Latest news with #UnitedTalentAgency
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Horizons in Creative Education: The David Guillod Artistic Impact Scholarship Now Open for 2026 Submissions
LOS ANGELES, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspiring artists now have a fresh opportunity to advance their educational journeys through the David Guillod Artistic Impact Scholarship, a distinguished award established by entertainment industry veteran David Guillod. This annual initiative offers $1,000 to one exceptional undergraduate student who is committed to pursuing a career in the creative arts. Open to students majoring in fields such as film, theater, music, visual arts, and creative writing, the scholarship was created to reduce financial barriers and encourage the pursuit of artistic excellence in higher education. David Guillod has over 25 years of experience in Hollywood, managing stars like Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez. He has held leadership roles at United Talent Agency and Handprint Entertainment and produced films such as Atomic Blonde and Extraction, building a career dedicated to nurturing talent and championing creativity. The David Guillod Artistic Impact Scholarship was born from Guillod's desire to uplift the next wave of artistic visionaries. "Art has the power to challenge, inspire, and connect people across boundaries," David Guillod stated. "Through this scholarship, I hope to support young artists in bringing their stories and ideas to life while helping shape the creative landscape of tomorrow." Scholarship Criteria and Application Information Undergraduate students pursuing degrees in arts-related fields such as film, theater, music, creative writing, or visual arts are eligible to apply by submitting a 1,000-word essay on their creative drive and future artistic impact. Applications must be received by January 15, 2026, with the $1,000 scholarship awarded to support education expenses. The winner will be announced on February 15, 2026, and all applicants will be notified via email. About David Michael Guillod David Guillod is a seasoned entertainment executive whose career encompasses talent management, motion picture production, and media strategy. Over the decades, he has contributed to critically acclaimed projects such as Hotel Rwanda, Crash, Hustle & Flow, and more recently, Atomic Blonde and Extraction. Guillod co-founded Intellectual Artists Management, which later merged with Primary Wave Entertainment, where he assumed the role of Co-CEO. How to Apply Students interested in applying for the scholarship can find full details, including guidelines and submission instructions, on the official website: View original content: SOURCE David Guillod Scholarship
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UTA Partner Jeremy Barber & Comms Vet Chris Day Join KCRW Board
EXCLUSIVE: United Talent Agency Partner and Agent Jeremy Barber and Communications veteran Chris Day have joined the board of Southern California's NPR flagship station KCRW. This move comes in the wake of President Donald Trump issuing an executive order to block federal funding to Public Broadcast Service and National Public Radio. Funding from both government and philanthropic sources has grown increasingly uncertain, while the information landscape is more fragmented than ever. In this environment, stations like KCRW play a key role in bridging divides, elevating underrepresented voices, and providing reliable, in-depth reporting at the local and global levels. More from Deadline Ruth Seymour Dies: Groundbreaking Longtime KCRW General Manager Was 88 KCRW Workers Choose SAG-AFTRA As Their Union Dave Franco & Alison Brie Accused Of Copyright Infringement In 'Together' Suit Barber and Day's addition to the KCRW Foundation signals the Board's heightened commitment to preserving the role of public media as a trusted source of news, music, and thoughtful conversation for all communities. 'This is a critical moment for public broadcasting,' said Jennifer Ferro, President of KCRW. 