<< All Blogs

New Projects - Pilot Season Workshop - Open Submissions - Industry Intel

By Abigail Hardin, November 22, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving, UTD! 🦃

I hope that you have a wonderful long weekend with family, friends, and lots of good food! We at the Up-To-Date Actor are incredibly thankful that you are a part of our UTD family! Thanksgiving has always been one of my absolute favorite holidays. It is a time to come together, forget about the everyday worries and woes and instead commune with loved ones and reflect upon all that we have to be thankful for.

They say that the first thing to do when you are in a bad mood is to stop, breathe, and find something to be grateful for. Gratitude is something that I have been paying more attention to in general. My goal for this holiday is to hold gratitude at the center of my celebration and I hope that I can hold onto that heightened sense of appreciation well into 2023.

On a UTD note, let's get ready for a busy and prosperous 2023! Sign up for our upcoming free workshop in December. We'll be talking about pilot season, wrapping up 2022, and looking ahead at how we can build the foundation for a great new year!

• December 07, 2022 @ 3:00 PM EST — BOOKING FILM/TV WORK & 2023 PILOT SEASON PREP with Actors Connection

We'll be taking next week off from the weekly Industry Insight Email. But look for us to return in December. Again, thank you for being here and being a part of the Up-To-Date Actor! 💙

Happy Thanksigiving! ☮️

Directors, Actors Share Stories

Thoughts from Jim Jarmusch, Quentin Tarantino

Film titan Jim Jarmusch offered a glimpse into his typically reclusive persona last week at the Marrakech International Film Festival, sharing insights from his 40+ year career in the industry to over 300 event attendees. "I always have a little notebook, or on the phone I can record ideas. I gather little disparate ideas for a film, sometimes for many years," Jarmusch noted of his process, which he said sometimes involves years of writing and note taking before filming even begins. He went on to give some advice that we find pretty familiar here at UTD: "All you have is your own ability to follow what are your priorities... I can control my own self but I can't control anyone else." Set those goals for yourself, cut away the outside noise, and work on goals that get you excited about what's next!

Back in the states, another indie film icon is sharing his gripes on the current state of cinema. Quentin Tarantino, who has never been shy about making his feelings known for today's movie landscape (or anything, really), spoke candidly about the effect that streaming and tightened theatrical releases are having on the art form. While boutique cinemas with lower overhead will continue to "thrive", he believes, the larger viewing house chains will continue to suffer with fewer and fewer long-release movies to keep them afloat. Worth noting that Tarantino does own the small New Beverly theater in LA, which would stand to do well under the filmmaker's assessment... it's anyone's guess where things are headed at this point!

Spielberg's Life Unfolds in FABELMANS

If you haven't seen Steven Spielberg's THE FABELMANS yet, it is undoubtedly a must-watch. A Hollywood love letter meets an exciting story of dreaming up what could be possible in the world of film - we loved it! Some members of the cast chatted with Deadline about how the production came to be, and what it was like working with the legendary filmmaker on his own coming-of-age story.

Actors on Acting

We've read a few articles in the last several months comparing the rise of Timothée Chalamet's career to Leonardo DiCaprio's in the early '90s, and with good reason, both earned Oscar nominations before turning 27 while exploring a blend of dashing and daring roles that have left audiences wanting more. Both have etched their name in the lore of Hollywood for sure, though the cinematic landscape could not be more different between now and the days of TITANIC. One-off box office busters are an increasing rarity, with most chart toppers riding the coattails of recognizable franchise names and reboots. I don't think Timothée will have a hard time getting roles anytime soon, but comparison is the thief of joy all the same!

Our friends at Actors Connection shared the latest installment of their ongoing segment: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – As Applied to Actors. Take some time during the break this week to read through each section; Colleen has done a masterful job outlining how to focus on your work and goal-setting for the year ahead!

Industry Intel

Chapek Out, Iger Back In

Assuredly everyone has seen the headlines (and accompanying memes) over the last few days surrounding the wild shake-up inside Disney: former CEO Bob Iger has replaced Bob Chapek as top dog amid a host of restructuring in the company, to the seeming joy of many who previously worked with Iger during his tenure at the House of Mouse. "I am deeply honored to be asked to again lead this remarkable team, with a clear mission focused on creative excellence to inspire generations through unrivaled, bold storytelling." There will undoubtedly be a host of think-pieces as this one unfolds, so we'll keep you updated as the stories stream in!

