General
WME Seeks Dismissal Of WGA’s Antitrust Lawsuit Over Packaging
David Robb, Deadline Hollywood
WME has filed a motion to dismiss the WGA’s counterclaims in a federal antitrust lawsuit in which the guild is asking the court to declare that agency packaging fees are illegal.
Why Hollywood’s Talk of ‘Inclusion Riders’ Fizzled
J. Clara Chan, The Wrap
When Frances McDormand emphatically spoke of “inclusion riders” at the end of her 2018 Oscars speech, the ensuing publicity and support seemed poised to usher in a new era of inclusion in Hollywood. But the hiring clause has not been widely embraced in Hollywood for the same reason the inclusion rider was created in the first place: an overwhelming lack of accountability and a deflection of responsibility among deal-makers in the industry.
Is Hollywood Doing Enough to Fight the Climate Crisis?
Cynthia Littleton, Variety
For all of humanity, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The climate crisis has escalated to a terrifying degree, with daily news reports of the catastrophic effects of extreme weather, flooding from rising seas, crops compromised by drought and parasites and the devastation of unpredictable wildfires including those ablaze this summer in the Amazon rainforest.
The Twin Towers in Film and TV: A Tribute or a Painful Reminder?
Tom Mashberg, The New York Times
It can happen abruptly, while flipping through reruns of “Friends” or rewatching a movie like “Armageddon” or “Working Girl”: a sight of the twin towers, dominating the New York skyline like steel sentinels. “I used to get so startled when I first saw them in repeats and old shows,” said Sally Regenhard, a skyscraper-safety advocate whose 28-year-old son, Christian, a New York probationary firefighter, died when the towers fell 18 years ago.
Emmy Party List 2019: Media Mergers, Agency Pullouts Lighten Soirée Schedule
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline Hollywood
The Emmy Awards party field, which had expanded dramatically over the past decade as new cable networks and streaming platforms entered the winners’ circle, is undergoing a major contraction this year. As we reported last month, following the WGA-ATA breakup that triggered the firing of agents by more than 7,000 writers, all agencies canceled their traditional Emmy weekend bashes this year.
The Obamas Want ‘Higher Ground.’ Someone Got There First.
Nancy Coleman, The New York Times
Hanisya Massey, the owner of Higher Ground Enterprises in Covina, Calif., first heard from a lawyer for Higher Ground Productions early this summer. Barack and Michelle Obama wanted to trademark their company’s name, but the United States Patent and Trademark Office had deemed it too similar to the mark Ms. Massey registered in 2017 for her computer training company.
Film
Can ‘Hustlers’ Become STX’s Biggest Box Office Hit to Date?
Jeremy Fuster, The Wrap
After a big start to 2019 with “The Upside,” STX has faced months of headlines regarding their financial future. But after their newest film, “Hustlers,” premiered in Toronto to rave reviews this past weekend, the studio might see its fortune turn around with what could be its biggest box office hit to date.
Why the Best Cinematographers Are Struggling to Find Films to Shoot
Chris O’Falt, IndieWire
Roger Deakins arrived at TIFF with his new film “The Goldfinch” only four weeks after having finished shooting “1917,” due out later this year. The adaptation of the Donna Tart novel and World War I film are very different projects, but they both represent the type of prestige studio dramas Deakins has always been drawn to and have defined his celebrated career.
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ director Jon M. Chu defends Adele Lim in pay dispute
Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times
The talent behind “Crazy Rich Asians” has come to the defense of a writer who quit the film’s sequel over a pay disparity. Director Jon M. Chu and actors Gemma Chan, Awkwafina and Henry Golding on Monday stood by screenwriter Adele Lim, who had been hired by Chu but reportedly could not reach a deal with producers after learning that co-writer Peter Chiarelli netted a much higher fee than she did.
Television
Local TV Stations Make Bid To Get Away From Traditional TV Ratings
Brian Steinberg, Variety
Local TV stations are working to tune in a new methodology for counting viewers of the 6 p.m. news and morning talk shows. The TVB, the trade organization that represents more than 800 TV stations and TV broadcast groups, is pressing Madison Avenue to start using viewer impressions as a base for striking ad deals rather than continuing to rely on TV ratings.
