Hollywood legends gathered Saturday night to celebrate Nicole Kidman as she received the prestigious AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Film Institute.
The ceremony featured tributes from Kidman’s esteemed peers and collaborators, including Meryl Streep, Zoe Saldaña, Naomi Watts, Zac Efron, David E. Kelley, Morgan Freeman, Keith Urban, Aaron Sorkin and Reese Witherspoon. The audience also included Lee Daniels, Mimi Leder and “Expats” creator and director Lulu Wang along with Kidman’s co-stars Ji-young and Sarayu Blue. The 56-year-old Oscar-winning actress expressed her deep gratitude for her distinguished career.
Kidman was visibly moved by the accolades from numerous distinguished colleagues, including Miles Teller, who was personally cast by Kidman in his first-ever film role “Rabbit Hole ” which was also her first produced feature. However, her husband, Keith Urban, shared intimate details about their life together, highlighting when he entered rehabilitation for substance abuse five months into their marriage,...
The ceremony featured tributes from Kidman’s esteemed peers and collaborators, including Meryl Streep, Zoe Saldaña, Naomi Watts, Zac Efron, David E. Kelley, Morgan Freeman, Keith Urban, Aaron Sorkin and Reese Witherspoon. The audience also included Lee Daniels, Mimi Leder and “Expats” creator and director Lulu Wang along with Kidman’s co-stars Ji-young and Sarayu Blue. The 56-year-old Oscar-winning actress expressed her deep gratitude for her distinguished career.
Kidman was visibly moved by the accolades from numerous distinguished colleagues, including Miles Teller, who was personally cast by Kidman in his first-ever film role “Rabbit Hole ” which was also her first produced feature. However, her husband, Keith Urban, shared intimate details about their life together, highlighting when he entered rehabilitation for substance abuse five months into their marriage,...
- 4/28/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
From “Glee” to “The Golden Bachelor,” “Empire” to “The Dropout,” “Arrested Development” to “Abbott Elementary” and “24” to “9-1-1,” Shannon Ryan has played a critical role in the launch of countless TV
series over the past three decades.
Now president of marketing for Disney Entertainment Television, Ryan oversees marketing, publicity and communications for an unprecedented portfolio of more than 200 active series at any given time across Hulu, ABC, National Geographic, Disney Channel, Onyx Collective, Freeform and other platforms. In recognition of Ryan’s track record at Fox and Mouse House, as well as her commitment to mentorship programs for girls and young women, the executive received Variety’s inaugural Entertainment Marketing Icon Award, which was presented April 24 as part of Variety’s annual Entertainment Marketing Summit presented by Deloitte at the Beverly Hilton.
Ryan credited the strength of Disney’s team and the creative ethos that drives the company’s...
series over the past three decades.
Now president of marketing for Disney Entertainment Television, Ryan oversees marketing, publicity and communications for an unprecedented portfolio of more than 200 active series at any given time across Hulu, ABC, National Geographic, Disney Channel, Onyx Collective, Freeform and other platforms. In recognition of Ryan’s track record at Fox and Mouse House, as well as her commitment to mentorship programs for girls and young women, the executive received Variety’s inaugural Entertainment Marketing Icon Award, which was presented April 24 as part of Variety’s annual Entertainment Marketing Summit presented by Deloitte at the Beverly Hilton.
Ryan credited the strength of Disney’s team and the creative ethos that drives the company’s...
- 4/25/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Sue Kroll, head of global marketing for Amazon MGM Studios, has worked on the launch of every kind of movie under the sun, from blockbusters such as “Harry Potter” and “The Matrix” franchises to streaming originals such as the recent reboot of “Road House” and the buzzy new rom-com “The Idea of You.”
The discipline of marketing has changed dramatically in recent years, with more digital tools and metrics at her disposal. But one crucial element that hasn’t changed, as Kroll discussed during her keynote conversation at Variety‘s Entertainment Marketing Summit presented by Deloitte, is the need to go with your gut instinct at times on what’s right for a given property.
“You can feel when something feels right,” Kroll said during her April 24 session at the daylong conference held at the Beverly Hilton. At the same time, there’s a feedback loop happening 24/7 around movies and...
The discipline of marketing has changed dramatically in recent years, with more digital tools and metrics at her disposal. But one crucial element that hasn’t changed, as Kroll discussed during her keynote conversation at Variety‘s Entertainment Marketing Summit presented by Deloitte, is the need to go with your gut instinct at times on what’s right for a given property.
“You can feel when something feels right,” Kroll said during her April 24 session at the daylong conference held at the Beverly Hilton. At the same time, there’s a feedback loop happening 24/7 around movies and...
- 4/25/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety Film + TV
Variety‘s annual Power of Law breakfast, presented by City National Bank, featured speakers discussing the radical changes that have rocked the entertainment industry in recent years and how insiders are adapting to the uncertainty surrounding Hollywood.
The event honored Cliff Gilbert-Lurie, Ziffren Brittenham Llp co-managing and senior partner, with the Power of Law Award recognizing his long career and his impressive track record of philanthropic work in Los Angeles County and beyond. The event also celebrated those profiled in Variety‘s annual Legal Impact Report, which recognizes transactional and litigation attorneys working in media and entertainment.
Dea Lawrence, Variety‘s chief operating and marketing officer, opened the morning at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills remarks by acknowledging the significance of the legal eagles gathered.
“The lawyers in this room this morning are the best people to help us navigate the dramatic changes the entertainment industry has been experiencing this past year,...
The event honored Cliff Gilbert-Lurie, Ziffren Brittenham Llp co-managing and senior partner, with the Power of Law Award recognizing his long career and his impressive track record of philanthropic work in Los Angeles County and beyond. The event also celebrated those profiled in Variety‘s annual Legal Impact Report, which recognizes transactional and litigation attorneys working in media and entertainment.
Dea Lawrence, Variety‘s chief operating and marketing officer, opened the morning at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills remarks by acknowledging the significance of the legal eagles gathered.
“The lawyers in this room this morning are the best people to help us navigate the dramatic changes the entertainment industry has been experiencing this past year,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Jack Dunn, Selena Kuznikov and Lexi Carson
- Variety Film + TV
Variety veteran Todd Spangler has been promoted to Business Editor, overseeing coverage of corporate and financial news, mergers and acquisitions and other deal activity for media and entertainment’s largest conglomerates.
Spangler will also continue to drive Variety‘s coverage of digital media and Silicon Valley tech giants. Based in New York, Spangler is a pillar of daily breaking news coverage. In recent years he’s been the lead reporter on such such long-running business dramas as the travails of Elon Musk, Facebook and its privacy and political battles, the introduction of TikTok to the U.S., the maturation of Netflix and YouTube as well as the rise of platforms such as podcasting, games and esports. He’s also known in the Variety newsroom for his deft touch with news-of-the-weird stories that arise on his beats.
“Todd is one of Variety‘s most diligent, dedicated and prolific writer-editors whose experience...
Spangler will also continue to drive Variety‘s coverage of digital media and Silicon Valley tech giants. Based in New York, Spangler is a pillar of daily breaking news coverage. In recent years he’s been the lead reporter on such such long-running business dramas as the travails of Elon Musk, Facebook and its privacy and political battles, the introduction of TikTok to the U.S., the maturation of Netflix and YouTube as well as the rise of platforms such as podcasting, games and esports. He’s also known in the Variety newsroom for his deft touch with news-of-the-weird stories that arise on his beats.
“Todd is one of Variety‘s most diligent, dedicated and prolific writer-editors whose experience...
- 2/16/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Carolyn Giardina, award-winning journalist and author, has joined Variety and Variety VIP+ as Senior Entertainment Technology & Crafts Editor as Variety expands its coverage of the fast-evolving production technology landscape as well as the Artisans sector.
Giardina has devoted her career to covering the art and science of entertainment and brings to her new role a wealth of knowledge of entertainment technology and the creative arts, as well as film history. She has covered such industry inflection points as the digital television and digital cinema transitions; entertainment technology including production and post, exhibition, immersive media and consumer electronics; the crafts including cinematography, editing, animation, sound and VFX; and related topics such as labor.
Giardina comes to her new role from The Hollywood Reporter, where she served as tech editor and was an active member of the awards team covering the crafts categories. In her new role at Variety, Giardina will work in collaboration with Jazz Tangcay,...
