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I don't know who did this video, but it's making the email rounds:
VIDEO: See Who Were Middle Class Actors
By Nikki Finke | Category: Actors | Wednesday December 24, 2008 @ 9:16am PST
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Title Studio Gross 1 Alice In Wonderland Disney $116.1M 2 Brooklyns Finest Overture $13.4M 3 Shutter Island Paramount $13.2M 4 Cop Out Warner $9.3M 5 Avatar Fox $8.1M 6 The Crazies Overture $7.1M 7 Lightning Thief Fox $5.1M 8 Valentines Day Warner $4.2M 9 Crazy Heart Fox $3.3M 10 Dear John Sony $2.8M 11 Tooth Fairy Fox $1.7M 12 The Wolfman Universal $1.6M 13 Ghost Writer Summit $1.3M 14 The Blind Side Warner $1.3M 15 The Last Station SPC $0.7M 16 Up In The Air Paramount $0.6M 17 When In Rome Disney $0.6M 18 The Squeakquel Fox $0.5M 19 The Book Of Eli Warner $0.5M 20 The Hurt Locker Summit $0.4M SOURCE: RENTRAKBox Office Poll
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There are also a lot of middle class actors on that list.
Big name actors also appear on the Yes list, do we then turn around and say “well they can afford a strike becasuse they are rich” ?
Give me a break. …………………….. This is just one more tool being used to divide us.
Have the creators of this video even considered, for a single second… that Alec Baldwin is thinking about the well being of more than just the actors? Clearly one of the most politically active celebrity democrats is going to be more concerned about the state of the economy and the impact on everyone who will experience the strike fallout.
It’s videos and messages like the one above that make it harder for me to be sympathetic to pro-strike SAG arguments, because they’re so determined to paint other SAG members as greedy and out of touch than consider that opposing viewpoints are less selfish than they are. Gross.
Thank God there are at least some unselfish stars like Martin Sheen and Holly Hunter who recognize they have a responsibility to the next generation of actors.
What is the point of this other than show that you too middle class actor can be rich too with a little more work and a little less lip.
Indeed they soon forget… how sad… how sad that they become so shallow…
:/
I guess they don’t like competition…
Since a lot of BTL people are asking actors to take a financial hit so BTL’ers can keep earning, why aren’t BTL willing to take a financial hit during a strike so actors can keep earning… later?
Anyone with some brain in all of this would have already deducted that those stars against a strike vote and against a strike are out for themselves. This is the attitude that has prevailed in AFTRA. Now it’s coming SAG’s direction too.
We’re in an era in which everyone is out for themselves and few feel they have an obligation to the community for the benefit of the whole.
Additionally, so MANY stars are now producers. This was not so even 5 years ago. But with all these hyphenates and stars gone businessfolks, they are protecting their businesses — not the actors. They already have a name for themselves. They don’t want the machine to stop because that would affect everything in their livelihood. They also don’t want anyone else moving up the food chain — they can stay stars longer. They also, because of being producers, are part of the AMPTP — and have to choose which master to serve. Because it is a matter of economics, they make way more money producing so they’ve chosen to not alienate the studios so that distributor relationships and co-production deals don’t dry up for them. Also, when you are a star and a producer, you can choose if you want to be in your own project or not, even how much you get paid and what the contract says. So the SAG issue is really a non-issue for them; and they will stake their reputation on SAG’s downfall if need be.
Those stars who are not producers but are promoting no strike and no strike vote are simply kiss ups. There is no other explanation. They already have a significant name to themselves, have excellent leverage in getting a contract they are happy with, and just want to keep the flow of money going.
That leaves the stars who are in favor of a strike vote and strike — they are supporting the craft, their union, and being more honest. They are old school — which means a lot these days.
However, I did think that the DHD recommendation to put the contract to vote was an interesting suggestion. But how anyone could agree on that contract, though, in good conscience is beyond me.
The biggest beef I have is with the clip usage and product placement clauses in the proposed contract because it puts every actor who does any endorsements or commercials out of work — either out of work theatrically or out of work commercially; copyrighting your name and likeness doesn’t do anything for you because you still have to get the producers on either side (theatrical or commercial) to want you enough to agree to consent. It’s so competitive out there that, again, you’d have to be a star to have any leverage in this — otherwise you’d be passed over for a more desperate actor who will agree to any short-sighted clip or product placement consent. Bottom line, the clip consent and product placement in the proposed contract is completely unworkable.
