New Projects - WGA Strike Continued - Theatre Awards - Pilot Season - Production Updates
By Abigail Hardin, May 09, 2023
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Happy Tuesday, UTD!
It's been quite a week with the industry navigating and adjusting to the WGA strike. TV series in production have been affected by picketers and have been forced to shut down, in some cases for the remainder of the day. Other series such as HACKS and LOOT have decided to pause production altogether until the strike is over. It seems the main sticking point between the WGA and AMPTP is over staffing minimums. This past week several studios demanded that showrunners continue working, and claim to have enough content to weather a long storm. Only time will tell.
While the strike has rightfully so worried us and been on our minds, I urge you to view this as a good thing. With DGA and SAG-AFTRA contracts up for renewal with AMPTP very soon, the WGA's demands set a bar for all new contract negotiations and will greatly affect what SAG-AFTRA is able to demand for actor's benefits.
Lastly, as we learned from the pandemic, a production pause can be a highly effective time for reflection and reorganization of your career. Annie and I are going to be discussing in detail creating a "strike-proof" plan to move your career forward during this production pause. Sign up today for our free workshop on May 30th!
If you're looking to get a head start, here are some steps you can take today to make the most of this production pause:
- Revisit your 13 Essential marketing tools. Assess what is working and what is not. Get rid of the old materials that do not represent your current talent level.
- Does your castable type line up with your view of yourself and the type of work you are interested in booking?
- Start a new campaign for representation. With fewer audition notices talent agents and talent managers will use this time to find new talent and revise their roster.
- Reconnect with Casting Directors who you know and introduce your talent to those you don't know.
- Create your own work! This should be part of your regular process, but now more than ever create content. Production companies will be looking for original content from unconventional sources.
- Do your research! Identify 5-10 TV series filming in your area that are a fit with your castable type. Watch prior seasons to familiarize yourself with the show. Add them to your targeted list to be notified of any production updates and casting opportunities!
- May 30, 2023 @ 3:00 PM EST — Strike-Proof: How to Take Advantage of this Industry Redirect & Stay Active During the WGA Strike with Actors Connection
There is much to cover, so let's get right to it! Stay positive, and create a great week!
WGA
Details
- Joe Biden Weighs In On WGA Strike, Calls For Writers To Get “A Fair Deal They Deserve As Soon As Possible”
- Writers Strike: Studios Hit Back, Making Case For “Generous” Contract Offered
- WGA’s David Goodman Hits Back At Latest Studio Response
- HBO & Disney Tell Showrunners To Show Up For Work Despite Strike
- Writers Strike: Studios Move In To Suspend TV Overall Deals
- Writers Strike 2023: What Shows Will Be Affected By Delays, Cancellations
Studio Response
- AMC CEO Says Long Strike Would Hit Theaters; Is Launching Candy Label
- Bob Bakish Says Paramount Has “Levers To Pull” If Strike Prolonged
- Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on Writers Strike
- Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition Wants “Equitable Resolution” Of WGA Strike
Other Looming Contract Negotiations
- Directors Guild Set To Fight For More Global Streaming Residuals In Contract Talks
- WGA Strike: DGA Chief On Upcoming Talks, Need For Union Solidarity
Global
- U.K. Writers Demand Clarity on Working for Netflix, Disney Amid Strike
- Writers Strike: India’s SWA Asks Members To Stop Work On U.S. Projects
Commentary
- Writers Strike: Patric Verrone on the WGA's 'Righteous Cause'
- WGA’s Patric Verrone: Resolve Of Writers Is Stronger Than In 2007
- Writers Strike: WGA Isn’t First Guild To Seek Minimum Staffing In Its Contract
