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New Projects - Film Festivals - Tax Incentives - Regional Theatre Reopening - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

By Sean Gregory, June 08, 2021

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We hope everyone has been enjoying the unofficial start to summer the last few days ☀️ NYC has been in full mid-July form this weekend and I'm very much here for it. Watching the life and vibrance of the city returning and people out (safely) enjoying themselves again has been such a treat to watch. I hope you're able to soak up some summer sun this week wherever you are!

Reminder for all of our Actors Launchpad friends: We will be doing our next session with their team next Tuesday, 6/15 on ways to make your casting director submissions stand out! Check out our upcoming events, sign up via each link, and add them to your calendar.

Let's talk news!

Festival Circuit Reloading

Cannes Film Festival still can't seem to get it right when it comes to true representation from female directors. This year's Competition section will only feature four female-led films... not exactly keeping hopes high for the festival's 2018 adoption of the industry 5050x2020 gender parity pledge that would eventually even out the still-overwhelming male-dominated event. Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux seemed hopeful that the numbers in the festival's Un Certain Regard section, which gives a platform to more up-and-coming creators, give more of an indication of where the event is headed, as the field is split evenly between men and women over 16 films.

The Tribeca Film Festival is making this year's festival much more accessible to viewers in the US with the launch of Tribeca at Home, which will allow audiences access to over 100 films and shorts for only $20 per feature, or an all-access pass for $175. Certain groups of films are only available at certain time slots through the festival window, which runs from tomorrow through June 23rd. We definitely recommend checking out some of these new titles and see where the film industry is headed! 🎬

Industry Intel

Coming out of our long COVID hibernation, it's becoming clear that viewers are keeping their expectations high for on-screen diversity in the months and years ahead. A new study from UTA found that 1 in 3 viewers expect content to address social and cultural issues, and 1 in 4 said it's become more important that content educates. Streaming companies can also expect an expanded rivalry landscape in a post-COVID world, with 1 in 3 viewers saying they plan to use/subscribe to more platforms in the coming year.

Staying mentally healthy as an actor when taking on emotionally taxing roles has long been a continued conversation among acting school, coaches, and filmmakers alike. Bringing authentic vulnerability to a project "does have a cost — it doesn’t come for free" Sarah Paulson said of her work on Netflix' RATCHED. "[A]nd some people, I think, are far better at protecting themselves than others." As the focus on mental health continues to develop and expand in the industry, actors like THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD's Thuso Mbedu are committing themselves to being open and honest about how to handle the taxation of mentally demanding roles: "I have since learned to acknowledge any unwelcome thoughts and feelings, address them and let them move on."

Longtime LA casting director Jeffrey Drew is sharing his journey of living with HIV/AIDS in a new documentary short aimed at chronicling his newest bout of an experimental treatment for the illness. RIGHT TO TRY follows Drew's story of living through the height of the epidemic in the 80s and 90s, and his hopes for this latest treatment that, to this point, has kept his viral load count at undetectable and untransmittable levels. "There are people who are still getting infected and sick and dying,' Drew said. "I would love to see a generation that doesn’t have to think or worry about this anymore."

Quentin Tarantino has never been one to mince words, and his most recent podcast interview about the waning of his directing career is no exception. Tarantino has long acknowledged that he has always planned to make a certain number of movies, and given the recent success of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, the eccentric filmmaker is debating when and how to fold up the director's chair. "Most directors have horrible last movies," he mused on the Pure Cinema Podcast, also noting that he's felt that "this is the time for the third act [of his life] to just lean a little bit more into the literary," hinting at a future turn to a writing-focused career.

Paramount Plus has unveiled a second pricing tier of its new service, bringing it more in line with other ad-supporting streaming offerings at $4.99/month. The Paramount Plus Essential Bundle will include live sporting events, but will not offer access to local CBS stations, which will be available exclusively on the company's premium $9.99/month plan.

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Biden Eyeing NEA Increase, Tax Incentives Booming

The National Endowment for the Arts could see a significant funding boost from Congress in the 2022 fiscal year budget, thanks to the support of President Biden. Under his proposal, the NEA could see a 20% increase in funding, bringing the organization's annual budget to just over $200 million, accounting for the largest increase in NEA history. Actors' Equity was quick to praise the President's financial support of the arts, with AEA president Kate Shindle saying that  "recognizing that the arts have not only immeasurable cultural value to the lives of Americans, but a huge financial impact" on the US economy is an incredibly welcomed step forward from the agency's proposed elimination during the previous administration.