At Least 40 Laid Off at AXS TV After Mark Cuban Sells Controlling Stake to Anthem Sports, Steve Harvey
Tony Maglio and Jennifer Maas, The Wrap
At least 40 people have been let go from AXS TV following Mark Cuban’s sale of his majority stake in the cable network and the channel HDNet Movies to Steve Harvey and Anthem Sports & Entertainment on Monday, three individuals close to the situation tell TheWrap exclusively.
Viacom Hit With Wrongful Death Suit Over DUI By Ex-‘Lights Out With David Spade’ Accountant
Dominic Patten, Deadline Hollywood
Jacob Gralitzer is already looking at up to a decade behind bars for the killing of Noah Benardout last month if found guilty. Now the parents of the deceased pedestrian are taking the industry accountant, the producers of Lights Out with David Spade and Viacom to California court for wrongful death.
David E. Kelley, Jack Bender Adapting Stephen King’s ‘The Institute’ for TV
Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter
David E. Kelley and Jack Bender, who teamed for the Stephen King adaptation Mr. Mercedes, are coming back together for a TV project based on the author’s latest novel.
‘Tamron Hall’ Willing to Take the Risk on Live TV
Paige Albiniak, Broadcasting & Cable
The differentiating factor between Disney’s Tamron Hall and everyone else hitting syndication this season is that Tamron airs live three days a week on the East Coast and live-to-tape everywhere else, just like Disney’s Live with Kelly and Ryan, which Tamron follows in many major markets.
Lionsgate CEO: Future of Starz Remains ‘Highest Priority’ for Business
Dave McNary, Variety
Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer offered a bullish outlook and pledged to seek an improved Wall Street profile for the company — which has seen its stock lose about half its value over the past year.
Jennifer Lopez will maybe, possibly headline the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show
Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times
Jennifer Lopez appears to be unstoppable. Amid mounting Oscar buzz for her turn as a mastermind stripper in “Hustlers,” the triple threat is now reportedly in consideration to headline the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show.
Technology and New Media
TiVo’s New CEO Aims to Make Up for Lost Ground in TV Streaming
Christopher Palmeri, Bloomberg
TiVo Corp.’s new chief executive officer, Dave Shull, wants to bring the inventor of the digital video recorder back to life by splitting it in two. Shull, who joined San Jose, California-based TiVo in May, said in an interview he wants to complete a spinoff of the company’s patent portfolio by the first half of 2020.
AT&T Audience Network’s Future Remains Unclear as Its Biggest Show Returns
Jason Lynch, Adweek
For most networks, welcoming back their most popular series is a cause for celebration. And while AT&T Audience Network is indeed excited for tonight’s Season 3 premiere of Mr. Mercedes, adapted from Stephen King’s Bill Hodges trilogy of novels, it is also grappling with questions about the long-term future of not only the show, but the network itself.
Netflix Inks Content Deal with Feel-Good King of Bollywood
Saritha Rai, Bloomberg
Netflix Inc. is looking to one of India’s most influential filmmakers for original programming, advancing the streaming giant’s efforts to bring quality content to the entertainment-hungry nation.
Google’s Apple Arcade competitor Play Pass is officially on the way
Jay Peters, The Verge
Earlier this year, screenshots leaked of an experimental Google Play game subscription service called Google Play Pass, which looked to be a direct answer to Apple’s similar Apple Arcade. But it doesn’t seem to be a test anymore — Google has now teased that Play Pass is officially “coming soon.”
How Artists Are Gaming Streaming Searches to Score Hits
Elias Leight, Rolling Stone
At the end of June, the singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen announced plans for a new album titled Lover. “This record is deeply personal,” he said in a statement.
This Music Video Has Been Modified From Its Original Version (and Now It’s Vertical)
Alyssa Bereznak, The Ringer
Last fall, 28-year-old Chloe Johnson was going through a breakup when Billie Eilish dropped her mournful single “when the party’s over.” “That song just stuck,” the New York–based marketer told me.
Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research
TIFF 2019: This Fall Movie Season, America Is Losing Its Mind
Eric Kohn, IndieWire
The world is falling apart, and this fall, the movies are all over it. Extracting trends from new releases often amounts to a fool’s errand, since movies come out at disparate moments for a range of reasons.
With a $4.99 Price Point, Apple Just Fired the Latest Shot in the Streaming Wars
Alison Herman, The Ringer
There’s something contradictory about Apple’s long-awaited entry into the streaming content arms race. On the one hand, a trillion-dollar company parachuting into a capital-intensive industry practically demands a series of financial and logistical flexes, together snowballing into a grand entrance literal years in the making.
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