New Projects Casting - Road to Reopening - Politics & Funding - Anti-Asian Violence Response

By Sean Gregory, March 23, 2021

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Happy Spring, UTD!

Seemingly against all odds, we officially made it through winter 2020/2021, and I couldn't be more excited to usher in a new season this week and a renewed sense of life and growth 🌷 As I'm writing this, the sun is just starting to peek its way through the buildings outside my apartment, and I can't help but think that the changing of the seasons will undoubtedly breathe some fresh air into the tiredness that has set in from our long COVID winter. There is work to be done and we are not out of the woods yet, but something about the last few days has been feeling increasingly hopeful of an exciting return to a new normal sooner than later. May we all manifest some good thoughts about a bright spring and summer this week!

Don't forget to sign up for our next workshop with Actors Connection! We'll be chatting with them about booking your own work with or without an agent, and how to make the most of the resources on UTD Actor to go out for the projects you're right for this year!

Road to Reopening

It comes as no surprise that the spring thaw, and increase in vaccination numbers, has led many in the industry, particularly around Broadway, to continue their push toward reopening in the hopefully-not-too-distant future. The Public Theater made waves last week with its announcement that NYC summer staple SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK would return to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park this July. with a "fresh and joyous adaptation of Shakespeare's MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR."

Audiences returning to the Delcorte's outdoor stadium seating is an encouraging sign for Broadway hopefuls, but the road to reopening on 42nd Street is still months away. Even if houses were given the go-ahead to allow shows to resume tomorrow, the curtains would not go up on performances for several months, as Broadway producer Kevin McCollum remarked of his own projects - "We need to be on sale at least six months before we do our first show." The reality of the Broadway reopening hangs heavy in the minds of most producers these days, considering the wealth of logistical and safety concerns that will factor into getting cast, crew, and audience safely back into theaters. "We're not going to let anyone in this theater, on stage or backstage, if we feel there's any risk of putting them in any peril," McCollum said.

Actors' Equity has agreed to host a town hall in response to members' demands for transparency about the union's reopening plan for theaters and live performances, which has remained something of a gray area for both performers and venues. Over 1,700 AEA members signed the petition requesting a meeting to discuss the March 3rd update to the union's COVID-19 Procedures and Protocols, which many feel are equal parts vague and out of touch with reality for many members. "Many Equity members and many theaters have grown deeply frustrated and increasingly concerned about the lack of practical details in how to return to work," the letter stated.

The Actors Fund doled out more than $19 million in artist relief over the last year, a 71% uptick in distributed aid from 2019 and a sobering reminder of the devastating effect that COVID has had on members of our community. More than 15,000 artists received direct cash assistance from the Fund, with over 40,000 receiving aid of some type in the last year. Chairman of the Actors Fund Board Brian Stokes Mitchell reminded participants at last week's We Will Be Back event in Times Square that while the effects of the pandemic will be felt by most people for about 2 years from beginning to end, "[f]or people in show business and the performing arts, we think it’s probably likely to be closer to five years because shows have to get up and running. So many theaters have closed, regional theaters that just weren’t able to survive." The event also featured appearances from Broadway greats like Chita Rivera, André de Shields, and Matthew Broderick.

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Industry Responds to Anti-Asian Violence

In the aftermath of the Atlanta shooting spree that left eight dead last week, demonstrations across the nation called for an end to anti-Asian violence that has run rampant in the US as a result of racially-charged COVID rhetoric over the last year. KILLING EVE actress Sandra Oh made an appearance at a Stop Asian Hate protest on Saturday in Oakland, CA, thanking those who have supported the Asian-American community in recent days and calling on allies to step up and be part of the necessary change in the country: "I will challenge everyone here, if you see something, will you help me? If you see one of our sisters or brothers in need, will you help us?"

Hollywood has long remained silent about its depictions of members of the Asian community, time and again folding to stereotypical portrayals in TV and films while only recently greenlighting projects that feature authentic storytelling and representation from Asian creators. Comedy in particular has a muddy history of leaning heavily on toxic stereotypes to land a punchline, as Caroline Framke argues: "Whether or not the people cracking wise about Asians realize it, they’re helping to dehumanize an entire population for no reason other than their own instant gratification. And frankly, granting the benefit of the doubt of “whether they realize it or not” is probably far too generous considering the ample evidence of how many do, in fact, realize exactly what they’re doing." It's time for Hollywood to get real about the tiresome and dangerous images they are broadcasting of the Asian community, and begin the clean-up of racism in every corner of today's content.

Exclusivity Deals Challenged, Save Our Stages & NEA Receive Funding Boost

A new bill in the California legislature is seeking to free up exclusivity deals between actors and studios, in keeping with the rapidly-evolving TV landscape. Under the current system, studios can sign actors for up to two years and keep them on hold while they decide whether to move ahead with a series, preventing actors from seeking other work during that time. Bill author San Diego Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez says that change is necessary to keep up with the times: "No worker should ever be bound to an unreasonable contract that holds them back from making decisions about their own livelihood. It’s time we changed the law to reflect a new reality for creators."