Giardina has devoted her career to covering the art and science of entertainment and brings to her new role a wealth of knowledge of entertainment technology and the creative arts, as well as film history. She has covered such industry inflection points as the digital television and digital cinema transitions; entertainment technology including production and post, exhibition, immersive media and consumer electronics; the crafts including cinematography, editing, animation, sound and VFX; and related topics such as labor.
Giardina comes to her new role from The Hollywood Reporter, where she served as tech editor and was an active member of the awards team covering the crafts categories. In her new role at Variety, Giardina will work in collaboration with Jazz Tangcay,...
- 2/15/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Joni Mitchell has a nearly 60-year history of winning Grammys, but her first actual singing appearance on the awards show didn’t take place till Sunday night, as she sang “Both Sides Now” for her performance debut on the telecast.
Besides being perhaps her best-known song, “Both Sides Now” had some resonance as a performance pick for the Grammys. Her very first Grammy Award 55 years ago, back in 1969, was for the “Clouds” album, on which “Both Sides Now” appeared.
Mitchell performed the song in the format that has brought her back to the stage on just a few occasions since she recovered from a 2015 brain aneurysm: it was done “Joni Jam”-style, with the singer-songwriter seated on a comfortable-looking throne with her recent trademark cane, surrounded by similarly seated all-star accompanists — in this case, Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Jacob Collier, Lucius, Sista Strings and Blake Mills.
The performance followed an...
Besides being perhaps her best-known song, “Both Sides Now” had some resonance as a performance pick for the Grammys. Her very first Grammy Award 55 years ago, back in 1969, was for the “Clouds” album, on which “Both Sides Now” appeared.
Mitchell performed the song in the format that has brought her back to the stage on just a few occasions since she recovered from a 2015 brain aneurysm: it was done “Joni Jam”-style, with the singer-songwriter seated on a comfortable-looking throne with her recent trademark cane, surrounded by similarly seated all-star accompanists — in this case, Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Jacob Collier, Lucius, Sista Strings and Blake Mills.
The performance followed an...
- 2/5/2024
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s Emmy Awards were all about TV reunions, while audiences around the country got to see the cast of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Cheers” reunite, there were some unofficial ones that didn’t make the live broadcast.
Take the “Yellowjackets” cast and crew, who got back together before the show started.
The show was nominated for two Emmys including best drama series and lead actress in a drama for Melanie Lynskey. Hours before the show aired, the teen cast including Liv Hewson, Courtney Eaton, Sophie Nélisse, Sammi Hanratty and Kevin Alves had gathered in the lobby, chatting and taking selfies before doors to the main theater were open. They were joined by Warren Kole and later director Karyn Kusama and showrunners Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, as well as Tawny Cypress.
Yes, season 3 is being written and the show is expected to be back in production in late May.
Take the “Yellowjackets” cast and crew, who got back together before the show started.
The show was nominated for two Emmys including best drama series and lead actress in a drama for Melanie Lynskey. Hours before the show aired, the teen cast including Liv Hewson, Courtney Eaton, Sophie Nélisse, Sammi Hanratty and Kevin Alves had gathered in the lobby, chatting and taking selfies before doors to the main theater were open. They were joined by Warren Kole and later director Karyn Kusama and showrunners Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, as well as Tawny Cypress.
Yes, season 3 is being written and the show is expected to be back in production in late May.
- 1/16/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Attending the Consumer Electronics Show is an eye-opening experience that offers intriguing glimpses into the future and an overwhelming amount of information about how the media, entertainment and tech industries are evolving in the present day.
For the past decade, Variety has partnered with the Consumer Technology Association to help Hollywood players navigate a fast-changing marketplace with an entertainment business-focused track of programming at the big show.
On this special edition of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” our editorial team goes deep on the trends, innovations and industry rumors that swirled around Sin City as the tech, media and business worlds converged on Las Vegas this week. The daylong Variety Entertaiment Summit on Jan. 10 served up a powerhouse slate of executives, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers and even a TikTok star in comedian Leenda Dong.
As ever, Team Variety‘s mission is to track trends and new developments in content production and monetization,...
For the past decade, Variety has partnered with the Consumer Technology Association to help Hollywood players navigate a fast-changing marketplace with an entertainment business-focused track of programming at the big show.
On this special edition of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” our editorial team goes deep on the trends, innovations and industry rumors that swirled around Sin City as the tech, media and business worlds converged on Las Vegas this week. The daylong Variety Entertaiment Summit on Jan. 10 served up a powerhouse slate of executives, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers and even a TikTok star in comedian Leenda Dong.
As ever, Team Variety‘s mission is to track trends and new developments in content production and monetization,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
The future of media, tech and advertising — both their promise and peril — was the topic of the day at the Variety Entertainment Summit at CES 2024, held during the technology industry’s huge annual confab in Las Vegas.
Speakers at the full-day event included Roku Media president Charlie Collier, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, Jenefer Brown, Lionsgate’s EVP & head of global products and experiences, John Harrison, Ey’s Americas leader for media and entertainment, Tony Isetta, VP and head of content marketing for the NFL, and Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy.
Spotted among the event’s attendees were Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman among other Mouse Housers, who were there alongside panel speaker Rita Ferro, Disney’s president of global advertising.
Here are key takeaways from the Variety Entertainment Summit, held Jan. 10 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas:
Netflix bulks up ad user base,...
Speakers at the full-day event included Roku Media president Charlie Collier, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, Jenefer Brown, Lionsgate’s EVP & head of global products and experiences, John Harrison, Ey’s Americas leader for media and entertainment, Tony Isetta, VP and head of content marketing for the NFL, and Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy.
Spotted among the event’s attendees were Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman among other Mouse Housers, who were there alongside panel speaker Rita Ferro, Disney’s president of global advertising.
Here are key takeaways from the Variety Entertainment Summit, held Jan. 10 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas:
Netflix bulks up ad user base,...
- 1/11/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is seeing strong growth of its advertising-based plan, having recently eclipsed 23 million global monthly active users, president of advertising Amy Reinhard said.
Reinhard spoke Wednesday at the Variety Entertainment Summit at CES 2024 at Las Vegas’ Aria Resort and Casino. “The thing we’re really excited about is the engagement,” she said. Of Netflix’s customers on ad-supported plans, more than 85% are streaming on the platform for two hours or more per month, she said.
The new 23 million-plus figure comes after Netflix a little over two months ago said its ad-supported tier had over 15 million monthly active users worldwide. In an October letter to shareholders, Netflix said ad-tier subscriptions accounted for approximately 30% of all new signups in the 12 counties where it has launched the platform.
“We’re very fortunate to be able to take a long-term perspective on this,” Reinhard said at the Variety Entertainment Summit. “Scaling our business is...
Reinhard spoke Wednesday at the Variety Entertainment Summit at CES 2024 at Las Vegas’ Aria Resort and Casino. “The thing we’re really excited about is the engagement,” she said. Of Netflix’s customers on ad-supported plans, more than 85% are streaming on the platform for two hours or more per month, she said.
The new 23 million-plus figure comes after Netflix a little over two months ago said its ad-supported tier had over 15 million monthly active users worldwide. In an October letter to shareholders, Netflix said ad-tier subscriptions accounted for approximately 30% of all new signups in the 12 counties where it has launched the platform.
“We’re very fortunate to be able to take a long-term perspective on this,” Reinhard said at the Variety Entertainment Summit. “Scaling our business is...
- 1/10/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Variety and “Entertainment Tonight” have partnered to produce the official digital red carpet pre-show for the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards, which will air Jan. 7 live on CBS and Paramount+
The digital pre-show will air live starting at 3:30 p.m. Pt on Variety‘s digital and social platforms, ETOnline.com, the Golden Globe Awards website and on the digital platforms of 20 other publications owned by Penske Media Corp., parent company of Variety, which also owns the Globes in a joint venture with Eldridge.
The Globes’ official pre-show will be hosted by Variety‘s Marc Malkin and Angelique Jackson and “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent Rachel Smith. The trio will interview A-listers as stars head into the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the ceremony, and it will feature exclusive footage of stars arriving at the venue.
Marc Malkin, Angelique Jackson and Rachel Smith
“Variety is delighted to collaborate with the Golden Globes and...
The digital pre-show will air live starting at 3:30 p.m. Pt on Variety‘s digital and social platforms, ETOnline.com, the Golden Globe Awards website and on the digital platforms of 20 other publications owned by Penske Media Corp., parent company of Variety, which also owns the Globes in a joint venture with Eldridge.
