Showbiz Sandbox 343: Teamsters Play a Big Role on Broadway
November 7, 2016
The theater world is presently embroiled in major contractual battles over pay, benefits and credits. The last group you’d ever think would be leading the charge is the Teamsters, who represent a large number of theater, television and film workers, including casting directors. Turns out, if you want to produce entertainment in the United States, you probably have to deal with the Teamsters.
Those working off-Broadway however, are represented by the Actors Equity Association and they are negotiating with the League of Off Broadway Theaters and Producers. Actors are pushing for a historic pay increase claiming their weekly minimum has never kept pace with inflation, let alone the cost of living in the major metropolitan cities where live theater is produced.
Meanwhile the Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against AT&T-DirecTV and other pay television providers for colluding in their refusal to carry SportsNet LA, a channel owned by Time Warner Cable. This comes in the wake of AT&T’s bid to acquire the media company Time Warner, which some fear might consolidate to much media power in too few hands.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the noteworthy ratings for this year’s World Series, who was named producers of next year’s Oscar ceremony and a “The Simpsons” is set up to make television history.
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TV Ratings: World Series Climax Tops 40 Million Viewers, Biggest Game in 25 Years
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-world-series-climax-brings-tvs-biggest-haul-super-bowl-943762
The Most Watched Baseball Game in 25 Years
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/11/cubs-world-series-television-ratings/506621/
‘Back to the Future’ Screenwriter Bob Gale Happy for Cubs, but Bummed a Good Joke Is Now Spoiled
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/back-future-screenwriter-bob-gale-happy-cubs-but-bummed-a-good-joke-is-spoiled-944076
comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of November 6, 2016
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-november-6-2016-300358093.html
‘Doctor Strange’ In 3D Posts Powerful 47% of the Estimated $85 Million Domestic Opening Weekend
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/doctor-strange-in-3d-posts-powerful-47-of-the-estimated-85-million-domestic-opening-weekend/
Box Office for the Marvel Cinematic Universe
http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Marvel-Cinematic-Universe#tab=summary
‘Doctor Strange’ Enjoys $44 Million Opening in China
https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/doctor-strange-enjoys-44-million-opening-in-china-1201911141/
Disney Has Biggest Year Ever at Global Box Office With $5.85B
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-has-biggest-year-ever-at-global-box-office-585b-943418
SAG-AFTRA Pickets WB Games as Video Game Strike Continues
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sag-aftra-pickets-wb-games-as-video-game-strike-continues-944106
NY Teamsters Seek Contract for Broadway Casting Directors
http://deadline.com/2016/10/teamsters-contract-broadway-casting-directors-1201844600/
What’s at Stake for Actors and Theatres in the New Off-Broadway Contract
http://www.playbill.com/article/whats-at-stake-for-actors-and-theatres-in-the-new-off-broadway-contract
Accord Reached in Battle Over ‘The Great Comet’
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/theater/accord-reached-in-battle-over-the-great-comet.html
Opera Lover Apologizes for Scattering Ashes and Silencing the Met
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/arts/music/opera-fan-apologizes-for-scattering-ashes-at-metropolitan-opera.html?_r=0
Slice Harvester Entry on BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2016/07/13/slice-harvester-2/
Night School (Jack Reacher) Entry on BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2015/12/14/night-school/
Orphans Of The Carnival Entry on BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2016/02/15/orphans-of-the-carnival/
Critics’ Choice Members Resign in Protest of Entertainment Weekly Partnership
https://variety.com/2016/film/in-contention/critics-choice-members-resign-in-protest-to-entertainment-weekly-partnership-exclusive-1201906471/
Gawker Media Settles Lawsuits With Hulk Hogan, Others
https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/gawker-nick-denton-settlement-hulk-hogan-lawsuit-1201907098/
Universal’s Deal for Prince’s Song Rights May Bring a Wider Audience
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/business/media/universals-deal-for-princes-song-rights-may-bring-a-wider-audience.html
Food Fight Heats Up as America’s Test Kitchen Sues a Founder
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/04/dining/christopher-kimball-americas-test-kitchen-lawsuit.html
Ennio Morricone Sues to Reclaim Rights to Film Scores
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/ennio-morricone-sues-reclaim-rights-film-scores-942876
‘The Simpsons’ Breaks Episodic TV Record With Two-Season Renewal at Fox
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-renewed-seasons-29-30-at-fox-944225
Rolling Stone Rocked by Jury’s Verdict That Campus Rape Story Was Defamatory
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/rolling-stone-rocked-by-jurys-verdict-campus-rape-story-was-defamatory-943860
The Academy Revokes Voting Privileges of a 91-Year-Old Screenwriter Who Just Wants to Know Why
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-film-academy-membership-emeritus-20161031-story.html
ABC Presses for Over $2.1 Million for Oscars Ads, Despite Recent Ratings Lows (EXCLUSIVE)
http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/oscars-tv-advertising-2-1-million-dollars-1201904726/
Oscars: Michael De Luca, Jennifer Todd Confirmed as Producers, Plan “Unexpected” Show
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-michael-deluca-jennifer-todd-are-being-courted-produce-academy-awards-944120
Wanda Acquires Dick Clark Productions for $1 billion
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-wanda-dick-clark-20161103-story.html
Wanda Chairman Reveals Ambitious Plan to Invest Billions in “All Six” Hollywood Studios
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/wanda-chairman-wang-jianlin-plans-invest-billions-hollywood-942854
Cable TV Price Increases Have Beaten Inflation Every Single Year for 20 Years
http://www.businessinsider.com/cable-tv-prices-inflation-chart-2016-10?r=UK&IR=T
Justice Department Sues AT&T-DirecTV, alleges collusion in blocking Dodgers channel
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-dodgers-channel-antitrust-directv-lawsuit-20161102-story.html
Hey, something to distract you until the election results are final…and then you start fretting about the Senate. It’s the latest episode of Showbiz Sandbox where we finally hear some good news about 3-D (thank you, “Doctor Strange”) and dive into all the battles in the theater world where casting directors are looking for a little respect (and benefits) on Broadway and actors are looking for a living wage Off Broadway. Check it out!