Tourism is getting a boost in New York State, with Governor Andrew Cuomo announcing a $40 million initiative that will invest in bringing folks from around the world back to the Empire state, with the first phase specifically targeting tourism in NYC before branching out to the rest of the state in the months ahead. "We want the world to know that New York is back and better than ever," Cuomo said.

Returning to productions means an increase in film permits, and more and more municipalities across the world are putting their hats in the ring to bring projects to their areas with tax incentive programs. California and Oklahoma have steadily been adding to their incentive and rebate programs, with Oklahoma wishing to capitalize on the success of Oscar-nominated MINARI and tee up the next box office success sooner than later. And other parts of the world are following suit. Destination locations like Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are expecting to see a record boom in filming over the next year, which officials are hoping will offset the hit from the dip in tourism numbers during COVID. "We have been thoroughly impressed with the progress and skills we have seen so far and we only see opportunities for the local community growing as we shoot more titles," MSR Media's Philippe Martinez said of the company's time spent training and filming in Nevis and St. Kitts.

Regional Theaters Reopening

In the early days of exploring a safe reopening situation for theaters in the US this spring, Tuacahn Center for the Arts was already hot on the trail of Equity's fluid guidelines, creating a 40-page document that served as a bedrock for returning performers to the stage and viewers to the audience. Their intrepid team is now ready to welcome the theater community back to the stage, all with safety still in mind and "leaving no stone unturned!"

The MUNY in St. Louis announced it will officially be open at full capacity for their summer 2021 season, taking advantage of its nearly 11,000 outdoor seating venue. The season opens on July 26th with SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE and runs through September 5th.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's return to the stage will feature appearances from Telly Leung, Betty Buckley, and more, in a far-reaching hybrid forray that will celebrate past and present O'Neill trainees. "I'm grateful to our visionary artistic directors and hardworking staff, and encourage all those looking for the most inspiring new talents in American theater to join us this summer - online or on-campus," executive director Tiffani Gavin said.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has had about enough of closed theaters in the UK, and is making it known that he may pursue legal action against the British government if they are not allowed to reopen at full capacity starting after June 21st.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Black Theatre Coalition is now accepting applications for a new fellowship program that aims to end racial inequality across 20 offstage industry groups. Each fellow will receive a $50,000 salary over the course of the 12-month program. Applications are being accepted through July 16. Two fellows will be selected for fellowships in each of these categories: writing, composition, directing, choreography, set design, lighting design, costume design, sound design, video design, wig and hair design, stage management, theatre management, musical direction, casting, marketing and advertising, public relations, digital media, and talent representation. Six fellows each will be selected for fellowships in producing and general management, with the latter program lasting 24-months.

Heads of some of the biggest studios in Hollywood are continuing to make good on their 2020 promises to make diversity and representation among their ranks, not just a lofty goal sponsored by statements and lip service, but backed by true action and change. Execs of WarnerMedia's FX wing sat down with UCLA this week to discuss the company's previously "woeful" history of hiring female creatives and those from other underrepresented communities. "I want to see this industry stop paying for ‘diverse’ staff writers because they’re ‘othering’ them when they do that," WarnerMedia senior VP of equity and inclusion Karen Horne said. "The talent is out there (but) what’s not out there is an abundance of opportunity."

And it's becoming more and more clear just how far-reaching the effects of DEI initiatives can be, both for the strength of a network behind the scenes as well as how it affects the content they offer. FX's POSE, which sheds light on the stories of the LGBTQIA+ community of color as it navigated the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 90's NYC, has garnered consistent praise for its fresh perspective on an often-ignored narrative. "[W]e’ve taken the lens — which is always firmly planted on white people, quite frankly — and we just shifted it," POSE showrunner Steven Canals said. "We shifted the lens about 15-degrees and said, 'Hey, there was a whole other group of people who were being deeply impacted by this epidemic in this country because of our government and their lack of a response.'"