The Globes’ official pre-show will be hosted by Variety‘s Marc Malkin and Angelique Jackson and “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent Rachel Smith. The trio will interview A-listers as stars head into the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the ceremony, and it will feature exclusive footage of stars arriving at the venue.
Marc Malkin, Angelique Jackson and Rachel Smith
“Variety is delighted to collaborate with the Golden Globes and...
- 1/4/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
From Hollywood strikes to the ascent of AI to sinking stock prices, 2023 was a topsy-turvy year for media and entertainment.
Cynthia Littleton and Andrew Wallenstein, hosts of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” discuss the highs and lows of the past year on the latest episode.
Wallenstein, president and chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform data division, pointed to the spread of easy-to-use generative AI tools as the biggest unknown that is casting a cloud over the industry. “This is something that is still just in the very early stages of transforming so many processes, particularly in production — and even of course beyond this industry,” Wallenstein observed.
The hosts also discuss the twists and turns of the streaming wars in a year when traditional Hollywood faced steep cuts. Netflix earned the right to do a “victory lap,” the hosts agreed, for solidifying its global lead in streaming subscribers.
“It was the...
Cynthia Littleton and Andrew Wallenstein, hosts of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” discuss the highs and lows of the past year on the latest episode.
Wallenstein, president and chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform data division, pointed to the spread of easy-to-use generative AI tools as the biggest unknown that is casting a cloud over the industry. “This is something that is still just in the very early stages of transforming so many processes, particularly in production — and even of course beyond this industry,” Wallenstein observed.
The hosts also discuss the twists and turns of the streaming wars in a year when traditional Hollywood faced steep cuts. Netflix earned the right to do a “victory lap,” the hosts agreed, for solidifying its global lead in streaming subscribers.
“It was the...
- 1/4/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Variety won top honors Sunday at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, taking the trophy for best entertainment publication along with 11 other first-place wins.
The May 3 cover package “No Words: What the Writers Strike Means for Hollywood” was recognized in the category of best entertainment publication during the ceremony held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The kudo extends to Variety’s entire editorial staff for creating the issue on deadline, publishing barely 48 hours after the Writers Guild of America called its first strike in 15 years.
“Receiving the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award that recognizes the entirety of our staff is particularly meaningful to us after such a challenging year for the industry we cover,” said Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoodeh, Variety‘s co-editors in chief. “Hollywood’s season of strikes was an all-encompassing, labor-intensive story to capture. It’s gratifying to receive this recognition as well many other first,...
The May 3 cover package “No Words: What the Writers Strike Means for Hollywood” was recognized in the category of best entertainment publication during the ceremony held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The kudo extends to Variety’s entire editorial staff for creating the issue on deadline, publishing barely 48 hours after the Writers Guild of America called its first strike in 15 years.
“Receiving the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award that recognizes the entirety of our staff is particularly meaningful to us after such a challenging year for the industry we cover,” said Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoodeh, Variety‘s co-editors in chief. “Hollywood’s season of strikes was an all-encompassing, labor-intensive story to capture. It’s gratifying to receive this recognition as well many other first,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
A Silver Lining for An Industry in Desperate Need Of a Reboot Hollywood skirts disaster with short-term strike savings, steep cuts and austerity measures
By Cynthia Littleton
Hollywood’s season of strikes came at enormous cost to the entertainment industry. It came in projects that weren’t greenlighted, sleeper hits not realized, breakthrough gigs not booked and paychecks not earned.
But by the simple math of Hollywood’s true bottom line, there’s no other way to say it: The strikes waged by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA were a short-term financial gift to studio conglomerates that had already been listing because of streaming losses. The dual strikes gave the studios cover to hit the reset button on business plans that had already been scaled back.
“In a weird way the strikes have been a mask for the deeper issues we’re struggling with — the costs of content,...
By Cynthia Littleton
Hollywood’s season of strikes came at enormous cost to the entertainment industry. It came in projects that weren’t greenlighted, sleeper hits not realized, breakthrough gigs not booked and paychecks not earned.
But by the simple math of Hollywood’s true bottom line, there’s no other way to say it: The strikes waged by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA were a short-term financial gift to studio conglomerates that had already been listing because of streaming losses. The dual strikes gave the studios cover to hit the reset button on business plans that had already been scaled back.
“In a weird way the strikes have been a mask for the deeper issues we’re struggling with — the costs of content,...
- 11/21/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton, Jennifer Maas, Joe Otterson, Rebecca Rubin, Mike Royce and Yvette Nicole Brown
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix film chief Scott Stuber once ran Universal Studios – today he sometimes feels like the operator of “the AMC 6000” given the volume of movies that Netflix produces and acquires.From Greta Gerwig’s plans for Narnia adaptations to wooing Denzel Washington and Steven Spielberg, Stuber shared Netflix’s vision of film’s future in a wide-ranging Q&a with Variety executive editor Brent Lang that was held Nov. 8 as part of Variety’s Business Managers Elite Breakfast presented by City National Bank.
The event was kicked off with a speech from EVP of entertainment banking JaHan Wang. Despite talk of an impending recession, Wang sees a reason for optimism. “The summer box office reached the $4 billion milestone featuring Barbenheimer phenomena and the other notable movies,” he said. “Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour are causing many economic booms each city they visit, sand now Taylor is...
The event was kicked off with a speech from EVP of entertainment banking JaHan Wang. Despite talk of an impending recession, Wang sees a reason for optimism. “The summer box office reached the $4 billion milestone featuring Barbenheimer phenomena and the other notable movies,” he said. “Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour are causing many economic booms each city they visit, sand now Taylor is...
- 11/9/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Updated: Hollywood’s major studios have agreed to adjust language on artificial intelligence as they move closer to a contract agreement to end the 117-day SAG-AFTRA strike.
Union negotiators met Monday night with the leaders of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In the meeting, the two sides appear to have resolved some of the pending issues on AI, which has become the central focus of the talks over the last 10 days.
SAG-AFTRA leaders went into a meeting in the early afternoon Tuesday with the union’s negotiating committee. The hope is that the latest movement on AI will be enough to seal the deal.
At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the committee informed members that it had met for 10 hours, and would continue to talk on Wednesday. The committee also indicated that its deliberations are nearing an end.
“We appreciate your patience and support while we finish our work,...
Union negotiators met Monday night with the leaders of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In the meeting, the two sides appear to have resolved some of the pending issues on AI, which has become the central focus of the talks over the last 10 days.
SAG-AFTRA leaders went into a meeting in the early afternoon Tuesday with the union’s negotiating committee. The hope is that the latest movement on AI will be enough to seal the deal.
At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the committee informed members that it had met for 10 hours, and would continue to talk on Wednesday. The committee also indicated that its deliberations are nearing an end.
“We appreciate your patience and support while we finish our work,...
- 11/7/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Updated: SAG-AFTRA will take another day to respond to the studios’ “last, best and final” offer, as the union’s negotiating committee continues to weigh its next move.
In an email to members just before midnight on Sunday, union leaders said they had spent all day discussing the proposal internally and would continue to do so on Monday.
“The TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee analyzed and thoroughly discussed the AMPTP’s counter proposal all day and well into the night and will continue our deliberations on Monday,” the union said. “We will keep you updated.”
The studios last talked to union leadership on Saturday afternoon, when a large group of CEOs sought to make clear that they will not make further concessions.
After that meeting, some members of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee expressed dissatisfaction with the studios’ offer. At least four of them retweeted a post that urged A-list actors to...
In an email to members just before midnight on Sunday, union leaders said they had spent all day discussing the proposal internally and would continue to do so on Monday.
“The TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee analyzed and thoroughly discussed the AMPTP’s counter proposal all day and well into the night and will continue our deliberations on Monday,” the union said. “We will keep you updated.”
The studios last talked to union leadership on Saturday afternoon, when a large group of CEOs sought to make clear that they will not make further concessions.
After that meeting, some members of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee expressed dissatisfaction with the studios’ offer. At least four of them retweeted a post that urged A-list actors to...
- 11/5/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Updated: The studios told SAG-AFTRA on Saturday that they have made their “last, best and final” offer, as they seek an end to the 114-day actors strike.
The offer includes an enhanced residual bonus for high-performing streaming shows. Under the proposal, actors who appear on the most-watched shows on each platform will see their standard streaming residual doubled.
That is an increase over the deal provided to the Writers Guild of America, which won a 50% residual bonus for writers on top-performing shows.
The package also includes comprehensive protections on artificial intelligence and the highest increase in minimums in 40 years.
