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AS STUDIO LEADERS MEET, SPECULATION GROWS THAT THE AMPTP IS A HOUSE DIVIDED
DUAL STRIKES POSe A MAJOR CHALLENGE TO studio and streaming chiefs; WORD OF INTERNAL DISSENTION ONLY ADDS TO THE STRESS |
Amid growing speculation about internal divisions within the C-suites and a lack of any apparent path forward to end the writers and actors strikes, the chiefs of Hollywood’s biggest studios were set to gather yesterday.
Disney’s Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, Amazon Studios’ Mike Hopkins and Jennifer Salke, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Universal’s Donna Langley, and Warner Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav were among those scheduled to attend the virtual sit-down.
And what of the stalled negotiations?
The AMPTP said it is awaiting the official response from the WGA to the August 11 offer. The guild says it made a counter on August 15 and that the ball is in the studios and streamers’ court.
All of which means newly hired crisis PR firm the Levinson Group might find that its principal task right out the gate is handling the tension among studio CEOs as the writers strike goes deep into its fourth month.
“Before, some wanted to blame Carol [Lombardini], accused her of being stuck using a pre-streaming playbook,” notes an individual familiar with the divisions among the studio and streamers bosses. “Now they have only themselves to blame for how bad things look. That’s why they brought in the Levinson Group, and that’s why they are squabbling.” >>>Iger & Zaslav "Stunned" By Blowback |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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Not-So-'Great' News - Hulu has canceled fan favorite The Great after three seasons. The series starred Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. Created, written and executive produced by Tony McNamara, The Great reinvented the period drama by revisiting the life of Catherine the Great, depicting an iconic character and her place in history through a unique prism. The third season dropped May 12. >>>Reasoning Unclear
Nolan Keeps Rollin' - With Oppenheimer soon to cross $800 million worldwide, Christopher Nolan's film looks to keep rolling with a projected $20 million opening in China this weekend. The director primed the market by being the first major Hollywood filmmaker to visit the Middle Kingdom since the advent of Covid. >>>Strong Track Record
Eye To The Future - Elaine Bauer Brooks will be leaving her post as EVP, Development and MultiPlatform Content at CBS Media Ventures after nine years at the company. Her departure follows that of CBS Media Ventures President Steve LoCascio who announced his retiring two weeks ago amid a corporate restructuring. >>>Read Her Note To Staff |
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With the Venice Film Festival opening, all eyes are on Italy for early clues as to whether some of the most-anticipated movies of the season will be delivering in terms of their awards potential. One of the more eagerly awaited contenders is Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein movie, Maestro. Looking forward to the film's premiere on Saturday, producer Kristie Macosko Krieger shared the story behind the making of the movie with Deadline. >>> Read The Interview |
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Gary Oldman has been tapped for the cast of Italian director Paolo Sorrentino’s as yet untitled, Naples-set new film. The feature revolves around a character called Partenope, who, in Sorrentino’s own words, bears the name of her city but is neither a siren nor the mythical figure connected to the creation of Naples. There are no details on Oldman’s role. |
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BY THE NUMBERS
72% - Proportion of those polled by Gallup who support the writers in their strike against the studios and streamers |
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More News
🏝️ Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson have established the People’s Fund of Maui, which will distribute cash directly to those affected by the wildfires that devastated Lahaina and other parts of the island earlier this month. Winfrey and Johnson donated $10 million to launch the fund.
💃 Taylor Swift is the latest solution for movie theater owners looking for alternative ways to keep turnstiles moving at an uncertain time for the industry. A concert film made during Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour will play AMC, Regal and Cinemark theaters this fall. The pic is directed by Sam Wrench. AMC is also releasing the Eras Tour movie on their own in what is a first distribution initiative for the circuit, tapping Variance Films to book the title. The pic will play in Cineplex theatres in Canada and at Cineopolis locations in Mexico.
⚖ The Church of Scientology hasn’t yet responded in court to Leah Remini’s harassment lawsuit filed earlier this month, but according to the Emmy winner, the David Miscavige-led organization has made some harsh moves in reaction. Remini now is saying that since her initial complaint was filed she has been the victim of various acts of credit card fraud, lambasted by online trolls, accused directly by the Church of generating “threats of and actual violence against the Church,” and suggesting she “consider emigrating to Russia.”
🚦 The Lincoln Lawyer has been renewed for a third season at Netflix that will consist of 10 episodes following a successful sophomore turn that saw the series reach the Top 10 in 81 countries. Season 3 will be based on The Gods of Guilt, the fifth book in Michael Connelly’s Lincoln Lawyer series.
🤩 One week after it voted to install fencing on Mulholland to block some views of the sign and protect pedestrians, the Los Angeles City Council has approved a motion seeking to potentially prohibit tour bus operations in hillside neighborhoods in proximity to the Hollywood Sign. |
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Trending  Trustees of the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan have unanimously agreed to a one-calendar-quarter extension of health coverage for certain qualified participants who would otherwise lose coverage on Oct. 1, 2023. The extension accounts for jobs that may have been lost in May and June of this year due to the Writers Guild strike.
🔻 Barstool Sports is the latest digital media company to undergo layoffs. Founder Dave Portnoy revealed the news on a video on Barstool’s own YouTube channel. |
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OBITUARIES
🕯 Jamie Christopher, who was an associate producer and first assistant director on such Marvel films as Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron and more, died at his home today of heart complications. He was 52. 🕯 Former NBC News and Telemundo executive Don Browne has died due to complications from a brain tumor. He was 80 years old. Browne began his career at CBS News before pivoting to NBC in 1979 and remained with the company for more than 30 years. 🕯 Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries |
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On the Radar
Fri - Telluride begins; Disneyland workers' contract expires
Sun - Special Ops: Lioness S1 finale
Mon - Labor Day
Tues - Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference begins |
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Episode 1 - The initial installment of Strike Force Five dropped and the Spotify podcast from Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver delivered an hour of random stories and jokes about the strike. They included how Stephen Colbert’s mother dated a Nicaraguan dictator, lawsuits involving their shows (hello Viacom and Google), the fact that many of the hosts wanted to join the clergy and how Colbert and Kimmel were both in the running to be the announcer for Magic Johnson’s 1998 talkshow The Magic Hour. |
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