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New Projects Casting - Setting Goals - Renweals & Cancelations - Theatre is Back - HFPA

By Abigail Hardin, May 11, 2021

Eye654

As more and more of the country issues plans and actual dates for reopening, it really feels like a new Spring beginning. This past week, Broadway shows began a slew of announcements with new opening dates for Fall and Winter of this year. In the TV world, Upfronts are in full swing with pilot orders and cancels coming in daily. For film, while reports on revenue are naturally down there seems to be a steady consensus that people do indeed want to return to the cineplex. All in all, it feels like reopening is actually happening and we are finally turning the corner. So, a gentle reminder to continue making smart decisions, socially distance, wear a mask when in a crowd, and get the vaccine as it becomes available to you. We are almost there!

What about you? Are you feeling the wave of renewed energy? If not, I encourage you to write down three small but doable actions that you can take right now. Some suggestions:

  • Get focused! Define your main area of interest for the next 6 months (Commercials, Film/TV, Theatre, etc).
  • Set an attainable goal for your area focus (getting representation, booking a co-star, number of auditions a month, etc.)
  • Review your marketing materials (resume, headshot, reels, cover letters), do they support your area of focus? Do they need to be revamped to align with your goals?
  • Do your research! Set aside time each week to do your homework.
    • Research specific agents who represent your area of interest and are seeking new talent. Add them to your targets on The The Up-To-Date Actor so you will be notified of upcoming networking events.
    • Target 10 TV Shows, filming in your area, that are currently casting or TBA.
    • Target 10 plays or musicals that you are a perfect fit for. Look at what Regional Theatres have an upcoming production - add those companies to your targets as well

Now is the time to create new, improved, habits and take bold specific action. You not only will feel a shift in your day-to-day energy but you will also see your career advance with a quicker pace.

Let's get moving! 💃

Pilots & Upfronts

As we mentioned last week, Upfronts and NewFronts have started. This is when the networks and ad-supported streaming services present their new line-up of filmed content to advertisers. Ad companies then decide for which shows they would like to buy commercial spots. I don't know why, but it still shocks me (even though it shouldn't) that the deciding factor on what content we see is up to a bunch of "Mad Men" (and women). It just reinforces the notion that everything we absorb and engage with has been commercially vetted and backed. But I digress... 

Deadline has great coverage on renewals and cancellations by network. Also, check out more in-depth coverage on FOX, CBS, and NBC.

Show Me the Money!
Film

This should come as no shocker, Cinemark, the nation’s third-largest movie chain, said revenues for the first quarter ended in March fell to $114 million from $543 million the year before. "We are now actively on the road to recovery," said CEO Mark Zoradi, echoing comments by AMC CEO Adam Aron at AMC Entertainment Thursday and Marcus Theatres chief executive the year before. "We are highly optimistic about theatrical exhibition’s resurgence in the U.S. over the coming months on account of… the rapid pace of the vaccine rollout, improving consumer sentiment about returning to movie theaters, recent box office successes, and confirmation of consistent product supply. On a global basis, we remain confident that, like the U.S., other countries will quickly recover as lockdowns reign in the virus and vaccines are more widely disseminated."

Last week, Bain Capital Real Estate submitted plans with the city of Los Angeles to invest $450 million to develop a five-acre studio site on Santa Monica Boulevard. The entitlement process can take a year or more and the group is hoping to start development in February 2023. The site is an old Sears building and parking lot, not too far from Paramount Studios. The new urban campus called Echelon Studios will feature four 19,000-square-foot sound stages, a 15,000-square-foot flex stage, and a 90,000-square-foot "creative village" of high-end bungalows. It’s the latest in a stream of announcements from various developers for new or expanded studio space as the proliferation of streamers boosted demand for content and places to make it.

TV

AMC Networks said first quarter profit rose even as it navigated declines in revenue and operating income in the midst of a challenging environment. Like many other media companies, AMC Networks placed emphasis on its efforts to lure consumers who are migrating to streaming video. AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan said the company is on track to reach at least 9 million streaming subscribers by the end of 2021. The company has worked to bring its content to new viewing windows, including niche streaming services and new broadband outlets created for viewers of connected TVs.

Speaking of the ongoing streaming wars, Paramount+ will add 1,000 new movies to the fledgling streaming service next month. Additionally, the service will get an average of one original movie per month beginning in 2022, all part of increased investments ViacomCBS is making in streaming, the company’s executives revealed during their Q1 earnings call Thursday morning. "They're real movies, they’re not deep library," CEO Bob Bakish said of the 1,000-movie drop. Those additions, along with some more titles to be added in July, will bring the total number of films available on the platform to 2,500.

HFPA

They just can't seem to get it right...