The Zoom meeting included eight leaders from seven studios: Bob Iger of Disney, David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery, Donna Langley of NBCUniversal, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, Brian Robbins of Paramount, Mike Hopkins and Jennifer Salke from Amazon, and Tony Vinciquerra from Sony Pictures Entertainment. Other senior executives who have been...
The offer includes an enhanced residual bonus for high-performing streaming shows. Under the proposal, actors who appear on the most-watched shows on each platform will see their standard streaming residual doubled.
That is an increase over the deal provided to the Writers Guild of America, which won a 50% residual bonus for writers on top-performing shows.
The package also includes comprehensive protections on artificial intelligence and the highest increase in minimums in 40 years.
The Zoom meeting included eight leaders from seven studios: Bob Iger of Disney, David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery, Donna Langley of NBCUniversal, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, Brian Robbins of Paramount, Mike Hopkins and Jennifer Salke from Amazon, and Tony Vinciquerra from Sony Pictures Entertainment. Other senior executives who have been...
- 11/4/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
“That’s like a billion dollars in Indiana.” That quip from Bobby Axelrod is one of the memorable lines in the series finale of “Billions,” the Showtime drama series that wrapped its seven-season run Oct. 27 with the crowd-pleasing episode “Admirals Fund.”
Axelrod, played by Damian Lewis, delivers that line as he takes a victory lap after demolishing his latest foil, rival hedge fund manager Mike Prince (Corey Stoll). It’s a reference to that fact that Prince, after an elaborate sting pulled off by Axelrod and the core “Billions” ensemble, is left wiped out but for $100 million he invested with Black-owned banks a few years ago. Axe’s comment and Prince’s broad smile suggest that the latter is headed to the Midwest to nurse his wounds and rise anew.
The line about Indiana had been on a white board in the “Billions” writers room for more than two seasons,...
Axelrod, played by Damian Lewis, delivers that line as he takes a victory lap after demolishing his latest foil, rival hedge fund manager Mike Prince (Corey Stoll). It’s a reference to that fact that Prince, after an elaborate sting pulled off by Axelrod and the core “Billions” ensemble, is left wiped out but for $100 million he invested with Black-owned banks a few years ago. Axe’s comment and Prince’s broad smile suggest that the latter is headed to the Midwest to nurse his wounds and rise anew.
The line about Indiana had been on a white board in the “Billions” writers room for more than two seasons,...
- 10/28/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Aiming to grow its global direct-to-consumer distribution, Paramount+ has set the international rollout plans for its premium and ad tier subscriptions following a launch across more than 45 markets last year.
The premium plan will launch in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico on Nov. 16, before bowing in additional markets at a later stage. It will boast Paramount’s blockbusters, exclusive originals and hit shows in 4K Uhd, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Premium subscribers will also be able to tap into four concurrent streams, instead of the two streams that come with the standard plan.
The advertising tier, meanwhile, will roll out in select international markets, including Australia and Canada, starting in 2024. In Mexico and Brazil, Paramount+ will keep its mobile-only streaming subscription which launched in April.
Marco Nobili, the exec VP and international general manager for Paramount+, said the company was “focused on scaling (its) business and providing customer...
The premium plan will launch in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico on Nov. 16, before bowing in additional markets at a later stage. It will boast Paramount’s blockbusters, exclusive originals and hit shows in 4K Uhd, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Premium subscribers will also be able to tap into four concurrent streams, instead of the two streams that come with the standard plan.
The advertising tier, meanwhile, will roll out in select international markets, including Australia and Canada, starting in 2024. In Mexico and Brazil, Paramount+ will keep its mobile-only streaming subscription which launched in April.
Marco Nobili, the exec VP and international general manager for Paramount+, said the company was “focused on scaling (its) business and providing customer...
- 10/23/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Cannes – Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish delivered a testimonial to the power of “new age” local and regional content licensing partnerships during a wide-ranging Q&a held Tuesday after the Viacom veteran was feted as Mipcom’s Personality of the Year.
During the Q&a that followed the award presentation, Bakish batted down industry speculation about Paramount’s financial health (“To say we were saved by the strikes is totally an overstatement”) and his hope that the SAG-AFTRA strike will soon be in Hollywood’s rear-view mirror (“We’ll get there”).
Paramount Global unveiled a multi-year pact with Greek pay TV service Cosmote TV just before Bakish sat for a Q&a with Variety co-editor in chief Cynthia Littleton. As Bakish detailed, that deal is symbolic of a boomerang in the marketplace. The largest Hollywood studios in recent years sought to hold back the sale of movies and TV...
During the Q&a that followed the award presentation, Bakish batted down industry speculation about Paramount’s financial health (“To say we were saved by the strikes is totally an overstatement”) and his hope that the SAG-AFTRA strike will soon be in Hollywood’s rear-view mirror (“We’ll get there”).
Paramount Global unveiled a multi-year pact with Greek pay TV service Cosmote TV just before Bakish sat for a Q&a with Variety co-editor in chief Cynthia Littleton. As Bakish detailed, that deal is symbolic of a boomerang in the marketplace. The largest Hollywood studios in recent years sought to hold back the sale of movies and TV...
- 10/17/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Canal+ Group chairman and CEO Maxime Saada, who was honored at Mipcom with the Variety Vanguard Award Monday, underscored how the experience of the past informs the company’s future strategy, which includes an emphasis on aggregation and a ramping up of in-house production. He also explained why he believes his company “owes so much to Netflix,” but fears Amazon and YouTube.
“If you want to talk about the last seven or eight years you have to think about the history of Canal+ because it has driven a lot of our actions. And one of the key elements regarding Canal+ is that it’s a company that has almost died several times,” he told Cynthia Littleton, Variety‘s co-editor-in-chief in an on-stage conversation.
He explained that the company, the first pay-tv operator in Europe, launched in 1984, and that initial success was rapidly followed by “a gigantic failure and for a...
“If you want to talk about the last seven or eight years you have to think about the history of Canal+ because it has driven a lot of our actions. And one of the key elements regarding Canal+ is that it’s a company that has almost died several times,” he told Cynthia Littleton, Variety‘s co-editor-in-chief in an on-stage conversation.
He explained that the company, the first pay-tv operator in Europe, launched in 1984, and that initial success was rapidly followed by “a gigantic failure and for a...
- 10/16/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Creative Coalition’s annual Humanitarian Awards takes place the week of the Primetime Emmys — but even though the big show was pushed to January, the benefit luncheon still took place on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the La Peer Hotel rooftop in West Hollywood, attracting a wide range of honorees and presenters.
The Humanitarian Awards recognizes talent who donate their time, resources and their celebrity to promote worthy social causes. This year, honors went to Jason Alexander, Pauline Chalamet, Billy Eichner, Wendie Malick, Arian Moayed and Lena Waithe, as well as Josefina López, who was saluted with the Your Voice Carries Weight award. Presenters included Alyssa Milano, Cazzie David, Lawrence O’Donnell, Gloria Calderón Kellet, Samantha Hanratty, Debbie Levin, Bradley Whitford and Darnell Moore.
Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton hosted the luncheon, which opened with remarks from The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk; both cited the org’s continued fight for arts funding and education.
The Humanitarian Awards recognizes talent who donate their time, resources and their celebrity to promote worthy social causes. This year, honors went to Jason Alexander, Pauline Chalamet, Billy Eichner, Wendie Malick, Arian Moayed and Lena Waithe, as well as Josefina López, who was saluted with the Your Voice Carries Weight award. Presenters included Alyssa Milano, Cazzie David, Lawrence O’Donnell, Gloria Calderón Kellet, Samantha Hanratty, Debbie Levin, Bradley Whitford and Darnell Moore.
Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton hosted the luncheon, which opened with remarks from The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk; both cited the org’s continued fight for arts funding and education.
- 9/25/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Max fans who don’t relish the idea of coughing up $9.99 per month more to access the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer’s upcoming live sports tier might not realize that they’ve been making out like bandits with seemingly “free” sports content on other platforms for years, according to Wbd global streaming chief Jb Perrette.
“We’ve operated in sports in the direct-to-consumer space for a decade in Europe, through Eurosport, and what we learned there, through a lot of trial and error, is sports is a premium offering, it’s a passionate fanbase, obviously, it’s not something that appeals to everyone, and guess what? Everywhere in the world outside the United States, it’s priced separate,” Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming and games CEO and president Perrette told Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton at Variety‘s Entertainment & Technology Summit Thursday. “The only place in the world where it’s...
