Robert Wherry, managing director of bicoastal HKM Productions and head of sales on the East Coast for HKM and its satellites The Directors Bureau and Public Works, is leaving the roost on March 31. Wherry said the parting is amicable. After nearly five years as part of the HKM family, Wherry explained that he simply felt the need to pursue new challenges and opportunities for growth, having accomplished much of what he set out to do at HKM in concert with company founders, directors Graham Henman and Michael Karbelnikoff, and executive producer Tom Mickel. Wherry was instrumental in setting up HKM’s New York office….Jennifer Iverson, Jacquie Jones and Debra Roberts Sher have joined forces to launch Necessary Evil, a bicoastal entity designed to manage and represent commercial directors and production services. The new venture’s roster includes Los Angeles-based effects/ graphics house Fugitive and bicoastal WildLife Management… Lisa Cleff has been named director of new business develoment at bicoastal/international design and producton house Attik. She formerly headed San Francisco-based representation firm Lcleffilm, handling such shops as Red Sky Films, San Francisco….Independent rep Barbara Tripoli of Mixed Breed Reps, Dallas, is repping Cuppa Joe Music, Dallas, in Texas….Bicoastal New York Office has signed DP Patrick Duroux and production designer Bruno Hajdaj for national representation….Smith Gosnell Nicholson, Pacific Palisades, Calif., has signed DPs Chris Conway and Sergio Arguello for exclusive representation in spots and music videos….Rhinoceros Editorial and Post and Rhinoceros Visual Effects and Design have hired Barbara Lamon to serve as an account executive. She previously served as an account exec. at MTI/The Image Group, most recently repping its visual effects and graphics division, Blink.fx, New York….Tom Greff has been appointed national sales manager at Audio Plus Video International which maintains facilities in Northvale, N.J. and Burbank, Calif…..
California Gov. Newsom Signs Laws To Protect Actors Against Unauthorized Use Of AI
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off Tuesday on legislation aiming at protecting Hollywood actors and performers against unauthorized artificial intelligence that could be used to create digital clones of themselves without their consent.
The new laws come as California legislators ramped up efforts this year to regulate the marquee industry that is increasingly affecting the daily lives of Americans but has had little to no oversight in the United States.
The laws also reflect the priorities of the Democratic governor who's walking a tightrope between protecting the public and workers against potential AI risks and nurturing the rapidly evolving homegrown industry.
"We continue to wade through uncharted territory when it comes to how AI and digital media is transforming the entertainment industry, but our North Star has always been to protect workers," Newsom said in a statement. "This legislation ensures the industry can continue thriving while strengthening protections for workers and how their likeness can or cannot be used."
Inspired by the Hollywood actors' strike last year over low wages and concerns that studios would use AI technology to replace workers, a new California law will allow performers to back out of existing contracts if vague language might allow studios to freely use AI to digitally clone their voices and likeness. The law is set to take effect in 2025 and has the support of the California Labor Federation and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA.
Another law signed by Newsom, also supported by SAG-AFTRA, prevents dead performers from being digitally cloned for commercial purposes without the permission of their estates. Supporters said the law is... Read More