SAG-AFTRA members have nearly unanimously approved the union’s new Sound Recordings Code.
The deal, which runs through 2026, received 97.69% yes votes. The major record labels covered by the agreement include Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Disney Music Group, as well as most of their subsidiary labels.
Among the provisions secured in the new contract are protections against artificial intelligence, which SAG-AFTRA said will go into effect immediately. Those include codifying that the terms “artist,” “singer” and “royalty artist” under this agreement only include humans. The contract also demands “clear and conspicuous” consent along with compensation for use of a digital replica.
Each company also agreed to semi-annual meetings with SAG-AFTRA to discuss the “label’s current and planned activities with respect to generative artificial intelligence.”
SAG-AFTRA also achieved increased minimums that equate to a compounded total wage increase of 26.3% over the term.
The union is...
The deal, which runs through 2026, received 97.69% yes votes. The major record labels covered by the agreement include Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Disney Music Group, as well as most of their subsidiary labels.
Among the provisions secured in the new contract are protections against artificial intelligence, which SAG-AFTRA said will go into effect immediately. Those include codifying that the terms “artist,” “singer” and “royalty artist” under this agreement only include humans. The contract also demands “clear and conspicuous” consent along with compensation for use of a digital replica.
Each company also agreed to semi-annual meetings with SAG-AFTRA to discuss the “label’s current and planned activities with respect to generative artificial intelligence.”
SAG-AFTRA also achieved increased minimums that equate to a compounded total wage increase of 26.3% over the term.
The union is...
- 5/1/2024
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Nothing had prepared William Passano for a new technology introduced in 1960 that threatened to upend his medical publishing business: the Xerox 914 photocopier. The machine offered the ability to produce cheap and quick duplicates that allowed the government’s National Library of Medicine to mass photocopy articles from his company’s copyrighted medical journals. Passano eventually sued in a case that went up to the Supreme Court, which ultimately took a cautious approach to regulating the emerging technology by ruling in 1975 that it was fair use for libraries to photocopy the originals. The justices left Congress to address the novel intellectual property issues raised in the case, leading to key revisions in copyright law a year later.
Fast forward half a century and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence has the similar potential to turn the entertainment industry on its head. While writers who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter weren’t...
Fast forward half a century and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence has the similar potential to turn the entertainment industry on its head. While writers who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter weren’t...
- 7/3/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Candidates backed by Fran Drescher in local SAG-AFTRA elections are racking up impressive wins as early results from around the country continue to come in. Candidates that her Unite for Strength slate deem “Drescher-friendly” already have won in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Austin, Miami, the Missouri Valley, Portland, San Francisco, the Twin Cities and elsewhere.
Members backed by the opposition MembershipFirst slate have won just a handful of races thus far.
Today, members of the union’s Michigan Local re-elected Erik Wydra as president, who Drescher endorsed in a campaign video in which she said: “You must, must, must vote for Eric Wydra for Michigan Local president. He’s been an incredible leader locally and nationally.” Wydra got 132 votes, defeating challenger Franco Pulice, who received 55 votes. Three of the four convention delegates Drescher endorsed also won there.
Only 11 of the union’s 25 locals have completed their elections so far, while...
Members backed by the opposition MembershipFirst slate have won just a handful of races thus far.
Today, members of the union’s Michigan Local re-elected Erik Wydra as president, who Drescher endorsed in a campaign video in which she said: “You must, must, must vote for Eric Wydra for Michigan Local president. He’s been an incredible leader locally and nationally.” Wydra got 132 votes, defeating challenger Franco Pulice, who received 55 votes. Three of the four convention delegates Drescher endorsed also won there.
Only 11 of the union’s 25 locals have completed their elections so far, while...
- 8/24/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
The SAG-AFTRA presidential contest will be a two-person race for the first time since 2015, with no third-party or independent candidates vying for the union’s top elected post and splitting the votes. Only Fran Drescher and Matthew Modine qualified as presidential candidates this time, and only their running mates, Anthony Rapp and Joely Fisher, qualified to run for national secretary-treasurer.
Drescher’s ruling parties, Unite for Strength and Usan in New York, announced their entire slate of candidates earlier today. Modine and Fisher, running on the Membership First slate, are expected to announce their full slate in the coming days.
Voting won’t begin until Aug. 3. But unofficial results are already in for half of the 26 presidential races in locals across the country, where candidates for president are running unopposed in Atlanta, New Mexico, San Diego, Nashville, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Philadelphia, Portland, Ohio-Pittsburgh, Houston-Austin, the Missouri Valley, and Washington-Mid Atlantic.
