News
June 28, 2017
June 23rd News Report from your Los Angeles Representative
Happy Friday everyone,
Hollywood was buzzing this week over the announcement from Apple that it was hiring away two of Sony's top television executives to lead its push into original programming. As detailed in the L.A. Times below, the move is the clearest sign yet of the tech giant’s ambitions to become a force in television and a potential rival of the Hollywood establishment.
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-apple-sony-hire-20170616-story.html
The Hollywood Reporter weighed in on Apple's move this week with a dynamic column asserting that, even if all of the company's previous stabs at the TV business seem kinda lame, things are about to get real. As detailed below, Apple now has two proven executives and an eye-popping $257 billion in cash that everyone in town wants a piece of.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bastard-machine/apple-tv-business-battles-cable-netflix-hulu-amazon-1015798
A first-of-its-kind tax incentive to boost women and minority TV writers and directors has made it through the New York state Legislature. As detailed in Deadline below, the bill calls for a new tax credit of up to $5 million to be allocated in the state’s next budget towards TV shows that employ writers and directors who are women and/or people of color.
http://deadline.com/2017/06/tv-tax-credit-diversity-hiring-new-york-legislature-1202118275/
The Directors Guild of America is facing an interesting dilemma following the firing of its two directors from the much-anticipated upcoming Hans Solo film, which was already well into production. Ron Howard was confirmed yesterday as a replacement director but, as detailed in the Hollywood Reporter below, key issues remaining include who will receive directing credit and how will residuals be apportioned.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/han-solo-firing-what-happens-star-wars-movie-1015658
Vidcon, the annual convention where Internet celebrities, their devoted subscribers, and online video insiders all gather together to celebrate and discuss digital content, is currently wrapping up in Anaheim. As reported in the L.A. Times below, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki was there to announce two new mobile capabilities, including a feature that automatically reformats videos shot vertically or in square to render normally on a viewer’s smartphone. She also confirmed that users with at least 100 subscribers will have the ability to live-stream to the site.
http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-vid-con-20170622-story.html
Finally this week, there was good news out of Vidcon for female YouTubers. As detailed in the Times below, YouTube also announced its Supercharger program which will allow 10 female content creators to spend eight weeks in New York at YouTube Spaces getting a crash course in building their businesses, including how to turn an idea into a video series, how to do script development and set up production schedules, and how to pitch ideas to advertisers and network executives, who increasingly rely on online stars known as influencers to generate awareness and buzz for new shows.
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-youtube-supercharger-creators-20170621-htmlstory.html
Warmest regards,
Kelly
Kelly Graham-Scherer
Los Angeles Representative
Toronto/ Ontario Film Office