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Good morning...it's time for us to get to work

1)Check out the following message from actors Scott Wilson (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934113/) & Henry Kingi (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455437/)

This is an open invitation to all members of SAG and other unions to join us and fight for our right as professionals to earn a living from our work.

In the Fox 11 News report on last week's rally: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/AMPTP_Denies_Anti_Trust_Allegations_20090402
the AMPTP calls us "this small fringe group of SAG members". They forget that there are just 5 or 6 people who control the entire industry - production, distribution and exhibition - that's a monopoly and restraint of trade.

FACT: Universal owns NBC and Hulu.com http://hulu.com/
FACT: Disney owns ABC, in talks to buy into Hulu.com , and has agreed to air clips from Disney & ABC on YouTube.com http://youtube.com/
FACT: Viacom owns Paramount, CBS, C|Net http://cnet.com/ & TV.com http://tv.com/
FACT: News Corp owns Fox studios, Fox network, and stakes in YouTubecom and Hulu.com
FACT: Warner Bros has a huge cable empire and AOL.com http://aol.com/
FACT: Sony owns Columbia and MGM, Crackle.com http://crackle.com/ and has TV networks reaching 400 million viewers worldwide

This is only a partial listing of these self-dealing monopolies that are engaged in production, distribution and exhibition of entertainment.

AMPTP says "These [anti-trust] issues have nothing to do with our labor negotiations". Contrary to what they say, it has a profound impact on these negotiations, which amounts to price fixing.

FACT: we will lose $600 million in network move over to streaming
FACT: the fractional pension improvement, one-half of one percent, will be more than wiped out by losses in the move over of 14.8%.
FACT: They get 17 to 24 days of free streaming then pay $22.77 for 6 months of constant streaming.
FACT: pre 1971 movies: no residuals in New Media
FACT: pre 1974 tv series: no residuals in New Media
FACT: Non-union production in New Media
FACT: Product Integration: 2 jobs - 1 paycheck
FACT: Clips: As a condition of employment we lose control of name, voice and likeness

All of these issues are rollbacks.

FIGHT FOR YOUR RESIDUALS, HEALTH COVERAGE AND PENSION
As always ANYONE is welcome at these actor rallys so if you're in the Los Angeles area and are willing and available to attend, go right ahead.

( Read more about what YOU can do to help SAGCollapse )

Check out the following video message from actor Scott Wilson (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934113/) & actress Nancy Sinatra (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005434/)



Hat tip to Raul Reformina (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716349/) for uploading this :)

Good morning...it's time for us to get to work

1)Check out the following message from actors Scott Wilson (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934113/) & Henry Kingi (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455437/)

The Rally today is at the AMPTP/MPAA offices at the Galleria in Sherman Oaks, NW corner of Ventura and Sepulveda Blvds on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 11am-2pm. Parking at the Galleria and on side streets. (I understand that merchants & food vendors in the mall validate parking so you might consider treating yourself to a snack)

AMPTP states "There is no merit to these [anti-trust] allegations"
FACT: Universal owns NBC and Hulu.com
FACT: Disney owns ABC, in talks to buy into Hulu.com, and has agreed to air clips from Disney & ABC on YouTube.com
FACT: Viacom owns Paramount, CBS, CNet.com & TV.com
FACT: News Corp owns Fox studios, Fox network, and stakes in YouTube.com and Hulu.com
FACT: Warner Bros has a huge cable empire and AOL.com
FACT: Sony owns Columbia and MGM, Crackle.com and has tv networks reaching 400 million viewers worldwide
This handful of monolithic companies own studios, networks, cable companies and internet companies.
This is only a partial listing of these self-dealing monopolies that are engaged in production, distribution and exhibition of entertainment.

AMPTP states: "Amazingly, at a time when so many others are losing their jobs or worried about their futures, this small group continues to protest guaranteed wage increases, higher pension contributions and new forms of earning like the first-ever payments for Internet streaming for SAG members."

