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October 2014

‘Midnight Rider’ Crew Kept In Dark Over Safety, Federal Investigation Reveals!

by and
October 30, 2014 5:47am
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EXCLUSIVE: New, surprising details have emerged about the on-set death of 27-year-old camerawoman Sarah Jones during the first day of filming on Midnight Rider. Crew members were not told about an email from railroad owner CSX denying them permission to shoot on the Doctortown train trestle in rural Georgia, as at least 20 members piled onto the tracks 25 to 30 feet above the water under dangerous conditions led by director Randall Miller. See newly released pictures below to see (up close) the train tracks they shot on and the small walkway. The train accident left Jones dead and eight others injured, three of them hospitalized. Specific details of what happened on the tracks on the afternoon of February 20 were revealed in a play-by-play report by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration, which was considered the lead investigating body on the case.
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The 182-page investigative report (read it here), which included 86 photos of the Doctortown train trestle and surrounding area, was obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request sent by Deadline.com. Some pages have been redacted by the DOL. What has emerged is a timeline of what led up to the accident and the specifics of the tragedy itself that led to the indictment of director Miller, his wife/producer Jody Savin, unit production manager/exec producer Jay Sedrish and first assistant director Hillary Schwartz on criminal trespass and involuntary manslaughter charges. The trial is set to begin on March 9. Here is what the documents reveal:  (For complete details click following link)
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http://deadline.com/2014/10/midnight-rider-death-timeline-sarah-jones-train-accident-investigation-1201266684/
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Instead of “led” a more appropriate word might have been “lied.” 
Arl
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The Ol’ SAG Watchdog
*Photo selected by Watchdog.

The Watchdog Time Machine: Proves back in 2003 SAG members couldn’t be licked!

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Old Timers are calling it the greatest Popsicle Pilgrimage in SAG’s History! And we’ve got all the lip smacking details with the pictures to prove it.

April 19, 2003 (18:51) | 2003, SAG Politics | By: Arlin Miller | [e]

It started at Albertson’s on Glenoaks in Glendale and took off from there.8:45 AM: Steve Barr at the wheel of the Amazing SAG Popsicle Mobile arrived promptly and began handing out doughnuts and offering bathroom privileges to the fifteen or so picketers on the scene. Hey, it was a little early to hand out Popsicles okay! They liked the treats and the BR break–but what they really responded to was the support. 

Remember what it was like on the old picket line! Hell, my little ol’ heart used to go pitter patter when someone honked. “My Gawd, they care, they really care!”

Well, it wasn’t long before our hearty crew had to say our good-byes as we continued on our Amazing tour.

9:30 AM: We pulled into Ralph’s at 25 E. Alameda. Ten picketers gathered around the Amazing Popsicle Mobile! They were doughnutted out but took to the water and availed themselves of our Amazing bathroom privileges! Although they were surprised to see us they were pleased.

We hung there for a while joined in the picketing then moved on to Pavilions at 1110 Alameda where our group grew! It was after ten and was warming up quickly so the Popsicles were eagerly accepted by many of the large crowd of appreciative UFCW picketers. They wanted to know all about us and what we’d done! I managed to convince one lovely young thing that Ace Ventura was about this sportscaster that was never seen but carried most of the movie. Uh, well, I got her number. The only thing bothers me is that its an 800 number. Oh, well, she looooved the Popsicle.

By 12 noonand a hundred or so Popsicles later the Amazing Popsicle Mobile was parked at the Ralph’s on Ventura and Vineland! In the meantime, there had been stops at another Albertson’s and Von’s. Popsicles and water were a big hit! Everyone joined in with the picketers with our makeshift signs. We met a lot of nice, if not apprehensive folks before firing up the RV and heading for the Ralph’s on Coldwater and Ventura! By know it was HOT! And the Popsicles were going like, ah, well, Popsicles!

1:20 PM, Steve pulled the Popsicle Mobile into Sunset and Fuller’s Rock & Roll Ralph’s parking lot! He didn’t even bother to look for a parking space on the street! “—- ‘em let them tow me if they don’t like it!” he said! I gave him a Popsicle and he cooled down as we were joined by several more hearty SAG members! Someone got out a camera and took some photos which we’ve included!

