scripts. SAG-AFTRA wants to ensure its members can control use of their "digital doubles" and ensure studios pay the actual actors appropriately, said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's chief negotiator. A representative for the AMPTP had no comment on its position on use of AI with actors. In negotiations with the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the AMPTP proposed discussing the topic once a year, which the Guild viewed as an attempt to avoid the issue. You're never going to see anything like that if we're all using AI."

Persons: Julia Louis, Dreyfus, Christine, Wes Anderson, Harry Potter, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree, Crabtree, Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, Reeves, Leland Morrill, we're, Morrill, Justine Bateman, Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford, Walt Disney, Ford, Stephen Colbert, James Earl Jones, Darth Vader, Carrie Fisher, AFTRA's Crabtree, Bateman, " Bateman, Lisa Richwine, Jorge Ramos, Dawn Chmielewski, Mary Milliken, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Warner Bros ., Screen, Writers Guild America, YouTube, SAG, Microsoft Corp, Walt Disney Co's, Lucasfilm, Disney, Alliance, Television Producers, Netflix Inc, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, ANGELES, Hollywood, Ireland, ., Los Angeles

☆ I trained SpaceX astronauts for a NASA mission. Being responsible for their safety was stressful, but preparing my friends for space was an honor.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

She told Insider she trained the NASA astronauts for SpaceX's first crewed mission to the ISS. I've been passionate about sending humans into space since I was eight years old, so becoming a mission operations engineer at SpaceX in 2009 was a lifetime achievement for me. Out of the 20 employees in the mission operations team, I was the only trainer. NASA selected SpaceX as one of the partners for the program, and six years later, SpaceX sent its first crewed mission to the ISS. Two NASA astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, launched on the Crew Dragon spaceship — and I had the privilege of training them for the flight.

The effort comes as the United States seeks to sustain its liquefied natural gas, or LNG, exports to Europe to displace Russian fuel, while also promoting efforts to fight global warming. A credible market for certified natural gas could help it tackle both goals at once. Crabtree said he hosted a workshop in October with gas industry representatives, including a new industry group called the Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council (DGCC), to discuss standards for certified gas. While gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, its main component is the powerful greenhouse gas methane, which can leak into the atmosphere from drilling, processing, shipping and distribution. Palti-Guzman said certified gas could also be key to securing a longterm role for U.S. LNG in Europe where carbon prices last month hit a record 100 euros per tonne.

☆ Stalemate between Russia and Ukraine is likely to continue, says think tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStalemate between Russia and Ukraine is likely to continue, says think tankJames Crabtree of the International Institute for Strategic Studies says Russia isn't in a strong position and Ukraine doesn't have the "numbers and capabilities" to launch a victory strike of its own.

☆ I'm the senior director of a $5 billion data company — here's how a mix of programming and leadership courses skyrocketed my career since college
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Focusing on hard skills like data analysis as well as management helped me move up in my career. But what really put my career on a rocket ship was taking online courses from platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning. For anyone looking for a big career jump, here are four lessons I learned from taking online courses — and how to make the most of online learning. Taking management courses helped me advance much faster. Mike CrabtreeBecause of taking online courses, my career advanced very quickly in a short amount of time.

Here are four climate and environment lawsuits that are likely to make headlines in 2023. The oil companies in the nation's high court are hoping to upend a series of circuit court decisions saying the cases belong in state courts where they were filed. If the court takes the appeal and rules for the oil companies, then the cases would be moved to federal court, the preferred venue for the industry defendants. (Bellwether trials are chosen as test cases and are used to work through common legal and factual issues.) "I think it will be a huge year for this issue," Conroy said of 2023.

☆ I tried Taco Bell's Beyond Meat quesadilla at the only place it's available in the US. The meatless 'steak' could've fooled me, and I now want to try it on everything.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Cassy Crabtree | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I tried Taco Bell's Beyond Meat quesadilla at the only place it's available in the US. Cassy Crabtree tried Taco Bell's Beyond Carne Asada Steak Quesadilla. Cassy Crabtree On October 13, Taco Bell introduced its new Beyond Meat Carne Asada Steak Quesadilla. Taco Bell I visited my local Taco Bell in Tipp City, Ohio (a suburb of Dayton). I tried Taco Bell's Beyond Carne Asada Steak Quesadilla.

[1/3] Customers are seen inside the Express store in Broomfield, Colorado August 28, 2013. At risk are retailers' margins during the critical holiday shopping season and their efforts to be the go-to location for trendy fashions. Shopper demand has put a strain on apparel retailers throughout the year, boosting inventories and forcing retailers including Gap, Victoria's Secret and Kohl's, to slash prices. Deals since October and over Thanksgiving weekend were up in both frequency and discounting depth, including from clothing retailers, according to research from Jane Hali & Associates. Express' third-quarter margins are expected to fall to 29.7% from 33.22% a year earlier, according to analysts' estimates on Refinitiv.

☆ ASEAN summit begins with Myanmar likely to dominate agenda; 'little progress expected'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Cambodian Prime Minister and ASEAN host Hun Sen addressed Friday's opening ceremony with a call for vigilance and wisdom during times of economic and geopolitical turmoil. The junta has blamed a lack of progress on the pandemic and obstruction from armed resistance movements that it calls terrorists. James Crabtree, Executive Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies-Asia, said ASEAN was struggling to cope with internal divisions over Myanmar and other issues. One Western diplomat who will attend the meeting said that while the bloc may try to make the Myanmar peace plan more action-oriented, "little progress is expected". G20 leaders are meeting in Bali next week and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum will take place in Bangkok after that.

Rapp, watching Spacey accept his prize, threw a pencil at the screen, he testified this week. Spacey’s lawyers have tried to convince the jury of six men and six women that Rapp fabricated his claim in large part because he was bitterly envious of their client's success. Rapp, they contend, desperately wanted Spacey’s career: the hit films, the plum roles, the two Oscars. But through the first five days of the trial in downtown Manhattan, Rapp’s alleged jealousy has been a recurring and striking theme. “I wanted my career.”Warrington Parker, a San Francisco trial attorney, and Danny Cevallos, an NBC News legal analyst, both described the jealousy argument as a high-risk bet for Spacey’s lawyers.

☆ Indian billionaire Gautam Adani was a college dropout. Now he may be too big to fail
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s conglomerate had just launched a hostile bid to take over an influential broadcaster in the capital. Rupak De Chowdhuri/ReutersMuch of his fortune is tied up in the sprawling Adani Group, which he founded over 30 years ago. Most of the companies in the Adani empire are held closely by the billionaire, his family and associated firms, including nearly 75% stakes in AEL, Adani Power, and Adani Transmissions. Yet, the Adani Group has continued to raise billions from Indian and foreign banks. CreditSights, a research firm owned by Fitch Group, in August published a report about Adani Group titled “Deeply Overleveraged” in which it expressed strong concerns.

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