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  • All Blogs/ Entertainment Industry Insights: Jun. 28 2022

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New Projects - Roe Fallout - Broadway: Masks Optional - Daytime Emmys - Production Abroad

By Abigail Hardin, June 28, 2022

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Happy Tuesday, UTD!

I'm not going to lie, last week was a rough one. The condemnable ruling of the supreme court to take away women's access to life-saving healthcare greatly affected me, as I know it did many other people. As a new mother of a 13-month-old, I am all too aware of how tenuous, personal, and uncertain the entire process can be of family planning, pregnancy, birth, and the numerous unexpected health and safety circumstances that arise. My heart breaks for all women and all people in this country, that we must live in a world where human rights are not equal and universal. We all deserve more.

I doubled down on work on Friday and over the weekend, it was all I could do to distract myself. We at the Up-To-Date Actor will always stand in support of ALL people. It is our mission to inspire, motivate and evolve creativity in all whom we meet and work with. In so doing, our ideal is to awaken artists of all ages to their unique talents and abilities, to achieve their highest potential, and ultimately become co-creators with Divine Creativity. Through all of our services, our goal is to demystify the entertainment business and provide performers with empowering tools to transform their careers. To that end, Up-To-Date Theatricals is committed to helping our creative community evolve social consciousness through uplifting storytelling; storytelling with all its colorful diversity that inspires us to laugh at our humanity, while at the same time imaginatively showing us how we can and need to create a world where everyone can be spotlighted center stage and valued for their unique talent.

Please read more below on how our industry has responded to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade and what you can do to support those in the states most affected.

Be the light you want to see in the world. Be bold in your authenticity. And always, act with kindness. πŸ™

Create a great week!

Roe vs. Wade Fallout

The freedom of women across America to access quality, life-saving, healthcare was dealt a crushing blow last week with the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court case that granted federal abortion rights to citizens across the country. In a 6-3 decision, the court rolled back the access that had served as the long-standing precedent within the US, causing many state legislatures to revive their dormant "trigger law" meant to restrict abortions on the state level, in the event that Roe vs. Wade was overturned.

Reactions to this egregious attack on reproductive rights were swift and far-reaching. "This is a national health crisis," former president of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards said. She called upon members of the entertainment industry with large followings to step up to the mic and make statements of their own: "Whatever people who have a platform and an audience can say about how important this right was for them will be important to getting people to understand how much we have to fight for it for other people."

Around our industry, scores of individuals shared their support of women's rights and how the Court's decision may affect them moving forward. SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, the DGA, PGA, and more all released statements regarding the ruling, with SAG-AFTRA saying that the reversal "empowers states to enact draconian restrictions on healthcare choice and destroy lives." In response to the ruling, Google released a memo on Friday afternoon announcing that employees would be allowed to relocate out of states that no longer carry abortion services "without justification," allowing workers to move homes, if necessary, to states where abortion is still legal.

Many have also turned their attention to productions based in hub states like Georgia, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, with the latter two already banning abortion almost completely. Specifically for Georgia, which offers one of the most comprehensive tax-incentive programs in the country, all eyes are on studios that originally spoke out against the 2019 heartbeat bill, which is expected to go into law with the erasure of Roe from the books. Will they stay or will they go? Time will tell.

On an individual level, executive producers for Hulu's THE HANDMAID'S TALE spoke to how many have been feeling in the last few years with regards to the parallels between the show and reality, calling the series "hauntingly relevant," at a time when they wish they could say the opposite. BroadwayWorld is currently running an updating list of resources for ways to help on a person-to-person basis - please check out their links, and familiarize yourself with the next steps in this hard fought campaign.

Pride Month Wrapping Up

NYC held its Pride Weekend over the last few days, bringing a vibrant close to this year's Pride Month across the country that featured hundreds of live events, parades, and outreach events centered around LGBTQIA+ education and empowerment. Playbill launched its first Pride parade float on Sunday, showcasing the iconic Pride month rainbow Playbills and featuring stars from Broadway shows like SIX, A STRANGE LOOP, and MOULIN ROUGE!

On Sunday evening, MSNBC ran its Pride Month special PRIDE OF STAGE AND SCREEN, featuring interviews with queer members of the entertainment community like Harvey Fierstein and Michael R. Jackson. Fierstein spoke candidly about the struggles that the LGBTQIA+ community still faces in 2022, calling the fight against continued bigotry "the next war". You can check out a snippet of Fierstein's interview here πŸ“Ί

Looking for a new series to start this week? Check out IndieWire's list of the 10 Best LGBTQ+ Shows of the 21st Century!

