The performers’ union SAG-AFTRA has finally reached agreement with the AMPTP, the studios’ bargaining group, after a lengthy strike. The union is touting what it says are breakthroughs in many areas. The new provisions are extensive, comprising 129 pages of dense prose. The consequences of some of these provisions will only become clear over time. One of the new provisions
Netflix may be on the outs with the Writers Guild, but has had better luck in its negotiations with SAG-AFTRA. The SAG-AFTRA National Board just approved resoundingly a new contract with the streamer. The contract will now go to members for a ratification vote.
A key provision is a relaxation of exclusivity rules to permit series regulars to work
The Writers Guild has scored a $42 million arbitration award against Netflix for unpaid residuals.
The arbitration involved the Sandra Bullock feature Bird Box. The picture was released for a brief theatrical run before moving to the streaming service. The Guild asserted that this triggered theatrical residuals under the WGA Agreement. Under this formula, the writer gets paid 1.2% of
As the content industry moves inexorably toward a streaming model, linear broadcast and cable channels are looking increasingly to live sports to gain competitive advantage. In the past, streamers have turned away from live sports programming as incompatible with their on-demand model. Sporting events are shown in real time with limited afterlife. As competition for subscribers heats up, however, streaming
Lewis Black is the latest comedian to sue the music streaming service Pandora for copyright infringement. Black is following on the heels of the Robin Williams and George Carlin estates, who sued the platform in February, joined by Andrew Dice Clay, Bill Engvall and Ron White.
All of these suits rely on the same underlying claim, which is that Pandora
When new entertainment media emerge, a wave of litigation follows. Novel means of exploitation challenge lawyers to interpret contracts and statutes in contexts that were not originally contemplated. For example, when backend payments are calculated, it makes a substantial difference whether streaming revenues are treated like television or like home video. The emergence of NFTs is presenting a new set
The consolidation trend in Hollywood continues with the closing of another big merger. The long-gestating acquisition of talent agency ICM Partners by its rival CAA closed today. The deal was first announced almost a year ago but was delayed by Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission scrutiny. The deal leaves three major agencies dominating the field—CAA, WME and UTA.
The Animation Guild (TAG) is on a roll. The union very recently announced a settlement with the AMPTP, the studios’ bargaining representative, on a new blanket contract, up for a ratification vote in late June. This closely followed successful drives to unionize new job classifications on the shows Solar Opposites and Rick and Morty. Titmouse, Inc. also voluntarily agreed to
After coming perilously close to its first strike since 1945, the below-the-line union IATSE ratified an accord with producers in November, 2021. The new Basic and Videotape Agreements covered most, but not all of the locals under the IA umbrella.
One of the locals that was not included is The Animation Guild, Local 839 (TAG), which negotiates separately from the
For many years, the Golden Globes were the kickoff awards event of each awards show season. With its relaxed party atmosphere and awards only in high-profile categories, the Globes were an audience favorite and a fixture on NBC. The Globes retained this perch despite persistent questions regarding the selection of winners.
The Golden Globes are awarded by the Hollywood Foreign