The future of daily life on Hollywood sets will not be the same when movies and TV productions start up again. Entertainment studios and labor unions this week agreed to a detailed set of production protocols that will make major changes to the way movie and TV sets operate, including the elimination of buffet-style meals and requirements to wipe down handheld props after each use. – Los Angeles Times
Category: media
The Disturbing Stats About Policing On TV
Why do people tend to think crime has increased or stayed at a high level? Well, perhaps it’s the many cop shows on TV. And those series have some issues. “Of the 26 series from the 2017-18 season examined in the study, 21 had showrunners who were white men. At least 81% of these shows’ writers were white, compared to the 9% who were black. A whopping 20 of 26 series had either no black writers or just one black writer.” – Los Angeles Times
Be Gay, Do Film Reviews, And See What Changes Over Three Decades
What’s happened in the movie industry during the time David Rooney has been reviewing for THR? A little, and a lot. “The sheer multiplicity of themes and styles, of representations across the queer identity spectrum in the past 20 years, is staggering to a critic who still remembers the long drought of near-invisibility, when even a brief appearance by a gay neighbor in a lame comedy would make me sit up with a misplaced sense of gratitude. Things are far from perfect; gay-panic humor still gets a pass way too often, especially in studio bro-coms.” – The Hollywood Reporter
California Film Production May Restart This Week
Different counties may recommend different start dates, with Los Angeles County being one of the hardest-hit by the virus, but June 12 is the first day filming may resume in the state, with strict guidelines in place, including a Covid-19 compliance officer on each shoot. “Shooting costs could increase by 10% to 20% per day, JP Morgan media analyst Alexia Quadrani wrote in a Thursday note to clients” – and shoots on soundstages will return sooner than those on location. – Los Angeles Times
Some People Have Been Flocking To ‘The Help’ On Netflix During Weeks Of Protests
Podcast host Akilah Hughes on Twitter in response the news that the 2011 white savior movie The Help is topping Netflix’s most-watched lists: “If you watched the Help this week you have to donate $500 to black charities.” (Twitter also offered many helpful ideas about what to watch.) – Los Angeles Times
China’s Movie Theatres Reopened… But Audience Hasn’t Returned
There are now more than 12,000 cinemas in China, according to market research firm IBISWorld. This figure has more than doubled in the past decade as China has embraced movie-going. But four out of 10 said they “are very likely to close” in the near future, according to the China Film Association survey. This could mean nearly 5,000 cinemas going bust as a result of the pandemic. – BBC
Study: Kids Now Spending Nearly As Much Time On TikTok As On YouTube
Kids are now watching twice as many videos per day as they did just four years ago. This is despite the fact that YouTube’s flagship app is meant for ages 13 and up — an age-gate that was never truly enforced, leading to the FTC’s historic $170 million fine for the online video platform in 2019 for its noncompliance with U.S. children’s privacy regulations. – TechCrunch
Are TV Shows Scared Of Dealing Frankly With Police Brutality? Or Just No Good At It?
“As protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd continue around the country, THR‘s Daniel Fienberg and Inkoo Kang reflect on the small screen’s struggle to depict police violence and community responses.” – The Hollywood Reporter
Cannes Festival Announces The 2020 Roster Of Films It’s Sending To Other Festivals
“Artistic director Thierry Frémaux picked a total of 56 films for the Cannes 2020 selection, many of which had planned to premiere on the Croisette. Instead, they will now screen at different partner festivals around the world. The titles will be gathered together in a single list, not split up into the traditional festival categories of competition, Un Certain Regard, out of competition, Midnight Screenings, and special screenings. There is no competition, no jury and no prizes will be awarded.” – The Hollywood Reporter
A Plan To Insure Media Production In Canada
“Without the availability of insurance policies to cover future COVID-19 risks, most production in Canada will not resume. A government-backstopped insurance program will provide confidence to the marketplace, encouraging insurers to offer COVID-19 coverage, allowing producers to purchase policies, and ultimately allowing Canada’s production sector to re-open, once it is safe to do so.” – Variety