🎬 'Hey, WGA, you up?' 💬📱

'Hey, WGA, you up?' 💬📱
Latest on the SAG & WGA Strikes

AMPTP Hits Up Their Ex, Hoping to Talk 😬

Striking members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have responded with both hopeful optimism and cautious skepticism after the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) reached out to restart talks amid the ongoing contract negotiations.

While WGA leaders are hopeful that AMPTP is approaching the discussions with a more open mind, they remain wary of potential compromises on their proposals. The writers are comparing the sudden AMPTP talks to an unexpected call from an ex: "I feel like my ex of a year just called me up at 4 a.m. and asked if I miss them yet." They're sticking to their demands and will keep protesting until they see real change.

The meeting between WGA and AMPTP is scheduled for Friday to discuss negotiations.

SAG Urges AMPTP To Reenter Talks

Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA's Duncan Crabtree-Ireland is making it clear that the AMPTP have been MIA since July 12. SAG is urging them to return to the bargaining table and put an end to this strike.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher is ready for the long haul and is committed to getting an agreement that benefits everyone. She even testified at a public committee hearing, advocating for actors and writers to get a fair share of the studios' streaming subscription income. The New York City Council showed some love by passing resolutions in support of SAG-AFTRA and WGA, showing political solidarity with unionized labor.

SAG Defends Interim Agreements

Remember how some stars like Viola Davis and Sarah Silverman were voicing their worries about those SAG-AFTRA interim agreements? Well, SAG-AFTRA has come back to set the record straight, and is justifying these interim agreements for independent productions amid the ongoing performers' strike.

They believe the terms of these agreements will prevent content distribution by struck companies until there's an industrywide agreement in place. No loopholes here! It's all part of their strategic approach in the 2023 negotiations and strike. The projects with these agreements are independent from the companies in AMPTP. So, it's a win-win.

The terms and conditions of these agreements reflect what SAG-AFTRA is fighting for in their ongoing negotiations with AMPTP, showing that they're being reasonable with their demands. You gotta prove your case, right? 📜💼 The agreements also aim to direct production budgets to union-covered projects. 🤝

An updated list of projects with interim agreements can be found here.

Stars Step Up to Help Fellow Actors

In the midst of the uncertainty for actors, some of Hollywood's biggest names are stepping up to lend a helping hand. SAG-AFTRA has raised over $15 million from top-paid actors to create an emergency financial assistance program for performers facing tough times during the strike.

The list of generous donors includes George Clooney, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey. Wow, talk about star power! 🌟

LAST LOOKS 👀

• Barbie passes $800 at global box office. (more)

• Fran Drescher and Joely Fisher face opposition from independent candidates Gilbert-Dunbar and Antico within SAG. Results of the upcoming re-election are expected in September.(more)

• First image emerges of Nicholas Cage in A24’s ‘Dream Scenario.’ (see it 👉here👈)

• New Image of Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari in Michael Mann’s ‘FERRARI’ (see it 👉here👈)

• Jonathan Glazer’s ‘The Zone of Interest’ Sets December A24 Release and Shares Two New Images (see it 👉here👈)

• Reddit user points out that Disney’s new Sci-Fi film ‘The Creator’ uses controversial footage of 2020 Beirut explosion. (more)

• Amazon Prime snatches up European rights to Roland Emmerich’s gladiator series ‘Those About to Die.’ (more)

• Janet Yang is reelected as Film Academy’s president. (more)

• NYC film permits fall more than 65% in July due to strikes. (more)

• In spite of subscriber plateau, streamer revenues in the UK are up by 20%. (more)

RELEASE RADAR

What to watch this weekend? 👀

THEATRICAL 🎥

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: The Turtle brothers, who have long lived in seclusion from the human world, embark on a mission to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be embraced as regular teenagers.

• Meg 2: The Trench: Join Jason Statham and Wu Jing on an epic oceanic adventure, battling colossal Megalodons and ruthless environmental threats in a pulse-pounding race for survival.

• Shortcomings: In Berkeley, California, Ben, a filmmaker, juggles his day job at an arthouse theater, an obsession with unattainable blondes, and a close friendship with Alice, a grad student with a penchant for dating. When his girlfriend Miko leaves for a New York internship, Ben starts to explore his desires and aspirations.

STREAMING 📺

• Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child: (Netflix) This documentary follows Jake Paul's remarkable journey from online prankster to pro boxing sensation.

• Passenger: (VOD) Randy, usually content with blending in, is forced to confront his troubled past and overcome his fears when a co-worker goes on a sudden and violent rampage, putting his survival at stake.

• River Wild: (VOD) A pair of siblings embark on a white-water rafting trip with a small group, where their love and distrust for each other are put to the test.

  

🎥 MARTINI SHOT🍸