'At a time when disinformation is rampant, journalism is under constant threat, and arts funding continues to shrink, the value of an independent, nonprofit public media outlet like KCRW cannot be overstated. Jeremy and Chris deeply understand the cultural and civic importance of what we do, and we are incredibly fortunate to welcome their guidance and support.' Barber said, 'Public radio is an essential element of a free and democratic nation. KCRW's commitment to storytelling, music discovery and fostering community is more critical than ever as we begin to rebuild and reimagine the future fabric of Los Angeles and beyond. I am so excited to be joining Jennifer and the board in this fight to preserve and expand the role of KCRW and the public airwaves.' Day added, 'In an era of media consolidation and extreme partisanship, public broadcasting remains one of the last strongholds of truly independent journalism and creative expression. Joining the KCRW board is not just an honor—it's a call to action. We must protect this institution and ensure it thrives for the next generation.' Barber, a Partner in UTA's Motion Picture Literary and Talent Departments, is known for his work repping celebrated filmmakers, actors, and creators. Prior to UTA, Barber was President of Catch 23 and Catch 23 UK, the production and management company which he helped found, and was also head of Production and Acquisitions at Artisan Entertainment. Prior to Hollywood, Barber had stints in law and politics. Of the boards he serves or has served on are the Georgetown University Law School Board of Visitors, the Telluride Film Festival's Esteemed Council of Advisors, the board of The People Concern, and the Independent School Alliance Board of Directors. He was also Chairman of the Board of the UCLA Lab School for almost a decade, where he now maintains an emeritus position. Barber currently is a Storytelling Consultant to Harvard College through Harvard Divinity School's Center for the Study of World Religions' Constellation Project around narratives surrounding the climate crisis. Day is a strategic communications and branding consultant and a 25-year veteran of the media and entertainment industry. He provides advisory services to CEOs, founders and creative entrepreneurs and represents leading companies and organizations across entertainment and media. Prior to forming his consultancy, Day served as Head of Corporate Communications for UTA from 1999 until 2017. During his tenure, he built and led the agency's widely respected corporate communications department, overseeing all external and internal communications during the agency's growth into a global top three player. He also co-established the UTA Foundation and the company's research and analytics department and was heavily involved in the firm's corporate consulting practice, among other initiatives. Prior to UTA, Day was VP of film & TV comms firm Bumble Ward & Associates where he represented corporate clients in television. Day has also championed causes that reflect the diverse voices and values of the broader community, including his work for Rideback RISE, the non-profit content accelerator that supports diverse filmmakers and creators in making commercial film and television to drive narrative change. KCRW 89.9 FM is home to such shows as Morning Becomes Eclectic, Press Play, Good Food, The Treatment, and The Business and serves as an incubator for new talent and ideas. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW reaches millions around the globe through its on-air broadcasts, podcasts, events, and digital content. Best of Deadline TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2025 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hollywood is shaken by Trump's tariff plan for the movie industry
Filmmakers and Hollywood financiers are baffled, to say the least, by President Trump's announcement that he wants a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States. Several movie studio and streaming industry executives who spoke with CNN are downright apoplectic because, they believe, the president hasn't thought about the ramifications of his proposal, which could decimate an iconic industry. 'On first blush, it's shocking and would represent a virtually complete halt of production,' one industry insider remarked. 'But in reality, he has no jurisdiction to do this and it's too complex to enforce.' Other sources are taking a more open-minded view, asserting that Trump is instigating a dialogue about a real issue — so-called 'runaway production' — that has left many Americans in the movie and TV production sector out of work. But the prospect of film levies has injected even more uncertainty into an already-unsettled business. Shares of Netflix and other major entertainment companies fell Monday as investors digested Trump's confusing comments. 