New Projects Casting - Major Casting Shake Up - New Studios - COVID Mandates & Testing - Strikes
By Abigail Hardin, April 05, 2023
Happy April, UTD!
First let me start by saying, I hope you are safe, happy, and well. It's been a crazy, unpredictable, week. My apologies for the day-late delivery on this week's email. There's a lot to unpack this week so let's dig in.
Annie and I hope to see you at our free workshop with Actors Connection tomorrow! We'll be discussing Cover Letters & Follow-Ups and the power of your words. If you haven't already, click the link below to register.
- April 06, 2023 @ 3:00 PM EST — Cover Letters & Follow-Up Notes to Agents & Casting Directors: The Power in your Words with Actors Connection
Create a great week! ✌ï¸
Major NYC Casting Shake-Up
RWS Entertainment Group announced that Duncan Stewart of Stewart/Whitely will head a new RWS casting arm, ARC. Stewart and several associates are joining the existing team from Binder Casting. Both companies have been dissolved and several others from Stewart/Whitley have opened their own companies. Former co-owner, Benton Whitley has launched Whitley Theatrical with associate Micah Johnson-Levy and Chad Eric Murnane has formed Murnane Casting.
Click the links above to find contact info. Make sure to add these newly formed companies to your targets to stay up-to-date with any and all changes/updates to the companies and their contact info.
Lastly, this is a great opportunity to send a congratulations note! Annie and I will discuss how you can turn news events like this into a great PR opportunity at our workshop tomorrow! We hope you can join us!
News
- Broadway Casting Director Duncan Stewart To Head New RWS Casting Arm
- Broadway Casting Director Benton Whitley to Open Whitley Theatrical
- Casting Director Chad Eric Murnane Launches Murnane Casting
Production
New Studios, Growth, and Incentives
- Los Angeles Remains World Leader In Soundstages, But Other Locales Catching Up
- New Lionsgate Studios Atlanta Rising In Partnership With Great Point
- Thailand Doubles Cash Rebate Cap To $4.4M, Considers Increase To 30%
COVID Mandates & Testing
- Actors Involved In Intimate Scenes Can Request Covid Testing Through July
- Hollywood’s Covid Protocols Get Expiration Date
Union Strikes
WGA Plans for Strike
- WGA Calls For Strike Authorization Vote Next Week
- Writers & Studios Could Hold More Talks Over Next Two Weeks, Eschewing Break, But Strike Authorization Still Expected
- What Is a Mini Room? Writers Guild Contract Negotiation Focus on Them
Actors Equity Nearing Strike on National Tours
- Actors' Equity May Strike Over Broadway Touring Contract
- Actors' Equity Ramps Up Social Media Campaign For #UniteTheRoad
- Actors' Equity Launches Political Action Committee
DGA
Business
- Regal Parent Cineworld Nears Restructuring Plan To Exit Chapter 11
- Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Pay Revealed
- Venice, Netflix, Gotham Team For Film Program At NY’s Paris Theater
TV Programming
- Showtime Releases Development Following Regime & Programming Change
- ABC Renewal Status Report: ‘Station 19’, ‘The Good Doctor’, ‘Rookie’,
- Ofcom to Oversee Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video Following New U.K. Bill
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- GLAAD Media Award Winners: 'A League of Their Own,' 'Bros' and More
- Inevitable Foundation and WME Announce Partnership
- From Drew Barrymore to Jenny Han: Variety's NY Women's Impact Report
- Progress for Women in Hollywood Has Stalled. Can It Get Back on Track?
- Inside the Controversial Carroll High School Cancellation of Marian
Content Changes & Actors on Acting
Film & TV
- Rosie Perez on Making Peace With Spike Lee, Bombing 'Matrix' Audition
- Jennifer Aniston: Comedy Has Changed & Some Now Find ‘Friends’ Offensive
- How Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone†Already Changed Hollywood
- ‘Yellowjackets’ Showrunners on Jason Segel’s Advice to Them
- Brian Cox Mocks His Method Acting Hatred: Just Say the Lines! Act!
Theatre
- David Hare Thinks Musicals are 'Strangling' Traditional Theatre
- Leopoldstadt's Joshua Malina Hopes Audiences Question Their Place in History