Diversity

Issa Rae has revealed she mandates that all of her sets are at least 60% diverse. The Golden Globe-nominated star and creator of Insecure disclosed the directive as she laid down a challenge to marketing and advertising personnel today as part of an impassioned discussion at the Cannes Lions conference about confronting bias in the industry. Rae said: “I still see (bias in the industry). Now there’s a public discourse about it, people can call it out and you can see the results. I do think that’s healthy. I find there’s a lot of lip service to changing it. “For me it’s about making the changes on my end. Now I have the mandate of making sure my sets are 60% diverse, and that comes from realising my own power. I can say no to a job if the crew is all white, which happens all the time. How is this still happening, and how do you want me to be your spokesperson for diversity when the people behind are not diverse? “I say, ‘I’d love to do this, but I just want to make … [Read more...] about Issa Rae Challenges Advertising Industry To Follow Her Mandate For More Diverse Sets: Cannes Lions 2022

EXCLUSIVE: The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment ( CAPE ) and Franklin Leonard ’s The Black List are teaming up for the CAPE List , a curated list of the 12 most promising unmade film scripts centering on Asian Pacific characters and experiences. The partnership, which is a fitting announcement for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, continues the fight for authentic representation and storytelling in film. The pairing between the two organization is an ideal match as CAPE has helped to launch writing careers with its New Writers Fellowship and the Black List has become a beacon for Hollywood executives’ favorite unproduced screenplays. The 12 scripts on The CAPE List represent a diverse array of stories – one for each month of the year in celebration of #AsianAllYear – that scratch the surface of the plethora of Asian Pacific Islander stories. CAPE looks to move the needle when it comes to studios making more films in which diversity is baked in … [Read more...] about The Black List Teams With Coalition Of Asian Pacifics In Entertainment For Inaugural CAPE List

EXCLUSIVE: During Sundance, Jeremy Blacklow, Director of Entertainment Media at GLAAD and The Black List ’s Kate Hagen revealed the second annual catalog for the GLAAD List which is a roster of the most promising unmade LGBTQ -inclusive film scripts. From stories about Tennessee Williams to the bohemian ‘80s arts scene in NYC to a family fighting for survival as the world might be ending, the scripts on The GLAAD List represent the type of stories that GLAAD would like to see studios producing. With the proper attention, and with the collaboration of the right directors and actors, these scripts show tremendous promise and should one day become films that will both entertain audiences and change hearts and minds around the world. “GLAAD is thrilled to present this incredible list of unmade LGBTQ-inclusive scripts to the entertainment industry at large for a second year in a row,” said Blacklow. “We have read a lot of scripts this past year, in order to settle on … [Read more...] about The GLAAD List: The Black List And GLAAD Unveil Second Annual Roster Of Unmade LGBTQ-Inclusive Film Scripts

Fresh off their announcement of the GLAAD Media Awards at Sundance , GLAAD revealed today during the Park City fest that they have partnered with The Black List for the inaugural GLAAD List, a catalog of the most promising unmade LGBTQ -inclusive film scripts in Hollywood that have been hosted on blcklst.com or were included on the 2018 year-end annual Black List. The curated list includes scripts about trans youth, HIV and AIDS, and LGBTQ icon Bayard Rustin. The scripts on The GLAAD List represent the type of stories that GLAAD would like to see studios producing. “There is no more reputable source for discovering quality scripts in Hollywood than The Black List,” said Jeremy Blacklow, GLAAD’s Director of Entertainment Media. “The Black List’s commitment to elevating marginalized voices in the film industry is unparalleled and GLAAD is excited to lock arms with them in helping bring diverse LGBTQ stories to Hollywood’s attention.” “The Black List is thrilled … [Read more...] about The GLAAD List: GLAAD Teams With The Black List For LGBTQ Inclusive Film Scripts

The CAA Amplify summit will make its in-person return on June 22 featuring speakers across entertainment, sports, media, technology, and social justice. The summit brings together a diverse group of key influencers and industry decision-makers to explore the role business plays in advancing culture and justice for communities of color. Speaking in front of an invite-only crowd in Ojai, California are Ava DuVernay , Yara Shahidi , Anthony Ramos , Stephanie Hsu , Tomi Adeyemi , Storm Reid , Jeymes Samuel , Jon Platt, Keisha Lance Bottoms , Cris Abrego , Amber Ruffin , Leslie Grace , Crystal Echo Hawk , Lauren Ridloff , Nina Shaw , Soman Chainani, and Franklin Leonard . “We’re thrilled for the return of CAA Amplify and to once again be in community with so many talented artists and business leaders,” said Ruben Garcia, Executive and Co-Head of Cultural Business Strategy at CAA . “The pandemic helped illustrate the value of the network we … [Read more...] about CAA Amplify Summit Sets Ava DuVernay, Leslie Grace, Keisha Lance Bottoms Among 2022 Speakers

