IATSE Locals Elect New Leadership, But Hard Feelings Over Contract Fade

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA film investor has sued former Weinstein Co. executive David Glasser, now CEO of “Yellowstone” producer 101 Studios, alleging that he failed to repay a personal loan despite repeated assurances.Glasser is best known as producer of the hit Paramount Network drama series “Yellowstone,” starring Kevin Costner, as well as its spinoffs.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterFor the past month, jurors in Virginia have been witness to a tabloid spectacle. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have taken turns revealing every detail of their four-year relationship, including serious allegations of bloody violence and sexual assault, as well as merely lurid accounts of screaming fights, promiscuous drug use, and bowel movements.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA Los Angeles judge ruled on Wednesday that five additional witnesses will be allowed to testify against Harvey Weinstein at his upcoming rape trial, but excluded testimony from actresses Rose McGowan and Daryl Hannah.Prosecutors wanted to call 15 witnesses to testify about the producer’s “prior bad acts,” but the judge excluded 10 of them.The judge will also allow jurors to be told of Weinstein’s New York conviction involving the sexual assault of Miriam Haley, though Haley will not be called to testify in Los Angeles.Weinstein is facing 11 counts of rape and sexual assault pertaining to five alleged victims. The prosecution wants to call the additional witnesses to show that Weinstein had a propensity to commit sex crimes.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterFrom his office window, attorney Jon Katz has a direct view of the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia, and for the past several weeks, he has watched fans gathering outside to catch a glimpse of Johnny Depp.The trial pitting the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, is the biggest case Katz can recall in 20 years of practicing criminal defense in the area. He also does free-speech work — clients have included strip clubs, adult toy shops and the Westboro Baptist Church — so he has a professional stake in the outcome.“I want a verdict against both of them,” he says.Depp and Heard are suing each other for defamation. Depp alleges that Heard destroyed his career when she accused him of domestic violence.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAmber Heard broke down in sobs on Thursday as she told a jury that her ex-husband Johnny Depp had sexually assaulted her with a bottle during a fight in Australia.Heard took the stand for the second day, as she continued to recount a series of violent incidents that marked their relationship. She said that the fight in Australia — during filming of the fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” film in March 2015 — was prompted by Depp’s jealousy and her concern about his drug use.She said that Depp had repeatedly hit her, threw bottles at her, and choked her against a refrigerator, before finally getting her on top of a countertop and penetrating her with a bottle.“I remember just not wanting to move,” she said.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterAmber Heard took the stand on Wednesday afternoon, telling jurors in often emotional terms about the times that Johnny Depp hit her, screamed at her, punched walls and shoved her to the ground.Heard was called to testify on the 14th day of the defamation trial that has been underway in Fairfax, Va. Depp has sued her for $50 million, alleging that she destroyed his career by alluding to her domestic abuse allegations in a 2018 op-ed for the Washington Post.Early in her testimony, Heard made it clear that she did not want to be there, saying that the trial has been among the worst experiences of her life.“This is horrible for me to sit here for weeks and relive everything,” she said.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe major entertainment studios spoke out against Georgia’s “heartbeat” abortion bill in 2019, saying they would “rethink” their production plans in the state if the law ever went into effect.That moment appears to be approaching fast.On Monday night, Politico reported that a Supreme Court majority has signed on to a decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 opinion protecting the right to abortion. The Georgia law — which would outlaw abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy — has been on hold pending the outcome of that case.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA psychologist told jurors Tuesday that Amber Heard suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to physical and sexual abuse at the hands of ex-husband Johnny Depp.Dawn Hughes testified that she had diagnosed Heard after examining her for 29 hours and reviewing therapy records, and that she had concluded that Depp engaged in a “high degree of violence.” Hughes recounted numerous instances of alleged sexual violence, which she said were motivated by Depp’s “obsessive jealousy” and a desire to show dominance.Hughes was the first witness called by Heard’s attorneys, as they began their defense in a $50 million defamation trial in Fairfax, Va. They are seeking to counter the image presented by Depp’s lawyers, who portrayed Heard as the abuser in their relationship, and maintained that Depp would retreat whenever she instigated fights.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA judge refused to dismiss Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard, as the high-profile trial reached its midpoint on Tuesday.Depp is arguing that Heard cost him tens of millions of dollars — and his role in the sixth “Pirates of the Caribbean” film — when she published an op-ed reviving her domestic violence allegations against him. The trial has been underway since April 11 in Fairfax, Va.