Media & Entertainment Law

SAG/AFTRA Negotiations Almost Unraveled at 'Perilous Moments'

Posted on November 14, 2010
An exclusive look inside the bargaining room of last Sunday's deal that insiders say went right down to the wire. Details in my Hollywood Reporter piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month...

SAG/AFTRA and DGA Schedule Details Emerge

Posted on November 14, 2010
Timing of ballots and negotiations disclosed. Details in my Hollywood Reporter piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

SAG/AFTRA Merger Details Hinted

Posted on November 14, 2010
SAG may seek to merge the unions prior to the pension and health plans; completion in 2011 may be the SAG goal. Details in my Hollywood Reporter piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month...

Picketers to Face Replacement Workers at 'Biggest Loser' on Monday

Posted on November 14, 2010
IATSE decries 'strike-breakers' hired by production company to cross picket line. It looks like there will be fireworks Monday morning at NBC?s Biggest Loser, as IATSE picketers confront replacement workers hired by the show?s production companies. Details in my Hollywood Reporter piece.

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SAG, Studios Reach Agreement on Basic Cable and Animation

Posted on November 11, 2010
The deals are similar to the TV/theatrical agreement reached last week. Details: The Hollywood Reporter.

EXCLUSIVE: Union Starts Picketing 'Biggest Loser'

Posted on November 10, 2010
Fifty crew members walk off Wednesday's shoot; the group is demanding a union contract for the reality show with pension and health benefits.A union drama unfolded Wednesday in the Santa Monica Mountains high above Malibu as a small group of below-the-line workers picketed at the state park where NBC's The Biggest Loser is produced...

Analysis: How the Guilds Lost the 'Hobbit' War

Posted on November 09, 2010
Will entertainment workers of the world unite? Probably not any time soon. They just tried, and it blew up in their faces. But why? The analysis is in my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month...

SAG, AFTRA Give Up First-Class Travel

Posted on November 09, 2010
Actors will be flying business class and sometimes coach as part of the unions' new deal with the studios. Details in my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel...

WGA, IATSE Weigh in on SAG/AFTRA Deal

Posted on November 08, 2010
Writers and crew unions join DGA in congratulating the actors on their tentative agreement. Details in my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

Actors' Unions Reach Deal With AMPTP

Posted on November 07, 2010
SAG/AFTRA tentative agreement includes 2% annual wage bumps and 1.5% P&H increases. Details in my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

SAG/AFTRA Deadline Passes Without Deal With AMPTP

Posted on November 06, 2010
Negotiations continue into the weekend and possibly beyond. Details in my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

Showbiz Labor Guide Party!

Posted on November 01, 2010
My friends at the Showbiz Labor Guide are having a launch party for this year's edition. It's this Thursday Nov. 4. For details and to RSVP: http://www.media-services.com/LG2010_info.html. See you there.

NZ Government Changes Labor Law at Warner Bros. Prompting

Posted on October 28, 2010
After a day of angry debate, the NZ Parliament passed legislation to impede or prevent unionization of film industry workers in the country. For details, see my THR piece. On a personal note - during the debate, a Member of Parliament read out portions of one of my THR articles...

Hobbit stays in NZ

Posted on October 27, 2010
But the government will pay up to US$25 million and make legislative changes negotiated with Warner Bros. Prime Minister also announces a 'long-term strategic partnership' with studio. Details in my THR piece - the first story out in the U.S. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month...

Hobbitry; and the WGA sends out a negotiations bulletin

Posted on October 26, 2010
For the latest on the Hobbit controversy, see http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/desperate-keep-hobbit-new-zealand-32291 and http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nz-prime-minister-warner-bros-32454. For details of the WGA's priorities in its upcoming (though as yet unscheduled) contract talks, see http://www...

SAG Negotiated with WB to Lift 'Hobbit' Boycott

Posted on October 23, 2010
The guild?s role in New Zealand dispute had been previously unknown.  For details, see my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

SAG, AFTRA Meet About Merger

Posted on October 22, 2010
Read it in The Hollywood Reporter. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too...

JLH on NZ radio re Hobbit

Posted on October 21, 2010
I'll be on New Zealand Radio Live http://www.radiolive.co.nz/ one hour from now, i.e., 9:10 p.m. LA time. Have a listen! ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel...

New Zealand to 'Fight Like Hell' for 'The Hobbit'

Posted on October 21, 2010
 I've got the details no one else does, exclusively on The Hollywood Reporter. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

'Hobbit' Union Boycott Lifted; Jackson Claims Production Leaving New Zealand

Posted on October 20, 2010
Details have been posting throughout the day on my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

SAG Elects Ned Vaughn 1st National VP

Posted on October 19, 2010
Election completes moderate, pro-merger sweep. For details, see my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

Peter Jackson: 'Hobbit' decision in "week or two"

Posted on October 14, 2010
Situation unchanged after union, management meeting. Details in my THR piece. ------------------------------- Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

New Zealand actors split on 'Hobbit' stance

Posted on October 12, 2010
Some fear guilds' unionization stand will drive out production. For details: my THR piece. ??????? Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

AFTRA board member accused of running SAGWatch

Posted on October 06, 2010
For details, see my THR piece: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i050e81f63a15745db053ebd7df414cef. ?????? Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out this month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

Australian official calls for end to 'Hobbit' spat

Posted on October 05, 2010
And Scotland weighs in as well. Details: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3if40aadb1b179f42abde7041d7582c046. ?????? Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out this month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

N.Z. government offers to mediate 'Hobbit' spat

Posted on October 04, 2010
And meanwhile a fire destroys a "Hobbit" miniatures facility. For detail, see my THR piece: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5a116168a138e4ee085497814a6c6503. ??????? Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out this month...

N.Z. government moves to keep Hobbit production in-country

Posted on October 04, 2010
For details, see my THR story: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/asia/news/e3i7b035dcf5d2c2ea7f4a9058baabab55f. ??????? Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out this month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law...

Tips Welcome

Posted on September 30, 2010
Now that I'm covering labor for The Hollywood Reporter, I want to say something that might be obvious: I want your tips, thoughts, rumors, etc. Whether it relates to AFTRA, DGA, SAG, WGA or another entertainment union, and whether you're on the management side or labor, I rely on your help...

AFTRA employees sign new pact

Posted on September 30, 2010
Details: my Hollywood Reporter article. ???????Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month. Subscribe to my blog (jhandel.com) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email...

JLH to Cover Labor for THR

Posted on September 29, 2010
I'm delighted to announce that I'll be covering labor on a regular basis for The Hollywood Reporter - here's the official announcement. I also continue to practice law as of counsel at TroyGould. I've been there fourteen years and the firm just celebrated its fortieth anniversary! ___________________ Watch for my new book ?Hollywood on Strike!,? due out next month...

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