Disney kicked off its CineEurope presentation in Barcelona today with 12 minutes of footage from July’s Marvel fourquel Thor: Love And Thunder , and throughout the show teased trailers and looks at its other upcoming titles including four never-before-seen scenes from James Cameron ’s Avatar: The Way Of Water . Ahead of the Thor footage, Disney’s Head of Global Theatrical Distribution Tony Chambers stressed the importance of immersive storytelling and the studio’s “robust, diverse slate” which kicked off about 60 minutes of footage that was then introduced by EMEA Head of Theatrical Distribution Nick Rush and EMEA Head of Studio Marketing Lee Jury. There were pre-recorded messages from the likes of Marvel boss Kevin Feige who noted that even after 14 years it “feels like we’re just getting started.” Thor star Chris Hemsworth lamented not being in Barcelona for the sangria which “always tastes better” in the Spanish town as he introed the Love And Thunder … [Read more...] about Disney Screens New Scenes From ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water,’ Extended ‘Thor: Love And Thunder’ Footage – CineEurope

Distribution sources are saying there’s a chance that Paramount/Skydance’s Top Gun: Maverick could top the box office this weekend in its fifth session with $32 million, a 28% decline week over week. This will easily send the Tom Cruise movie past the half-billion point at the domestic box office; the pic already is the actor’s highest grossing of all time with $900 million-plus worldwide . Top Gun 2 continued to lead advance ticket sales today in the U.S., I hear. Should Top Gun 2 fly in with $30M+, it will soar above Warner Bros’ $85M Baz Luhrmann-directed Elvis , which is eyeing $20M-plus , and Universal/Blumhouse’s Scott Derrickson-directed R-rated $16M horror film The Black Phone , which is spotting $15M – $20M . Mixed in we’ve got the third weekend of Jurassic World Dominion , which is looking at around $29M , off 51%, and the second weekend of Disney/Pixar’s Lightyear , which is also expected to be down 51% at $25M . … [Read more...] about ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Could Upset ‘Elvis’ At Weekend Box Office As Tom Cruise Pic Flies To $500M Stateside

Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features bassist Doug Wimbish. As the in-house bassist for Sugar Hill Records, Doug Wimbish played on songs that make up the foundation of hip-hop as we know it today, including Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five ’s “The Message” and “White Lines,” and the Sugarhill Gang ’s “Apache” and “8th Wonder.” “We cut all of that Sugar Hill music from scratch,” Sugarhill Gang rapper Master Gee told the crowd on the 80s Cruise earlier this year before bringing Wimbish onto the stage. “There were no samples. That was all done by real musicians like Doug Wimbish. I’m here today … [Read more...] about Bassist Doug Wimbish on Nearly Joining the Stones and Madonna’s Insane ‘Erotica’ Party

As the UK production boom shows no sign of letting up and capacity and crew shortages in and around London continue to trouble producers, Manchester is fast becoming an attractive destination for international film and television crews. The city is, as the crow flies, just 163 miles north of the English capital and its high-end 85,000 square foot Space Studios Manchester , a mere five minutes from the city center, has housed prolific productions ranging from Sony/Marvel’s Jared Leto starrer Morbius to Netflix’s Anatomy Of A Scandal to multiple seasons of BBC gangster drama Peaky Blinders . While the city has a long history of hosting local films like 28 Days Later or East Is East as well as lauded British television shows ranging from Queer As Folk to Shameless and the iconic longstanding soap Coronation Street , the last few years have seen the city really ramp up its efforts to position itself as a global filming destination. “What we want to do … [Read more...] about Hot Spots: How Manchester Is Fast Becoming A Magnet For International Productions

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros. Television Group has announced the seven directors selected for the 2022 WBTV Directors’ Workshop. The 2022 edition will be the first in-person class of the workship since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The WBTV Directors’ Workshop launched in 2013 with the aim to discover new and innovative talent, to prepare directors from other creative fields (motion pictures, commercials, music videos, shortform content, etc.) for the transition to television, and to provide increased opportunities for women helmers and those from underrepresented groups. Since its founding, the Directors’ Workshop has helped to launch or further the TV directing careers of more than 60 women and/or people of color, according to WBTV. This year’s class was instructed by directors Bethany Rooney and Stacey K. Black. Prior Directors’ Workshop graduates include Bola Ogun ( Shadow & Bone, The Witcher, Walker, Lucifer ), Stacey Muhammad ( Queen Sugar, Harlem, … [Read more...] about WBTV Sets 2022 Television Directors Workshop Participants