#TheWeeklyRoundUp - 15.07.23

Striking actors join picket lines as Hollywood shuts down (eNCA)

Actors took to picket lines outside Netflix and other studio headquarters in Los Angeles on Friday as movie and television production ground to a halt in the most serious Hollywood strike in decades.

Hundreds of strikers marched with placards at the Netflix building on famed Sunset Boulevard, as well as at HBO, Amazon and Paramount premises, with passing drivers honking their horns in support.

"We're in this for the long haul, but this is a historic moment," Vera Cherny, 44, who has had roles in "The Americans" and "For All Mankind," told AFP at the strike.

"It is time for us to lock down the contracts that are going to serve generations of actors to come. Just like they did in 1960."

Actors joined writers who have been on strike for weeks, triggering the first industry-wide walkout for 63 years and effectively shutting down Hollywood.

The SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild) formally went on strike at midnight Thursday after negotiations to reach a new deal with production studios ended without an agreement.

The union's demands have focused on dwindling pay in the streaming era, and the threat posed by artificial intelligence.

"It's such a bittersweet feeling because I am so proud today. But I am so sad," said E.J. Arriola, 42, a TV actor protesting outside Netflix.

Blockbusters delayed?

"You can't 'tech bro' art, but unfortunately, that's what they're trying to do," said Jonathan Bazile, 30. "It's us fighting to have this as a viable career, not just a gig."

Writers have already spent 11 weeks on the picket lines, after their similar demands were not met.

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5 African screenwriters selected to 7th Realness African Screenwriters' Residency programme (BizCommunity) Five African screenwriters have been selected to participate in the 7th Realness African Screenwriters' Residency. The six-week programme takes place from 14 July to 6 September in South Africa during a residency in Stanford in the Western Cape, where the participants will work with experienced mentors, story consultants Selina Ukwuoma and Thandeka Zwana as well as creative producer, Cait Pansegrouw. The participants will be put to the test in September at Fame Week Africa - a major platform for the development and networking of the creative industries on the continent, which this year sees over 1,600 delegates attend. The five scriptwriters The five scriptwriters are: Amartei Armar (Ghana) is a writer/director whose most recent work, TSUTSUƐ premiered at Cannes as part of the official selection, competing for the Short Palm D’or; a first for Ghana. He will work on his second feature film a period drama titled Ever Young. Michael Omonua (Nigeria) is a writer/director whose short film Rehearsal (2021) had its world premiere in competition at the 71st Berlinale, and was in competition at many film festivals. He will work on his second feature film, Galatians, a dark comedy. Chantel Clark (South Africa) is screenwriter and director who will be working on her debut feature film Pale Faces, a drama/horror which is currently in development. The project was selected for the Sundance Institute’s Screenwriters Lab, and two other labs. Chadi Zeneddine (Gabon/Lebanon) is a writer/director who has worked for 20 years in the film industry with the major international film festivals, developed a project with Walt Dinesy Studios and is currently doing his PHD in film. He will work on his second feature film - a project titled This is What They Call Us a drama/mystical/coming-of-age feature. Babalwa Baartman (South Africa) is a social entrepreneur and filmmaker who uses storytelling as a tool for healing and activism. Her project Eziko is her second feature film and her first solo scriptwriting experience “The residency is such a sacred and enriching space to create,” explains Pansegrouw, co-founder and director of artistic operations at the Realness Institute. “It’s rare to be surrounded and supported by fellow Africans as you continue to discover your voice as a filmmaker. It is a privilege for me to play a small role in the development of these artists and their stories."