Wednesday, November 14. 2007
Monday, November 12. 2007
YOU TUBE STRIKE VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a37uqd5vTw
From the LA Times
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2007/11/i-was-until-rec.html
Excerpts from an e-mail from Dale Alexander, a key grip on NBC's "The Office":
"Our show was shut down and we were all laid off this week. I've been watching the news since the WGA strike was announced and I have yet to see any coverage dedicated to the effect that this strike will have on the below the line employees.
"I respect the WGA's position. They probably do deserve a larger percentage of profit participation, but a lengthy strike will affect more than just the writers and studios. On my show we had 14 writers. There were also 2 cameramen, 2 camera assistants, 4 hair stylists, 4 makeup artists, 7 wardrobe people, 4 grips, 4 electricians, 2 craft service, 4 props people, 6 construction, 1 medic, 3 art department, 5 set dressers, 3 sound men, 3 stand-ins, 2 set PAs, 4 assistant directors, 1 DGA trainee, 1 unit manager, 6 production office personnel, 3 casting people, 4 writers assistants, 1 script supervisor, 2 editors, 2 editors assistants, 3 post production personnel, 1 facilities manager, 8 drivers, 2 location managers, 3 accountants, 4 caterers and a producer who's not a writer. All 102 of us are now out of work.
"I have been in the motion picture business for 33 years and have survived three major strikes. None of which have been by any of the below the line unions. During the 1988 WGA strike many of my friends lost their homes, cars and even spouses. Many actors are publicly backing the writers, some have even said that they would find a way to help pay bills for the striking writers. When the networks run out of new shows and they air repeats the writers will be paid residuals. The lowest paid writer in television makes roughly twice the salary than the below the line crewmember makes. Everyone should be paid their fair share, but does it have to be at the expense of the other 90% of the crewmembers. Nobody ever recoups from a strike, lost wages are just that, lost.
"We all know that the strike will be resolved. Eventually both sides will return to the bargaining table and make a deal. The only uncertainty is how many of our houses, livelihoods, college educations and retirement funds will pay for it."
Friday, November 9. 2007
Dear Writer on Strike:
Hi, it's me Assistant. The faceless voice you used to speak to every week.
I'm pretty sure you don't have my name down, but that's ok, I know It's my
Evil Studio Executive boss's name that is important. Anyway, I saw you this
morning in your red shirt outside my office and it got me thinking about the
times we shared together. I mean, even though we have never had a real face
to face conversation, you have had a pretty big impact on my career and now,
on my life.
I remember the first time I heard your voice, it was your answering machine,
but still, it was the voice of a person I professionally admired. I left a
message & I remember thinking my favorite writer has my voice on their home
machine. When you did call back, I connected you to my boss and I listened
on mute as I hung on your every word. Remember when Evil Studio Executive
said "Assistant send writer the script" and I replied "Of course" like a
voice from the heavens?
Remember how you jumped a little and said you were spooked? You thought you
were on that call alone….that was a funny moment wasn't it writer? I'm on
all the calls you have with Evil Studio Executive. I take notes, write down
dates & numbers and make sure that anything Evil Studio Executive offers to
you, you get without him having to ask me. I remember calling you back to
get your address so I could send that script to you. At the end of the call
you said, "thank you Kassistant." I didn't have the courage to tell you my
name is actually "Assistant", but I didn't mind, I was talking to one of the
people who inspired me to be where I am today. So I printed the script, and
I bound the script and I drafted a cover letter. I remember bringing the
letter to Evil Studio Executive to sign and he called me a "stupid fuck
tart" because I forgot to CC your agent. It hurt my ego a little but it was
ok, this is what I put up with in order to work with creative genius like
you. I called the courier and pulled up the writers list and changed your
status from "interested" to "reading."
From then on, you became a bigger part of my working day. Soon I was
coordinating meetings with you and the Evil Executive and even some Greedy
Producers. I walked you from lobbies, to conference rooms and offices. I
brought you water and I brought you coffee.
I ordered your lunch when you had to meet here anytime between the hours of
12:30-2:00pm. I would call and apologize when we had to cancel meeting last
minute.
Remember how frustrated I would get when you didn't have a drive-on at the
studio gate, after I swore I called it in twice? That was so funny.
