SAG-AFTRA Signs Deal With Voiceover Studio for AI Use in Video Games

SAG-AFTRA calls explicit A.I. images of Taylor Swift that are circulating on social media “upsetting, harmful, and deeply concerning.”

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SAG-AFTRA spoke out Friday against pornographic AI images of Taylor Swift that have been circulating on social media, and reiterated support for legislation to outlaw such images. The actors’ union called the images “upsetting, harmful and deeply concerning.” “The development and dissemination of fake images — especially those of a lewd nature — without someone’s consent must be made illegal,” the union said. “As a society, we have it in our power to control these technologies, but we must act now before it is too late.” The performers’ union has been following this issue for years, and has previously expressed support for state and federal laws that would make it illegal to distribute “deepfake” pornographic images that replicate someone’s likeness without consent.

Alec Baldwin after he was indicted last week for involuntary manslaughter following the shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.A grand jury in New Mexico (where the movie was filmed) indicted the actor last week (January 19) after initial charges were dismissed in April. According to the BBC, attorneys for Baldwin have said: “We look forward to our day in court.”Baldwin was the co-producer and lead actor on Rust, which was in production just outside Santa Fe in October 2021.

SAG-AFTRA is speaking out in defense of Alec Baldwin.

Caroline Brew editor Former SAG-AFTRA executive director David White has been named chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. White, who left SAG-AFTRA in 2021 after 12 years with the union, will work with San Francisco bank president Mary Daly and other members of the nine-member board on monetary policy. White will also represent the bank at the conference of chairs of Federal Reserve banks to discuss issues with senior leaders from the Board of Governors and the Federal Reserve System.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is opening up about last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Michaela Zee During a recent appearance on “Real Time With Bill Maher,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed his role in resolving last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Maher asked Newsom why he didn’t get “more involved” in the strike negotiations, adding, “Why couldn’t the governor say, ‘This is an important industry in our state, one of our most important.

SAG-AFTRA has fired a warning shot to casting websites that attempt to collect fees from actors who want to submit themselves for commercial casting.

Every year, people take part in Dry January, choosing to stay away from alcohol from the entire month.

Alex G has announced a record deal with RCA, along with details of a 2024 tour.The Pennsylvania indie musician had formerly been signed to Domino since 2015, with his most recent release being ‘God Save The Animals‘ (2022).Now following his RCA deal, Alex G will be touring across the US. Presale will begin on Tuesday (January 23) 10:00am local time here, whilst general sale will follow on Friday (January 26) at 10:00am local time here.

BreAnna Bell Amazon and Tastemade have signed a multi-year first look deal to produce unscripted lifestyle content. Their first venture together as part of the deal will deliver 15 new shows to Prime Video and Amazon Freevee audiences over the next few years.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A former masseuse filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that she was coerced into having sex with James Dolan and was also sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. The woman, Kellye Croft, alleges that Dolan pressured her to have sex after a massage appointment while she was working on an Eagles tour in 2013. She alleges that Dolan ignored her resistance and then summoned her to his room several more times on the tour, pressuring her to have sex.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer TV and film production in Los Angeles was slow to recover from the industry-wide strikes last fall, according to new data released by FilmLA. Scripted TV production ticked up slightly in the fourth quarter compared with the prior three-month period, but still remained far below historic levels. And feature film production continued to decline even after the strikes ended.

UPDATE: Rapper Herbert Wright, aka “G Herbo,” received a three-year probation sentence Thursday in federal court in Springfield, Mass. The charge stemmed from his involvement in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy and making false statements to a federal agent.

Dua Lipa and Seth Meyers are “bonded for life”!

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Seth Rogen‘s production company Point Grey Pictures is teaming up with the studio that backed its raunchy, R-rated hits like “Neighbors,” “Good Boys” and “Blockers.” Universal Pictures has forged a first-look film partnership with Point Grey Pictures, the company that Rogen co-founded with Evan Goldberg in 2011. James Weaver, a longtime producing partner, is the president of Point Grey, which is named after the Vancouver secondary school where Rogen and Goldberg first met.

HBO’s The Gilded Age is coming of age on the awards circuit with a surprise SAG-AFTRA nomination. Julian Fellowes’ period piece has landed a nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, SAG-AFTRA Awards‘ equivalent of Outstanding Drama Series.

Most of Hollywood might be in need of a breather from talking about the consequences of AI after the topic dominated most industry conversations for the better part of last year, but SAG-AFTRA is still looking for ways to keep its members protected as the tech advances.

BreAnna Bell Amazon MGM Studios has signed an exclusive first-look TV and film deal with “Lizzo’s Watch Out For the Big Grrrls” Director Nneka Onuorah, the studio announced on Tuesday. “Nneka has a track record of crafting stories that excite, intrigue, and inspire,” said Vernon Sanders, Amazon MGM Studios’ head of television. “This is a process we’ve been fortunate to experience firsthand, and we cannot wait to reignite our professional relationship under this formal deal.” Onuorah won the Primetime Emmy award for outstanding directing for a reality program for Prime Video’s “Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls” in September 2022.

There aren’t many true movie stars in Hollywood anymore. Sure, there are A-listers, but there aren’t many people who actually can lend their name to a film and watch it become a hit just based on name recognition alone.