Distributor sets March 22 theatrical release in New York, expansion a week later.
Lightyear Entertainment has acquired all Us rights from Visit Films to the Ira prison breakout thriller Maze.
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Barry Ward star and Stephen Burke directed from his own screenplay about the break-out in 1983 from the labyrinthine H Block prison complex in the Irish countryside at the height of the Troubles between the British government and the Irish Republican Army. The event is said to be the largest mass prison escape in UK history.
The central relationship takes place between Larry Marley, a prisoner and chief architect of the escape,...
Lightyear Entertainment has acquired all Us rights from Visit Films to the Ira prison breakout thriller Maze.
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Barry Ward star and Stephen Burke directed from his own screenplay about the break-out in 1983 from the labyrinthine H Block prison complex in the Irish countryside at the height of the Troubles between the British government and the Irish Republican Army. The event is said to be the largest mass prison escape in UK history.
The central relationship takes place between Larry Marley, a prisoner and chief architect of the escape,...
- 1/11/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
With NBC officially pulling the plug on “Megyn Kelly Today” after just over a year, new questions are emerging about NBC News chairman Andy Lack’s leadership and what increasingly looks like his catastrophic decision to poach Kelly from Fox News last year for a three-year, $69 million contract.
“It was a huge mistake to hire her. Especially for that amount of money,” an NBC insider told TheWrap. “Most of her year and a half was a struggle, and [she] never grew within the organization.”
While Kelly is still negotiating what many expect will be an exit from the network after an on-air gaffe defending white people’s dressing in blackface on Halloween, multiple professional media observers said Lack will face some pressure after such a costly blunder.
“While [NBCUniversal CEO] Stephen Burke has said in the past that he supports him, Andy Lack has now made several very costly and embarrassing mistakes for NBC,...
“It was a huge mistake to hire her. Especially for that amount of money,” an NBC insider told TheWrap. “Most of her year and a half was a struggle, and [she] never grew within the organization.”
While Kelly is still negotiating what many expect will be an exit from the network after an on-air gaffe defending white people’s dressing in blackface on Halloween, multiple professional media observers said Lack will face some pressure after such a costly blunder.
“While [NBCUniversal CEO] Stephen Burke has said in the past that he supports him, Andy Lack has now made several very costly and embarrassing mistakes for NBC,...
- 10/26/2018
- by Jon Levine
- The Wrap
NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack, under fire for perceived inaction on certain NBC News activities, also protected a male employee who sexually harassed multiple women while he was in charge at Sony BMG Music Entertainment in 2004, according to a published report.
The Daily Beast today published a story largely quoting anonymous sources that made the allegations against Lack, who has been criticized for how incidents at NBC News have been handled, including the incidents that drove former Today show anchor Matt Lauer from the company and the stifling of Ronan Farrow’s reporting on Harvey Weinstein.
According to the Daily Beast story, Lack was chairman and CEO of Sony BMG Music Entertainment when executive Charlie Walk allegedly sent sexual messages to female employees using company email. The emails reportedly included graphic pornography, according to the sources cited.
Lack was told of the matter, but repeatedly declined to address Walk’s conduct.
The Daily Beast today published a story largely quoting anonymous sources that made the allegations against Lack, who has been criticized for how incidents at NBC News have been handled, including the incidents that drove former Today show anchor Matt Lauer from the company and the stifling of Ronan Farrow’s reporting on Harvey Weinstein.
According to the Daily Beast story, Lack was chairman and CEO of Sony BMG Music Entertainment when executive Charlie Walk allegedly sent sexual messages to female employees using company email. The emails reportedly included graphic pornography, according to the sources cited.
Lack was told of the matter, but repeatedly declined to address Walk’s conduct.
- 9/22/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast is prepared to make concessions, including shedding Fox’s stake in the online streaming service Hulu, in order to win regulatory approval for its $65 billion offer to acquire most of 21st Century Fox’s film and television assets, according to sources.
The U.S. cable giant, in a competing bid submitted yesterday, promised to match any of the remedies The Walt Disney Co. offered to gain regulatory approval for its $52.4 billion offer to buy Fox. Disney’s offer of divestiture is believed to include Fox’s 22 regional sports networks or the company’s one-third interest in Hulu, through a Disney spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The disclosure, first reported on Twitter by Recode’s Peter Kafka, raises questions about the future of Hulu, which was founded more than a decade ago as a joint venture of NBCUniversal, Fox and Disney. Time Warner later took a 10% stake.
The U.S. cable giant, in a competing bid submitted yesterday, promised to match any of the remedies The Walt Disney Co. offered to gain regulatory approval for its $52.4 billion offer to buy Fox. Disney’s offer of divestiture is believed to include Fox’s 22 regional sports networks or the company’s one-third interest in Hulu, through a Disney spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The disclosure, first reported on Twitter by Recode’s Peter Kafka, raises questions about the future of Hulu, which was founded more than a decade ago as a joint venture of NBCUniversal, Fox and Disney. Time Warner later took a 10% stake.
