Strand Entertainment Launches Digital Division

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the entertainment company that operates Redbox, Crackle and other businesses, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — after failing to pay employees and vendors for at least the past week. The company’s June 28 bankruptcy petition was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

After months of financial struggles, Redbox parent Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

TPG, the private-equity firm that had a majority stake in CAA before selling it to Francois-Henri Pinault last year, said Friday that it has formed a new talent management company whose first investment will be in Hollywood management biggie Untitled Entertainment.

K-pop group 2NE1 may soon be making a comeback.On June 28, YG Entertainment shared that 2NE1’s CL, Dara, Park Bom and Minzy met with its executive producer Yang Hyun-suk the day prior. According to the agency, they shared a “extremely meaningful” two-hour discussion.“As this was [Yang’s] and the 2NE1 members’ first conversation in eight years, although no concrete plans have been made, Yang – who has particular affection for 2NE1 – listened to the members’ requests and empathised with them,” said YG per Soompi.

EXCLUSIVE: We’re getting word about a series in the works from Sony Pictures Television‘s AFFIRM television and Revelations Entertainment which is centering around the Biblical Nazarene movement.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences the org formerly known as Promax that relaunched in February, has revealed its new board of directors, as well as an honorary board of advisors. GEMA, which has expanded from TV to also include verticals devoted to film, music, sports and video game marketing execs, has also announced plans for a two-day event in Los Angeles this fall dubbed “Converge.” The news was announced Thursday by GEMA president Stacy La Cotera.

Naver‘s online comics platform Webtoon Entertainment is seeking to raise as much as $315M through an initial public offering in the U.S.

Network Entertainment has entered production on a new documentary celebrating the life and career of Bernie Taupin, the legendary lyricist best known for his longtime songwriting partnership with EGOT winner Elton John.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Variety won eight first-place awards Sunday night at the Los Angeles Press Club‘s 66th annual SoCal Journalism Awards, including a top win for executive editor Brent Lang as entertainment journalist of the year. Variety came into the 2024 ceremony with 74 nominations, representing work published by staffers online or in the weekly print edition during the 2023 calendar year.

EXCLUSIVE: Australian talent management company Ignite Elite Artists has opened a UK division. The first clients on the company’s UK books are Peter Andre, Amanda Clapham (Hollyoaks), and Ethan Dillon (Vikings).

Scott Feinstein, a veteran film publicist at 42West and fixture in indie film circles, has been promoted to President, Entertainment Marketing Division (EMD). Previously Executive Vice President, Feinstein will now work jointly with Presidents Tom Piechura in New York and Annalee Paulo in Los Angeles to oversee the department’s operational functions, manage staff and collaborate in the overall growth of the division.

Producing partners Monty Hobbs and Valerie Smaldone have launched Just Do GOOD Entertainment, a company with a mission is to create content that not only entertains but inspires and enacts change by doing good. 

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief All Rights Entertainment, the Paris, Hong Kong and Los Angeles-based international film agency has picked up international sales duties on animated children and family feature “Out of the Nest.” The film had its world premiere this week at the Annecy International Animation Festival. In the Kingdom of Castilia, days from the coronation of the new Emperor and Empress, their seven royal fledglings are taken and it’s up to one hero to return them safely; a teenage delivery boy, Arthur the Goat. His dreams of becoming a world-class barber are put on hold when he becomes the unwitting guardian of the royal heirs.

Action star Kellan Lutz, known for his work in the Twilight films and the FBI franchise among others, has signed with Gilbertson Entertainment for management.

Gersh‘s Digital department has appointed Meg Chemburkar to the new position of Head of Affiliate Marketing, the first such role established at a major agency, also promoting seven.

SM Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against EXO singers Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin – also known as EXO-CBX – over the idols’ royalty fees.According to a report by Korea JoongAng Daily, SM Entertainment filed the civil suit on June 12 against EXO’s Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin to demand that they pay a 10 per cent royalty free that the trio have allegedly been evading for two months.“CBX’s nonsensical actions cannot be tolerated anymore,” SM Entertainment said of the trio’s alleged actions, per the news outlet. The K-pop agency also claims that the EXO singer had agreed to the 10 per cent royalty fee in a contract that was signed in June 2023, following a months-long dispute.INB100, the agency that manages the activities of Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin outside of EXO, alleged in a press conference that SM Entertainment had made “unfair” demands of the trio’s individual earnings.The trio’s representatives claimed that SM Entertainment had “defaulted on the 5.5 per cent album distribution fee it promised”, and as such, the EXO trio were not obliged to pay the 10 per cent royalty fee.Despite the ongoing row between EXO-CBX and SM Entertainment, both sides have maintained that the trio will continue to carry out their activities as members of EXO, per Soompi.SM Entertainment also confirmed that EXO are planning to release new music, adding that “there has been no further discussion about changes to the plan”.In a recent interview with NME, Baekhyun teased new EXO music, saying that “during winter, there will be something that’s coming up”.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large It’s been more than a year and a half since Rob Wade took over as CEO of Fox Entertainment. On Monday at the Banff World Media Festival, Wade made his first extensive public comments about how it’s been going so far — and elaborated on any new acquisition plans he might have for the company, the fate of some of the third party shows still on his air (including “9-1-1: Lone Star”) and the decision behind his recent corporate restructuring network, studio and distribution operations into their own divisions.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Will Arnett is expanding his relationship with Fox Entertainment. The actor and comedian, who hosts Fox’s “Lego Masters,” has sealed an overall producing deal for his Electric Avenue Prods. to produce fare for the network’s in-house production company.

EXO members Baekhyun, Chen and Xiumin – under their label INB100 – have alleged that SM Entertainment made “unfair” demands of their individual earnings outside of the company.INB100 held a press conference today (June 10) to announce its intention to file a complaint against SM Entertainment for what it claims is an “unfair” demand of 10 per cent of earning of individual activities by EXO members Baekhyun, Chen and Xiumin – also known as EXO-CBX.The press conference was held by INB100 CEO Kim Dong-jun and chairman Cha Ga-won, the latter of whom is also a co-founder INB100’s parent company. The label’s legal representative, Lee Jae-hak, was also in attendance to speak on behalf of the company and Baekhyun, Chen and Xiumin.“Negotiations with SM Entertainment, made on behalf of CBX in the first half of last year, have broken down.

Selena Kuznikov Animation company GKids has acquired theatrical, video and digital transactional rights to anime series “Dan Da Dan.” With production from the acclaimed animation studio Science SARU (“Devilman Crybaby”, “Inu-Oh,” “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” “The Colors Within”), the series is the directorial debut of studio veteran Fuga Yamashiro. Composer kensuke ushio (“Chainsaw Man,” “Devilman Crybaby,” “The Colors Within”) additionally joins the production for the score.