Walt Disney Animation Studios Staffers Vote To Unionize With Animation Guild

EXCLUSIVE: Four-time Oscar nominee Ed Harris (Westworld), Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick), Miles J. Harvey (American Vandal) and Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island) have joined Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge, Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman, and Gabrielle Union (The Inspection) in director Dito Montiel’s crime comedy movie Riff Raff, which has begun filming in New Jersey.

Disney original animation is looking at a comeback this Thanksgiving. The princess pic Wish is looking at as much as $45M-$50M over five days after the studio suffering a setback over last year’s holiday with Strange World, which did $18.8M.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic “When You Wish Upon a Star” is one of those songs, like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” that’s bigger than a song. It was first heard, of course, in the 1940 Walt Disney animated classic “Pinocchio,” where it was sung by Jiminy Cricket.

EXCLUSIVE: It’s no secret that the independent film game is not for the faint-hearted, with the last decade seeing a number of companies and financiers collapse under the weight of the industry’s constant state of flux. But amidst the turmoil and unprecedented change, Teddy Schwarzman has been quietly building his Black Bear label into a full-fledged independent film studio. 

Baldur’s Gate 3, but Larian Studios has already started discussing its next big game and what it plans to do with it.Swen Vincke, the CEO of Larian Studios, posted on X (formerly Twitter) about how honoured he was for the eight nominations that Baldur’s Gate 3 received at The Game Awards 2023.The CEO described the game’s presence there as a “real honor, especially in a year with so many releases,” and said it was “motivating” to see Baldur’s Gate 3 do well.Vincke also dropped a few tidbits about Larian’s next planned game, stating that it “is really encouraging us to ensure it pushes many boundaries. I’m very excited about it.”The news comes as the official Larian Studios account recently teased a potential Xbox Series X|S release date announcement this week, along with an imminent physical release for the critically lauded computer role-playing game.While the game has been available on PlayStation 5 and PC since September and August respectively, it has only been available in a digital form, with no physical edition issued (as of writing).This is a real honor, especially in a year with so many releases.

Following today’s vote by the majority of SAG-AFTRA‘s National Board to approve the tentative agreement reached with studio CEOs and the AMPTP earlier this week, the actor’s guild has released more details of the deal.

Valerie Wu Intern Disney Branded Television has acquired first-generation Taiwanese American filmmaker Sean Wang’s award-winning documentary short, “Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó.” “Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó” features dialogue in both Mandarin and English and is a “multigenerational story” that celebrates Sean Wang’s two grandmothers, one on his father’s side and the other on his mother’s side. The film premiered at the SXSW film festival, where it took home the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent The International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has issued an apology after three activists burst on stage during the opening ceremony on Nov. 8 with a banner that read “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free.” The slogan, which calls for the destruction of Israel, has been used by Hamas, the terrorist group behind the Oct.

The studios are lauding their work on the tentative agreement with the actors.

EXCLUSIVE: Tech entrepreneur and producer Oleg Shardin, best known as the co-founder of digital whiteboard company Miro, and actor-producer Alex Lane have partnered to create multimedia production company Puma In A Tank.

EXCLUSIVE: A deal may not be in the cards tonight, but SAG-AFTRA and the studios could be heading back to negotiations within hours.

Jeremy Allen White is stepping out for the day.

Valerie Wu Intern Skybound Entertainment, the company behind animated TV series “Invincible,” has acquired the historic Spike & Mike’s animation events, with plans for a revival. Marge Dean, head of studio at Skybound Entertainment, announced the news at Toronto’s Animation Industry Conference (TAAFI) on Saturday. Spike & Mike began in the 1970s as a curator of animated shorts.

Walter Mercado, who passed away on the same day in 2019, appeared on social media.A post shared by Despierta America (@despiertamerica)Despierta América shared a message from the famous Puerto Rican astrologer using artificial intelligence. “Dear family, advances in artificial intelligence technology make it possible to continue progressing in my vision purpose, and wisdom, so that you may discover your magnificent potential in the ability to keep us connected and receive blessings in life today, tomorrow, and always,” the AI version of Mercado says.

Kendall Jenner is stepping out for coffee.

Michaela Zee Walt Disney Animation Studios production workers have voted to unionize, the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) announced Wednesday. In a National Labor Relations Board ballot count, 63 production employees (or 93%) — including production coordinators, production managers and production supervisors — voted to join the Animation Guild. Out of a total of 68 voters, five workers voted against.

EXCLUSIVE: Twenty-two year Disney vet Paul Roeder has been upped to EVP Communications, Disney Entertainment – Studios, International and DTC. He was previously SVP, Communications at Disney Entertainment Studios.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Rock the Bells and Paramount exec Rich Morris has been tapped for the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Content & Brands at Composition Media, the animation studio led by Hair Love producer Carl Reed.

EXCLUSIVE: Sky Studios has put in development a comedy series about medieval Essex from The Great writer Ava Pickett and Big Talk Studios.

EXCLUSIVE: Disney‘s VP of International Animation is to keynote the Manchester Animation Festival next month.