• The Writers Guild of America recently proposed that writers can use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to write scripts as long as it does not impact writers’ credits or residuals. While some guild members have previously expressed concern that AI could cause writers to lose their jobs, the proposal would treat ChatGPT like a tool such as Final Draft, though it does not address a situation in which an AI program writes a script entirely by itself. (Variety)
• “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight will reportedly write Lucasfilm Ltd.’s upcoming untitled “Star Wars” film, set to be helmed by “Ms. Marvel” director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, following the exit of screenwriters Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson. A representative for Lucasfilm did not respond to a request for comment but the movie is expected to be one of the first since 2019’s “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” (Variety)
  
• Veteran studio executive Erik Lomis, who was MGM’s head of distribution, died on Wednesday at the age of 64. Lomis, who was in charge of handling several blockbusters and Oscar-winning films in the span of his three-decade career, was in the middle of helping Amazon.com Inc. release Ben Affleck’s film “Air,” and recently oversaw the releases of “Women Talking” and “Creed III.” (The Hollywood Reporter)
  

Global Layoffs Extend Far Beyond Big Tech

Bloomberg

Lionsgate Home Entertainment EVP Jed Grossman To Retire After Nearly Three Decades

Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline

Lionsgate Home Entertainment EVP Jed Grossman is set to retire this month after a nearly 30-year run at the studio.

After DeSantis tussle, Disney World will host a major summit on gay rights

Michael Wilner and Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald

The Walt Disney Co. will host a major conference promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in the workplace in Central Florida this September, gathering executives and professionals from the world’s largest companies in a defiant display of the limits of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign against diversity training.

Defense for ‘Rust’ armorer prepares to file motion to dismiss manslaughter case

Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC

Defense attorneys for the original “Rust” movie armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, are planning in the next two weeks to file a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against her, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Alec Baldwin Trashes ‘Rust’ D.A. For Threatening His “Right To A Fair Trial” Over Fatal Movie Shooting

Dominic Patten and Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline

Looking at potentially months before a trial even begins in Alec Baldwin’s criminal case over the October 2021 shooting death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the actor is now accusing prosecutors of violating his “constitutional rights.”

Gwyneth Paltrow ski collision trial brings doctors to stand

Sam Metz, The Associated Press

Doctors and family members are expected to testify on Wednesday in a trial about a 2016 ski crash between Gwyneth Paltrow and a retired Utah man suing her and claiming her recklessness left him with lasting injuries and brain damage.

Hollywood Courts Wall Street’s ESG Investors Mainly With Film and TV Messages, Not Carbon Offsets

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

As Disney, Comcast, Paramount and Fox aim for a piece of $150 billion in annual eco-friendly investments, sustainability has proven itself an opportunity to show that they care, through their content.

Library association reports record book ban attempts in 2022

Hillel Italie, The Associated Press

Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2022, according to a new report from the American Library Association being released Thursday.

A Stage Adaptation of ‘Smash’ Is Setting Its Sights on Broadway

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

The glitzy, fictional Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe that formed the heart of the TV show “Smash” will make the leap to an actual Broadway stage next season.

Uncork’d Acquires Prison Break Action Film ‘Breakout,’ Featuring One of Tom Sizemore’s Final Roles

Joshua Vinson, The Wrap

Latest from director Brandon Slagle is slated for release in April.

Art Heist Documentary ‘The Thief Collector’ Acquired for North America by FilmRise

Naman Ramachandran, Variety

New York-based film and TV studio and streaming network FilmRise has acquired North American distribution rights to true-crime documentary feature film “The Thief Collector.”

‘Scream VI’: Behind the Chillingly Effective Marketing Campaign

Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter

From Ghostface live cam appearances that spooked locals into dialing 911 to a website that let fans request a call from the iconic character, promos lean into the film’s localized tagline “New York, new rules.”

Why ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Earns Its Almost 3-Hour Running Time

Jim Hemphill, IndieWire

“John Wick: Chapter 4” director Chad Stahelski and editor Nathan Orloff tell IndieWire why their epic action movie demanded an epic running time.

Newsmax returns to DirecTV, inks multiyear distribution deal

The Associated Press

Newsmax is returning to DirecTV after a dispute between the parties saw the conservative network removed from the satellite carrier.

Donald Trump Indictment Puts Netflix, Oprah Scrapping For Stormy Daniels Sit-Down

Joe Bel Bruno, The Intercept

Oprah Winfrey and Netflix are among the entertainment goliaths trying to secure the exclusive sit-down interview with pornstar Stormy Daniels now that her testimony likely convinced a Manhattan grand jury to criminally indicted President Donald Trump.

