Studios Move Ahead - But Stars Earning Less

Studios proceed cautiously for 2010

Few stars currently earning their quotes

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Last fall, studios were bullish with plans to put 40 or more films in production to fill 2010 and 2011 slates.

The majors might still meet that goal, but it hardly feels like a bull market so far.

Studios are proceeding cautiously as they wait for the SAG dispute to play itself out. And they are using economic hard times to slash talent salaries to the point where, even when the business is back, it won’t nearly be the same as it used to be. They are working through the volume of pre-strike films they put into production in early 2008 and are still in need of product for 2010 and especially 2011.

"Studios are telling us, we need movies, but they want us to proceed with projects without spending money, and without actually pulling the trigger and making commitments," said one studio-based producer with projects in limbo. "Producers have been wedged into this netherworld where it’s like hurry up and wait."

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Who Needs Movies - We Can Just Watch SAG for Drama!

SAG's Rosenberg still defiant

Dissent not dissuading guild president

By DAVE MCNARY

The SAG standoff over national exec director Doug Allen remains inflamed, with president Alan Rosenberg still defiant in the face of efforts by the board's majority to topple Allen.

"These people are like children," Rosenberg said of his opponents in a Tuesday interview with Daily Variety. "They refuse to take responsibility for anything they do."

More than one option

• (Co) Daily Variety
  Filmography, Year, Role
• (Co) Daily Variety

The moderates have pledged they will fire Allen on grounds that he's bungled SAG's negotiations, defied the will of the board and left members without a new feature-primetime contract for nearly eight months. Despite having the votes to toss Allen out, the moderate wing was blocked by Rosenberg and his allies at the Jan. 12-13 board meeting via a 30-hour filibuster.

Rosenberg said it remains unclear when the strike authorization may be sent out as he and Allen attempt to persuade other board members to go along with a new plan to enter last-ditch negotiations with the congloms, then send the final offer out to the members without a recommendation. The moderates have already ridiculed the plan, saying they don't trust Allen.

Rosenberg questioned the latest promise by the moderates, asserting they may not have enough votes to dismiss the exec by the process of obtaining individual written signatures -- which could be submitted before the end of the month. "I suspect that they can't get enough votes for written assent, which would take us back to the dark ages," he added.

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Article on the Possible SAG Strike, in CounterPunch

Capitulation in Hollywood

SAG Watches It All Slip Away

By DAVID MACARAY

While American labor unions are having their usual rough time of it (not to mention the additional burden of having weathered eight brutal years of Elaine Chao as Secretary of Labor), the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is facing not only potential defeat in the form of getting jammed with an inferior contract, but stands to be dealt a bitter humiliation. And the entity applying that humiliation isn’t its long-time adversary, the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers). It’s SAG’s own membership.

Typically (and understandably), a union membership wants it all. That’s the standard dynamic. The members want a first-rate union contract, with all the goodies; but, because of the dangers involved, they want it to come all neatly wrapped up, without any risks. There’s a baseball analogy. The manager goes out to the mound and glibly instructs the pitcher on how to pitch to a dangerous batter: “Don’t walk him, but don’t give him anything to hit.”

What SAG’s rank-and-file wants from its leadership is much the same thing. Bring us back a good contract, a substantial contract, an improved contract, but don’t ask us to join you in a battle or otherwise sacrifice anything important to get it. Above all, don’t ask us to get tough.

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Estate Sale This Weekend In Santa Fe - Prop-Houses Take Note

Martin Rosenberg of the Vintage Poster Gallery on Canyon Road is holding an estate sale this weekend. Here's a list of some of the items being sold. Prop houses and antique buffs take note!

AMAZING ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES
ESTATE SALE
901 CANYON RD.
(Corner Canyon Rd. & Palace)
Parking on Alameda

Private collection of vintage collectibles being sold.
Includes: Art glass, Native American, old oil paintings,
Scholder signed lithos, Castillo silver pitcher, cradle
boards, cast iron circus wagons, Peruvian pottery,
antique art posters, Huichol yarn paintings from 1950’s,
Casas Grandes pottery, Nampeyo signed ladle, rare Star
Trek V lobby display, Apache Dance Masks, jade
pendants, Pacific carved bone masks, Papago & Apache
baskets, original Crumb comic books, and more!
(note: No clothes or household items)
Great chance to buy the best at years ago prices!
HOURS OF SALE
JAN. 24th, SATURDAY 8 A.M. - 1 P.M.
JAN. 25th, SUNDAY 8 A.M. - 1 P.M.
For more info or a pre-sale preview, contact Marty at (505) 577-7419