Latest news with #castmembers
Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Inside the Elvis Evolution chaos: ‘bad pay, booing and low morale'
When performers were cast in Elvis Evolution, an ambitious new theatre show billed as an 'authentic' AI tribute to the king of rock'n'roll, many believed it would be a career-defining opportunity. Elvis Evolution, produced by Layered Reality, is an immersive theatre show blending live performance, storytelling and AI. Set across multiple themed spaces, the experience promised audiences a 'life-sized digital Elvis performing iconic moments in musical history on a UK stage for the first time'. Tickets to the show at the Excel London cost £75 for a standard ticket and £300 for a 'super VIP' option, which includes a mid-show champagne experience, commemorative glass, dedicated seating, a drink at each of the three bars and cloakroom access. • Fans demand refunds over cardboard cutouts at Elvis 'hologram' show Within a week of its opening, on July 18 — and after audience complaints and intense public scrutiny — cast members said the reality behind the scenes had been far from the dazzling production promised. Instead of the holographic Elvis that had been expected, AI had been used only to compile video footage. The holographic imagery promoted in early publicity never materialised. One performer claimed the working environment had left them feeling 'demoralised', 'exploited' and desperate to escape a 'sinking ship'. In a letter sent to producers and seen by The Times, 23 cast members raised several concerns about the production. The letter, signed by 'the cast of Elvis Evolution', raises concerns about pay and chaotic rehearsals. One cast member claims that the show's central draw — an AI-powered hologram of Elvis Presley — was misrepresented. 'We had seen comments on Facebook about the Elvis fans wanting a hologram. And we knew that there were no holograms at all being used,' an actor on the show, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Times. 'Once we saw the AI, we were actually really disappointed. We were sold the same delivery as the audience members. We were told it was going to be this progressive AI, imaginative, creative piece.' Despite tickets being sold for up to £300, performers claim they were paid as little as £13.50 an hour, with some performers alleging that they were 'often left in hallways doing nothing' during rehearsals periods. • From Abba to Elvis — are holograms really the future of pop? Poor scheduling, they claim, made it impossible to take on other jobs. Performers were asked to keep weekdays free in case they were called in at short notice, sometimes for just a few hours but often with nothing to do. 'One day you wouldn't be called in and then the next day you'd find out you're called in for 11 o'clock, only to then leave at one. And in those two hours, you've done nothing,' the actor continued. As morale dropped, the cast say they attempted to raise concerns formally about the conditions. In their letter to the producers, they highlighted that 'the ad hoc nature of the hours, combined with the current level of compensation, has meant that many cast members have had to seek additional employment; second and third jobs, in order to cover basic living expenses'. The response, the actor said, was underwhelming. 'We could see the wheels were falling off the car very early,' the actor said. 'When we sent the letter, they emailed us back saying we can give you 50p more and make it £14 an hour. All while selling tickets on pre-sale for £300.' According to those involved, multiple departments, including costume, reportedly experienced upheaval, with some people deciding to leave the production. The actor claimed 'panic' had spread across the production, with 'every single department' in disarray. This version of events, however, has been disputed by others on the production. One cast member claimed their experience on Elvis Evolution is 'standard across theatre'. They said: 'When rehearsal hours were lower than expected, this was flagged by the cast and quickly remedied for all of us. We reached an agreement on a minimum rate of monthly pay; for me, they've always been open to listening and quick to deal with queries. 'We have an ongoing dialogue with all Layered Reality departments, and we have two team members who are dedicated to working with us. Due to the nature of the show, the director was with the dev and tech teams to bring the show to life. With such a big cast of people playing different roles, rehearsal call times were staggered, but this is standard in an immersive production of this scale.' Responding to claims of upheaval, one cast member said the production had only lost 'one member of cast from the beginning of the rehearsal process'. This, they added, is 'probably a low turnover rate compared to most immersive productions'. The production had initially suggested that the 'brand new interactive experience' would involve cutting-edge AI and holographic imagery. Plans for the hologram were scrapped, a development fans quickly noticed. The audience, the actor said, quickly picked up on the show's flaws. 'I think it's been really awful for the cast. One of my colleagues came on stage and got booed before he'd even given a line,' they said. 'The audience felt duped because they'd read the reviews. It's really demoralising. it's a sinking ship.' 'I said very early on I don't want anyone I know to come and watch this. We were embarrassed. But at the end of the day, we've signed this contract. With the current acting climate and our profession being so risky, we're just doing our job. Ultimately it's not our fault.' Paige Rannigan, 29, from Essex, spent more than £200 on tickets , expecting a 'life-sized digital Elvis'. 'There were three musicians on the stage in front of the screen, acting as the musicians that were there in real life,' she said. 'But their instruments weren't plugged in and there was fake applause over the top. There were only about three songs on his '68 comeback video, but it was anything you could look up on YouTube or iPlayer.' In the cast's open letter, they call for several key changes: a guaranteed minimum weekly pay, a review of compensation, paid breaks and travel reimbursement, clearer scheduling, itemised payslips, and formalised guidelines in line with Equity standards. A Layered Reality spokesperson said: 'As an immersive theatre company, the welfare and happiness of our cast members is of the utmost importance, and we greatly value our entire team. Since the beginning of rehearsals, our cast have had two full-time employees — our company manager and performance manager — dedicated to protecting the well-being of the actors, who our actors can speak to at any time, to address any concerns. 'Throughout pre-production and live shows, where concerns have been raised, adjustments and improvements have been promptly sought and implemented. We're talking directly with cast members who have expressed concerns.' The spokesperson added: 'As with many complex productions that are two years in development, and creating something new to the market, the concept did develop from our earliest vision announced in January 2024, but all communications since October 2024 reflected an accurate picture of the show as it evolved.'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Did Yulissa Escobar Leave Love Island USA Season 7? Exit Explained
Yulissa Escobar's time on Love Island USA Season 7 was cut short, as she had to leave just one day after the premiere. Fans barely had time to get to know her before the show dropped the news in Episode 2. No dramatic farewell, no emotional goodbye, just an abrupt exit that left everyone wondering: What really happened? Yulissa Escobar's leaving Love Island USA Season 7 came after controversy arose over resurfaced podcast clips where she used racial slurs. TMZ obtained audio of her repeatedly using the N-word while discussing past relationships, leading to immediate backlash from viewers. Fans flooded social media, demanding her removal from the show and vowing to vote her off once the option became available, and it seems producers listened. While Love Island USA Season 7 didn't give a detailed explanation for her exit, the timing speaks for itself. The show addressed her exit subtly as around the 17-minute mark of Episode 2, narrator Iain Stirling simply stated, 'Yulissa has left the villa.' It remains unclear whether producers asked Escobar to leave Love Island USA or if she exited voluntarily. However, given the growing controversy, her removal appears to be a direct response to the backlash. Furthermore, she has not publicly addressed the situation. This isn't the first time a Love Island franchise has dealt with contestant controversies. The UK version recently replaced a cast member as well. Kyle Ashman, who was previously questioned in a machete attack case and denied involvement, also had to leave. Now, with Escobar gone, the remaining female Islanders include Chelley Bissainthe, Huda Mustafa, Belle-A Walker, and Olandria Carthen. The male contestants are Ace Greene, Taylor Williams, Nicolas Vansteenberghe, and Jeremiah Brown. New arrivals Cierra Ortega and Charlie Georgiou entered as bombshells on the first night. Hosted by Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix, Love Island USA Season 7 premiered on June 3 on Peacock after a brief delay due to technical issues. The show continues as singles compete for love and a $100,000 prize. The post Why Did Yulissa Escobar Leave Love Island USA Season 7? Exit Explained appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
New York Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Reality TV Has a New Recipe for Success: Trauma
Almost a decade ago, in the early years of Bravo's reality-TV hit 'Vanderpump Rules,' one of the show's storylines involved a cast member's sex tape's being shopped around by her vengeful ex-boyfriend — until the show's eponymous restaurateur, Lisa Vanderpump, protected her young employee by purchasing the tape herself. At the time, this was one of the show's more serious subplots, sown among seasons of rather frivolous blowouts that always seemed to resolve eventually, as was the custom on reality TV back then. 'Vanderpump' may have built its name on drunken hookups and hysterical squabbles, but its moral universe was one in which the audience, guided by the producers, knew the ex's actions were vile. These days, that unambiguous ethical line seems to have disappeared from the Bravo network's flagship shows, giving way to something blurrier. Yes, the audience should still know that things like domestic and sexual violence are criminal — but now we seem interested in watching the resulting pain play out. It no longer suffices to laugh at trivial antics, judging cast members on scales of pettiness and cringe. We want to ogle chaos and trauma. So the producers of Bravo's reality-TV mainstays are, increasingly, building storylines out of crimes perpetrated against the women on their shows. Rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence have all been tantalizingly woven through the network's programming recently. Fans accustomed to giddy live-action gossip and vodka-fueled mischief are now subjected to trauma plots that feel designed for rubbernecking. On 'The Valley,' a surprise-hit spinoff featuring aging 'Vanderpump Rules' stars and their 40-something friends, a major nexus this season has been the destructive behavior of one cast member, Jax Taylor. The cast is constantly monitoring him, staging attempts at intervention, begging this 45-year-old man to manage his violent outbursts — reminding him that it is not, for instance, OK to throw furniture when you're angry. (A table he flung bruised his wife's knee while the couple's toddler was nearby. 