PRO Tip Sheet: 5 Insights From This Week

This week on WrapPRO, we dug into how studios deal with serious allegations against major franchise stars, the post-"Barbenheimer" box office hangover and the tense negotiations between the Writers Guild and Hollywood studios. [5 Insights From WrapPRO]( This week on WrapPRO, we dug into how studios deal with serious allegations against major franchise stars, the post-"Barbenheimer" box office hangover and the tense negotiations between the Writers Guild and Hollywood studios. [Read More on WrapPRO]( 1. [Jonathan Majors, Ezra Miller and What’s a Studio to Do When Misconduct Charges Flare]( By Kristen Lopez & Umberto Gonzalez | Source: [WrapPRO]( - Hollywood studios are grappling with actors' off-set behavior and reputations impacting costly franchise films. An example includes Warner Bros.' "The Flash," which underperformed, partially attributed to the star Ezra Miller's legal and reputational issues. - Handling misconduct is no longer as simple as using morality clauses in contracts. The rise of social media and public scrutiny complicates when to sever ties with a troubled actor, reflecting a need for more nuanced strategies. - Increasingly, studios might have to consider an actor's reputation before signing them, with a rising Gen Z audience focusing on authenticity and values. This could lead to new contractual practices linking an actor's reputation with insurability on set, marking a potential shift in the industry's approach to casting. [Keep Reading]( 2. ['Barbenheimer' Is a Box Office Party, But a Strike-Induced Hangover Might Be Coming]( By Jeremy Fuster | Source: [WrapPRO]( - Hollywood's double strike is causing studios to reevaluate film schedules, with Sony delaying "Kraven the Hunter," "Gran Turismo" and other releases, highlighting the substantial reliance on actors for marketing and promotion. - Thanks to hits like Warner Bros.' “Barbie” and Universal's “Oppenheimer,” overall grosses skyrocketed to $217 million for the recent weekend, more than double that of the same period in 2022, and domestic grosses for the summer surpassed $3 billion -- 6.7% ahead of last year. - The continued uncertainty around the strike's duration has added to theater owners' anxiety. They were previously optimistic after pandemic woes. This ongoing situation underscores the importance of achieving a union deal that satisfies both sides, with implications for the industry's labor relations and financial planning. [Keep Reading]( 3. [Layoffs Underway at HBO | Exclusive]( By Loree Seitz | Source: [WrapPRO]( - The Warner Bros. Discovery brand is making significant cuts to its PR department, legal and production divisions at HBO, with insiders describing the PR team as "decimated" by the layoffs, reflecting a major shift in the company's internal structure. - The layoffs are part of an ongoing series of reductions following the April 2022 merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, previously resulting in the elimination of 70 HBO Max employees across several departments, indicative of broader restructuring within the conglomerate. - Layoffs are also expected to impact the cable news division of Warner Bros. Discovery this summer, affecting networks like Discovery Channel, TNT and TBS, signaling a more extensive transformation that could reshape various aspects of the entertainment giant. [Keep Reading]( 4. [Behind Hollywood’s Rise in Suicides – and What to Do About It]( By Sharon Knolle | Source: [WrapPRO]( - The recent deaths of figures like “Euphoria” actor Angus Cloud and singer Sinéad O’Connor highlight Hollywood's ongoing mental health and potential suicide crisis, with entertainers facing particular vulnerability due to occupational stresses and industry demands. - Suicides are increasing nationally, but the entertainment industry is noted for its lack of accessible mental health care and supportive mechanisms, according to experts like Charles R. Cross, who cites unmanageable costs and lack of attention as key issues. - Intimacy coordinators and mental health experts on set are becoming increasingly essential, with some in the industry, such as director Barry Jenkins on “Underground Railroad,” ensuring mental health professionals are available due to the heavy and potentially triggering topics being explored. - Efforts are underway to adopt best practices within the industry, with organizations and coalitions seeking to create universal paths and resources for mental health support, potentially signifying a positive shift in recognizing and addressing the pervasive mental health challenges in entertainment. [Keep Reading]( 5. [The Writers Guild Knows Exactly What It Wants – Will Studios Rise to Meet Them?]( By Jeremy Fuster | Source: [WrapPRO]( - The WGA and the AMPTP are meeting for the first time in months to determine if they can resume talks to end the writers' strike. - The main disagreement between WGA and AMPTP has been the guild's proposals that seek to codify the writers' room in their contract, a reaction to trends triggered by the rise of streaming, with studios heavily using "minirooms" and only keeping few writers during production - a practice the WGA aims to negate. - The studios have publicly rejected the WGA's proposals on staffing as they believe it interferes with control over employment decisions, defining it as a "hiring quota" that's incompatible with the creative nature of the industry. - The guild has remained firm on its need for a full counterproposal that addresses all its issues, with multiple WGA members stressing that a deal addressing all the WGA’s demands is vital for the stability of writing as an occupation. [Keep Reading]( With a focus on delivering actionable intelligence, the PRO Tip Sheet empowers readers to stay ahead of the game in the industry. Want to go deeper? [Explore WrapPRO today](. [LEARN MORE]( TheWrap | 2034 Armacost Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Unsubscribe](