News

In a virtual town hall today organized by IATSE and SAG-AFTRA, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) addressed questions from union members regarding federal government support for entertainment industry workers during the novel coronavirus shutdowns. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and IATSE International President Matt Loeb led the hour-long conversation and touched on several topics of interest to Filmmaker readers.

The second episode of the weekly, virtual series “Rebooting the Entertainment Industry,” sponsored by PwC and Ad Council, will stream on Tuesday, May 19 at 10:00 am PT featuring Katie Soo, SVP, head of growth marketing, HBO Max; Lori Driscoll, principal, marketing & sales transformation, PwC; Jennifer Howard, group director, entertainment, technology and connectivity, Facebook; and Megan Wahtera, SVP, Content Marketing & Media Fox Entertainment. The episode will explore thoughtful audience engagement practices in response to the public’s anxiety surrounding COVID-19.

Leaders of entertainment industry unions are pledging to move as quickly as possible to re-launch production — as soon as they can do so safely in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The full reopening of the film and TV industry probably won’t be possible until a vaccine is developed to combat the coronavirus and testing and tracing of the virus’ spread are in place, according to David White, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA. White shared that view during a media conference call today with the top leaders of the industry’s unions and guilds, including representatives of the DGA, IATSE, Actors’ Equity and the WGA East.

Local 600 will host the panels "Ozark - Behind the Scenes of Season Three" and "Ask Me Anything About Filmmaking" with DP Rodrigo Prieto, ASC

Bottoms announced a new relief fund for #GivingTuesdayNow, to support Atlanta’s independent creatives affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new creATL Relief Fund will assist Atlanta’s creative community working in the gig economy with grants to alleviate economic hardship caused by project cancellations and other pandemic-related disruptions.

On Friday, April 24, 2020, ICG Magazine was honored with three awards at the 68th Annual Maggie Awards. The awards were held, for the first time, virtually this year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and its board of governors, meeting virtually, have approved rules changes for next year’s 93rd annual Academy Awards, including lightening eligibility requirements for films debuting on streamers and VOD, There are are changes for some categories including broadening eligible voters in the International Film nominating process and combining Sound Mixing and Sound Editing into one. This also will be the final year that physical DVD screeners are allowed as the Academy moves boldly into the digital frontier with its own screening platform for members.

A coalition of industry unions and organizations is asking Congress to update a Reagan-era tax benefit for workers in the entertainment industry that hasn’t been adjusted in nearly 35 years.

Download Local 600 Workers Memorial Day art to share on social media on Tuesday, April 28.