- 6/14/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Barry Ward, Martin McCann, Eileen Walsh, Aaron Monaghan, Niamh McGrady, Ross McKinney, Elva Trill, Tim Creed, Cillian O’Sullivan, Patrick Buchanan, Andy Kellegher | Written and Directed by Stephen Burke
Prison break movies are always interesting things. Sometimes you get the high-octane thrillers where action is the main focus, but other times you get the more cerebral, that focuses on the plans to escape, and what it took to pull off an almost impossible feat. Maze is one of the more thoughtful prison break movies, made all the more interesting because of the fact it was based around the Irish troubles.
In 1983, thirty-eight Ira prisoners managed to pull off a mass breakout from Hmp Maze, the infamous high-security prison in Northern Ireland. To do this though first one of the prisoners Larry Marley (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) had to gain the trust of prison warden Gordon Close (Barry Ward), a...
Prison break movies are always interesting things. Sometimes you get the high-octane thrillers where action is the main focus, but other times you get the more cerebral, that focuses on the plans to escape, and what it took to pull off an almost impossible feat. Maze is one of the more thoughtful prison break movies, made all the more interesting because of the fact it was based around the Irish troubles.
In 1983, thirty-eight Ira prisoners managed to pull off a mass breakout from Hmp Maze, the infamous high-security prison in Northern Ireland. To do this though first one of the prisoners Larry Marley (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) had to gain the trust of prison warden Gordon Close (Barry Ward), a...
- 1/15/2018
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Full list of nominations revealed for 15th edition of awards.
The Irish Film and Television Academy (Ifta) has unveiled the nominations for its 2018 film and drama awards.
Source: Sony Pictures Classics
Maudie
Now in its 15th year, the event celebrates the best in Irish film and TV from the past 12 months.
In the film categories, Aisling Walsh’s Maudie, starring Sally Hawkins, leads the way with six nominations including best feature film and director.
Cardboard Gangsters, Handsome Devil, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Farthest follow with five nominations, while The Drummer And The Keeper, The Killing Of A Sacred Deer, Maze and Michael Inside received four apiece.
The Lodgers, Pilgrimage, Song Of Granite all received three nods, while Lady Bird received two.
In the drama categories, Vikings leads the way on six nominations including best drama, while Game Of Thrones and Peaky Blinders received five each. Paula received four, Acceptable Risk and [link=tt...
The Irish Film and Television Academy (Ifta) has unveiled the nominations for its 2018 film and drama awards.
Source: Sony Pictures Classics
Maudie
Now in its 15th year, the event celebrates the best in Irish film and TV from the past 12 months.
In the film categories, Aisling Walsh’s Maudie, starring Sally Hawkins, leads the way with six nominations including best feature film and director.
Cardboard Gangsters, Handsome Devil, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Farthest follow with five nominations, while The Drummer And The Keeper, The Killing Of A Sacred Deer, Maze and Michael Inside received four apiece.
The Lodgers, Pilgrimage, Song Of Granite all received three nods, while Lady Bird received two.
In the drama categories, Vikings leads the way on six nominations including best drama, while Game Of Thrones and Peaky Blinders received five each. Paula received four, Acceptable Risk and [link=tt...
- 1/11/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
"It was supposed to be the most secure prison in Europe. It wasn't supposed to have a flaw." Lionsgate UK has debuted the first official trailer for an action thriller titled Maze, telling the true story of how 38 Ira prisoners escaped from Hmp Maze high-security prison in Northern Ireland in 1983. The full cast includes Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Martin McCann, Barry Ward, Eileen Walsh, and Aaron Monaghan. This premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in July, and will be released in UK cinemas in September, but there's still no Us release date yet. I don't know much about the history of this story, but I am intrigued to find out how they escaped. The main guy kind of reminds me of Ralph Fiennes. This is worth a look, might be good. Here's the first official trailer for Stephen Burke's Maze, direct from YouTube (via Tmb): Based on the true story...
- 8/15/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Excusive: Ira prison break drama to get private screening on Croisette.
Visit Films heads to Cannes with a sales slate that includes Ira thriller Maze, SXSW selections M.F.A. and Flesh And Blood, and Us coming-of-age drama Cold November.
Ryan Kampe will also be talking up recent Sundance and Rotterdam selections Family Life and Columbus, and Sundance and Berlinale selection Dayveon.
Kampe has scheduled a private buyers’ screening for Maze starring Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Barry Ward, and Martin McCann. Lionsgate will distributes in the UK and a number of territories are pre-sold.
The thriller chronicles the mass break-out in 1983 of 38 prisoners from the Maze high security prison.
