Samson & DelilahTV Everywhere—Unions, Not so much
Long time readers of this column (and hey, if that’s you—thanks!), will recall I have written occasionally, (well, at least once), of my annual treks out to Austin where I wear my “book author” hat and pal around with other storytellers of genre fiction. I have a good friend there who, with his wife,... »
Union Roundup – November 2009
“The Writers Guilds of America, West and East mark the passing of Nick Counter, longtime president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and convey their deepest sympathy to his family,” came the mid-November statement. That was it, pretty much in its entirety, from the WGA. Brevity can be its own statement,... »
Poster wins ICG president ELECTION
http://www.cameraguild.com/index.html?news/guild/07_05_14_Poster-Posts-Win.html~top.main_hp »
Union Roundup – June 2009
“This decision by the membership marks the end of a very long process. We can now move forward with a new sense of certainty.” Those were the words of actor Sam Freed, a 2nd National Vice President in SAG, as quoted in Jonathan Handel’s showbiz column over at The Huffington Post, rounding up reactions... »
Union Roundup – February 2009
And so we write during the week where “economic stimulus” dominates the news, as well as Republican plans to attempt to torpedo— to the best of their ability—any efficacy the plan might actually have in righting an economy that is finding—as Nietzsche warned—that the abyss is staring back. The biggest below-the-line news in the... »
Union Roundup – January 2009
And so, the first UR column of the Obama Administration is written. Are we out of the Depression yet? Is the biosphere not headed toward a pernicious feedback loop where warming climate begets the release of more greenhouse gases, and more warming? Is the necessary psychology that ultimately backs currencies—and economies—hunky dory now? Has peace... »
Strike Still Possible for SAG
The seemingly never-ending SAG saga continues, with the possibility of a strike being called by the Screen Actors Guild at the end of January. The continuing uncertainty has caused productions to be put off, leading to lost working hours for craft guild members. SAG leadership has officially announced it will be sending out ballots on... »
Union Roundup – December 2008
It’s a lively time to be a labor columnist—even a Hollywood labor columnist, a sentence whose very construct might garner laughs in auto plants and machine shops anyplace east of Barstow. The reason things are so lively is that suddenly “labor”— as a construct, as a concept, as a prism for viewing the last 30... »
IATSE, AMPTP Forge Basic Agreement
A significant increase in the “hours worked” requirement needed by guild members to qualify for health and pension benefits is part of the new three-year contract recently negotiated between the International Association of Theatrical and Stage Employees on behalf of Hollywood guilds and the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. While 300 hours of... »
Hollywood Woes
For the second year in a row, the specter of a potential strike is stalking Hollywood as the end of the year approaches and the awards season looms. This time it’s the leadership of the Screen Actors Guild that is asking its membership to vote to authorize a possible walkout that could come as... »
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Former Industrial Light and Magic art director Joe Johnston became a feature film director over 20 years ago when he came aboard... »
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Up in the AirDecember 2009 | By Len Klady
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) has an amiable disposition that belies the fact that it’s best to stay out of his path. You see he’s... »
The Young Victoria
December 2009 | By Len Klady
The enduring image of Queen Victoria, whose reign dominated the bulk of the 19th century, is of a benevolent, elderly grandmother. Though she was... »