Actors Guild Agrees To Deal With Film Company
The Screen Actors Guild has agreed to let members work for one independent film company if actors strike against major movie studios within months, and similar deals with other firms could ease pressure on small film and TV producers. The “interim agreement” was signed with The Film Department as negotiations between SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) continued on Thursday with no word from either party on any progress.
Spokespeople for SAG and the AMPTP, who began new contract talks earlier this week, declined to comment on the interim agreement, and it was unclear if other independent companies had approached SAG about similar agreements.
Mark Gill, who heads The Film Department, said his company approached SAG with the idea, and that the “interim agreement” was similar to deals the Writers Guild of America signed with some independent producers late last year allowing them to work during a crippling 100-day writers strike. Continue Reading…
Lionsgate, New Line, Slayer – Trade Breaks
“Both Lionsgate and Marvel Studios have reached interim agreements the Writers Guild of America. These deals mean that both studios will put writers immediately back to work on their development slates. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed, but shows such as “Weeds” and “Mad Men” along with films like “Saw V,” “Thor” and “Captain America”…”
Full Story: Variety
Contrary to previous reports on IMDB there is “no truth” to the rumor that New Line Cinema’s Bob Shaye & Michael Lynne were being sacked, and all projects, including The Hobbit were moving completely over to the Warner Bros. camps. A New Line spokesperson stated via email to us today that the story was false, and they are seeking a correction on IMDB…”
Full story: The One Ring
Anchor Bay Entertainment has picked up U.S. distribution rights to Jon Knautz’s horror comedy “Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer” in a mid-six-figure deal with a theatrical commitment. The film (featuring “Nightmare on Elm Street” star Robert Englund) tells the story of a teen (Trevor Matthews) who is haunted by the murder of his parents. As his rage builds, he accidentally awakens an ancient evil, prompting chaos in the vein of ’80s horror-comedy creature features…”
Full story: Hollywood Reporter
Michael Moore won’t attend Oscars without writers’ cooperation
Uncertainty rules the Academy Awards as “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood” led Tuesday with eight nominations each, two other best-picture contenders trailed with seven, and a writers strike left the fate of the show itself up in the air.
Yet a sampling of reaction from nominees made one thing sound definite: Stars and filmmakers will skip the Oscars if the ceremony does not have the blessing of striking writers.
Hollywood’s most glamorous night could go the way of the Golden Globes, whose telecast was scrapped because stars remained steadfast in support of writers and refused to come. If stars boycott and Oscar organizers push ahead with a broadcast ceremony, it could end up as a glorified clips show with no one on hand to collect their trophies and gush their thanks.
