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This "No Strike" video featuring actors James Cromwell, Kaley Cuoco and former SAG Foundation president Mitch Ryan was made with an all-volunteer cast and crew. David Pringle and Eric Golden, owners of lighting manufacturer Luminys Systems Corp, organized the effort and served as executive producers:
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Great ad. Way to highlight the people who stand to get hurt of SAG goes through with its insane strike.
Why not just get a bunch of actors to crawl naked in the mud toward a corporate CEO lighting his cigar with a hundred-dollar bill? Pathetic ad. If these union members have a problem it should be taken up with their union leadership, not aired publicly. These quislings have no idea what solidarity and communal action is all about. Disgraceful, yes, but unintelligent more than disgraceful.
Hope this helps get the point across.
Well done Mr. Cromwell et al. We all would certainly like to see our workers compensated fairly. This is NOT the time to strike. Be patient. The time WILL come to negotiate for all of us. Now is most definitely NOT the time to do it.
Now can we show the film of the actor getting evicted from their home 3 years after a series run because they no longer profit from their art. Then split screen to the producer floating in their pool in the Hills laughing to a friend how they outsmarted those dumb actors and got to finally stop SHARING WITH them a few pennies of their profits!!!
The Screen Actors Guild is not a union of the film industry, it is a union of actors. The question any actor should be asking is, “If you accept the last and final offer of the AMPTP, what would be left of your union when it’s over?”
The wild card remains that the percentage needed to pass a strike vote is EASILY met by people who do not, and have not, made their living acting. These people have NOTHING to lose by voting yes (well, unless fewer people come to their restaurants) – the do not bear the negative incidence of their actions.
That this continues to brew, amidst the depression, and over an agreement which one guild already struck over, is only a testament to the intransigence of unions.
Bye bye residuals. It was a nice 50 year run while it lasted. The AMPTP wins again.
That’s nice. Great, long take, etc. And it illustrates what might/could happen – if we were to be forced to strike. And as a ‘Vote Yes’ supporter, I could agree with almost everything Jamie said – even though the wording was a little bleak to suit their position. Fair enough.
What it fails to address is what the outcome of voting ‘No’ is. Just saying “vote no or else… blackout” isn’t going to sway me. Tell me what voting ‘No’ means with regards to the current contract offer. Give me some “Vote no, and then we can…”, or “Vote no so that…” Because this video sounds like most of the ‘Vote No’ arguments, which sound like “vote no on the SAV and sign the contract offer from the AMPTP”.
Is that what this video means to say – “Sign the shitty contract”? Because for whatever reason, they didn’t say that, did they?
Fitting that they volunteered, as that will be the effective pay rate they’ll be working at if they achieve their goals.
Powerful stuff. Made me cry like when that mom got a call from her son in that old AT&T commercial. He called just to tell her he loved her, don’t you know.
Seems like they spent a lot of money to sell the idea that if SAG demands fair compensation from the record profits of the AMPTP the movie industry will crumble-which of course is true just like the middle class workers collapsed the stock market and the economy. Curses to that middle class!!
Or wait, no, that collapse was..wait who caused that? Oh, no I think that was mismanagement, greed of the rich and the crooked CEOs. Maybe if we all are willing to accept no money the CEOs will be OK. Let’s pull together and give the greedy corporations our salaries as garnish for their $700 billion.
Ppppppppplease. Better get used to “all-volunteer work”.
I will say the lighting was GREAT!
Luminys (who financed this anti-fair-wage commercial) parent company is Imagility–a corporation so worker and American friendly they just bought a factory in China to build their lighting equipment.
Seems like they may have their own plan for doing away with American industries that favors them paying workers merely a fair compensation.
As they say on their website:”…we empower management to realize its growth potential utilizing the resources of the entire Imagility group.” And so they do.
Was this shot under a SAG contract?
A shitty contract only will last 3 years. Many below-the-line/other industry jobs will never come back…
I think it’s interesting that Jason Bateman is apparently against an authorization to strike (http://www.nosagstrike.com/), and his sister supports the authorization (http://www.sag.org/solidarity-list). In that case, it’s not just a guild divided. It’s siblings divided.
