Peter Bart: As Film & TV Writers Hit Picket Lines, Some Digital Media Counterparts Are Stuck In ‘Traffic’ Jam

The last time WGA picket lines formed in 2007, writers didn’t have an efficient way to communicate with fellow strikers about group meet-ups, illegal productions, and all those clever placards. The only place they could turn to for regular information was this very space, in which the late Nikki Finke would post regular missives about strike action, the broken-off negotiations and the financial impact of the 100-day work stoppage.

Sam Thompson has left fans laughing and crying at the same time after sharing a throwback video from Made In Chelsea. Loyal watchers the reality TV show will remember that back in 2018, before Sam was dating Zara McDermott and Sophie Habboo and Jamie Laing were a couple - Sophie and Sam dated for six months.

Naman Ramachandran German distributor Dolphin Medien has partnered with U.K. horror production house Red Shadow Studios on horror films based on public domain children’s properties Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan, it was revealed at the ongoing Cannes film market. “Winnie the Pooh: Death House,” described by the makers as “The Strangers” meets “The Purge,” is a stylized serial killer slant on A.A. Milne’s beloved character, which recently entered the public domain. The film is written by Red Shadow’s Adam Stephen Kelly and is directed by S.J. Evans (“Dead of the Nite”). The story centres around an unexpected school reunion in a remote country mansion – an event orchestrated by members of a cult who were mercilessly tormented by the guests as children. Now, years later, they’re out for gruesome revenge. Filming is underway at U.K. locations.

Flavor Flav is showing his support for members of the Writers Guild of America!

Navigating the frenzied Cannes Film Festival scene can prove perilous for a first-timer, even if he’s boss of the Oscars.

Ed Sheeran story making headlines every day.Whether it’s his copyright lawsuit (which he just won), an “American Idol” guest judging appearance or his new number one album, “Subtract,” the 32-year-old singer really is all over the news cycle.Next up for him though might be Sheeran’s most exciting venture yet — his 37-concert ‘Mathematics Tour’ running at stadiums and more intimate venues (where he’ll play ‘Subtract’ in its entirety with a full band) from May 19 all the way through Sept. 23.For fans, the best news of all might be that tickets are becoming more and more affordable in the days leading up to the tour.In fact, some seats are downright cheap considering the best-selling, four-time Grammy winner’s bona fides.Don’t believe us?Well, at the time of publication, we found some ‘Mathematics Tour’ tickets going for as low as $27 before fees on Vivid Seats.Yes, really.

It was a tale of two coasts today, as WGA picketers and their allies targeted Disney’s upfront presentation in New York and also the company’s Burbank lot in Los Angeles. And the two scenes were very different.

76th Annual Tony Awards will go on without having to cross a picket line.The Writers Guild of America announced on Monday that they will not picket this year's show, which is set for June 11, amid the ongoing writers' strike.«Tony Awards Productions (a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing) has communicated with us that they are altering this year’s show to conform with specific requests from the WGA,» a statement from the guild explained, according to «Therefore the WGA will not be picketing the show.»«As they have stood by us, we stand with our fellow workers on Broadway who are impacted by our strike,» the statement added.The show will proceed, although in an unspecified altered form, as planned.Kate Shindle, president of Actor Equity, took to Twitter to share her thanks with the WGA for their agreement, «Thank you, @WGAWest and @WGAEast. @ActorsEquity members: time to double down on showing up at their pickets.»«Oh, and because it can’t be said enough: this is still #AMPTP’s fault, and the writers should never have been put in this position,» she added. «We can appreciate the grace AND point at the culprits, right?»Oh, and because it can’t be said enough: this is still #AMPTP’s fault, and the writers should never have been put in this position.

The NBCUniversal Upfront presentation was the center of Day 14 of the writers strike on the east coast.

Jack Whitehall and his girlfriend Roxy Horner are expecting their first child. The comedian and actor took to Instagram to share two gorgeous black and white snaps of the pair clutching their baby scans and beaming at each other.

writers strike heads into its third week. “Labor has to stick together. Workers have to stick together. We’re in a time when people need to be taken care of and have security in their jobs,” IATSE president Matthew Loeb told Variety. Loeb was on hand with IATSE vice president Matthew Miller and dozens of members of IATSE’s Local 800 and Local 695, among other units.

Rep. Katie Porter joined writers on the picket line at the Culver Studios in Los Angeles on Friday in solidarity with the ongoing WGA strike.

After yesterday’s Imagine Dragons party outside Netflix, it was Paramount’s turn to pop.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Let the gig economy debate begin. One of the most contentious issues in the writers strike that erupted May 2 is the assertion by the Writers Guild of America that screenwriting is in danger of becoming part of the “gig economy.” The WGA’s proposed solutions — mandatory staffing minimums and guaranteed weeks of employment — are equally dividing labor and management. Now that contract talks between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have cratered, complex issues are being chewed over by writers who are fired up, walking in circles (literally) and wound up about the long-term employment picture for Hollywood scribes.

Striking writers marching Wednesday in New York City were joined by SAG-AFTRA members Bob Odenkirk and Mandy Patinkin.

Imagine Dragons, in solidarity with the writers strike, showed up at the Netflix picket line to support writers.

Some of Hollywood’s highest paid writers have been noticeably absent from the picket line over the last eight days — that is, until Tuesday.

flyer for the all inclusive 21+ event reads, posted to Twitter by the event co-hosts. “Join us to fight for our rights … and for love!Single and striking? See you on Wednesday! @ellerowe @deannashumaker @debbywolfe pic.twitter.com/fewVcsnN3FThe event is co-hosted by WGA member and TV writer Jaydi Samuels Kuba and development exec and TV producer Lauren Rosenberg, who own matchmaking company LJMatchmaking and have been widely known as the “Love Agents of Hollywood.” Samuels Kuba and Rosenberg had initially floated the idea of throwing a singles picket, and decided to combine forces with writers Debby Wolfe and Marcos Luevanos, who had a similar idea and decided to cover the cost of drinks for single writers following the afternoon picket shift for a limited time.Writer Deanna Shumaker also joins the organizing team after previously suggesting a color-coded tape system for picketers to identify potential love interests on their picketing signs.

Latino WGA members and their allies descended upon Universal Studios en masse Monday beginning at 5 a.m. to picket on the sixth day of the Hollywood writers strike.

According to plan, Pete Davidson was supposed to have made his triumphant return to Rockefeller Center’s Studio 8H this weekend for his debut as “Saturday Night Live” host.