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  • All Blogs/ Entertainment Industry Insights: May. 25 2021 | Up-To-Date Actor

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A New Addition! - Pilots, UpFronts, & TV Schedules - Reopening - Diversity/Inclusion

By Sean Gregory, May 25, 2021

Eye910

What an exciting week it's been across the industry and in UTD land. Lots of regional theatres announcing auditions for their upcoming seasons, Broadway shows revealing return dates, and... a new baby!

👶 Abi and her husband Josh welcomed their newest addition, baby Jacob, to the UTD Family on Wednesday morning. Congrats to Abi, Josh, and family, on an exciting new chapter! 🎊

Plenty of buzz across the entertainment landscape this week as COVID vaccination rates continue to rise and the industry rebounds at an exciting pace. Let's get to it!

Peace & Love ✌️

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The people have spoken, and the results are clear: authentic representation is an absolute must for any on-screen project moving forward, according to the latest data from a joint study between Starz and UCLA's Center for Scholars & Storytellers. "Give The People What They Want: US Audiences and Their Appetite for Multicultural Media Content," found that 60.4% of respondents 18 to 54 are the top two factors compelling them to watch new content, with 49.1% saying they prioritize having female creative teams as well. Diversity now, please!

A new virtual event is set to kick off TV programming during Pride Month by connecting viewers with some of their favorite queer content and creators. OutFronts, hosted by Outfest June 4-8th, will feature free panel interviews and discussions from shows like RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE, IT'S A SIN and THE L WORD: GENERATION Q. "Remember when it wasn’t too long ago that the only place to go for cutting-edge queer stories and content would be in cinema and independent films," Damien S. Navarro, executive director of Outfest said. "[W]e recognized that fans should have the opportunity to come together and celebrate these stories as well as our filmmakers, alumni, and industry partners."

Even with Hollywood riding the coattails of the industry's push for diversity over the last few years, it's no secret that there is still a long road ahead and much work to be done. Salma Hayek recently shared that she was passed over for two separate comedies in the last few years solely because of being a Mexican actress, saying that the directors told her that while she was the best audition for each part, "they knew the studios wouldn’t have gone for a Mexican as the lead." Hayek still added that she believed her recognition from the directors that it was a heavily biased system and that she should have landed the parts made her hopeful that "maybe the next generation or the next girl that comes in was going to get a better shot because of it."

Sounds like there's more than a few individuals working in Hollywood that still need a wake-up call for their ridiculous behavior in this day and age. Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins, in his latest project THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, also filmed a 52-minute side-car during the production process meant to shine light on developing a movie from a Black filmmaker's point of view. THE GAZE functions as a response to the oft-studied "white gaze," particularly in media, through which Jenkins sought to eliminate the recurring line of questions that he receives from journalists when discussing his films.

Broadway Advocacy Coalition has continued its busy year with the creation of Reimagining Equitable Productions, which will seek to address concerns surrounding equity and safety brought about during the past year of reflection and investigation into Broadway working conditions. "REP is a process that recognizes that change happens in little moments, in developing trusting relationships, and in acknowledging that making lasting change is as necessary as it is challenging," REP creator Leia Squillace said. After their successful partnership with Columbia Law School, BAC plans to use REP as an intervention tool for productions - starting with COMPANY and TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL - to analyze imbalances of power within the companies and create equity-driven solutions for their members.

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Industry Intel

The Cannes Film Festival has announced the protocols for their upcoming in-person event this July, outlining their mandatory mask guidelines, reorganizing lines for viewings, and a 24/7 medical station for attendees. While travel still remains strict within the European Union, festival organizers hope to entice enough participants for the film festival into dealing with the high levels of French COVID protocols that remain in place for foreigners entering the country.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is slowly but surely trying to make good on its promise of a more transparent and inclusive operating strategy this year with the release of an updated Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct, detailing the organization's "commitment to diversity and inclusion." While it seems that the HFPA may be headed for the door any way you slice it, time will tell if their updated list of policies - said to be mandatory for all of its members effective immediately - will make good on their founding motto: "Unity Without Discrimination of Religion or Race."

Move over PGA, there's a new kid in Hollywood: The Producers Union officially launched their site last Thursday, codifying its membership of over 300 indie film producers looking to unionize and establish a new era of protection for themselves during productions. "After decades of working without basic protections, low and/or inconsistent wages, no employer healthcare contributions, and an industry insistence that they should work for free to demonstrate their commitment, film producers are taking a stand," the group's creators wrote in a statement. The Producers Union will differ from the Producers Guild of America in that the PGA is a trade group, whereas the Union will stand for its members in collective bargaining agreements and actively advocate for better conditions on projects.

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There Has Been A Reopening

The newest iteration of New York's capacity restrictions and mask guidelines has shifted the focus back to the Broadway League's September reopening timeline, which a League rep recently confirmed remains to be the case pending any further developments in their own health and safety protocols. The theater community did receive promising signs of life this week from the Small Business Administration, which confirmed that the first round of funds from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program will begin distribution in the next few days. "I can’t wait to hear the ovation that goes up when that first curtain rises on each one of those shows," Brian Stokes Mitchell, chair of the Actors Fund, said at an event in Times Square last week. "Plan for a long evening, everybody, if you’re going to be in the theatre as well, because I think it’s going to be long and spectacular and full of gratitude and joy and exhalation."

Shuttered or not, Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine is ready to take audience safety and immersive experience to a whole new level with the unveiling of a 25,700 square foot outdoor performance venue that will host the theater's 2021 lineup: SPAMALOT, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE, MYSTIC PIZZA and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. "It's a privilege to be able to bring live theatre back to our local economy, which was hit hard by COVID shutdowns," AD Bradford Kenney said. "We've implemented a comprehensive health and safety policy so that we can employ union actors, designers, musicians, creative teams, and production crews ahead of Broadway's re-opening this Fall."

