Partner News 4/15/21

Posted by NALIP on April 16, 2021

CAA launches new inclusion initiative, IMDBPro partners with Easterseals, New shows to watch and more on this week's partner news!

WarnerMedia OneFifty Innovation Hub Relaunching; Oscar-Nominated Short ‘White Eye’ In Mix Of Content Offerings

WarnerMedia

WarnerMedia has renovated a hub specifically focused on highlighting new content and projects from underrepresented creators called WarnerMedia OneFifty. Here WarnerMedia OneFifty seeks to invest in creators with unique out of the box ideas from across all platforms: spectrum, series, spanning features, digital animation, documentary, interactive VR/AR, music, trans media, experimental, and more. Click here to see some of the projects on the platform.

From Vertigo Entertainment and Sony Pictures TV comes “Them”. Now Available on Amazon Prime!

From Vertigo Entertainment, Sony Pictures TV, breakout creator Little Marvin and executive producer Lena Waithe, Them is a limited anthology series that explores terror in America. The 1950s set first season centers on a Black family who moves from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration. The family’s idyllic home becomes ground zero where malevolent forces, next-door and otherworldly, threaten to taunt, ravage, and destroy them.

Them stars Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Melody Hurd, and Ryan Kwanten.

Trailer on the Prime Video YouTube

Available to watch on Amazon Prime.

Viola Davis, Mariah Carey, Stacey Abrams & More Feted At The 12th Annual AAFCA Awards

Courtesy of Deadline/AAFCA

The 12th AAFCA Awards streamed April 7th 2021 with outstanding women receiving acknowledgements. Mariah Carey was given the Innovator Award while Oscar-winner Viola Davis was recognized with the organization’s Icon Award. Davis was honored along with her Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom co-star, the late Chadwick Boseman, as well as director George C. Wolfe who received the Salute to Excellence Award. See the full list of winners and learn more about what went on in this edition of the African American Film Critics Association Awards here.

CAA Launches Initiative to Improve Representation in Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE)

Courtesy of CAA

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) announced The Full Story Initiative, an industry-wide resource consisting of a non-profit advisory committee that can identify blindspots and offer feedback on having rounder representation on screen to studios, networks, and producers.

“There’s such an increased need and interest in seeing representative content, so how can we build the infrastructure to better connect the two worlds of non-profit organizations and social justice with our storytellers? We know that’s essential to moving the needle on change,” said CAA Foundation’s Maddy Roth.

IMDbPro Partners With Easterseals To Create Visibility For Entertainment Professionals In Disability Community

Courtesy of IMDbPro

Easterseals Southern California has partnered up with IMDbPro in creating support, visibility, and opportunities for creatives in the disability community. IMDbPro has sponsored the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, the weeklong filmmaking contest. This gives the opportunity to tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms through short films. The challenge will be judged by a wide selection of influential voices within the entertainment industry, one of them being IMDb Founder and CEO Col Needham. Finalists will be announced on Thursday, April 29, with the virtual Awards Ceremony set to take place on Thursday, May 6. Click here to learn more.

Netflix And Sony Break Ground With Film Licensing Deal Replacing Starz Pact, Including First Look At New Direct-To-Streaming Titles

Courtesy of Netflix/Sony Pictures

Starting 2022, Netflix will be showcasing a set of significant new licensing with their new exclusive deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment. This agreement will provide Netflix with an 18- month exclusive window for Sony Films, offsetting their old arrangement with Lionsgate-owned Starz. Netflix bid $1 billion for these exclusive licensing, which it will experience in four years. Many of the top titles are confirmed to stream on Netflix exclusively after they play in theaters and are released on home entertainment platforms.

Click here to see the full arrangement between Netflix and Sony.

Survey: 39% of Americans Say Netflix Has Best Original Content of All Streaming ServicesSurvey: 39% of Americans Say Netflix Has Best Original Content of All Streaming Services

Daniel Krasoń - stock.adobe.com

Netflix’s multi billion dollar spending power has paid off as the Lion’s shares of U.S consumers say the streamer has the best original programming, according to the new Morgan Stanley survey. The Wall Street analyst firm’s 2021 streaming survey stated that 38% of the survey’s respondents picked Netflix as its No.1 for best original programming. 12% of respondents voted Amazon Prime Video as their favorite, Disney Plus, Hulu and HBO Max scoring only 6%. Read more here.

Michaela Coel and Andra Day Set for Honors from Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival

Mike Marsland/WireImage; Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

The Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Film Festival will be taking place this April 17 honoring high profile filmmakers who have been making waves in the media. The confirmed honorees for this year’s film festival are Michaela Coel, the star and creator of I May Destroy You, will be awarded the Fusion Achievement Award. Andra Day will also be receiving the James Schamus Ally Award for her role in The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Outfest Fusion kicks off April 16. Click here to see a full schedule and ticket information can be found here.