For anyone who has not yet seen VENENO on HBO Max, it's absolutely a must-watch. Following the story of Cristina Ortiz Rodríguez, the meteoric trans performer and on-air firecracker that rose to fame in 90's Spain, VENENO offers an incredibly intense, visceral, and beautiful look at a trans perspective, unlike anything I've seen before. And audiences around the world have taken notice, with the series landing a spot on Variety's 15 Best International Series of 2020 list and holding a 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. The show's success has not only opened doors for networks to acknowledge the power of LGBTQIA+ storytelling, but also revitalized previously held beliefs on Spanish-speaking viewership. "[T]he long-held belief that Latino and Spanish language series and TV are only for the Hispanic community has shattered," VENENO showrunner Javier Calvo noted. "We’ve opened up the market, which is only getting larger and more potent, and we are creating great content that the entire world is consuming."

Filmmakers in underrepresented communities are getting a boost from two major industry players this week: Ava DuVernay's newly-minted Array has announced a partnership with Google that will provide a new $500,000 film grant to "up-and-coming creatives from historically underrepresented communities." A new partnership between a handful of media companies and the American Black Film Festival will also provide a new space for premium scripted TV series from Black and brown creatives to develop their works and get them in front of top studios. "We are taking a 360 approach to platform the Black and Brown creators who will produce the next wave of shows audiences truly crave," POV Entertainment president Layne Eskridge said.

Male characters are having a renaissance of sorts in 2021, as many showrunners endeavor to turn the tide of the traditionally white, strong, silent-type that has dominated screens since the beginning days of film and TV. Regé-Jean Page spoke about his approach to BRIDGERTON's Duke of Hastings, a character he felt embodied the new wave of dissecting male characters: "How do you become comfortable enough that you can feel stronger by opening up to another human being, rather than the instinct, which is, the more closed off you are, the stronger you are because you’re not vulnerable?" It's a sentiment mirrored by Kenan Thompson in his new self-titled NBC show: "We’re trying to relieve that overall misconception that talking about or embracing your emotions might make you weak or something like that." For all that is good and holy, please just talk about your feelings, guys. The change starts with us!

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The Name's Bond

With Amazon's mammoth acquisition of MGM in the books, the legacy studio's archive of films has now fallen into the hands of CEO Jeff Besos, who has already made his presence known at various Amazon studio production meetings and articulated that he wants his "own GAME OF THRONES" to compete with fellow streaming juggernauts. Eyes in the sky now fall on the newest home of the James Bond franchise, which has come under increased scrutiny in recent years for being laden with tired, misogynistic tropes. A spectre in his own right, Besos, who could probably take his own turn as a new-age Bond villain, has stayed relatively silent on his intentions for Bond as of now; given his mega-billionaire status, however, I would think now is no time to die for the franchise. (Extra credit for naming all of the references 👀)

Apparently, we could have been viewing an entirely different take on Bond villainy during the Pierce Brosnan era, had it not been for a few too many drinks before an early audition (who among us...). Mark Strong recently shared that he went out to celebrate his upcoming test with none other than Daniel Craig sometime during the 90's, which led to one drink too many and a botched audition the next day. A few too many martinis shaken, not stirred perhaps 🍸

New MCU Theme Park Unveiled

Marvel lovers, rejoice! Disneyland Resort has officially launched its new Avengers Campus at California Adventure Park, and fans of the franchise are invited to scatter the part looking for the "million Easter eggs" said to be hidden throughout the attraction. "The story is about the guests… and the interactions these heroes have with the guests," exec creative director of Disney Imagineering Brent Strong said. Parkgoers will be able to partake in any number of Marvel-themed adventures, from a Doctor Strange magic show to exploring the world of Wakanda, along with live acrobatic performances from Spiderman and more. Oh, and there's beer too. Know your audience, Disney 🍻

Quick Bites

THELMA AND LOUISE is turning 30, and fans could take part in a one-night-only drive-in screening at LA's Drive-In at The Greek on June 18th featuring a Q&A with film stars Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon. "We’re thrilled to celebrate its lasting legacy with a special screening event, and look forward to honoring Geena and Susan, whose groundbreaking characters paved the way for female empowerment stories in Hollywood," MGM Film Group president Pamela Abdy said.

The Shubert Organization has been cited with four OSHA safety violations in connection with the death of Peter Wright at the Winter Garden Theater last November, after an accidental falling death during a routine maintenance survey of the building. Wright is remembered by his peers for his "dry wit, an unstoppable work ethic, and a trademarked grin."

Shakespeare in the Park's return to the Delacorte Theater is rounding out its all-Black cast of MERRY WIVES, which will include THIS IS US' Susan Kelechi Watson, BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA's Shola Adewusi and WATCHMEN's Jacob Ming-Trent. Performances will run from July 6th through September 18th.

What to Watch & Read