WGA’s David Young Bows Out of Negotiations Due to Medical Leave

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The solo TV auteur may soon be a thing of the past. The Writers Guild of America will sit down with the studios on Monday, and high on the agenda is setting a minimum staffing level for writers rooms. That means the days when Mike White or Craig Mazin could write an entire season of prestige TV all by themselves could be coming to an end. The guild argues that studios are squeezing more work out of fewer writers over a shorter time span, and paying them less than they’re entitled to. And the union’s leadership believes that it’s time to set basic standards around the size and duration of a writers’ room.

Leaders of the Writers Guild of America won’t discuss the specifics of the contract proposals they’ve exchanged with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. But in an interview with Deadline on Tuesday ahead of next week’s start of negotiations, they made it perfectly clear a deal can be reached without a strike if the companies take the needs of writers seriously.

“I took LSD 375 times.” These are the first words said in “Louder than You Think” by subject Gary Young — drummer, producer, drunkard, and all-around enigma, likely best known as being the original drummer for the lo-fi 90’s alternative band, Pavement. The words, accompanied by the image of Young as he appears now, are all you need to understand the kind of documentary you’re in for – one hell of a strange trip, man.

St. Vincent covered David Bowie‘s ‘Young Americans’ during a live performance this week – check the video below.The ‘Pay Your Way In Pain’ singer took to the stage at the Love Rocks charity gig in New York on Thursday night (March 9).

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer As it prepares for tough negotiations with the major studios, the Writers Guild of America issued a report on Friday emphasizing that the entertainment business is “highly profitable.” The guild is seeking to counter the gloomy tenor of industry coverage, which tends to stress that companies are losing billions on streaming. In its State of the Industry report, the guild argued that entertainment divisions remain profitable overall, and that the companies have a “path to profitability” in streaming. “(T)he fundamental truth remains: the content writers create has tremendous value,” the report concluded. “The companies have demonstrated time and time again that they can and will capture that value, but writers and the WGA must work to ensure that success is shared.”

James Charles is rocking some of his most distinctive makeup looks to date this week, and they both involve body paint.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Alec Baldwin will face a two-week evidentiary hearing in a Santa Fe courtroom in May, as prosecutors seek to show there is enough evidence to try him for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. At a brief status conference on Thursday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer scheduled the preliminary hearing to begin on May 3. Baldwin’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, said that the actor “wants his day in court,” and would not agree to delay the hearing much beyond the 60-day statutory deadline. Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were charged in January with involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

Lukas Gage and Chris Appleton are red carpet official!

So many stars showed up for Vanity Fair Campaign Hollywood and TikTok Celebrate Vanities: A Night For Young Hollywood on Wednesday evening (March 8) in Los Angeles.

Emily Longeretta Young Hollywood is ready for Oscars week. On Wednesday night, some of the biggest young stars in the industry celebrated at Vanity Fair and TikTok’s Vanities: A Night for Young Hollywood at Mes Amis. The star-studded evening was co-hosted by Halle Bailey, Julia Garner and Paul Mescal, the latter of which is nominated for his performance in “Aftersun” at this weekend’s Academy Awards. Garner, who walked the red carpet with husband Mark Foster, was excited to be out and about during one of the biggest weeks of the year. “This is for the young, new talent that’s in the industry right now. It’s such an honor to be here — it’s nice to be out of the house outside of this bubble we’ve all been living in,” she told Variety. “Not via zoom!”

as well as improved child and healthcare benefits. The third budget of Biden’s presidency contains a $325 billion commitment to a comprehensive, permanent paid family and medical leave program that provides up to 12 weeks of leave and covers workers’ own serious health needs, caring for a loved one’s serious health needs, bonding with a new child, addressing the impact of a loved one’s military deployment, or help for those seeking safety in relation to sexual or domestic violence.“To support working parents, my budget expands access to affordable, high quality child care for millions of families. And it invests in paid family and medical leave, so we will no longer be the only major economy without national paid leave,” President Biden said in a speech to mark the launch of his budget, in Philadelphia.The United States is one of only six countries in the entire world without a national paid leave policy.

Emily Longeretta Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is bringing back “Aurora Teagarden Mysteries” with a new Aurora. On Thursday, the network announced the return of the franchise with a new prequel series, “Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New,” set to premiere later this year. Skyler Samuels will star as young Aurora, while Evan Roderick will play young Arthur. Marilu Henner will return as Aida Teagarden. “Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New” is set after Aurora has graduated college and returns home in Lawrenceton. “While her mother, Aida, struggles to keep her newfound real estate business, Aurora supports herself by working as a teacher’s assistant in a crime fiction class, and waitresses at the local diner at night, where she shares her love of researching true crime with her friend Sally and police officer Arthur,” Hallmark’s press release reads. “When Sally’s fiancé doesn’t show up at their wedding rehearsal, Maid of Honor Aurora gets Arthur to help her search for him. When they discover a body, everyone assumes it is Sally’s tardy groom, but when it turns out to be someone else, Sally’s fiancé becomes the main suspect.”

Pierce Brosnan’s kids are showing off their style.

Dua Lipa is wrapping up a new music session.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The WGA announced Tuesday that 98.4% of members had voted in favor of the “pattern of demands,” a loose outline of topics for discussion in upcoming negotiations. The vote was not unexpected, but does signal a broad consensus around issues like wages, streaming residuals and “mini-rooms.” The negotiations are set to begin on March 20, ahead of the May 1 expiration of the current contract.

Meredith Stiehm, president of the WGA West, talked tough about the guild’s upcoming negotiations with the AMPTP in her speech Sunday at the WGA Awards.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Meredith Stiehm, president of the WGA West, got right to the point in her remarks Sunday at the guild’s 2023 award ceremony. With contract negotiations less than two weeks aways, Stiehm rallied the troops about the need for solidarity, and she emphasized the guild’s role as serving as the “good sheriff” helping to tame the Wild West for writers. The guild, Stiehm told the crowd at the Fairmont Century Plaza, is “walking around like Gary Cooper — low key but watchful, vigilent and a little swagger.” The guild is “looking to keep the peace” but is devoted to enforcing the rules established by its contracts. “The guild says there are rules, there are laws,” she said referring to a fight that the WGA recently settled over $42 million in residual payments owed to guild members.

The judge overseeing the racketeering and gang case against Atlanta rapper Young Thug and others has ordered an investigation into the leak of a video that shows a state's witness offering information in exchange for leniency. Jury selection in the high-profile trial began nearly two months ago and is likely to continue for several more months, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville, on Wednesday reminded prosecutors and defense attorneys that certain evidence must be kept secret until the trial, the newspaper reported.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Attorneys for Jussie Smollett filed their appeal of his conviction on Wednesday, as they seek to keep him from having to go back to jail on hate crime hoax charges. Smollett was released a year ago pending his appeal, after serving six days of his 150-day sentence. Attorneys for the former “Empire” actor were originally due to file his appellate brief last August, but have been granted five extensions of that deadline. Smollett was convicted in December 2021 of lying to police when he claimed to have been assaulted by two men who shouted homophobic and racist slurs, poured a chemical substance on him, and put a rope around his neck.

“despicable” in a series of terse email exchanges with president Carol Lombardini during the run-up to the last round of contract talks in 2020. The WGA has released its pattern of demands for membership approval and is still conducting meetings with members to iron out negotiation priorities.