U.K. Actors Union Equity Readies Guidance for SAG-AFTRA Strike (EXCLUSIVE)

Thomas Bangalter – one half of Daft Punk – has revealed that he was “relieved” over the way that the band ended.The musician, who founded the French electronic duo with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, was speaking as part of a new interview when he reflected upon his time in the group, and recalled his feelings towards calling it quits back in 2021.In the discussion with BBC Radio 6 Music, Bangalter explained that it “felt good” to draw the project to a close and was sometimes left surprised by how long Daft Punk continued to make music, following their 1997 debut album, ‘Homework’.“The question I ask more myself is why we did end it rather than how it could last for so long,” he said after he was asked why they decided to part ways. “It’s a lot like a story or mini saga – sometimes there’s a TV show that has a special place in people’s hearts and it keeps that place, and it runs for one, two, three, four, five, sometimes 10 seasons.“There’s a moment where it ends and I think it’s actually interesting to have this opportunity to start, have the middle and to end it… [I was] relieved and happy to look back and say: ‘OK, we didn’t mess it up too much.’”Elsewhere in the interview, he also shed insight into their reasoning behind the anonymity when starting Daft Punk, and explained why they chose to wear their signature masks.“You have an idea when you’re like 25, [but] you don’t say ‘You know what? We’re going to dress up like robots until the day we die…’,“I really remember thinking – it would be fun to just have some special effects guys from Hollywood do these personas – robotic personas like if they were part of the cantina scene in Star Wars or something like that,” he added.

Cardi B has been dropped, following the rapper throwing her microphone towards a fan during a gig.The incident took place during one of her shows in Las Vegas over the weekend (July 29), and footage shared by fans online quickly spread across social media.In the clip, the rapper – whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar – is seen on stage performing her 2018 hit song ‘Bodak Yellow’ in a long orange dress, when a person in the audience hurls liquid from a cup at her.Visibly annoyed, the artist then aggressively throws her microphone towards the crowd member while also appearing to yell at them. Members of the security team then quickly began to surround the person who threw the drink.Following the set, it was reported that a concertgoer had filed a police report, claiming they were “struck by an item that was thrown from the stage”.

Succession star Sarah Snook has explained what she believed prompted Shiv to vote against Jeremy Strong’s Kendall in the HBO show’s series finale.In an interview with Variety, the actor suggested that Shiv decided to sabotage Kendall’s chances of taking control of media conglomerate Waystar Royco after seeing her brother put his feet up on the desk of their late father, Logan (Brian Cox).Shiv’s decision ultimately left the company in the hands of Alexander Skarsgård’s tech mogul Lukas Matsson, while her husband and the father of her unborn child, Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen), assumed the role of CEO.“I’ve spoken with friends of mine who love the show, and I quite like being able to dissect it with them,” said Snook in the interview. “I have heard that people thought that Shiv was thinking 10 steps ahead, and that if Tom’s going to get the CEO-ship and she’s got a kid with Tom, then the closest she can be to it is by saying ‘No’ [to Kendall] in this moment.“But I think it’s just pure instinct,” she continued.

AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan offered a wish for labor peace, but she also said the dual WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes wouldn’t begin to threaten the company’s programming supply until “well into 2024.”

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Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International “Succession” star Brian Cox and “Catastrophe’s” Rob Delaney are among the confirmed speakers at a London rally in support of the SAG-AFTRA strike. U.K. actors union Equity revealed plans earlier this week for two major demonstrations on Friday in solidarity with the actors strike. Twin rallies will take place at noon local time in London’s Leicester Square and in Manchester’s Media City. Speakers so far scheduled for the London rally include Cox and Delaney as well as “The Pact” and “Alex Rider” star Rakie Ayola, Equity general secretaries Paul W. Fleming and Lynda Rooke, and Bectu boss Philippa Childs. Member of Parliament John McDonnell is also set to speak.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International An intimacy practice degree overseen by prestigious intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien was canceled days before a planned workshop, Variety has confirmed. Mountview’s Intimacy Practice Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program launched earlier this year as the world’s first university-accredited master’s course in intimacy coordination. Intimacy choreography, which makes sets safer and more regulated for performers, has been an important focus for the film and TV industry in the wake of the #MeToo movement. O’Brien’s work on shows such as “Normal People” and “I May Destroy You” has made her one of the leading directors working in the field.

