Archive for October 2009

The AFTRA Push for Interactive Ratification

We got a forward of this e-mail from AFTRA New York President Holter Graham, who works the Interactive contract, and was Chair of the Interactive Steering Committee:
AFTRA members are about to vote on a new deal for video games (Interactive Media).
As a chair of the AFTRA Interactive Steering Committee who has been working games for [...]

Health Insurance Blues

Variety has a post on health insurance and the various union pension and health funds. As you’d expect, the news isn’t pleasant, especially when you’re talking about Hollywood, where production has been sharply reduced.
There’s not much in the post that insiders won’t already know, but it’s an interesting survey of the various plans. But with [...]

Yes, We Know… – updated

It isn’t often when the New York Times posts an article about the craft of acting on its front page. The difficulty discussed in the article isn’t new, and is real.
We refuse to gloat over any of the rest of it, even if it does seem like a celestial payback. But, here’s more on that [...]

Backstage: Product Integration and Exclusivity Problems Need Resolution

For a rational discussion of the conflict between product integration and commercial exclusivity, you might want to check out this article in Backstage. It has at least one real world example of an actor deciding to withdraw from a role because the character would have to work with a Ford when the actor already had [...]

SAP? Si.

Notes from SAG’s survey on SAP use:
According to the survey results:
•80% of the respondents had used SAP (59% within the past week and another 15% within the past month)
•88% would watch more SAP enhanced programs if they were easier to find
•82% are watching an individual show more often if it is in SAP
•69% say they [...]

Player SAG Exit Game? Clicks Yes – UPDATED!!!!

We’re hearing that although the vote was unanimous in favor everywhere, in Hollywood, the number of members who braved the wind and power outages to attend the ratification caucus was enough to overwhelm the rest of the country, and the proposed contract has been rejected. The unofficial tally of the vote in Hollywood was 73-9 [...]