Oaks Galleria: Celebs Rumors

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor The contract talks finally reached the handshake point at 3 a.m. PT on Feb. 23.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The union representing Hollywood musicians begins bargaining on Monday with demands for streaming residuals and protections from artificial intelligence. The American Federation of Musicians kicked off the talks with a rain-soaked rally at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, home of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the major studios. The musicians’ top issues are the same ones that forced Hollywood writers and actors to go on strike last year, paralyzing the industry for six months.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large A lot can happen in 146 days. When the Writers Guild strike started in May, Drew Barrymore was one of its early folk heroes, when she stepped down as host of the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity. But four months later, Barrymore became one of the strike’s most reviled public figures when she tried to rationalize the decision to bring back her daytime talk show in the midst of a work stoppage.

Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc.has partnered with LA’s Tarzana International Film Festival (Sep 29– Oct 1) to honor the 100-year centennial of the writer’s incorporation.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Nick Bakay has had a 30-year career in TV and film, including writing on traditional network sitcoms like “Young Sheldon” and “The King of Queens.” But the industry has shifted in recent years. Now he’s working on “How to Be a Bookie,” an eight-episode series for Max. The show is scheduled to wrap production on April 28, getting in just under the wire before a possible strike by the Writers Guild of America. “The game has suddenly changed so drastically,” Bakay says. “If you’re going to go from 22 episodes and residuals to eight episodes and no residuals, that’s a body blow.”

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America officially began negotiations on Monday with the studios, as the union seeks to increase compensation and set minimum standards for the size and duration of writers rooms. Over the decades, bargaining has become a highly ritualized process, with each step carefully scripted. The guild has already told members that the initial round of talks will last for two weeks. At that point, the WGA will advise the membership on “what next steps we believe are necessary,” said writer-director Kay Cannon in a video posted on Friday. If it’s anything like the last contentious negotiation, in 2017, the guild will seek a strike authorization vote, which would give negotiators leverage for the final round of talks.

Charna Flam Production designers from the Oscar-nominated films “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Babylon,” “The Fabelmans” and “Elvis” are joining the Art Directors Guild (ADG) and Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA) for an in-person panel on Saturday at 3 p.m. PT, which will also be available to stream. Sponsored by Variety, the upcoming panel will bring together the Oscar-nominated production designers and set decorators to discuss their craft and the production process ahead of Sunday night’s ceremony. The panel will feature Christian M. Goldbeck and Ernestine Hippe from “All Quiet on the Western Front”; Dylan Cole, Ben Procter and Vanessa Cole from “Avatar: The Way of Water”; Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino from “Babylon”; Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy and Bev Dunn from “Elvis”; and Rick Carter and Karem O’Hara from “The Fabelmans.” Former ADG president Thomas A. Walsh and SDSA member Jan Pascale will join together in moderating the panel.

Not only was Kate Beckinsale spotted looking stunning at the 2022 Oscars, but the actress also turned heads as she got close to Jason Momoa.The 48 year old was spotted hanging out with Jason at an Oscars party, and onlookers have since said that the pair "had smiles on their faces" as they chatted away. A source told E! News: "They were standing at a bar chatting.

By Anita Bennett