Cromwell and Ryan and two of the most politically astute people in the business, and what they say is important. BTW, what they say isn’t “strike” or “no-strike,” it’s “keep working on it,” which is sensible and realistic. Besides, if there is a strike, can you imagine 10,00 actors auditioning to say “do you want fries with that?” or “paper or plastic?”
Like SAG cares. If they did, something would of gotten done in the last 6 months. It is 100% obvious to me that all they care about is dead presidents. SAG has had ample time to negociate a new deal or to of authorized a strike, yet as of today still nothing new. I honestly have no clue what has taken so long but the longer it takes, more poeple who need work to survive are going broke.
If I were in SAG, I would be thrilled with $759 minimum a day. Apparently that is enough for all these professional lairs with no talent. I guess they need to make more so when their shitty movies comes out that prevents them from obtaining new work, they would of already made enough off their bad performance that it wouldn’t matter. I know LA is expensive but when I have a job, even I can live off $500 A WEEK.
To all those who need residuals to surive or for whatever reason. Do a better job managing your money. Haven’t you ever heard of saving or investing? Based off perfomances, none of you liars deserve residuals. Maybe if you had talent then it could be justified.
I’m afraid the strife among actors has gone too far to make any solution possible, but is there anyone who can tell me why, from the beginning of these negotiations, SAG has undercut every, single thing its negotiating committee has tried to do? You don’t make a deal by telling your employer how much you want everybody to be friends and how much you want to help “the industry.” Do you think GE loves “The Industry” or you?? You don’t make strides forward against huge corporations by weeping about their fate if you stand up for fair contract terms. Do you really think the film business would “go away” if you gave yourselves some leverage by saying that you’d strike if you had to? Nobody wants a strike. Nobody. But because members of SAG undermined the negotiations from the start, the corporations can just stand back and watch the union self-destruct. TNT is now doing all of its pilots with the lily-livered AFTRA. The benefits and residuals are poor – every working actor knows this. Is this what you want? Well, you got it. Good work. Oh, and thanks a bunch from the rest of us, too, for making it harder for everyone down the road.
I love the fact that the writers go on strike and the entire town is behind them. To hell with “the man!” “FIGHT!” But the actors talk about doing the same thing (during a difficult economic time that they didn’t cause, have nothing to do with) and it’s “these damn actors are gonna strike and hurt everyone!” I guess being one industry means you support everyone until it’s not convenient for you to do so. We are one “industry”… one part goes down, we all go down. So we might as well band together and support all parts of that one industry as if we were one union.
At least there are SOME actors out there (you know, the real ones) who actually give a flying fuck about the people around them. Meanwhile, the strike mongers with nothing better to do are jerking off to the thought of destroying California more than it already is. I guess that beats actually, you know, landing a job. Wait until people start hoarding toilet paper. It won’t be long.
do any of you know the particulars of the freaking contract? all you knuckleheads who say shit like “bye bye residuals” do not understand this contract is up again in THREE YEARS. and it comes up at the SAME TIME as the wga and the dga. how about deciding NOW and PREPARING to band together and HAVE SOME POWER?
but this is too complicated because sag is full of self centered little whiners who don’t know how to think LONG TERM.
I personally didn’t know of anyone who approved of the writers strike and definitely not of the actors strike. If actors don’t feel like they make enough between gigs, then here’s an idea. If there isn’t enough work for actors then SAG and AFTRA need to reduce membership numbers. It’s difficult to break into a film Union in most cases. The reason for this is so membership remains low enough for the members to find work. Crazy concept, huh. The Unions aren’t here to find you work, make sure your house payment can be made or even that you have food to put on your table. It’s our job as independent contractors to find our own work based on our skill and work ethic. The Union’s simply is there to make sure we don’t get screwed when we land the job.
Where the hell are my residuals when my show goes down? It’s my blood on the back of all those set walls your acting in. Its my sweat steaming of the hot lamps lighting your precious faces.
