Wiip CEO Paul Lee on How Streaming Deals are Evolving and Why the Industry Needs a Better ‘Mechanism’ to Pay Creatives

From Paul Lee's perspective, the streaming boom that led Hollywood to binge on original content has evolved significantly during his half-dozen years as CEO of production company Wiip.

Over the past year, the industry has been through "a moment where the streaming revolution went from a land grab to 'This land needs to be fertile,' " Lee says on the latest episode of Variety podcast "Strictly Business."

Lee spent a dozen years at Disney, rising to become head of ABC Family and later head of ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios. He's mostly kept a low profile since launching Wiip in partnership with CAA in 2016.

In its short life, Wiip has scored with such series as HBO's "Mare of Easttown" and "The White House Plumbers," Amazon Prime Video's "The Summer I Turned Pretty," Apple TV+'s "Dickinson," FX's "Pistol" and more to come. In June 2021, South Korea's JTBC Studios acquired a majority stake in Wiip after CAA was forced to divest its stake in the company as part of its settlement of the packaging fee battle with the Writers Guild of America.

Lee's background at one of the biggest media companies gave him insights on how to build a better content boutique for the needs of the post-land grab market. Production entities like Wiip are a vital part of the creative economy and important for keeping ideas and talent flowing. Otherwise, giant vertically integrated companies will ossify, Lee observes.

"I've watched this again and again. The best solution for any platform, be it the old broadcast platforms or the new streaming platforms is to have a mixed economy. And by that I mean, we would would never have got to 'Blackish' if we hadn't had 'Modern Family' that have come out of 20th Television," Lee says. "What happens if you just buy from your own walled garden is that you, the ideas start to stagnate."

Wiip brings to the market resources and savvy from Lee and the team of producers he's assembled at the Los Angeles-based company. "What we knew was, particularly since since there are many, many buyers that at any given moment would be looking to see great ideas coming in from the outside," he says. "And so if what we did was create terrific scripts, terrific projects, terrific ideas, and brought in the best talent, we would still never be the No. 1 favorite studio of a given streamer. But we could pitch to be their No. 2 or No. 3 favorite studio. And that's a great position to be."

Wiip has done most of its work for streaming platforms, though its most high-wattage production to date has been HBO's Emmy-winning limited series "Mare of Easttown." He's seen first-hand the challenges posed for creative talent with the new models of production. Wiip's Sunset Boulevard offices are just a few blocks west of Netflix, where striking writers have had a big picket presence since the Writers Guild of America strike began May 2.

Lee sees urgency for the industry to reach a fair deal for labor and management to preserve the creative economy that has created great entertainment and great profits over the past century.

"The most important thing is that streamers and talent and studios sit down and figure out a mechanism whereby we can share in the success that we all build together," Lee says. "That's how Hollywood has been so strong for the last 70 years. And if we could do that in a way that all parties will benefit, then it will bring a huge amount of storytelling strength for the next few decades to come."

"Strictly Business" is Variety's weekly podcast featuring conversations with industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. New episodes debut every Wednesday and can be downloaded on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Play, Stitcher, SoundCloud and more. Go to Variety.com to sign up for the free weekly "Strictly Business" newsletter to receive the podcast each week along with curated business and financial news and analysis.

Why stars like Tyson Fury, Canelo Alvarez need to stop wasting time with potential crossover celebrity fights

© Provided by CBS Sports

It was late 2016 when retired boxing pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather first uttered the seemingly preposterous statement that he had become the biggest name in all of MMA.

To Mayweather's credit, there was so much buzz and hype surrounding the idea of him coming out of retirement to box defending UFC champion Conor McGregor, in a 2017 megafight that would go on to break numerous financial records and become a pop culture event, that the statement could be categorized as partially true. 

Each time Mayweather spoke McGregor's name, whether in a positive or negative light, it became front-page news across both combat sports. 

The problem is, that was seven years ago, long before the current crossover trend of circus boxing events became played out. And, yes, even though there still exists in 2023 a decently viable market for YouTube influencer boxing, one-off attraction fights like August's Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz pay-per-view, or even former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou's hunt for a legitimate boxing challenge against an active heavyweight with a name, fans aren't necessarily clamoring for such events to actually take place.

White whales like Mayweather-McGregor worked because of timing and the unique star factor at play. It also presented the allure of a potentially competitive fight given that Mayweather was 40 and two years removed from active competition when he took on a prime McGregor. 

Can't get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news.

If the fight launched the possibility of a bubble for freak fights, meant to serve as garnish for the real blockbuster boxing events that have become increasingly harder to make in the modern era, it has only lasted because of the pandemic and the marketing skills of entertainers like Jake and Logan Paul, and their rival-turned-business partner KSI. There were also big-time financial investors like Triller, who came and went, and even grim attraction offerings like Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. coming out of retirement in 2020 to take a competitive victory lap in a safe-ish exhibition. 

Those days appear to be over, however, at least from the standpoint of attracting legitimate fights fans to care or even publicly campaign for more. Somehow, that hasn't stopped current active boxing stars from allowing their names to become embroiled in endless chatter for fights that will never take place nor have any business doing so.

It's a sad, wasteful reminder of this era of combat sports journalism, where throwaway comments on social media continue to dominate the lazily aggregated headlines in ways in which Mayweather once did strategically but has now become the default norm in an echo chamber of superficial nonsense. 

Freak fights have always had a place in combat sports, dating back to seminal events like the peculiar Muhammad Ali-Antonio Inoki exhibition in 1976, which may or may not have served as a blueprint for the launch of mixed martial arts nearly 20 years later. Ali, like many heavyweight champions before him, was no stranger to such events, whether it be against pro wrestlers or ex-NFL stars, yet they all came at a time when it appeared Ali was in the twilight -- both commercially and competitively -- of his great career in his late 30s.    

So it came with much groaning this week when Canelo Alvarez, still boxing's undisputed super middleweight king who, at 32, is not far removed from also being the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter, saw himself embroiled in a public war of words for a boxing match against McGregor, which wouldn't be nearly as competitive as his Mayweather fight and isn't even possible given his current UFC contract status. 

To Alvarez's credit, he largely dismissed the callout -- just like he did when former UFC champion Kamaru Usman tried the same thing in recent years -- by saying he would defeat McGregor with one hand. But the same, unfortunately, can't be said for unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. 

Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs), still the biggest single star in the sport, simply has too many legitimate big-fight options within boxing to need to entertain any kind of superficial event that no one is actually asking for. Tasked with the hefty decision of who to return against in September, Alvarez must decide whether to seek an ambitious rematch of his 2022 loss to light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol or to defend within his own weight class, where rising stars like David Benavidez reside within the potential of a can't-miss fight. 

Fury, 34, has spent much of 2023 spinning his wheels despite the fact that nothing appeared to stand in his way of making an undisputed title fight against fellow unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk, who owns three of four recognized titles and is fresh off a pair of high-profile wins over Anthony Joshua. Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs), who took an unnecessary stay-busy last December in a trilogy win over a faded Derek Chisora, publicly blamed Usyk for ducking him despite it being clear to educated fans that it simply wasn't true. 

Now, with Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) headed toward an upcoming mandatory title defense against Daniel Dubois, Fury suddenly appears to want back in on the superfight, if his recent social media videos are any indication. He also appears to be interested in a fight with Joshua, just the same. On any given day, that focus can also shift towards retirement, or at least the threat of, or revisiting talks with Ngannou, who Fury brought into the ring with him for a faceoff after knocking out Dillian Whyte last year, although the matchup never came to fruition.

The most distressing part of Fury's flip-flopping public persona, however, is his recent threat of wasting headline space by clapping back to statements previously made by UFC commentator Joe Rogan and playing up the idea of an MMA fight against Jon Jones, which is a notion just as disingenuous as the ones Mayweather once made in 2016 about fighting McGregor in an Octagon, which was never part of his plans and only employed to churn headlines. 

Fury continued the tired act days later by stating an MMA fight is out of the question but that he would be more than happy to box Jones, despite there being nothing real at all about the idea. 

