Poflick Confidential: Fran Drescher Takes the Lead

By Juan Carlos Ampié07/14/2023

It took Fran Drescher one fiery speech to make people forget the ill-advised photos of her cavorting in Italy with Kim Kardashian, taken just a few days before the end of a contract extension that kept the biggest Hollywood guild from joining writers in the picket line. On Thursday afternoon, the actress who presides the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) proved she was the right person, at the right time, to lead fellow actors in the fight of their lives.

“We are the victims here. We are being victimized by a very greedy entity. I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us. I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things. How they plead poverty, that they are losing money left and right when giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment.”

Drescher might as well be referring to Bob Iger. On the same day the strike was announced, the Disney CEO deemed writers' and actors' demands "unrealistic." The top executive is estimated to pocket $27 million in 2023 salary and bonuses. Bad timing, Bob!

“The entire business model has been changed by streaming, digital, and AI. This is a moment of history that is a moment of truth. If we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble. We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business, who care more about Wall Street than you and your family…privately, they say we are the center of the wheel. Everybody else tinkers around our artistry, but actions speak louder than words, and there was nothing there.”

SAG-AFTRA also clarified what guild members can’t do while the strike runs: showing up at premieres or conventions, engaging in press coverage for completed films, and even walking down a red carpet. That is why Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon abandoned the “Oppenheimer” premiere in London once SAG-AFTRA announced the strike.

Security guard at TIFF 2023: "I'm the star now!" / Photo courtesy of Dreamstime.

The news throws a pall over upcoming film festivals, which need stars in attendance to generate buzz. The Venice Film Festival begins on August 30, the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, and New York Film Festival on September 30. It’s time to remember that what matters is the movies. With all participating films done shooting, they are all in the clear. And there is always a chance the strike gets resolved before opening day.

Stop the cameras, or Ryan Reynold will make a joke!

Disney announced the temporary suspension of shooting for “Deadpool 3,” helmed by director Shawn Levy in London. The third film in the franchise led by Ryan Reynolds stirred up a lot of buzz in the last weeks, with the announcement of Jennifer Gardner returning to play Elektra and pictures of Hugh Jackman dressed in a comic book-worthy yellow jumpsuit instead of the filthy threads that have characterized his Wolverine.

It is very likely that the release date, set for May 3, 2024, will be delayed.

Salma Hayek, Queen of Hollywood?

Francois-Henri Pinault is known in the film world as Mr. Salma Hayek, but his day job is as President and CEO of Kering. The multinational corporation owns many luxury brands like Balenciaga, Bottega Venetta, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent. He is also the president of Groupe Artemis, the holding company that manages his investments.

While Hollywood faces its first mega-strike in 60 years, the French billionaire is wheeling and dealing to buy a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency (CAA), one of the biggest talent agencies in the business. The company is valued at about 7 billion dollars and includes stars like Jennifer Lopez, Ana de Armas, Andrew Garfield, Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Zazie Beetz, and Zendaya among its clients.

"I'm with her!": Pinault makes a play to be something more than Mr. Salma Hayek in Hollywood. / Photo courtesy of Dreamstime.

If the deal comes through, expect Salma Hayek to be crowned Queen of Hollywood. Or something like that. Here’s hoping with all this clout and money, Salma can do everyone a solid and foot the bill for Guillermo del Toro’s stalled dream project “At the Mountains of Madness.” Come on, Salma! Help a fellow Mexican filmmaker! Work something out, ¡por favor!

Three giants, one birthday

Harry Dean Stanton, king of cool. / Photo courtesy of Dreamstime.

The great American actor Harry Dean Stanton was born today in 1926. He carved a niche as a cult hero, moving gracefully between commercial films and art house fare. To get a sense of his versatility, check out blockbuster sci-fi classic “Alien” (Ridley Scott,1979), cult classic movies like “Escape from New York” (John Carpenter, 1981) and “Repo Man” (Alex Cox, 1984), and Palme d’Or winner “Paris Texas” (Wim Wenders, 1984). He was a recurrent player in David Lynch’s projects, including “Wild at Heart” (1990), “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” (1992), “Inland Empire” (2006), and “Twin Peaks: The Return” (2017). He died in 2017

Faith, sex and dark, dark humor: the tao of Ingmar Bergman / Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

Ingmar Bergman was born today in 1918. The Swedish director worked on stage and screen. During his lifetime, he became a towering figure in world cinema. A king of the Art House, if there was ever such a thing. Movie buffs have to see everything he did, especially “The Seventh Seal” (1957), “Wild Strawberries” (1957), “Cries and Whispers” (1972), “Autumn Sonata” (1978), and “Fanny & Alexander” (1982). He died in 2007. If you have a few bucks, wait for Criterion Collection’s Barnes & Noble 50% sale every July and November, and buy their massive box set “Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema.” It is worth every penny.

His influence permeated pop culture, from Woody Allen dramas to "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (Stephen Herek, 1989). You can clearly understand how powerful his mystique is by watching Mia Hansen-Love's "Bergman's Island" (2021).

marlon Brando + Robert De Niro = Lino Ventura / Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

Lino Ventura was born today in 1919. The Italian actor conquered French cinema with thrillers “Touchez Pas Au Grisbi” (1954), “Elevator to the Gallows” (1958), “Classe Tous Risques” (1960), and Jean Pierre-Melville’s heart-breaking WWII resistance drama “Army of Shadows” (1969). Imagine a combination of Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro, and you are halfway there. He died in 1987.

We don't want you to think we are a bunch of snobs, so we must congratulate the very much alive Joel Silver! The producer defined action-heavy commercial cinema in the '80s and '90s and pushed Hollywood's penchant for franchises with "Lethal Weapon" (1987), "Die Hard" (1988), "Predator" (1987), and "The Matrix" (1999). Some of those are still pumping out sequels, like "The Matrix Resurrections" (2021) and the "Predator" prequel "Prey" (2022).

Joel Silver, master of action. / Photo courtesy of Dreamstime.

The 71-years old producer has nine projects in the pipeline, including a remake of redneck action cult classic “Road House,” with Jake Gyllenhaal taking over the role originated by Patrick Swayze; a third entry in the “Sherlock Homes” franchise with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

Alternative Weekend Plans

Sure, the weekend belongs to “Mission Impossible 7 - Dead Reckoning Part 1,” but if you have the blockbuster under your belt or are aching for something more human-scaled, Sideshow and Janus Films are opening in limited-release Turkish auteur Nury Bilge Ceylan’s “About Dry Grasses.” The contemplative drama was part of the official competition at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Merve Dizdar took the Best Actress award. Check out the trailer!