Drescher’s ruling parties, Unite for Strength and Usan in New York, announced their entire slate of candidates earlier today. Modine and Fisher, running on the Membership First slate, are expected to announce their full slate in the coming days.
Voting won’t begin until Aug. 3. But unofficial results are already in for half of the 26 presidential races in locals across the country, where candidates for president are running unopposed in Atlanta, New Mexico, San Diego, Nashville, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Philadelphia, Portland, Ohio-Pittsburgh, Houston-Austin, the Missouri Valley, and Washington-Mid Atlantic.
- 7/17/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA’s upcoming election is taking shape, with the union’s ruling party – headed by presidential candidate Fran Drescher – today unveiling its full slate of candidates.
Yvette Nicole Brown is running for president of the Los Angeles local, and Ezra Knight is running for president of the union’s New York local – each as part of the ruling parties’ Unite for Strength and Usan slate. Brown, a national board member, is nominated for an Emmy for A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Knight, who co-starred for many years on Law & Order, is the New York local’s vice president and a national board member.
“I believe nothing in our union works unless we are all working together,” Brown said. “As L.A. president I will advocate for each and every member and lead with kindness and respect. It’s been a tough time for us as work here in...
Yvette Nicole Brown is running for president of the Los Angeles local, and Ezra Knight is running for president of the union’s New York local – each as part of the ruling parties’ Unite for Strength and Usan slate. Brown, a national board member, is nominated for an Emmy for A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Knight, who co-starred for many years on Law & Order, is the New York local’s vice president and a national board member.
“I believe nothing in our union works unless we are all working together,” Brown said. “As L.A. president I will advocate for each and every member and lead with kindness and respect. It’s been a tough time for us as work here in...
- 7/16/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Features the voices of: Anna Taylor-Joy, Gabriel Bateman, Dino Andrade, Ian James Corlett, Lino Disalvo, Ben Diskin, Jim Gaffigan, Kellen Goff, Wilson Gonzalez, Adam Lambert, Dan Navarro, Tito Ortiz, Daniel Radcliffe, Kenan Thompson | Written by Blaise Hemingway, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland | Directed by Lino Disalvo
[Note: With the film now out on DVD, Digital and Blu-ray, here's a reposting of our review of Playmobil: The Movie from its UK cinema release]
Playmobil: The Movie, directed by Lino Disalvo, is the latest feature film adaption of a pre-existing toy or product that is adapted to capitalise on for monetary gain. The world has already been gifted not one but two Lego Movie features as well as a double bill of Angry Birds films, and now it is time for Playmobil to try its hand at creating a franchise and try to stand tall amid other highly successful ventures.
The end result is a mixed venture that does not quite grasp nor understand what works within a feature film of this calibre.
[Note: With the film now out on DVD, Digital and Blu-ray, here's a reposting of our review of Playmobil: The Movie from its UK cinema release]
Playmobil: The Movie, directed by Lino Disalvo, is the latest feature film adaption of a pre-existing toy or product that is adapted to capitalise on for monetary gain. The world has already been gifted not one but two Lego Movie features as well as a double bill of Angry Birds films, and now it is time for Playmobil to try its hand at creating a franchise and try to stand tall amid other highly successful ventures.
The end result is a mixed venture that does not quite grasp nor understand what works within a feature film of this calibre.
- 12/2/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
It was a clean sweep today for supporters of SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris at the union’s biennial convention, where delegates elected eight of her allies to serve as the union’s national vice presidents. All eight are listed as supporters of hers on her Unite for Strength slate’s website.
As reported here earlier, Rebecca Damon, one of Carteris’ staunchest allies, was re-elected executive vice president – the 160,000-member union’s second-highest elected office. Seven other Carteris supporters were elected to the national vice presidencies, including:
• Clyde Kusatsu, National Vice President, Los Angeles
• Liz Zazzi, National Vice President, New York
• Michele Proude, National Vice President, Mid-Sized Locals
• Suzanne Burkhead, National Vice President, Small Locals
• William Charlton, National Vice President, Actors/Performers
• Bob Butler, National Vice President, Broadcasters
• Dan Navarro, National Vice President, Recording Artists/Singers
Quite a ruckus was raised during Charlton’s nomination, when Peter Antico, a...
