Entertainment Lawyers

  A Rebrand is in the Works for Paramount Global It’s no secret that much of the growth in the streaming industry over the last year and a half has been driven by global-focused policies rather than the domestic market. With Paramount in the midst of a massive shakeup to their business, the news that a rebrand, as well as a shift in focus, for the Paramount international studios business is coming is no surprise. But what does the future hold for the changed service? Blake & Wang P.A entertainment attorney , Brandon Blake, breaks down what we know. Global Mindset, Local Execution High-end scripted content in a wealth of languages, created to drive growth for Paramount+, seems to be the name of the game for the refreshed face of Paramount Global. Replacing the ViacomCBS International Studio brand, Paramount’s business outside the US will now operate as Paramount Television International Studios, or PTIS. And they’re not shy about the intention to drive acquisitions and engagemen...

Netflix’s Surprise Announcement: No In-Person Upfronts On the eve of this year’s Upfronts, we’ve seen a strange pivot from Netflix away from their planned inaugural in-person event to a virtual presentation. With many people puzzled by the (unrevealed) reasoning behind the swap, entertainment attorney and industry insider, Brandon Blake of Blake & Wang P.A, is here to share what we know. Avoiding Picketlines? Despite the lack of given reasons for the abrupt last-minute pivot, many assume that the promised picket line strike action from the WGA slated for Upfronts week is a driving factor in the decision which will leave New York’s Paris Theater dark on their scheduled May 17th date. Instead of the planned presentation and following reception, Netflix will be putting out a streaming-only virtual presentation. They will still be sharing updates on their advertising-focused products as well as planned upcoming programming. With their ad-supported tier barely a year old, we ass...

Ai is everywhere- or so it may seem. While much of the industry’s attention is on the direct impact of AI tools on aspects like video generation and copyright, there’s a more insidious side to consider- with the ever-present algorithm determining what stories get visibility and audience-reach, the stakes are rising. Brandon Blake , our entertainment attorney on the inside from Blake & Wang P.A, unpacks some key issues. The Data Conundrum While the hidden hand of catering to the ever present algorithm is most felt on social media, Hollywood is not free from its grasp either. In particular, viewership data- often played very close to the chest by individual platforms- suffers from something of a feedback loop created by recommendation engines in streaming services. Is human-first innovation dead? Not quite- but it may be in its demise, with what machines will let viewers see increasingly responsible for shaping… well, what viewers get to see in the first place. If algorithms, ...

 While the strike itself is still not officially in play, this week we've seen the Writers’ Guild of America release the rules for the looming strike action that may hit the table when their current contract expires this week. Brandon Blake, entertainment attorney with Blake & Wang P.A, summarizes what we can expect if a last minute deal isn’t reached shortly. Brandon Blake Solid Support 98% of WGA members stand behind a strike authorization if a deal cannot be reached, so it is very worth knowing what can be expected. Additionally, the potential strike action has the backing of both SAG-AFTRA and the DGA. During the potential strike, writers will be banned from writing, pitching, revising, or discussing future work with companies which are members of the AMPTP. If they do not adhere to this work block, the Guild has the right to undertake disciplinary action against them. Hyphenates, or writers who perform other roles for a company in addition to writing, are also being told ...