Los Angeles area topless bar where a group of exotic dancers have filed paperwork attempting to unionize.On Thursday, the majority of the 30 strippers employed at Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood, California filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a vote to be represented by the Actors’ Equity Association, Deadline reported.If the employees are successful and election results are certified by the board, they would become the first strippers in the United States to be represented by a union, according to Deadline.Actors’ Equity is a national labor union that speaks for more than 51,00 actors and stage managers working in live theater.“Strippers are live entertainers, and while some aspects of their job are unique, they have much in common with other Equity members who dance for a living,” Actors’ Equity President Kate Shindle told Deadline. “In my conversations with them, these dancers reported consistent compensation issues — including significant wage theft — along with health and safety risks and violations. They want health insurance and other benefits, like workers’ compensation.”Shindle added that the dancers “need protection from sexual harassment, discrimination and unjust terminations.”“We applaud their efforts to seize their collective power and unionize, like so many others across the country who are fed up with toxic workplaces,” Shindle said.
California Considers Bill That Would Free Actors From Exclusivity Deals
01.08.2022 - 18:45 / variety.com
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterTV networks have long known the value of exclusive contracts for their stars. Networks that invest millions in developing and promoting a show don’t want to see the lead actor show up in another series on a rival network.But in the streaming era, those exclusivity deals have become a major concern for actors.
TV seasons have far fewer episodes than they did a decade ago, and there are often longer breaks between seasons. So actors often find themselves forced out of work for extended periods while they wait to hear whether their show has been picked up for another season.The state of California is considering a bill that would up-end that arrangement.
The bill, AB 437, would bar exclusivity agreements for actors. If it passed, the stars of “Stranger Things” could show up on “Euphoria,” so long as the production schedules don’t overlap.
“As long as there’s not a conflict, there really shouldn’t be that kind of restriction,” said Assemblyman Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, the author of the bill. “Artists should be able to work rather than putting the power with the studios.”The bill is being pushed by SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, which has long held that exclusivity deals have become outdated.“We just had longer and longer periods of time where people are being held, not working for their original employer and not being allowed to do anything else,” said Jeffrey P.
Bennett, the union’s general counsel. “We said, ‘Look, you need to be able to at least let people go work when you are not working them.'”But the studios are pushing back, warning that the law could make it difficult to schedule a second season of a show, as actors will be off shooting other things.“Without the ability to secure the
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SAG-AFTRA’s Lobbying Efforts Helped Seal Exclusivity Deals With Netflix & AMPTP
A confluence of hard bargaining and legislative lobbying helped secure significant gains in two new agreements SAG-AFTRA reached earlier this month covering exclusivity, which are standard provisions in TV contracts that can hold TV series regulars off the market and unable to work for unreasonably long periods of time, guild leaders said in a podcast released on Thursday.
California to Add Diversity Rules to State Film and TV Credit
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterCalifornia is poised to add a diversity requirement to its $330 million tax incentive for film and TV production, as lawmakers seek to use their leverage to make the industry better reflect the state’s demographics.Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign a bill, SB 485, that will extend the tax credit through 2030.
'90 Day Fiancé' Tell-All: Shaeeda Expresses Her Frustration at Bilal for Not Getting Her Pregnant (Exclusive)
couples are getting real about their sex lives in this exclusive clip from part two of this season's tell-all special airing Sunday on TLC. In the clip, Shaeeda shades Bilal for not getting her pregnant since she's made it no secret that she wants a child.In the clip, Emily and Kobe admit they've only had sex «four or five times» after she gave birth to their daughter, Scarlet, since Kobe is scared of another surprise pregnancy.Shaeeda then interjects, «I think you need to talk to Bilal because he knows how to not get a woman pregnant, so, he can probably give you some notes, OK? He could do it really good.»Bilal takes it in stride and calls her «Queen Shade.» After Patrick and Thaís note that their sex life is better now and «insane» since she got pregnant — and Kara, who's also pregnant, agrees — Shaeeda says that Bilal likes to «practice» but she hasn't seen any results.