Next thing you knew, I threw away the writer list I updated five times a day
as you had been the chosen one to work on our project. Boy was I excited. I
remember eagerly awaiting your first draft because I wanted to see what you
applied. At least 50 hours of my time on the phone was spent discussing some
aspect of you. I would listen in on conference calls with you pitching ideas
and the evil executive saying it wouldn't work. I was even on calls you
weren't a part of (that's right, we know you slipped a copy to greedy
producers…). I even more fondly remember your agent asking me where your "
fucking commencement check" was after I had referred his assistant to
business affairs for the third time. I mean, really writer, doesn't he know
that I don't cut the check myself… silly agent. I won't accumulate that
amount of money for at least two years.
Anyway, I remember when the 1st draft of your script was delivered. It was
around 9:30pm on a Friday night.
As soon as it hit my inbox, I printed 7 copies (For Evil executives, greedy
producers, your agent, your manager, and some extras for you because you
don't have that much toner & paper at home). I bound the copies, stuffed
them in envelopes, printed out the fancy labels. I personally drove them to
everyone's houses because courier costs are more expensive after hours… I
don't think I ever told you this, but I was a little bummed that I had to
miss a birthday dinner that night. I'm not saying this to make you feel
guilty, that was a sacrifice I was willing to make in order to be a
proactive member of the studio system. I never did get reimbursed for gas as
I don't have an expense account.
Anyway, after that bundle of paper arrived the cycle continued. I arranged
meetings, conference call ports, sent your script to other agents for talent
to read…soon we were on to draft 2.
Only, there is no 2nd draft.
I'm really bummed about that. I was really looking forward to seeing if any
of the notes I had given to Evil Studio Executive would be poached and
passed off as his own and implemented into your script. (It's fine writer, I
don't mind, as long as I know in my heart who was responsible, it doesn't
matter who gets the credit). The thing is, I now have a lot more free time
to try to read your script. Due to your strike, all my overtime has been
eliminated. This basically translates into about a 50% pay cut. I did the
numbers, I will be taking home about $400 a week- I may have to quit or try
to find a second job. I guess it's not so bad writer, my friend who just
graduated, who works in the story department for $13 an hour, she actually
got fired. And I have another friend, who is a reader (I think he did
coverage on your script), well, he was also given the axe. It sucks, but, we
know how it goes. We are the little guys, the ones at the bottom of the
totem pole who suffer. I guess I should be happy that the evil executive is
ok right?
Well writer we may not get to speak again so I just wanted to thank you for
inspiring me to go to film school, & inspiring me to aggressively fight for
a minumim wage assistant job, and inspiring me to put up with demoralizing
and abusive people. I really did it all because working with creative and
smart people like you, was the real payment- not the crappy paycheck. Don't
get me wrong, I am not blaming you for my decision to be an assistant, I
just think it's ironic that the writer who inspired me to be proactive in
the business is turning to be the one responsible for my departure. I know
you are fighting for what you believe is right, but just know that the
longer you stand out there, more people like me, are left jobless, confused,
and somewhat let down by their creative motivators. I mean writer, think of
all the good times we had together, we can still have those back!
I still respect you, I still admire you and you will always be my favorite
writer. I hope you get what you are fighting for and I hope it's worth it.
Love always
Assistant
PS- I saw you chumming it up with Katherine Heigl as I left the lot. That
was really sweet of her to bring you Sprinkles…doesn't she make something
like 100k an episode?
PSS- I'm the one who ordered and delivered the Fred Segal basket for your
first born, just thought you should know since your thank you card was
addressed to the Evil one.
Friday, April 6. 2007
...is a girl and a gun." --Jean-Luc Godard
Thank you, Robert Rodriguez, for simplifying things a little.
Somehow, I've stumbled into joining a mostly-dude crowd for Grindhouse tonight, and I'm very very excited; there's no way I would have attended film school if I didn't love the ultraviolent testosterone of Rodriguez and Tarantino's work.
But I also know that as much as I'll enjoy the 70s horror film homages and insane cinematography, there will be the occasional moments that will separate me from my viewing buddies. There's already that one long tracking shot from the first trailer, focused around Rosario Dawson's ass (at least, I think it's Dawson's ass; there's not enough of her face visible to tell for sure). And Planet Terror seems to take place entirely in a strip club. I'm not a prude about these things, but it is always an awkward moment. Realizing that you are not the intended audience for the film you've spent $13.50 to watch.