As reported here earlier, Rebecca Damon, one of Carteris’ staunchest allies, was re-elected executive vice president – the 160,000-member union’s second-highest elected office. Seven other Carteris supporters were elected to the national vice presidencies, including:
• Clyde Kusatsu, National Vice President, Los Angeles
• Liz Zazzi, National Vice President, New York
• Michele Proude, National Vice President, Mid-Sized Locals
• Suzanne Burkhead, National Vice President, Small Locals
• William Charlton, National Vice President, Actors/Performers
• Bob Butler, National Vice President, Broadcasters
• Dan Navarro, National Vice President, Recording Artists/Singers
Quite a ruckus was raised during Charlton’s nomination, when Peter Antico, a...
- 10/12/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA convention delegates have narrowly re-elected Rebecca Damon to a two-year term as executive vice president of the performers union over David Jolliffe.
The margin was five votes in an election that took place Friday on the second day of the biennial SAG-aftra National Convention at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The four-day event is closed to the news media.
The exec VP slot is the second-highest elected post in SAG-aftra and shall act in the place of the president if the president is absent. Damon’s re-election is a victory for the Carteris supporters, who operate the Unite for Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide slates.
Damon has been in the exec VP post since April, 2016, succeeding Gabrielle Carteris in the slot. Carteris became president after Ken Howard died, serving the final 16 months of his term and was re-elected in 2017 over Esai Morales and...
The margin was five votes in an election that took place Friday on the second day of the biennial SAG-aftra National Convention at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The four-day event is closed to the news media.
The exec VP slot is the second-highest elected post in SAG-aftra and shall act in the place of the president if the president is absent. Damon’s re-election is a victory for the Carteris supporters, who operate the Unite for Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide slates.
Damon has been in the exec VP post since April, 2016, succeeding Gabrielle Carteris in the slot. Carteris became president after Ken Howard died, serving the final 16 months of his term and was re-elected in 2017 over Esai Morales and...
- 10/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Matthew Modine has been accused by SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris of violating federal laws in his campaign to unseat Carteris.
The production of three campaign videos for Modine by the for-profit New York Film Academy — on whose board Modine sits — has been blasted by Carteris for alleged violations of federal labor law prohibiting union candidates from accepting contributions from any employer.
SAG-aftra’s election rules, sent out before every election, say, “The prohibition on employer contributions extends to every employer, regardless of the nature of the business or whether any union represents its employees.”
The videos were produced at no cost to Modine, who narrated and highlighted the contributions of stunt performers, background performers, singers and dancers. They’ve since been removed from Modine and the Nyfa’s website.
“These aren’t just flagrant violations of our union election rules, but of federal labor law as well,” Carteris said.
The production of three campaign videos for Modine by the for-profit New York Film Academy — on whose board Modine sits — has been blasted by Carteris for alleged violations of federal labor law prohibiting union candidates from accepting contributions from any employer.
SAG-aftra’s election rules, sent out before every election, say, “The prohibition on employer contributions extends to every employer, regardless of the nature of the business or whether any union represents its employees.”
The videos were produced at no cost to Modine, who narrated and highlighted the contributions of stunt performers, background performers, singers and dancers. They’ve since been removed from Modine and the Nyfa’s website.
“These aren’t just flagrant violations of our union election rules, but of federal labor law as well,” Carteris said.
- 8/21/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Features the voices of: Anna Taylor-Joy, Gabriel Bateman, Dino Andrade, Ian James Corlett, Lino Disalvo, Ben Diskin, Jim Gaffigan, Kellen Goff, Wilson Gonzalez, Adam Lambert, Dan Navarro, Tito Ortiz, Daniel Radcliffe, Kenan Thompson | Written by Blaise Hemingway, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland | Directed by Lino Disalvo
Playmobil: The Movie, directed by Lino Disalvo, is the latest feature film adaption of a pre-existing toy or product that is adapted to capitalise on for monetary gain. The world has already been gifted not one but two Lego Movie features as well as a double bill of Angry Birds films, and now it is time for Playmobil to try its hand at creating a franchise and try to stand tall amid other highly successful ventures.
The end result is a mixed venture that does not quite grasp nor understand what works within a feature film of this calibre. On the surface, the whole basis...
Playmobil: The Movie, directed by Lino Disalvo, is the latest feature film adaption of a pre-existing toy or product that is adapted to capitalise on for monetary gain. The world has already been gifted not one but two Lego Movie features as well as a double bill of Angry Birds films, and now it is time for Playmobil to try its hand at creating a franchise and try to stand tall amid other highly successful ventures.
