Clone Club rise up!

[rogueslayer452]

++ SAG-AFTRA released a statement regarding the AMPTP refusal of their offer and suspension of negotiations. You'd think with the recent win for the WGA things would go a bit more smoothly, unfortunately that isn't the case. I liked that the letter blatantly states that the AMPTP is using bully tactics, which is the same situation that happened with the WGA previously (which a month later they ended up winning and ending their strike). Some are hoping that the same happens in November for the SAG-AFTRA. But until then, the strike continues on.

On a more positive note, WGA members voted to ratify the MBA. Good for them.

++ The teaser trailer for Orphan Black: Echoes starring Krysten Ritter just dropped. When I first heard about this, I was intrigued, especially with Krysten involved, but now actually seeing footage from it? I'm even more intrigued and just hyped for it. I love the tagline of "a completely unique copy of the original", which is very clever, and I'm so fascinated that it's supposedly taking place in the new future. I know nothing else aside from the basic premise that was given a while back, but I'm already curious and want to know what is going on just by this teaser alone. It's set to premiere sometime in 2024, no specific date yet, but once we're made aware of it you know I'll be there.

++ We got our first look at the new Netflix animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. As much as I wished the Alicia Vikander Tomb Raider had become the franchise it rightfully should've been (still bitter about that, to be honest), I cannot deny having more Lara Croft content in any form. Animation is a good choice for this franchise as a whole, too, and just judging from the teaser alone the style looks incredible.

++ Apparently it seems that the Disney+ soft reboot of Daredevil (titled Daredevil: Born Again) has been announced to do an entire revamping after realizing things just weren't working out, along with the major changes happening with Marvel TV in general.

I haven't paid that close attention to anything MCU related, but it seems that their Disney+ shows haven't been doing things normally, as in not having showrunners but instead film executives to run things, among other issues from behind-the scenes as detailed in the article. From the various complaints and rants I've seen from people about the MCU shows, that tracks. It's kind of astounding (yet totally not surprising at this rate) that they really thought that would work in the long run, or at all, really, because film and television are separate mediums and while limited series/miniseries can work it needs a proper showrunner and writing team who know how to construct a story for a television format, which executives don't know how to do. It's a collaborative effort, and when done well it's rewarding to see all the hard work put into the final product. Whether or not the new Daredevil show will be good after this complete reset is up in the air, but I do hope that they get their shit together to at least put something decent out, something that shows that they cared about the story and the characters and the people involved in creating it.

Comments

[goodbyebird]

Very disappointed to read about negotiations breaking up yesterday, but SAG-AFTRA is sticking to their guns and that's great. The industry has to buckle. I don't understand how any of those idiots think they can pressure them when they gave the writers all they wanted. And Oscar season is approaching. Man, an empty red carpet would be the thing, huh? Just writers showing up to talk up unions *g*

Ditto on the new Tomb Raider franchise grrr.

as in not having showrunners but instead film executives to run things

Ugh that would explain some things.

[rogueslayer452]

It's disappointing, but not at all surprising at this point. We've seen the utter greed from the AMPTP, even more so the audacity of them pointing their fingers at the strikers and blaming them for being "unreasonable", it's backwards logic and yet considering one of them literally admitting that they want to see the strikers become homeless and desperate it's not shocking that they would be like this. I'm not happy it was a dead-end, however I am happy that SAG isn't giving them an inch and digging in their heels standing their ground. It's better than settling for less than what they rightfully deserve.

Man, an empty red carpet would be the thing, huh? Just writers showing up to talk up unions *g*

A petty part of me wants nobody to show up, in order to show solidarity with SAG.

[profiterole_reads]

After thinking about it, I decided not to watch Loki S2. I was bored by S1, and the only aspect of S2 that interested me was the casting of Ke Huy Quan (who was great in EEAAO and American Born Chinese), but I have so many other contents to consume that look more interesting.

[rogueslayer452]

I've seen varying opinions on the Loki series, mostly though the reactions seem quite mixed, and the general consensus seems to be that it didn't achieve what it initially set out to do. And I've even seen some complaints that Loki's characterization is weird.

[profiterole_reads]

Loki's characterization is weird
Yes, I'm not a Loki specialist, but they've kind of "mainstreamed" him.

I've started listening to Slayers and I'm enjoying it a lot. Plus, as I've never used Audible before, I got it for free.