Anyone else going to the movies tonight? Anyone else know what I mean?
Tuesday, April 3. 2007
2 US Tax Incentive documents have been posted to the group files.
Also, this is a good site for info: http://axium.com/incentives/guide.pdf
Thanks all!
Monday, April 2. 2007
In the deep dark abyss that is my inbox, and even hiding under my desk, and in my closet at home, and under my desk at home, and on the book shelf in my bedroom, and on the floor next to the book shelf in my bedroom...this is where they lurk. The scripts that I promise myself that I will read, often to enhance my competitive industry knowledge, and sometimes to give me that edge. That edge that I have found literary gold! But truth be told, I probably received this script from someone else who has already realized the weight of this gold, and my opinion about the material will get lost in the industry shuffle. Sure, I could bring this kernel of new material/writer knowledge to my boss and wow him with my awesome taste and progressive thinking. And maybe this new writer will get put on a writer's list. A list that will be narrowed down to the top 12 writers that already have agents and already have sold scripts to other studios.
So how do you find that uniquely new voice that can make you TRULY shine in the eyes of your employer (or perhaps even launch your own producing career and d-girl stardom)?
Unsolicited submissions. That murky water where a gigantic trout of a script may be hiding amongst the tadpoles and minnows. As if we don't have enough to read, we must snap on our hiking boots and climb up the neverending mountain of bullshit and clearly half-baked ideas that often pollute the unsolicited waters. BUT in these waters were born the writers we know and love. So someone must be reading these scripts. It is exceptionally difficult to determine who you should accept a script from. A family friend? (Often the deadest of dead ends) A friend of a friend? (Perhaps more well-tested as you hope your friend has read the garbage they are about the pawn off on you) A total stranger you meet at an event or bar? (Very hit or miss)
What avenues are the well-tested route to finding new materials? I met a guy about 2 years ago through a friend at a day at Six Flags. He was new to LA and, shocker of shockers, he was a WRITER! He told me briefly about his script and I shrugged and said sure, I'd read it. One of the smartest things I've ever done. It was a quality script that demonstrated this guy's fabulous writing. We actually got him a manager for a brief amount of time. Of course this was a catch 22, as managers and agents don't often take unsolicited submissions. But studios won't look at a script without a manager or agent attached. So how do you break into this representation world? It's the trickiest part of this whole process to navigate. Once you work for a production company, studio, or agent, can you accept an unsolicited submission under the table without becoming embroiled in industry politics?
After much pondering, it seems like it would be a deadend. But the scripts pile up in our bedrooms, our secret stash of materials that one day we'll get to (and if we can get to it sooner rather than later we might stumble upon some fabulous treasure). As if we weren't busy enough. If anyone knows of an easier way to navigate these waters, I'd love to know.
Thursday, February 22. 2007
Hey All,
Just thought since there were so many good responses to my Denim Question recently, I'd post some of the options for everyone's benefit.
Most Recommended: Denim Revival (aka Denim Doctor), about $24/pair for original hem, located at 804 W. 3rd Street, LA, 90048 - Phone (323)852-0171
Also highly praised: Dr. Blue Jeans, approx. $20/pair for original hem, located in the valley/Sherman Oaks - Phone (818)986-8047
Alternative suggestions:
First Class Tailors, price unknown, On Wilshire @ Barrington
Elias in Santa Monica, price unknown, on 11th Street @ Wilshire
* Frank Young Tailors (owner is Chong), $18/pair for original hems, On Pico just west of Beverly Drive
Hope this helps all of us in the search for "the perfect pair of jeans"!!!
Wednesday, February 7. 2007
My former boss Kendall Morgan has put together this really great daily e-mail called SPIN DAILY.
SpinDaily VLog just launched so check it out:
www.spindaily.com.
It's kind of like a daily candy meets rocketboom and is a quick 2 minute daily video clip on the hottest and coolest in fashion, beauty, gadgets, and entertainment.
SpinDaily airs fresh video content every week on their website. Sign up for the news blasts too.
And for even more spinning fun, check out her website www.spinandstir.com - truly a must-read for discerning damsels who find Perez Hilton entertaining but not stimulating.
Tuesday, February 6. 2007
So personally, I'm not a fan of "Black Wednesday" or Valentine's Day as you romantic types out there call it, but there's one thing I do love...