The highly-celebrated Save Our Stages program has received a $1.25 billion funding increase from the recently-passed American Rescue Plan, bringing the total available amount up to $16.25 billion. The initiative allows organizations to apply for grants of up to $10 million to pay for rent, mortgage payments, payroll costs, and utilities, with a new provision allowing operators to apply for both SOS grants as well as PPP loans to bridge the gap between payouts. The Small Business Administration is set to open applications for grants through the Save Our Stages program beginning in April.

The National Endowment for the Arts also received some much-needed love from the ARP, with the legislation earmarking $135 million for the organization, another signal of the Biden administration's enthusiasm to prioritize arts funding in the US. Advocates continue to caucus over the idea of a dedicated arts advisor or office of the arts, as Americans for the Arts Action Fund's Nina Ozlu Tunceli believes would "help integrate the arts into a larger federal effort into what is appearing to be a new economy coming out of this pandemic." Proponents of establishing the position have already taken part in elements of Be An #ArtsHero's 100 Days of Art & Activism campaign over the last few months, which most recently teamed up with a group of political cartoonists to comment on the current state of artist relief in the country.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The continued expansion of the Marvel universe has allowed for the excavation of many new storylines, and the premiere of THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER has opened up the opportunity for the show's creators to give the MCU's Black characters an entirely new voice. Showrunner Malcolm Spellman noted that "[w]ith me there and with over half our writing staff being Black and with our Marvel exec in the room being Black," it was important to not shy away from the events of the last 12 months and take the time to acknowledge "Marvel’s two African American heroes on screen together." Spellman also spoke of his inspirations for the series storyline, sharing that comic books like TRUTH served as big influences for where the show is headed from here. MCU SPOILERS IN THE ARTICLE!

A five workshop master class series is currently in development from AMC Networks and the Alliance of Women Directors, aiming to demystify the behind-the-scenes approach to creating a "high octane" thriller and action content. The program will consist of workshops, seminars, and interviews with showrunners, directors, and heads of various departments inside and outside of the AMC family, with the goal of welcoming more female directors into the action space. "Working in both development and production respectively, we are exposed to a wide range of extremely talented women," Erica Robbins and Crystal Holt of AMC said in a joint statement. "Bringing some of these women together in a space to inspire and advise future talent allows them to showcase the knowledge they’ve gained while helping to grow the pool of amazing female directors."

Chuck Lorre's newest comedy UNITED STATES OF AL is receiving backlash after the series' first trailer shows Afghan lead character Awalmir ("AL") portrayed by non-Afghan actor Adhir Kalyan. Twitter was quick to point out the discrepancy in casting and lack of authenticity in storytelling, to which executive producer Reza Aslan responded in a series of tweets: "There are five Afghan characters in the show and four of them are played by Afghans. We saw 100 Afghan leads but sitcom is a specialized genre and it’s very tough to play. But we also have four Afghan writers/producers on the show who’ve done a great job helping Adhir... Because it's my show, I can make sure that it is written and produced by Afghans and Muslims. That it uses the format to reframe the perception that people have of both. That it portrays a Muslim Afghan protagonist in a true and honest light."

Wayne Brady's Quest to Lead with Improv

Legendary WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY star Wayne Brady is looking to translate his decades of improv experience into a new leadership training program to help coach C-suite execs and other organizational heads. "In order to do the 'yes and' of improv you have to actively listen. I don’t block you by saying 'Oh this is better, let's do it this way," Brady said in a recent podcast session with Variety's STRICTLY BUSINESS. The comedian is currently consolidating his plans to establish a consulting group that would teach the tenets of improv in a professional setting, as well as a school aimed at aiding young adults in underprivileged communities to prepare for adulthood. Brady credits his early involvement in the arts for his success throughout his career: "I want to start a school for teenagers to help take them into adulthood - you aren’t prepping them for a life on stage. You’re prepping them for life."

It Was A Drive-By Fruiting!

Not to be outdone by my love for THE LORD OF THE RINGS, I don't think I could go a day without quoting some obscure line from MRS. DOUBTFIRE. And apparently, there's been an R-RATED CUT OF THE FILM THE WHOLE TIME? THE WHOLE TIME?? Director Chris Columbus confirmed that there are three different versions of the film, one of which is a more adult language-laden cut that came about from master of improv Robin Williams' "anywhere from 15 to 22 takes" per scene. "The reality is that there was a deal between Robin and myself, which was, he’ll do one or two, three scripted takes. And then he would say, ‘Then let me play,’ Columbus recalled, noting that he would be open to creating a documentary on the making of the film that introduced some of the R-rated versions of the film's iconic scenes. Forget Zach Snyder's JUSTICE LEAGUE, we want the R-rated MRS. DOUBTFIRE 👵

What to Watch & Read

That's all for this week, UTD Fam! Go out and enjoy some of that warm spring weather, and maybe watch MRS. DOUBTFIRE for the 100th time ☀️ Or is that just me? Bully 🍸

Peace and love ✌️

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