The fear, in this case, is that the typically game Fury is using the public's perceived appetite for such preposterous matchmaking to take attention off of the fact that he's either delaying or outright ducking the defining fight of his incredible pro career. Should Fury want to channel Ali and close his career with nothing but spectacle fights, not dissimilar to his own 2019 boondoggle with WWE (despite how cringe his performance actually was), more power to him. But there's too much history at stake right now to avoid the rare opportunity for boxing to have one name and one face atop its glamor division within an era so rife with splintered titles and paper champions. 

Fury's public persona has bordered upon becoming constant fake news of late yet it works against his claims of not only being the best heavyweight of this renaissance era but also the opportunity to one day make a claim at being highly ranked among the top fighters in the division's decorated history. 

With his 6-foot-9 frame and the speed and footwork of a middleweight, Fury is already a nightmare for any great heavyweight when it comes to the idea of mythical matchmaking given how unique his physical attributes are. But you simply can't make a claim to being one of the best in history if you haven't first cleaned out the era in which you compete in.

Fury's true legacy has long been hurt by the many years he has either been removed from active competition or the soft matchmaking in between big fights he has employed to stay busy. Yet, the fact that he is such a physical puzzle and that he can fight any style, including mauling and brawling like he did in his exciting 2021 trilogy win over Deontay Wilder, means Fury would be favored to beat anyone in his era, including Usyk. 

If Fury is just delaying in the inevitable Usyk fight while hoping to first bank the can't-miss payday of an all-England showdown with Joshua, it's understandable. But his disingenuous ways of communicating continue to scream he might not be interested in the fight at all, especially when he wastes our time building up crossover fights that no one wants, needs or is even talking about. 

Mayweather once set a blueprint on how to manipulate both the media and an entire fanbase of a new sport to get the attention he desires and eventually land the type of "remember where you were" event like the one he had with McGregor in 2017. But all these years later, it's a tired act to try and recreate.

Fury, like Alvarez, simply has too much invested into his own career and active prime, to waste our time by doing anything but attempting to maximize his potential greatness inside the ring with fights that fans want to see and history demands. 

Freak fights will come and go, just as history has taught us. But Fury's time is now at the tail end of his physical prime, where his dragging his feet on a fight against Usyk screams he's either waiting for the 36-year-old to get older or he's hoping the constant use of smoke and mirrors might dissuade boxing's fan base from being interested in seeing the fight. 

The thing is, you can't gorge on dessert until you've finished the full meal set before you. It's time to stop entertaining the allure of vanity and fluff in favor of finalizing a legacy that will stand the test of time. 

8 Celebrity Style Lessons From Cannes To Adopt This Summer

The Cannes Film Festival, aka those two weeks in May where the world's starlets descend upon the South of France for dozens of opulent movie premieres and glamorous yacht parties, just wrapped. The red carpet fashion is always fun to watch, and because the city of Cannes is swarming with celebrities for the duration of the festival, even a star's casual daytime ensemble can be swoon-worthy.

From daytime photo call outfits to airport looks (and yes, a few moments from la Croisette as well) let these 8 celebrity outfits inspire your summertime dressing.

1. Rosettes are still in—and making their way to footwear.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18: Elle Fanning is seen at Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes film festival ... [+] on May 18, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images)

GC Images

Elle Fanning stepped out for a sweet daytime look wearing a white lace dress and elegant sandals featuring rosette embellishments. The rosette is already one of the biggest trends of the moment, with people wearing oversized floral details as chokers and on dresses, so why not opt for a rosette on a shoe, too?

2. Head-to-toe monochrome always looks chic.

American actress Natalie Portman at Cannes Film Festival 2023. Photocall of the film May December. ... [+] Cannes (France), May 22nd, 2023 (Photo by Rocco Spaziani/Archivio Spaziani/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

Natalie Portman reminded us that when in doubt, dress head-to-toe in one color for a look that is sleek and put-together. Even her toenails match the crimson she wore to promote her new film, May December.

3. Find Your Summer Style Uniform.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 18: Laura Harrier is seen at Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes film ... [+] festival on May 18, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images)

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Laura Harrier wowed throughout the Cannes Film Festival with looks such as the one above, and she appeared elegant no matter the occasion. Her secret? Harrier opted to wear black and white outfits during the festival, keeping her vacation look streamlined and cohesive. Try this if you are planning a summer getaway soon! A capsule wardrobe of limited colors will help you avoid overpacking.

4. Early 2000s accessories are a fun way to switch things up.

NICE, FRANCE - MAY 17: Lena Mahfouf is seen at Nice Airport during the 76th Cannes film festival on ... [+] May 17, 2023 in Nice, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)

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Y2K influences have been popping up here and there in recent years, but lately it has become more literal. French influencer and author Lena Mahfouf arrived at the Nice Airport sporting both a gold Chanel logo chain belt and Murakami bag from Louis Vuitton. She also styled the outfit with low-rise jeans and a shrunken T-shirt, two additional early aughts favorites, but dressed things up with a blazer and slicked-back hairdo. A Y2K fashion moment is all about balancing the playful logomania with modern touches, so don't be afraid to play with "vintage" pieces this summer.

5. All-black outfits can work for summer. It's true!

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 17: Uma Thurman is seen during the 76th Cannes film festival at Hotel Martinez ... [+] on May 17, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images)

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Uma Thurman proved that just because it's summer it does not mean you have to forego all your black clothes until the end of the season. The secret is of course selecting black clothing in summer-appropriate silhouettes, like a flowing midi dress and classic sandals. Thurman also went for interesting textures that broke up the different elements of her outfit.

6. Hair bows are the way to accessorize your hair this summer.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Jennie Ruby Jane attends "The Idol" photocall at the 76th annual Cannes ... [+] film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Corbis via Getty Images

Blackpink singer Jennie showed off one of the biggest hair trends of summer at the premiere for The Idol. Hair bows are an adorable way to accent braids, a ponytail, or half-up style this summer. Go bold and wear an oversize style, and select one that matches the colors of your outfit for a coordinated look.

7. A button-up shirt is still the best summer layer.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 22: Sydney Sweeney is seen at Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes film ... [+] festival on May 22, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images)

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Sydney Sweeney knows that when it is too hot for a sweater but too cold to wear a bra top on its own, reach for your favorite slightly oversized button-up shirt for chic summer layering.

8. It's okay to let your bra show. It's summer!

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Scarlett Johansson attends the "Asteroid City" red carpet during the 76th ... [+] annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic)

FilmMagic

For anyone who gets nervous about a bra showing through your top, stop the worrying and embrace it like Scarlett Johannson did! Summer is the time to stop fretting about that perfectly-poised outfit, anyway. Besides, if you are wearing a cute bralette, it can make a fun accent to even the simplest of outfits.

Here’s Why All Of Hollywood Feared Louella Parsons

By Brendan Da Costa of Factinate Media Group | < PREVIOUS SLIDE SLIDE 1 of 52 NEXT SLIDE >

Born in the small town of Freeport, Illinois in 1881, Louella Parsons seemed like the least likely person to become a Hollywood reporter. In fact, when she was growing up, there was no such thing as a Hollywood reporter. But, even back then, in her small town, little Louella had an appetite for gossip. And a knack for learning secrets.

© Factinate Media Group

Raising Our Voices: Hollywood’s 50 Forces for Change

Profiles by Seth Abramovitch, Gary Baum, Evan Nicole Brown, Tyler Coates, Kirsten Chuba, Aaron Couch, Scott Feinberg, Mesfin Fekadu, Mia Galuppo, James Hibberd, Rebecca Keegan, Sydney Odman, Rick Porter, Lacey Rose, Julian Sancton, Rebecca Sun and Beatrice Verhoeven

Cris Abrego & Karla Pita Loor Cris Abrego and Karla Pita Loor Banijay Americas (2)

BANIJAY AMERICAS

Abrego is one of the top-ranking Latino execs in English-language media, and Pita Loor is the board chair of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, a major conduit for industry players who are invested in improving inclusion. Under their leadership, Banijay Americas has stepped up initiatives to help people from historically excluded backgrounds break into entertainment. "This work has both financial and cultural bottom lines, and those are not only equally important but also inextricably connected," says Abrego of the content business. "Success requires attention to both."

I'm excited about …

ABREGO "Mindy Kaling is just laugh-out-loud funny and totally unapologetic in her commitment to centering underrepresented people in broad stories."