On the bright side, after this is all over, I’ll start tipping extra for my waiter to dance to the kitchen to put my order in.
As a working actor for over 20 years, everytime I get a job I do this crazy thing….I save money. I know, a crazy concept but I save my money. How these people create this myth that there will never be more residuals, or even worse destroying other peoples ability to make money so you can get a check 4 years from now for $1.31 from the 2 lines you did on desperate housewives is beyond horrible. SAVE YOUR MONEY! And once again I want to see how voting yes is going to acheive anything. It is the same lies the brought about the commercial strike that completely destroyed commercial work in this town.
Infamous posted: “If I were in SAG, I would be thrilled with $759 minimum a day. Apparently that is enough for all these professional lairs with no talent… I know LA is expensive but when I have a job, even I can live off $500 A WEEK.”
I’ve made my living as an actor now for over a decade. This success has allowed me the ability to buy a house. So I have a mortgage. Pretty tough to find a budget that allows you to live on $500 a week when you’ve got a mortgage.
Maybe you shouldn’t be so harsh on other people’s talent or lack thereof. If you’re living on $500 a week (WHEN you have a job)… we might want to question yours.
So, that’s all you’ve got? Fear? That ad could have been straight from the AMPTP, or worse, the Bush Administration. It contained nothing that gives me, as an actor, any information. It was completely without content. It was only intended to scare – and that makes me believe you are standing on very weak ground.
What is it about the contract you like? What will we gained by voting “no?” What about his contract makes you believe it is okay?
Those are the questions that should be answered.
Oh, and next time your agent is negotiating with a studio, be sure to throw up a video online about how you would take any scraps the studio has – it’s the best way to go about things.
There are no unions in the town.
You’re right Henry, we should put the jobs of many people who stand to gain nothing from a SAG strike at risk so that you can make enough money to own your own house.
Hey What A Joke…
The seeming hatred for actors that leaps off out of your post is frightening. Don’t you realize we’re in the position we’re in because of SAG’s leadership, not necessarily it’s membership? Such disdain for people who are just trying to make a living, same as you.
Says volumes about you.
There’s a great divide in the acting community about what to do, if you haven’t noticed. We’re just trying to protect our careers as anyone else would.
“Its my sweat steaming of the hot lamps lighting your precious faces.
On the bright side, after this is all over, I’ll start tipping extra for my waiter to dance to the kitchen to put my order in.”
Sheeeesh. Try yoga, bud.
What did I stand to gain from the writers strike? Or would I gain from a director’s strike? OR ANY strike other than my own union? What a pointless argument you make… um, I’ll call you anonymous because you didn’t sign your name.
ANY time there’s a strike other people are affected. The people who sell food to the craft service people, the people who store the props or rent the trucks. There’s a ripple effect, no doubt. It all comes around… some day in the not-too-distant future some other union will strike and I’ll be sitting there twiddling my thumbs… and what will I gain when it’s over? Nothing.
If I purchased a download of something like this, would Cromwell be paid any residuals?
Not if the AMPTP has its way…
I posted a a nicely worded negative comment on the youtube page with this video and it was removed from the page. In the meanwhile I got an email allegedly from “CEO Eric Golden” which was a thinly veiled threat that I would be sued for defamation if I didn’t remove my post. (I think someone didn’t know that as the page owner you can remove comments yourself, but soon after figured it out. Many if not all negative comments have been removed by the youtube user.)
My post merely echoed what I read above and saw on lumynis website that they operate a factory in China. I did editorialize that they therefore may not be the best barometer of worker’s rights.
If you honestly feel their no-strike fear mongering propaganda is a bad thing post on their youtube page and see how fast it gets pulled.
I guess freedom of speech is a threat to their marketing of fear.
Anyone else get threatened?
I’d like to congratulate Leni Riefenstahl on another finely-directed piece of cinema.
