labor pains
Are Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey and Other Tyler Perry Guests Hollywood’s Hottest New Scabs?
6:20AM STV | Tyler Perry’s crisp white tuxedo was a bold choice of attire at the opening of his new studio Saturday night, when the mogul was dodging the worst of his fired former writers’ union-busting accusations reported here last week. The WGA came through with its picket line on behalf of Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson, and Lamont Ferrell — the House Of Payne Four whom Perry allegedly let go for their attempts to unionize the show’s writing staff. One reported list of attendees had Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier and several illustrious others crossing the picket line Saturday night, while the WGA sent word late Saturday that a second protest was planned for another, smaller event at Perry’s Atlanta mansion on Sunday morning. So what does it all mean besides Oprah scabbing her way to free drinks and having a drunken Madea-Off with Poitier and Ruby Dee?
Lindsay Lohan Flourishes as Pseudo-Pregnant Halfwit Type in ‘Labor Pains’ Trailer
8:55AM STV | Maybe it’s just that Don LaFontaine is dead, but we’re more invested than usual in the spectrum of new trailers making their ways through the mourning cosmos The Voice left behind. In fact, it’s his special touch that perhaps most conspicuously missing from this new spot for the Lindsay Lohan comedy Labor Pains: “In a world… where one of the biggest celebrities is among the least employable… an independent film gave her a chance… to dazzle audiences again… by faking a pregnancy…” Adding insult to injury, the standard “Coming soon” title card is subbed out for “Now in post-production,” reminding us that the film has yet be picked up for American distribution. It’ll happen though, don’t you worry; this has straight-to-Flopz written all over it. Check it after the jump. [Cinematical] More »
Strike Fears Allayed, SAG/AFTRA Now Just in It For the Slap Fights
2:00AM Defamer Hollywood | The nuclear labour plume at left is presented a little closer to actual size this morning, the start of the first full day without the specter of strike hell exhaling waves of rancid breath over Hollywood. Not that AFTRA’s ratification of its prime-time contract Monday evening vanquishes the SAG threat altogether; the 62.4% tally in favour of AFTRA’s deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers suggests that while a strike vote might fail, SAG leadership convinced probably upwards of 10,000 AFTRA members to stand down in the pitched battle between unions. More »Crisis Averted (Sort Of) As AFTRA Reaches Deal with Studios
12:25AM Defamer Hollywood | Happy news emerged this morning from the deep, dank reaches of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers headquarters, where it was announced the major studios have come to last-minute terms with AFTRA on a new three-year contract. Conveniently or not, the report comes a few hours before AFTRA’s former negotiating partners in the Screen Actors Guild were set to resume their own talks with the majors. And with AFTRA reportedly agreeing to conditions on new-media residuals similar to those accepted by the DGA and WGA during the latter union’s strike, SAG has until June 30 to determine if the terms are good enough for itself — or detonate! The! Industry! with another labour stoppage. More »
SAG Boss Just Wants ‘Social Justice,’ Preferably With Direct Deposit
4:20AM Defamer Hollywood | As noted here Monday, SAG president and all-around industry red-arse Alan Rosenberg never encountered a paper cut he couldn’t pick and peel into a festering scab. A lot of it is the institution’s historic dysfunction; less than 90 days from the expiration of its contract with studios, SAG has more factions, infighting and revenue disparities than the Jackson family. Nevertheless, on the second day of negotiations between SAG and producers, Brooks Barnes offers a revealing portrait of the Man Who Would Bring Hollywood to Its Knees If It Will Get Him in the New York Times:
