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Hollywood Shuts Down As Actors Go On Strike

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Actors will join writers in the first industry-wide walkout for 63 years, effectively bringing the giant movie and television business to a halt.

At 0701 GMT, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), representing around 160,000 movie and television actors, tweeted a black picture alongside the message: “12:01 a.m. PT That’s a wrap!”

SAG-AFTRA had issued a strike order after last-ditch talks with studios over dwindling pay and the threat posed by artificial intelligence ended without a deal.

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“This is a moment of history, a moment of truth — if we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble,” SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher told a press conference, following the union board’s unanimous vote to strike.

“We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business.”

Writers have already spent 11 weeks protesting outside the headquarters of the likes of Disney and Netflix, after their demands for better pay and guarantees over the use artificial intelligence were not met.

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Movie studios have already begun reshuffling their calendars, and if the strikes drag on, major film releases could be postponed too.

A strike prevents actors from promoting some of the year’s biggest releases, at the peak of the industry’s summer blockbuster season.

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Drescher told AFP that SAG-AFTRA was “duped” into extending negotiations for two weeks by studios that wanted to promote their movies.

“But we were duped. They stayed behind closed doors, they kept canceling our meetings, wasting time,” Drescher said.

“It was probably all to have more time to promote their summer movies. Because nothing came out of it that was significant.”

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During that two-week period, major premieres have been held around the world for blockbusters including Warner’s “Barbie,” Universal’s “Oppenheimer” and Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.”

The cast of “Oppenheimer” walked out of their London premiere in solidarity with the strike.

“We know it’s a critical time at this point in the industry and the issues that are involved need to be addressed — there are difficult conversations,” British actor Kenneth Branagh said on the red carpet just before the strike was announced.

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“I know everybody’s trying to get a fair deal, that’s what’s required, so we’ll support that.”

SAG-AFTRA represents actors from A-list stars such as Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Glenn Close to day players who do small roles on television series.

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The last time the actors’ union went on strike, in 1980, it lasted more than three months.

This time, some 98 percent of members voted to pre-approve industrial action if a deal was not reached.

The union said actors’ pay has been “severely eroded by the rise of the streaming ecosystem,” and has warned that “artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to creative professions.”

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The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) said it had offered “historic” pay rises and a “groundbreaking AI proposal” to actors, who had chosen “a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.”

But Phil Lord — the writer, director and producer behind hits such as “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and “The Lego Movie” — poured scorn on the studios’ version of events.

“AMPTP has played hardball instead of helping to solve entirely solvable problems that endanger writers and actors on the lower ends of the pay scale,” he tweeted.

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– ‘Painful’ –

While the writers’ strike has already dramatically reduced the number of movies and shows in production, an actors’ walkout shutters almost everything.

“I feel sad and it is painful and it’s necessary,” said actor Jennifer Van Dyck, on the picket line in New York on Thursay.

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“No one wants to go on strike, but there’s just no way we can proceed.”

Actors and writers are also united on demands for guarantees about the use of AI.

SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland slammed the studios’ latest stance on AI.

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He told journalists that studios had proposed to be allowed to scan the faces of background performers — or extras — for the payment of one day’s work, and be able to own and use their likeness “for the rest of eternity, in any project they want, with no consent and no compensation.”

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BBNaija: I Will Never Go Back On Reality Show – Seyi Awolowo Vows

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Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Seyi Awolowo, has vowed never to return to the show if given the opportunity.

Featuring in a recent episode of the Old Secrets podcast, Awolowo lamented that he allowed himself to be bullied by “very low, insignificant and uneducated people” by accepting to be on the show and vowed not to allow that again.

He explained that if he could go back in time, he still wouldn’t change any of his actions in the house, stressing that he has already been chastised and have learned from his mistakes.

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He, however, lamented the attitude of some educated elites who also joined in bullying out of convenience.

“I will never go back to the show, Multichoice can’t even call me…

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“I allow myself get bullied by very very insignificant and uneducated people. Not to mention the educated ones amongst that have the ability to see the truth but because of convenience, refused to stand by it,” he said.

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VIDEO: ‘I Want To See A Baby On My Next Visit’ – Mother-in-law Tells 2Face, Natasha

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Philomena Osawaru, the mother-in-law of singer Innocent Idibia, aka 2Face, has told the music star and his wife, Natasha, that she wants to see a baby when next she visits them.

Mrs Osawaru gave the charge at the Idibia’s residence in Lagos on Friday while celebrating the legendary musician’s 50th birthday.

She noted that she’s delighted to have the singer as her son-in-law, and prayed that he continues to age with grace.

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It’s a joy and delight to have you as my son-in-law… Innocent Idibia, at 50, you’re looking 25. When some of us are praying to age gracefully, God has done it for you already. You will continue to age gracefully, In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“By the time we come next, we will see the baby crawling around,” she said.

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Video:

https://x.com/OneJoblessBoy/status/1969308257706545474?t=Cy0OlrTzc-yWvjAFimcgRQ&s=19

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Afrobeats Songs Dominate UK Chart As Rema’s ‘Fun’ Debuts At #2

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The Afrobeats wave continues to sweep through the UK music scene, with fresh talents and seasoned stars holding firm on the Official Charts Company’s latest ranking.

American singer Odeal’s Miami maintained its No. 1 position for a ninth consecutive week, but it was Nigerian sensation Rema who made headlines with an impressive debut. His new single Fun entered straight at No. 2, shaking up the leaderboard and cementing his global appeal.

South African star Tyla, whose Is It previously peaked at No. 1, slipped one spot to No. 3, while Ayra Starr climbed to No. 4 with the sultry Hot Body, equalling her career-best position. Burna Boy also held steady at No. 5 with Love, as Tyla and Wizkid’s collaboration Dynamite followed closely at No. 6.

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Young Jonn and Wizkid’s Cash Flow dropped to No. 7 in its second week, while rising act Fola achieved a career milestone as You leapt into the Top 10 at No. 8.

Afrobeats powerhouse Asake secured two spots in the Top 10, with Badman Gangsta featuring Tiakola at No. 9, and his J Hus collaboration Gold a former chart-topper rounding out the list at No. 10.

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