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  • Saturday, Jun. 23, 2018
Netflix's top spokesman fired over use of racial term
In this Nov. 24, 2014 file photo, Reed Hastings, CEO and founder of Netflix, right, sits with Jonathan Friedland, global director of communications, as they pose for a portrait during a press conference about their three years of doing business in Latin America, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Berenice Bautista, File)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- 

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings says he fired the company's top spokesman over use of the N-word.

The spokesman, Jonathan Friedland, confirmed in tweets that he was leaving the company, saying he was insensitive in speaking with his team about words that offend in comedy.

In a memo to employees, published by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed by Netflix, Hastings says Friedland used the word twice — first in a meeting of public relations staff several months ago about sensitive words. Hastings wrote that several people told Friedland how inappropriate and hurtful his use of the word was.

Hastings says Friedland, who is white, later repeated the word with human resources staff trying to address the original incident. Hastings wrote the second incident "confirmed a deep lack of understanding."

  • Saturday, Jun. 23, 2018
DuVernay scores another milestone for black female directors
In this March 13, 2018 file photo, director Ava DuVernay appears at the premiere of "A Wrinkle In Time," in London. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay has checked off another milestone for black female directors. This week her film "A Wrinkle in Time" crossed the $100 million mark domestically, a first for a black woman. The film got a late-game boost playing as a double feature at drive-in theaters with the record-breaking "Incredibles 2" this past weekend.

DuVernay said on Instagram that she may be the first but will not be the last.

DuVernay was also the first black woman to get a budget of over $100 million to direct a film. "A Wrinkle in Time" cost around $103 million to make.

The Disney film has now grossed over $132.4 million worldwide, but with marketing costs well over $100 million, "A Wrinkle in Time" is also still not in the black.

  • Friday, Jun. 22, 2018
NorthSouth partners with Hearst to form content shop Good Kicks Media
NorthSouth Productions CEO Charlie DeBevoise
NEW YORK -- 

NorthSouth Productions, the company behind the hit comedy series Impractical Jokers and long-running Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, is bringing its creative and distribution acumen directly to agencies, brands, PR firms, networks and others.

In partnership with Hearst Entertainment, NorthSouth has formed Good Kicks Media, a hybrid content company offering creative and production services for branded content, network promos, and live activations.

Good Kicks has already produced brand-related work for Marvel, Progresso, ESPN, and Discovery Networks. “We’ve been building popular media content for networks for 18 years,” said NorthSouth Productions CEO Charlie DeBevoise. “With the launch of Good Kicks, we’re spreading that success directly to brands.”

Neeraj Khemlani, president of Hearst Entertainment, added, “NorthSouth is one of those rare creative shops that have produced highly-rated and long-lasting formats across More

  • Friday, Jun. 22, 2018
New leaders tapped for Berlin film festival from 2020
In this Wednesday, July 12, 2017 file photo, Carlo Chatrian, artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival, speaks during a press conference, at the Bellevue Palace in Bern, Switzerland. Chatrian and German movie industry official Mariette Rissenbeek have been tapped to take charge of the Berlin International Film Festival starting in 2020. (Thomas Delley/Keystone via AP, file)
BERLIN (AP) -- 

Carlo Chatrian, the director of the Locarno film festival, and German movie industry official Mariette Rissenbeek have been tapped to take charge of the Berlin International Film Festival starting in 2020.

A committee led by Germany's culture minister, Monika Gruetters, on Friday designated Chatrian as the festival's future artistic director and Rissenbeek as its managing director.

Dieter Kosslick, who has been in charge since 2001, will preside over his last edition of the "Berlinale" next year. The annual event is one of Europe's main film festivals, along with Cannes and Venice.

The Italian-born Chatrian has led Switzerland's Locarno festival since 2013. Rissenbeek is currently the managing director of German Films, an advisory center for marketing German-made movies internationally.

  • Thursday, Jun. 21, 2018
ABC orders "Roseanne" spinoff for fall minus Roseanne Barr
This image released by ABC shows Sara Gilbert, left, and Roseanne Barr in a scene from "Roseanne." (Greg Gayne/ABC via AP)
By Lynn Elber, Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

ABC, which canceled its "Roseanne" revival over its star's racist tweet, said Thursday it will air a Conner family sitcom minus Roseanne Barr this fall.

ABC ordered 10 episodes of the spinoff after Barr agreed to forgo any creative or financial participation in it, which the network had said was a condition of such a series.

In a statement issued by the show's producer, Barr said she agreed to the settlement to save the jobs of 200 cast and crew members who were idled when "Roseanne" was canceled last month.

"I regret the circumstances that have caused me to be removed from 'Roseanne,' she said, adding, "I wish the best for everyone involved."