PITA LOOR "Dr. Ana-Christina Ramon and Dr. Darnell Hunt, co-authors of the UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report. They've tied onscreen representation to market performance and demonstrated that inclusion drives ratings and the box office."

Riz Ahmed Riz Ahmed ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images

ACTOR-PRODUCER

Known for his lauded onscreen roles in The Night Of and Sound of Metal, Ahmed is also telling diverse stories through his banner Left Handed Films (The Long Goodbye), which has a first-look TV deal with Amazon Studios. He executive-produced transgender love story Joyland, the first Pakistani film to play at Cannes and be shortlisted for the best international feature Oscar. Ahmed also teamed with USC's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative for two studies on the prevalence and portrayal of Muslim characters onscreen, revealing just how sparse those portrayals have been.

A force for change in my career: "Idris Elba. He told me once to go to the USA and to not let people categorize me. I listened to him."

Stephanie Allain Stephanie Allain Film Independent

PGA PRESIDENT

Before becoming co-president of the Producers Guild of America — and the first woman of color to lead the organization — Allain helped launch the trajectories of John Singleton, Darnell Martin and Robert Rodriguez as a creative exec in the '90s. She also broke new ground implementing diversity metrics as the L.A. Film Festival director in the 2010s and has supported emerging voices as a producer (Hustle & Flow, Dear White People).

Companies that want real change should … "Make sure the gatekeepers in every department are a diverse group of individuals with authority."

Byron Allen Byron Allen Michael Bezjian/Getty Images

MEDIA MOGUL

The Allen Media Group chairman — who owns The Weather Channel, TheGrio and dozens of local TV stations across the country — has called out racial inequality in the business sphere his entire career, battling Comcast all the way to the Supreme Court in his pursuit of social justice. "Black America owns nothing and has very little," Allen, 62, tells THR. "We must close the education gap and achieve real economic inclusion through substantial Black ownership throughout the entire global financial ecosystem."

Companies that want real change should … "Stop the systemic racism and start real economic inclusion for Black America."

The worst microaggression I've experienced or witnessed in the industry: "Unfortunately, the industry does not have a shortage of racism and sexism. There are too many examples to list."

Jairo Alvarado Jairo Alvarado John Sciulli/Getty Images

MANAGER

Alvarado co-founded lit management and production company Redefine Entertainment to support talent from underrepresented groups. His client list includes Lulu Wang, Blue Beetle director Angel Manuel Soto and writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. "What if having empathy for one another became the DNA of our business?" asks Alvarado, who serves on the board of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers. "Businesses can inspire ways to speak to all consumers. That in itself would lead to the inclusion of many more voices."

A force for change in my career: "Kevin McCormick at Warner Bros. If he hadn't opened that door for me, I may have found myself in a different part of the business — or out of it entirely."

The worst microaggression I've experienced or witnessed in the industry: "I was at a crossroads in my career and someone said to me, 'I don't know what your [client] list is, but you're Latino, so you'll be fine.' "

Bela Bejaria Bela Bajaria Taylor Hill/WireImage

NETFLIX

Bajaria's rise continues at Netflix, where she's now chief content officer and responsible for both film and TV output to the streamer's 232.5 million subscribers. Of late, the veteran exec is responsible for a growing stable of inclusive hits, from Korean juggernaut Squid Game to Shonda Rhimes' Bridgerton prequel Queen Charlotte. Bajaria likes to say that Netflix doesn't make global shows, but rather local shows that resonate globally. "So people actually see themselves," she's said, "and see cultures and people they don't know about."

Greg Berlanti Greg Berlanti Charley Gallay/Getty Images

WRITER-PRODUCER

With recent feature film adaptations like My Policeman and Love, Simon, veteran TV producer Berlanti is working to give queer stories a platform on the big screen. But if the industry is looking to make real change, Berlanti says, it has to come from the top: "Companies should start looking at their executive suite to ensure those voices are as diverse as the stories they tell and the world in which we live."

I'm excited by … "[All American EP] Nkechi Okoro Carroll, who I believe represents and demonstrates the best of what real change is in this business."

Eryn Brown Eryn Brown Courtesy of Subject

MANAGER

With disability representation often overlooked in inclusion conversations, Brown says, executives need to understand "the systemic issues that have prevented opportunity and then [put] the time and effort into creating access for those who are not in the room." The 360 Entertainment manager co-founded the 1IN4 Coalition, which aims to create institutional change not only when it comes to accessible work environments and hiring, but also to ensure that disabled, neurodiverse and deaf people are authentically represented onscreen.

Companies that want real change should … "Give more women greenlight power."

The worst microaggression I've experienced or witnessed in the industry: "Every inaccessible stage."

Nicole Brown Nicole Brown Danielle Spires

TRISTAR

The first Black woman to run a film label at a major film studio, Brown was the impassioned force behind getting Viola Davis and Gina Prince-Bythewood's The Woman King and the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody made, as well as landing 2020's Happiest Season — a first for LGBTQ+ representation. Being a force for change means "being fearless and unapologetic to push the limits of what our business is capable of," says Brown.

A force for change in my career: "John Singleton, whom I met during his making of Boyz N the Hood. We spent a lot of time discussing the power of transformational storytelling and making sure 'we' were in the room. Miss him."

Quinta Brunson Quinta Brunson Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

WRITER-PRODUCER-ACTOR

Not content with just being the creator and star of what is, perhaps, the only cool show on broadcast TV, the Emmy-winning writer and SAG Award-winning star of Abbott Elementary has leveraged her show's atypical success for good since day one — donating much of the marketing budget for her grammar-school-set sitcom to pay for school supplies and using her recent Saturday Night Live monologue to advocate for educator salaries.

A force for change in my career: "Erin Wehrenberg [senior vp comedy, ABC], who understood my potential."

Kathryn Busby Kathryn Busby Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images

STARZ

For Busby, whose roster includes P-Valley, Run the World and Black Mafia Family, pushing for equity and inclusion in Hollywood means "making sure I use my voice and my platform to do good in the world." Before taking the reins at the cable network, she worked with The Black List creator Franklin Leonard on a plan to identify diverse new talent for blind script deals and staffing at Sony, and served on the BAFTA Steering Group to ensure diversity in the award nominations.

Fave inclusive project (that I didn't work on): "Swarm, with Beef as a close second."

Gloria Calderón Kellett Gloria Calderon Kellett Robin L Marshall/Getty Images

WRITER-PRODUCER

An actress, director and writer, Calderón Kellett is perhaps best known for her work as a showrunner. Under a deal with Amazon, she's delivered projects fronted by women and members of the Latino/a/x/e community (see: With Love and forthcoming The Horror of Dolores Roach) and assisted the streamer in developing its Inclusion Playbook minimums (more on this below). A member of the Television Academy's executive committee, the Cuban American has also lent her advocacy to groups like Untitled Latinx Project, The Creative Coalition and the environmentally minded Scriptation.

RuPaul Charles RuPaul Charles Sykes/Bravo/Getty Images

ACTOR-PRODUCER

The 12-time Emmy-winning creator and host of RuPaul's Drag Race has done more for queer representation on TV than just about anyone. But RuPaul, who populates his series with diverse personalities within the LGBTQ+ community, engages in just as much activism off-camera. Alongside producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, RuPaul recently drove $1.4 million in donations to the ACLU's Drag Defense Fund — supporting a community under fire by anti-drag legislation in states like Tennessee and Texas.

Albert Cheng Albert Cheng Kevin Winter/Getty Images

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO U.S.

Two years ago, Amazon Studios made it clear to Hollywood that the company was going to be a major diversity leader by announcing a detailed "playbook" that set inclusion minimums for both behind and in front of the camera (such as mandating that 30 percent of creative teams come from an underrepresented group — a benchmark set to rise to 50 percent next year). To Cheng, it seemed like a direct evolution for an executive who was first captivated by the possibilities of TV when he saw the groundbreaking miniseries Roots as a kid. "It goes beyond advocacy," he says. "It's about being intentional — setting goals for inclusion and holding ourselves accountable."

Hollywood's state of inclusion is … "Fragile, as economic pressure in our business can leave equity and inclusion on the cutting-room floor."

