Latest news with #BasedonaTrueStory
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Will Smith Music Video Makes Union Deal With IATSE After Strike
Producers of a Will Smith music video have reached a deal with IATSE over a union contract after facing a picket line from dismissed workers. The shoot, which was taking place at Quixote's West Hollywood studios, fired workers on Thursday night after they attempted to unionize the project, sources told The Hollywood Reporter. The workers responded by picketing the Breathe Entertainment production on Friday morning. Non-union crew members that had been brought in to replace the dismissed workers also joined the picket line. More from The Hollywood Reporter This Week in Sean "Diddy" Combs' Trial: Freezer Meat, DNA Evidence and Kompromat How to Watch the 2025 American Music Awards Online Without Cable for Free Different President, Same Song: Trump Pulls a Nixon in His Battle Against The Boss As of Friday afternoon, at least some members of the original crew had been allowed to return back to work on the shoot in a sign that the union and the production were collaborating. A few hours later, the union and the producers reached a deal allowing the 35-member crew to continue work under a contract that allowed for health and pension benefits. In a statement, Breathe Entertainment creative director Stephen Trivieri said he was 'just excited to release this video and showcase the work of some of LA's finest crew.' With their unionization push, crew members were focused on gaining union pension and health benefits. When a show 'flips,' or turns from a non-union to a union project, workers can apply their hours worked on the project toward the threshold that is required to have access to the union's health plan and the production helps support the unions benefits plans. At a moment when production work is down in Los Angeles, with one IATSE union leader recently saying that some Locals are at nearly 50 percent unemployment, even short shoots can make the difference for crew members seeking to stay on their unions' health plans. IATSE went public with the strike on Friday morning, posting on the social-media platform X that the crew would be picketing at Quixote Studios 'unless a fair contract is offered to the crew.' The union also informed members not to accept work on the shoot, as it became a struck production. Smith, whose film and television career is still recovering from the 2022 Academy Awards, where he slapped presenter Chris Rock following a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith, released his first album in two decades in March. Titled Based on a True Story, the album addresses the controversy several times in songs like 'Int. Barbershop' and 'You Lookin' for Me.' May 23, 2:28 p.m. Updated with news that a deal had been reached. May 23, 5:12 p.m. Updated with Stephen Trivieri statement. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
UPI
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
IATSE pickets Will Smith music video
1 of 3 | Will Smith walks the red carpet at the Univision Premio Lo Nuestro award show on February 20. Picketers gathered outside where he was filming a new music video Friday. File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo May 23 (UPI) -- Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees are picketing outside West Hollywood's Quixote Studios, where a Will Smith music video is in production. Friday's strike was in response to the producers' refusal to offer union benefits to crew members. Deadline reports that the entire crew, which consisted of 35 people, were fired, prompting the picket. Variety reported conflicting numbers. According to that outlet, IATSE Local 80 business manager Dejon Ellis said that around 20 people were fired. Breathe Entertainment president Stephen Trivieri said that 10 people had been let go after refusing to go to work. "While this music video features a globally recognized artist, it was independently financed and produced outside the scope of major studio or label backing. Like many artist-driven creative projects, this shoot was built around a clear non-union structure with transparent terms and fair compensation across all departments," Trivieri said, per Variety. The music video is for a song off the actor's newest album, Based on a True Story, which dropped March 28.
Irish Daily Star
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Streaming service Peacock cancels show after two seasons - and fans are devastated
A Peacock comedy series has been axed after only two seasons, and fans are calling it one of the "worst things to ever happen". Viewers are up in arms over the abrupt conclusion of the show, part of a spate of cancellations by NBC impacting their Peacock streaming service. Four shows have been cancelled recently, but the termination of 'Based on a True Story' has particularly incensed its audience. Social media users expressed their disappointment with Peacock's confirmation that the show's second season would be its last. The NBC streaming service has so far removed four shows from its 2025 roster, leaving many wondering if more cancellations are on the horizon. This move mirrors actions by other major platforms like Netflix , Amazon Prime, and CBS, which have also ended fan favorites such as 'Mindhunter' and 'Blue Bloods'. The decision to discontinue 'Based on a True Story' after just two seasons has left fans in shock, prompting them to air their grievances on social media. The show featured Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina as a financially struggling couple who launch a true crime podcast about their plumber. Although specific viewership data for Peacock shows isn't public, 'Based on a True Story' was well-received by both audiences and critics, earning Cuoco a nomination at the Astra TV Awards for her performance. Fans of the show are still reeling from its cancellation. One user fumed: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME. ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME?! IS NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE? IS THE WORLD OUT TO GET ME????? WHATS THE POINTTTTT." Another fumed: "This was my favorite show, why did Peacock have to get rid of it??" A third shared their disappointment, adding: "Damn that was a fun good show. Yes season two wasn't as good as the first. It deserved a third season though. The cast was great and funny. It will be missed." Messina and Cuoco starred in the much-loved show for two seasons (file) (Image: Peacock, Colleen Hayes/PEACOCK via Getty Images) However, some viewers were less shocked by the show's end, noting the diminished reach of its second season. A commenter admitted: "I completely forgot season 2 came out. Is it worth catching up on? Like was there at least some kind of resolution." Curiosity about the second instalment came from another fan: "There's a second season? I need to watch." A few opined that the series might have improved over time if given the chance. A user noted: "The sad thing Based On A True Story was like the perfect example of a show having a middling first season and picking up as it progressed. Like we could've had something here." 'Based On A True Story' became one of several victims in this year's pilot season cull, with networks clearing schedules to make way for new options. 'Mr. Throwback' also faced the axe by Peacock. Peacock has been approached for comment.
