Hollywood is vocal about tackling climate change, but without clear accountability, the real impact is uncertain. In April, Paramount's Douglas Rheinheimer showcased a new energy plant reducing CO2 emissions by 35% and saving millions of gallons of water, calling it beneficial "financially, environmentally, and also for our workforce.” The era of climate denial is over in Hollywood. Studios now openly discuss their carbon neutrality goals, though the specifics are often vague. Zena Harris of Green Spark Group recalls how Al [...]

Following the triumphant debut of Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2, CineEurope commenced in Barcelona amidst a surge of optimism and calls for sustained film production. Paramount’s President of International Theatrical Distribution, Mark Viane, extended accolades to Disney during an executive roundtable, hailing the film’s impressive $295 million global opening as a pivotal moment in kickstarting the summer season. The sequel, although not expressly exploring relief as an emotion, has invoked a collective sense of reassurance within the industry, countering prevailing concerns. [...]

The race in on. Voting has just begun among the Television Academy members, leading to the crowning of the year's best TV productions in mid-September. Among all the lead and supporting actors contending for Emmys in various categories, there are some silent participants: the locations. Variety's reporter Michael Schneider, who has been covering the television business for a quarter of a century, considers that in today's peak TV era, the locations featured in shows are often so vividly realized that [...]

In a significant turn of events, Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have reached a settlement, closing the chapter on a protracted legal confrontation over the development rights of the 25,000-acre Walt Disney World Resort. This accord paves the way for a massive $17 billion expansion plan, including a fifth theme park and three smaller parks, and signifies a new operational future for Disney in Florida. On Thursday, Disney chose to drop its appeal against a ruling that dismissed its [...]

In a significant development for the entertainment industry, major Hollywood studios have committed to including drone camera crews under union agreements following recent arbitration decisions favoring the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600). This decision marks a pivotal shift following arbitration with Warner Bros. in April, where the union successfully argued for coverage of drone camera workers under existing contracts. Alex Tonisson, the national executive director of the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG), conveyed in a memo that this was the [...]

In the aftermath of last year's strikes by writers and actors in the film and TV industry, professionals are facing prolonged financial strain, awaiting a production rebound that has been slower than anticipated. While the industry figures out how to emerge from the crisis, hundreds of thousands of people are struggling to manage their bills, rent, mortgages, health insurance, and school costs in a city like Los Angeles, which seems to become more demanding and expensive every day. Economic distress [...]