SAG, studios try to influence strike vote (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Los Angeles Times ^ | November 26, 2008 | Richard Verrier

[abb]

With the collapse of mediation talks between the major Hollywood studios and the Screen Actors Guild, the warring parties wasted little time launching campaigns aimed at discrediting each other while courting the sympathies of actors who will cast ballots in a strike referendum next month.

In a letter sent to the union's 120,000 members Wednesday, SAG President Alan Rosenberg blasted the studios for seeking to impose "one-size-fits-all demands" on the union and accused management of using the depressed economy as an excuse to dismiss the needs of actors, especially when it comes to securing their future in the burgeoning world of online entertainment.

"It's also curious that these global corporations are preaching to us about the bad economy," Rosenberg said. "As middle-income actors we are the victims of corporate greed. . . . Our ability to make a living as professional actors for decades to come is at stake."

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, issued a swift rebuttal: "SAG's latest mass e-mail fails on three counts: It fails to explain why SAG deserves more than everyone else in the industry. It fails to justify why SAG members should bail out a failed negotiating strategy by striking during a time of historic economic crisis. And it fails to explain why it makes sense to strike when SAG members will lose more during the first few days of the strike than they could ever expect to gain."

The e-mails kicked off an informational campaign that the guild's negotiating committee overwhelmingly approved Saturday after a federal mediator declared the talks were over. The guild is expected to spend more than $100,000 on a campaign to muster support for the strike referendum, communicating through e-mails, mailings, newsletters, town hall meetings and residual checks.

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[abb]

Hollywood organizes circular firing squad...

[abb]

ping

[abb]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sumner27-2008nov27,0,4370145.story
Redstone may sell movie theaters
The media mogul could use the cash to pay down his holding company’s debts of $1.6 billion.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/11/if-an-actors-st.html
SAG strike may not deal networks crippling blow

http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/11/tom-cruise-news.html
‘Valkyrie’ to ‘Heil Razzies’?

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/business/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003917121
City Buying ‘Virginian-Pilot’ Bureau Property For $5.1 Million, Office Will Relocate

[rovenstinez]

So, can we expect them to fly corporate jets to Washington D.C. to do some real high class elite panhandling and ask for some Bail Out? Looks like a Perfect Storm in the brewing, and I’d be glad and happy if Hollywood just closed shop for about 1 year and let me see some of the ole re runs of Andy Griffin, Waltons and Little House on the Prairie....and for Christmas, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

[abb]

http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/
Zell Talks Turkey to Critical Applause

http://timwindsor.com/
Jarvis offers a year of good ideas, summarized in one post

[Bernard]

If Hollywood closed up for a year, Toyota and Honda would be making movies in this country within 6 months.

[abb]

They’ve already put the arm on Arnold for a state bailout...

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/calif-legislative-special-session-asked-for-tax-incentives-to-keep-hollywood-at-home/
Arnold Will Ask For Hollywood Tax Breaks

[pnh102]

Wow... sounds like the UAW really is running Hollywood!

I'm rooting for all the scab actors that will be more than happy to replace these liberal nutjobs at half the asking price or less. Everyone wants to be on TV or the big screen, a strike will give quite a few talented but undiscovered people an opportunity.

[Taichi]

The Studio’s response was very well put, SAG members better look long and hard at the end results before they go marching off into oblivion. Of course they are only actors, you can’t expect a whole lot of real thought or consideration when it’s easier to just react emotionally.

[rlmorel]

We can only hope the Film Actors Guild does just that...

[TonyStark]

SAG is in a real position of strength here. I mean, how many people would want to be actors anyway? Its not like people are beating down Hollywood's door, trying to get any little TV or commercial acting gig they can. No, acting is a dirty, unwholesome job, and these brave men and women, who have sacrificed for our entertainment, deserve everything they get.

Everything.

[Madeleine Ward]

Question: What TV show would you absolutely miss seeing if actors went on a strike?

For me, there is only one network show I watch, and that is House, but I could easily give it up.

[abb]

None. Not a single one. There is nothing on network TV (Fox, NBC, ABC, ABC) currently being aired that is ‘must see’ for me.

[ken21]

i threw my tv into the dumpster after bill clinton ran those tanks over the innocent people at waco.

[LS]

Truly amazing. The screenwriters’ strike killed several very good shows; many others didn’t recover for a year.

[onedoug]

“Go ahead. Use it. Get it over with. Use it!” —The Last Man On Earth

[Wonderama Mama]

I would miss House Hunters, but not sure is Suzanne Wong is in SAG. Either way, she is easily replacable as are 99.9% of all actors.

[ridesthemiles]

Note to SAG and Rosenberg:

IF you think it is so easy to run a studio and keep all your paperwork in order for all the various departments in the California government and to produce entertainment that makes a profit so that you can pay all the bills and have money left over for your investors———
I invite you all to start or buy your own studio.

Find out from the other side of the table what it takes to RUN A BUSINESS.

My brother is right- not even one person in 2000 is qualified to sign the FRONT of the paycheck. Every idiot can sign the BACKSIDE of the paycheck.

[ridesthemiles]

Of course they are only actors, you can’t expect a whole lot of real thought or consideration when it’s easier to just react emotionally.”

.....who read their lines off someone else’s script.

[dfwgator]