Industry Intel: Daytime Emmys, Tyler Perry Supports Apollo Theater

The Daytime Emmys crowned its winners last week at the 49th annual ceremony held at Pasadena Civic Center in California, with mainstay GENERAL HOSPITAL taking home five awards including Best Daytime Drama. THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW held its claim as Best Entertainment Talk Show and YOUNG AND RESTLESS star Mishael Morgan made history as the first Black actress to win in the lead actress category. Check out the full list here! πŸ†

With the Primetime Emmys only a few months away, a handful of storied TV directors are still looking to pick up their first wins, this year for episodes of Emmy mainstays like SUCCESSION and TED LASSO. Fingers crossed they finally receive the recognition they deserve!

ABC's HOME ECONOMICS creators John Aboud and Michael Colton have signed a scripted TV deal with Lionsgate, in the hopes of extending the success the group has found with ECONOMICS to future projects in the years ahead.

Jerry Bruckheimer Television has found its newest CEO in KristieAnne Reed, who is currently serving as company president. Reed has been with the company for 25 years, during which time she has overseen the development of series like CSI, COLD CASE, and the upcoming NATIONAL TREASURE TV adaptation.

During his acceptance speech for the Apollo Theater's 2022 Impact Award, Tyler Perry announced that he will be donating $500,000 to the historic venue, stating that he felt compelled to donate a portion of the money he has made with his Georgia-based studio, a once-Confederate stronghold in the South, to "redirect", "rechange" and "honor the history of what has been."

TikTok rival YouTube Shorts has reported monthly viewership of 1.5 billion users this year, putting it on par with projected numbers for TikTok in 2022. I'll be honest - this is the first time I've ever heard of Shorts.... but I'm glad someone (1.5 billion, to be exact) is enjoying them! πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ

Production in the UK: Scotland Films Booming, English Theatrical Feat Still Running

Scotland has become the latest global destination to enjoy hefty returns on its productions in recent years, with the country's film agency reporting that the industry contributed nearly $700 million to the economy in 2019, which officials are hoping to double by 2030. One of the country's biggest customers has been Amazon Prime, which has set up shop for its GOOD OMENS and ANANSI BOYS for several years, and joins the likes of OUTLANDER and recent Bond movie NO TIME TO DIE as the impetus for the Scots' booming film landscape. Excited to see what's next for the bustling hub up north 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Further south in the UK, The Crucible Theater has taken on a formidable, if not relatively daunting production challenge: the company is currently presenting ROCK/PAPER/SCISSORS, three different shows at three different venues, but running at the same time, using the same cast. You might want to read that one again πŸ˜… actors can be seen running through Tudor Square to get to the various performance locations, which are manned by separate technical teams and nine stage managers. The show must go on... and on... and on!

Broadway Updates: Masks Optional in July, Shows Closing This Summer

Officials at The Broadway League announced last week that masks would become optional for audience members attending shows starting July 1st, garnering a mixed bag of responses from industry professionals. Actors Equity was quick to inform members that it was not consulted by the League prior to the announcement, going on to state the union officials will continue to work with theaters to ensure proper, up-to-date ventilation in all Broadway theatres moving forward. League president Charlotte St. Martin later responded to AEA's statement, saying the decision was "entirely consistent with [their] fully negotiated safety protocols."

New York City Center set its 2022-2023 Encores! schedule last week, with plans to mount new productions of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, OLIVER! and DEAR WORLD in the coming year. With the recent production of INTO THE WOODS set for a Broadway transfer this fall, Encores! officials are excited for what may be in store for this latest round of programming. Hooray for more theatre! 🎭

Riding high on their Tony Award win for Best Musical, playwright Michael R. Jackson and producer Barbara Whitman spoke with reporters about the important precedent that newcomer A STRANGE LOOP has set for Broadway shows moving forward. "Even when I felt my most alone. I was always fearless about art," Jackson said. "So what I'm hoping is that people seeing the show β€” young artists and writers and actors, everybody who's in musical theater β€” maybe they'll feel a little less afraid to be weird and to step out and to try something different."

The latest West End transfer set to hit Broadway this season will be Suzie Miller's Prima Facie, starring KILLING EVE's Jodie Comer. The show, which follows a young barrister navigating the influence of the patriarchy in the world of law, received its debut in 2019 in Sydney, Australia, before opening in London in late April this year. Get your tickets for the limited engagement now! 🎟

And of course - let's hear it for the latest round of Broadway shows set to close in the next few weeks and months. PLAZA SUITE, Daniel Craig's turn in the Scottish play, POTUS, and more - we'll miss you!

Up-and-Coming Creatives: Native American Writers Lab, NBCUniversal Stepping Up

Are you a writer/creative looking to get your work out there, and potentially reviewed and developed by some of the best writing professionals in the industry? There are a handful of exciting opportunities for up-and-coming voices to get eyes on their work in the coming year - check out these exciting programs and keep them on your radar:

The fifth Native American Feature Film Writers Lab is accepting submissions from prospective Native American writers looking to further develop their work in a 10-week online program, sponsored by NBCUniversal Comcast, A+E Networks, and Cherokee Nation Film Office. As of 2020, Native American talent accounted for just 0.8% of all screenwriters in Hollywood, a number that the program hopes will grow as the Writers Lab continues to develop in the coming years.

