Hollywood Week: SAG/AFTRA Contract, Israeli/Palestinian Fallout, Hollywood Christmas Parade, Box Office
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- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Saturday, 25 November 2023 11:43
- Written by Janet Walker
As the final week of voting for the SAG/AFTRA contract approaches, top names are voicing concerns against ratifying saying it falls short of the protections, around Artificial Intelligence and the replication or exploitation of the talent.
"While acknowledging the agreements "improvements and gains," the "Full Metal Jacket" and "Stranger Things" actor said he "cannot endorse a contract that compromises the independence and financial future of performers." He was already one of the SAG-AFTRA National Board members who voted against the contract and sending it to a vote to members," Thewrap.com reported.
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Fifteen years ago, when streaming was in its infancy, the idea of securing financial compensation over online reruns was barely thought of by talent or the unions that represent them, since then streaming which has taken over and now rivals box office for profits even to the point of nearly bankrupting movie theater chains.
Artificial Intelligence, which is a critical issue in the recent contract, doesn't provide safety for any digital reproduced talent, let's say Matthew Perry for instance, who with such a wide appeal could be replicated, who then gains, is he protected and how?
Also, with the ability to train AI to craft it is possible that AI can be trained to replicate craft. Essentially, stealing the uniqueness of the talent, like a mask. Of course, the WGA protections are not part of the SAG/AFTRA concerns, but the idea of training Artificial Intelligence is the same, screenwriters such as Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese or lauded writers of the past Nora Ephron, Mario Puzzo, Alfred Hitchcock, or Waldo Salt, and other great writers, who is compensated when AI is trained to replicate or craft their style in its exactness?
"If ratified, SAG-AFTRA members who consent will be digitally exploited in ways not clearly defined and are currently beyond our individual abilities to control," Modine exclaimed. "The US Government, with all its resources, doesn't know how to create AI guardrails to provide protections for citizens," the Stranger Things actor added. "SAG-AFTRA certainly doesn't have the financial resources or technology to navigate the AI tsunami crashing upon the shores of the entertainment industry," Deadline reported.
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Talent Agencies Drop Clients Over Israeli/Palestinian Comment Fallout
Susan Sarandon is the latest big name to be dropped by United Talent Artists (UTA) over her recent pro-Palestinian comments. "Scream V" star Melissa Barrera, who stared in the recent Scream VI was fired from the upcoming sequel over pro-Palestinian remarks which appeared to condemn Israeli over their aggressive action after the violation of their territorial sovereignty.
"More artists are facing consequences for their comments about Israel's bombardment of Gaza. Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon has been dropped by her talent agency and actor Melissa Barrera has been fired from the movie Scream 7," NPR.org reported.
The 91st Hollywood Christmas Parade
The 2023 Hollywood Christmas Parade will be held on Sunday, November 26, 2023, with hosts Dean Cain, Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Montel Williams and special guest host Elizabeth Stanton. The annual parade that ushers in the holiday season is sponsored by the United States Marine Toys for Tots, who collects unwrapped toys for distribution to needy families because every child deserves to receive presents on Christmas morning.
Other sponsors include The City of Los Angeles, The L. Ron Hubbard Theater, The Hollywood Roosevelt, The Family Film Awards, and World MD. Media sponsors include The CW Network, Popstar! TV, Popstar! Events, and Popstar Magazine.
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The lavish tradition will also include balloons, equestrian teams, floats, and many of Hollywood's favorite celebrities including actress Deidre Hall, CBS 2 Los Angeles anchor Jim Hill, Fox 11 (KTTV) evening news anchor Christine Devine, writer, producer, and actress Tatyana Ali, and comedian Craig Robinson, to name a few.
Colonel Paris D. Davis, a Medal of Honor recipient presented by President Biden will serve as the Parades Grand Marshal.
The parade which will be a celebration of the cultural mosaic that defines the City of Angels will begin Sunday, November 26, at 6:00OM, in the heart of Hollywood, at Grumman's Chinese theater travel east down Hollywood Blvd. and turn right on Vine Street, and then left on Sunset.
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Box Office
Leaving the stumbles behind, the Thanksgiving Weekend, with two full days before the official end, has proven to be a much-needed boon for the box office. Audiences poured into the theaters, not seen since the "Barbenheimer" weekend in July, opting to collectively resurrect some films whose epitaph had already been written. Just when the experts were sure thought was leaning toward a shift in audience appeal, the audiences have proven skeptics wrong with a strong showing across the board proving that the big screen is still alive, and lives on.
The Hunger Games: The Balled of Songbirds and Snakes, while hasn't received the best reviews, remained in the number 1 spot with audiences still hungry for more of The Hunger Games saga. Ridley Scott's Napoleon, starring Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, scored big with audiences taking the number 2 spot.
Animated release took the third and fourth spot with Walt Disney's Wish, debuting at number 3 and Universal's The Trolls Band Together, a vibrant explosion of color and sound that will captivate, came in at number 4.
The soccer film Next Goal Wins, from Searchlight Pictures, which tells the story of the worst soccer team in World Cup history and the coach that hopes to turn these ragtag bunch of under achievers into the winners that he believes they are, a feel-good triumphant film that should also perform well. Five Nights at Freddy's, a Blumhouse Horror flick, will continue to pack in the audience over the long weekend.
Martin Scorsese's over three hour Children of the Flower Moon, the western crime thriller starring Robert De Niro, Leonardo Di Caprio and Lily Gladstone is a cinematic masterpiece remained strong, although sliding out of the top ten, came in at number 11. Priscilla, from Director Sofia Coppola and A24, which presents a walk-through Priscilla Presley's introduction to Elvis Presley and her life as the child girlfriend and wife of the world's first rock and roll superstar climbed to number 10.
The Marvel's, from Walt Disney starring Academy Award winner Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani and Samuel L. Jackson, found some solid ground over the holiday weekend, and with two days remaining before the final tally, may make up the initial stumbles. The alt-universe action flick held its own at number 6.
Strong showings all around leading into the traditional holiday season prove that the Nicole Kidman commercials are working, and people are returning to the captivating thrill of the big screen.