“We’ve operated in sports in the direct-to-consumer space for a decade in Europe, through Eurosport, and what we learned there, through a lot of trial and error, is sports is a premium offering, it’s a passionate fanbase, obviously, it’s not something that appeals to everyone, and guess what? Everywhere in the world outside the United States, it’s priced separate,” Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming and games CEO and president Perrette told Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton at Variety‘s Entertainment & Technology Summit Thursday. “The only place in the world where it’s...
- 9/22/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Updated: The Writers Guild of America resumed bargaining with the major studios on Wednesday, as the 142-day writers strike closed in on a record duration.
In a break from previous sessions, several top CEOs joined in the talks on Wednesday in Sherman Oaks. They were Bob Iger of Disney, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, Donna Langley of NBCUniversal and David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The talks concluded by late afternoon, with a plan to return to the table on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. All four CEOs are expected to be back in the room again on Thursday.
In a potential sign of progress, the two sides issued a rare — albeit terse — joint statement at 5 p.m.
“The WGA and AMPTP met for bargaining today and will meet again tomorrow,” they said.
The source said the WGA representatives spent the session mostly listening to new proposals...
In a break from previous sessions, several top CEOs joined in the talks on Wednesday in Sherman Oaks. They were Bob Iger of Disney, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, Donna Langley of NBCUniversal and David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The talks concluded by late afternoon, with a plan to return to the table on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. All four CEOs are expected to be back in the room again on Thursday.
In a potential sign of progress, the two sides issued a rare — albeit terse — joint statement at 5 p.m.
“The WGA and AMPTP met for bargaining today and will meet again tomorrow,” they said.
The source said the WGA representatives spent the session mostly listening to new proposals...
- 9/20/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Investors cheered as Tko Group Holdings, the new parent company of UFC and WWE, clambered into the Wall Street ring.
Shares of Tko, which began trading Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, closed up 2.4% on the day, to $103.05 per share after opening at $102.
Meanwhile, Endeavor’s stock rose 1.1%, to $22.16/share, as investors reacted to the company’s move to carve UFC off into Tko. Endeavor properties include WME, Img and the Professional Bull Riders (Pbr), among other media assets. The gains came amid declines for major market indexes including the S&P 500 (-0.57%) and Nasdaq Composite (-1.04%).
Endeavor holds a 51% controlling interest in Tko and previous WWE shareholders hold 49%, including a 16.4% stake owned by WWE founder Vince McMahon. With the launch of Tko, WWE shares ceased trading on the NYSE, with a final closing price of $100.65/share on Monday.
Initially, Tko will be fully focused on integrating the operations of WWE and UFC,...
Shares of Tko, which began trading Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, closed up 2.4% on the day, to $103.05 per share after opening at $102.
Meanwhile, Endeavor’s stock rose 1.1%, to $22.16/share, as investors reacted to the company’s move to carve UFC off into Tko. Endeavor properties include WME, Img and the Professional Bull Riders (Pbr), among other media assets. The gains came amid declines for major market indexes including the S&P 500 (-0.57%) and Nasdaq Composite (-1.04%).
Endeavor holds a 51% controlling interest in Tko and previous WWE shareholders hold 49%, including a 16.4% stake owned by WWE founder Vince McMahon. With the launch of Tko, WWE shares ceased trading on the NYSE, with a final closing price of $100.65/share on Monday.
Initially, Tko will be fully focused on integrating the operations of WWE and UFC,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Maxime Saada, the chair and CEO of Canal+ Group, will receive the Variety Vanguard Award at the Mipcom international content sales conference set for Oct. 16-19 in Cannes.
The award recognizes television industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to the global business of entertainment. Saada will receive the award, presented by Variety and Mipcom, on Oct. 16 as part of his keynote conversation at the Palais de Festivals, moderated by Variety co-editor in chief Cynthia Littleton.
Under Saada’s watch, Canal+ Group has significantly ramped up its international footprint from 11 million subscribers in 2015 to 25.5 million in 2022 across more than 50 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. The company recently took a 12% stake in Scandinavian streamer Viaplay, as well as 26.1% in in Viu, a leading streaming service in Asia. Canal+ previously acquired the pay-tv broadcaster M7 for over €1 billion ($1.01 billion), launched in Ethiopia and Austria in 2021, and became the leading shareholder...
The award recognizes television industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to the global business of entertainment. Saada will receive the award, presented by Variety and Mipcom, on Oct. 16 as part of his keynote conversation at the Palais de Festivals, moderated by Variety co-editor in chief Cynthia Littleton.
Under Saada’s watch, Canal+ Group has significantly ramped up its international footprint from 11 million subscribers in 2015 to 25.5 million in 2022 across more than 50 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. The company recently took a 12% stake in Scandinavian streamer Viaplay, as well as 26.1% in in Viu, a leading streaming service in Asia. Canal+ previously acquired the pay-tv broadcaster M7 for over €1 billion ($1.01 billion), launched in Ethiopia and Austria in 2021, and became the leading shareholder...
- 9/11/2023
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
The writers strike reached the four-month mark on Saturday, and as Hot Labor Summer moves to autumn, there is still no sign that it will be over any time soon.
The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have not talked in two weeks. Both maintain that the ball is in the other’s court.
Far from resolving the strike, the parties face a delicate challenge of finding their way back into the negotiating room. The WGA is open to talking, but has let the AMPTP make the first move. The AMPTP could invite the writers back — as it did on Aug. 1 — but it has nothing new to offer.
“Obviously we’re not backing down,” said one writer. “They’re going to have to come up with something.”
On the studio side, there is continuing frustration that the writers have not made bigger concessions.
The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have not talked in two weeks. Both maintain that the ball is in the other’s court.
Far from resolving the strike, the parties face a delicate challenge of finding their way back into the negotiating room. The WGA is open to talking, but has let the AMPTP make the first move. The AMPTP could invite the writers back — as it did on Aug. 1 — but it has nothing new to offer.
“Obviously we’re not backing down,” said one writer. “They’re going to have to come up with something.”
On the studio side, there is continuing frustration that the writers have not made bigger concessions.
- 9/2/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Daniel D’Addario is stepping into a new role at Variety.
The journalist, who was brought on as chief television critic in 2018, has been named chief correspondent for the magazine, co-editors-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh and Cynthia Littleton announced. In his new position, D’Addario will be writing substantial features as well as commentary for print and online. He will continue to work with editor-at-large Kate Aurthur.
“I am so excited to try new kinds of writing for Variety,” D’Addario says. “I love thinking like a critic, but bringing my perspective to bear on narrative journalism after getting out in the field and talking to people represents an exciting opportunity, and a fun challenge.”
In his time covering television for Variety, D’Addario has won multiple Los Angeles Press Club Awards, including prizes for political commentary for his coverage of the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings and “The Lincoln Project.” He has served...
The journalist, who was brought on as chief television critic in 2018, has been named chief correspondent for the magazine, co-editors-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh and Cynthia Littleton announced. In his new position, D’Addario will be writing substantial features as well as commentary for print and online. He will continue to work with editor-at-large Kate Aurthur.
“I am so excited to try new kinds of writing for Variety,” D’Addario says. “I love thinking like a critic, but bringing my perspective to bear on narrative journalism after getting out in the field and talking to people represents an exciting opportunity, and a fun challenge.”
In his time covering television for Variety, D’Addario has won multiple Los Angeles Press Club Awards, including prizes for political commentary for his coverage of the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings and “The Lincoln Project.” He has served...
- 8/21/2023
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
In the summer of strikes and labor action, calls for reality TV personalities to form a union are gaining steam.
Bethenny Frankel unleashed a storm last month with her unvarnished criticism of Bravo and other unscripted-focused platforms for the way that unscripted stars are treated behind the scenes. Frankel was not shy about detailing what she described as commonplace abuses, including producers manipulating contestants for the cameras.
“We should just find out what reality shows are in production right now and say, ‘Just stop working. Say you’re not going to work unless they take down all the things you’ve done in the past and then we can negotiate for the future,’ “ Frankel told Variety last month.
Shab Azma has watched the debate unfold for the past few weeks with great interest. An experienced talent manager, Azma launched her own shingle, Arc Collective, in 2021 with a focus on representing...
Bethenny Frankel unleashed a storm last month with her unvarnished criticism of Bravo and other unscripted-focused platforms for the way that unscripted stars are treated behind the scenes. Frankel was not shy about detailing what she described as commonplace abuses, including producers manipulating contestants for the cameras.
