A-list actors want action on contract
Determined to avoid another strike, major stars pressure their guild to stop posturing and start negotiating.
By Richard Verrier
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
February 23, 2008
Two of Hollywood's biggest stars -- George Clooney and Tom Hanks -- dropped in at the home of Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg this week to deliver a message: Start negotiating.
With the writers strike fresh in their minds, the high-powered actors want to head off another labor disruption that could paralyze the film and television industry.
And could paralyze, they’re production companies: Tom Hanks, Playtone Productions, and George Clooney, Smokehouse Productions.
So during a two-hour meeting Tuesday night, Clooney and Hanks -- joined by Sally Field and Rob Lowe -- urged Rosenberg and guild negotiator Doug Allen to tone down their rhetoric and get to the bargaining table, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting.
Hmmm, one wonders why none of them has spoken out against the AMPTP for stonewalling actors on DVDs, Internet streaming and downloading, and other new media issues. Hmmm, again. Why? Because, in this town, career wise, it’s always a lot safer criticize your union than your employers and fellow producers.
The session was the latest in series of efforts by top stars to nudge guild leaders into early negotiations on a new SAG contract to replace one that expires June 30. Actors strongly supported the writers during their recent 100-day walkout, but are anxious to begin work again after Hollywood's costliest work stoppage in two decades.
Separately, a large number of influential SAG members are pushing their guild to adopt restrictions on who would be allowed to vote on the film and TV contract.
Right! Actors like Amy Brenneman, who have never gotten involved in their union, until now, and then only to take away fellow members right to vote. Some of the very members, by the way, that manned the picket lines in 2000…the ones that Ms. Brenneman managed to avoid. But then she, of course, is more deserving of a vote than them, because she makes more money, right?
On Wednesday, a group of actors presented a petition to SAG leaders calling on the guild to implement so-called "qualified voting." The petition was signed by more than 1,000 actors, including Kevin Bacon, Glenn Close, Ben Affleck and Ethan Hawke.
Glenn, of course, not only wants to take away members right to vote, but she has enabled AFTRA to take away SAG members residuals with her AFTRA show “Damages!” Actually, credit Ms. Close with the hat trick, because by ensuring that SAG actors have to work under an inferior AFTRA contract, she, also, diminished their chances of qualifying for P&H! Way, to go Glenn!
Despite such big-name support, the proposal is likely to face stiff resistance from the guild's national board because it could disqualify many if not most of the guild's 120,000 members from voting on the principal contract.
"I'm totally against the idea," Rosenberg said. "It disenfranchises . . . people who are already marginalized."
Nonetheless, Rosenberg said the idea gained enough support to justify bringing it before the guild's 71-member board, which has the authority to impose such restrictions.
Such a vote should be on the record: And you can bet anyone who votes to take away members right to vote on referendums will never be elected again. You see, they could take away the referendum vote, but under labor law, they can’t take away their right to vote in an election for guild leadership.
Rosenberg declined to discuss the meeting at his house, other than to acknowledge that Clooney, Hanks and the others wielded tremendous influence in the guild.
In regards to those members I have talked to and that have emailed me, Clooney and Hanks wield a lot less influence than our leadership may think. Especially, in light of their recent public pronouncements, which many feel have undermined SAG’s ability to get them a decent contract in upcoming negotiations.
"Their participation is crucial to our success," he said.
The actors also declined to comment. Participants at the meeting agreed not to publicly discuss the session, according to the people with knowledge of the meeting.
Rosenberg called the session after Clooney, Hanks, Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep took out a full-page advertisement in Hollywood trade publications last week calling on the guild to begin negotiations immediately.
Concerns about the guild's negotiating posture came to a head recently when Allen, SAG's chief negotiator, and Rosenberg criticized a new Directors Guild of America contract that subsequently became the basis for the writers agreement.
The men vowed to press not only for improved pay in new media but for something neither writers nor directors won -- an increase in residuals from the sale of DVDs.
And they are going to do this after indicating that SAG’s memberships lack of resolve to strike. When you take the strike card off the table, it is no longer Collective Bargaining but Collective Begging.
But during Tuesday's meeting Clooney and his colleagues objected to what they perceived as saber-rattling by Allen and Rosenberg, and stressed that actors were reluctant to endure another walkout, according to the people with knowledge of the meeting.
Hmmm, so Clooney, Hanks and Fields now have the pulse of SAG’s membership. How, do they know what the rank and file are willing to endure to get a fair deal. Perhaps, what they meant to say was that actor/producers, such as Hanks,Clooney and DeNiro, were unwilling to endure another walkout. One thing, that SAG members can’t endure much longer are actor/producers like those at the meeting: ones that publicly weaken SAG’s bargaining power by publicly indicating the lack of resolve of SAG’s memberships. Especially since they have nothing to backup their rhetoric but their own fear and undeserved feelings of self-importance.
Hanks said he was concerned about the plight of actors who had been out of work during the writers strike.