I believe just about everything else in the proposed agreement can be POTENTIALLY renegotiated in 3 years with the “mother of all strikes” hanging over the moguls head, and in the interium can be negotiated individually; however, it’s a weak and downward-spiral strategy that tends toward gambling rather than honestly supporting your members.
I know many names on that list as people who I see reading for guest stars, who count on residuals and who are not producers. They are not all hugely famous or that far away from struggling for parts. They simply disagree with the current leadership and you are letting the Guild feed you more of it’s propaganda videos. These people work a lot and hear directly from other actors and yes, crew how devastating a strike would be for us now. They did not get successful either in the past or stay at the top by being stupid, they are smart enough to see for a variety of reasons that now is not the time.
The irony about this video is, the crappy contract that these “stars” don’t want us to fight would forever let their old clips be used exactly in ways like this, without their cooperation or consent (and most certainly without pay), and for purposes they may steadfastly oppose.
To those that have, more will be given. To those that have not, even what they have will be taken away.
The SAG Leadership is behaving like Union leaders. Their responsibility is to the SAG Membership and that Membership alone. Economy? Right time? Somebody please explain how waiting for the economy to get better benefits SAG? The June 30 offer from Management is a clear signal that the Studios want to rip the guts out of the Guild. If the June 30 deal were to be implemented there would be millions lost from Internet actor salaries over the next 3 years. Another DVD opportunity lost. Goodbye to residuals, goodbye to the middle class actor. The “stars” represented in the video signed a petition that advocates a deal that will KILL the middle class. How is any working actor supposed to be impressed by that petition?
This is to me two things; wonderful disinformation or a sad attempt to vote for a strike authorization. This video is so out if touch it reeks of old, boring and stupid. The music is terrible, the editing horrendous and overall pathetic. A 4 year old could do a better job at making a video badmouthing Ale cBaldwin and Diane Keaton. Wow, I’m so disgusted that Jason Alexander forgot where he came from! Even Tom Hanks!
Lame! Tired! Grow some balls! Put some heart, passion into this! Seriously who ever made this video should be ashamed of themselves. There isn’t a clear message through the videos you’ve chosen or even the actors you’ve used.
The irony is by making a video such as this you continue the infighting between each other and loose focus on what and who you are fighting for. Leave these actors alone, Im sick of hearing people get upset at Tom Hanks and George Clooney for being producers, stop using them as scapegoats, it’s tired already. They became producers to have more control over there careers not to ruin actors lives. To great opportunities for themselves of course but also actors.
To whomever made this video, you’re the one who is out of touch….
Look I don’t think there should be a strike. Timing is bad and I think SAG leadership, the board, the negcomm, AR and DA, the membership, have failed at the most fundamental step in negotiations, keeping their membership united. That alone is a reason not to strike. If you can’t last six months on the line and remain united, you have no right striking for even a day. They simply don’t have it together to wage an effective strike. All they’ll succeed in doing is hurting the entire town and hundreds if not thousands of lives.
I agree with the “VOTE NO” crowd. I don’t agree with how they went about it. Publicly when there are open channels in SAG to be heard.
That being said I don’t agree with this video at all. I also don’t agree that the actors who signed the no list are acting selfishly. I’ve worked with Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Alec Baldwin. All three go out of their way to make sure that the crew is treated well on their films. And the majority of those who signed the letter are not producer/actors.
All this video will do is further divide.
SAG needs to accept that the leverage they had was used up with the WGA and DGA deals this time around. They helped to better all of the other unions deals this past round — except for IATSE which took a bunch of rollbacks as usual.
Let the membership vote, if they want to accept the current offer fine, if not go back to the table.
Spend the next three years uniting SAG, SAG with AFTRA and then team up with the WGA and the TEAMSTERS, forget the DGA and IATSE, and hit them hard next time.
The battle is lost this time, it simply is.
Timing is not on their side.
So this is what passes for insight and creativity these days … interesting.
To respond to “someone who’s wondering” note about BTL’ers, I am surprised at your ignorance in what’s happening to “us” — you know, the little people.
All those jobs that were cut during the WGA strike? Only a small portion were rehired. Each studio has just ambitiously cut headcount (5-7% of the entire studio workforce in many cases), jobs that will take years to replace. If SAG strikes, more jobs will be lost, with a good portion of those most likely not backfilled when the strike ends.
I respect your right to negotiate the best deal possible, to even have the chance to argue for better pay. But it’s incredibly insulting and naive to not think the current economic downturn will impact us “BTL’ers”.
…………….. Very curious if anyone got paid for the reuse of these clips on this site? Or got “Clip Approval” from these actors since they are being used to “sell” your agenda. ………………………… Just a thought.
