Associate executive director

The Motion Picture Association is upgrading a platform and services that assess content security safeguards of producers and their suppliers. The Trusted Partner Network , in which members’ content security is measured against a set of best practices, will now include software and cloud security assessments, adding to those of physical locations and home workplaces. The intent of the Trusted Partner Network , being relaunched as the TPN+ platform, is to have a set of standards for vendors as a way to prevent instances like the pre-release leaks of footage from major blockbusters. The new platform is designed to help members manage and communicate their content security status, including with non-TPN security certificates such as ISO and Soc2, along with conforming to a set of updated MPA best practices. The Trusted Partner Network includes smaller firms and large pre- and post-production companies, as well as content owners. The MPA launched the Alliance for … [Read more...] about MPA Upgrades Trusted Partner Network To Boost Security In Studio Supply Chains

Podcast content creators at Crooked Media , complaining about the “degradation of our working conditions,” have unionized with the WGA East . According to the guild, an “overwhelming majority” of the podcast company’s 55 content creators have signed cards to unionize and are calling on management to voluntarily recognize the guild as their collective bargaining representative. Founded in 2017 by former President Barack Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor, Crooked Media produces podcasts including Pod Save America , What a Day , Hall of Shame and Lovett It or Leave It . “As audiences and creative opportunities expand for podcast storytelling, the guild is proud to work with the storytellers to gain a voice on the job and to improve conditions in this vital sector,” said WGA East Executive Director Lowell Peterson. In a letter delivered today to management, the company’s 55-member bargaining unit said they’re organizing because “Crooked has … [Read more...] about Podcast Content Creators At Crooked Media Unionize With WGA East

The furor over a Chinese spy balloon that flew over U.S. airspace has further chilled D.C.-Beijing tensions, but the entertainment industry already has been swept up in the heightened atmosphere of American hawkishness. Hollywood studios and producers are poised to get a new level of scrutiny over their dealings with China — reflecting a bipartisan hardline toward Beijing and escalating concerns over its influence. A little publicized provision of a recently passed defense bill restricts the U.S. government from spending funds on movies that, to gain entry into the Chinese marketplace, are altered in the face of Chinese government dictates. The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act , approved in a bipartisan vote of Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in December, is the latest example of an increased focus on China’s role, not just in the entertainment industry but also in sports and social media. While Republicans have led attacks on … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s China Predicament: New Law Restricts U.S. Cooperation On Projects Modified To Appease Beijing

The next generation of creative voices from underrepresented communities has been named to join Nickelodeon ’s annual Writing and Artist Programs. This year’s programs are back in person at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank for the first time since 2020. Group members will develop their skills with hands-on work as the Writing Program enters its 23rd year, with 2023 marking the 12 th year for the Artist Program. Both are overseen by the Paramount Office of Global Inclusion and aligned with the company’s “Content for Change” initiative. “We are thrilled to welcome the new participants and future storytellers to the Nickelodeon Writing and Artist Programs,” said Marva Smalls, Paramount’s EVP, Global Head of Inclusion. “For over 20 years, this program has been a catalyst for many people in the creative community to learn and develop the tools needed to launch their careers. Programs like these continue our commitment to an inclusive talent pipeline and diverse … [Read more...] about Nickelodeon’s Annual Writing and Artist Programs Announce 12 New Participants

Amidst continuing controversy over alleged sexual misconduct, it turns out Woody Allen isn’t turning the other cheek to the end of his multimillion-dollar and multi-picture deal with Amazon. The Oscar winner on Thursday hit the studio division of the Jeff Bezos -founded company with a $68 million lawsuit over the cancellation of a four-film agreement and Amazon Studios killing distribution of Allen’s long-completed and shelved movie A Rainy Day in New York . “In June 2018, however, Amazon backed out of the deals, purporting to terminate them without any legal basis for doing so, while knowing that its actions would cause substantial damage to Mr. Allen, Gravier, investors and the artists and crew involved in making the films,” reads the complaint, citing breach of contract, filed by lawyers for Allen and his Gravier Productions in federal court ( read it here ). “Amazon has tried to excuse its action by referencing a 25-year-old baseless allegation against Mr. … [Read more...] about Woody Allen Hits Amazon With $68M Suit Over Killed Film Deal & “Baseless Allegations”

