Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) have voted to authorize union President Matthew Loeb to call a strike, the group announced Monday. The vote, which was cast over the weekend, is a bargaining chip for film crews that seek fair compensation from big studios producing content for streaming. The union returns to the bargaining table tomorrow, per John Lindley, president of the International Cinematographers Guild.
🚨 As of Monday afternoon, it remained unclear what caused a major outage for Facebook and its other properties like Instagram and Whatsapp.
⚠️ Hulu president Kelly Campbell is leaving the company, with speculation that she may be headed to NBC Universal.
🚗 Tesla is accusing the Irvine-based EV maker Rivian of stealing its battery technology and poaching its employees.
📱 Warner Music has partnered with Santa Monica text messaging platform Community to engage fans via text.
🚲 Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, or LACI, is seeking proposals for an e-bike share pilot program in Rancho San Pedro by Oct. 29.
👜 Shopify has
opened a brick and mortar studio in Los Angeles for photo shoots, workshops, events, networking and other services for business owners.
Union Vote Raises the Stakes for Streaming Giants
IATSE's decision to authorize a strike could lead to the most significant industry walkout since World War II, should negotiations with a powerful trade group remain deadlocked. Representing the entertainment and tech giants is the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
Those negotiations come as streaming's growth has ramped up the tech industry's influence in Hollywood, giving Amazon and Netflix a seat at the bargaining table alongside major studios such as Sony Pictures and Paramount. Read more...
Rivian Lost About $2 Billion Since Start of 2020
Electric vehicle startup Rivian lost about $2 billion since the start of last year, according to its IPO filings. The revelation comes as the company rolls out its electric truck and prepares to go public.
Improving Mental Health with Apps. What Could Go Wrong?
UCLA researchers have been working with Apple to see if an iPhone can detect depression and anxiety via so-called emotion recognition. But Apple is hardly the only company exploring the use of tech to address mental health. Reporter Keerthi Vedantam looks at mobile health apps' promises and possible pitfalls.
Dogdrop Takes on Rising Demand for Pet Services
Dog services are still on high demand. Can Santa Monica-based startup Dogdrop's latest raise help it stay competitive in a dog-eat-dog market?
This Startup Wants to Make Car Insurance Cheaper
Just Auto Insurance, a Brentwood-based startup that offers data-driven, pre-paid and pay-per-mile car insurance, has raised $8 million in new funding to improve driver safety and reduce the likelihood of accidents using your mobile phone.