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New Projects Casting - Netflix Major Changes - Pilot Season Update - Awards & Festivals

By Abigail Hardin, April 26, 2022

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Happy Tuesday, UTD!

As April wraps up and we look forward to May, Pilot season upfronts are happening (read more on this year's pilot season below), award season is just beginning to wane, and with warmer weather creeping around the corner I often feel disjunct between productiveness and a lack of direction. It's all too easy to get swept up in the feeling of busyness without a good sense of direction.

If you're like me, I encourage you to circle back to the goals that you set in January. What steps have you taken towards your year-end goal in the past four months? Evaluate your progress and look for ways you can improve your process. Maybe you see new steps to achieving your goal. Maybe your initial roadmap needs some tweaking. When in doubt, break it down and get specific! The more research you do and the more specific you can be, the faster you will see a return for your effort.

We at the Up-To-Date Actor are here to help! As you reassess your goals take advantage of our new resources section. This new feature provides tiered access to a wealth of tips and advice for crafting better marketing materials (resumes, cover letters, follow-up notes, etc.).

If you're feeling stuck on how to book more work on your own, check out one of our previously recorded workshops on Booking Film, TV, and Pilot Work and learn how you can target projects now casting and compose a "specific general submission".

Know that where ever you are in your career and your year progress, there is no time better than right now to re-evaluate, reset, and revitalize! ✨

You got this! 🙌

Streaming Updates: Netflix Massive Drop, Competitors On Alert; CNN+ Bows Out

News of Netflix's 200,000 subscriber lost in Q1 of this year sent shockwaves through the streaming landscape last week, as the industry giant remarked that the dip in users will most likely exceed 2 million by the end of Q2. The announcement prompted a staggering $54 billion drop in the streamer's market cap on Wednesday, with stocks dipping down 35% to $226.19 per share, their lowest point since January 2018. Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Reed Hastings pointed to multiple factors for the steep decline, including market oversaturation, choice fatigue, and Netflix's newest hill to fight on: Password sharing.

It's a sentiment shared by AT&T CEO John Stankey, who dealt his own blow with the shuttering of the maligned CNN+, just 32 days after the service launched. Stankey spoke candidly about the company's enforcement of password sharing on its star streaming service HBO Max, noting that they "gave customers enough flexibility but [they] don't want to see rampant abuse" of users sharing accounts and passwords. The botched launch of CNN+ and password pirates aside, AT&T and Warner Bros. Discovery (the fruits of the companies' merger on April 8th) enjoyed a strong Q1, reporting a 3 million subscriber increase from Q4 2021.

So what is the answer for Netflix, in an era of impossible choice and light-speed growth in competitors' digital libraries? Execs are reportedly eyeing up some uncharted territory for the streamer, acknowledging that a tiered, ad-supported plan or plans may be on the horizon, in an effort to lure back customers that have jumped ship for cheaper options. It's a worthy venture to explore: Rampant inflation across the globe has caused millions to reconsider expenses and cut costs wherever they can; recent numbers out of the UK suggest that over half a million viewers dropped their streaming services due to money concerns. March figures from Nielsen also suggested that overall TV viewership trended down slightly from February, but streaming still snapped up its high numbers ever. Sink or swim, Netflix. The time is now 👀

Festivals & Awards

After taking into account the far-reaching COVID cancellations, postponements, and call-outs in this year's Broadway landscape, the Tony Awards have made the decision to push back the eligibility cut-off from April 28th to May 4th, with nominations scheduled to be announced on May 9th rather than May 3rd. "Due to the challenges that Broadway has faced in recent weeks, and in an effort to allow nominators to see Tony eligible shows, we have decided to extend the deadline for eligibility requirements," ATG President and CEO Heather Hitchens and Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin wrote in a joint statement. This year's Tony Awards is still slated to take place on June 12th at Radio City Music Hall

Need a refresher on where the current Broadway awards landscape stand? Check out BroadwayWorld's round-up of timelines for the Tonys, Drama Desk Awards, and more 🏆

Cannes Film Festival officials added three new movies to the event's Competition lineup last week, along with a handful of other entries across the festival's various categories. Two of the three additions to the Competition field are projects helmed by female directors, breaking the record for women-led submissions in the running for the Palme d'Or. Numbers across the festival are also up for female directors, with nearly one in four selections featuring women in the director's chair.

