Strike Relief: Film Workers Will Get Extra Hours to Keep Health Insurance

Sam Asghari won't walk away from his marriage to Britney Spears empty-handed. While Asghari, who has signed a confidentiality agreement, will not get a payout or spousal support after he and Spears get divorced, he will be allowed to keep his vehicles and may potentially keep any gifts he's received from the singer.That is all in accordance with the pair's prenup, which a source previously told ET was «rock solid.»The latest update came the week that news of Asghari and Spears' split broke.

In his 16th weekly installment of the Deadline Strike Talk Podcast, Billy Ray continues to explore ways that the shifting sands of the entertainment business can settle in a manner that pleases shareholders of the corporations paying for content, and the talent responsible for creating it with the traditional understanding they share in the upside of success. Joining him are two titan producers who make films and TV on independent and blockbuster levels. Gale Anne Hurd’s credits range from the universes of The Walking Dead and Terminator, and many others. Glen Basner’s FilmNation has been a cornerstone catalyst of independent and studio films and TV. Also, Billy Ray has decided that the word “producer’ no longer belongs in the AMPTP, because these cohorts in content creation are not the ones he and other writers and actors are striking against. He explains why, from now forward, the collection of signatories should be called something else.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A large majority of Americans support the writers and actors strikes, and a plurality hold an unfavorable view of the Hollywood studios, according to a new poll by Data for Progress. The poll found 67% support among likely voters for the strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, while just 18% oppose them. The poll also found that 48% have an unfavorable view of the major studios, and just 31% support the studios.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SAG-AFTRA announced Monday that it will no longer grant interim agreements to independent projects that were written under a Writers Guild of America contract. The union has already given permission for 207 independent projects to continue to film during the strike, including ones with stars like Jason Bateman, Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey. SAG-AFTRA argued that the agreements supported the strike because they involved independent producers who agreed to all of the union’s demands.

Editor’s note: One in a series of stories marking the 100th day of the WGA strike.

The Will Rogers Picture Pioneers Foundation is holding a screening of Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back on Aug. 30, 7PM at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to raise funds for its charity.

Endeavor Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel pledged loyalty to company clients involved in Hollywood’s dual strikes and the company said it expects a $25 million monthly hit to revenue from the labor impasse.

Beyoncé paid $100,000 (£78,000) to keep trains running for an extra hour at a recent gig, so fans could get home safe.At the Washington DC leg of the singer’s ‘Renaissance’ world tour last night (July 6), bad weather meant the gig was delayed and ran late.As a result, many fans risked being stranded with public transport stopping running for the night.The singer then forked out to keep services open for an extra hour so fans could make it home.As the show was ending, the city’s Metro service announced that its Silver Line would stay open for an extra hour, a service which was “funded by the Tour to cover the $100,000 cost to run more trains, keep all 98 stations open for customers to exit and other operational expenses”.They added: “The extended time means the #BeyHive can stay for the ‘Party’ and still get home on Metro.”Elsewhere on the ‘Renaissance’ tour, Beyoncé seemingly left Lizzo’s name off a performance of ‘Break My Soul’ during one of her performances in Foxborough, Massachusetts last week which saw many of her fans quick to speculate that this was related to the recent allegations raised against Lizzo that same day – which finds her accused of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.Beyoncé then brought Lizzo’s name back to a live rendition of the song over the weekend. But during her show at the FedExField in Maryland on Saturday (August 5) fans were quick to share that Beyoncé did include Lizzo’s name again as she sang the lyrics: “Rosetta Tharpe, Santigold, (Vogue) Bessie Smith, Nina Simone (Vogue), Betty Davis, Solange Knowles.

EXCLUSIVE: North America’s largest genre festival, Fantasia, is currently in full flow, but amid two Hollywood strikes, its staff are speaking out about what they deem to be horror conditions.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer In her most forceful comments to date about the Hollywood strikes, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass called Friday on the unions and studios to reach a deal “immediately” to get the industry back to work. Bass, who has largely remained on the sidelines thus far, said she is willing to get personally involved to help bring the strikes to an end.

Several of Hollywood’s highest paid stars have donated money to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program for actors who may be struggling to make ends-meat right now due to the actors’ strike.

Jaden Thompson Festival Director Eugene Hernandez has released a letter letting the public know what to expect from the 40th Sundance Film Festival. The upcoming festival, which will take place Jan. 18–28 in Park City, Utah, will be Hernandez’s first time serving as festival director.

Naman Ramachandran The Indian parliament has passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, which aims to curb piracy that causes losses of INR200 billion ($2.4 billion) to the film industry, according to government estimates. Those found guilty of film piracy by way of camcording in theaters or unauthorized copying and online transmission and exhibition of a pirated copy of any film will now face punishment of minimum three months imprisonment and a fine of $3,650, which can be extended up to three years imprisonment and fine up to 5% of the audited gross production cost.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SAG-AFTRA has found itself defending its decision to give the green light to more than 100 independent productions to film during the strike. Many members, including Sarah Silverman and Viola Davis, have publicly suggested that working under an interim agreement would undermine the strike. Silverman went so far as to call it “scabbing,” though she walked back her criticism after speaking to union leadership.

Stranger Things season four between May and July 2022, but fans will be waiting a while for more episodes as filming hasn’t even started on the fifth and final season.

Risks in Hollywood pay off. “Barbie” has already grossed half a billion dollars after nine days in theaters, with no signs of slowing down as the film heads into its second box office weekend.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Two unions are on strike and there are no plans to restart negotiations with either of them, leaving Hollywood in limbo for the foreseeable future. The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA have both said they are open to talking, but that the studios refuse to engage on their core issues. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, meanwhile, has said that the unions have been unwilling to drop items that are non-starters, like a demand for a share of streaming revenue and a minimum staffing level for TV writers.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Prince Royal, an actor in Los Angeles, was working as an extra on “The Flash” when he was directed to a tractor trailer to “take pictures.” Inside were hundreds of cameras. He stood with his arms up as the operators took a 3-D scan, which he was told would be used for continuity and special effects. “We were told if we didn’t do it, we’d be sent home without pay,” he said.

Pete Davidson has finally been court-ordered after his Beverly Hills car crash.

Actions will always have their consequences, even if you’re famous.