Bullsh*t! If Tom Hanks was truly concerned by the plight of actors, he would stop cutting their throats with public pronouncements weakening their bargaining position. And instead, he would roll up his selves and join in the process with fellow rank & file members--while encouraging fellow high profile members to join him.
Clooney grilled Allen about concerns he had heard from SAG members in New York that the leadership was too close to hard-line guild activists in Hollywood.
So, now, Clooney is listening to AFTRA operatives in New York: You know the ones that put AFTRA ahead of SAG. Oh, by the way, someone should clue in George that those so-called hard-line activists where elected overwhelmingly by the Hollywood membership. It is clear that Mr. Clooney’s agenda is based on his own self-interest, not those of his fellow SAG members. And that his public stance only hurts their chances of getting a fair contract, while helping his pals at the AMPTP.
Field highlighted the urgency of beginning early talks.
The actress, who won an Oscar for her role as a fiery union leader in the 1979 movie "Norma Rae," had previously butted heads with Rosenberg.
According to witnesses, the two fell into in a heated exchange at the end of the SAG Awards dinner last month when Field, star of the ABC drama "Brothers & Sisters," pressed Rosenberg to fast-track negotiations and questioned his leadership. Rosenberg's wife, "CSI" actress Marg Helgenberger, intervened to defend him, according to one of the witnesses. "He became very agitated," said Field's publicist, Heidi Schaeffer, who was not among the witnesses. Rosenberg declined to comment.
Does Fields believe that those residuals she gets came from early talks and signaling to employers SAG’s lack of resolve to strike if necessary? I doubt it. In fact, in this case, it seems she is not thinking at all.
During Tuesday's meeting, Rosenberg stressed that he wasn't looking to go to war with the studios and said he and Allen already had begun informal discussions with studio chiefs, the sources said. The SAG officials met with Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger on Friday and discussed a possible timetable for talks.
Guild leaders have said they won't begin formal negotiations until they have completed a series of meetings with members, scheduled to run through mid-March, to identify their chief bargaining goals.
"Our lines of communication to management are open, have been and will continue to be," Allen said. As to the timing of negotiations, he said: "We haven't made that decision and when we do we'll make an appropriate announcement."
Allen would not discuss the petition on qualified voting, saying it was a matter for the board to decide.
The role of nonworking actors within SAG, and whether they exert too much influence, has long been a contentious issue within the union.
At SAG, any member in good standing can vote on the film and TV contract. Members qualify for membership if they have appeared in a principal or speaking role in a SAG film, video, television program or commercial. Also eligible are extras who have worked at least three days on a SAG-covered show in their lifetimes, and people who qualify to join through a sister union.
That has rankled many working actors, who complain that a majority of SAG's members consistently earn less than $1,000 per year.
"I believe that the Screen Actors Guild will be strengthened at the bargaining table if only those members who have a stake in bargaining are the ones voting," said actor Ned Vaughn, one of the organizers of the petition.
By Ned Vaughn’s logic, only those currently sick should determine our health plan, and only those retired should have a say on our pension. Look, every member has a stake in these contracts. Perhaps if Mr. Vaughn bothered to read all the constitution rather than excerpting one part, he would realize every member is “affected by” every contract: SAG Constitution, Article X1, Section (5)
Section 5. Every member of the Guild shall be bound by the provisions of all collective bargaining contracts in effect between the Guild and motion picture producers as the same are or may hereafter be amended.
richard.verrier@latimes.com
According to IMDb here are the producing credits actor/producers George Clooney, Smokehouse Productions; Robert DeNiro, Tribeca Film Center; Tom Hanks Playtone Productions
Tom Hanks
1. They Marched Into Sunlight (2008) (announced) (producer)
2. Boone's Lick (2008) (pre-production) (producer)
3. Where the Wild Things Are (2009) (post-production) (producer)
4. "The Pacific" (2009) (mini) TV mini-series (post-production) (executive producer)
5. City of Ember (2008) (post-production) (producer)
6. My Life in Ruins (2008) (post-production) (producer)
7. Mamma Mia! (2008) (post-production) (producer)
8. Surfer Dude (2008) (post-production) (producer)
9. "John Adams" (2008) (mini) TV mini-series (completed) (co-executive producer)
10. A Wilderness of Monkeys (2008) (completed) (executive producer) (producer)
11. The Great Buck Howard (2008) (producer)
12. Charlie Wilson's War (2007) (producer)
13. "Big Love" (executive producer) (18 episodes, 2006-2007)
- The Happiest Girl (2007) TV episode (executive producer)
- Circle the Wagons (2007) TV episode (executive producer)
