partner news 11/5/20
Posted by NALIP on November 05, 2020
Check out our Partner News for the week of 11/5!
CAA Hires Dr. Sharoni Little As Head of Global Inclusion Strategy
Image Courtesy of Deadline
CAA just announced Dr. Sharoni Little as the agency’s Head of Global Inclusion Strategy. Sharoni will build upon the company and set forth diversity and inclusion strategies for all employees to excel. Prior to CAA, Little was the Vice Dean and Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at the USC Marshall School of Business as well as an adviser to global organizations. Read more here.
The Black List and Google Assistant Team Are Collaborating to Assist Five Writers
Photo courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter
The Black List and Google Assistant Storytelling Fellowship program will assist five writers with financial and creative support. The aspiring writers will be developing ande executing a new original feature film script or TV pilot. $20,000 will be awarded to each writer for support as they write their pitch. Read more here.
Kenya Barris Discusses New Ventures with ViacomCBS
Photo courtesy of Deadline
The comedy creator for the ‘Black-ish’ comedy franchise is speaking with ViacomCBS to create new deals. ViacomCBS’ deal will grant Barris to join significant ranks of entertainment moguls. The new venture will be overseen by BET network representatives. Read more here.
Lionsgate Hires Kamala Avila-Salmon as Head of Inclusive Content for Films
Photo courtesy of Variety
Lionsgate announced former Facebook executive, Kamala Avila-Salmon as its first head of inclusive content. Avila-Salmon will be responsible for developing and implementing diversity , equity and inclusion programs and strategies to increase diversity in Lionsgate's film and home entertainment. While working at Facebook, Avila-Salmon launched the marketing inclusion discipline within the Facebook Consumer Marketing team. Read the full article here.
SAG-AFTRA Launches Probe of Allegations by Stunt Performers
The SAG-AFTRA National Board is creating a task force to investigate allegations of racist practices in the stunt community. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said, “We have heard the personal stories of paintdowns, wiggings, harassment and bias and we stand together to say ‘no more’. This board recommitted itself to our mission of diversity, equity and inclusion for underrepresented stunt performers. We are taking decisive action to address these systemic issues.”The board announced last week that the task force will investigate current practices and develop and recommend protocols to help ensure fair and equitable hiring practices within the stunt community.
In a Zoom conversation for Variety’s Power of Women issue, CEO Lopez and company president Goldsmith-Thomas spoke about their work as producers, starting with 2002’s “Maid in Manhattan.” Jennifer Lopez’s latest movies have at least one thing in common: They’re all directed by women. The slate includes 2019’s “Hustlers,” directed by Lorene Scafaria, which grossed $157 million worldwide; next year’s “Marry Me” (from Kat Coiro), in which Lopez plays a pop star navigating a bad breakup with her famous fiancé (Maluma); and the upcoming drug-lord drama “The Godmother” (Reed Morano), in which Lopez portrays the title character.
Watch and read the conversation on Variety.