“We should just find out what reality shows are in production right now and say, ‘Just stop working. Say you’re not going to work unless they take down all the things you’ve done in the past and then we can negotiate for the future,’ “ Frankel told Variety last month.
Shab Azma has watched the debate unfold for the past few weeks with great interest. An experienced talent manager, Azma launched her own shingle, Arc Collective, in 2021 with a focus on representing...
- 8/8/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
The fallout from Tatiana Siegel’s Variety article that has captivated the media industry continues, as Variety quietly added updates to the piece on Friday.
The article received backlash from many, with some calling for Variety to retract the story that claims former CNN CEO Jeff Zucker has spent the last year courting billionaires to secure funding in an effort to purchase CNN, including The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta, Puck News co-founder John Kelley and Zucker himself.
On Friday afternoon, Variety added updates to the story in order to “reflect new statements from Kelly and Alberta,” a note at the bottom of the page now reads.
“After this article was published, Alberta responded on social media that he met with Licht on seven different days and used ‘zero off-record details or quotes,'” the story says in an updated paragraph.
The update adds that Alberta “also pushed back on suggestions...
The article received backlash from many, with some calling for Variety to retract the story that claims former CNN CEO Jeff Zucker has spent the last year courting billionaires to secure funding in an effort to purchase CNN, including The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta, Puck News co-founder John Kelley and Zucker himself.
On Friday afternoon, Variety added updates to the story in order to “reflect new statements from Kelly and Alberta,” a note at the bottom of the page now reads.
“After this article was published, Alberta responded on social media that he met with Licht on seven different days and used ‘zero off-record details or quotes,'” the story says in an updated paragraph.
The update adds that Alberta “also pushed back on suggestions...
- 7/28/2023
- by Natalie Korach
- The Wrap
WrapPRO is free this week. See the inside scoops, expert analysis and exclusive data subscribers get daily. Click here for more information.
Former CNN president Jeff Zucker has requested a retraction for a Variety report that characterized him as desperate to acquire the network, an individual close to Zucker told TheWrap.
Variety is facing intense backlash in response to a report published Tuesday by executive editor Tatiana Siegel that claimed Zucker has spent the last year courting billionaires to secure funding in an effort to purchase CNN.
A Zucker confidant noted that the former CNN chief is “more baffled than angry” with the claims made in the report.
Throughout the story, Siegel characterizes Zucker as deeply bitter about his departure from CNN in 2022 and hell-bent on finding a way back to the network. The piece alleges that Zucker intended to court billionaires at a Formula One race in Abu Dhabi...
Former CNN president Jeff Zucker has requested a retraction for a Variety report that characterized him as desperate to acquire the network, an individual close to Zucker told TheWrap.
Variety is facing intense backlash in response to a report published Tuesday by executive editor Tatiana Siegel that claimed Zucker has spent the last year courting billionaires to secure funding in an effort to purchase CNN.
A Zucker confidant noted that the former CNN chief is “more baffled than angry” with the claims made in the report.
Throughout the story, Siegel characterizes Zucker as deeply bitter about his departure from CNN in 2022 and hell-bent on finding a way back to the network. The piece alleges that Zucker intended to court billionaires at a Formula One race in Abu Dhabi...
- 7/27/2023
- by Natalie Korach
- The Wrap
A glimpse into the actor’s life in summer 2023: One day you’re nominated for your first Emmy, the next day your union goes on strike.
Young Mazino is living just this reality after a whirlwind week that saw him land a supporting actor Emmy bid for his work in Netflix’s “Beef.” On Monday, he was out on the sidewalk in front of Netflix’s Hollywood headquarters, hoisting a sign in nearly 90-degree heat and making his voice heard. SAG-AFTRA called a strike against Hollywood studios and production entities that began July 13, one day after the 75th annual Emmy Awards nominations were revealed.
“It’s a weird feeling of being Emmy nominated one day and then the next day, there’s a strike going on,” Mazino told Variety. “I think this [the strike] feels better than the nomination because it’s addressing a symptom of a larger problem. I got...
Young Mazino is living just this reality after a whirlwind week that saw him land a supporting actor Emmy bid for his work in Netflix’s “Beef.” On Monday, he was out on the sidewalk in front of Netflix’s Hollywood headquarters, hoisting a sign in nearly 90-degree heat and making his voice heard. SAG-AFTRA called a strike against Hollywood studios and production entities that began July 13, one day after the 75th annual Emmy Awards nominations were revealed.
“It’s a weird feeling of being Emmy nominated one day and then the next day, there’s a strike going on,” Mazino told Variety. “I think this [the strike] feels better than the nomination because it’s addressing a symptom of a larger problem. I got...
- 7/18/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Aramide A. Tinubu is Variety’s new TV critic, joining fellow critic Alison Herman, who started at the publication in April. In her role, Tinubu, who is based in New York City, will write reviews, commentary and cover stories, and will be a key voice in television coverage across all of Variety’s platforms. She will work with editor-at-large Kate Aurthur, who oversees TV criticism and features.
As a critic, consultant, producer and entertainment editor, Tinubu has been published in Essence, The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, Bustle and Netflix’s Tudum. “We are so excited to have Aramide join our team as a TV critic,” say Variety co-editors-in-chief Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoodeh. “Criticism has always been a backbone of our coverage, and we know that Aramide’s byline — and point of view — will further bolster our team.”
Says Tinubu: “For more than a century, Variety has been the blueprint for entertainment executives,...
As a critic, consultant, producer and entertainment editor, Tinubu has been published in Essence, The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, Bustle and Netflix’s Tudum. “We are so excited to have Aramide join our team as a TV critic,” say Variety co-editors-in-chief Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoodeh. “Criticism has always been a backbone of our coverage, and we know that Aramide’s byline — and point of view — will further bolster our team.”
Says Tinubu: “For more than a century, Variety has been the blueprint for entertainment executives,...
- 7/17/2023
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Who’s up, who’s down and who is really in deep trouble on Wall Street?
Media stocks have been on a wild ride in the first half of 2023. On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Variety Intelligence Platform media analyst Heidi Chung breaks down how Disney, Netflix, Comcast and other leading lights of media and entertainment have performed so far this year.
Variety Intelligence Platform media analyst Heidi Chung
“The best performing sector in the first half of the year was technology. And a lot of that was driven by the interest by investors in the generative AI boom, specifically,” Chung says in conversation with “Strictly Business” hosts Andrew Wallenstein and Cynthia Littleton.
“This sort of optimism about where technology is headed has really driven up those stocks. Though I will say even though there’s a lot of bullishness in the market, a lot of investors...
Media stocks have been on a wild ride in the first half of 2023. On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Variety Intelligence Platform media analyst Heidi Chung breaks down how Disney, Netflix, Comcast and other leading lights of media and entertainment have performed so far this year.
Variety Intelligence Platform media analyst Heidi Chung
“The best performing sector in the first half of the year was technology. And a lot of that was driven by the interest by investors in the generative AI boom, specifically,” Chung says in conversation with “Strictly Business” hosts Andrew Wallenstein and Cynthia Littleton.
“This sort of optimism about where technology is headed has really driven up those stocks. Though I will say even though there’s a lot of bullishness in the market, a lot of investors...
- 7/12/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys thinks AI has no place in the creative process at his brands.
“Two things to keep in mind when I say this: One is, remember I grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which is Steel Town,” Bloys, the chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content, told Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton during a keynote conversation Wednesday at the Variety TV FYC Fest. “So I am very, very aware of what happens when a company does not think about the future or is not aware of the future. But also, I’ve been at HBO for 19 years and I have never tested a pilot to decide whether to pick it up or not. We just don’t use all of the things other places do, it’s just not something we do. So my take on AI, the idea that AI would be involved in any...
“Two things to keep in mind when I say this: One is, remember I grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which is Steel Town,” Bloys, the chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content, told Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton during a keynote conversation Wednesday at the Variety TV FYC Fest. “So I am very, very aware of what happens when a company does not think about the future or is not aware of the future. But also, I’ve been at HBO for 19 years and I have never tested a pilot to decide whether to pick it up or not. We just don’t use all of the things other places do, it’s just not something we do. So my take on AI, the idea that AI would be involved in any...
- 6/8/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
The Directors Guild of America is pushing for a contractual provision that would give TV directors more time and responsibility in the editing room, sources told Variety.
The DGA is negotiating its new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The current contract expires on June 30.
