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DGA Reaches Agreement - WGA Strike Week 5 - A.I. Integration

By Abigail Hardin, June 06, 2023

Happy Pride Month, UTD! 🏳️‍🌈

There is a lot of news to cover this week, with the WGA strike now in week five. On a positive note, the DGA has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP so it looks like a Directors Guild strike has been averted. SAG-AFTRA says this does not change their approach to negotiations with Hollywood producers.

Last week Annie and I hosted a workshop on the WGA strike. We talked about how you can positively use this time to further your acting career. We answered a lot of questions and some of it bears repeating. Here are some tips on how to navigate this WGA strike time.

• As we learned during the Pandemic pause, the entertainment industry never sleeps. Even though numbers are greatly reduced, productions are still shooting and negotiation talks about the Fall season are active.
• Use this golden time to get your marketing tools in top shape so that you are ready for an explosive return to work Fall season.
• Start an agent campaign for new representation. Agents have more time now to interview new talent.
• Do your research and update your targeted list of TV shows for your market. Know what's returning and what new show opportunities are projected for the Fall season. Make sure that you watch episodes in the shows that you are a perfect fit for.
• Meet casting directors from your targeted show list. They also have more time to meet new talent.
• SAG-AFTRA theatrical contract expires June 30. SAG-AFTRA membership has voted to authorize a strike if an acceptable contract is not reached by June 30.  One of the key issues is creating guidelines for self-tape auditions that support actors.

Keep your momentum high during this entertainment redirect.  It's not the time to wait for the strike to be over. It's your time to strike while you have golden time to get ready to take advantage of abundant opportunities.

Keep soaring! 🦋

DGA Reaches Tentative Deal with AMPTP

• Hollywood’s Labor Leaders Issue Joint Statement Of Solidarity With DGA
• Directors Guild of America Reaches Tentative Labor Settlement
• DGA Deal With Hollywood Studios Reaction: “WGA Takes A Stand, DGA Reaps Rewards”
• DGA Deal Hikes Pay, But Streaming Residual Not Tied to Show's Success

SAG-AFTRA Strike Watch

• Indie Film Shutdown Looms as Insurers Grow Wary of SAG Strike Risk
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jean Smart & Bob Balaban Among 18 SAG-AFTRA Members Urging “Yes Vote” On Strike Authorization
• SAG-AFTRA Says Its Bargaining Strategy For New Contract Remains Unchanged In Wake Of New DGA Deal
• SAG-AFTRA Talks to Focus on AI, Streaming and Self-Taping

WGA

Details

• ‘Strike Talk’ Podcast With Billy Ray & Todd Garner: Julie Lynn & Bonnie Curtis
• Showrunners on Strike Discuss How Producing is Writing
• WGA Urges Netflix & Comcast Shareholders To Reject Pay Hikes For Executives
• Netflix Shareholders Reject Executive Pay Packages in Symbolic Move
• Entertainment Community Fund Provides Financial Assistance To 400 Non-Writers
• MPTF Sees Significant Spike In Financial Aid Requests Due To WGA Strike
• WGA Accuses AMPTP Of “Gaslighting” Writers & Lying About Contract Talks
• WGA Rallies With L.A. Unions: 'It's Going to Be a Hot Labor Summer'
• Writers Strike Targets Apple Stores, HQ & Developers Conference With Protests
• WGA Tells Members Why This Strike Won’t Be a Repeat of 2007

Business & Production

• On-Location Filming Of Scripted TV Shows Grinds To Near-Complete Halt In LA
• NY Legislators Hint Tax Incentives May Depend On Deal To End WGA Strike
• Los Angeles Councilmembers Repping Hollywood Issue Resolution Backing WGA Strikers
• The 2023 Upfronts Were a Big Win —- for the WGA
• Verve Plots Layoffs Amidst WGA-AMPTP Strike