WE HAD BETTER PROTEST

FACT: we will lose $600 million in network content move over to streaming
FACT: the fractional pension improvement, one-half of one percent, will be more than wiped out by losses in the move over of 14.8%.
FACT: They get 17 to 24 days of free streaming then pay $22.77 for 6 months of constant streaming.
FACT: pre 1971 movies: no residuals in New Media
FACT: pre 1974 tv series: no residuals in New Media
FACT: Non-union production loophole in New Media created
FACT: Product Integration: 2 jobs - 1 paycheck
FACT: Clips: As a condition of employment we lose control of name, voice and likeness

BE AT THE RALLY TO DEFEND YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE A LIVING.

In solidarity
Scott Wilson
Henry Kingi

As always ANYONE is welcome at these actor rallys so if you're in the Los Angeles area and are willing and available to attend, go right ahead.

( Read more about what YOU can do to help SAG & IATSECollapse )

Check out the following video message from actor Scott Wilson (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934113/)



Hat tip to Rico Bueno (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119169/) for shooting this :)

Check out the following video message from actor Scott Wilson (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934113/)



Hat tip to Rico Bueno (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119169/) for shooting this :)

Check out the following video message from actor Scott Wilson (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934113/)




Hat tip to Rico Bueno (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119169/) for shooting this :)

Good evening to you my fellow fans

1)Check out the following message from actor Scott Wilson (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934113/)

There is a Rally at CBS Television Studios on Fairfax between Beverly and Third on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 11 am - 2 pm. Parking at the Farmers Market or the Grove.

Les Moonves CEO of CBS has called for an end to residuals. His network spent $1.8 billion to purchase C-Net to have a home for internet streaming.

The end of residuals is underway. We must fight to defend our residuals, pensions, health care and SAG agents.
Vote NO on the contract.
Scott Wilson
Henry Kingi (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455437/)

If you are in Los Angeles and can go to the rally tomorrow, by all means do so. Doesn't matter if you work in the business or you just love what they do, go support them if at all possible.

( Read more about what YOU can do to help SAG & IATSECollapse )

SAG & IATSE, the unions that represent our favorite actors and our crews respectively are still working together to do something to pressure the AMPTP (or more correctly the executives who run big media companies and hide behind the AMPTP when it comes time to deal with labor unions) into getting themselves decent deals.

There are some things we little people -- the fans, viewers & audiences -- can finally do to help.

The action items:

1) Read this invitation from Scott Wilson (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934113/)

There is a RALLY this Wednesday, March 11, 2009 from 11am-2pm at Warner Brothers Studios, Hollywood Way Gate. Parking on side streets. Watch the parking signs.

By mid 2006, Warner Bros had cleared "...300-plus television series, and about 14,000 to 15,000 episodes of programming" for Internet streaming, VOD and other Internet use. (Robert Ellsberg for the Huffington Post, June 5, 2008 link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/warner-bros-explains-why_b_105441.html).

Who knows how many more have been cleared since 2006.

Warner Bros. CEO, Barry Meyer, CBS Leslie Moonves, Disney ABC TV Anne Sweeney, AMPTP's Nicholas Counter, "called for the end of ... residuals". (Michael Cieply for the New York Times, July 11, 2007 link http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/business/media/11cnd-guild.html?scp=1&sq=cieply%20July%2011,%202007&st=cse).

Actors & crew members must fight for our residuals and resulting pension and health benefits.

Vote NO on the Contract.

In solidarity,
Scott Wilson
Henry Kingi (BTW Henry's a very gifted stuntperson)

If you are in Los Angeles and can go to the rally tomorrow, by all means do so. Doesn't matter if you work in the business or you just love what they do, go support them if at all possible.

( Read more about what YOU can do to help SAG & IATSECollapse )

This one is from Dan Kelpine (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0447006/)



FYI Dan walked the WGA picket lines for many many days and took a lot of video of them many of which you can see at his YouTube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kelpine

Check it out here:



That's Dave Clennon (IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0166359/) with the bullhorn

More video of SAG Rally @ Fox at
http://www.youtube.com/user/rauldoeshollywood