One of the key issues on the table is “creative rights” in television. TV directors have an absolute right under their existing contract to prepare a “director’s cut,” which is the first cut after the editor’s assembly. That right dates to 1964, when director Frank Capra led the charge to enshrine it in the DGA contract.
The contract also provides minimum time periods to prepare the director’s cut. In film, that period is at least 10 weeks. In TV, the period is much shorter, ranging from two days for a 30-minute episode up to 20 days for a two-hour show. The...
The DGA is negotiating its new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The current contract expires on June 30.
One of the key issues on the table is “creative rights” in television. TV directors have an absolute right under their existing contract to prepare a “director’s cut,” which is the first cut after the editor’s assembly. That right dates to 1964, when director Frank Capra led the charge to enshrine it in the DGA contract.
The contract also provides minimum time periods to prepare the director’s cut. In film, that period is at least 10 weeks. In TV, the period is much shorter, ranging from two days for a 30-minute episode up to 20 days for a two-hour show. The...
- 5/25/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
On May 12, Variety partnered with Reddit’s Television subreddit to host an Ask Me Anything discussion about the ongoing writers strike. Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton — who has covered the television industry for 25 years and wrote the book “TV on Strike: Why Hollywood Went to War Over the Internet” about the 2007 strike — fielded many smart questions from Redditors, touching on topics like AI, who gets paid during the strike, and how long it could last. Below are key selections from the discussion, lightly-edited for clarity.
From user milkyginger: How are smaller writers paying their bills? Have they taken up other jobs or does the guild help them out?
The guild does have a healthy strike fund and it can and will directly help members who are in dire straits. But long-term, the loss of paychecks will be felt by WGA members who tend to live in expensive-town places like LA and NY.
From user milkyginger: How are smaller writers paying their bills? Have they taken up other jobs or does the guild help them out?
The guild does have a healthy strike fund and it can and will directly help members who are in dire straits. But long-term, the loss of paychecks will be felt by WGA members who tend to live in expensive-town places like LA and NY.
- 5/15/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has promoted Jem Aswad to lead all music content across digital, print and live media platforms as executive editor, music.
Aswad will oversee all aspects of Variety‘s music-related editorial operations and staff. He will also continue to serve as Variety‘s leading voice on the business of music, penning cover stories, deep-dive features, investigative stories, personality profiles and reviews. With his promotion, Aswad will also help steer Variety‘s music-related event franchises, including Hitmakers and Music Mogul of the Year, and contribute significantly to developing music programming for live media events.
Aswad is based in Variety‘s New York office and reports to co-editors in chief Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoodeh. Shirley Halperin, Variety’s executive editor, music since 2017, is stepping down to become editor in chief of Los Angeles magazine.
“We could not be more excited to announce that Jem will be leading Variety’s music team,...
Aswad will oversee all aspects of Variety‘s music-related editorial operations and staff. He will also continue to serve as Variety‘s leading voice on the business of music, penning cover stories, deep-dive features, investigative stories, personality profiles and reviews. With his promotion, Aswad will also help steer Variety‘s music-related event franchises, including Hitmakers and Music Mogul of the Year, and contribute significantly to developing music programming for live media events.
Aswad is based in Variety‘s New York office and reports to co-editors in chief Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoodeh. Shirley Halperin, Variety’s executive editor, music since 2017, is stepping down to become editor in chief of Los Angeles magazine.
“We could not be more excited to announce that Jem will be leading Variety’s music team,...
- 5/9/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Los Angeles Magazine has found its new editor-in-chief: Shirley Halperin.
The respected music industry insider is exiting as executive editor of music at Variety, a post she’s held since 2017, to join L.A. Mag, effective June 15. She’s replacing Maer Roshan who was ousted a month ago by bosses at parent company Engine Vision Media in what has been viewed as a shift in direction for the publication under newly-installed president and publisher Christopher Gialanella.
In confirming the hiring, Engine Vision’s press release noted that Halperin will be tasked with shaping Los Angeles‘ “vision for the future, with a particular emphasis on news and culture.” Furthermore, it stated that Halperin will “lead efforts to celebrate the city’s diversity while keeping current events, politics and sports related to the area relevant. Additionally, she will continue to touch on entertainment, music, society, lifestyle, dining, home, real estate and fashion,...
The respected music industry insider is exiting as executive editor of music at Variety, a post she’s held since 2017, to join L.A. Mag, effective June 15. She’s replacing Maer Roshan who was ousted a month ago by bosses at parent company Engine Vision Media in what has been viewed as a shift in direction for the publication under newly-installed president and publisher Christopher Gialanella.
In confirming the hiring, Engine Vision’s press release noted that Halperin will be tasked with shaping Los Angeles‘ “vision for the future, with a particular emphasis on news and culture.” Furthermore, it stated that Halperin will “lead efforts to celebrate the city’s diversity while keeping current events, politics and sports related to the area relevant. Additionally, she will continue to touch on entertainment, music, society, lifestyle, dining, home, real estate and fashion,...
- 5/8/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On May 2, the Writers Guild of America called for a strike after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers fell through. The first week was robust with picketing in New York City, Los Angeles and Atlanta, with the striking shutting down productions. As the strike enters a second week, Variety is still reporting from the picket lines.
Day 7 (May 8) Netflix (Los Angeles)
*Family and Kid Day at the Netflix picket drew a huge crowd, seemingly showing that Week 2 crowds would be as robust as Week 1.
*Variety spoke with Michele Mulroney, vice president of the WGA West, on the picket line outside of Netflix headquarters in Hollywood about what AMPTP needs to do to resume the contract talks.
“I’m feeling strong, because our members are feeling strong,” she said. “Our members are very educated on the reasons that we’re out and the reasons we are walking.
Day 7 (May 8) Netflix (Los Angeles)
*Family and Kid Day at the Netflix picket drew a huge crowd, seemingly showing that Week 2 crowds would be as robust as Week 1.
*Variety spoke with Michele Mulroney, vice president of the WGA West, on the picket line outside of Netflix headquarters in Hollywood about what AMPTP needs to do to resume the contract talks.
“I’m feeling strong, because our members are feeling strong,” she said. “Our members are very educated on the reasons that we’re out and the reasons we are walking.
- 5/8/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Updated: Day 4 of the WGA strike began with a plot twist on the weather front. A typically overcast May morning in Southern California gave way around 8 a.m. to a heavy downpour that rolled quickly across the region. The rain was gone in West L.A. and Culver City by 9:30 a.m., but the drops fell fast and hard enough to disrupt some of the best-laid plans of dedicated strike captains.
Still, on a soggy Friday morning in the Heart of Screenland, about 200 pickets were circulating around Culver City’s institutions: Sony Pictures Entertainment, the hallowed ground of MGM in its prime, and the Culver Studios, now home to Amazon Studios, Prime Video and MGM in its present.
“Jeopardy” writers Michele Loud, Jim Rhine and Billy Wisse walked on Madison Avenue near Washington Boulevard, in front of the studio gates where they three have all worked for more than two decades.
Still, on a soggy Friday morning in the Heart of Screenland, about 200 pickets were circulating around Culver City’s institutions: Sony Pictures Entertainment, the hallowed ground of MGM in its prime, and the Culver Studios, now home to Amazon Studios, Prime Video and MGM in its present.
“Jeopardy” writers Michele Loud, Jim Rhine and Billy Wisse walked on Madison Avenue near Washington Boulevard, in front of the studio gates where they three have all worked for more than two decades.
- 5/6/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Negotiations on a new Writers Guild of America contract could go through the weekend, as the sides continue to trade proposals ahead of the Monday deadline.
The WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and may hold a session on Saturday, according to a source close to the situation. Given the looming deadline and prospect of a strike grinding Hollywood production activity to a halt, it’s no surprise that the guild and AMPTP representatives would look to work through the weekend in the hopes of avoiding industry-wide disruption.
Another source close to the situation emphasized that nothing has been formally scheduled, and may not be until Friday.
The WGA contract expires at midnight (Pacific Standard Time) on Monday, and a strike could begin as soon as Tuesday. The guild has advised that if a strike is called, talk shows such as “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,...
The WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and may hold a session on Saturday, according to a source close to the situation. Given the looming deadline and prospect of a strike grinding Hollywood production activity to a halt, it’s no surprise that the guild and AMPTP representatives would look to work through the weekend in the hopes of avoiding industry-wide disruption.
Another source close to the situation emphasized that nothing has been formally scheduled, and may not be until Friday.
