*news Peter Bart, Variety's Editor In Chief, * Badmouths SAG’s low wage earners! *

Variety Editor characterizes SAG members who earn under $5000 dollars yearly as “rancorous non-pros” and as “out-patients” who seem ready to overtake the “asylum!”

In the following article when Peter Bart praises SAG CEO Bob Pisano, it is important to remember that both are former studio executives at Paramount and MGM—and they are reputed to be lunch buddies.

Oh, and you might want to keep in mind that according to Los Angeles Magazine “…Bart was suspended under a cloud, accused of breaking Variety's ethical guidelines…” which included using “…Variety's clout to protect friends..!” This, I assume, would include lunch-buddies.

Anyho’ the following is excerpted from Mr. Bart’s “Back Lot” Column in 1/3/05 edition of Variety.

HARDLY ANYONE is paying attention, but there's still a chance that the noisy, neurotic Screen Actors Guild could shut down the industry. As negotiations meander along, the following question is being asked by some of the grown-ups: When will professional actors take SAG back from the rancorous non-pros?

I looked at a confidential survey last week, which reminded me that those actors making under $1,000 a year cast more than 50% of the votes on recent ballots. For the nine elections since 1999, 70% of those voting earned under $5,000 a year from their trade.

In short, the fate of the working actor increasingly is being decided by extras or by those who may have had work in the past but are no longer active.

The upshot of this imbalance is readily apparent in SAG internal politics. Melissa Gilbert, the SAG president, and CEO Bob Pisano (both of them responsible leaders) cling to power by the thinnest of margins. Their asylum seems always about to be taken over by the outpatients.

Though there are several reasons for this, the bottom line is that the true professionals of the acting business -- including the top stars -- simply don't take enough interest in the affairs of their own guild. Many are simply too self-involved; others have grown frustrated by the sheer nastiness of SAG's internal dialogues. An example: Noah Wyle, who won a seat on the board, came to one meeting and, apparently disgusted by the vitriol, has never been seen again.

The structure of the guild is itself an obstacle, but other unions have reinvented themselves and SAG may have to bite the bullet -- or risk being shot in the foot.

My God, Bart's article reads like a Restore Respect flier!

To be fair, I doubt that Mr. Bart only has Mr. Pisano’s interests at heart! I’m sure that he is protecting his interests and the interests of his magazine, which derives a large part of its income from full-page ads bought by studios and producers.

This is a guy who lunches every day with studio executives.

And right now these executives are ready to resume negotiations in which they are trying to stop SAG from infringing on any of the BILLIONS

of dollars they pocket from DVD’s.

And what better way for Bart to not only pay for his supper, but ingratiate himself to his ad-buyers and former studio cohorts than by negating “the noisy, neurotic Screen Actors Guild” members on the negotiating committee who are fighting for the membership to get its long-overdue share of billions

that the producers have been skimming off the top since 1985!

As for Noah Wyle, if he is “apparently disgusted by the vitriol and has never been seen again,” why hasn’t he been booted off the board

as our constitution dictates?

Also, a question for SAG’s Restore Respect dominated board, which in the past has been more than willing to spend our dues

money when they discern that CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL has been released to the press: How about an investigation of Mr. Bart, who states, “I looked at a confidential survey last week.”

So, why is a former studio executive (and constant lunch companion

of studio executives) supporting Bob Pisano and Melissa Gilbert while bad-mouthing

SAG’s rank & file and those on the negotiating committee who are fighting for a bigger slice of the DVD pie? You think it's because the studios, CEO Bob, Melissa and Mr. Bart are all on the same side? You think?