MOVIES! And if I can't spend that day with a hot guy, then I'm just peachy settling down with some sappy flicks. No, not to remind me that I don't have a date for that night. I'm watching it for the cinematography and sound editing...really...
Anyway, check out this list that Movies.com put together of their top Romantic Movies and start adding them to your Netflix/Blockbuster queue in time for that fateful day.
Something New
Annie Hall
Arthur
Bridget Jones' Diary
Four Weddings and a Funeral
It Happened One Night
The Philadelphia Story (original)
The Graduate
Groundhog Day
Pretty Woman
Sabrina (original)
Lost in Translation
Sixteen Candles
Sleepless in Seattle
Some Like It Hot
When Harry Met Sally
Say Anything
Garden State
Roman Holiday
Splash
Seven Year Itch
Shakespeare in Love
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
As Good As It Gets
Love Actually
Jerry Maguire
Tuesday, January 16. 2007
Hi Ladies-
I recently got promoted at my office, Framework Studios. I’ve been a junior producer, and I now have the opportunity to really start making new connections and producing full time.
So if anyone needs graphics, main title sequences, broadcast design, show opens, help w/ TV pilot graphics or Indie main titles, we do it all!!
Framework is a high-end entertainment and design studio that specializes in motion graphics, visual FX, branding, new media and production. Please check out our reel at www.frameworkla.com.
I’d love to talk to more people about upcoming projects you're creating, or even thinking of doing...so give me a call or email.
Here’s a list of some of our most recent projects:
film--
-CASINO ROYALE: trailer title & FX
-SPIDERMAN 3: teaser
-X-MEN 3: 3D main title sequence
-OPEN SEASON: trailer title & FX
-CLICK: visual FX, main title & DVD menus
broadcast--
-THREE SIX MAFIA: MTV graphics package
-BLU-RAY: Consumer Electronics Show reel
-101 Juiciest Hollywood Hookups: E! Graphics package
Thank you!! Look forward to chatting & creating...
Fawn Shoemaker
F R A M E W O R K
6255 Sunset Blvd., Ste.# 917
Los Angeles, CA 90028
O: 323-460-2043
F: 323-460-5148
M: 323-371-1807
IM: FawnKiersten
www.frameworkla.com
Thursday, November 9. 2006
So - here's the blog. Let's use it as a forum for discussion as perscribed by the group's founders.
Yes, it is sort of a side step to get to the blog. But no different from checking one's email or MySpace throughout the day. (c'mon, I check them multiple times a day, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.)
My thoughts on the Board : I spend all day on email as well, so I know the frustration of the packed inbox. But I also know how quickly and easily information can be disseminated that way. I feel that Aimee's suggestion is a good one; if you feel your posting is off topic, start the subject as "Off Topic."
I posted the blog below before the CSAs, and did not send an email to the group - sort of as an experament to see if I would get responses on the blog. I did not. Proves to me that the Board is a more effective means of soliciting and providing information at the pace in which this industry demands.
What do y'all think? BLOG AWAY.
Tuesday, October 31. 2006
I assume a certain amount of us will be there...
Let's blog about it!
I am not even sure at which table I'll be - but let's not be strangers.
-caitlin ferrara @ TalentWorks
Friday, October 27. 2006
Just wondering if anyone is thinking of subletting their apartment during the Christmas break... looking for someone visiting for about 2 weeks.
If so, please email : amufson@yahoo.com
Thanks!
- Ariana
Hey ladies,
A few of us went to this boot camp last week, and it was GREAT! It actually inspired me to start running and get back in shape! Please join us tomorrow if you're around!!
A BOOT CAMP IN THE PARK
A full body work out that includes cardio, resistance, core, flexibility, and balance training.
Conducted by: Lauren Moody, Certified Personal Trainer & Registered Dietitian
TOMORROW, Saturday, October 28 at Pan Pacific Park from 10:00-11:00 AM
(7600 Beverly Blvd – next to the Grove)
Bring Yourself, Your Friends, and a Towel.
Price: $5 for first trial!!
$10 thereafter.
Please e-mail or call Lauren with Healthy Eating and Training, Inc. if you would like to attend (Lauren@HeatforHealth.com or 323-371-5556).
Thanks girls-
Fawn Shoemaker
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