The WGA contract expires at midnight (Pacific Standard Time) on Monday, and a strike could begin as soon as Tuesday. The guild has advised that if a strike is called, talk shows such as “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Tuesday, April 25, Showtime hosted the FYC event for the documentary “Personality Crisis: One Night Only.” The screening, panel and reception were held at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Los Angeles. Panel participants from the film included: Director and Producer Martin Scorsese, Director and Editor David Tedeschi, the one and only David Johansen, Producer Margaret Bodde, Executive Producer Mara Hennessey, and film interviewer Leah Hennessey. The conversation was moderated by Cynthia Littleton, Variety Editor-in-Chief.
“It was shockingly good,” Johansen said of the film about him. “I especially liked the fact that I didn’t die at the end. A lot of people, when they do documentaries about music, they ask me to be in them and I normally refuse because it’s the most horrible thing to have an opinion one day and then two years later see it in a film. Because, evolution and transcendence and all that jazz, you...
“It was shockingly good,” Johansen said of the film about him. “I especially liked the fact that I didn’t die at the end. A lot of people, when they do documentaries about music, they ask me to be in them and I normally refuse because it’s the most horrible thing to have an opinion one day and then two years later see it in a film. Because, evolution and transcendence and all that jazz, you...
- 4/27/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
The stars and creatives behind Hulu’s “Tiny Beautiful Things” celebrated the premiere of their upcoming show at an ethereal and intimate event, presented by Hulu, ABC Signature and Variety.
“Tiny Beautiful Things” stars Kathryn Hahn as an anonymous and revered advice columnist whose own life is falling apart. Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern are among the executive producers behind the buzzy show, which begins streaming on April 7 on Hulu.
Adapted for television by Liz Tigelaar, “Tiny Beautiful Things” is based on Cheryl Strayed’s New York Times bestseller of the same name, which is comprised of a collection of essays from Strayed’s “Dear Sugar” advice column, which she wrote anonymously more than a decade ago.
At the Los Angeles premiere, Tigelaar and Strayed walked the purple carpet, adorned with bright florals, to discuss their latest project.
“Once I sat down to figure it out, it was beyond what I had dreamed.
“Tiny Beautiful Things” stars Kathryn Hahn as an anonymous and revered advice columnist whose own life is falling apart. Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern are among the executive producers behind the buzzy show, which begins streaming on April 7 on Hulu.
Adapted for television by Liz Tigelaar, “Tiny Beautiful Things” is based on Cheryl Strayed’s New York Times bestseller of the same name, which is comprised of a collection of essays from Strayed’s “Dear Sugar” advice column, which she wrote anonymously more than a decade ago.
At the Los Angeles premiere, Tigelaar and Strayed walked the purple carpet, adorned with bright florals, to discuss their latest project.
“Once I sat down to figure it out, it was beyond what I had dreamed.
- 4/3/2023
- by Elizabeth Wagmeister
- Variety Film + TV
Endeavor is bringing together two of the world’s biggest combat-sports franchises — UFC and WWE — in a blockbuster merger announced Monday.
It’s a deal in which “one plus one equals three,” said Endeavor president and COO Mark Shapiro, who will serve in the same role for the merged UFC-wwe. The pact, valuing the combined company at roughly $21.4 billion, is anticipated to close in the second half of 2023.
The deal will result in an estimated $50 million to $100 million in annualized run-rate cost synergies, according to Endeavor, including by moving WWE to Endeavor’s back-office infrastructure. Shapiro said Endeavor, when it acquired UFC, realized $70 million in cost savings.
In addition, the deal to combine UFC with WWE will also benefit Endeavor by helping to trim the debt load that the company has carried since it went public in 2021. Following the close of the UFC-wwe deal, Endeavor will have a debt-to-equity ratio...
It’s a deal in which “one plus one equals three,” said Endeavor president and COO Mark Shapiro, who will serve in the same role for the merged UFC-wwe. The pact, valuing the combined company at roughly $21.4 billion, is anticipated to close in the second half of 2023.
The deal will result in an estimated $50 million to $100 million in annualized run-rate cost synergies, according to Endeavor, including by moving WWE to Endeavor’s back-office infrastructure. Shapiro said Endeavor, when it acquired UFC, realized $70 million in cost savings.
In addition, the deal to combine UFC with WWE will also benefit Endeavor by helping to trim the debt load that the company has carried since it went public in 2021. Following the close of the UFC-wwe deal, Endeavor will have a debt-to-equity ratio...
- 4/3/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Longtime CBS talent relations executive Ian Metrose, who became wrapped up in the scandal surrounding former CBS chief Leslie Moonves, will exit at month’s end after 20 years with the network.
Metrose is understood to have made the decision to leave at the end of his current contract. But there is little doubt his departure was hastened by the scandal that erupted in November around Moonves and his association with the Los Angeles Police Department.
According to an investigation by New York Attorney General, Metrose was involved in communications in 2017 with retired LAPD Captain Cory Palka, who is accused of tipping off Moonves that a sexual assault complaint had been filed against him over an allegation dating back to the 1980s. Palka had built a relationship with Moonves and several CBS executives including Metrose after having been hired to provide security for Moonves at major events. Palka is under investigation by the LAPD.
Metrose is understood to have made the decision to leave at the end of his current contract. But there is little doubt his departure was hastened by the scandal that erupted in November around Moonves and his association with the Los Angeles Police Department.
According to an investigation by New York Attorney General, Metrose was involved in communications in 2017 with retired LAPD Captain Cory Palka, who is accused of tipping off Moonves that a sexual assault complaint had been filed against him over an allegation dating back to the 1980s. Palka had built a relationship with Moonves and several CBS executives including Metrose after having been hired to provide security for Moonves at major events. Palka is under investigation by the LAPD.
- 3/18/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Accepting the Writers Guild of America award for original screenplay on Sunday night, Daniel Kwan skipped past the typical thank-yous to his agent and manager and instead shouted out his strike captain.
“Get involved,” he told the crowd. “If you don’t have a captain yet, go find one… Let’s go give ’em hell.”
It was a fitting capstone on the event, which at times felt more like a labor rally than an awards show. The WGA is set to begin negotiations with the major studios in just two weeks, and the possibility of a writers strike may be as high as it’s been since the last work stoppage in 2007-08.
“Hold out for what you deserve!” urged “The Goldbergs” star Wendi McLendon-Covey, presenting the award for drama series. “We cannot do it without you! Hold out until the last minute!”
In recent weeks, WGA officials have been tamping down the rhetoric,...
“Get involved,” he told the crowd. “If you don’t have a captain yet, go find one… Let’s go give ’em hell.”
It was a fitting capstone on the event, which at times felt more like a labor rally than an awards show. The WGA is set to begin negotiations with the major studios in just two weeks, and the possibility of a writers strike may be as high as it’s been since the last work stoppage in 2007-08.
“Hold out for what you deserve!” urged “The Goldbergs” star Wendi McLendon-Covey, presenting the award for drama series. “We cannot do it without you! Hold out until the last minute!”
In recent weeks, WGA officials have been tamping down the rhetoric,...
- 3/6/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Sam Elliott, the mustachioed actor best known for roles in “1883,” “A Star Is Born” and “The Big Lebowski,” sat on Variety‘s Talks, presented by Paramount+, for a meditation on endings and beginnings throughout his long career.
Born and raised in Sacramento, Elliott explained his love for filmmaking developed as a result of frequent visits to The Sequoia, his local theater. At the age of 9, he saw “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954), which he credits as a major source of inspiration in committing to acting: “I wanted to make an audience feel what that magic was doing up there,” Elliott said.
A deep dive through the Variety archives yielded insight on the first time Elliott’s name ever appeared in print. Elliott shared a laugh with Cynthia Littleton, Variety Co-Editor in Chief, when she surprised him with a copy of his first-ever reference in Variety, a two-line item from...
Born and raised in Sacramento, Elliott explained his love for filmmaking developed as a result of frequent visits to The Sequoia, his local theater. At the age of 9, he saw “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954), which he credits as a major source of inspiration in committing to acting: “I wanted to make an audience feel what that magic was doing up there,” Elliott said.
A deep dive through the Variety archives yielded insight on the first time Elliott’s name ever appeared in print. Elliott shared a laugh with Cynthia Littleton, Variety Co-Editor in Chief, when she surprised him with a copy of his first-ever reference in Variety, a two-line item from...
- 2/21/2023
- by Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
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