New CBS Chief Confident in Future Plans

CBS is holding firm on its belief that linear programming still has a path forward in our increasingly digital/streaming world. Newly installed entertainment president Amy Reisenbach didn't mince words with employees in a memo last week: "BROADCAST IS NOT DEAD." And she brought along the numbers to prove it: "Our Network has 16 of the top 25 entertainment shows and they are killing it on Paramount+ too... Surrender is not in my vocabulary." Honestly, I'm here for it. Regardless of what the future holds, I think there's something to be said for a leader that can spark passion in employees and customers, and we'll be watching how CBS' numbers reflect this charge in the months ahead.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Women of Hollywood Tiring of "Strong Female Lead"

A growing list of women in Hollywood are ready to retire the "strong female lead" moniker, and I can't say I disagree; as much as movies were in need of formidable women leading more stories in the last 20 years, the usefulness of the label may have run its course. "Those roles are written as incredibly stoic, you spend the whole time acting tough and saying tough things," Emily Blunt said in a recent interview on the matter, echoing earlier sentiments from SHE-HULK star Tatiana Maslany, who called the descriptor "just as much of a trope" as the traditional fit-in-a-box roles for women. How about we just write roles for women with all their nuance, depth, and vulnerability and just call it.... a lead role? 🤷‍♀️

LaChanze to Lead BTU

LaChanze will officially serve as the next president of Black Theatre United, succeeding Audra McDonald in the role after an exciting year that saw the organization helping to rename two Broadway theaters in honor of Black theatre artists (Playbill even created this handy-dandy guide to the new Broadway theater landscape!) "We are proud of the legacy that we are building, and we are grateful for your support as we continue to do the important work to preserve our history and ensure the legacy of Black theatre as American culture," members of the BTU Executive Committee said in a statement. Here's to another year of growth and progress!

DGA, Actors' Equity Mobilize Ahead of New Contract Talks

COVID has made our industry re-affirm the importance of understudies and swings in productions across the globe, and a group of Actors' Equity members spoke out in Times Square last week to bring attention to the glaring need for more of these positions on Broadway. "When theaters reopened again, what was being asked of performers and stage managers and understudies was out of control," Tony nominee Judy Kuhn said. "People love to write about the heroics of people being thrown on to a role that they've never rehearsed or officially understudied. That's a nice story, but that shouldn't be happening. The pressure on actors to go on no matter what is really inhumane."

DGA officials are gearing up for a potentially tumultuous round of negotiations with the AMPTP, in anticipation of the guild's agreement expiring next June. "The industry has changed and the pace of that change has accelerated significantly since we concluded our last agreements in March 2020," DGA officials told members last week. "Our industry and the entire country are challenged by inflation, economic headwinds, and a possible recession, and the Employers are focused on their bottom lines. This will not be an ordinary negotiation." Curious to see what happens!

Open Submissions

Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiatives are officially accepting applicants for the program's third year, which focuses on empowering up-and-coming Black screenwriters with the tools to succeed and move to the next level in their careers. Submissions are being accepted through December 18th!

SDC Foundation is looking to fill out their Cycle 1 round of the 2022-2023 Professional Development Program Season, aimed at providing resources and guidance for choreographers and directors in the early stages of their careers. Opportunities with Susan Stroman, Thomas Kail, and more are featured in this year's program - applications are due December 5th!

UK Study Program Kicks Off

Ever wondered what it might be like to study in the UK? A new program from West End and Broadway star Ruthie Henshall will offer participants a three-year training course on all things theatre starting fall 2023. CAST plans to accept 25 students each year, and will emphasize the importance of public performance throughout the program, in addition to the typical course load of acting technique, dance, vocal training and more 🇬🇧

Broadway Museum Opens

Has anyone been to the Museum of Broadway in NYC yet? The pictures from inside the multi-level unveiling have us so excited to see everything on display. Spanning the industry from the 1700s to current day, the Museum is an Artist's Date waiting to happen. Let us know how you like it!