SAG has (at this point) no one to blame but themselves. Infighting(Unite & MF, East/west, board members, et all.) killed any internal solidarity. How can you press the $$$$ and get what you want (probably deserve) when you dont have internal support to actually FOLLOW THROUGH YOUR THREATS!!! and what date is it NOW compared to when this started? You got nothing to blame but yourself and SAG should be held completely accountable for the industry when the rest of the walls cave in. They built a house of cards and have no leverage to follow thru.
The reason the WGA had support was because they negotiated until the 11th hour and then went to their membership for authorization to strike. It seems that the Actors are approaching their contract negotiation like their work. PART TIME. Letting it go this long to ask for a strike authorization is irresponsible. You would have had support if you would have gone this route July 1st last year.
I think this is a great spot. The strike will effect the entire state of California. Not just the industry, but teachers, bank tellers, small retail businesses – it will spiral.
I really hope it works and I’m proud of the people that had the nerve to make this spot and take a friggin’ stand against something that is worse than a bad idea.
SAG is now offering a brand new “Waffle Maker” with each No Vote!
Last Chance Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post
If L.A. members and any NY or regional members want to fight this, NOW IS THE TIME.
“they are going to change the Rules of Procedure to seat a Task Force made up of their people, to circumvent the authority of the NEC and the President.”
To: Members of the National Board of Directors and Alternates
Third Vice President David Hartley-Margolin has requested that the following notice be sent in connection with the National Board plenary meeting scheduled for Monday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 13, 2009, in compliance with the requirement of prior notice under Robert’s Rules of Order.
“I hereby give notice of intent to present a motion at the upcoming National Board meeting to seek to rescind in their entirety (or to amend and substantively change) Guideline II of the National Committee Guidelines (dealing with Task Forces) and any or all of its subsections.”
That’s correct.
I doubt we’ll be able to do anything about it. Unfortunately we just don’t have the votes to protect anything. They are trying to force us to give UFS and New York complete ownership of this contract, and the guild. Then once that’s done, they will follow through on the hopeful wish that the WGA, DGA and AFTRA will fight this battle with us in 3 years.
The WGA’s done nothing for us. They have completely abandoned us. We stepped up to the plate when they needed us. They didn’t even have to ask us to help, we just showed up in the thousands. They have done nothing but sit on their hands.
The truth will finally be known. It’s going to take time and we will have many wounds to lick. But the truth eventually will come out.
The negotiating committee will be dismantled of all Membership First. The New York members will remain. And UFS will take their places.
What they will do is settle for the AFTRA deal. That’s it.
And be congratulated for it by our employers.
And in the meantime, the economy will eventually begin to improve and our industry will thrive – not that it’s doing badly now – it’s doing quite well, as entertainment tends to do in down economic times, and as Jeffrey Katzenberg confirmed to CNBC two days ago.
That’s what is going to happen. And the internet will explode with our work, with no residuals.
And every actor who’s ever done a network show will receive their check for $27 for the move-over and see the end of network re-runs. That’s what’s going to happen.
Why is it only SAG’s fault that things got this this point? The AMPTP could settle this tomorrow at a cost that wouldn’t even come close to what the moguls spent on their holidays last month.
Thank you Mr. Cromwell, well done and appreciated.
Next time I have the chance, I will make you sound REAL good!
Well, here’s a little wake-up call for the “Vote Yes” crowd. I’ll be working on a major network pilot that’s shooting digitally and working on an AFTRA contract. This should concern you “Vote Yes” folks because it means that the networks are following through on their threat to just work around you if you either wouldn’t sign the contract or decided to go on strike.
This should concern you “Vote Yes” folks because it means that the networks will realize at the end of pilot season how much money they saved by working off the cheaper AFTRA contract than the SAG contract. As first steps go, you “Vote Yes” folks have done a marvelous favor to the studios and the networks with your stalling and “solidarity”. Because you’re going to save them money. They’ll start shooting ALL their pilots on digital from now on. Because it’s cheaper. And why pay actors under a SAG contract when they can save money by casting under an AFTRA contract? That means that next year, even if there is a SAG contract in place, they’ll just shoot everything AFTRA. And, soon enough, SAG-covered shows will be entertainment dinosaurs. And so will SAG-covered movies.