The film focuses on Larry Marley, the chief architect of the escape, who strikes up a complex friendship with Gordon, a prison warden.
Stephen Burke directs and Jane Doolan of Mammoth Films and Brendan J. Byrne of Cyprus Avenue Films serve as producers. The Irish Film Board, Film Väst, Rte...
Visit Films heads to Cannes with a sales slate that includes Ira thriller Maze, SXSW selections M.F.A. and Flesh And Blood, and Us coming-of-age drama Cold November.
Ryan Kampe will also be talking up recent Sundance and Rotterdam selections Family Life and Columbus, and Sundance and Berlinale selection Dayveon.
Kampe has scheduled a private buyers’ screening for Maze starring Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Barry Ward, and Martin McCann. Lionsgate will distributes in the UK and a number of territories are pre-sold.
The thriller chronicles the mass break-out in 1983 of 38 prisoners from the Maze high security prison.
The film focuses on Larry Marley, the chief architect of the escape, who strikes up a complex friendship with Gordon, a prison warden.
Stephen Burke directs and Jane Doolan of Mammoth Films and Brendan J. Byrne of Cyprus Avenue Films serve as producers. The Irish Film Board, Film Väst, Rte...
- 5/12/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: The first batch of titles to appear at the Irish festival have been announced.
Pilgrimage, which stars Tom Holland and Richard Armitage [pictured], prison drama Maze and Joe Heaney biopic Song Of Granite will all bow at the Galway Film Fleadh (11-16 July).
Maze, which recounts the true story of a mass escape from Northern Ireland’s Maze prison in 1983 - will receive its world premiere at the event.
The film, set during The Troubles and told through the eyes of two very different characters across the political divide, is one of several new Irish titles which will screen at Galway.
Director Stephen Burke’s feature centres on the relationship between a prison officer and one of the chief architects of the escape, which saw 38 Ira prisoners break out in what was the biggest prison escape in Europe since World War II. It stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Martin McCann and Barry Ward.
Brendan Muldowney’s new feature...
Pilgrimage, which stars Tom Holland and Richard Armitage [pictured], prison drama Maze and Joe Heaney biopic Song Of Granite will all bow at the Galway Film Fleadh (11-16 July).
Maze, which recounts the true story of a mass escape from Northern Ireland’s Maze prison in 1983 - will receive its world premiere at the event.
The film, set during The Troubles and told through the eyes of two very different characters across the political divide, is one of several new Irish titles which will screen at Galway.
Director Stephen Burke’s feature centres on the relationship between a prison officer and one of the chief architects of the escape, which saw 38 Ira prisoners break out in what was the biggest prison escape in Europe since World War II. It stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Martin McCann and Barry Ward.
Brendan Muldowney’s new feature...
- 5/10/2017
- ScreenDaily
This week, Indiewire is profiling some of the young industry talent behind the scenes at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The following profile also appeared in Variety's print edition. Ania Trzebiatowska Home: New York City Age: 33 Title: Manager of Acquisitions, Visit Films Read More: Indiewire's Complete 2016 Cannes Film Festival Preview Cannes Focus: We have a fantastic slate of new films that played Sundance, Berlinale, SXSW and Tribeca, so our sales team will be busy selling those. And my calendar is filled with acquisitions meetings with producers, writers, Cinefondation filmmakers and follow-ups with projects we’re tracking. Sophia Takal's new movie "Always Shine," which just premiered at Tribeca, got great reviews. This will be perfect timing for selling the film and talking to festival programmers. Also, we're launching "Maze," an Irish-Swedish co-production written and directed by Stephen Burke, which only just wrapped. It’s inspired by the...
- 5/14/2016
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Sales outfit has struck a deal with Scandinavian distributor NonStop Entertainment, a UK deal is in the works.
Ryan Kampe’s Visit Films is handling Cannes sales on the prison break thriller Maze and has struck a deal with NonStop Entertainment for Scandinavia.
A UK deal is understood to be in the works on the true story of the the 1983 escape by 38 prisoners from the Hmp Maze high security prison in Northern Ireland.
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor stars as Larry Marley, the chief architect behind the break-out. Barry Ward plays the prison warden with whom Marley strikes up a complex friendship.
Visit will show footage from the production, shooting now in Ireland. Stephen Burke directs from his screenplay, while Jane Doolan of Mammoth Films and Brendan J. Byrne of Cyprus Avenue Films produce. The film is financed by The Irish Film Board, Film Väst, Rte, and Bai.
“Stephen’s story, based on true events and set against the Troubles...
Ryan Kampe’s Visit Films is handling Cannes sales on the prison break thriller Maze and has struck a deal with NonStop Entertainment for Scandinavia.
A UK deal is understood to be in the works on the true story of the the 1983 escape by 38 prisoners from the Hmp Maze high security prison in Northern Ireland.