'In its current form, the tariff doesn't make sense,' Jay Sures, vice chairman of United Talent Agency, told CNN. American actors and directors would generally prefer to work close to home. But 'the fact is it's cheaper for Hollywood studios to pay for everyone to get on planes, pay for hotels, because the cost of labor, lack of rebates, and the ability to make things overseas is infinitely cheaper,' Sures said. Sures noted that it can be significantly cheaper to make movies abroad, so a blanket tariff 'has the ability to bring the movie business to a standstill – which is the last thing Hollywood needs after dual strikes and a content recession.' Some of the industry sources who spoke with CNN doubt that any such tariff plan will actually be implemented. As intellectual property, movies are a form of services – not goods. Services are not ordinarily subject to tariffs, and it's unclear how Trump's tariffs on foreign movies would work. Furthermore, Trump's assertion that foreign film production constitutes a 'national security threat' may not withstand legal scrutiny. But entertainment industry leaders are taking the possibility seriously. Multiple executives have reached out to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the tariff proposal, according to two sources familiar with the discussions. Lutnick on X responded to Trump's tariff demand Sunday night, saying, 'We're on it.' Trump's social media post may have been just an opening gambit. In the Oval Office Monday, Trump said he would hold meetings with Hollywood executives before making a final decision. 'We're going to meet with the industry; I want to make sure they're happy about it,' Trump said. The belief that Hollywood needs a boost crosses party lines. When Trump took office, he named Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone as his emissaries to Hollywood, though it was never particularly clear what that designation would mean. Trump met over the weekend with actor Jon Voight at Mar-a-Lago to discuss plans for reviving the American film industry, according to a person familiar with the matter. Voight had been been developing a plan along with his manager, Steven Paul, and the plan included ideas for tax incentives, but not specifically on new tariffs, the person said. On Monday a White House spokesperson, Kush Desai, said, 'while no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made, the Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump's directive to safeguard our country's national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.' The White House's reference to 'all options' may calm some nerves, since Hollywood lobbyists have been pushing for carrots (like a federal tax incentives for films) rather than sticks (like a tariff) for some time now. Movie and television production, once centered in and around Hollywood, has gravitated to other US states and increasingly to other countries owing to tax incentives and other financial calculations. A wide array of movies, from 'low-budget indies to studio blockbusters,' are 'currently being made in countries like the U.K., France, Germany, and Hungary,' the entertainment trade magazine Variety noted on Monday while conveying 'shock and disbelief across the European film industry.' Trump made the idea sound simple when he spoke with reporters at the White House Sunday night. 'Other nations have been stealing the movies, the moviemaking capabilities, from the United States,' he said, apparently referring to the growing number of movies that are produced in other countries like Canada. 'We should have a tariff on movies that come in,' Trump said, possibly referring to movies that are financed and distributed by American companies but filmed elsewhere. The Motion Picture Association of America, the organization representing major US studios, declined to comment on Trump's announcement. But the MPA released a report in 2023 showing the US film industry runs a $15.3 billion trade surplus with foreign markets, amounting to three times the value of films that are imported. However, it's not clear if the MPA included domestic films that were produced abroad. The questions about Trump's movie tariffs are voluminous. Will movies made by American companies but set in other countries – say, a World War II historical drama – be taxed for filming in the places where they're set? What about movies that are produced partly in the United States and partly in other places? Or, as Sures asked, 'if two minutes of the movie is shot overseas, does that deserve to be taxed?' Some of the industry executives wondered aloud if Trump's idea was about punishing Canada, where many films are now made due to tax incentives. One of the sources asked, speaking of left-leaning Hollywood, 'Is he trolling us because we didn't vote for him?' And one executive asked if Trump had any real sense of how modern TV and movie production works: 'Has anyone told him what this will do to James Bond, Harry Potter, Dune? Where are we supposed to shoot Emily in Paris?' CNN's Kate Irby contributed to this report.