The revival of the hit 1988-97 sitcom "Roseanne" was swiftly axed by ABC last month after Barr posted a tweet likening former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and "Planet of the Apes."

Tom Werner, executive producer of the original series and More

  • Thursday, Jun. 21, 2018
The Female Quotient partners with Deutsch to launch career advice bot
LOS ANGELES -- 

The Female Quotient, a company and community dedicated to achieving workplace equality, has selected ad agency Deutsch as its brand partner to launch its first career advice bot at The Girls’ Lounge @ Cannes Lions. This tool provides women all over the globe access to the wisdom of female leaders on core content pillars--work/life balance, knowing your worth, owning your brand, leadership and equality, and navigating challenges. 

Inspired by The Female Quotient’s CEO Shelley Zalis, the bot will live on Google Assistant and Facebook Messenger and will be accessible from all mobile and computing devices. Users can ask the bot a variety of questions from maternity leave, pay negotiation, to how to build confidence and addressing diversity issues, to leadership training and navigating challenges like harassment in the workplace. Using artificial intelligence technology developed by Deutsch’s AI division, Great Machine, users can ask a question on the More

  • Thursday, Jun. 21, 2018
Days after buying Time Warner, AT&T launches new TV service
This July 27, 2017, file photo shows an AT&T logo at a store in Hialeah, Fla. AT&T is launching a new streaming service incorporating networks from the Time Warner company it just bought for $81 billion. Thursday, June 21, announcement comes just days after AT&T closed its Time Warner deal. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
By Mae Anderson, Technology Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- 

AT&T is launching a new streaming service incorporating television networks from the Time Warner company it just bought.

The WatchTV service, a cable-like package of more than 30 TV channels delivered over the internet, is an example of the "skinny bundles" coming from telecom and broadband providers as more people watch TV online. Competitors include Sling TV, PlayStation Vue and AT&T's own DirecTV Now.

WatchTV will be free for subscribers of two unlimited wireless plans AT&T is launching. Others can get WatchTV for $15 — $20 less than DirecTV Now, but with just half the channels.

Thursday's announcement comes just days after AT&T closed its $81 billion Time Warner deal. AT&T said it needs to combine its distribution channels with entertainment properties to compete with internet-based rivals like Amazon, Netflix and Google, although the wireless carrier has a direct connection to its 92 million subscribers that More

  • Thursday, Jun. 21, 2018
Net neutrality backers fume as California bill watered down
In this April 20, 2017 file photo, State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco works at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. Sen. Wiener has been pushing legislation to revive regulations repealed last year by the FCC that prevented internet companies from exercising more control over what people watch and see over the internet. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
By Jonathan J. Cooper
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- 

California legislation that was billed as one of the nation's most aggressive efforts to revive net neutrality was watered down during a tense legislative hearing Wednesday, leading the author to repudiate what he called a "mutilated" bill.

The legislation has been closely watched by energetic net neutrality advocates, who quickly denounced the decision.

Sen. Scott Wiener has been pushing legislation to revive regulations repealed last year by the Federal Communications Commission that prevented internet companies from exercising more control over what people watch and see over the internet.

Wiener urged the Communications and Conveyance Committee not to move forward his legislation, but the panel voted 8-2 to advance it to another Assembly committee.

Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, said passing the diluted measure would be worse than passing nothing at all.

"California is the progressive bastion for the country More

  • Wednesday, Jun. 20, 2018
Film starring Kevin Spacey to be released in August
In this June 11, 2017 file photo, Kevin Spacey arrives at the 71st annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) -- 

Kevin Spacey was erased from "All the Money in the World" and booted from "House of Cards," but a movie starring the disgraced actor is going forward with a summer release.

Vertical Entertainment announced that it will release "Billionaire Boys Club" on video-on-demand on July 17 and in theaters August 17. The film is about young wealthy men in Los Angeles who run a Ponzi scheme. It stars Ansel Elgort, Taron Egerton and Spacey.

"Billionaire Boys Club" was shot in 2015, before Spacey was accused last fall of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior by numerous people. Spacey apologized to one accuser.

Vertical Entertainment said it fully supports victims of sexual harassment but that it believes the film's cast and crew deserve "to see their final product reach audiences."

  • Wednesday, Jun. 20, 2018
Apple signs deal with Sesame Workshop for kids' shows
This Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, file photo shows the Apple logo above a store location entrance in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Apple is getting into business with the prestigious Sesame Workshop.

Apple said Wednesday it has given a multiple-series order to the nonprofit organization.

The shows will be part of a slate of children's programming for Apple's upcoming streaming service.

Apple said the long-running "Sesame Street" program, which airs on PBS and HBO, isn't part of the agreement.

Apple has been making content deals with other big names, including Oprah Winfrey, as it prepares to compete with Netflix, Amazon and other streaming services.

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