Ryan Coogler Ryan Coogler Arnold Turner/Getty Images

DIRECTOR-PRODUCER

Long celebrated for his nuanced and abundant inclusion of Black actors in his own films (Fruitvale Station, Creed and the $2 billion-grossing Black Panther franchise), Coogler has also championed fellow creatives of color behind the scenes — as he did producing newcomer Shaka King's Judas and the Black Messiah. His multimedia production company, Proximity Media, now lobbies for inclusive work in feature films, television, soundtracks and podcasts.

Viola Davis & Julius Tennon Viola Davis and Julius Tennon Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images (2)

PRODUCERS

The married couple's JuVee Productions helped catapult Gina Prince-Bythewood's The Woman King (a Davis vehicle) to a No. 1 box office seat and multiple accolades the same year it delivered Showtime's The First Lady. It's all part of a decade-long initiative to put more diversity in media, something the duo says it would like to see better extended to Indigenous and disabled communities.

Hollywood's state of inclusion is …

BOTH "Inconsistent and noncommittal. It ebbs and flows. It lacks a progressive spirit because as much as people want a change they do not want to change."

Brian Dobbins Brian Dobbins Frazer Harrison/WireImage

MANAGER

The Artists First co-president and manager of clients such as Anthony Anderson, Niecy Nash-Betts and Jon M. Chu has been making it his mission to welcome and mentor unique, diverse talent in Hollywood — because when he started out, he felt like he was in a business that wasn't set up for him. Despite not feeling represented in the agency world, he stuck with it and is using his decades of experience to guide new inclusive talent.

I'm excited about … "[Race car driver] Lewis Hamilton. He's courageous and outspoken in a sport where he's told not to be."

Tara Duncan Tara Duncan Arnold Turner/Getty Images

ONYX COLLECTIVE

The veteran programmer is now both the face of and brains behind Onyx Collective, a Disney-owned premium content brand that's expressly focused on curating content by creators of color. On Duncan's watch, Onyx's output has included Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul, the docuseries The Hair Tales, The 1619 Project and Kerry Washington's dramedy UnPrisoned. And viewers should expect plenty more as Duncan has successfully lured a who's who of talent to her roster, including Prentice Penny, Yara Shahidi, Natasha Rothwell and Ryan Coogler.

Fave inclusive project (that I didn't work on): Reservation Dogs

Channing Dungey & Pearlena Igbokwe Channing Dungey and Pearlena Igbokwe Jerod Harris/Getty Images; Maarten de Boer/NBCUniversal

STUDIO EXECS

Dungey has had to get comfortable with strangers coming up to tell her that they've followed her career, which has been marked by a series of firsts. Indeed, she was the first Black person to run a U.S. broadcast network (ABC), and now she's the first Black and female head of Warner Bros. TV group, where she's filling out an already diverse talent pool that includes Quinta Brunson, Mindy Kaling, Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Janine Sherman Barrois. Meanwhile at Universal, Igbokwe is championing creators "telling nuanced stories with diverse characters and universal themes" through series like Harlem (gender identity) and As We See It (neurodiversity). She also lauds the NBCU Launch programs, which cultivate inclusive talent above and below the line.

Fave inclusive project (that I didn't work on):

DUNGEY Everything Everywhere All at Once

IGBOKWE The Woman King

Which trope needs to die?

DUNGEY "I woke up like this."

Ava DuVernay Ava DuVernay Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

DIRECTOR-PRODUCER

The filmmaker has walked the walk in bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront both in her choice of subject matter — in Netflix's 13th and When They See Us and the feature film The White Tiger, which her Array Filmworks produced — and in the people she hires. DuVernay committed to having only women directors on the OWN drama Queen Sugar, and by the time the series ended, more than 40 had stepped behind the camera. Now DuVernay wants to see "the true, unsanitized experiences of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated citizens and the people who love them" brought to screens.

A force for change in my career: "Early in my career change from publicist to filmmaker, Robin Swicord extended kindness to me after we met during a Film Independent panel. Her encouragement of my work as a writer and director bolstered my confidence."

Sterlin Harjo Sterlin Harjo Michael Kovac/Getty Images

WRITER-PRODUCER

The Harjo-created Reservation Dogs, which shoots in Oklahoma, has been a watershed moment for representation — employing an entirely Indigenous writers room and an overwhelmingly Indigenous cast. But with that rare representation comes pressure, and Harjo is using the FX series to capture as many experiences as possible. "I'm never going to be able to represent everybody in a way that is satisfying," he told THR last year. "It's a growing, ongoing, organic process."

Matthew Johnson & Tara Kole Matthew Johnson and Tara Kole Eric Williams (2)

TALENT LAWYERS

When Johnson, Kole and their partners launched JSSK, inclusivity was baked into its DNA. The Hollywood talent firm has two full-time staff members dedicated to philanthropic and civic engagement, more than half of its employees are people of color and 60 percent are female. Kole says that "creates a stronger and more creative work environment that consistently delivers better results" for clients."It goes beyond just having someone who has a shared experience," adds Johnson. "There is value in having people with different perspectives come to the table and talk about an approach to a problem."

I'm excited about …

BOTH "Theresa Kang, Phil Sun and Tara Duncan."

Michael B. Jordan Michael B. Jordan Jun Sato/WireImage

ACTOR-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER

In his transition from marquee leading man to filmmaker, Jordan is showing his commitment to all kinds of storytelling. His directorial debut, Creed III, in which he also starred, was celebrated for its treatment of the character played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent. The film, which has grossed nearly $275 million worldwide, could have gotten a pass for just being an action flick but deftly deployed American Sign Language and subtitles to increase accessibility.

A force for change in my career: "Ryan Coogler. In our first meeting about Fruitvale Station he said, 'I wrote this for you. I know you're a star. Let's go show the world.' "

Theresa Kang Theresa Kang Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

PRODUCER-MANAGER

The former WME partner became the first Asian American to transition from the agency world to launch a management and production company with an overall deal at Apple back in 2020. Since then, Kang has been focused on building out a curated slate of projects — including recent Peabody Award-winning series Pachinko — that reflect the global culture with a "mission to move what is considered 'foreign' into the familiar and connected." Kang's diverse client roster includes Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, Emmy winner Lena Waithe and best-selling author Gillian Flynn.

Fave inclusive project (that I didn't work on): "Beef, and I can't wait to see Killers of the Flower Moon."

Charles D. King & Phillip Sun Charles D. King and Phillip Sun Phillip Faraone/Getty Images; Courtesy of Subject

PRODUCER; MANAGER

King's Macro, behind such features as the Oscar-winning Judas and the Black Messiah and the upcoming John Boyega Netflix feature They Cloned Tyrone, raised $90 million in March to broaden its media ambitions for historically underrepresented talent. Macro is actively trying to populate Hollywood with new blood — the company oversees a microfestival at Howard University to show students pathways to entertainment careers — and elevate those already in the industry via a representation partnership with Sun's M88. King's fellow WME alum launched his Macro-backed firm in 2020 with a mission to amplify the voices of artists from diverse backgrounds. Its clients include Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler.

Companies that want real change should …

KING "Align their jobs and compensation with data-supported systemic change within their entire organization."

Hollywood's state of inclusion is …

SUN "Still has a long way to go."

Spike Lee Spike Lee Noam Galai/Getty Images

WRITER-DIRECTOR

A pioneer for industry DE&I before it was a real notion, Lee continues to put in the work. His Spike Fellows Program, a partnership with the Gersh Agency, launched in January of this year and is committed to helping students at HBCUs Morehouse (Lee's alma mater), Spelman and Clark Atlanta University navigate careers in the arts. The multiyear commitment to five graduates includes student loan debt relief, industry mentorship, postgraduate internships and full-time employment at Gersh.

Franklin Leonard Franklin Leonard Amy Sussman/Getty Images

THE BLACK LIST

Leonard has spent decades reading and critiquing screenplays for his influential site, The Black List, which heralds the best unproduced projects in Hollywood, boosting titles like Argo and Spotlight that have gone on to earn a cumulative 200 Oscar nominations. As for the industry's diversity efforts, he says, "I actually reject the notion of going above and beyond to push for equity and inclusion. That is, quite literally, the job, if you're doing it right."

Hollywood's state of inclusion is … "Laughably similar to immediately before every company posted Black tiles on Instagram and made performative promises to make change."