SAG-AFTRA Reaches Deal With Studios on Actors’ Exclusivity
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterSAG-AFTRA announced on Monday evening that it has reached a tentative agreement with the major studios on actor exclusivity periods, an issue that has become a top priority for the union in recent years.The issue affects actors on TV series, who can find themselves barred from working on other projects for many months or even years between TV seasons. The union has said that the issue has grown acute in the streaming era, with seasons getting shorter and with longer delays between seasons.The union backed a bill, AB 437, in the California legislature, which aims to eliminate exclusivity periods from actors’ contracts.
Bill Pitman Dies: Wrecking Crew Guitarist Who Played On Countless Hits, TV & Film Soundtracks Was 102
Bill Pitman, a guitarist whose work as part of the legendary recording session group The Wrecking Crew made an invaluable contribution to countless radio hits, TV series and films, died yesterday at his home in La Quinta, California. He was 102.
Robert Downey Jr.’s First Foray Into Podcasts Is Cult Docuseries ‘The Sunshine Place’
Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorRobert Downey Jr. is executive producing “The Sunshine Place,” an investigative podcast series about Synanon, the California-based experimental drug rehab facility and community that morphed into a dangerous and violent cult.It’s the first podcast production for Team Downey, the entertainment company formed by Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr. The eight-part series comes from Audacy’s Cadence13, in partnership with Team Downey and Wink Pictures.The first two episodes of “The Sunshine Place” premiere Aug.
Cannes Winner ‘The Blue Caftan’ Lands North American Distribution (EXCLUSIVE)
Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Maryam Touzani’s “The Blue Caftan,” which world premiered at Cannes and won the Fipresci prize. The film, which is represented in international markets by Films Boutique, will have its North American premiere at Toronto in the Special Screenings section.Touzani’s follow-up to Un Certain Regard title “Adam,” “The Blue Caftan” tells the story of Halim and Mina, a married couple running a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas.
Bill Maher Navigates Summer Doldrums In ‘Real Time’
It’s that time of year – schools aren’t open, people are on vacation, the weather is kind of humid and downright terrible in some locations. It’s almost the end of the so-called “dog days of summer,” a sleepy moment on the calendar, which is why Bill Maher can be forgiven for a somewhat meandering Real Time last night.
Who is Alyssa Farah Griffin, the rumored new co-host of ‘The View’?
Tiffany Cross and comedian Wanda Sykes — have already slammed the network for reportedly hiring Griffin.Who will be the next co-host of @TheView? The wait is finally over! Find out only on @TheView this THURSDAY at 11e|10c|p on ABC! pic.twitter.com/xvLHqgin2ZBorn in Los Angeles on June 15, 1989, Griffin is the daughter of two journalists. Her father, Joseph Farah, was the executive news editor at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, then an editor at Northern California’s the Sacramento Union.Her father is of Syrian and Lebanese descent.
Hollywood’s Unions Praise Gov. Newsom’s Pledge To Sign Bill Extending California’s Film & TV Tax Incentives Program
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s promise to sign a bill that would extend the state’s $330 million-a-year film and television production tax credit program until 2030 is receiving high praise from the Entertainment Union Coalition, whose members include SAG-AFTRA, the DGA, the California IATSE Council, Teamsters Local 399 and Laborers International Union of North America Local 724.
California’s AB 437, Which Would Limit Exclusivity In TV Stars’ Deals, Faces Crucial Vote
Next week, a California assembly bill that could change one of the cornerstones of the TV business faces a crucial vote.
Judge Blocks Weinstein Lawyers’ Subpoenas for Several Witnesses’ Emails, Texts and Communication
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA Los Angeles judge on Monday ruled to limit the amount of information that could be obtained by Harvey Weinstein’s defense team for his upcoming trial on 11 counts of rape and sexual assault.Judge Lisa B. Lench approved the prosecution’s motion to quash subpoenas from four witnesses for their correspondence, including personal emails and texts dating as far back as 2004, with one of the alleged victims (referred to as Jane Doe #4).