The end result is a mixed venture that does not quite grasp nor understand what works within a feature film of this calibre. On the surface, the whole basis...
- 8/15/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris and seven of her supporters are threatening to file a lawsuit against their opponents over recent allegations of misconduct by Carteris.
United Screen Actors Nationwide, which endorses Carteris, issued the threat Thursday against presidential challenger Matthew Modine and 19 of his allies running on the Membership First slate, including Ed Asner, Diane Ladd, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Martin Sheen.
Pamela Jeffrey of the New York firm of Levy Ratner wrote a cease-and-desist letter in response to a July 29 threat from attorney Robert Allen to file a lawsuit on behalf of unnamed members if Carteris was not removed from the ballot. Allen accused Carteris of allegedly using insider information to take credit for SAG-aftra’s new deal with Netflix and alleged that she has been using union resources to promote her candidacy via official SAG-aftra videos.
Jeffrey called the allegations baseless and accused the 20 members — many...
United Screen Actors Nationwide, which endorses Carteris, issued the threat Thursday against presidential challenger Matthew Modine and 19 of his allies running on the Membership First slate, including Ed Asner, Diane Ladd, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Martin Sheen.
Pamela Jeffrey of the New York firm of Levy Ratner wrote a cease-and-desist letter in response to a July 29 threat from attorney Robert Allen to file a lawsuit on behalf of unnamed members if Carteris was not removed from the ballot. Allen accused Carteris of allegedly using insider information to take credit for SAG-aftra’s new deal with Netflix and alleged that she has been using union resources to promote her candidacy via official SAG-aftra videos.
Jeffrey called the allegations baseless and accused the 20 members — many...
- 8/1/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris and members of her slate are fighting back against Matthew Modine and his slate’s threat of a “frivolous” lawsuit over her alleged use of guild resources, including “insider and highly confidential information,” to advance her candidacy — a claim she vehemently denies. Modine’s team even demanded that Carteris be removed from the ballot in the upcoming election.
In a letter to Modine and his team, Pamela Jeffrey, an attorney representing Carteris and her slate, wrote:
“Our clients demand that you immediately cease and desist from using costly litigation at the expense of SAG-aftra and its members as a tool to advance your own personal political agenda,” wrote “If you do not publicly retract or disavow in writing the threat of a frivolous and unwarranted lawsuit and other demands, my clients have informed me that they will consider other appropriate action to protect the...
In a letter to Modine and his team, Pamela Jeffrey, an attorney representing Carteris and her slate, wrote:
“Our clients demand that you immediately cease and desist from using costly litigation at the expense of SAG-aftra and its members as a tool to advance your own personal political agenda,” wrote “If you do not publicly retract or disavow in writing the threat of a frivolous and unwarranted lawsuit and other demands, my clients have informed me that they will consider other appropriate action to protect the...
- 8/1/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Unite for Strength, the ruling party of SAG-AFTRA, announced its slate of candidates today in the union’s upcoming elections.
Michelle Hurd, currently serving on the national board, will be running for president of the Los Angeles local; Clyde Kusatsu and Ellen Crawford will be running for vice president slots. Kusatsu is currently the national vice president from La, and Crawford is a national board member. As previously reported, Camryn Manheim will be running for national secretary-treasurer as president Gabrielle Carteris’ running mate.
Two candidates are challenging Carteris for president: Jane Austin, currently the guild’s national secretary-treasurer who’s running for president as an independent, and Matthew Modine, who is running at the top of the ticket for Membership First. His slate has yet to be announced.
In New York, Rebecca Damon, national executive vice president and New York president, is running for re-election as New York president.
Michelle Hurd, currently serving on the national board, will be running for president of the Los Angeles local; Clyde Kusatsu and Ellen Crawford will be running for vice president slots. Kusatsu is currently the national vice president from La, and Crawford is a national board member. As previously reported, Camryn Manheim will be running for national secretary-treasurer as president Gabrielle Carteris’ running mate.
Two candidates are challenging Carteris for president: Jane Austin, currently the guild’s national secretary-treasurer who’s running for president as an independent, and Matthew Modine, who is running at the top of the ticket for Membership First. His slate has yet to be announced.
In New York, Rebecca Damon, national executive vice president and New York president, is running for re-election as New York president.
- 7/12/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Gabrielle Carteris is seeking re-election as president of SAG-aftra, a post she’s held since 2016. She’ll be running at the top the union’s majority party, Unite for Strength.