Dan Lin Dan Lin Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

PRODUCER

Last year, the Taiwan-born CEO and producer behind blockbuster hits like Warner Bros.' Robert Downey Jr.-starring Sherlock Holmes series and the Lego Movie franchise launched Rideback Rise alongside head of content Tracey Bing and executive director Sabrina Pourmand. The nonprofit BIPOC content accelerator aims to advance racial equity. Lin notes that industry inclusivity remains "in flux," while still making "incremental progress" toward greater representation with support from major studios and networks.

We need more stories about … "Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders."

Which trope needs to die? "Asian men as nerds. Guys like Jo Koy, Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng and Hasan Minhaj are showing the funny side of Asian males, and Steven Yeun, Simu Liu and Daniel Dae Kim are showing that we can be action stars, too!"

Eva Longoria Eva Longoria Karwai Tang/WireImage

ACTOR-PRODUCER-DIRECTOR

"Somebody has to build this pipeline so we can tap into a different well of talent," says Longoria, who has stepped into that role for the Latinx community. For her directorial debut, Flamin' Hot, which tells the real-life story of the Frito-Lay janitor who takes credit for the titular spicy Cheetos, Longoria prioritized hiring people from the Mexican community. And onscreen, "everything from the Tapatío and the salsa verde on the table to how we tie the bandannas on the cholos, it has to be authentic. We can't be caricatures of ourselves."

I'm excited about … "Gloria Calderón Kellett. She is a beast. She's creating the world she wants to see. She's not only leaning in, but she's reaching back to bring others along with her."

Alana Mayo Alana Mayo Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

ORION PICTURES

Under the relaunched Orion Pictures, Mayo's mandate as president has been to produce inclusive films from diverse voices. Even after the MGM acquisition, Orion has maintained that directive, producing a varied slate that includes Chinonye Chukwu's Till, about the life and justice work of Mamie Till-Mobley (whose 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, was lynched in 1955 in Mississippi), and Bottoms, the off-the wall LGBTQ+ high school comedy from the Shiva Baby team.

Glen Mazzara Glen Mazzara Victor Chavez/WireImage

WRITER-PRODUCER

Well before the push to diversify writers rooms became a priority for Hollywood, it was a priority for Glen Mazzara. For nearly 20 years, the veteran showrunner (The Walking Dead) has worked as hard on breaking barriers as he did on breaking story. Mazzara, who co-chairs the WGA's equity and inclusion group with Shonda Rhimes, says, "When we first started having this conversation, people would actually say, 'Why are you as a white guy talking about this? It's not your problem.' And it's everyone's problem."

Companies that want real change should … "Stop saying, 'Let's just get through this. We'll deal with it next time.' "

Which trope needs to die? "It's hard to be a white guy these days."

Ryan Murphy Ryan Murphy Noam Galai/Getty Images

WRITER-PRODUCER

Murphy's TV universe, which includes hit franchises like Feud, Monster and American Crime Story, has long featured marginalized stories previously lost to history. He's often said that he's drawn to the margins, and has made a career of making minorities the leads rather than the sidekicks. In fact, everyone from Black gay actor Billy Porter to trans star Michaela Jaé Rodriguez has credited the "gay kid from Indiana" turned prolific producer with changing their personal and professional trajectories.

Jonathan Murray Jonathan Murray Greg Doherty/Getty Images

BUNIM MURRAY PRODUCTIONS

Working with the Television Academy Foundation and disability rights organization RespectAbility, Murray has been a longtime patron and advocate for disabled creatives and stories centered on disabilities. The Born This Way producer recalls the impact of watching PBS docuseries An American Family, which featured the first out person in an unscripted TV series (Lance Loud). Murray says, "It would be life-changing for the disability community and the larger community to see characters on TV with disabilities that don't define them but are just part of their larger experience."

Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos Jerod Harris/Getty Images

ACTOR-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER

The award-winning actor and director founded the Latino Film Institute, which runs the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and works to give Latino filmmakers and animators a gateway to the industry. Olmos, who has lent gravitas to roles ranging from Battlestar Galactica to FX's Mayans MC, says his push for equity and inclusion in Hollywood "means building the infrastructure for the Latino community in the entertainment industry, while remaining focused on excellence."

We need more stories about … "The Latino Medal of Honor recipients. I've spent nearly 30 years trying to tell the story of the first Mexican American Medal of Honor winner, but for some reason I can't get any studio interested."

The worst microaggression I've experienced or witnessed in the industry: "It had to do with a co-star not being able to accept that I had complete creative control of my character. The thought that someone like me would [have that] really upset them."

Jordan Peele Jordan Peele Kevin Winter/Getty Images

DIRECTOR-WRITER-PRODUCER

An auteur adept at taking on social issues in his storytelling, Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions are equally impactful offscreen: Through a partnership with Universal, Nope became the first film to participate in the California Below-the-Line Traineeship program, which provides on-set experience and mentorship to individuals from historically excluded backgrounds. And alongside its Spotify original Quiet Part Loud, Monkeypaw launched a campaign to combat anti-Muslim hate and disinformation.

Tyler Perry Tyler Perry Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

ACTOR-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER

With nine TV shows on air and available for streaming — plus a bustling movie slate — Perry continues to create opportunities for Black and brown talent in front of and behind the camera. While opening doors for others, the prolific multihyphenate and CEO has also learned to "let go of more and train people to handle more." The result? He says, "I've been proud of how they've been able to step in and make things work."

A force for change in my career: Oprah Winfrey

Gina Prince-Bythewood Gina Prince-Bythewood Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

FILMMAKER

When it comes to hiring diverse casts and crews, the Old Guard and Love & Basketball director has the industry's best track record. And that's backed up by data: The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative ranked her drama The Woman King the most inclusive theatrical release from 2019 to 2022. "People of color often have shorter résumés, not for lack of talent, but for lack of opportunity," Prince-Bythewood says. "I'm very intentional about looking past résumés and giving people I believe in the shot."

Fave inclusive project (that I didn't work on): Never Have I Ever and Abbott Elementary

Which trope needs to die? "White Savior"

The worst microaggression I've experienced or witnessed in the industry: "A white, 'A-list' actress aggressively pushing to diminish the role of the Black female co-lead."

Issa Rae Issa Rae Steven Simione/Getty Images

ACTOR-PRODUCER

Two years into Hoorae's five-year overall deal with WarnerMedia, Rae continues to be a trailblazer for Black creators — first with Insecure, then with Rap Sh!t and soon with a revival of Project Greenlight, where the THR Equity in Entertainment honoree uplifts new voices and ensures diversity on set. That's on top of starring in Barbie and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, entering the hair and beauty space with Sienna Naturals, and opening the fourth location of her Hilltop Kitchen + Coffee eatery.

Rishi Rajani & Lena Waithe Rishi Rajani and Lena Waithe Amy Sussman/WireImage; Arnold Turner/Getty Images

HILLMAN GRAD

In addition to backing recent films told through a unique lens such as the mother-son drama A Thousand and One and the Disney+ crowd-pleaser Chang Can Dunk, Emmy winner Waithe and Rajani's Hillman Grad is home to a nonprofit arm that offers a tuition-free mentorship lab. It also partners with the job search site Indeed on the Rising Voices program, which has invested millions in helping up-and-coming BIPOC filmmakers create short films budgeted at $100,000 each.

I'm excited about …

WAITHE "Etienne Maurice [Founder of WalkGood LA]. I love the work he's doing regarding wellness and mental health."

RAJANI "Steven Spohn of AbleGamers, working to help [those] with physical and cognitive disabilities have fun and play video games."

Which trope needs to die?

RAJANI "Overcoming one's otherness."

The worst microaggression I've experienced or witnessed in the industry:

WAITHE "White execs not understanding Black characters with dreams that don't involve basketball or singing."

Shonda Rhimes Shonda Rhimes Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

WRITER-PRODUCER

Rhimes' impact is felt far beyond her roster of hits. The prolific showrunner (Grey's Anatomy, Queen Charlotte) has quietly rolled out a collection of trainee programs designed to ensure that the future of Hollywood is more inclusive. Among them: her Producers Inclusion Initiative, a nine-week program that trains people from historically underrepresented communities to be line producers, and her Ladder Program, which offers that same pool the necessary on-set experience to rise in the studio system.

