Scouting Hollywood: Aug. 3-9

A roundup of news, gossip and history of the entertainment business brought to you from Hollywood, Calif.

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Another Hollywood labor issue has just arrived. Arbitration has certified that the unionization of commercial production workers passed and henceforth workers who make up the backbone of commercial productions will be recognized as a new bargaining unit of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, or IATSE. Line producers, production coordinators, production assistants, bidding producers and production supervisors will have the opportunity to bargain for wages and working conditions. These are the office and management positions that are vital to well-run commercial productions. The Association of Independent Commercial Producers will represent the production companies in bargaining. 

Barbie and Oppenheimer returned massive ticket sales in their first couple of weeks. Barbie as of July 27 has raked in over $520 million worldwide and Oppenheimer is pushing $300 million. Warm weather, appealing characters and a return to the cinema has helped.