Matthew Modine, running at the top of the union’s opposition party, Membership First, was the first to announce that he will challenge her for the presidency. Ballots will be mailed to members on July 29 and tabulated August 28.
“While our employers are consolidating and attempting to squeeze our earnings,” Carteris said, “we have proven that a united front is our best weapon in fighting for fair wages, safety on sets and protection of all our members — especially those who are most vulnerable. As SAG-AFTRA President, I’ve seen firsthand the power of our members. With fierce determination we won the Interactive strike, revolutionized the Commercials contract, and transformed High Budget Streaming residuals. We’ve set the stage for...
Matthew Modine, running at the top of the union’s opposition party, Membership First, was the first to announce that he will challenge her for the presidency. Ballots will be mailed to members on July 29 and tabulated August 28.
“While our employers are consolidating and attempting to squeeze our earnings,” Carteris said, “we have proven that a united front is our best weapon in fighting for fair wages, safety on sets and protection of all our members — especially those who are most vulnerable. As SAG-AFTRA President, I’ve seen firsthand the power of our members. With fierce determination we won the Interactive strike, revolutionized the Commercials contract, and transformed High Budget Streaming residuals. We’ve set the stage for...
- 5/16/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
A couple hours after announcing the re-election of Ken Howard as National President, the union has unveiled the results of its Los Angeles local balloting. Clyde Kusatsu was elected President, with Jenny O’Hara as First VP and Susan Boyd Joyce as Second VP. This is the 24th of the 25 SAG-AFTRA locals to be announced, leaving only New York, the results of which are expected tonight. See the full results after the jump: Related: SAG-AFTRA Exec Director’s Pay & Its Funds In Trust Up Fiscal ’12 SAG-AFTRA Fires Back In $110M Foreign Residuals Lawsuit SAG-AFTRA Reveals More Local Election Results Clyde Kusatsu President Two-Year Term Jenny O’Hara First Vice President Two-Year Term Susan Boyd Joyce Second Vice President Two-Year Term Jenny O’Hara Local Board Member Two-Year Term Esai Morales Local Board Member Two-Year Term Amy Aquino Local Board Member Two-Year Term Clyde Kusatsu Local Board...
- 8/16/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
AFTRA Los Angeles has announced unopposed local-office candidates, including president Ron Morgan, and also listed those running in contests for 20 local and 12 national board seats.
Other incumbents running unopposed for additional two-year terms as officers in Los Angeles include first vp Susan Boyd Joyce, second vp Lori Alan, third vp Bobbie Bates, fourth vp Jason George and treasurer Jay Gerber. Actress Patrika Darbo was named as a candidate for recording secretary, replacing singer Dan Navarro, who isn't running for re-election as an officer.
Those selected by a nominating committee for ballot listing in races for three-year terms on the Los Angeles board include incumbents Lori Alan, Audrey Baranishyn, Matthew Kimbrough and Bill Ratner; and Roxana Cortes, Milo Edwards, Morgan Fairchild, Robert Pine and Joan Pirkle.
Also running for local seats, by petition, are actors Steven Barr, Carole Elliott and Russell McConnell. Incumbent announcer John Harlan was named by the nominating committee as a candidate to fill a vacancy representing his category, and Sharon Ferguson, also an incumbent board member, was named as a candidate for a vacancy in the dancer category.
Other incumbents running unopposed for additional two-year terms as officers in Los Angeles include first vp Susan Boyd Joyce, second vp Lori Alan, third vp Bobbie Bates, fourth vp Jason George and treasurer Jay Gerber. Actress Patrika Darbo was named as a candidate for recording secretary, replacing singer Dan Navarro, who isn't running for re-election as an officer.
Those selected by a nominating committee for ballot listing in races for three-year terms on the Los Angeles board include incumbents Lori Alan, Audrey Baranishyn, Matthew Kimbrough and Bill Ratner; and Roxana Cortes, Milo Edwards, Morgan Fairchild, Robert Pine and Joan Pirkle.
Also running for local seats, by petition, are actors Steven Barr, Carole Elliott and Russell McConnell. Incumbent announcer John Harlan was named by the nominating committee as a candidate to fill a vacancy representing his category, and Sharon Ferguson, also an incumbent board member, was named as a candidate for a vacancy in the dancer category.
Opens
Friday, April 30
Taking in "Envy", the new Barry Levinson comedy starring the ubiquitous Ben Stiller and manic Jack Black (and featuring a scene-stealing Christopher Walken) is sort of like watching a TV talk show with a particularly strong guest lineup.