Fave inclusive project (that I didn't work on): "American Auto (I am a huge Cyrus fan)."

Lauren Ridloff Lauren Ridloff Taylor Hill/Getty Images

ACTOR-PRODUCER

Deaf actress and Eternals star Ridloff wants to see more people like her onscreen. "It is a dream of mine to see a film that centers around deaf people and is in ASL from start to finish," she says. Offscreen, she's using her platform as executive producer and star of an upcoming romantic drama (from Ava DuVernay's Array) to help deaf writers get staffed on the show.

I'm excited about … "Christine Sun Kim. She is unapologetic about pointing out all the microaggressions she faces as a deaf Korean American artist who is a woman, and turns those microaggressions into art and throws it at people."

Bird Runningwater Bird Runningwater Mike Coppola/Getty Images

THE SUNDANCE INSTITUTE

"I was always the only Indigenous person in every room I entered in Hollywood," Runningwater recalls of his early work at the Sundance Institute. A member of the Cheyenne and Mescalero Apache Tribes, he has guided filmmakers in "advancing an Indigenous agenda" since 2001. The community's breakthrough in American TV came via FX/Hulu's Reservation Dogs, created by Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo, both of whom were supported in their feature debuts by Sundance programs.

Hollywood's state of inclusion is … "Waning after such strong initial intentions — though I do believe there are still die-hard allies out there willing to support the cause."

The worst microaggression I've experienced or witnessed in the industry: "'You speak English so well!' "

Sanjay Sharma Sanjay Sharma Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

MARGINAL MEDIAWORKS

Sharma is a major fundraising force for the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment and is a founding member of Hollywood's other leading AAPI-focused nonprofit, Gold House. In his day job leading his startup studio Marginal Mediaworks, which spans everything from Black queer sci-fi thrillers to South Asian heist comedies, he backs outsider voices and emerging creators "to get more people into the system versus cementing around already established A-list players," focusing on "more at-bats and lower budgets to create commercial velocity."

I'm excited about … "Rishi Rajani, who leads Hillman Grad, and Talitha Watkins, who leads ColorCreative."

Nina Shaw Nina Shaw Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang

TALENT LAWYER

A trailblazer in the entertainment and legal communities, Shaw not only represents forces for change — like fellow honorees Ava DuVernay, Quinta Brunson, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Lena Waithe — she is one herself. Shaw says having varied perspectives is vital and she's encouraged by the increasing diversity among Hollywood lawyers: "I am proud because I have been a leader in our community, which ultimately led to lack of diversity being the exception."

Companies that want real change should … "Stop the belief that women and people of color can only make gains if someone else is disadvantaged; the data doesn't support the theory and that trope needs to die."

Taika Waititi Taika Waititi Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

FILMMAKER

See THR cover story.

A force for change in my career "Merata Mita. She was my mentor and the first female Maori filmmaker. Using film as a weapon against colonial oppression, her activism and staunch determination changed the way Maori were perceived in film and mainstream media [and] paved the way for myself and all Maori filmmakers."

Kerry Washington Kerry Washington Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

ACTOR-PRODUCER

The star and executive producer of UnPrisoned continues to champion Black voices with her Simpson Street company, which is behind the Hulu dramedy as well as the streamer's legal drama Reasonable Doubt and the upcoming The Bobby Love Story, starring Octavia Spencer. Washington also stars in and produces Tyler Perry's upcoming feature Six Triple Eight, about an all-Black battalion in the Women's Army Corps that sorts and delivers backlogged mail to soldiers and families during World War II.

I'm excited about … "[Black Love creators] Tommy and Codie Elaine Oliver and [Invisible Collective co-founder] Stephen Love."

Which trope needs to die? " 'Sexy' Corpse"

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey JC Olivera/Getty Images

MEDIA MOGUL

Winfrey has spent decades actively trying to level an uneven playing field, be it through politics, journalism or hundreds of millions in dedicated philanthropy. In addition to her titular OWN network, which caters to an underserved Black audience with groundbreaking series like Queen Sugar, Winfrey has acted as both a producer and a champion of other inclusive efforts, from Hulu's The 1619 Project to a forthcoming new adaptation of The Color Purple.

Forest Whitaker & Nina Yang Bongiovi Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi Dominik Bindl/Getty Images; Anna Webber/Getty Images

PRODUCERS

Ryan Coogler and Boots Riley are among the filmmakers boosted by Yang Bongiovi and Whitaker's Significant Productions, which has earned a reputation for producing debut features from promising directors of color. Yang Bongiovi also co-founded AUM Group, which helps finance projects like this year's Sundance breakout Fancy Dance from Indigenous filmmaker Erica Tremblay. Working to create a truly diverse Hollywood, says Yang Bongiovi, "means putting everything you've built in your career — your leverage, reputation, brand and visibility — on the line with your peers and gatekeepers."

I'm excited about …

YANG BONGIOVI "Bing Chen from Gold House."

Janet Yang Janet Yang Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES

The Queens-born daughter of Chinese immigrants is the fourth woman, second person of color and first Asian ever elected president of the Academy. After Chris Rock mocked Asian kids on the 2016 Oscars, the Joy Luck Club producer rallied others to lean on the org's leadership to do better, and in 2019 was appointed to its board as a governor-at-large. This season, a film won't be eligible for best picture unless it meets the Oscars' new inclusion requirements.

Fave inclusive project (that I didn't work on): "Everything Everywhere combined heartfelt authenticity and wackiness like we've never seen before. The upcoming Joy Ride, a raunchy sex comedy, will cement AAPI's place in the mainstream."

Kim Yutani Kim Yutani Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

SUNDANCE

As the Sundance Film Festival programming director, Yutani has made a concerted effort to feature more titles made by filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds. Of more than 100 films in the 2023 lineup, 45 percent were directed by filmmakers who identify as people of color, while 20 percent were directed by members of the LGBTQ+ community. "I personally wouldn't frame a push for equity and inclusion as 'going above and beyond' anything," says Yutani. "You all have the ability to embrace equity and inclusion as something organic to your work culture."

A force for change in my career: "Kirsten Schaffer, who became my mentor through Film Independent's Project: Involve when she was at Outfest (now she's the CEO of Women in Film)."

This story first appeared in the May 31 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

Star Wars, Marvel, and Wider Entertainment Industry Mourn Ray Stevenson

Tributes are pouring in for the late actor Ray Stevenson in the wake of the his sudden death at the age of 58 earlier this week.

Stevenson, who played characters in both Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, also lent his talent to several film and TV projects, and is set to appear in the upcoming live action Ahsoka series on Disney+.

"We have lost a great talent and friend in Ray Stevenson," said Lucasfilm's Dave Filoni, who is executive producing the upcoming Ahsoka series. "His kindness and generosity were felt by our entire team on Ahsoka. I always looked forward to working with Ray, and I appreciated his insight and daily wisdom. I am glad that his memory will live on through his family, friends, and the many characters he created. Thank you Ray, for everything."

Stevenson had previously voiced Mandalorian antagonist Gar Saxon in the animated Star Wars: Rebels series, and will yet appear as Baylan Skoll, a force wielding ally of grand admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka.

Sharing in grief with you all. What a Ray of light. Been calling cast/crew & the rest of my family to say how much I love them. Let this be your reminder to love on your people's in real time while you can. Ray was so vivacious & unbelievably present & vibrant. He truly lived!!! https://t.co/Y95SrdeWQ8

— Rosario Dawson (@rosariodawson) May 22, 2023

"Sharing in grief with you all. What a Ray of light," said Ashoka lead Rosario Dawson. "Been calling cast [and] crew and the rest of my family to say how much I love them. Let this be your reminder to love on your people's in real time while you can. Ray was so vivacious and unbelievably present and vibrant. He truly lived."

Fellow cast member Diana Lee Inosanto, who plays Morgan Elsbeth in the upcoming live action series, likewise took to Twitter to pay her respects to the late actor. "I am heartbroken and devastated to lose an amazing friend, colleague, and mentor," said Inosanto.

"Ray Stevenson was a thoughtful and passionate human being, dedicated and loved family man, and he loved his fans immensely. Ray, you were always an amazing force! You will be deeply missed by many."

