Veteran TV exec, producer and entrepreneur Cris Abrego can add another line to his growing list of titles: Chairman of the Television Academy. Abrego was elected to the post on Thursday night by the org’s Board of Governors, as the TV Academy also firmed up its roster of officers and governors for the board’s 2024-2025 term.
Abrego is the chairman of the Americas at global production company Banijay, and also recently partnered with Eva Longoria to launch Hyphenate Media Group, where he serves as CEO. At the TV Academy, Abrego will begin his two-year term as chairman on Jan. 1.
“I am honored to step into this role and feel the significant weight of responsibility in leading the Television Academy into the future, especially in this transformative moment in our business,” Abrego said in a statement. “Our members represent one of the most powerful and exciting industries in the...
Abrego is the chairman of the Americas at global production company Banijay, and also recently partnered with Eva Longoria to launch Hyphenate Media Group, where he serves as CEO. At the TV Academy, Abrego will begin his two-year term as chairman on Jan. 1.
“I am honored to step into this role and feel the significant weight of responsibility in leading the Television Academy into the future, especially in this transformative moment in our business,” Abrego said in a statement. “Our members represent one of the most powerful and exciting industries in the...
- 11/17/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Mila Kunis, Debra Messing and other entertainment industry figures are among those who have sent an open letter to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, asking that the controversial book and documentary Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America be removed from their platforms.
The nonprofit organization Creative Community for Peace was behind the letter, claiming both Amazon and B&n allegedly “refused to remove the title and continue to profit from its bigotry.”
Kunis, Messing, Jeopardy! host Mayim Bialik and songwriter Diane Warren were among 200 signatories to the letter. It was addressed to “Jeff Bezos, James Daunt, and the leaders at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.”
The protest comes in the wake of NBA star Kyrie Irving promoting the film with a tweet, then refusing to give an adequate apology. He was then suspended by the Brooklyn Nets and was ordered by the Brooklyn Nets to meet with various groups to make things right.
The nonprofit organization Creative Community for Peace was behind the letter, claiming both Amazon and B&n allegedly “refused to remove the title and continue to profit from its bigotry.”
Kunis, Messing, Jeopardy! host Mayim Bialik and songwriter Diane Warren were among 200 signatories to the letter. It was addressed to “Jeff Bezos, James Daunt, and the leaders at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.”
The protest comes in the wake of NBA star Kyrie Irving promoting the film with a tweet, then refusing to give an adequate apology. He was then suspended by the Brooklyn Nets and was ordered by the Brooklyn Nets to meet with various groups to make things right.
- 11/11/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
With the percentage of Lgbtq series regulars reaching a record high in the current television season, GLAAD is now urging the TV industry to increase its Lgbtq representation to 20% by 2025. And according to the panelists discussing the result of the media advocacy group’s annual TV report at United Talent Agency on Thursday, increasing the amount of on-screen inclusion is a matter of creating more off-screen inclusion as well.
“I’ve been seeing a lot more nuance in storytelling,” said “9-1-1: Lone Star” actor Brian Michael Smith, who is trans, “especially around the trans and trans-masculine characters I’ve been able to see on TV. We’ve come a way since the tipping point… and I feel like a lot of that has to do with not having people write for queer characters, but having queer people write in the room.”
The panel, moderated by Deadline reporter Dino-Ray Ramos,...
“I’ve been seeing a lot more nuance in storytelling,” said “9-1-1: Lone Star” actor Brian Michael Smith, who is trans, “especially around the trans and trans-masculine characters I’ve been able to see on TV. We’ve come a way since the tipping point… and I feel like a lot of that has to do with not having people write for queer characters, but having queer people write in the room.”
The panel, moderated by Deadline reporter Dino-Ray Ramos,...
- 11/8/2019
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
GLAAD has released its “Where We Are On TV” report which breaks down the overall diversity of primetime scripted series regulars on broadcast networks and assesses the number of Lgbtq characters on cable networks and streaming platforms. This year, there is more good news than bad.