The 35th annual Israel Film Festival will once again offer both in-person and virtual components for viewers this year, announcing last week that anyone interested in taking part in the event's online offerings can purchase tickets starting today. "I'm thrilled that the Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles is fully back for audiences to celebrate and support Israeli movies and their talented filmmakers," founder and executive director Meir Fenigstein said. This year's festival will feature 30 projects from Israeli film and television, including a slew of US and Los Angeles premieres for various selections in the event.

Tribeca Festival also announced its slate of premieres last week ahead of its New York event in June, with offerings from HBO Max, Hulu, ESPN, FX, and more scheduled to fill out the festival's lineup. Along with the event's traditional offerings, Tribeca will also welcome episodic works and audio storytelling selections for attendees to enjoy, rounding out an exciting 12 days of new content for the industry to enjoy.

With just over a month left in the eligibility period for this year's Emmy Awards, it's never too early to get a jump on how this year's field may shape up. Will the newest season of THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL maintain its grip over the Comedy Series categories, or will newcomers like the loveable TED LASSO finally stake their claim and snag the top spot? IndieWire as the breakdown of all things Emmys as we wrap up one of the busiest TV seasons to date 📅

Movie Theaters Enjoying Return to In-Person Viewing

The last few months have been a booming time for theaters, as more moviegoers start filling up viewing houses across the globe for spring picks like THE BATMAN and THE BAD GUYS. Early exit numbers have pointed to more youthful audiences leading this charge, with titles like THE NORTHMAN, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, and BAD GUYS scooping up predominantly young eyes to push their earnings numbers well into eight-digit figures. Some industry analysts credit the lingering threat of COVID for the dip in older viewership, but many believe that word of mouth being spread about titles in the digital age among young moviegoers may signal a shift in studios' approach to advertising in the years ahead.

The recent shellshock of Netflix's drastic decline in subscribers over the last six months came as a sort of call-to-action for movie theater owners, as a deeper dive into the numbers proved that even though streaming is undoubtedly here to stay, viewers are still headed to the theater to catch the next big film. Episodics, limited series, and classic titles remain to be many streamers' bread and butter, and if these numbers prove anything, it's that partnerships with movie theaters for streamers' movie releases will continue to remain a critical step in the film's financial success.

AMC is banking on this robust return to the theaters to be just the beginning of a new age of cinema. The entertainment giant will be adding 3,500 state-of-the-art laser projectors to auditoriums throughout the US over the next four years, upping the ante for rivals like Regal and Alamo to provide equally high-quality viewing for their customers. The move is a part of a larger initiative to convince audiences that theaters continue to be the best place to see the next blockbuster - regardless of how comfy your living room couch might be 🛋 And the numbers are speaking for themselves: Fandango's recent poll of 6,000 moviegoers found that 83% of participants plan to see at least three movies in theaters this summer 😎

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Refocus Project will officially enter its second season of operation through a partnership with Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. Conceived and run by Roundabout Theatre Company, the initiative seeks to support and empower underrepresented voices in the theatre community, first partnering with Black Theatre United to highlight Black playwrights from the 20th century. This year's program will focus on stories from Latinx playwrights, culminating in a reading series at both theater's spaces this summer.

ALL RISE was honored with the 2022 SeeHer Programming Award last week, which highlights work done by "a primetime program that pushes boundaries on changing stereotypes and recognizes the importance of women and girls in media." The show, originally canceled by CBS before being picked up and renewed by Oprah's OWN, featured Simone Missick as Judge Lola Carmichael, a storyline that OWN execs noted "reflect[s] our audience with powerful affirmation."

CBS Studios announced the creation of two initiatives aimed at increasing representation in both films and casting, providing mentorship and monetary support for the selected individuals. The casting fellowship will provide opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds the chance to gain hands-on experience behind the casting table while working alongside casting execs on upcoming projects. Meanwhile, the CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge will make space for 35 up-and-coming creators to showcase their work in short film projects that speak to their missions as artists.

Auli'i Cravalho has had enough of Disney's wishy-washy stance on allyship in the last few months. The MOANA star recently told IndieWire that not only should Disney be apologizing for its botched stance on the Florida Don't Say Gay bill, it should be using its global positioning to support the LGBTQIA+ community. "It's important that they be on the right side of history and listen," Cravalho said. "Instead of trying to play the safe role and take a step back, take a step forward. Step up. Step up and say what's right and what's wrong." It's a sentiment shared by many in the industry in the wake of CEO Bob Chapek's muddled statements on the Florida bill, which continues to be a hot-button topic for viewers and analysts alike.