NBCUniversal also debuted an extension of its Universal Writers Program with the introduction of the Universal Writers Lab. The new program will provide recipients with real-world studio experience, along with behind-the-scenes knowledge of productions' inner workings, all while developing their work with other writers in the program. "Writers are the lifeblood of the film industry," writer/producer Krysty Wilson-Cairns said. "I'm so glad to see first-hand that Universal is nurturing talent at every level."

A big congratulations to the winners of the 2022 UCLA Feature Screenplay, Television Pilot, and Acting for the Camera Pitch competitions, after completing their year-long training programs for Screenwriting, Television, and Acting for the Camera with UCLA: Amanda Rivera, Colin Moore, Turi Haim, and Garret McKay. The next generation is on the way! πŸš€

And a story in defense of good old-fashioned stick-to-it-iveness: THE UNDECLARED WAR star Hannah Khalique-Brown told Deadline that before she made it big in the upcoming UK series, she would email 180 casting directors and agents "three times a year, for two years," and never heard anything back. "I can understand why nobody got back to me because they probably didn't even see it in their inbox," Khalique-Brown said. "If you didn't have a headshot or showreel attached, they have nothing to go on." If only she had the information in The Up-To-Date Actor's new Resources Section to help her navigate the industry πŸ˜‰

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

LIGHTYEAR star Chris Evans is speaking out against the most recent round of homophobia surrounding the latest Pixar film, after calls to have a same-sex kiss cut continued to grow internationally. "The truth is those people are idiots," Evans told Reuters, as several countries in the Middle East have opted to ban the film from being shown due to the kiss. "There's always going to be people who are afraid and unaware and trying to hold on to what was before," Evans continued. "But those people die off like dinosaurs. I think the goal is to pay them no mind, march forward and embrace the growth that makes us human."

Actress, writer, director, and producer Issa Rae spoke candidly about the need for diversity across all parts of the production landscape, saying that she's tired of the "lip service" in changes on sets that never come to fruition. Rae remarked that her productions are always at least 60% diverse, saying that she will gladly say no to a job with an all-white crew, in the hopes that further conversations are had among the team about why the project is lacking diversity, and how they can make the necessary changes to become more inclusive.

Ryan Renolds has partnered with Deloitte to create a new nonprofit aimed at supporting creatives from underrepresented communities looking to build their careers in design, marketing/advertising, and commercial production. The Creative Ladder will provide a six-month virtual training curriculum in leadership in the aforementioned fields, with the goal of diversifying the industry behind the camera. "I love making ads and want to help make sure talent of all backgrounds have the access and information they need to succeed," Reynolds said in a statement.

Actors on Acting: Viola Davis, Martin Short, Natalie Portman, and More

As always, we encourage you to take a look at some of these insider tales from actors on how they prepare for their roles, as well as some of the wacky things they encourage while on set or on stage. Our industry is a wild one!

Let's start off strong: Viola Davis and Samuel L. Jackson sat down with Variety to discuss their processes for THE FIRST LADY and THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GRAY. One masterclass class news article, coming right up πŸ’«

On the comedy front, Jean Smart and Martin Short discussed their roles in HACKS and ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. You want laughs? You got 'em πŸ‘

We are living in an age of true crime series and documentaries, and honestly, I'm pretty here for it. Jared Leto and Amanda Seyfriend each took their turn at a life of crime in WECRASHED and THE DROPOUT - check out what they thought of portraying white collar criminal on the big screen πŸ”¬

The world has been loving Austin Butler as ELVIS - but it took a lot of work to make The King come to life onscreen. Butler spoke about chatting with Leonardo DiCaprio about working with director Baz Luhrmann, and some tactics to handling the filmmaker's love of keeping actors on their toes πŸ‘€

Marvel workout routines are no joke, and Natalie Portman has become the latest A-lister to undergo the grueling MCU fitness treatment, which consisted of 10 months worth of conditioning and strength training. Listen to trainer Naomi Pendergast's tell-all of Portman's approach to suiting up in THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER.

Miles Teller learned what it was like to work on an action movie with Tom Cruise the hard way. After filming a jet sequence that had him breaking out in hives, Teller's blood tests revealed "flame-retardant, pesticide, and jet fuel" in his blood. Cruz's response? "Yeah, I was born with it, kid." πŸš€

And finally - Christina Ricci discussed her time on the set of BLACK SNAKE MOAN, and how she normalized being naked on camera by: being naked off camera. More power to you, Christina!

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