Is there a pattern forming here? A cohesive picture, a diagram that you can follow? We’ve all been warning you not to keep this crap up. We’ve all been warning you that it wasn’t just the rest of the town you’d be hurting with your stalling and striking (even though the damage you’d do to anyone outside your union didn’t seem to matter to you). We’ve all been warning you that pulling this delusional stunt with no leverage whatsoever could do irreparable damage to SAG.
This should concern you “Vote Yes” folks because you’re killing your own union. It may already be too late for you to save it.
So, nice going, “Vote Yes” folks. Apparently, you WOULD follow Mr. Rosenberg if he jumped off a cliff.
Hey, What a joke………..
Your residuals are paid straight into pension and health and your individual retirement acct…….. , are you so ignorant of your own contract that this is news to you.
Funny to watch the really loud fool !
“The WGA’s done nothing for us. They have completely abandoned us. We stepped up to the plate when they needed us. They didn’t even have to ask us to help, we just showed up in the thousands. They have done nothing but sit on their hands.”
And what exactly are we supposed to do for YOU? Is there a protest somewhere that we missed? A SAG picket line we can join? It was lovely to see all those actors there that first week (you know, when they weren’t honoring their contracts and continuing to cross our line so that they could work), but it was also an accepted understanding that we were striking so SAG wouldn’t have to.
We negotiated with the AMPTP, we struck, we took a deal that really wasn’t good enough and then it was SAG’s turn to close the internet window by a couple of days and move on. SAG promptly blew it.
Thank you to everyone that made this video.
It was RIGHT ON!
The State, the City and the people in the entertainment
business can not afford another irresponsible strike
PERIOD!!
The IA strikes and asks for SAG’s support… The WGA strikes and asks for SAG’s support… But, SAG strikes and it’s “…screw the actor’s! Who the #%*! do they think they are!”
WGA member
Are you kidding me? How about getting off your fat ass, getting some kind of group together and publicly expressing your support for SAG? That would be a start.
You’re waiting for a rally and a limo?
Jesus Christ – you had as many actors on your lines as freaking writers.
And “SAG blew it?!” You’re lucky you’re writing under a pseudonym you snake. The WGA blew it!! YOU CAVED!! SAG, at least the portion of it that’s not in the thrall of “Ned Vaughn and the Appeasers” (No, not a British Invasion band) is the only union that continues to fight off this contract – with no help from ANYBODY – and direct opposition from it’s own ranks, including “stars” who probably throw out more residual checks than most of us have ever cashed.
As I said on another blog – if they (UFS) pull this off Monday and Tuesday: fire Doug Allen, replace all the Membership First People with their own people, CHANGE THE SAG CONSTITUTION to allow them to do that – which IS what they’re planning to do on Monday – then, run to the AMPTP, sign essentially the AFTRA deal, then fast track merger with AFTRA so there won’t BE any SAG to politicize it’s awards show in three years – when ALL that goes down – and, barring some “unforseen event” like, say, a LARGE SCALE PROTEST OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE NATIONAL BOARD MEETING – actors will immediately start to see things change.
The network episode? Well, they’ll get that whopping $27 “move over” check. Then, they’ll see their work being done for and shown on the internet, for tiny or NO residuals. They’ll start to FEEL what it’s like to lose that income, to have given away clip consent, product placement – cause they’ll be REQUIRED to do commercial endorsements IN CHARACTER in the TV and film they do, and, be fired if they refuse, and, even though many don’t even know what force majeur IS? They’ll have some event happen and then – THEN – they’ll find out they are no longer protected against loss of salary because Ned Vaughn and the Appeasers GAVE ALL OF IT AWAY.
And when actor sentiment begins to turn, and actors SEE in 2011 that this “utopia” that UFS and NY and the RBD predict, where SAG and AFTRA and the DGA and the WGA will ALL join together to GET BACK what was GIVEN away in 2011? The actors are going to have an exact list of names they can thank for giving their union away – for gutting it and handing it over to a bunch of elitists who want to merge with AFTRA, so they can appoint officers by committee like AFTRA does, NOT by membership vote, like SAG does, so importasnt decisions can be locked in by committee, like AFTRA does, rather than votes rising from the membership UP, like SAG does.
