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 ...

 On trend with their peers, AMC+ will be getting a cheaper ad-supported tier. With a new CEO, and the company emerging from a tumultuous period of layoffs and changes, the news that they’re launching a new data platform along with it is reasonably exciting, too. Entertainment lawyer with Blake & Wang P.A, Brandon Blake, brings all the details to the table. Brandon Blake 2023-24 Upfronts While there is no launch date or pricing for the service currently available, it is being pushed as part of their 2023-24 Upfront pitch and sales process, so we are anticipating a fast rollout. Rather than one central platform, AMX offers a wealth of niche streaming services, with AMC+ the cornerstone and largest among them. Bundle subscribers will also be included in the ad-supported options. The wider ramifications of the streaming business model have been front-and-center of the conversation for the last two years. AMC, rather uniquely, focuses specifically on scripted, adult-aimed content. ...

 Paramount has made itself a rather confusing part of the wider streaming world. At a time where we are seeing most studios and brands aim for streaming growth, they can’t quite seem to decide if they are in or out of the industry. With the revelation that they’re seeking to jettison not only Showtime, but also BET, the waters are murkier than ever. Do they even really know what they’re aiming for? Expert entertainment attorney Brandon Blake, with Blake & Wang P.A, attempts to clear up some of the mystery. Brandon Blake Too Many Platforms While they also seem to have an unclear approach to their streaming position, there can be little doubt that Paramount also has control of too many small platforms. In addition to Paramount+, their strongest performer by far, they have had the solid FAST service, Pluto TV. But add to that Showtime OTT, BET+, Noggin, and so on- and that is rather too many to juggle, especially without a clear frontrunner. The solution? Jettisoning most of them...

 China’s most prestigious cinematic event, the Shanghai Film Festival, is finally back to normal. Since the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has either been shelved, or simply been near-impossible to access for the international industry. Fittingly, this year will also mark the 25th Anniversary for this key part of the international film festival circuit. Entertainment lawyer Brandon Blake, of Blake & Wang P.A, has more. Brandon Blake The Beleaguered Post-Pandemic Era The last time the festival has been a solid entry in international calendars was 2019. While it was intended to offer a 2022 event, it was canceled in the wake of a month-long resurgence of the COVID-19 virus and its accompanying travel restrictions. Technically speaking, the event did run in both 2020 and 2021, but due to the difficult climate and, again, those travel restrictions, it was nearly entirely a domestic Chinese affair. The 2023 Edition This year, the Shanghai Film Festival will run Jun...