[haebin]

...at the new Netflix animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.
UH, I am excited!!! *___*

[rogueslayer452]

I wasn't even aware that was going to be a thing, like I knew there was some buzz about newer projects but I didn't realize that an animated series was in the works. I'm quite pleased. :D

[author_by_night]

I've seen a theory circling around that Drew Barrymore doing her show despite the writer's strike is what helped negotiations. If that's true, maybe SAG needs another Drew Barrymore. (Although I'm surprised Drew Barrymore's not more associated with SAG in the first place. Maybe that was the original intention. Or she writes more than acts nowadays, I haven't really paid attention to her career since the early 2000's.)

In any case, I'm disappointed as well.

[rogueslayer452]

I've seen that theory too, and it's quite plausible. It could also be a mere coincidence, but I will say that I do think that her getting massive backlash worked in the WGA's favor. (And mostly backlash from those within her circle in the industry, not the general public, because it was clear she didn't care about that more than she did about her reputation among her fellow celebrities.)

I do think that because the criticism focused entirely on the writers aspect instead of the actors with her show is probably why there's all of this speculation. I'm hazy on the exact details at the moment, but she wasn't really breaking the SAG rules so much as she was breaking WGA rules.

[blakmagjick]

Ooooh...I didn't know anything about the Orphan Black: Echoes! Sounds interesting...I'll have to keep an eye on that.

I've also stopped paying attention to most MSU stuff in the last few years...I'm definitely a couple movies behind.

[rogueslayer452]

In a way the show completely escaped my mind recently (too many things to watch, the strikes happening, etc) that when the trailer dropped I immediately perked up and became excited all over again. I miss having Krysten Ritter on my television. So I cannot wait to see her in action again with this. :D

I've only watched a couple of MCU movies, but overall I just don't care about them (or the DCEU, for that matter), it's such a bloated, overproduced mess of a franchise that tries to dominate everything, so all the behind-the-scenes stuff coming out about how much of a nightmare it's been for years isn't all that surprising.

[blakmagjick]

Doom Patrol and the Wonder Woman movies are the only DCEU I've watched...the rest doesn't interest me.
Guardians was my fave MCU...and I think the third one is the last one. And I didn't love the Loki show, but I love Hiddleston, so I'll keep watching it only for the eye candy.

[rhoda_rants]

I'm annoyed on behalf of the strikers that SAG-AFTRA still isn't getting their demands met. I really thought having the writers strike get some changes made would snowball the rest of it, but apparently, nope.

I've seen just the first episode (is that all that's out right now?) of the second season of Loki, and I remember being confused that the first season showrunner wasn't listed anywhere in the credits. (I'm not on D+, for the record; I refuse to subscribe to any more streaming channels). Film is a VERY different medium. Some of those skills translate, but not all of them. It's paced differently, the stakes are different, the character work is different, and the scale is different, by which I mean you lose detail on the smaller screens, especially if they're not super hi-def. I think on some level the people running these things must know that, but they're either not thinking about how that changes the end results, or they don't care enough because the brand recognition means people will watch it anyway.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, I was hoping things were looking up, but I guess I was a bit too optimistic given the success of the WGA and all. It sucks, but I'm glad that they're firmly standing their ground.

I think on some level the people running these things must know that, but they're either not thinking about how that changes the end results, or they don't care enough because the brand recognition means people will watch it anyway.

Additionally, I also think that the way streaming has operated in recent years is a huge part of that, as well. A lot of shows made for streaming have a very different approach to traditional television which, at first when introduced was nice, but it unfortunately became a template for all streaming shows which isn't that great. It's why we're getting 6-8 episode seasons now. So this is probably why Marvel/Disney thought they could get away with it. A lot of their MCU shows seem to be like rejected movie ideas, so they just copy+pasted that and it just doesn't work most of the time because it's not meant for television.

Every medium is different, and when transitioning a story from one to another you have to adjust and accommodate to that format otherwise it just won't work.

[violateraindrop]

After the writers reached an agreement, I really thought the actors would follow quickly. It's probably a good thing that they stick to their own plan and not give in now.

While watching the Marvel Studios: Assembled episodes, I always got the feeling that the MCU shows had people in charge that were presented like showrunners when in reality was probably more chaotic behind the scenes. It's bizarre that Marvel/Disney would treat the shows like movies on D+. The Netflix shows or Agents of SHIELD worked well with the traditional model. Why change it? Right, money...