Showbiz Sandbox 610: Hollywood Writers Prep For A Contentious Strike
March 7, 2023
The current Writers Guild of America contract with signatories ends on May 1st of this year. Television networks and studios are bracing for what feels like an inevitable writers strike. The guild, which represents TV and movie writers, recently settled on a list of demands it is seeking during upcoming contract negotiations.
Meanwhile AMC is defending its decision to raise ticket prices for movie tickets based on where a seat is in the auditorium. This kind of variable pricing is used by some cinemas in Europe, but will all moviegoers in North America find it too confusing?
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the big winners at this year’s Independent Spirit Awards, the controversy over self-taping auditions and why many of the hot new stars in China are in their forties.
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‘Creed III’ Has Knockout $100M+ Global Opening
https://deadline.com/2023/03/creed-iii-3-opening-weekend-ant-man-quantumania-avatar-global-international-box-office-1235279607
Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Creed III’ Wins Title With Historic $58.6M Opening
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016808-sweet-and-spicy-roast-chicken
Heads Up: A Better Movie Seat May Cost You
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/05/business/media/movie-theaters-ticket-prices.html
AMC CEO Adam Aron Defends New “Sightline” Ticket Pricing
https://deadline.com/2023/02/amc-ceo-adam-aron-defends-new-sightline-ticket-pricing-for-moviegoers-1235275125/
Warner Bros. Discovery Tweaks Executive Pay, David Zaslav and Other Execs to Get Bonuses Based on Free Cash Flow, Debt Reduction
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warner-bros-discovery-executive-pay-david-zaslav-cash-flow-1235341752/
Netflix to Increase Asia Content Spending by 15% in 2023 as Revenue Growth Accelerates in the Region
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/netflix-content-spending-asia-pacific-1235543665/
A24 Buys Off-Broadway’s Cherry Lane Theatre
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/a24-buys-cherry-lane-theatre-1235340385/
Regional Network Diamond Sports Misses $140M Debt Payment to Bondholders
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/regional-network-diamond-sports-debt-1235326440/
Casting Directors Sound Off On Self-Tape Controversy
https://deadline.com/2023/03/casting-directors-sound-off-self-tape-controversy-1235278508/
The Rise Of China’s ‘Uncle Stars’: How Middle-aged Men Are Taking The Spotlight
https://chinafilminsider.com/the-rise-of-chinas-uncle-stars-how-middle-aged-men-are-taking-the-spotlight/
Massive Hike in U.S. Visa Fees for Performers Prompts U.K. Entertainment Industry Outcry
https://variety.com/2023/biz/global/u-s-performer-visa-cost-hike-p-o-visa-1235539471/
Karol G Achieves Historic First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With ‘Mañana Será Bonito’
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/karol-g-manana-sera-bonito-billboard-200-albums-chart-debut-1235280052/
WGA Sets Its Pattern Of Demands For Looming Contract Talks
https://deadline.com/2023/02/writers-guild-pattern-of-demands-contract-talks-wga-1235273650/
Richard Rushfield: 62 Days to the Abyss
https://theankler.com/p/rushfield-62-days-to-the-abyss
Gary Rossington, Last Surviving Original Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dies at 71
https://variety.com/2023/music/obituaries-people-news/gary-rossington-dead-lynyrd-skynyrd-guitarist-1235543685/
Tom Sizemore, Intense Actor With a Troubled Life, Dies at 61
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/03/movies/tom-sizemore-dead.html
Burny Mattinson Dies: Walt Disney Animation Studios Legend
https://deadline.com/2023/02/burny-mattinson-dead-disney-animation-longest-castmember-1235273367/
Wayne Shorter, Jazz Legend Who Collaborated With Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell, Dead at 89
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/wayne-shorter-jazz-legend-dead-obit-1234689732/
Ricou Browning, the Gill-Man in ‘Creature From the Black Lagoon,’ Dies at 93
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ricou-browning-dead-creature-from-the-black-lagoon-1235337925/
Bryant & May Novelist Christopher Fowler Has Died Aged 69
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/03/bryant-may-novelist-christopher-fowler-has-died-aged-69
Christopher Fowler’s Blog
http://www.christopherfowler.co.uk/blog/
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