JoJo Siwa Hilariously Tries to Climb a Wall as She Attempts Boot Camp in 'JoJo Goes' Sneak Peek (Exclusive)
JoJo Siwa learns during a new episode of her Facebook Watch series, This week, JoJo goes to ROTC Boot Camp, alongside her best friend, Rachel Ballinger, and in this exclusive sneak peek, it seems that the basics of basic training might be harder than the 19-year-old performer expected.While undergoing the physical challenges and obstacles at the ROTC Training Site in Fullerton, California, JoJo and Rachel are tasked with trying to clear the jump wall, an eight-foot tall wooden wall that cadets are expected to clear with a running start.While Rachel seems to know the limits of her arm strength and chooses to vault the shorter section, JoJo wants to try the real deal — and it doesn't go well.After repeatedly running up and trying to leap up the sheer wooden fence — all to no avail — a clearly exasperated JoJo groans, «I feel I look like a lunatic.»«You keep face-planting into a wall,» Rachel replies, laughing. «So, yeah.»debuts new episodes every Thursday at 9 a.m.
Joe Fryer's road to love was difficult but worth it
Today Show can always rely on seeing the likes of Al Roker, Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie, and Hoda Kotb every weekday on their televisions, but on the weekends, they get a different face, that of Joe Fryer's, and they like him just as much.MORE: Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie deliver bad news about climate on TodayJoe joined the big news family that is NBC initially as a part-time correspondent, and became a full-time reporter in October of 2013, eventually becoming a west coast correspondent based at the NBC News West Coast Bureau in Universal City, California.Today Show viewers who like to tune in on the weekends as much as they do on the weekdays also get to see Joe on Today's PopStart, which airs on Saturdays.WATCH: Today's Jenna Bush Hager's rise to fameMORE: Savannah Guthrie has unpredicted 'baby talk' chat with co-star Hoda Kotb in fun Today segmentNot much is known about the journalist's personal life, but he does love to share occasional snippets of his marriage to his husband, Peter.While the two have been happily together for over ten years, in 2019, the host opened up about how his road to love wasn't always easy. He penned a touching essay for Today about coming out to his friends and family over two decades ago, and the feelings of depression and anxiety he had suffered from prior to having those conversations."When you're stuck inside a closet, it's hard to picture how your family will react when you finally decide to come out," he admitted.A post shared by Joe Fryer (@joefryernbc)Joe and Peter's anniversary fittingly falls on Valentine's DayRecalling his early adulthood years, he said: "Those question marks haunted me for years.
Sanfic Industria Series Lab Highlights Titles from Fernando Epstein, Laura Farhi, Paola Teran (EXCLUSIVE)
Holly Jones Opening up to works from over the whole of Latin America, this year’s Sanfic Industria Series Lab will highlight series currently in development from Uruguay’s Fernando Epstein, Argentina’s Laura Farhi and Peru’s Paola Terán.Epstein’s “The Invisible Ink” proved one of the big winners at June’s Conecta Fiction, marking the first TV work from the renowned Uruguayan film producer (“Whisky,” ”Gigante”).Penned by Farhi, a writer on “Soy Tu Fan,” “Soy Luna” and “Intertwined,” “The Big Leap” won the Filmarket Hub 2022 International TV Pilots Contest.Terán, an assistant editor on Diego and Daniel Vega’s Locarno Fest winning “El Mudo,” will direct “Nobody Rests At Home.” The eight works selected for this year’s Series Lab will be announced during a PUC Film Festival Lima press conference on Monday.Agustina Lumi and Alejandra Marano co-ordinate the Sanfic Series Lab. 2022’s hybrid edition of Sanfic Industria runs over Aug.
Scientology Asks Supreme Court to Enforce Religious Arbitration in Danny Masterson Case
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe Church of Scientology has asked the Supreme Court to enforce a religious arbitration agreement that would bar Danny Masterson’s sexual assault accusers from suing the church for allegedly stalking and harassing them.In a petition filed on Tuesday, the church asked the court to overturn a California Court of Appeal ruling, which held that the women could not be bound by the arbitration agreement because they had left the church.The church argued that the ruling violates the church’s rights under the First Amendment, and amounts to religious discrimination.“The Opinion weaponizes the First Amendment against religious freedom, holding that the First Amendment requires limitations applicable only to religious — and not to secular — arbitration agreements,” the church argued. The plaintiffs filed suit in August 2019, alleging that the church had engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation after they reported rape allegations against Masterson — a prominent church member — to the LAPD.