Ouch.
Great video. Hopefully those actors will remember that everyone has to start from the bottom.
For a lot of us BTL freelance film crews who rely on studio features to make a living, the reality is that there has been a de facto strike since June.
Considering that negotiations started several months before the expiration of the last SAG contract this June, and if it is true that your membership did not like the offer on the table way back in July. WHY DID IT TAKE SEVEN MONTHS TO INITIATE A STRIKE VOTE? And now a delay of another two weeks. For those of us watching on the sidelines this has been a pathetic display of incompetence and in fighting which is crippling the industry as a whole.
SAG get your act together, we are losing patience fast.
To” someone who’s just wondering.”
BTL is taking a major hit right now- much more so than actors- and has been taking a hit for six months while SAG plods along with what has proved to be a very confusing and ineffective strategy. Most union techs I know support SAG but are confounded by SAG’S unwillingness to put their backs into any sort of cohesive negotiation effort. Your team has had six months and they have been out maneuvered at every turn by the AMTPT and in recent weeks have taken to attacking each other. Every move that has been made by SAG is a reaction to someone else’s move or is some sort of delaying action.
How much support do you guys want? We’ve been beaten up for six months and you’re not even on strike yet.
Now the strike vote is delayed until mid-January. That means at the earliest features get back on track in mid-March.
You guys talk like things are moving along as normal but these are the facts in LA:
Feature film production is way off due almost entirely to uncertainty over the labor situation.
-More than a third of union techs “on the books” which means out of work and on unemployment.
-All the major rental houses have laid off at least 2/3rds of their drivers (guys who make about 12/hr)
-The company 24/7, a provider of man lifts for the film industry rotates its drivers so it won’t have to lay people off over the holidays.
-Film caterers closed or laid off most of their employees.
Now if this is the damage on the tech end it must be as bad for background people and some day player actors. There would be work here, even in this economy.
You guys don’t even know how many or what jobs have been postponed since this started in June, do you?
You can’t blame the impasse entirely on the AMTPT. There are things that your team needed to do and they didn’t do them. Accept responsibility for that and stop complaining about how you are perceived by below the line people.
I’d like to address the post made by Work First. I appreciate what you had to say, but I wonder about your comment that “Feature film production is way off due almost entirely to uncertainty over the labor situation.”
I’ve been thinking about this very thing, and I also thought this was true for a long time. But is this something that can be backed up with any empirical data? Do we know for sure that it is because of “uncertainty over the labor situation” that this ebb in production is occurring? When I read Nikki Fink’s column about the entertainment industry in particular, and other news sources about the economy in general, I am not so certain that it is because of labor strife that this lack of work is present at this time.
All sectors of the US, and indeed, the world economy, are in downturn. We are experiencing what they refer to in the corporate media as “the greatest financial crisis since the great depression.” Even what were once considered great and mighty financial institutions are falling by the wayside…well, they would be if they weren’t bailed out by or taxpayer money.
I honestly don’t think the leadership of SAG can be blamed for the problems this or any industry is experiencing today. However, it is very handy for the corporate bosses to blame SAG for it, thus hopefully breaking the back of organized labor within the industry.
I have also been thinking lately that our industry is so unionized that we really do not need the bosses at all. We know how to do the business of making movies, televison shows, commercials, etc. I think this is interesting in view of the sit-down strikes that were held during the mid 1930’s when unions took hold in the US.
IATSE knows how to make films. SAG (in the best cases) is capable of bringing some kind of humanity to the scene and the Teamsters know how to move everybody around in an organized mannner.
We should stand together and not apart against those who seek to take whatever they can from our pockets. If SAG fails, it will not be good for anyone in the industry. If SAG wins it will be good for everyone. Times are hard, and we all want to work as much as possible. Let’s stand together so that all workers can have a better life.
Let’s strike to just prove to Jason Alexander and Alec Baldwin we could care less what they think. I love Alexander in the non-union Brad Paisley music video for “On Line”.
Whatever.
Look, here’s the reality of things. If you take the deal, you’re screwed long term. If you don’t take the deal, you and MANY others are screwed short term.