Movie Theaters Are Ready for Butts in Seats

I think it's safe to say that just about everyone is excited for movie theaters to reopen and the popcorn and soda to start flowing again (me, me, pick me 🍿), and perhaps no one is more excited than the theaters themselves. California's The Big Screen is Back event, which brought together dozens of media and press members for a formal Welcome Back ceremony to moviegoing in the state, proved to be a towering, star-studded event, teasing some of the summer's biggest upcoming flicks like IN THE HEIGHTS, CRUELLA, JUNGLE CRUISE and A QUIET PLACE PART II. Theaters old and new are determined to reopen as quickly and safely as possible, just in time for the typically busy summer slate of blockbusters ahead.

"The pandemic has turned business models upside down," chairman of the National Association of Theatre Owners Ronaldo Rodriguez said. "The return of moviegoing is critical for our studio partners." Lauded director JJ Abrams likened moviegoing to the feeling of a parent ushering a child around for a few hours and noted that the years ahead for a post-pandemic world may just rival those of the Roaring 20s: "There will be a hunger to live again." Oscar-nominated producer Jason Blum probably put our collective love of movie-going best: "[W]hen the lights go down. And that magic happens up there, more than 50 feet tall, with 57 Dolby Atmos speakers plunging me into an ocean of sound ….. there is nothing else like it."

As rose-colored as our movie theater glasses may become in the months ahead, the question still remains: Just how comfortable are people with stepping back into viewing houses across the globe, and what will they be seeing when they get there? With New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announcing that the Tribeca Film Festival would be returning with a "100% vaccinated, full capacity & no masks" closing night ceremony at Radio City Music Hall, critics were quick to question the safety of such an abrupt end to COVID public health protocols in one of the world's largest cities. In terms of attracting general audience members to the theaters, will the on-screen content live up to the hype of handling steep prices of admission in a room full of strangers? Time will tell, dear reader 🎥

Navigating Upfronts and Content Schedule for 2021-2022

We are right in the thick of Upfront season, and we want to make sure that everyone is getting the most useful information from all the news below. While a lot of it may seem a bit stagnant and not necessarily something that can apply directly to actors' day to day lives, it's always important to understand the inner workings of how the business operates and checking out the transition of what was once a reliably cyclical schedule into a continuous stream of content acquisitions and greenlights (as well as cancellations). Upfront season will most likely always exist in some form or another, but particularly because of COVID and everything that the industry has been through in the past 15 months, it's a safe bet to say that we are going to continue seeing a shift in the traditional upfront, as has been the case this year with most companies choosing to go virtual and meet the challenges of the streaming giants head-on.

Along with UpFront season comes the birdseye view of the major networks upcoming schedule through fall of 2021, meaning there are a TON of opportunities to start tracking the projects that you feel you will be most right for in your market in the coming year. Regardless of where you're based, many established shows are receiving renewals, meaning you have a few summer months to brush up on the worlds of those shows, meet the casting folks responsible for creating those worlds, and position yourself for success once they begin casting again in the fall. Don't forget to target them on the Up-To-Date Actor to stay informed on any changes or upcoming networking events for casting personnel!

I thought it might be best to organize the news based on each network, which will continue into the next section as well. Please take some time to read how each organization is handling its approach to the shows you like, as every network seems to have a slightly different take on upfronts this year. And let me know if you found this helpful, I'd love to hear from people!

ViacomCBS: NCIS, FBI, CSI, THE EQUALIZER, BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA:

WarnerMedia + Discovery:

HBO also announced that they will begin offering an ad-supported tier of their HBO Max platform for $9.99/month, starting the first week of June. The announcement was accompanied by the impending launch of a new segment of Warner-owned TNT and TBS, Front Row, that will feature shows originally meant for HBO Max, including LOVE LIFE, TITANS and the first season of THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

NBCUniversal: LAW & ORDER, FRESH PRINCE Reboot, CHUCKY, Talk/Game Shows & The Olympics:

ABC: THE GOLDBERGS, BIG SKY, BLACK-ISH, WONDER YEARS Reboot:

And just to keep things light, Disney kept up its tradition of roasting ABC (and itself, by extension) via a remote hosting session from Jimmy Kimmel, bringing a bit of levity to what can otherwise be a slog of corporate jargon in May: "Give us your money or we’ll kill Baby Yoda."

ATX (Paramount/AMC) Television Event: KEVIN CAN F*** HIMSELF, THE GOOD FIGHT, CENTRAL PARK, Apple TV+ Titles

Fox: 9-1-1 New Series', THE BIG LEAP, THE RESIDENT, ALTER EGO

Merry Christmas (In June), You Ole' Building and Loan!

I think we deserve to end the email on a great big positive note, don't you? After what seems like an eternity of waiting, The Drama Book Shop in NYC officially has a reopening date 📚 The latest iteration of the New York staple will open at 9 AM on Thursday, June 10th, at its new location at 266 West 39th Street. “For me, The Drama Book Shop has always been the heart and soul of the New York City theatre community,” last-minute DBS savior Lin-Manuel Miranda said. "I sat and read plays there in high school. I discovered incredible artists and new works through staff recommendations. I wrote so many songs from In The Heights in the basement there. I’m excited for the next generation of storytellers and theatre lovers to come in, explore, and be inspired." You can book priority entrance times through the book shop's website to ensure you'll be able to get in on opening day and beyond. Welcome back to the neighborhood, Drama Book Shop!