And finally, once the AMPTP has had three years of NOT paying residuals on internet, and substantially beginning to trim their residual liabilities in network by “move over” – once THAT burden is lifted from their bottom line – does ANYBODY really think they have ANY intention of GIVING IT BACK?
OK Yes voters, go back and reread the post by Enough Already.
Now multiply that by most of the up-coming pilot season and by extension the next season. Digital acquisition ( AFTRA jurisdiction) is the hot area of interest all over town. While you all are busy not working and sitting at your computers expressing concerns about how badly you are being treated, DPs across town are testing Red and other technologies to work around SAG. The industry is going to pass you by. Sign a deal and plan for the next contract while you still have some clout.
Everyone needs to stop talking about Alan R and his
absurd strike dream – let’s all get real and focus on work and creating more entertainment jobs – not loosing them!!!!!
Newsflash Matt: they can’t change the SAG constitution. But don’t let facts get in the way of a good argument. The Allen’s certainly don’t.
“Are you kidding me? How about getting off your fat ass, getting some kind of group together and publicly expressing your support for SAG? That would be a start.”
I’m too busy trying to earn back all the money I lost during my own strike.
“Jesus Christ – you had as many actors on your lines as freaking writers.”
Dude, now come on. That is just a flat out lie. My friends and I used to wonder why more struggling SAG members didn’t take advantage of the unfettered access to all those hotshot producers stuck walking in a circle for three hours a day. It was writers on the line, as it should be. It was our strike.
“And “SAG blew it?!” You’re lucky you’re writing under a pseudonym you snake.”
Um, or what? You gonna hit me, tough guy?
Look, when the writer’s strike was over, after a hundred terrible days, we were exhausted, bitter and divided. That’s where your union is NOW. It sucks, but just because you’re right (and make no mistake, I know you are right) that doesn’t mean you can win.
25 years below the line -
That’s really the point isn’t it? “While you still have some clout”.
If we sign this deal, we won’t have the clout next time because the moguls will treat the Internet the same way they’ve been treating DVD and VHS for decades – like Stalin (what’s mine is mine, what’s yours is negotiable).
These corporations build the expectation of a particular profit level from New Media years into the future based on the current deal through projections in their reports to shareholders. The future value of these corporations as reflected in the stock price come to depend on these revenue projections. This is one reason the moguls didn’t budge on DVD.
If we don’t demand by force NOW that New Media residuals structures be equal to Old Media, we will probably NEVER achieve that equality again. It’s much harder to walk the moguls back on this three years from now than it is to take a stand – and make them build the same kinds of revenue projections from New Media as Old into their long-term corporate profitability projections – now.
Three years from now, they will be far more entrenched, and we won’t have anywhere near the clout.
Just as a side note. SONY unveiled their new T.V. that connects directly to your computer at the electronics show in Vegas last week. Who is kidding who? Time to get honest Cromwell and Co..
mheister with all due respect you missed my point.
You won’t have anyone to talk to three years from now, SAG will cease to be a player. If this madness continues the business will pass you by.
100 per cent of nothing is…
mheister, all due respect, you really are not understanding what I was trying to tell you and what 25 years btl was telling you as well:
You are killing your own union.
SAG will cease to exist if there is no reason for the AMPTP to deal with you at all because they can cheaply shoot projects and work with actors under an AFTRA contract.
A strike right now, under the prevailing circumstances, is an act of vengeance against the AMPTP and the studios. It is a short term, satisfying “fuck you” you’re sending to the companies, but at your own long term expensive. It is the classic cutting off of the nose to spite the face. It might cost them a little — and I do mean a little, not a lot — in the short term. Yes, you’ll prevent some currently SAG-contracted shows from continuing. But it will seal the fate of ALL television from this pilot season onward to be signed, shot and packaged under AFTRA. AFTRA — because it’s cheaper. It will quite simply be the death of your union in the long run. If you can’t see that, then I don’t know how to put it to you any plainer.
