Virtual Production Company Orbital Studios Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE)

IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said Thursday that they have reached a a tentative agreement on all issues for the Area Standards Agreement, the companion contract to the Basic Agreement that got its own tentative deal Tuesday night.

The iconic Los Angeles punk band X is issuing what it is calling its final album, Smoke & Fiction, and has detailed plans for a U.S. tour. 

Supporters of Joe Biden and Donald Trump planned to hold watch parties across the country for CNN’s presidential debate, seizing on the event to energize their bases.

Bronny James is heading to the NBA!

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed actress Cree for representation in all areas.

Charges could be coming soon out of the death of Matthew Perry late last year.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer On Tuesday night, IATSE posted the news on Facebook that it had reached a tentative deal on a new overarching contract with Hollywood’s major studios and streamers. In commenting on the welcome news that the threat of another Hollywood strike has receded, members seemed less focused on the specific terms of the pact and more on whether the deal will help jumpstart TV and film production. “Cool, so these mega coporate studio conglomerates will make stuff and hire everyone again, right?… right?” wrote Shawn Montgomery.

Jen Rudin has reopened her company, Jen Rudin Casting, after four years as a talent agent heading voice over and animation at ICM Partners and, most recently IAG. 

Ty Myers has signed with Records Nashville/ Columbia Records and will release his new song “Let ‘Em Talk” via the label “very soon,” according to the announcement. Myers is managed by Blake Shelton manager Narvel Blackstock of Starstruck Entertainment. He has enjoyed hits with his songs “Tie That Binds” and “Drinkin’ Alone” (which may be written from experience as he is not yet of drinking age).

EXCLUSIVE: Mishel Prada (The Continental, Vida) joins Kiernan Shipka, Kiefer Sutherland and Krysten Ritter in the action-thriller Stone Cold Fox. Production is currently underway in Los Angeles.

It might be nearly 25 years later, but luckily for Ice Cube, there’s always another Friday around the corner.

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).

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed director and producer Dean Israelite for representation in all areas.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Tanner Adell, one of the artists at the forefront of the new wave of Black country music, has inked a new recording contract with Love Renaissance, aka LVRN Records. Adell had been independent since splitting with Columbia Records last year, and her profile increased exponentially when she was one of the artists featured on Beyoncé‘s blockbuster “Cowboy Carter” album this spring, leading to an influx of interest in Adell’s recent catalog, like the signature song “Buckle Bunny.” LVRN is an Atlanta-based label and management company whose roster includes such artists as Summer Walker, 6LACK, DVSN, Spinall and TxC.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Microsoft Gaming is taking a victory lap after an impressive Xbox Games Showcase presentation at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on June 9, which was anchored by the reveal of “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6,” followed by major announcements across all of Xbox’s studios, including Bethesda, Activision and Blizzard, as well as collaborations with third-party developers. Xbox president of gaming content and studios Matt Booty sat down with Jennifer Maas, Variety senior business writer of TV and video games, to discuss highlights from this year’s presentation, the inner workings of Xbox post-Activision Blizzard, and more for Variety’s “Strictly Business” podcast.

CAA said Tuesday that Elizabeth A. Morrison has joined the agency as Global Head of Inclusion, Recruiting, and Development.

FilmLA is raising its fees next month, citing rising costs and the continuing downturn in Los Angeles on-location film and TV production. The city and county film-permitting office said today that it is imposing a roughly 4% increase effective July 1.

The Hollywood Basic Crafts have officially wrapped the first week of negotiations on a new three-year agreement with the studios.

William Earl New Cadence Prods. has teamed with Migrant Filmworks to shepherd the release of the indie rom com “Say a Little Prayer,” which marks the film acting debut of Latin music superstar Luis Fonsi. The partners plan to set up a limited theatrical release for the film, directed by Patrick Perez Vidauri, followed by a streaming pact.

If Sage Steele ever does drop by, it’s going to be pretty awkward the next time the former ESPN host goes to visit CAA.