- Kingdom Come (2007) TV episode (executive producer)
- Good Guys and Bad Guys (2007) TV episode (executive producer)
- Dating Game (2007) TV episode (executive producer)
(13 more)
14. Evan Almighty (2007) (executive producer)
15. "Big Love: In the Beginning" (executive producer) (3 episodes, 2007)
- Meet the Babysitter (2007) TV episode (executive producer)
- Moving Day (2007) TV episode (executive producer)
- Post-Partum (2007) TV episode (executive producer)
16. Starter for 10 (2006) (producer)
17. The Ant Bully (2006) (producer)
18. Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006) (producer)
19. Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005) (producer)
20. We're with the Band (2005) (TV) (producer)
21. The Polar Express (2004) (executive producer)
... aka The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience (USA: IMAX version)
22. Connie and Carla (2004) (producer)
23. "My Big Fat Greek Life" (2003) TV series (executive producer) (unknown episodes)
24. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) (producer)
... aka Mariage à la grecque (Canada: French title)
... aka Mariage grec, Le (Canada: French title: TV title)
25. We Stand Alone Together (2001) (TV) (executive producer)
... aka We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company (Europe: English title: DVD title)
26. "Band of Brothers" (2001) (mini) TV mini-series (executive producer)
27. Cast Away (2000) (producer)
28. "West Point" (2000) TV series (executive producer)
29. "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) (mini) TV mini-series (executive producer)
George Clooney Producer
Producer:
· In Production
· 2000s
· 1990s
1. Garland Bunting Project (2008) (announced) (producer)
2. Leatherheads (2008) (completed) (producer)
3. Michael Clayton (2007) (executive producer)
4. Ocean's Thirteen (2007) (executive producer)
5. Sand and Sorrow (2007) (executive producer)
6. Wind Chill (2007) (executive producer)
7. The Half Life of Timofey Berezin (2006) (executive producer)
8. A Scanner Darkly (2006) (executive producer)
9. Rumor Has It... (2005) (executive producer)
... aka Rumour Has It... (Australia) (Canada: English title) (New Zealand: English title)
10. Syriana (2005) (executive producer)
11. The Big Empty (2005) (executive producer)
12. "Unscripted" (executive producer) (10 episodes, 2005)
- Episode #1.10 (2005) TV episode (executive producer)
- Episode #1.9 (2005) TV episode (executive producer)
- Episode #1.8 (2005) TV episode (executive producer)
- Episode #1.7 (2005) TV episode (executive producer)
- Episode #1.6 (2005) TV episode (executive producer)
(5 more)
13. The Jacket (2005) (producer)
14. Criminal (2004) (producer)
15. "K Street" (executive producer) (3 episodes, 2003)
- Week 3 (2003) TV episode (executive producer)
- Week 2 (2003) TV episode (executive producer)
- Week 1 (2003) TV episode (executive producer)
16. Far from Heaven (2002) (executive producer)
... aka Loin du paradis (France)
17. Welcome to Collinwood (2002) (executive producer) (producer)
... aka Safecrackers oder Diebe haben's schwer (Germany)
18. Insomnia (2002/I) (executive producer)
19. Rock Star (2001) (executive producer)
20. Fail Safe (2000) (TV) (executive producer)
21. Kilroy (1999) (TV) (producer)
Robert DeNiro
Producer:
· In Production
· 2000s
· 1990s
· 1980s
1. Frankie Machine (2009) (in production) (producer)
2. 20% Fiction (2009) (pre-production) (executive producer)
3. Public Enemies (2009) (pre-production) (executive producer)
4. 36 (2008) (pre-production) (producer)
5. What Just Happened? (2008) (producer)
6. The Good Shepherd (2006) (producer)
7. Rent (2005) (producer)
8. Meet the Fockers (2004) (producer)
9. Stage Beauty (2004) (producer)
10. About a Boy (2002) (producer)
... aka About a Boy oder: Der Tag der toten Ente (Germany)
... aka Pour un garçon (France)
11. Prison Song (2001) (producer)
12. Holiday Heart (2000) (TV) (executive producer)
13. Meet the Parents (2000) (producer)
14. The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000) (producer)
... aka Abenteuer von Rocky und Bullwinkle, Die (Germany)
15. Flawless (1999) (producer) (uncredited)
16. Entropy (1999/I) (producer)
... aka Entrophy (Australia: TV title)
17. Witness to the Mob (1998) (TV) (executive producer)
18. Wag the Dog (1997) (producer)
19. Marvin's Room (1996) (producer)
20. Faithful (1996) (producer)
21. 9 (1996) (VG) (executive producer)
22. Panther (1995) (producer) (uncredited)
23. Frankenstein (1994) (associate producer)
... aka Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (USA: complete title)
24. A Bronx Tale (1993) (producer)
25. The Night We Never Met (1993) (producer) (uncredited)
26. "Tribeca" (1993) TV series (executive producer) (unknown episodes)
27. Mistress (1992) (producer)
... aka Hollywood Mistress (USA)
28. Thunderheart (1992) (producer)
29. Cape Fear (1991) (producer) (uncredited)
30. We're No Angels (1989) (executive producer)
One thing that cannot be contested. If these three high profile members, and their high profile supporters, were predecessors, rather than contemporaries, SAG’s membership would have neither residuals nor pension and health.
A.L. Miller SW Editor & Chief
| Home
| Contact
| Links
| Subscribe
| Classics
| Archive
| Search
| Watchdog Goodies
A List actors meet with SAG President Rosenberg.
|