Okay, now that the Ol' Dog's got your attention, here are a few short articles and tidbits that I came across either surfing the web or reading the trades. Thought you might enjoy them.
April 13, 2005
Actors, gamers resume talks
Negotiators for Hollywood's actors and several video game companies resumed bargaining Tuesday in hopes of arriving at a new contract by week's end. The talks between SAG/AFTRA and a group of companies including Electronic Arts remain shrouded in a news blackout, with the game makers refusing to say who is participating on their side. SAG officials also refused to comment Tuesday, citing the blackout. Both sides either expect to reach a new deal by Friday -- the latest in a series of extended deadlines -- or end the negotiations, according to sources familiar with the bargaining. A breakdown in negotiations likely would lead actors to continue working without a contract while considering whether to go on strike. The unions seek to build on a groundbreaking three-year deal reached with EA and later joined by more than 50 other game companies. That contract brought wage guarantees and pension and health benefits to actors whose voices, likenesses and/or performances were featured in video games. It is believed that only about 10%-15% of actors' work in video games is covered by the current contract. Sources also say that the unions are seeking to expand the pact to include residuals, something that was not in the initial deal. The contract was set to expire Dec. 31 but was extended to March 31 before being delayed to Friday.
(Jesse Hiestand Hollywood Reporter)
This blurb is also from the Reporter
SAG President Melissa Gilbert will receive the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award on April 28th for a career that spans three decades and appearances in films, television series, specials, events and commercials.
The award will be presented by Johnny Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood, during the chamber’s 84th annual installation and awards luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel.
Hey, everyone needs to be flowered with praise every once in a while. Okay?
.
This from the SAG foundation website!
http://www.sagfoundation.org/cgi-bin/event.cgi?site_category=conversations&date=20050426
Conversations
Conversations: CHARLES DURNING
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 in Los Angeles
7 - 9pm (Check-in begins at 6:15pm)
Screen Actors Guild's James Cagney room, 5757 Wilshire Blvd. (Free validated parking)
One of the screen's most familiar faces, Charles Durning is the epitome of a character actor, demonstrating versatility and excellence from role to role and often outshining many of the stars he nominally "supports."
Durning is a great actor. You can make reservations on the web site. Sounds like fun. You know, Groucho Marx used to say that he’d get up in the morning, and read the obits-- and if his name wasn’t in them he’d have a cup of coffee and go about his day. The Ol’ Dog is like that, except I usually have the coffee first. Hell, I want to be awake when I get the bad news.
The thing about the obits, is that when it comes to actors, many times they don’t publish pics, unless you are a fairly well know actor. I came across the following obit of one of our departed SAG members, didn't recognize the name, so went online and retrieved the following photo.
Debralee Scott, an actress who appeared in the sitcom "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and some of the "Police Academy" movies, died April 5 at her home in Amelia Island, Fla. She was 52.
Scott got her first major role at age 22, playing Cathy Shumway on "Mary Hartman." She later played Hotsy Totsy on "Welcome Back, Kotter" and appeared in 1984's "Police Academy" and 1986's "Police Academy 3: Back in Training."
Pretty Lady. You know it’s sad when we lose one of our own, especially so young. But it's also a delight when on the other hand, we discover that one of ours is still alive and kicking, especially someone you just naturally assume has long-ago departed.
I know one of the Ol’ Dog’s favorites is Bruce Bennett. In the early days he played Tarzan under the name Herman Brix … Most movie buffs best remember him as the late-arriving intruder in “Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” Well, you could have knocked me over with a waiver when I was surfing the web and discovered that apparently Mr. Bennett is still around.* 
Way to go Bruce, hang in there. Oh, by the way if you happen to see Mr. Bennett at one of those nostalgia shows, “Don’t call him Tarzan!”
Aaaiiiuuuuaaaaaahhhhh!
A.L. Miller SW Editor & Chief 
*I did a diligent search on the web and could never find an obit for Mr. Bennett and all of his bios are open ended. He was born in 1909--
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