Commentary

• Writers Strike: Mrs Davis’ Tara Hernandez On Solidarity, Sillness & The Self
• Writers Strike: Justin Simien on the Staffers Affected by the Shutdown
• James Cromwell Tweets Passionate Message In Support Of WGA Strike
• WGA’s Chris Keyser Issues Defiant Call For Solidarity As Strike Enters 2nd Month
• Michael Cieply: Will The Strike Sideline Hollywood’s Culture Warriors?
• Writers Strike: Julie Plec, Beau Willimon Detail WGA Asks, Negotiations

A.I. Integration

• Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel: AI Will Be A Very Important Development Tool
• Tom Hanks: Will Audiences ‘Care’ About A.I. Acting?
• Anthony McCarten Writers Strike Guest Column: The Dangers Of AI
• Tom Hanks On AI Making It Possible To Appear In Films After Death

Film

Festivals

• Tribeca 2023: Most Anticipated Films Playing at This Year’s Festival
• 2023 Frameline Film Festival Lineup Revealed
• LA’s Dances With Films Reveals Slate For 26th Annual Independent Film Festival

Movie Theatres

• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse + Past Lives = Healthy Box Office
• AMC Theatres Winds Down On Demand Streaming, Sending Users To Fandango’s Vudu But Retaining Stake In Movie Revenue
• Here Comes John Wick 4 on VOD to Threaten Super Mario Bros. at #1

TV Talk

• Media Stocks, Broader Markets Dip On Debt Ceiling Jitters
• ABC Declares Victory Among 18-49 Demo For 2022-23 Broadcast Season
• Why BET Should Become a Community-Owned Network (Opinion)
• Cheryl Strayed and Other Authors Adapting Their Own Books Into TV

Streaming

• Verizon Intros First Netflix, Paramount+ With Showtime Discount Bundle
• Max Has More Discovery+ TV Shows Than HBO Shows
• Channing Tatum On His Fears For The Future Of Streamers: “There Will Be Less Good Storytelling And A Lot More Product”
• Netflix vs. Disney: Who’s the Leader in Streaming Now?
• Wiip CEO Paul Lee on How Streaming Market is Evolving
• Netflix's Next Level: Eyes Growth With Ads, Password Crackdown & More

Theatre News

• New Broadway Studio Tour to Give Theatre Fans Real-Life Behind-the-Scenes Glimpse at How Shows Get Made
• Broadway By the Numbers: Breaking Down the 2022-23 Season
• Broadway's Here Lies Love Plans to Perform Without Live Pit Musicians
• ‘HereLies Love’ Pre-Recorded Tracks Pits Broadway Musicians Against Producers
• NYC on Track to Ban Height and Weight Discrimination, What Does It Mean For Broadway?

Awards: Tonys, ACCA Nominees, Off-Broadway Alliance Awards

• Fat Ham Is Off Broadway Alliance Awards' Best New Play; See the Full List of 2023 Winners
• Actors' Equity Announces ACCA Award Nominees, Recognizing Top Broadway Ensembles
• Tony Awards: WGA Asks Nominated Members Not To Attend Ceremony

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Film & TV

• 'Fire Island' Wins Top Prize at GLAAD Media Awards —Winners List
• Max Celebrates Pride Month with LGBTQ+ Initiatives, Programs and Content
• Eva Longoria: “Women Getting Less Director Jobs Than Two Years Ago”

Theatre

• Tennessee Anti-Drag Law Deemed Unconstitutional
• Tony Nominee Katy Sullivan Says It's Time For More Disability Representation on Broadway
• In Some Like It Hot, J. Harrison Ghee Is Making Waves for Non-Binary Representation on Broadway

Actors on Acting

• Dominique Fishback Fought for 'Swarm' Lead Instead of Supporting Role
• ‘Ghosts’ Star Utkarsh Ambudkar On Roles That Have Defined His Career
• Ryan Gosling Was Told He Had No Natural Leading Man Qualities – But Still Got The Gig
• Jeremy Allen White Had ‘Gross’ Diet for ‘The Iron Claw’ Prep
• Michael Douglas On WGA Strike —Cannes
• Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ Interview
• Florence Pugh: Indie Film World Was ‘Pissed Off’ I Joined Marvel

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