I am heart broken and devastated to lose an amazing friend, colleague & mentor. Ray Stevenson was a thoughtful & passionate human being, dedicated and loved family man, and he loved his fans immensely. Ray you were always an amazing force! You will be deeply missed by many. https://t.co/9zjRX4mCVD

— Diana Lee Inosanto (@TheRealDLI) May 23, 2023

The Marvel Cinematic Universe also paid tribute to the prolific actor, who had appeared both as Volstag In the Thor movies and separately as Frank Castle/Punisher in 2008's Punisher: War Zone. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ray Stevenson, who brought humour and wit to the character of Volstagg," read a tweet from the Marvel Studios account. "He was a wonderful actor who will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ray Stevenson, who brought humor and wit to the character of Volstagg. He was a wonderful actor who will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. https://t.co/N01DImSwKz pic.twitter.com/uds1RvupQr

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) May 23, 2023

"He was really kind," said Tadanobu Asasno, who played Hogan alongside Stevenson in the 2011 movie Thor, while DC's James Gunn also took to Twitter to express his regret at the actor's passing.

"Damn. So sorry to hear about the passing, far too young, of Ray Stevenson," tweeted Gunn. "I only knew him a little from shooting post-credits of Thor 2 and a couple interactions at events, but we had some good laughs and he was a joy to work with. His friends and family are in my heart today."

Damn. So sorry to hear about the passing, far too young, of Ray Stevenson. I only knew him a little from shooting post-credits of Thor 2 & a couple interactions at events, but we had some good laughs & he was a joy to work with. His friends & family are in my heart today. ♥️

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) May 22, 2023

Stevenson also took on a huge range of roles away from the superhero genre. He recently portrayed primary antagonist governor Scott Buxton in the 2022 movie RRR, which focused on a fictitious story surrounding Indian revolutionaries in the 1920s, and which brought home the first Oscar for a feature film from India.

The movie's Twitter account lauded Stevenson's lack of hesitation when it came to performing stunts during filming, while lead actor Ram Charan said that he was "shocked and deeply saddened with news of Ray Stevenson passing away" and that he would be "remembered forever".

Shocking and deeply saddened with news of Ray Stevenson passing away. Rest In Peace Dear Scott, you'll be remembered forever. 🙏🏼

— Ram Charan (@AlwaysRamCharan) May 23, 2023

Beyond the silver screen Stevenson also made countless appearances on TV, with many fans fondly reminiscing about his appearances in Dexter, Reef Break, Black Sails, and as Titus Pullo in HBO's Rome.

"So sad to hear the news that Ray Stevenson, our Pullo in Rome, has passed away," tweeted actor James Purefoy, who played Mark Anthony in the HBO series. "A brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim. My thoughts are with his family, his lovely wife Betta and their beautiful kids. What a loss."

So sad to hear the news that Ray Stevenson, our Pullo in Rome, has passed away. A brilliant, gutsy, larger-than-life actor who filled every part he played right up to the brim. My thoughts are with his family, his lovely wife Betta and their beautiful kids. What a loss.

— James Purefoy 🇺🇦 (@JamesPurefoy) May 22, 2023

Desmond Chiam, who acted alongside Stevenson in the Australia-filmed TV series Reef Break also had touching words to share about the actor's character. "Ray Stevenson was a guardian angel during a really tough, really emotional time in my career. I was close to quitting, but he got us through. He is forever one of the good ones."

Ray Stevenson was a guardian angel during a really tough, really emotional time in my career. I was close to quitting, but he got us through. He is forever one of the good ones.

Rest in power, friend. pic.twitter.com/pzUwKkROOF

— Desmond Chiam (@deschiam) May 22, 2023

Image Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor at Getty Images

Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer

Voices: Lies, scandal and celebrity showdowns: Can This Morning ever recover?

Lies, scandal, salacious gossip and celebrity presenters pitted against each other: it is perhaps no wonder that Piers Morgan compared the latest shockwaves to hit daytime TV showThis Morningas being like something in a Quentin Tarantino movie.

Images (and rumours) about one of its stars, Phillip Schofield, are everywhere. Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you'll know about them. Phillip may have left ITV with immediate effect, but what does that do for the show's branding? When your name is dragged through mud – personally, professionally – can you ever recover?

Whatever the truth is behind the headlines,This Morning's brand has been badly damaged. As a PR and brand expert who has worked with everyone from corporations to celebrities to social media influencers, I know a thing or two about reputation management – and I can tell you that This Morning is in for a bumpy ride over the next few months.

Every move will be scrutinised, written about and interpreted. "Queuegate" has only just stopped rumbling, and although it was all explained later, it looked bad at the time. This looks bad, too. But the real issue is bigger than the scandalous optics. It's how the developments have made viewers feel.

Brands and brand loyalty are deeper than a pretty logo – they are powerfully emotive. You can see that from the way viewers have spoken with passion about the show on call-ins and all over social media in the past few days. People don't do that if they don't care and don't feel. This is great when it's going your way, but hard when people feel personally misled.

The main issue, as I see it, is the trust that has been eroded by this story. When it's a wholesome, trusted brand like This Morning, that will hurt. Based on all public statements, such as his co-star Holly Willoughby's assertion that he "directly lied", Phillip kept the truth from everyone.

The word "toxic" has also been used a lot, and that's never a word you want associated with any brand, let alone one as wholesome as This Morning.

Story continues

So, how do you rebuild public trust in a brand when so much has been fired at it and it's so gravely wounded? I'd say refocus on the brand's core values – and think about why people turn on their TVs at 10am to 12.30pm every day to watch it.

This refocus should be in everything they do from now on. A strong ad campaign would be a good call, but it also needs to be in how the presenters behave, the language used when people talk on the show, in the design and the branding and even the colours.

Their social media should also reflect this. I'd also look to run stories and features that support their brand ethos through reflecting what others are doing. Everything should be aligned to reflect honesty, integrity and transparency.

It will be important for ITV to go over and above to ensure that nothing feels "kept" from the viewer, to reinforce the "we're all in this together" attitude the brand is known for. This Morning is known for fun – and toxicity and fun don't usually go hand in hand.

I think the way that ITV is addressing developments in their own way – the broadcaster has said there are no plans to take the show off air – is a good call and is a pos itive step towards a rebuild.

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, who are taking over the This Morning sofa while Holly remains off until 5 June, are doing a great job of addressing the stories as they happen – while also maintaining the vibe that people have come to know and love about the show. It can't be an easy job.

Is this going to be a quick fix? I don't think so. I think when Holly comes back next week, the show will have to be honest with the viewers that it is the start of a new chapter.

A new presenter should bring their own personality to the show, so rather than trying to fill Phillip's shoes, they should be looking to st amp their identity over the space to start to move the show forward into its next iteration. If it were me, I'd probably look to shake things up: like a rebrand in a business to show transition.

Brands evolve over time – just look at McDonald's. As public opinion has changed on key issues, so has the brand and its messaging (the use of free range eggs, for example). Facebook changed to Meta to signal the introduction of the Metaverse. It took the brand forward to a new era to show change, growth and development.

Burberry signalled a new chapter for the brand by changing its "face" to Emma Watson. This changed public perception and also reinforced the brand's values – Britishness (what's more British that a homegrown film star?), quality and understated elegance. A change in "face" can do a lot to realign public perception.

Rebranding (or even refreshing) a brand can reap huge benefits when handled well. The reason for the rebrand needs to be cle arly identified, as do the values that are core to the brand that its owners want to be maintained and illustrated through the process.

"Trial by social media" has kept the This Morning saga going, created more speculation and potentially done a lot more damage than the story itself.

This will have one of two results: a drop in regular watchers who no longer feel the show's values align with their own, or an upsurge in those who have been drawn in by the drama. Time will tell whether This Morning can survive this scandal – but if it's clever about its own rebirth, it can.

Rhea Freeman is an author and award winning PR and social media expert

Amazon is discontinuing Alexa’s celebrity voices, even if you paid for them

© Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Amazon is getting rid of its celebrity voices for Alexa. Not only are the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Melisssa McCarthy no longer available for purchase, but Amazon will also stop supporting them on Alexa devices as well.