The banter is sufficiently witty and engaging for the duration of the broadcast, but any lingering effects are permanently banished with a casual flick of the remote control.
Hanging at times precariously by the thread of Steve Adams' seriously under-plotted script, the low-key picture gets by on the genial charisma of its cast, but it fails to rise to the occasion when it comes to building to a necessary comic pitch.
With Stiller on a roll after "Starsky & Hutch" and "Along Came Polly", and Black Red Hot on the heels of "School of Rock", the DreamWorks release (Columbia is handling international distribution) could initially draw fans, but ultimately DreamWorks will have to wait for "Shrek 2" because their coffers probably won't be turning green with "Envy".
Stiller's Tim Dingman and Black's Nick Vanderpark are best friends, next-door neighbors and co-workers whose relationship is seriously put to the test when one of them becomes ridiculously successful.
That would be Vanderpark. After driving his buddy crazy with his harebrained ideas for wild inventions without a shred of scientific data to back them up, Vanderpark manages to hit one out of the ballpark after his notion of making dog poop evaporate into thin air with a single spray of Vapoorizer becomes a multimillion-dollar industry.
Dubious from the start, Dingman passed on the opportunity to invest a couple thousand dollars in the pie-in-the-sky enterprise, and now he's literally living in the shadow of Vanderpark's triumph -- cast by a sprawling new mansion complete with vintage merry-go-round, bowling alley, archery range and imported Roman fountains.
Consumed with envy, much to the growing frustration of his wife (Rachel Weisz), Dingman strikes up a relationship with a nutty drifter (paging Mr. Walken), and that's when things really start spiraling out of control.
Levinson, as always, creates a comfortable working environment for his comic ensemble to strut its stuff, but this time out there just isn't very much to work with, thanks to a warmed-over plot that's all setup with insufficient payoff.
As a result, the laughs tend to come in fits and starts, built around individual set pieces rather than being generated organically out of the storytelling.
That may be why the Stiller-Black matchup doesn't generate the anticipated comic sparks, leaving Walken to effectively walk away with the picture. As the off-kilter and opportunistic J-Man, he manages to spin the most mundane of lines into comic gold with the mere accentuation of a single preposition.
Behind-the-scenes contributions are generally on the money, especially the wardrobe selected by Levinson's longtime costume designer Gloria Gresham, while Dan Navarro does his best Leon Redbone as the film's off-camera troubadour.
Envy
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures and Columbia Pictures present in association with Castle Rock Entertainment a Baltimore/Spring Creek Pictures production
A Barry Levinson film
Credits:
Director: Barry Levinson
Producers: Barry Levinson, Paula Weinstein
Screenwriter: Steve Adams
Executive producer: Mary McLaglen
Director of photography: Tim Maurice-Jones
Production designer: Victor Kempster
Editors: Stu Linder, Blair Daily
Costume designer: Gloria Gresham
Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh
Cast:
Tim Dingman: Ben Stiller
Nick Vanderpark: Jack Black
Debbie Dingman: Rachel Weisz
Natalie Vanderpark: Amy Poehler
J-Man: Christopher Walken
Running time -- 99 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Friday, April 30
Taking in "Envy", the new Barry Levinson comedy starring the ubiquitous Ben Stiller and manic Jack Black (and featuring a scene-stealing Christopher Walken) is sort of like watching a TV talk show with a particularly strong guest lineup.
The banter is sufficiently witty and engaging for the duration of the broadcast, but any lingering effects are permanently banished with a casual flick of the remote control.
Hanging at times precariously by the thread of Steve Adams' seriously under-plotted script, the low-key picture gets by on the genial charisma of its cast, but it fails to rise to the occasion when it comes to building to a necessary comic pitch.
With Stiller on a roll after "Starsky & Hutch" and "Along Came Polly", and Black Red Hot on the heels of "School of Rock", the DreamWorks release (Columbia is handling international distribution) could initially draw fans, but ultimately DreamWorks will have to wait for "Shrek 2" because their coffers probably won't be turning green with "Envy".
Stiller's Tim Dingman and Black's Nick Vanderpark are best friends, next-door neighbors and co-workers whose relationship is seriously put to the test when one of them becomes ridiculously successful.