An exciting award season may lie in store for ABBOTT ELEMENTARY's Quinta Brunson, who is currently staring down nominations for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, Lead Actress in a Comedy and Outstanding Comedy Series in this year's Emmys. If Brunson were indeed to receive nominations in all three categories, she would become the first Black woman to receive three nods for a comedy series. The highly-acclaimed series on ABC has received top marks on Rotten Tomatoes and enjoyed a 300% ratings jump since its pilot aired in December.

Industry Intel: Pilot Season Shifting, PATPA Gaining Support

Los Angeles Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted last week that the entertainment industry accounted for 20% of all COVID cases in the county during last week's briefing on the ever-changing infection landscape in LA. While the news seems daunting on its face, Ferrer reminded officials that this high water mark in numbers for the week can most likely be attributed to the industry's robust screening and testing protocols, which have remained in place as studios across the country push forward through the busy spring season.

As pilot season draws to a close, we're finally receiving a somewhat-reliable picture of what new network content may look like in the years ahead. This season's order totals came in at a paltry low-30's mark, with many studios expressing interest in greenlighting projects outside the traditional January-May window, and everyone eyeing up how their content will slot in with any in-house streaming capabilities available. Upfronts are still ahead in May, but it's already clear that the once-set-in-stone spring programming schedule is in for a rude awakening in the age of streaming 📺

The cancellation and revamp of the Humana Festival of New American Plays continues to be mourned across the industry - American Theatre Magazine took some time to reflect on the event's decades of history, and the opportunities it presented to thousands of artists since its inception in 1976 🎭

Industry advocates continue to push Congress to pass the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA), which would effectively expand the type of deductions that artists can take on unreimbursed business expenses, reversing a portion of the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act that shut out performers from applying these deductions on their tax returns. Actors' Equity Association President Kate Shindle was the latest to speak out in support of the bill: "With a record number of supporters and cosponsors for PATPA, there is no better time for Congress to pass this legislation and restore tax fairness for middle-class arts workers across the country."

The first Summer for the City festival will take place this summer in New York City, sponsored by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The group announced a lineup of more than 1000 artists and 300 events that will rally around the fest's three core principles: Rejoice, Reclaim, Remember. "We all seek a remedy for the upheaval and pain of the past two years," President and CEO of LCPA Henry Timms said. "Art can help provide it: from group singalongs to celebrations of important milestones missed or truncated. We must empower ourselves to let joy back in, together."

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Dissecting the Process: Actors, Writers Weigh In

One of the many tools in an actor's work belt is the ability to inhabit various accents, and Viola Davis recently provided us with a masterclass in doing just that with her portrayal of Michelle Obama in Showtime's THE FIRST LADY. Dialect coach to the stars Joel Goldes sat down with Variety to talk about how Viola's preparation and research were critical in creating her take on the former First Lady, and the challenges of presenting a well-known public figure in a new series.

The New York Times Style Magazine featured two outstanding pieces last week, one from choreographer Raja Feather Kelly, and the other with acclaimed director Ivo van Hove. We all have our processes, and listening to both of theirs was an entertaining and intimate look into two exceptional artists. NYT also wrote a touching tribute to vocal coach Barbara Gustern, highlighting the impact she had on so many lives as both a teacher and a friend. Take some time to read them all this week:

There are few names more synonymous with casting than that of Jay Binder, a titan tasked with creating dozens of Broadway casts over the last few decades, and a sorely missed member of the New York theatre community. American Theatre Magazine remembered his life in a comprehensive look at what made Binder's process blissfully unique and unquestionably special.

If there's one thing that seemingly everyone in the industry has an opinion on, it's Method Acting. WE OWN THIS CITY and WOLF OF WALL STREET star Jon Bernthal is the latest to share his take on the process, noting that he believes actors "absolutely" abuse the core tenents of Method, leading to the stories we hear that give the process a bad name. "I guarantee you that making everybody call you by your character name and not showering for eight months was not what Stanislavski had in mind with the method," Bernthal mused, joining the growing chorus of Hollywood stars speaking out against the modern twist that Method Acting has taken.

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