Last week, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) members voted to approve it's board's plans to "radically" change the organization. This comes after weeks of continued scrutiny over the lack of diversity in the Golden Globes organization. "Today's overwhelming vote to reform the Association reaffirms our commitment to change," HFPA president Ali Sar said in a statement. Sadly, others don't seem to agree.

NBC and Dick Clark Productions may be on board with these latest attempts at reform and inclusion, but Time’s Up and Tinseltown’s top PR gurus are clearly not drinking the Kool-Aid. "What we have seen from the HFPA falls far short of what is required to transform the organization," the advocacy group said. "Our community of vibrant creatives across all racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds deserve better." In the wake of Time's Up statements, more than 100 global PR firms reiterated their concerns about the state of the HFPA, spotlighting a timeline that they see destined to fail. Such an outcome could see the 2022 Golden Globes at least paused, if not axed, the publicists note.

The dominos continued to fall as Netflix announced they are stopping all activities with the HFPA until "more meaningful changes are made." “Like many in our industry, we’ve been waiting for today’s announcement in the hope that you would acknowledge the breadth of issues facing the HFPA and provide a clear roadmap for change," the streamer’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote in a letter Thursday to the HFPA’s Leadership Committee. "However, we don’t believe these proposed new policies — particularly around the size and speed of membership growth — will tackle the HFPA’s systemic diversity and inclusion challenges, or the lack of clear standards for how your members should operate." HFPA President Ali Sar has stated, in response, that he wants to meet with Sarandos to "clarify some misinformation." "We would love to meet with you and your team so we can review the very specific actions that are already in the works," Sar wrote. "An open dialogue would help to ensure that we are addressing these concerns as quickly as possible."

UPDATE: NBC has announced they are canceling their broadcast of the 2022 Golden Globes. "Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023."

More Articles:

The Sun Will Come Out, Tomorrow! 🌅
Theatre

Broadway is turning on the lights! Each day more and more Broadway shows are announcing their new opening dates. Here is a great list of Broadway shows that recently announced new dates. Many of the shows returning are actively casting replacements. Make sure to add any of these shows to your targets on The Up-To-Date Actor so that you can be notified of audition and networking opportunities!

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a $25 million arts and culture revitalization program, City Artist Corps, which will employ over 1,500 artists by putting them back to work throughout New York City with live performances, pop-up concerts, public art installations, and more. De Blasio said on May 6th that the City Artist Corps is inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt's Federal Art Project, a part of the Works Progress Administration that came out of the New Deal to revitalize the economy after the Great Depression. "We want to put artists back to work, so they can go out in every community in NYC and engage New Yorkers in fun and enriching experiences this summer," said Gonzalo Casals, the city’s cultural affairs commissioner, during a press conference. In addition to providing an economic boost to the city, Casals said "it's also the presence of arts and culture in our community that makes for safer, healthier, and more cohesive communities."

Film

Quentin Tarantino's Los Angeles Revival house, New Beverly Cinema, has set a reopening date of June 1st per its Twitter account. No further details were provided about the cinema’s upcoming schedule.

COVID-19 Impact

A new survey conducted by The Actors Fund sheds more light on COVID-19’s impact on the entertainment industry. The organization surveyed 7,163 people who sought its assistance during the pandemic. The results were announced Thursday morning. From people who were surveyed, 76% reported a loss of income, 62% lost party-time or gig employment, 50% lost full-time jobs in entertainment and 22% said they do not know when they will return to work. The study found that BIPOC respondents, about a third of those surveyed, were likely to experience food insecurity, housing changes, increased debt, and changed utility usage as compared to white respondents.

Opportunities

Arts outreach organization Off The Lane has established The Ann Reinking Scholarship, taking a cue from the late Broadway performer and choreographer's own life story and offering a $5,000 grant to a young dancer moving to New York City to help with their artistic endeavors. Applications for the scholarship are currently being accepted through June 30.

SIX the Musical's Adrianna Hicks will join the BroadwayWorld Stage Door masterclass lineup in June, as well as FROZEN's Patti Murin for an all new set of classes next month. Patti's class will take place on June 6th and Adrianna's on June 13th, both at Noon ET. A limited number of just 10 performance spots are available for each class to ensure each participant receives individual attention and has the opportunity to try out any feedback. Observation spots for each class are also available for just $25 each to audit the class. Observers won't be able to participate in the class but are able to watch the entire duration.

Fresh Faces

The Drama League has announced the recipients of the 2021–2022 Drama League Directing Fellowship and Residencies. Part of the League's Directors Project, will give each recipient financial and career development support, skill-honing workshops, and production opportunities at theatres across the country. As we often encourage you to do with playwrights, put these directors on your radar. It's always a good idea to get introduce yourself to tomorrow's stars!

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