Hollywood Week: SAG/AFTRA, Studios Settle Strike, Grammy’s Announced, Music Execs Face Rape Accusations, Box Office
- Details
- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Saturday, 11 November 2023 15:58
- Written by Janet Walker
The longest strike in the history of the Screen Actors Guild ended this week and the contract which the SAG/AFTRA negotiating board voted unanimously to ratify will now be distributed to the membership for the final vote.
"In a message to members Wednesday night, the union said the pact is valued at over $1 billion and includes pay increases higher than what other unions received this year, a "streaming participation bonus" and regulations on AI. The tentative deal also includes higher caps on health and pension funds, compensation bumps for background performers," reported The Hollywood Reporter.
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While in theory the 118-day strike is over, and the union and studios are optimistic, the contract which will be distributed in the next week to the membership has yet to be voted on. If the membership agrees with the negotiating board that the contract meets their demands and expectations, then it will be ratified. If not, then the negotiating team will be back at the table with the AMPTP and studios executive to hammer out any unresolved issues.
From the few details revealed surrounding the new contract, which include what was once considered absurdities such as a streaming participation bonus, large pay raises, and acknowledges the contribution of the supporting actors, day players, and other working man and appears to address all levels of the unions members from the A-list to the backgrounders, a working man's contract.
The AMPTP released this statement regarding the agreement, "Today's tentative agreement represents a new paradigm. It gives SAG-AFTRA the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of the union, including the largest increase in minimum wages in the last forty years; a brand new residual for streaming programs; extensive consent and compensation protections in the use of artificial intelligence; and sizable contract increases on items across the board. The AMPTP is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement and looks forward to the industry resuming the work of telling great stories."
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Grammy Executive Faces Rape Accusation
Neil Portnow, former head of the Grammy Awards, was sued this week over allegations of a 2018 rape in New York City. The accuser, a member of the recording academy, filed the lawsuit in New York State Court. The lawsuit is graphic, which may help although the New York State Court does not favor victims.
"In a statement, a spokesperson for Portnow denied the allegations and said they are the "product of the Plaintiff's imagination and undoubtedly motivated by Mr. Portnow's refusal to comply with the Plaintiff's outrageous demands for money and assistance in obtaining a residence visa for her," The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Without dissecting the statement when a victim is called "stupid," or mentally denigrated, or the allegations a "product of imagination," the probability of truth increases. Rape has become permissible depending on the socioeconomic status or profession of the perpetrator. The legal, entertainment and religion industries apparently have the free pass from prosecution.
"Even with the necessary evidence to prosecute sexual assault victims are told "DNA is not sufficient to prosecute," according to a former Sargent in the Hudson County, NJ, Sexual Assault Unit, without the ability to make a positive identification which for women where GHB or other drugs are used to render the victim incapacitated, the likelihood of prosecution is rare. Especially in the legal and entertainment industry where the capacity for corruption increases. Although there is nothing more disposal than Sunday morning offering.
Antonio "L.A." Reid Accused of Sexual Assault
A former Arista Records executive, Drew Dixon, has filed a lawsuit in New York federal court in the Adult Survivors Act, accusing Antonia "L.A." Reid, "who she worked under starting in the early 2000s, of assaulting her on two occasions. After she rejected other overtures, she alleges Reid responded by "punishing the artists" she had "already signed or by blocking the artists she attempted to sign," including Kanye West and John Legend," reported The Hollywood Reporter.
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Grammy Awards Announced
For the complete list of nominees in each of the 94 categories follow this link to the Grammy Awards website.
Box Office
The Marvel's from Walt Disney starring Academy Award winner Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani and Samuel L. Jackson, debuts at number 1, with a one-day total of $21m.
Five Nights at Freddy's, a Blumhouse horror flick, dropped to number one with an eight day worldwide release total of $227 million.
Taylor Swift continues to reign supreme at the box office as her ERAS tour film, dropped to third, still dominate with a month total of $221 million.
Priscilla, from Director Sofia Coppola and A24, which presents a walk-through Priscilla Presley introduction to Elvis Presley and her life as the child girlfriend and wife of the world's first rock and roll superstar, is holding steady at number 4.
Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, the western crime thriller starring Robert De Niro, Leonardo Di Caprio and Lily Gladstone dropped to fifth place at the box office after 22 days. The more than three-hour thriller is a cinematic masterpiece.
New to the box office, Journey to Bethlehem, from SONY Pictures, starring Antonio Banderas and Fiona Palomo, set the Nativity story to live action musical bringing the birth of Jesus to a new audience.
Radical, from Pantelion Films, an unknown film about the worst performing school systemin Mexico and the teacher who decides to turn this tragedy into triumph, has dropped to number 9 with an impressive eight day $4m worldwide total.