EXCLUSIVE: Following the global success of Netflix original series D.P. and Hellbound , and the Netflix original film Jung-E , South Korea’s Climax Studio is developing filmmaker Jason Kim ’s The Monster Tale along with Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s Imaginarium Productions. Serkis and Cavendish will serve as executive producers on the project alongside Climax’s Byun Seung-Min. The Monster Tale brings together a warring group of three infamous East Asian monsters, an unlikely team of enemies who must unite to defeat a menacing invasion by a monster from across the seas in Europe. Kim, who has the upcoming Netflix original series Bloodhounds , is alsoknown for his Korean box office hit Midnight Runners , will write and direct The Monster Tale . “Bringing brilliant, flawed and complex characters to the screen is at the heart of what we do at the Imaginarium and we cannot wait to work with Climax Studio and their talented team to develop this … [Read more...] about Andy Serkis’ Imaginarium Teams With South Korea’s Climax Studio To Develop Jason Kim’s ‘The Monster Tale’

President Joe Biden is set to deliver his second State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday: “The president will underscore the progress we have made during one of the most challenging times…in history.” The speech will be carried live at 9 p.m. ET by every major broadcast and most cable news outlets. It can also be livestreamed via the player embedded below. The Republican response to Biden’s address, delivered directly after, will also be available via the player. This is Biden’s first address to a divided Congress and Kevin McCarthy’s first State of the Union as Speaker of the House. NETWORK COVERAGE PLANS ON TV & ONLINE ABC News will have special coverage of the 2023 State of the Union and the Republican response from 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET on ABC, and streaming on ABC News Live. World News Tonight anchor David Muir will lead primetime coverage from Washington, … [Read more...] about State Of The Union Speech: How To Watch Biden’s Address To Congress On TV & Online

EXCLUSIVE: Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams will be lending their voices to the upcoming Harley Quinn Valentine’s Day special. As DC superheroes Hawkman and Hawkgirl, in a brief cameo, Williams and Brunson explain how they fell in love in the upcoming special, titled Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special . Per the logline, the special “will feature Harley and Ivy celebrating their very first Valentine’s Day together, while also revealing how the rest of the ragtag crew spends the gushiest, mushiest, most romantic day of the year.” “As a Harley Quinn fan, I’m thrilled to lend my voice to the special and to team up with my Abbott Elementary creative partners, Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker and co-star Tyler James Williams for this fun episode,” Brunson said. Williams added, “ Harley Quinn is such a brilliant series and it is an honor to lend my voice to this special. I think the cameo is something both Abbott Elementary … [Read more...] about Quinta Brunson & Tyler James Williams To Voice Hawkman & Hawkgirl In ‘Harley Quinn’ Valentine’s Day Special At HBO Max

Great Expectations , Steven Knight ’s anticipated return to the world of Charles Dickens, has debuted its first teaser trailer (check it out above). The FX / BBC adaptation stars Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham and Fionn Whitehead as Pip along with Tom Sweet as the young Pip. In the brief look at the upcoming limited series, Miss Havisham meets young Pip when he arrives at Satis House for the first time, as she ominously grins, “What a prized creature we have fished from the river.” The limited series is due to air in the spring on BBC One and iPlayer and will stream on Hulu in the U.S. Internationally, it will be available to stream on Star+ in Latin America and on Disney+ under the Star banner at a later date. Great Expectations is the coming-of-age story of Pip, an orphan who yearns for a greater lot in life until a twist of fate introduces him to the mysterious and eccentric Miss Havisham and Estella (Shalom Brune-Franklin), showing him a dark world of … [Read more...] about ‘Great Expectations’ Teaser: Olivia Colman’s Miss Havisham Meets Young Pip In Steven Knight’s Dickens Adaptation

Chlöe Bailey, Tosin Cole , Olivia Colman and Woody Harrelson are set to star in Girl From the North Country , adapted from the Tony Award-winning Broadway show of the same name inspired by the songs of Bob Dylan. The movie adaptation is written and directed by Conor McPherson, the playwright behind the original Broadway musical. Graham Broadbent and Pete Czerninare produce under the banner of their award-winning Blueprint Pictures ( The Banshees of Inisherin , Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri). CAA Media Finance will represent the film’s domestic sales with Rocket Science launching international sales at the upcoming European Film Market during the Berlin Film Festival. The original Broadway show reimagines 20 legendary Bob Dylan songs including “Forever Young,” “All Along the Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” “Make You Feel My Love” and “Like a Rolling Stone.” Set in 1934 against the backdrop of … [Read more...] about Chlöe Bailey, Tosin Cole, Olivia Colman & Woody Harrelson To Star In Bob Dylan-Inspired ‘Girl From The North Country’