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor stars as Larry Marley, the chief architect behind the break-out. Barry Ward plays the prison warden with whom Marley strikes up a complex friendship.
Visit will show footage from the production, shooting now in Ireland. Stephen Burke directs from his screenplay, while Jane Doolan of Mammoth Films and Brendan J. Byrne of Cyprus Avenue Films produce. The film is financed by The Irish Film Board, Film Väst, Rte, and Bai.
“Stephen’s story, based on true events and set against the Troubles...
- 5/12/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
An Illinois congressman is taking his campaign to have Donald Trump removed as host of “Saturday Night Live” to the House of Representatives. Democrat Luis Gutierrez sent a letter addressed to Brian Roberts, president and CEO of Comcast, and Stephen Burke, president and CEO of NBCUniversal on Tuesday, imploring them to “disinvite” the Republican candidate from the NBC sketch show. “Having Donald Trump as a guest on every news and entertainment program is one thing, but allowing him to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ is another,” he wrote. “It is a level of endorsement that says to America that every hateful and.
- 10/21/2015
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Hispanic advocacy groups are fuming over the fact that NBC ignored their request to dis-invite Donald Trump from hosting “Saturday Night Live” on November 7. The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, which includes 40 civil rights and public policy groups, said a letter sent to NBC Universal CEO Stephen Burke and “SNL” executive producer Lorne Michaels on Thursday asking the network to reconsider its decision, has gone unanswered. But they’re not giving up. “We have a number of options that are on the table,” Felix Sanchez, chairman and co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts told TheWrap. “This is a slap.
- 10/19/2015
- by Itay Hod
- The Wrap
Los Angeles (AP) — NBC is enabling Donald Trump's "hateful speech" about Hispanics by giving him a platform as host of Saturday Night Live and should pull the invitation, a coalition of Hispanic advocacy groups said. In a letter to NBC Universal CEO Stephen Burke and SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda said it applauded the company when it severed its beauty-pageant ties with Trump over his remarks about Hispanic immigrants. Trump hasn't apologized for his "bigoted comments" that included describing some Mexicans in the United States illegally as criminals and rapists, the group said,
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- 10/17/2015
- by The Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Brian Roberts earned $31.4 million as chairman and CEO of Comcast in 2013, up from $29.1 million a year prior. Stephen Burke, president and CEO of NBCUniversal, made $31.1 million, up from $26.3 million. The compensation was revealed in a regulatory filing on Friday. Michael Angelakis, CFO of Comcast, was paid $19.2 million, down from $23.2 million a year earlier. Neil Smit, president and CEO of Comcast Cable Communications, made $17.4 million, down from $18.3 million. David Cohen, an executive vp, was paid $14 million, down from $15.9 million. Comcast is
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- 4/11/2014
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus tried to split the baby and wound up butchering it this afternoon at TCA Summer TV Press Tour 2013, when he said the network’s upcoming coverage of the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi “comes with political and social issues” which NBC will address — “as they are relevant at the time of the game, as has always been the case.” Then, without missing a beat, he began to “we cannot wait to get to Sochi, very optimistic about the U.S. team, biggest Winter Olympics ever,” blah blah, blah, while TV critics in the hall tried to recover from the whiplash. Russia’s newly-adopted anti-gay laws have some calling for NBC to boycott the Games (The International Olympic Committee has said it will “work to ensure” that Lgbt athletes competing in the games will not face danger or legal issues). Among those calling for boycott,...
- 7/27/2013
- by LISA DE MORAES, TV Columnist
- Deadline TV
Los Angeles (AP) — NBC slashes Jay Leno's "Tonight" pay in half, but forks out more than $8 billion to renew its broadcast rights to Sunday Night Football.
Rumors swirl about a salary cut for Matt Lauer and Alec Baldwin tweets an offer to cut his salary, even as the network gambles on a $4.4 billion bid for the Olympics.
Is this any way to run a network that's been stuck at No. 4 in the prime-time ratings for eight seasons?
Yes, according to observers, who say NBC is making the right moves by saving where it can and spending where it should under new owner Comcast Corp.
"I'm impressed they're both taking all these creative shots and exercising financial discipline," said Garth Ancier, a network veteran who helped launch Fox and was an entertainment chief at NBC.
Stephen Burke, Comcast vice president and NBCUniversal CEO, "knows where to spend money and where not to,...
Rumors swirl about a salary cut for Matt Lauer and Alec Baldwin tweets an offer to cut his salary, even as the network gambles on a $4.4 billion bid for the Olympics.
Is this any way to run a network that's been stuck at No. 4 in the prime-time ratings for eight seasons?
Yes, according to observers, who say NBC is making the right moves by saving where it can and spending where it should under new owner Comcast Corp.
"I'm impressed they're both taking all these creative shots and exercising financial discipline," said Garth Ancier, a network veteran who helped launch Fox and was an entertainment chief at NBC.
Stephen Burke, Comcast vice president and NBCUniversal CEO, "knows where to spend money and where not to,...
- 10/9/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
It’s a new day at NBCUniversal and the toilets tell the story. In Comcast’s corporate culture the executive privy is going away. Comcast has confirmed to TheWrap that it is moving all its executives from their current, plush homes on the 52nd floor of 30 Rockefeller Center to smaller, more transparent quarters on the 51st floor. With no private toilets. “We wanted to build a floor more in the Comcast spirit,” Adam Miller, top strategic adviser to CEO Stephen Burke (left), told TheWrap. “Right now, we have bathrooms and opulence. When we move,...
- 6/19/2011
- The Wrap
With a half dozen titles in the sidebars, the Parisian Sales Agent Film Distribution folks are certainly going to be hosting several parties. At the top of the list they've got Bertrand Bonello's House of Tolerance. In the waiting, we find the co. pushing Brillante Mendoza's latest entitled Captured - a film that features a Croisette fixture in the popular Isabelle Huppert (see pic above). Here's a ton of stuff in Film Distribution's pipeline: House Of Tolerance (L'apollonide) by Bertrand Bonello - Completed The Slut by Hagar Ben Asher - Completed The Snows Of Kilimanjaro (Les Neiges Du Kilimanjaro) by Robert GUÉDIGUIAN - Completed 17 Girls (17 Filles) by Delphine Coulin - Completed A Burning Desire by Bernard Jeanjean - Completed A Cat In Paris (English Version) (Une Vie De Chat) by Alain Gagnol - Completed Breathing (Atmen) by Karl Markovics - Completed Duch, Master Of The Forges Of Hell...
- 5/13/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
DVD Playhouse—March 2011
By
Allen Gardner
127 Hours (20th Century Fox) Harrowing true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco, in another fine turn), an extreme outdoorsman who finds himself trapped in a remote Utah canyon, his arm pinned between two boulders, with no help nearby, no communication to the outside world, and dim prospects for survival, to say the least. Director Danny Boyle manages to prove again that he’s one of the finest filmmakers working today by making a subject that is seemingly uncinematic a true example of pure cinema. Inventive, breathtaking, funny, and horrifying, often all at once. Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara make a memorable, brief appearance as hikers who connect with Ralston during his journey. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Boyle, producer Christian Colson, co-writer Simon Beaufoy; Deleted scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 5.1 surround.
Amarcord (Criterion) Federico Fellini’s Oscar-winning, autobiographical classic might...
By
Allen Gardner
127 Hours (20th Century Fox) Harrowing true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco, in another fine turn), an extreme outdoorsman who finds himself trapped in a remote Utah canyon, his arm pinned between two boulders, with no help nearby, no communication to the outside world, and dim prospects for survival, to say the least. Director Danny Boyle manages to prove again that he’s one of the finest filmmakers working today by making a subject that is seemingly uncinematic a true example of pure cinema. Inventive, breathtaking, funny, and horrifying, often all at once. Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara make a memorable, brief appearance as hikers who connect with Ralston during his journey. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Boyle, producer Christian Colson, co-writer Simon Beaufoy; Deleted scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 5.1 surround.
Amarcord (Criterion) Federico Fellini’s Oscar-winning, autobiographical classic might...
- 3/1/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
SAG has avoided potential labor unrest within its own ranks.
Unionized SAG employees voted Wednesday night to accept a contract with the guild offering 2% annual wage increases over the next three years. The employees, SAG business representatives, turned down the same offer a week ago. Had they rejected the deal again, the employees would have initiated a strike against the guild.
The employees, represented by Teamsters Local 986, had wanted higher increases.
"The (employees) made a decision that reflected their best interests," said Local 986's Stephen Burke, adding that the offer "was not what we wanted or fought for."
Notably, though, the package omitted a controversial proposal requiring employees to submit discrimination claims to binding arbitration. The removal of that proposal was a "big deal," said Burke.
In a statement, SAG said, "We're pleased to have concluded these negotiations. We value the many contributions of our staff and are proud to...
Unionized SAG employees voted Wednesday night to accept a contract with the guild offering 2% annual wage increases over the next three years. The employees, SAG business representatives, turned down the same offer a week ago. Had they rejected the deal again, the employees would have initiated a strike against the guild.
The employees, represented by Teamsters Local 986, had wanted higher increases.
"The (employees) made a decision that reflected their best interests," said Local 986's Stephen Burke, adding that the offer "was not what we wanted or fought for."
Notably, though, the package omitted a controversial proposal requiring employees to submit discrimination claims to binding arbitration. The removal of that proposal was a "big deal," said Burke.
In a statement, SAG said, "We're pleased to have concluded these negotiations. We value the many contributions of our staff and are proud to...
- 9/9/2010
- by By Jonathan Handel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Labor unrest is hitting SAG close to home.Negotiations between the actors guild and Teamsters Local 986, which represents more than 40 of SAG's Los Angeles-based business representatives, have gotten bumpy. The contract between the parties expired June 1, and one issue still to be resolved is what wage increases the new deal will grant. Yes, even unions have unions. In this negotiation, SAG functions as management, not labor. The guild's business representatives handle claims and meet with actors on set.After about a dozen meetings, the two sides are far apart.The Teamsters have proposed 5%, 4% and 4% annual raises for the first, second and third years of the contract, respectively, whereas SAG is offering 2% annual bumps for each year of the three-year deal.SAG's number is consistent with other recent Hollywood deals. In June, AFTRA accepted 2% for a one-year extension of its daytime agreement, and Teamsters Local 399, representing Hollywood drivers, agreed to the...
- 8/23/2010
- backstage.com
Labor unrest is hitting SAG close to home.
Negotiations between the actors guild and Teamsters Local 986, which represents more than 40 of SAG's Los Angeles-based business representatives, have gotten bumpy. The contract between the parties expired June 1, and one issue still to be resolved is what wage increases the new deal will grant.
Yes, even unions have unions. In this negotiation, SAG functions as management, not labor. The guild's business representatives handle claims and meet with actors on set.
After about a dozen meetings, the two sides are far apart.
The Teamsters have proposed 5%, 4% and 4% annual raises for the first, second and third years of the contract, respectively, whereas SAG is offering 2% annual bumps for each year of the three-year deal.
SAG's number is consistent with other recent Hollywood deals. In June, AFTRA accepted 2% for a one-year extension of its daytime agreement, and Teamsters Local 399, representing Hollywood drivers, agreed to the...
Negotiations between the actors guild and Teamsters Local 986, which represents more than 40 of SAG's Los Angeles-based business representatives, have gotten bumpy. The contract between the parties expired June 1, and one issue still to be resolved is what wage increases the new deal will grant.
Yes, even unions have unions. In this negotiation, SAG functions as management, not labor. The guild's business representatives handle claims and meet with actors on set.
After about a dozen meetings, the two sides are far apart.
The Teamsters have proposed 5%, 4% and 4% annual raises for the first, second and third years of the contract, respectively, whereas SAG is offering 2% annual bumps for each year of the three-year deal.
SAG's number is consistent with other recent Hollywood deals. In June, AFTRA accepted 2% for a one-year extension of its daytime agreement, and Teamsters Local 399, representing Hollywood drivers, agreed to the...
- 8/20/2010
- by By Jonathan Handel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York -- Largest U.S. cable operator Comcast Corp. reported better-than-expected first-quarter results Wednesday on better subscriber and advertising momentum.
Comcast management on Wednesday morning's earnings call reiterated that they expect they can close the planned NBC Universal acquisition late this year and benefit from the rebound in the ad market.
"We're still hopeful later this year," chairman and CEO Brian Roberts said when asked about the timing. "It appears the advertising market has really turned around...and bodes well for the timing of the transaction." He also said retransmission consent deals that broadcast companies have recently struck bode well for NBC Uni.
Cable advertising finally showed improvement at Comcast, up 23.5% in the first quarter after a 2009 decline. This marked the first gain since the opening quarter of 2008.
And advertising has continued to strengthen into 2010, said COO Stephen Burke, who will oversee NBC Uni. He later also called current...
Comcast management on Wednesday morning's earnings call reiterated that they expect they can close the planned NBC Universal acquisition late this year and benefit from the rebound in the ad market.
"We're still hopeful later this year," chairman and CEO Brian Roberts said when asked about the timing. "It appears the advertising market has really turned around...and bodes well for the timing of the transaction." He also said retransmission consent deals that broadcast companies have recently struck bode well for NBC Uni.
Cable advertising finally showed improvement at Comcast, up 23.5% in the first quarter after a 2009 decline. This marked the first gain since the opening quarter of 2008.
And advertising has continued to strengthen into 2010, said COO Stephen Burke, who will oversee NBC Uni. He later also called current...
- 4/28/2010
- by By Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York -- The top Comcast executives behind the cable giant's play for NBC Universal got a big raise in compensation for 2009.
COO Stephen Burke, who will oversee NBC Uni, and CFO Michael Angelakis, a key architect of the deal, saw an increase of about 50% in total compensation over 2008, Comcast reported in a regulatory filing Friday.
Burke's total 2009 compensation climbed from $22.6 million in 2008 to nearly $34 million last year. The gain was driven by a slight base salary improvement; new stock awards, which more than doubled to $10.1 million; and a $3 million bonus after having gone without a bonus in the previous year.
Burke's compensation now beats out that of chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, whose total take rose from $26.2 million in 2008 to $27.2 million last year.
Angelakis got a total of $21.6 million in 2009, up from $14.5 million the year before.
COO Stephen Burke, who will oversee NBC Uni, and CFO Michael Angelakis, a key architect of the deal, saw an increase of about 50% in total compensation over 2008, Comcast reported in a regulatory filing Friday.
Burke's total 2009 compensation climbed from $22.6 million in 2008 to nearly $34 million last year. The gain was driven by a slight base salary improvement; new stock awards, which more than doubled to $10.1 million; and a $3 million bonus after having gone without a bonus in the previous year.
Burke's compensation now beats out that of chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, whose total take rose from $26.2 million in 2008 to $27.2 million last year.
Angelakis got a total of $21.6 million in 2009, up from $14.5 million the year before.
- 4/11/2010
- by By Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
I Love You Phillip Morris (15)
(Glen Ficarra, John Requa, 2009, Us) Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor. 97 mins
Jim Carrey doesn't just play gay here, he plays flaming, in-your-face, heels-and-hotpants gay. And it kind of suits him. A police officer-turned-con man, his character is led even further astray when he falls for a fellow prison inmate (McGregor), and their courtship is treated like a traditional Hollywood love affair – albeit one full of prison breaks, audacious deceptions and outrageous accessorising. Gleefully trashy, at times exhaustingly unpredictable, it's certainly a brave move.
The Scouting Book For Boys (15)
(Tom Harper, 2009, UK) Thomas Turgoose, Holly Grainger, Rafe Spall. 93 mins
High hopes have been pinned on this, with Skins scribe Jack Thorne and plenty of young talent on board. Set in a Norfolk caravan camp, it's the tale of a boy-girl friendship developing into something else – quite what is up for grabs when they hatch a fake-kidnapping plan.
(Glen Ficarra, John Requa, 2009, Us) Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor. 97 mins
Jim Carrey doesn't just play gay here, he plays flaming, in-your-face, heels-and-hotpants gay. And it kind of suits him. A police officer-turned-con man, his character is led even further astray when he falls for a fellow prison inmate (McGregor), and their courtship is treated like a traditional Hollywood love affair – albeit one full of prison breaks, audacious deceptions and outrageous accessorising. Gleefully trashy, at times exhaustingly unpredictable, it's certainly a brave move.
The Scouting Book For Boys (15)
(Tom Harper, 2009, UK) Thomas Turgoose, Holly Grainger, Rafe Spall. 93 mins
High hopes have been pinned on this, with Skins scribe Jack Thorne and plenty of young talent on board. Set in a Norfolk caravan camp, it's the tale of a boy-girl friendship developing into something else – quite what is up for grabs when they hatch a fake-kidnapping plan.
- 3/20/2010
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
'Happy Ever Afters', the debut feature film from writer and director Stephen Burke (Anner House, No Tears) comes down the aisle on December 26th with the premise that sometimes the happiest day of all can be the most heartbreaking. Iftn chats to Burke and two of the film's stars Tom Riley and Jade Yourell. The film's plot is anything but straightforward: Freddie, played by Tom Riley (Lost in Austen, St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold) and Maura, played by Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky, An Education) are getting married, just not to each other. While Freddie is entering his second marriage with the neurotic Sophie, played by Jade Yourell (Waiting for Dublin, The Longest Day), Maura's is more concerned with her pockets than her heart in marrying 'Doctors' star, Ariyon Bakare's Wilson. Then, when the two wedding parties end up at the same reception venue,...
- 12/23/2009
- IFTN
By Sharon Waxman
It’s a new entertainment world out there.
Neither the broadcast television network NBC nor the major movie studio Universal could have garnered less enthusiasm from Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and COO Stephen Burke in their discussions with analysts and journalists all day Thursday.
Indeed, the most striking thing about the executives who unveiled their marriage of Comcast and the entertainment company on Thursday was their utter disinterest in what used to be the sexiest parts of what they’d just agreed to buy: NBC and Universal. Instead Roberts crowed ov...
It’s a new entertainment world out there.
Neither the broadcast television network NBC nor the major movie studio Universal could have garnered less enthusiasm from Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and COO Stephen Burke in their discussions with analysts and journalists all day Thursday.
Indeed, the most striking thing about the executives who unveiled their marriage of Comcast and the entertainment company on Thursday was their utter disinterest in what used to be the sexiest parts of what they’d just agreed to buy: NBC and Universal. Instead Roberts crowed ov...