That would be Vanderpark. After driving his buddy crazy with his harebrained ideas for wild inventions without a shred of scientific data to back them up, Vanderpark manages to hit one out of the ballpark after his notion of making dog poop evaporate into thin air with a single spray of Vapoorizer becomes a multimillion-dollar industry.
Dubious from the start, Dingman passed on the opportunity to invest a couple thousand dollars in the pie-in-the-sky enterprise, and now he's literally living in the shadow of Vanderpark's triumph -- cast by a sprawling new mansion complete with vintage merry-go-round, bowling alley, archery range and imported Roman fountains.
Consumed with envy, much to the growing frustration of his wife (Rachel Weisz), Dingman strikes up a relationship with a nutty drifter (paging Mr. Walken), and that's when things really start spiraling out of control.
Levinson, as always, creates a comfortable working environment for his comic ensemble to strut its stuff, but this time out there just isn't very much to work with, thanks to a warmed-over plot that's all setup with insufficient payoff.
As a result, the laughs tend to come in fits and starts, built around individual set pieces rather than being generated organically out of the storytelling.
That may be why the Stiller-Black matchup doesn't generate the anticipated comic sparks, leaving Walken to effectively walk away with the picture. As the off-kilter and opportunistic J-Man, he manages to spin the most mundane of lines into comic gold with the mere accentuation of a single preposition.
Behind-the-scenes contributions are generally on the money, especially the wardrobe selected by Levinson's longtime costume designer Gloria Gresham, while Dan Navarro does his best Leon Redbone as the film's off-camera troubadour.
Envy
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures and Columbia Pictures present in association with Castle Rock Entertainment a Baltimore/Spring Creek Pictures production
A Barry Levinson film
Credits:
Director: Barry Levinson
Producers: Barry Levinson, Paula Weinstein
Screenwriter: Steve Adams
Executive producer: Mary McLaglen
Director of photography: Tim Maurice-Jones
Production designer: Victor Kempster
Editors: Stu Linder, Blair Daily
Costume designer: Gloria Gresham
Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh
Cast:
Tim Dingman: Ben Stiller
Nick Vanderpark: Jack Black
Debbie Dingman: Rachel Weisz
Natalie Vanderpark: Amy Poehler
J-Man: Christopher Walken
Running time -- 99 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Opens
Friday, April 30
Taking in "Envy", the new Barry Levinson comedy starring the ubiquitous Ben Stiller and manic Jack Black (and featuring a scene-stealing Christopher Walken) is sort of like watching a TV talk show with a particularly strong guest lineup.
The banter is sufficiently witty and engaging for the duration of the broadcast, but any lingering effects are permanently banished with a casual flick of the remote control.
Hanging at times precariously by the thread of Steve Adams' seriously under-plotted script, the low-key picture gets by on the genial charisma of its cast, but it fails to rise to the occasion when it comes to building to a necessary comic pitch.
With Stiller on a roll after "Starsky & Hutch" and "Along Came Polly", and Black Red Hot on the heels of "School of Rock", the DreamWorks release (Columbia is handling international distribution) could initially draw fans, but ultimately DreamWorks will have to wait for "Shrek 2" because their coffers probably won't be turning green with "Envy".
Stiller's Tim Dingman and Black's Nick Vanderpark are best friends, next-door neighbors and co-workers whose relationship is seriously put to the test when one of them becomes ridiculously successful.
That would be Vanderpark. After driving his buddy crazy with his harebrained ideas for wild inventions without a shred of scientific data to back them up, Vanderpark manages to hit one out of the ballpark after his notion of making dog poop evaporate into thin air with a single spray of Vapoorizer becomes a multimillion-dollar industry.
Dubious from the start, Dingman passed on the opportunity to invest a couple thousand dollars in the pie-in-the-sky enterprise, and now he's literally living in the shadow of Vanderpark's triumph -- cast by a sprawling new mansion complete with vintage merry-go-round, bowling alley, archery range and imported Roman fountains.
Consumed with envy, much to the growing frustration of his wife (Rachel Weisz), Dingman strikes up a relationship with a nutty drifter (paging Mr. Walken), and that's when things really start spiraling out of control.
Levinson, as always, creates a comfortable working environment for his comic ensemble to strut its stuff, but this time out there just isn't very much to work with, thanks to a warmed-over plot that's all setup with insufficient payoff.
As a result, the laughs tend to come in fits and starts, built around individual set pieces rather than being generated organically out of the storytelling.
