Showbiz Sandbox 617: Why the Writers Strike Will Last for Months, Not Weeks
May 9, 2023
There are few people that know more about labor issues in the entertainment business than attorney and journalist Jonathan Handel. So when members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike last week, grinding most television production to a halt, we asked him to join us to discuss all the nuanced details. Handel not only tells us how the last writers strike was resolved in 2007, but explains why the writers are facing an existential problem after the entertainment business was disrupted by streamers.
As well, Handel reminds us that the Directors Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild contracts both end on June 30th, forcing producers, studios and networks to negotiate three different contracts at the same time. This is why nobody, not even Handel, believes the writers’ strike will end before July.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including what Ed Sheeran’s copyright trial victory may mean for the music business, Kevin Costner walks away from “Yellowstone” and this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.
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Jonathan Handel’s Website
https://jhandel.com/
Jonathan Handel on Puck
https://puck.news/author/jonathan-handel/
‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3’ Rockets To $282M Global Opening
https://deadline.com/2023/05/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-opening-global-china-international-box-office-1235356048/
Box Office: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Opens to $118.4M in U.S. After Heroic Sunday
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/guardians-galaxy-vol-3-box-office-opening-1235481443/
Viewership Transparency, AI Among Issues Dividing Writers and Hollywood Companies in Contract Talks
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/writers-strike-issues-dividing-wga-hollywood-studios-1235477715/
Hollywood CEO Pay: Big Checks, Ugly Optics Amid Strike
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-ceo-2022-chart-1235481300/
Paramount Officially Orders ‘Yellowstone’ Sequel, Announces an End to the Main Series
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/yellowstone-ending-paramount-sequel-series-release-date-1235480419/
Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/02/theater/tony-award-nominees-list.html
BAFTA Reveals Membership Data, Addresses Awards Concerns: ‘Setting Diversity Quotas for Voting is Not the Answer’
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/bafta-membership-data-awards-concerns-1235603034/
James Patterson Sells His 100 Millionth Book
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/92158-james-patterson-sells-his-100-millionth-book.html
‘Dancing With the Stars’ to Return to ABC for Season 32 After Year at Disney+
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/dancing-with-the-stars-return-abc-season-32-1235601036/
Barbie Fashion Designer Joins The Video Game Hall Of Fame
https://www.museumofplay.org/exhibits/world-video-game-hall-of-fame/inducted-games/
Ed Sheeran on Copyright Infringement Lawsuit: ‘Comes With the Territory’
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/07/ed-sheeran-copyright-lawsuit
Could Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” Copyright Win Change the Landscape of Music Lawsuits?
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/dancing-with-the-stars-return-abc-season-32-1235601036/
4Chords by Axis of Awesome
https://youtu.be/oOlDewpCfZQ
Live Nation Posts $3.1 Billion in Revenue, Record Attendance as Global Touring Returns
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/live-nation-3-billion-record-attendance-q1-2023-1235604064/
The Boomy/Spotify Streaming Fraud Debacle Proves ‘Pro-Rata’ Must Go – Urgently.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/the-boomy-spotify-streaming-fraud-debacle-proves-pro-rata-must-go-urgently/
Gordon Lightfoot, Hitmaking Singer-Songwriter, Is Dead at 84
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/arts/music/gordon-lightfoot-dead.html
John Wright, Oscar-Nommed Film Editor of ‘The Hunt for Red October and ‘Speed,’ Dies at 79
https://variety.com/2023/film/obituaries-people-news/john-wright-dead-x-men-1235600349/
Linda Lewis, Singer and Famed Backing Vocalist, Dies Aged 72
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/04/linda-lewis-death-british-singer-and-famed-backing-vocalist-dies-aged-72
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