The voices were fairly cheap, with a $0.99 price at launch before moving up to $4.99, but many users expected to have access for longer than this. The feature, which adds the personality of one of the three celebrities to an Alexa device, lets you use the "Hey [celebrity name]" command to ask questions, hear jokes, or listen to a story — all in the style of Jackson, Shaq, or McCarthy. But now, some of that fun has come to an end, as the voice of Jackson has already stopped working on customers' devices.

A note on Jackson's page states: "Samuel L. Jackson's Alexa voice is no longer available for purchase. Customers who previously purchased the experience may continue to use the skill until April 2023 by saying 'Hey Samuel.'" Amazon posted similar messages on the pages for McCarthy and Shaq's voices but says it will continue to support them until September 30th of this year. The Verge r eached out to Amazon with a request for more information, and we'll update this article if we hear back.

Amazon first started offering Jackson's voice in 2019, which uses Amazon's neural text-to-speech model to generate fun (and sometimes explicit) responses rather than rely on prerecorded ones, and later introduced the voices of McCarthy and Shaq in 2021. The three voices are a bit limited in what they can respond to, however, as they don't work with shopping lists, reminders, or skills.

It's not exactly clear why Amazon has decided to discontinue the feature, but it could be a sign of broader Amazon's broader Alexa woes. Last November, a report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy heavily scrutinized the company's Alexa sector, as its operating losses exceeded $5 million in recent years. The company also announced layoffs affecting 18,000 employees earlier this year, with Amazon hardware chief Dave Limp telling CNBC that 2,000 of those cuts affected workers in his division, which is in charge of Alexa and Echo products.

Meanwhile, a recent report from Insider suggests that the company has plans to rework Alexa amidst the rise of ChatGPT and may use its own large language model (LLM) to make Alexa "more proactive and conversational." Perhaps Alexa's celebrity voices don't fit into this vision, or maybe they've just become too costly to license.

Kenneth Anger Dies: Groundbreaking Experimental Filmmaker And ‘Hollywood Babylon’ Author Was 96

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Kenneth Anger, the experimental filmmaker and author whose work was groundbreaking in its exploration of gay themes and erotica, has died. He was 96.

His death was announced by his gallery, Sprueth Magers.

"It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of visionary filmmaker, artist and author Kenneth Anger (1927–2023)," the gallery posted on social media. "Kenneth was a trailblazer. His cinematic genius and influence will live on and continue to transform all those who encounter his films, words and vision."

Anger's films include the 1947 Fireworks, a legendary cinematic achievement in the history of American gay culture and film. He also wrote and published Hollywood Babylon in 1959, a book that popularized scandals and pieces of film-land gossip that, while largely discredited over the years, have remained part of Hollywood lore.

"Anger considered cinematographic projection a psychosocial ritual capable of unleashing physical and emotional energies," said his gallery owners Monika Sprüeth and Philomene Magers in a statement. "The artist saw film as nothing less than a spiritual medium, a conveyer of spectacular alchemy that transforms the viewer."

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Johnny Depp postpones Hollywood Vampires' U.S. tour dates after fracturing ankle

© Provided by LA Times Johnny Depp announced on Instagram Monday that his band, Hollywood Vampires, would be delaying its U.S. tour dates due to a fractured ankle. ((Joel C Ryan / Invision / Associated Press))

Johnny Depp and his rock band the Hollywood Vampires are postponing three U.S. tour dates.

In a Monday letter posted to the actor-musician's Instagram Stories, Depp expressed regret over the situation.

"My dear friends, I am sorry to say that I have fractured my ankle, which is a drag!!!" the 59-year-old wrote in the since-expired missive. "It began as a hairline break but somewhere between Cannes and the Royal Albert Hall, it got worse rather than better."

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Finding Neverland" star said that under the advisement of multiple medical professionals — who "strongly suggested" the actor avoid physical activity of any kind — he is unable to travel for the time being.

"To that end, the guys and I are very sorry to miss you in New Hampshire, Boston and New York but fear not, I promise we will bring an amazing show to all of you in Europe and bring our absolute best to the East Coast later this summer and make it up to those who have paid for those shows!!!" he continued. "Again, sincerest apologies. All my love and respect, J.D. x."

The Hollywood Vampires, the supergroup that Depp debuted in 2015 with Alice Cooper and Aerosmith's Joe Perry, also confirmed that he "sustained a painful injury to his ankle" following his trip to France for the annual Cannes Film Festival earlier this month.

"He is devastated by this turn of events, but looks forward to resting up so all four Vampires can bring their absolute best to the tour in Europe," the group wrote on social media.

The concerts in Boston; Manchester, N.H., and Bethel, N.Y., will be postponed to July 28, 29 and 30, according to the band's post.

Depp recently attended the 2023 Cannes Film Festival to promote his French film "Jeanne du Barry," which was controversially chosen to open the festival. It marked Depp's return to the big screen since the highly publicized defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard made the public privy to alarming details involving their troubled marriage.

The film received a seven-minute standing ovation, and although Depp was teary-eyed as he waved and thanked fans following the film's screening, he didn't mince words the next day at an accompanying press conference. Depp told reporters he was "boycotted" and would prefer his return to the industry not be referred to as a "comeback."

"I didn't go anywhere," he said. "I live about 45 minutes away from here, in fact. Maybe people stopped calling — out of whatever their fear was at the time — but I didn't go nowhere ... 'Comeback' is almost like I'm going to come out and do a tap dance — dance my best and hope you approve. That's the notion. It's a bizarre mystery."

"Did I feel boycotted by Hollywood?" he responded to one reporter's question. "You'd have to not have a pulse to not feel that, of course, when you're asked to resign from a film you're doing ['Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'] for something that is merely just a bunch of vowels and consonants in the air.

"Do I feel boycotted now? No, I don't feel boycotted by Hollywood, because I don't think about Hollywood. I don't have much use for Hollywood, do you? It's a strange, funny time when people feel like they can't be themselves; they must fall in line with the person in front of them. If you want to live that life, I wish you the best, I'll see you on the other side."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Celebrity Hairstylist Mitchell Ramazon Dishes on Styling Brooks Nader’s Hair for ‘SI’

Mitchell Ramazon; Brooks Nader Ryan Sides

From the expert's mouth! Celebrity hairstylist Mitchell Ramazon exclusively gave Us Weekly the tea on styling one of his hottest clients, Brooks Nader.

Earlier this month, Ramazon worked his magic on Nader, 26, for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Launch Party in New York City and Miami. For the weekend-long soirée, the model wowed with multiple sultry looks.

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For the New York party, the brunette beauty sported a teal mini dress featuring a one shoulder neckline, cinched waist and a ruffled skirt. She teamed the number with diamond jewelry and rhinestone embellished pumps. To top it off, Ramazon — who also styles Kim Kardashian, Emily Ratajkowski, Alix Earle and more — gave the model a side part, twisting he r strands into a glamorous updo that was completed with wispy bangs.

Ramazon told Us that although the Cuenta Pendiente alum's usual go-to hairstyle is a 90's blowout inspired by Cindy Crawford, she needed a "completely different hairstyle" for the different launch parties.

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In Miami, the beautician styled the Florida native's tresses "down" in a wet coiffure.

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Nader commanded attention on the red carpet, appearing as if she had just gone swimming. The 'do was finished with face-framing tendrils that drew attention to her eyes.

Ramazon shared with Us that when it comes to Sports Illustrated shoots and events, he likes "creating texture that shimmers in the sunlight or gives the appearance of wet hair dipped in the ocean."

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The beauty guru continued, "My favorite summer hair trend is hair that looks wet. I love to use the Hair Oil by Hairstory and work a generous amount throughout the hair to make it appear shinier and almost wet." He added that for all his clients, his "favorite cleansing cream" to use is Hairstory's New Wash.

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Nader complemented the hairstyle with a sheer bodysuit revealing her breast and fishnet stockings covering her strappy black heels. Her makeup included a dewy face, brown eyeshadows, filled in brows, subtle contour, rosy cheeks and glossy lips. She topped the getup off with diamond dangly earrings, matching rings and long pink nails.

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This wasn't the first time the stellar stylist has worked with the Backtrace actress. The two have been collaborating for over a year, and Ramazon gushed over their friendship, "Being able to see her hit a milestone is inspirational and motivating. Seeing your clients chase after their dreams, gives you the ambition and desire to also chase after your own."

Originally published May 30, 2023 at 5:47 PM