But you will never, ever be able to change things 3 years down the road once you “take the deal now” because of the economy, the BTLers, the caterers, blah, blah, blah…
It simply just won’t happen 3 years from now either for the reasons you are seeing now: backbiting and sniping and every man and woman for themselves…
You take the deal now, don’t complain as the terms become worse and worse down the road…
Perhaps 2012 really is the end… of Hollywood as we knew it…
I hope the nitwits that made this are willing to pay the actors that appear in the clips … and while they’re at it, pay into Motion Picture Health Care as well … being IA I can’t get those perks but at least contribute to the health care … or are they 2 faced?? selfish (F)ilm (A)ctors (G)uild leadership and membership need to admit, no matter how hard it is, that this isn’t ALL ABOUT THEM … the selfishness they show will put THOUSANDS OUT OF WORK at the worst possible time … wait 3 years and re-negotiate when all of the guilds’ and unions’ contracts are up … strength in numbers. All this leadership is doing is creating a wall between the actors and those that make them who they are. Without us, actors would simply be loud, obnoxious, selfish brats, arrogant brat.
Wow… Not that I was ever on board with the strike, but after watching this, I am more against the strike than ever. This looks to be a lame attempt to humiliate people because they have become successful and have an opinion. I never thought I would see the day of actors using clips like this to tear down and hurt each other – that was always left for the tabloids…
I have friends – very dear friends on both sides of this fight, but in the end, the pro-strike ones will be hurt more (my opinion), as I was never convinced the Producers were going to change after securing deals with the other Unions/Guilds.
Emotion aside, a smart business play would be to re-group (replace the inept leaders of SAG), and join forces with the other Unions/Guilds to re-negotiate in 3 years.
There is a reason they call this “show business”. The actors – not their leadership – absolutely bring the show, but they are completely ineffective in bringing the business.
Stop feeding on each other – it’s embarrassing and shameful.
This is going to backfire big time.
Shame on whoever did this video and began circulating it.
Maybe these middle class actors are right?
Considering the current economy and the over all public opinion, those middle class actors are showing more maturity than the author of this shameful video.
Correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t history dictate that SAG usually goes into Negotiations before IA and whatever they get IA gets? So shame on IA for going in and accepting the Aftra terms which basically cut the legs out from under SAG. Didn’t Aftra go in and rush to a deal in the middle of SAG’s Negotiations when they could have shown that “unity” you’re talking about? They could have said, “Not fair enough. We’ll let SAG take it from here and take whatever they get.” Why doesn’t anyone want SAG to get a fair deal? Aren’t there rollbacks in the June 30 offer that have been in SAG’s contract for years? When I read how SAG is handling Negotiations it seems to me that it’s behaving like a Union. I understand that if they accept the June 30 offer from Management residuals will go away via the Internet. I’m not in the Negotiating room. I don’t have privileged info. But, if what they’re saying is true then it seems they have absolutely no choice but to fight NOW. It’s naive to think that when the economy gets better or the other Unions start holding hands that that’s when you can Negotiate a fair deal. The Studios will never care if any of us can pay our mortgages. Not now… Not in 3 years. Let SAG get a better deal so we can ALL win down the line.
“Working Actor” has it right.
“The Bushing” of American has left us all in possession of empty hearts.
And I especially love the fake liberals like Alec Baldwin who are only liberal until you threaten their lifestyles.
“Working Actor” I applaud you, brother. I hope we are both wrong and SAG prevails.
The performers in this video have agreed to have actors’ images exploited online for no pay for ever. so what dimwits are calling for them to be paid? are you paid studio-shills so stupid as to not understand any of the issues currently under discussion??? I will vote YES to strike or what’s being done in this video will be done to all actors. very effective video. Five Stars.
Hey Simon, not everyone who goes against the strike or MAY not fully understand the potential use of footage on the internet is a studio-shill… Instead of calling people stupid and taking your frustration out in this way, perhaps you should look at the leadership of SAG. They had plenty of opportunities to address these issues – not to mention the fact that they could have done a better job in joining other Unions/Guilds to have more power in the negotiations. Instead, they may the wrong move and are now on the outside looking in – they miscalculated, and are hoping the membership will come to their aide and bail them out of a terrible strategic move. But like most people with a large ego, they just can’t admit they were wrong. So, they will continue to embarrass themselves and dig themselves into a deeper hole, taking the hard working Directors, Writers, Crew – and their own Actors with them.
So, perhaps you are the stupid one? Perhaps you think that the clearly failed strategy of SAG’s leadership is working. Only time will tell, but if I had to take a guess – you’ll be on the outside looking in…
I would have much more respect for the leadership if they would admit the timing of this power-play was wrong and they re-grouped with the others in 3 years. Pretty soon, if they don’t wise up – it may be possible that the other Guilds/Unions won’t want to join with them in 3 years – It’s ironic – SAG is the Fredo Corleone of the Entertainment Business… and we all know what happened to him… Ask Johnny Ola