Orange County dismisses domestic violence charges against ‘Rick and Morty’ co-creator Justin Roiland

Kat Tenbarge, NBC News

In a statement to NBC News, an attorney for Roiland said the Orange County District Attorney’s Office conducted a “thorough review of the facts.”

‘Young Sheldon’ Wraps Production on Season 6 Ahead of Possible End Game

Ryan Schwartz, TVLine

“Big Bang Theory” spinoff “Young Sheldon” has completed production on Season 6 amid rumblings that the previously ordered Season 7 will be its last.

Heidi Fleiss Drama in the Works at HBO Max

Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter

The streamer is developing a drama based on the life of Heidi Fleiss, the former “Hollywood Madam” who ran a prostitution ring that had a number of high-profile clients.

Margo Martindale, Chris Diamantopoulos to Lead Prime Video Series ‘The Sticky’, About $13 Million Canadian Maple Syrup Heist

Adam Chitwood, The Wrap

Jamie Lee Curtis also guest stars and executive produces the series from Blumhouse Television.

Vanessa Hudgens Sets Philippines Travel Documentary Exploring Her Family’s Asian Heritage

Patrick Frater, Variety

Vanessa Hudgens, the Asian American actor whose career kicked off in Disney’s “High School Musical” series, is set to shoot a travel documentary in the Philippines, the country of her mother’s birth.

Netflix Expands Finance Programming With ‘How to Get Rich’

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

Based on the 2009 book “I Will Teach You to be Rich” by Ramit Sethi, the series will see Sethi traveling the country and helping people manage their money.

‘The Young and the Restless’ celebrates 50 years of drama

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

It all started on a late morning on a highway. A camera panned to the cab of a large semi-trailer truck. The driver wore a plaid shirt and a day’s growth of beard. Next to him was a mysterious hitchhiker in expensive clothes that were ripped and a fresh head wound.

Kim Raver on how ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ puts women at center

Hilary Fox, The Associated Press

“Grey’s Anatomy” has long championed women’s rights and female leadership on and offscreen — not only does the long-running hospital drama cover contentious topics like abortion, but it also offers women on the show a chance to expand their roles behind the scenes.

TikTok Stars Rally in Washington Against App’s Potential U.S. Ban

Ryan Tracy, The Wall Street Journal

Firm enlists influencers for lobbying blitz before CEO’s congressional testimony on Thursday.

Publishers Prepare for Showdown With Microsoft, Google Over AI Tools

Keach Hagey, The Wall Street Journal

Media executives want compensation for use of their content in ChatGPT, Bing and Bard.

SEC charges Tron founder Justin Sun, celebrities Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul with crypto violations

MacKenzie Sigalos and Rohan Goswami, CNBC

The Securities and Exchange Commission has unveiled fraud and unregistered securities charges against crypto founder and Grenadian diplomat Justin Sun, alongside separate violations against the celebrity backers of his Tronix and BitTorrent crypto assets, which included Jake Paul, Lindsay Lohan and Soulja Boy.

On TikTok, USA Today Finds Traction Without News

Mark Stenberg, Adweek

For USA Today parent company Gannett, social media success has little to do with the news.

Snap Can’t Count on a TikTok Ban to Help It Recover

Ryan Vlastelica, Bloomberg

Snap Inc. shares need more than the talked up possibility of a TikTok ban to recover from a near 70% slump in the past year.

‘The next level for us’: The New York Times eyes better retention for games in subscription drive

Seb Joseph, Digiday

Gaming can be a slippery slope to cost cuts and dashed dreams for news publishers nowadays. But it doesn’t have to be. Just ask The New York Times.

Pioneer of gospel music rediscovered in Pittsburgh archives

Jessie Wardarski, The Associated Press

Scattered in crates, dirty and difficult to read, the gospel music of composer Charles Henry Pace sat packed away, unorganized — and unrealized — for more than 20 years.

Willie Nelson honored with Texas educational endowment

Acacia Coronado, The Associated Press

Weeks after winning more Grammys, Willie Nelson is getting a new kind of honor: a university endowment in Texas.

Nick Lachey ordered into anger management, 12-step program after 2022 paparazzo clash

Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times

After a heated run-in with a female paparazzo last year, singer-turned-TV personality Nick Lachey has been ordered to attend anger management classes and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as a condition of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office’s pre-filing diversion program.

Taylor Swift Fans Prepare Wardrobe, Hydration Strategies for Marathon-Length Shows

Anne Steele, The Wall Street Journal

Pop star’s Eras Tour spans 44 songs over three hours. ‘If Taylor doesn’t need a bathroom break, neither do I.’

Questlove Has a New Creative Pursuit: Publishing

Alexandra Alter, The New York Times

The musician and producer Ahmir Thompson, better known as Questlove, is starting his own imprint, with an eye toward a mix of memoir, history and more.