Lights, camera, solidarity.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International U.K. actors union Equity has planned rallies in London and Manchester to support the SAG-AFTRA strike. The org revealed on Tuesday that it will hold a demonstration in London’s Leicester Square and Manchester’s Media City at 12 p.m. on Friday (July 21). Speakers at the London rally will include Equity general secretary Paul W. Fleming, Equity president Lynda Rooke and MP John McDonnell. The events will also feature “speakers from the entertainment industry and trade union movement.” “In our sister union’s fight we stand in unwavering solidarity, and we will not allow the U.K. to become a back door to undermine the strike,” said Equity in a statement.

UK actors union Equity is to rally in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA later this week in London and Manchester.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International When “World on Fire” premiered on the BBC in September 2019, no one could have known that the World War II drama would be one of the last major scripted debuts on the public broadcaster before the pandemic. The PBS Masterpiece co-production — which follows the interconnected lives of British and European families during the outbreak of war — confirmed it would return at the end of its Season 1 finale, but the onset of the COVID-19 crisis just four months later and its impact on global production made the prospect of setting up a continent-spanning war drama all the more unlikely. Yet with some heroic scheduling, rewritten scripts and clever location and CGI combos, Season 2 returned to British screens on Sunday after a four-year hiatus, premiering to an audience indelibly changed by a global and life-altering event of their own.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International A new documentary about Richard Williams, the father of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams, has sold into major markets. “On the Line: The Richard Williams Story,” which had its U.K. premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest in June, has been sold into Sky (U.K. and Italy), Canal+ (France), MNET (South Africa), Paramount+ (Australia) and TVNZ (New Zealand). The film paints a complex portrait of the life, career and impact of Williams — the family patriarch and tennis coach to Venus and Serena Williams, who was also portrayed by Will Smith in the 2022 movie “King Richard.”

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Matt Damon has revealed that the “Oppenheimer” cast talked about their strike strategy before hitting the movie’s red carpet premiere in London on Thursday. “We talked about it,” Damon told Variety on the carpet. “Look, if it’s called now, everyone’s going to walk obviously in solidarity … Once the strike is officially called, [we’re walking]. That’s why we moved this [red carpet] up because we know the second it’s called, we’re going home.” Damon added: “We gave the strike authorization. We voted 98% to 2% to do that because we know our leadership has our best interest at heart.”

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International BAFTA has updated its campaigning rules for next year’s film awards, and is “having conversations internally” about reviewing its theatrical eligibility rules for 2025 following the Oscars’ expanded geographic criteria requirements. The British Academy revealed its new rules for the 2024 awards on Wednesday, with stricter regulations around campaigning — particularly in relation to social media — and a new bullying and harassment policy for U.K.-based productions. Speaking to Variety, BAFTA also revealed that it’s debating changes for the 2025 awards, for which the eligibility period begins in January.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Last June, Paramount Global pulled out all the stops at London’s spacey Outernet venue for its streaming launch in the U.K. The studio flew in 21 stars including Michelle Pfeiffer and Sylvester Stallone to pitch their Paramount+ originals to a wide-eyed audience. No expense, it seemed, was spared for the service’s splashy kick-off. One year later, as Paramount Global sheds assets Stateside and offloads original programs in a bid to save money, that investment in international seems to be paying off. The company’s most robust signs of growth appear to be from its international streaming division, which has penetrated more than 45 markets to date, spanning Western Europe, Australia, South America and Canada. Currently, 85 local originals have been earmarked for the platform (some are already on the service, while others are in production or recently greenlit) — and those commissions aren’t going anywhere, according to top brass.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International “D.P.” creator Kim Bo-tong has signed with CAA for representation. The Korean screenwriter, who is also known as Kim Ho Yeol, is the creator and co-writer of the webtoon “D.P.” which was adapted into the Netflix military drama. The show, which premiered in 2021, earned multiple awards in various categories at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2022, establishing it as one of the top Korean dramas of the year. “D.P.” returns later this month for Season 2. The series follows a team of Korean military police who are tasked with catching deserters. (Military service is mandatory for men between the ages of 18 and 35 in South Korea.)