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterJohnny Depp’s agent testified on Monday that Depp was to receive $22.5 million to star in the sixth “Pirates of the Caribbean” film, but Disney decided to go “in a different direction” after Amber Heard published an op-ed reviving her domestic abuse allegations.Jack Whigham, who represented Depp at Creative Artists Agency and later at Range Media Partners, testified that the December 2018 piece in the Washington Post had a “catastrophic” impact on Depp’s career.“After the op-ed it was impossible to get him a studio film,” Whigham testified.Depp is suing Heard for $50 million, alleging that she destroyed his career with false allegations of domestic violence. The trial in Fairfax, Va., entered its fourth week on Monday, as Depp’s team continued to call witnesses to support his claims.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe general counsel of the ACLU testified on Thursday that Amber Heard’s op-ed in the Washington Post about domestic violence was timed to capitalize on the release of “Aquaman.”The op-ed alluded to Heard’s allegations against ex-husband Johnny Depp, though Depp was not named. Depp is now suing Heard for defamation, claiming that the op-ed destroyed his career and cost him a sixth installment in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.The American Civil Liberties Union was involved in conceiving, drafting and placing the op-ed, which used Heard’s experiences to address issues including the Violence Against Women Act and sexual assault on college campuses. At the trial on Thursday, Depp’s attorneys played a video deposition of Terence Dougherty, the ACLU’s general counsel.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA former agent for Johnny Depp testified on Wednesday that Amber Heard’s abuse allegations had a “traumatic impact” on Depp’s image, and cost him the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.Christian Carino, a talent agent at Creative Artists Agency, appeared by video deposition at Depp’s defamation trial, which has been underway in Fairfax, Va. since April 11.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterJohnny Depp ended his testimony on Monday in his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard by declaring himself to be a victim of domestic violence.Depp’s attorney played an audio recording in which Heard suggested that if Depp went public with claims that she had beaten him, no one would believe it.“Tell the world,” Heard said on the recording. “Tell them, Johnny Depp — I Johnny Depp, a man, I am a victim too of domestic violence, and I know it’s a fair fight,’ and see how many people believe or side with you.”Asked by his lawyer if he is a victim of domestic violence, Depp said, “Yes, I am.”That ended four days of testimony about a chaotic, sometimes violent relationship. The key question for jurors is not whether Depp was a victim — but rather, whether he can prove that Heard was not.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterJohnny Depp testified Monday that he wanted to keep making “Pirates of the Caribbean” films because he wanted to give a “proper goodbye” to Jack Sparrow and the other characters in the franchise.Depp took the stand for the fourth day in a courtroom in Fairfax, Va., where his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard is ongoing. Depp alleges that he was dropped from the “Pirates” franchise after Heard wrote a December 2018 op-ed in which she alluded to allegations of domestic abuse.

READ MORE: BBC Saturday Kitchen viewers baffled at show's choice of 1 guest given it's all about tasting food One Twitter user WROTE: "Paloma Faith trying (and failing) to teach a Portuguese fella his own language [face palm emoji] #SaturdayKitchen". The comment directly underneath her tweet echoed the same sentiment and simply said: "Very cringy! [shocked face]"Other viewers seemed to see the funny side of Paloma's appearance on the cooking show. One user tweeted: "Paloma Faith is funny, hilarious and the first one to laugh with herself ! #SaturdayKitchen.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe jurors in Johnny Depp’s defamation trial were shown several text messages on Thursday in which he used violent and obscene language, and discussed copious drug and alcohol use.Depp took the stand for the third consecutive day in a courtroom in Fairfax, Va., as his trial against ex-wife Amber Heard continued. Depp claims that Heard lied when she accused him of hitting her, and is seeking $50 million in damages for the harm she caused to his career.In his testimony on Tuesday and Wednesday, Depp denied that he had ever hit any woman.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterJohnny Depp acknowledged on Wednesday that Disney was already wary of working with him before ex-wife Amber Heard wrote an op-ed alluding to her abuse claims in December 2018, as his cross-examination got underway in a Virginia courtroom.Depp has accused Heard of ruining his career by publishing the piece. He is suing her for $50 million, alleging that her claims were fabricated and that she is the one who beat him.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterJohnny Depp resumed his testimony on Wednesday in his defamation trial in Virginia, telling jurors in detail about the breakdown of his relationship with ex-wife Amber Heard.Depp said that the couple would often argue, and went so far as to tape-record their arguments. He said that Heard would demean him, call him a terrible father and sometimes escalate to violence — shoving, slapping, or throwing a TV remote at his head. Ultimately, he said he would flee.“She has a need for conflict.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterJohnny Depp took the stand on Tuesday afternoon in his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, saying he was focused on “clearing the record” regarding allegations that he engaged in domestic violence.“Truth is the only thing i’m interested in. Lies will get you nowhere, but lies build upon lies and build upon lies,” Depp said.