Wednesday, December 16, 2009

NEWS: Recession TV, NYC Production, Springfield, Brannon

Study: Americans turn to TV as recession hits spending
The recession has brought American consumers back to their TV sets, Deloitte's 2009 State of the Media Democracy survey says. Tight budgets have cut attendance at movies, concerts and sports events, and purchases of DVDs and video games, almost three-fourths of respondents said. Instead, 34 percent of those surveyed ranked TV watching as their favorite media activity, up from 27 percent in 2008.

Average TV watching per week jumped to almost 18 hours from less than 16 hours last year, according to Reuters, which got an advance copy of the report to be released today.

When the WORLD Stops Turning: Another New York soap falls and raises questions about the future
"The first response is one of deep sorrow," Holter Graham, president of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' New York division, said about the news of AS THE WORLD TURNS being canceled. "We're losing yet another in what has for a long time been one of AFTRA and New York's stable performance opportunities."

"The writing was on the wall about daytime and that it was a changing market a long time ago," Graham said. "The economic crisis given to us by the Bush administration sped up that process and made that writing on the wall bright yellow highlighter."

Of greater import to the New York actor's state of mind, according to Graham, are local government attitudes toward incentivizing film and TV production. Since 2004, productions shot in New York have been eligible for a 30 percent tax rebate from the state on all below-the-line costs and a 5 percent rebate from the city. But funding for the city program ran out in July, and the state program is expected to be tapped out soon. Legislation to refill the coffers of both is pending in Albany. Meanwhile, Graham worries that a new city shooting fee may act as a disincentive to producing in New York.

Annie Parisse in new NYC play
Playwrights Horizons has announced complete casting for the World Premiere of "Clybourne Park," a deranged comedy about the cutthroat world of G-rated entertainment. The cast includes former AS THE WORLD TURNS actress Annie Parisse (ex-Julia).

Rick Springfield memoir, "Late, Late at Night" coming in 2010
Rick Springfield is currently working on a tell-all memoir slated for an October 2010 release. Titled "Late, Late at Night," the book will chronicle Springfield's rise to success as a 1980s popstar, his acting career (including GENERAL HOSPITAL) and his lifelong battle with depression. Touchstone Fireside, a division of Simon & Schuster will publish the book.

INTERVIEW: GENERAL HOSPITAL's Chad Brannon (Zander)
"It was really fun to be back on. I had to speak with somebody to find out what was actually happening [laughs]. It's a fun scenario and it was exciting to get to come back for the fans."

THE GUILD Sells Out! (And It's Awesome)
This year, the web’s 10th most-watched web series in November, according to Mashable’s Visible Measures chart, has taken a bold approach to the relatively soul-sucking task of plugging the DVD edition of Seasons 1 and 2. How? By creating a series of ads for fake GUILD-related merchandise, that of course is buttoned with a “subtle” plug for said DVDs.

Next New Networks Formally Announces 'Next New Creators' Program
Next New Networks, the leading online television company, today announced the formal launch of Next New Creators, a program designed to discover and foster talent from across the Web. Through the program, Next New Networks will partner with up-and-coming independent creators to distribute, promote, package and monetize their shows.

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