DEI
Diversifying the Broadway Stage With a New Grant for Theater Designers
Broadway is looking to encourage diversity in the field of theater design with a new grant. The 1/52 Project, which is funded by designers with shows currently running on Broadway, offers a $15,000 grant to applicants who display future potential and excellence within the theatrical field. Financial need will also be considered as a determining factor. Founded by Beowulf Boritt, a Tony Award-winning set designer, the project acknowledges the difficulty in breaking into the Broadway community and hopes to support a more diverse group of designers entering the field. Initial donors include high-profile individuals in the community, such as designers for shows like Chicago, Hamilton, Hadestown, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Designers are encouraged to donate one week of their royalties every year, but the fund is currently open to external donations as well. Applications will open mid-January and remain open until May 15, 2022. Applicants will be chosen by a committee of nine BIPOC professional designers. Additionally, the 1/52 Project joined forces with TheFrontOffice Foundation to support workers during the industry-wide pandemic shutdown by offering direct artist relief, commissions, and grants.
Awards
Covid 2, Grammys 0: Ceremony Postponed for the Second Year in a Row
The Grammy Awards have been bested by the latest COVID-19 surge, with organizers postponing their planned January 31 ceremony indefinitely. According to a statement released by the Recording Academy and CBS, “The health and safety of those in our music community, the live audience, and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to produce our show remains our top priority.” The event has been tentatively rescheduled (thought without a new date) with updates to be provided as soon as possible. The Grammys had similar luck last year with their 2021 awards ceremony being postponed six weeks from its original air date. At that time, cases were rising, and a vaccine was not yet widely available. A lot has changed since then for the Grammys, including a last-minute November 2021 tweak to the nominations ballot. This year, organizers hoped to bring the ceremony back in full force, with the return of high-profile networking events and charity tributes. Fingers crossed, they still might! The awards are set to take place at the newly named Cypto.com Arena, with Trevor Noah returning as a host. Viewership of the awards fell by 53% percent last year, according to Nielsen. With these changes, hopefully a big 2022 will turn things around for the annual show.
Technology
Moving Movie Theaters: BMW To Innovate In-Car Entertainment
The future of cinema is located … in your car? BMW is paving the way for the next phase of car entertainment with the announcement of “My Mode Theatre,” which gives their new vehicles a 31-inch, 8K Smart TV for rear passengers. And with the addition of a surround sound system, the car manufacturer aims to bring the immersive theater environment inside the vehicle. Frank Weber, member of the board of management at BMW AG Development, said in an announcement, “In Theatre Mode, the rear of the interior is transformed into a private cinema lounge.” The vehicle will also have 5G capabilities, allowing for high-performance streaming and on-demand downloading. The new vehicle mode will also have features that change the car's display setting and lighting to set the mood as passengers binge-watch their favorite series from the comfort of the back seat. To advance sound design, BMW has partnered with award-winning film composer Hans Zimmer to create specific sounds for the vehicles. The new operating system, BMW i4, will be available in the first half of 2022, and BMW iX, will be ready in the second half of 2022—both as software updates.
Sports
Stadium Switch-Ups: Super Bowl Staying at SoFi … for Now
With the recent coronavirus surge forcing the cancellation of many events in Los Angeles, the NFL is standing strong with their February 12 Super Bowl date. Set to take place in LA’s new SoFi Stadium, this will be the first time the big game has returned to the City of Angeles since the Rose Bowl hosted the event in 1993. Just in case COVID-19 restriction in California tighten, the National Football League has confirmed the availability of AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas (home to the Cowboys) as a backup. Even with a contingency plan secured, spokespeople for the NFL are confident in their ability to keep the game in Los Angeles. According to Peter O’Reilly, Executive Vice President of Club Business and League Events for the NFL, “Every single game we’ve played this year in a full-capacity stadium has allowed us to hone our protocols and prepare not only for game day at SoFi — in what is considered an outdoor building with a roof — but also for Super Bowl week.” Having multiple locations set as backups is part of the NFL’s standard routine and practices, not an indication that they are planning a future move. Los Angeles is very eager to host this year’s event, hoping the Super Bowl will position the city as a role model, showing the world that it can host large events that are controlled and safe.
Television
CW You Later
The CW, broadcast network home to popular original programming like Riverdale and The Flash, is officially up for sale. Current corporate owners, ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia, have begun shopping the network around (which attracts younger audiences), though their intention to either sell the entire network or retain minority stakes remains unclear. Formed in 2006 as a joint venture between CBS and WarnerMedia, the CW has not been profitable, save for the revenue from streaming sales. Previously, the network had a deal with Netflix that helped broaden audiences and gain a following for some of their programs, but this ended in 2019. In addition, the loss of foreign revenue has also created worry amongst the studios. CW Network CEO Mark Pedowitz released a memo to staff confirming that the broadcaster was going to be sold, though he claimed that it is “too early to speculate what might happen.” Local TV giant Nexstar is a top suitor for the CW, but nothing has been confirmed.
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