See - Sada Elbalad
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
"Based on a True Story" Canceled after 2 Seasons
Yara Sameh US actress Kaley Cuoco's dark comedy TV series 'Based on a True Story' has been canceled after two seasons at Peacock. The news comes five months after the release of True Story's second season, which dropped in its entirety in November. The cancellation caps its run at 16 episodes. The first season of the eight-episode show debuted on the streaming service in June 2023. The cast also included Chris Messina, Tom Bateman, Priscilla Quintana, Liana Liberato, Natalia Dyer, and more. The series is a satire of the true crime genre with elements loosely inspired by real events. The official description of Season 1 states that it is about 'Ava (Cuoco) and her husband Nathan (Messina), a down-on-their-luck couple, whose lives collide with an infamous serial killer terrorizing Los Angeles and seize a unique opportunity to capitalize on America's obsession with true crime by making a podcast with the killer.' Season 2 introduced a copycat killer, who eventually was revealed to be Paige, sister of Westside Ripper victim Chloe Lake. Paige trapped Ava and Nathan in the Lipinski Sisters' podcast studio and was prepared to kill them for profiting off of Chloe's death until Matt showed up and saved the day. Alas, just when it seemed like this vicious cycle was about to end, and Matt was going to turn himself over to the authorities, he managed to escape with Paige in tow, and Nathan was taken into custody, believed to be the Westside Ripper. Craig Rosenberg created the series and served as an executive producer. Annie Weisman served as writer, showrunner, and an executive producer on Season 2 with Jaclyn Moore also writing and executive producing. Cuoco and Messina executive produced in addition to starring. Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan executive produced via Aggregate Films, while Alex Buono executive produced and directed multiple episodes. UCP was the studio. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Arts & Culture Arwa Gouda Gets Married (Photos)
Forbes
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Will Smith's Comeback Album Fails To Make Any Commercial Impact
Will Smith has been on a long and quiet journey back into the public eye since his infamous altercation with Chris Rock at the Academy Awards several years ago. After keeping a relatively low profile in the aftermath of that moment, he's been slowly re-engaging with audiences, and he recently stepped back into his first love, music. For Smith, hip-hop isn't just the genre that made him famous, it also may be the key to a redemption arc – or at least that's what he was hoping. Unfortunately, that plan isn't panning out quite the way he might have anticipated. Smith's new album Based on a True Story is his first in two decades, but it makes virtually no commercial impact. Despite months of buzz and big name collaborations, the album just didn't hit with the American public in any meaningful way. Based on a True Story ix Smith's first album since 2005's Lost and Found. The project was promoted with a steady stream of singles and features from major names in the music industry, including Big Sean, Joyner Lucas, and his own son Jaden. The Grammy winner tried to push the project properly, but even anticipation and what seemed like a fair amount of media coverage – at least in the music-focused press – couldn't move the needle. The full-length doesn't make it onto a single Billboard ranking this week. Not the Billboard 200, not the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, not any genre-specific or consumption-specific tallies. For an artist of Smith's stature, that's a harsh result. He's still a household name, and with so much attention focused on the release, it felt like it could become at least a minor win. It didn't. Throughout his music career, Smith has only released four prior solo albums. All of them made it onto the Billboard 200, and three even cracked the top 10. His 2002 effort Born to Reign stalled just outside that space, peaking at No. 13. A few years earlier, Willennium soared to No. 5 – his all-time peak – driven by hit singles and the momentum of his acting career. Now, for the first time, he's released an album that doesn't make it to the all-genre tally. Based on a True Story also fails to send a single cut to the Hot 100. That's especially disappointing given the roster of collaborators featured on the set. Smith was never the biggest star on the Hot 100, but he has earned multiple top 10s and even a few No. 1s throughout his career. This time around, not one of the several official singles gained enough traction to appear on the tally. Even though the album itself doesn't chart, a few of the tracks from Based on a True Story do manage to land somewhere. Three cuts from the set make a home on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart, a tally that Smith was previously largely unfamiliar with. Two brand new tunes — 'The Reverend (Rave Sermon)' and 'Rave in the Wasteland ' —debut at Nos. 8 and 22, respectively. At the same time, 'You Can Make It,' a collaboration with Fridayy and Sunday Service, reappears at No. 18. Smith claims a trio of the most-consumed gospel tracks in the country this week, which is a curious outcome for an effort largely pitched as a hip-hop project.