That may be why the Stiller-Black matchup doesn't generate the anticipated comic sparks, leaving Walken to effectively walk away with the picture. As the off-kilter and opportunistic J-Man, he manages to spin the most mundane of lines into comic gold with the mere accentuation of a single preposition.
Behind-the-scenes contributions are generally on the money, especially the wardrobe selected by Levinson's longtime costume designer Gloria Gresham, while Dan Navarro does his best Leon Redbone as the film's off-camera troubadour.
Envy
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures and Columbia Pictures present in association with Castle Rock Entertainment a Baltimore/Spring Creek Pictures production
A Barry Levinson film
Credits:
Director: Barry Levinson
Producers: Barry Levinson, Paula Weinstein
Screenwriter: Steve Adams
Executive producer: Mary McLaglen
Director of photography: Tim Maurice-Jones
Production designer: Victor Kempster
Editors: Stu Linder, Blair Daily
Costume designer: Gloria Gresham
Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh
Cast:
Tim Dingman: Ben Stiller
Nick Vanderpark: Jack Black
Debbie Dingman: Rachel Weisz
Natalie Vanderpark: Amy Poehler
J-Man: Christopher Walken
Running time -- 99 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Friday, April 30
Taking in "Envy", the new Barry Levinson comedy starring the ubiquitous Ben Stiller and manic Jack Black (and featuring a scene-stealing Christopher Walken) is sort of like watching a TV talk show with a particularly strong guest lineup.
The banter is sufficiently witty and engaging for the duration of the broadcast, but any lingering effects are permanently banished with a casual flick of the remote control.
Hanging at times precariously by the thread of Steve Adams' seriously under-plotted script, the low-key picture gets by on the genial charisma of its cast, but it fails to rise to the occasion when it comes to building to a necessary comic pitch.
With Stiller on a roll after "Starsky & Hutch" and "Along Came Polly", and Black Red Hot on the heels of "School of Rock", the DreamWorks release (Columbia is handling international distribution) could initially draw fans, but ultimately DreamWorks will have to wait for "Shrek 2" because their coffers probably won't be turning green with "Envy".
Stiller's Tim Dingman and Black's Nick Vanderpark are best friends, next-door neighbors and co-workers whose relationship is seriously put to the test when one of them becomes ridiculously successful.
That would be Vanderpark. After driving his buddy crazy with his harebrained ideas for wild inventions without a shred of scientific data to back them up, Vanderpark manages to hit one out of the ballpark after his notion of making dog poop evaporate into thin air with a single spray of Vapoorizer becomes a multimillion-dollar industry.
Dubious from the start, Dingman passed on the opportunity to invest a couple thousand dollars in the pie-in-the-sky enterprise, and now he's literally living in the shadow of Vanderpark's triumph -- cast by a sprawling new mansion complete with vintage merry-go-round, bowling alley, archery range and imported Roman fountains.
Consumed with envy, much to the growing frustration of his wife (Rachel Weisz), Dingman strikes up a relationship with a nutty drifter (paging Mr. Walken), and that's when things really start spiraling out of control.
Levinson, as always, creates a comfortable working environment for his comic ensemble to strut its stuff, but this time out there just isn't very much to work with, thanks to a warmed-over plot that's all setup with insufficient payoff.
As a result, the laughs tend to come in fits and starts, built around individual set pieces rather than being generated organically out of the storytelling.
That may be why the Stiller-Black matchup doesn't generate the anticipated comic sparks, leaving Walken to effectively walk away with the picture. As the off-kilter and opportunistic J-Man, he manages to spin the most mundane of lines into comic gold with the mere accentuation of a single preposition.
Behind-the-scenes contributions are generally on the money, especially the wardrobe selected by Levinson's longtime costume designer Gloria Gresham, while Dan Navarro does his best Leon Redbone as the film's off-camera troubadour.
Envy
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures and Columbia Pictures present in association with Castle Rock Entertainment a Baltimore/Spring Creek Pictures production
A Barry Levinson film
Credits:
Director: Barry Levinson
Producers: Barry Levinson, Paula Weinstein
Screenwriter: Steve Adams
Executive producer: Mary McLaglen
Director of photography: Tim Maurice-Jones
Production designer: Victor Kempster
Editors: Stu Linder, Blair Daily
Costume designer: Gloria Gresham
Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh
Cast:
Tim Dingman: Ben Stiller
Nick Vanderpark: Jack Black
Debbie Dingman: Rachel Weisz
Natalie Vanderpark: Amy Poehler
J-Man: Christopher Walken
Running time -- 99 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 4/30/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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