You may not believe this, but it’s true: Many of us don’t want SAG to crumble and vanish like dust in the wind. Because you guarantee a better life for actors and, by extension, others in the business. Right now, it’s about not allowing the corporations to snuff you out, which you are dangerously close to allowing to happen. But what you’re doing now, the stalling, the posturing, the “they’re forcing us to strike!” talk, it is going to end your union forever.
There is such a thing as living to fight another day. The hawks in your union are not seeing the bigger picture here. This is chess, not checkers.
After the months of inaction by the Allens, the posturing, the name-calling, the botched negotiation strategy, the internal divisions within the union that spilled out publicly like bad heists into protracted gun battles in the streets, ALL OF IT is going to make SAG flat-line unless you, the membership, stop this insanity and act now to SAVE SAG.
I’m sorry to say this, but it is time to face facts: there is no better deal to be had. This is about survival now. It’s about not letting your union fade into Hollywood history because of a tactical miscalculation turned into a breath-holding contest.
You can revisit all the issues in three years, regardless of what the “Vote Yes” naysayers scream to the contrary. With a better, inter-union, coordinated strategy, you can do it. Frankly, you don’t have a choice anymore.
Nikki Finke suggested something a few weeks ago that you should really consider. You should talk about it with your fellow SAG members. You should spread the word. You should call SAG headquarters in droves and demand a membership-wide vote on the contract, rather than a vote on a strike authorization. If you put this off any longer, then all new projects will be AFTRA and SAG will be finished.
There is still time to prevent disaster. There is still a chance. Are you going to take it?
Enough Already
There is no “demanding” anymore. Today and tomorrow will determine the fate of SAG.
The UFS crowd has gotten a guy, David Hartley-Margolin, who is an officer in the Colorado branch of SAG to introduce this “change the rules” motion to off-set the requirement of “proportional representation” in the making up of committees. He is a gentleman without a SINGLE TV/Theatrical credit on IMDB. He, like so many of the anti-SAG leadership people, does voice-overs. That’s what the deal is. Committees, as I understand it, ARE constitutionally protected, but this end-run could change the rules governing their actual make up. Hollywood gets the largest share because it is, proportionally, by far, the largest division, hence, this is a way to toss all the Membership First people off the committee and replace them with UFS , RBD and NY people.
THAT newly comprised negotiating committee can then run to the AMPTP, and sign the AFTRA deal. That is what is being attempted the next two days. There are some problems with it, however. Stay tuned.
The biggest insult to SAG from “WGA Writer” and the people screaming and yelling for Rosenberg’s and Allen’s heads is simply this: SAG understood, from day one, this was an unsignable contract. They understood “leverage” would help, but, in the end, they knew the AMPTP was declaring war on the middle-class actor going into new media. The effects of this declaration are different for the unions: DGA and WGA get larger up-front fees, actors get scale, hence actors rely for 1/3rd to 1/2 of their income on residuals. Kill residuals – kill the middle-class actors.
So, it was, in the end, less a question of “leverage” for SAG, it was a question of understanding, as in “DO YOU UNDERSTAND WE CAN’T SIGN THIS CONTRACT? And if not – here’s why: because if we do, you won’t be able to make a living anymore.” Hmmmm.
Seems that message never REALLY got across: not to SAG members, not to the media (one more story about how SAG wants “more?” and my head will explode)SORT of to the other unions, but, in the end, they didn’t really care – not REALLY, hence “WGA Writers” snarky bullshit about “what were WE supposed to do?”
GET RIGHT BEHIND US – just like we did for you.
Understand that “making back the money you lost” during your own failed, aborted strike is secondary to the greater good – which is – SAVE THE BUSINESS. Because this new landscape the AMPTP is slowly carving out, through slow, grinding, patience, bullying tactics and manipulation of the issues and what they are trying to accomplish being downplayed by distracting tactics: “bright shiny object over here!! The economy!! The economy!! SAG is being crazy, their leaders are crazy because they’re doing this during the bad economy!!”