CNN
05-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Hollywood is shaken by Trump's tariff plan for the movie industry
Source: CNN Filmmakers and Hollywood financiers are baffled, to say the least, by President Trump's announcement that he wants a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States. Several movie studio and streaming industry executives who spoke with CNN are downright apoplectic because, they believe, the president hasn't thought about the ramifications of his proposal, which could decimate an iconic industry. 'On first blush, it's shocking and would represent a virtually complete halt of production,' one industry insider remarked. 'But in reality, he has no jurisdiction to do this and it's too complex to enforce.' Other sources are taking a more open-minded view, asserting that Trump is instigating a dialogue about a real issue — so-called 'runaway production' — that has left many Americans in the movie and TV production sector out of work. But the prospect of film levies has injected even more uncertainty into an already-unsettled business. Shares of Netflix and other major entertainment companies fell Monday as investors digested Trump's confusing comments. 'In its current form, the tariff doesn't make sense,' Jay Sures, vice chairman of United Talent Agency, told CNN. American actors and directors would generally prefer to work close to home. But 'the fact is it's cheaper for Hollywood studios to pay for everyone to get on planes, pay for hotels, because the cost of labor, lack of rebates, and the ability to make things overseas is infinitely cheaper,' Sures said. Sures noted that it can be significantly cheaper to make movies abroad, so a blanket tariff 'has the ability to bring the movie business to a standstill – which is the last thing Hollywood needs after dual strikes and a content recession.' Some of the industry sources who spoke with CNN doubt that any such tariff plan will actually be implemented. As intellectual property, movies are a form of services – not goods. Services are not ordinarily subject to tariffs, and it's unclear how Trump's tariffs on foreign movies would work. Furthermore, Trump's assertion that foreign film production constitutes a 'national security threat' may not withstand legal scrutiny. But entertainment industry leaders are taking the possibility seriously. Multiple executives have reached out to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the tariff proposal, according to two sources familiar with the discussions. Lutnick on X responded to Trump's tariff demand Sunday night, saying, 'We're on it.' Trump's social media post may have been just an opening gambit. In the Oval Office Monday, Trump said he would hold meetings with Hollywood executives before making a final decision. 'We're going to meet with the industry; I want to make sure they're happy about it,' Trump said. The belief that Hollywood needs a boost crosses party lines. When Trump took office, he named Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone as his emissaries to Hollywood, though it was never particularly clear what that designation would mean. Trump met over the weekend with actor Jon Voight at Mar-a-Lago to discuss plans for reviving the American film industry, according to a person familiar with the matter. Voight had been been developing a plan along with his manager, Steven Paul, and the plan included ideas for tax incentives, but not specifically on new tariffs, the person said. On Monday a White House spokesperson, Kush Desai, said, 'while no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made, the Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump's directive to safeguard our country's national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.' The White House's reference to 'all options' may calm some nerves, since Hollywood lobbyists have been pushing for carrots (like a federal tax incentives for films) rather than sticks (like a tariff) for some time now. Movie and television production, once centered in and around Hollywood, has gravitated to other US states and increasingly to other countries owing to tax incentives and other financial calculations. A wide array of movies, from 'low-budget indies to studio blockbusters,' are 'currently being made in countries like the U.K., France, Germany, and Hungary,' the entertainment trade magazine Variety noted on Monday while conveying 'shock and disbelief across the European film industry.' Trump made the idea sound simple when he spoke with reporters at the White House Sunday night. 'Other nations have been stealing the movies, the moviemaking capabilities, from the United States,' he said, apparently referring to the growing number of movies that are produced in other countries like Canada. 'We should have a tariff on movies that come in,' Trump said, possibly referring to movies that are financed and distributed by American companies but filmed elsewhere. The Motion Picture Association of America, the organization representing major US studios, declined to comment on Trump's announcement. But the MPA released a report in 2023 showing the US film industry runs a $15.3 billion trade surplus with foreign markets, amounting to three times the value of films that are imported. However, it's not clear if the MPA included domestic films that were produced abroad. The questions about Trump's movie tariffs are voluminous. Will movies made by American companies but set in other countries – say, a World War II historical drama – be taxed for filming in the places where they're set? What about movies that are produced partly in the United States and partly in other places? Or, as Sures asked, 'if two minutes of the movie is shot overseas, does that deserve to be taxed?' Some of the industry executives wondered aloud if Trump's idea was about punishing Canada, where many films are now made due to tax incentives. One of the sources asked, speaking of left-leaning Hollywood, 'Is he trolling us because we didn't vote for him?' And one executive asked if Trump had any real sense of how modern TV and movie production works: 'Has anyone told him what this will do to James Bond, Harry Potter, Dune? Where are we supposed to shoot Emily in Paris?' CNN's Kate Irby contributed to this report. See Full Web Article