'I felt like I was the Russian in 'Rocky IV,'' Taylor later reflected — 'I lost all control.') When cast members are not talking to him, they're often talking about him: huddled in restaurants or family rooms, mulling over how Taylor has hurt his partner emotionally and now physically. Eventually Taylor checks into a rehab facility and seeks help for mental health and addiction. But when the cast goes on a trip, viewers are privy to the bombardment of angry text messages he sends from treatment, accusing the wife he hurled a table at of ruining his life. If you've always looked to reality TV for light, frothy entertainment, it can feel disturbing to watch it swing toward domestic trauma. But Bravo seems committed to that turn. Another 'Valley' storyline involved Daniel Booko, the most wholesome of the bunch, admitting to groping other cast members. On the season finale of 'The Real Housewives of New York City,' which aired in January, a fight boiled down to uncertainty regarding whether one remembered another's rape disclosure. The victim, Brynn Whitfield, cried about having experienced an assault and claimed to have told another cast member, Ubah Hassan, about it. Hassan did not recall this. Audiences chose sides: Team Brynn vs. Team Ubah. Bravo promoted the confrontation as a blockbuster drama, with the executive producer Andy Cohen teasing on his late-night talk show, 'It's a finale like we've not had on the 'Housewives' before.' It's as if the pleasure offered by reality TV relies on gender-based agony. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disney tells Venezuelans on TPS: Find a new legal way to work or you're out of a job
The Walt Disney Company has notified dozens of Venezuelan employees they might lose their jobs after the Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Trump administration could end their deportation protections and work permits under Temporary Protected Status. The corporation, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, placed approximately 45 of 'cast members' — as Disney refers to its employees — on unpaid leave, according to emails provided to the Miami Herald. The correspondence also informed the workers. that they would be dismissed after 30 days if they do not get alternative work authorization. 'I am very distressed,' one woman in her late 40s who works at Disney World in Orlando told the Miami Herald. 'We have bills, we just renewed our apartment lease, my son goes to college.' She asked to remain anonymous out of fear that speaking publicly could jeopardize her chances of returning to her job or lead to retaliation. In a statement, a Disney spokesperson told the Herald it 'had placed the affected employees on leave with benefits to ensure they are not in violation of the law.' 'We are committed to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all our employees who may be navigating changing immigration policies and how they could impact them or their families,' said the spokesperson. It is unclear how many affected Venezuelan employees were located in Florida, but the Miami Herald talked to some in Orlando, where Disney's flagship park is located. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet published an official termination of Venezuela's TPS under the 2023 designation, which covers about 350,000 people. The admnistration has not rescinded a separate designation from 2021, which covers some 257,000 people and expires in September. DHS has already acknowledged on its websites the Supreme Court decision revoking a lower court judge's order to keep the TPS protections for Venezuelans in place. The lower court judge's order is part of an ongoing lawsuit in San Francisco stemming from DHS' decision to end TPS for Venezuelans under the 2023 designation. READ MORE: Supreme Court ruling on TPS stuns South Florida, leaves Venezuelan families in fear The Disney employees received calls and emails a day after the Supreme Court order. It explained that as of Tuesday, 'due to the unique situation,' they were on a 30-day unpaid leave of absence, said the email sent to Venezuelan employees. 'If you have not provided new valid work authorization at the end of the leave, your employment will be terminated,' reads the email sent a day before Homeland Security updated its decision, which hasn't provided any public guidelines to employers of TPS recipients. It is unlikely that the 45 Venezuelans affected will be able to obtain another legal way to work in that time, even if they have another pending immigration process. While many Venezuelans with TPS have applied for political asylum, which can provide up to five years of work authorization, not all have pursued that option, leaving many without a clear path to remain employed legally. Two of the affected employees were family members who said it will now be a struggle to keep their home and meet basic living expenses. A woman in her 40s who worked at a Disney Resort and a man in his 20s employed at one of the Disney Parks are among those recently terminated. The woman said she and her oldest son hold work permits under the 2023 TPS designation. Unlike many others, however, they also remain legally in the U.S. under a separate visa linked to her husband's employment. However, that visa does not provide them with work authorization. 'A family of five can't live on just one person's salary,' she said.