These same people fighting the SAG leadership now? – didn’t want to go for an authorization when the economy was good, to force the AMPTP to negotiate, which they’ve never really done – the terms of this contract have always been a fait accompli, and these same people don’t want to fight it now.
They want control of the union, they want to fast-track merger with AFTRA, they want to abolish SAG altogether, and their, I wouldn’t even say promise, to the membership, their… prediction? – is that, in 2011, SAG, AFTRA, the DGA and the WGA, will all join together (uh… no) to force the AMPTP to give us back residuals and the other things THEY gave away (uh… no) because now they have “leverage” (uh… no).
I have a nice, old, bowler hat. In 2011, if that happens, I’ll eat it.
While, of course, the REAL story is: the AMPTP could end this, make a fair deal, and not even have to breathe hard in the process, it’s just that their entire strategy, as I’ve said from day one, can be boiled down to “50 Billion is better than 47.”
Such is the state of union busting in 2009. And to think? We couldn’t even wait to try to save residuals until the new, union-friendly administration took office? In 8 days.
Pathetic.
to G…
that’s about as well put as I’ve heard. The WGA strike, however you might want to debate it’s effectiveness, was handled with dispatch and integrity by the WGA.
It’s true that our guild is different, it’s more volatile and way more underemployed…but these are essentially excuses for a leadership that was more about gamesmanship and politics than contract negotiation.
I am so sick of this”NO” vote BS. How backwards can some people think? Don’t they get it that the very point they are making about WAGES is what SAG is fighting for? A livable wage; – the ability to make a living. Jeez, people! Even if there were to be a strike, that wouldn’t end the world or make everything ‘vanish’ as this ad would lead you to believe. If people are serious about making a living in this business, we need to be serious about our wages and the contract. Rollbacks cannot be allowed. I know some people are scared, and worry about the economy – me too – but a strike is necessary to keep our rights in place.
This just posted at prWeb.com:
El Segundo, CA (PRWEB) January 14, 2009 — Wpromote Inc. is excited to announce that it has been hired as the marketing service responsible for seeding the newly released anti-actors-strike video. David Pringle and Eric Golden, the Executive Producers of the production, asked Wpromote to create the website SaveTheBiz.org. This site will act as host to the video as well as deliver information about the production. Wpromote has now seeded the video on sites such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, MetaCafe and many other outlets to effectively spread the message.
@WGA Member..I’m a SAG actor, and I walked your picket lines. A LOT. There were plenty members of SAG who did the same..just sayin’..we stood up for you guys..now everyone’s pointing fingers..your deal sucked..you swallowed..then you wanted SAG to step up and sweeten the pot..they did fuck up, but, here’s a clue..AMPTP was never going to budge..they want to kill residuals, that’s been the plan from jumpstreet..only way to stop that would have been a united front from DGA, WGA, SAG, AFTRA, Teamsters, IATSE,even Equity, everybody…that didn’t happen..apparently nick counter has read “The Art of War” and knows how to implement it..and we didn’t..so, it’s take what’s offered, and do it right in 3 years..or don’t, and SAG falls, because no one, AND I MEAN NO ONE, stood the fuck up when it mattered. And us working-class, or middle-class, or whatever you call us actors who make a living at acting, but only by the skin of our teeth, take it in the pooper sans the KY..seriously, I will never sneer at a financial-core person..because no one is looking out for actors. We’re on our own right now. I don’t blame anyone who’s just trying to make the best deal they can, because no one has our back. at all.
fuckin’ bullshit.
SAG is not a union and has now proven what a useless entity it really is. What a loveley video the cowards of this town have made. They are afraid to fight because the buisness will leave, anyone who is operating a sweat shop should leave, i thought this was america, I thought we had standards above third world nations. If you will notice who the people are who pushed to accept this contract you will see they are all people who have big careers and could care less about the average guest or co star guys. I tell you this, We won’t forget you and will pay you back some day, you can’t steal money out of my pocket or take my pension and health with no price tag.