- Judd Apatow Argues Studios Planned for 'Existential' Writers Strike
- Paul Schrader Defends AI Writing as WGA Strike
- Disabled Writers Support WGA Strike Despite Potential $2M Earnings Loss
- Rep. Ro Khanna Visits WGA Strike Lines In New York, Gives Rousing Speech
- ‘Strike Talk’ Podcast Hosted By Billy Ray And Todd Garner (Week 1)
- Writers Strike: SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher Joins WGA Picket Lines
More Articles
- WGA Strike: Massive Rallies Planned For May 15 In L.A. And New York
- What Writers Do on Set Beyond Writing Amid Strike
- As Writers Strike, Some Digital Media Counterparts Are Stuck In ‘Traffic’ Jam
- Watch SAG-AFTRA Chief Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Tell WGA Strike Rally
Pilot Season
UpFronts
- Paramount Global Wraps TV Upfront Pitch Before Rivals Launch Their Own
- WGA East Will Picket TV Upfronts In The Event Of Writers Strike
- CBS Cancels Next Week's Fall Announcement Event Due to Writers Strike
NewFronts
- YouTube Expands Options For Advertisers On Its Growing Shorts Platform
- In First NewFronts Pitch Since His Jump From Fox, Roku Media President Charlie Collier Welcomes Brands To The Stream
Production
- New York Budget Boosts Film, TV Production Tax Breaks Amid WGA Strike
- SAG-AFTRA, Ad Industry To End Vax Mandate Covid Protocols For Commercial Shoots
- Pinewood Group Of The UK Acquires Pinewood Toronto Studios
- Indian Media & Entertainment Industry Valued at $26 Billion
- The Next Decade Will Belong to Indian Stories, Says Prime Video Head
- SAG-AFTRA Launches Green Council Initiative To Promote Eco-Friendly Entertainment
Streaming
- Amazon Launches Fire TV Channels, A New Home For FAST, Citing 300% Surge In Streaming Hours Over Past Six Months
- David Zaslav Declares War on Churn, 'Bleeder' Streamers
- David Zaslav – “We Do Not Believe In Direct-To-Streaming Movies”
- Paramount Global Sees Q1 Loss On Streaming, Ad Market; Stock Drops
- How Peacock Increased Viewers and Grew Against Streaming Competition
Q1
- Warner Bros Discovery Posts Loss But Notes “Turn” Toward Streaming Profitability
- Warner Bros Discovery Earnings Call Doesn’t Mention WGA Strike; Zaslav Comments
- AMC Saw Q1 Sales Jump, Losses Narrow Amid Rebounding Box Office
- Warner Bros. Discovery Sees Q1 Loss Despite Streaming Improvements
- Paramount Stock Drops: Q1 Streaming Loss Grows, Dividend Slashed
Film Festivals
- The WGA Strike and the Cannes Film Festival: Here’s the Hidden Link
- 2023 Nantucket Film Festival Lineup and Honors (Full List)
- Santa Barbara Film Festival 2024 Dates Set
- Malta launches new film fest building on standing as film location
- Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Announces Full Lineup For 33rd Annual Film Festival
Awards
Film & TV
- Best Picture Oscar Contenders Rolled Out At CinemaCon: Here’s A Roundup
- The Gotham Awards Set Date For 2023
- Oscars Get New Rules For 2024 After Andrea Riseborough Campaign Controversy
- Richard Dreyfuss On New Diversity Rules For Oscars: “They Make Me Vomit”
- Schmigadoon Denied as Scripted Variety, Must Compete as Comedy Series
Theatre
- The Tony Awards & The WGA Strike: What Happens To Broadway’s Big Night
- Sanaz Toossi's English Wins 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- Wolf Play, Titaníque Lead 2023 Lucille Lortel Awards; See the Full List of Winners
- DANCIN', A BEAUTIFUL NOISE, and More Nominated For 2023 Chita Rivera Awards
- Into the Woods Wins Big at Boston's Elliot Norton Awards; See the Full List of Winners
Quick Bites
- The 11 Most Anticipated Shows of Summer 2023
- How Much Does it Cost to Run a Movie Theater? We Do the Math
- Martin Scorsese Gets Behind Rescue Plan For La Clef Cinema In Paris
- Paramount+ Takes Over Bryant Park's Monday Night Screening Series
- ‘Indiana Jones & The Dial Of Destiny’ Director Talks De-Aging Harrison Ford In “25-Minute Opening Extravaganza”
- Joe Russo Estimates A.I. Films Are ‘Two Years’ Away
- Jason Henkel, Skydance SVP, Talks Voice Casting and Animation
- Jury Duty: How Ronald Gladden, James Marsden and Cast Came Together