ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY and AWARD NEWS FROM HOLLYWOOD, compiled by REBECCA KEEGAN
Friday, October 13, 2017
It's Friday the 13th, and I'm choosing between writing another Harvey Weinstein story and going to see a new Woody Allen movie. What a town!
Hello from Los Angeles, where we're hoping for bargains at a Weinstein Co. fire sale, tuning into Noah Baumbach'sfamily drama, and getting spooked by the return of Stranger Things.
EVERYTHING MUST GO
As Harvey Weinstein decamps to rehab, the company he founded is in turmoil. Variety's Cynthia Littletonreports that some form of bankruptcy reorganization is becoming increasingly likely for the Weinstein Co., in which Harvey and Bob Weinstein own a 42 percent stake. Creative talent has run for the hills, and creditors are getting antsy amid the exploding allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Harvey—not to mention a New York Timesreport that his board knew of payouts to women at least as far back as 2015. Networks have dropped the Weinstein Co.'s logo from their shows, and Amazon is in the process of trying to trying to buy out Weinstein's stake in two of its high-profile dramas, Matt Weiner'sThe Romanoffs and an untitled David O. Russell series.
But Amazon's hands don't appear perfectly clean either. On Thursday night, the company suspended Amazon Studios boss Roy Price, after Isa Hackett, an executive producer on the Amazon series The Man in the High Castle, described a 2015 incident in which Price allegedly harassed her. "You will love my dick," Price allegedly said to Hackett, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter's Kim Masters. Hackett said she chose to speak up about Price as a result of the Weinstein case. "I feel inspired by the other women who have been far braver than I am, who have come forward," Hackett said. "I hope we all continue to inspire each other and ultimately create change."
Harvey Weinstein And Bob Weinstein in 1992.
By Jim Smeal/WireImage.
OLIVERS IN GLASS HOUSES
V.F.'s Yohana Desta writes:
Oliver Stone, a filmmaker who happily leans toward controversial takes, is quickly backpedaling on his recent remarks about Harvey Weinstein. On Thursday night, Stone made waves when he supported the disgraced producer, saying he will wait to judge Weinstein until after some of the sexual misconduct accusations are taken to trial. "It's not easy what he's going through," Stone added. Fast-forward a few hours, and Stone completely changed his mind, clarifying that he wasn't aware just how many women had come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein. "I'm appalled and commend the courage of the women who've stepped forward to report sexual abuse or rape," he told Variety. He also added that he'll now be recusing himself from the Showtime series Guantanamo, which was snapped up by Weinstein TV back in May. However, Stone's remarks about Weinstein also landed the director himself in hot water with Playboy Playmate Carrie Stevens, who alleged Thursday night on Twitter that Stone grabbed her breast at a party about 20 years ago. Stone has not yet publicly remarked on Stevens's comments, which have since gone viral.
HEY, LADIES
V.F.'s Hillary Busis writes:
The female presence in late night doubled last night, as a new series led by Sarah Silverman and former Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore head writer Robin Thede debuted on Hulu and BET, respectively. The shows serve different purposes; Silverman's is a profane, thoughtful attempt to bridge the gap between conservatives and liberals, while Thede's is a brash, fast-paced news rundown delivered with a wry smirk. But as V.F.'s Laura Bradley writes, both deserve to become part of your regular TV rotation: Silverman showed that she plans to pursue thoughtful stories with an opening interview with a former member of the Westboro Baptist Church, and Thede is covering stories from a perspective nobody else in late night has—that of a black woman. Take, for example, her most stinging opening-night joke, which implies more sharp commentary to come: "It's no surprise that Trump came for Jemele [Hill]. Remember how he attacked Ms. Texas when she criticized him for not calling out the white supremacists in Charlottesville? Of course you don't, because he didn't. Trump likes his targets like we like our Magic Johnson theaters: black and loud."
EARBUDS TIME
V.F.'s Katey Rich writes:
This week's episode of the Little Gold Men podcast is, like everything else this week, all about Harvey Weinstein. Mike Hogan, Richard Lawson, and I discuss Weinstein's legacy and why it makes the scandal so shocking, and Nicole Sperling calls to talk about the reporting she's done on the story, including numerous women in the industry who have been reflecting on their own experiences of sexual harassment. "Harvey may be an extreme example, but he clearly is not the only one in this business or in other businesses who acts this way toward women." Take a listen here.
YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND UPSIDE DOWN
V.F.'s Katey Rich writes:
After a week like this one, it's hard to believe that you have to wait for Friday the 13th for spooky and terrible things to occur—but Netflix and Stranger Things are here anyway to bring some of those old-fashioned chills. With the October 27 debut of Season 2 just a few weeks away, a new trailer reveals even more of the terrifying things that await, from more government meanies to even bigger creatures from the Upside Down. It wouldn't be Stranger Things without a few new 80s references, too; check out the Jennifer Beals-worthy mop of curls on Eleven, who, as Yohana Desta points out, seems to be having adventures separate from the rest of the gang. Or, at least, that's the best we can tell in a trailer that still manages to play hide-and-seek with most of the show's secrets.
That's the news for this sunny Friday in L.A. What are you seeing out there? Send tips, comments, and hotel bathrobes to Rebecca_Keegan@condenast.com. Follow me on Twitter @thatrebecca.
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