“Where We Are On TV” showed that the needle has moved to an all-time high when it comes to Lgbtq series regulars. There was also a significant increase in racial diversity of Lgbtq characters on broadcast and cable — but there was a decrease in streaming. On top of that, for the first time in the report’s 24-year history, Lgbtq regular and recurring women on broadcast outnumber Lgbtq men 53% to 47% — almost reaching gender parity.
The report was presented during a panel discussion at UTA Thursday morning with GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, UTA television agent Jacob Fenton, Sabrina Jalees (Carol’s Second Act...
“Where We Are On TV” showed that the needle has moved to an all-time high when it comes to Lgbtq series regulars. There was also a significant increase in racial diversity of Lgbtq characters on broadcast and cable — but there was a decrease in streaming. On top of that, for the first time in the report’s 24-year history, Lgbtq regular and recurring women on broadcast outnumber Lgbtq men 53% to 47% — almost reaching gender parity.
The report was presented during a panel discussion at UTA Thursday morning with GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, UTA television agent Jacob Fenton, Sabrina Jalees (Carol’s Second Act...
- 11/7/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The United Talent Agency has appointed six men and two women as new partners, the agency’s board of directors announced Friday.
Jacob Fenton, Ken Fermaglich, Susie Fox, Ben Jacobson, Ophir Lupu, John Sacks, Bec Smith and Mark Subias have been appointed from across UTA’s businesses, accounting for a 13 percent expansion of the company’s partnership. The agents come from the world of theatre, music, TV, movies, video games and more. Between them they have nearly 70 years of experience at the agency.
“These eight individuals from across our business have been a critical part of UTA’s growth over the past years,” the UTA Board of Directors said in a statement. “Their appointments reflect not just the longstanding contributions each has made, but their leadership, innovation and commitment to creating unique opportunities for our clients. We are proud to have them join our partnership.”
Also Read: Veteran Agent David Lubliner...
Jacob Fenton, Ken Fermaglich, Susie Fox, Ben Jacobson, Ophir Lupu, John Sacks, Bec Smith and Mark Subias have been appointed from across UTA’s businesses, accounting for a 13 percent expansion of the company’s partnership. The agents come from the world of theatre, music, TV, movies, video games and more. Between them they have nearly 70 years of experience at the agency.
“These eight individuals from across our business have been a critical part of UTA’s growth over the past years,” the UTA Board of Directors said in a statement. “Their appointments reflect not just the longstanding contributions each has made, but their leadership, innovation and commitment to creating unique opportunities for our clients. We are proud to have them join our partnership.”
Also Read: Veteran Agent David Lubliner...
- 1/25/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The UTA board of directors said Friday that the agency has promoted eight agents to partner, repping a 13% expansion of the group. The promotions come from across UTA’s businesses including theater, music, TV, movies and video games.
The new partners include two division heads — Video Games’ Ophir Lupu and Theatre’s Mark Subias — along with Jacob Fenton, Ken Fermaglich, Susie Fox, Ben Jacobson, John Sacks and Bec Smith.
“These eight individuals from across our business have been a critical part of UTA’s growth over the past years,” UTA said in a statement announcing the news. “Their appointments reflect not just the longstanding contributions each has made, but their leadership, innovation and commitment to creating unique opportunities for our clients. We are proud to have them join our partnership.”
More info her, per UTA:
Jacob Fenton, an 18-year UTA veteran who started in the mailroom in 2001 and rose through...
The new partners include two division heads — Video Games’ Ophir Lupu and Theatre’s Mark Subias — along with Jacob Fenton, Ken Fermaglich, Susie Fox, Ben Jacobson, John Sacks and Bec Smith.
“These eight individuals from across our business have been a critical part of UTA’s growth over the past years,” UTA said in a statement announcing the news. “Their appointments reflect not just the longstanding contributions each has made, but their leadership, innovation and commitment to creating unique opportunities for our clients. We are proud to have them join our partnership.”
More info her, per UTA:
Jacob Fenton, an 18-year UTA veteran who started in the mailroom in 2001 and rose through...
- 1/25/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
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