New York Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
MrBeast's Latest Challenge: Writing a Novel With James Patterson
Jimmy Donaldson — better known to his hundreds of millions of online followers as MrBeast — has leveraged his vast social media audience to sell everything from Beast-branded burgers, snack packs and chocolate bars to water bottles, toys, basketballs and $65 hoodies. Now, he's aiming to sell his followers an unlikely new product: a novel. Donaldson is teaming up with the mega-best-selling author James Patterson on a thriller, which will be published by HarperCollins in 2026, with a simultaneous global release in 15 languages. The plot sounds like an over-the-top version of one of MrBeast's viral YouTube videos, competitions that often offer enormous sums of cash to contestants who can prevail in absurd challenges ('Survive 100 Days Trapped, Win $500,000'). The novel will center on an extreme global contest, in which 100 players compete to prove their leadership skills by surviving life-threatening tests in dangerous locations around the world. In a battle to win the billion-dollar prize, participants form relationships and betray one another as they struggle to avoid elimination, or death. The fight to land the project also turned into an intense competition among publishers, who were tantalized by the viral marketing possibilities of signing a social media star with 500 million followers. News of the collaboration began circulating in March, with reports of a heated bidding war with offers in the eight-figure range. HarperCollins did not disclose the financial details of the deal, which was negotiated by Robert Barnett and Deneen Howell of Williams & Connolly on behalf of Patterson, and by Byrd Leavell and Albert Lee at United Talent Agency representing MrBeast. It's unclear whether MrBeast's massive online audience will translate into book sales. Publishers have tried for decades to harness the marketing power of social media stars, with varying success. But MrBeast is a star of a different magnitude. 'He's such a smart operator in understanding the social media algorithms, what drives engagement, what drives activation,' said Brian Murray, president and chief executive of HarperCollins. 'One of the challenges we have in publishing is there's so much noise out there in the media and entertainment landscape, and trying to break through with books can be difficult.' Donaldson rose to online fame with stunt videos centered around daredevil spectacles ('I Survived the 5 Deadliest Places on Earth,' 'I Paid a Real Assassin to Try to Kill Me') and guerrilla-style philanthropy ('Tipping Waitresses With Real Gold Bars,' 'Giving a Random Homeless Man $10,000'). His formula has proved remarkably popular, drawing some 390 million YouTube subscribers. One of his biggest videos, '$456,000 Squid Game in Real Life!,' posted in 2021, has more than 788 million views. His approach — often using boatloads of money to bait people into extreme stunts — has drawn criticism from skeptics as well as contestants. Last year, a group of people who participated in 'Beast Games,' Donaldson's reality competition show, sued Donaldson and the production companies behind the show, accusing them of exposing contestants to 'dangerous circumstances and conditions.' But dissent and lawsuits haven'thampered the growth of Donaldson's business, or his ambition. In a statement released through HarperCollins, Donaldson said he was drawn to writing fiction because he hoped to encourage his audience and others to read more, a goal he shares with Patterson, who has helped to launch and fund literacy programs for young readers. 'We're both passionate about inspiring people around the world to read more, and I hope this also opens doors for other creators looking to get published,' Donaldson said. After Donaldson told his agents at UTA that he wanted to expand into fiction, they introduced him to Patterson, a blockbuster author and one of Donaldson's favorite writers. Patterson came to visit Donaldson at his studio in Greenville, N.C., where they discussed ideas for several hours, eventually settling on a thriller concept that was on brand for MrBeast. Patterson has collaborated with high-profile figures before, among them Bill Clinton, Viola Davis and Dolly Parton. To date, his novels have reportedly sold more than 400 million copies. But a MrBeast collaboration offers access to a massive new audience of younger readers raised on social media. The novel with MrBeast, which does not yet have a title or a release date, will be published in the United States by the HarperCollins imprint William Morrow. In a meeting with HarperCollins executives, Donaldson seemed enthusiastic about using his online clout to sell books in creative ways, Murray said. 'He's an unbelievable young entrepreneur,' he said. 'He's like: Failure is not an option. I'm going to move these things.'