- 12/4/2009
- by Sharon Waxman
- The Wrap
By Forbes
Stephen Burke now holds the unglamorous title of chief operating officer at Comcast, but he could very well be the most powerful man in Hollywood once the NBC Universal deal happens. While his title wouldn't change, and he’d stay in Philadelphia where Comcast is headquartered, he’d manage the integration and oversee both the content and distribution sides of the business on a day-to-day basis. NBC Universal Chief Jeff Zucker would report to him -- assuming Zucker stays -- and Burke would ultimately call the shots on programming and promotion.
The goal: marry the pipes of ...
Stephen Burke now holds the unglamorous title of chief operating officer at Comcast, but he could very well be the most powerful man in Hollywood once the NBC Universal deal happens. While his title wouldn't change, and he’d stay in Philadelphia where Comcast is headquartered, he’d manage the integration and oversee both the content and distribution sides of the business on a day-to-day basis. NBC Universal Chief Jeff Zucker would report to him -- assuming Zucker stays -- and Burke would ultimately call the shots on programming and promotion.
The goal: marry the pipes of ...
- 12/2/2009
- by Dylan Stableford
- The Wrap
A new wave of industry mergers and acquisitions appears to be looming, and the question is how broadly and quickly it will crest.
News of Comcast's renewed display of acquisitiveness for Hollywood content -- this time for NBC Universal -- suggests that a recent increase in deal chatter could turn into the next M&A tsunami. The cable giant's interest in NBC Uni follows Disney's recent deal to snap up Marvel Entertainment, which won approval from both companies' boards before even a whisper of the proposal made the rounds.
Comcast's talks with 80% NBC Uni owner General Electric are at an early stage, but they center on combining the cable networks of the two parties.
Here's how it would likely work: Vivendi would formally sell its 20% stake in NBC Uni back to Ge. Then Ge would combine all of NBC Uni with Comcast's cable networks, with the cable giant targeting a controlling 51% of the merged powerhouse,...
News of Comcast's renewed display of acquisitiveness for Hollywood content -- this time for NBC Universal -- suggests that a recent increase in deal chatter could turn into the next M&A tsunami. The cable giant's interest in NBC Uni follows Disney's recent deal to snap up Marvel Entertainment, which won approval from both companies' boards before even a whisper of the proposal made the rounds.
Comcast's talks with 80% NBC Uni owner General Electric are at an early stage, but they center on combining the cable networks of the two parties.
Here's how it would likely work: Vivendi would formally sell its 20% stake in NBC Uni back to Ge. Then Ge would combine all of NBC Uni with Comcast's cable networks, with the cable giant targeting a controlling 51% of the merged powerhouse,...
- 10/1/2009
- by By Georg Szalai and Carl DiOrio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York -- Cable giant Comcast Corp. is interested in content and cable systems acquisitions, but a play for an entertainment biggie is unlikely, COO Stephen Burke signaled Wednesday.
Some on Wall Street have recently wondered if Comcast could once again go on the hunt for a major entertainment deal like when it made a surprise bid for Walt Disney a few years ago. However, the executive shrugged off the likelihood of another Comcast run at Disney without using the company's name.
Speaking at the Bank of America -- Merrill Lynch Securities Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference in Marina Del Rey, Calif., Burke said "content and distribution work well together," pointing to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.'s use of BSkyB and John Malone's Liberty Media's asset mix as examples. "There are a lot of case studies...you really can create a lot of value by putting content and distribution together,...
Some on Wall Street have recently wondered if Comcast could once again go on the hunt for a major entertainment deal like when it made a surprise bid for Walt Disney a few years ago. However, the executive shrugged off the likelihood of another Comcast run at Disney without using the company's name.
Speaking at the Bank of America -- Merrill Lynch Securities Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference in Marina Del Rey, Calif., Burke said "content and distribution work well together," pointing to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.'s use of BSkyB and John Malone's Liberty Media's asset mix as examples. "There are a lot of case studies...you really can create a lot of value by putting content and distribution together,...
- 9/9/2009
- by By Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
by Jason Guerrasio (November 7, 2008) [Editor's Note: indieWIRE's monthly production report looks at independent films in various stages of production. If you'd like to tell us about a film in production for future columns, please contact us.]
In November's edition of indieWIRE's production column, Jason Guerrasio profiles five new films in various stages of production. This month's group includes Tara Wray's "Cartoon College," Raul Sanchez Inglis's "The Company Men," Paola Mendoza and Gloria La Morte's "Entre Nos," Stephen Burke's "Happy Ever Afters" and Sinohui Hinojosa's "The Last Job: Redemption."...
In November's edition of indieWIRE's production column, Jason Guerrasio profiles five new films in various stages of production. This month's group includes Tara Wray's "Cartoon College," Raul Sanchez Inglis's "The Company Men," Paola Mendoza and Gloria La Morte's "Entre Nos," Stephen Burke's "Happy Ever Afters" and Sinohui Hinojosa's "The Last Job: Redemption."...
- 11/7/2008
- by brian
- Indiewire
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