By now it was a sizzling 100 degrees and we had to run with the Popsicles when we handed them out before they melted! I got to tell you these folks were really appreciative! One little guy was so a grateful, he tried to slip us twenty bucks to help with our expenses! Uh, after a little encouragement from Steve I gave it back! Hey, I was gonna use it for more Popsicles–honest!

It was around 3:30 PM at the West Hollywood Pavilions when yours truly finally bailed. I understand our persistent Popsiclers made several more Popsicle runs including some MTA picketers before calling it a day!

All in all, it had been a very busy and rewarding day as in total we hit at least 13 different locations.

A.L. Miller SAG Watchdog Editor& Chief

The only thing I regret about the whole day is that I didn’t get a Popsicle.

Large Turnout for Sumi Haru Memorial Services!

Even though it was held Friday afternoon during s World series playoff game, there was a large turnout to honor the Late SAG-AFTRA board member.  We have been told that the James Cagney board room was at near capacity.  And even though this was a sad event, there was a positive occurrence, we heard that The Lovely Valerie Harper was in attendance.  Check in later as we are hoping to have a more personal report from someone in attendance. 

Arl

The Ol’ SAG Watchdog

 

Expanded Filming Hours In Downtown L.A. Shelved Amid Opposition

by October 24, 2014 12:50p
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EXCLUSIVE: Los Angeles is gearing up for a significant increase in film and TV production once the new California production tax incentives kick in next year, but one group that isn’t so excited about the coming boom is the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, a private organization that represents downtown businesses and residents. In April, the City Council asked city officials to report on the possibility of expanding filming hours in downtown. The DLANC, however, came back with its own community impact statement, saying that it “vehemently opposes” the expansion of film hours downtown.

Related

L.A. Officials Probe Shakedown Claims On Downtown Shoots

Faced with stiff opposition from powerful downtown business interests, proposals to expand filming hours have been put on the back burner – at least for now

Most areas downtown allow filming from 6 AM to 11 PM, but in the Broadway corridor, filming is allowed from 6 AM until midnight. In the Old Bank District, however, filming is only permitted from 7 am until 10 pm, and filmmakers would like to see those hours expanded. The Old Bank District is particularly attractive to filmmakers because with its many old buildings it can easily pass for almost any city in the country.

The DLANC, however, maintains that the residents and businesses it represents already are overburdened by filmmaking and that they shouldn’t be asked to become more film friendly until production crews become more downtown-friendly.

Related:L.A. Unplugged: Did Teamsters Foil Plan To Bring Power To The Movie People?

“Filming is very disruptive to community members,” the DLANC said. “For example, production companies often prevent access to parking spaces, use invasive lighting, cause significant noise through the use of helicopters and block access to driveways or other entry points, thereby preventing reasonable access to residents’ homes.” The group also complained that film crews have turned living and working downtown into a “hostile environment,” citing cases of “intimidation by cast or crew, including the use of lewd or offensive language; threats to have parked vehicles towed from parking spaces where no production parking restrictions were placed; and use of invasive lighting without any prior notice.”

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To Give you an idea of how ancient the Ol’ Dog is getting to be–when  I read the headline,  the first name that came to mind was Petula Clark!

Arl

The Ol’ SAG Watchdog

* Photo selected by watchdog


L.A. area sees surge in location shoots for TV shows.


On Location
By Richard Verrier
contact the reporterProdction to the city and county has jumped 31%. Feature film work drops!

TV production continued to steal the show in the third quarter, as location shoots for television shows surged in the Los Angeles area.Shoots for television programs on city and county streets jumped 31% in the period compared with the same time a year ago, generating 5,362 production days, according to newly released figures from FilmL.A. Inc. The surge comes as local feature film production continued to decline.This marks the second consecutive quarter of growth in the television market and underscores L.A.’s growing reliance on the television industry as feature film work has migrated to other states and countries. Gov. Jerry Brown recently approved a bill that would triple annual funding for California’s film incentive in an effort to keep more work from leaving the state.

There has been an industry-wide increase in TV programming in recent years that has brought a crop of new dramas to L.A., such as Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi series for CBS, “Extant,” starring Halle Berry; “Matador” for El Rey Network; and “Chasing Life” for ABC Family.

“While we are still trying to reclaim our share of television production, we’re encouraged,” FilmL.A. President Paul Audley said of the upswing in TV shoots. “With the new tax credit taking effect next July, we see strong potential for growth in local TV work ahead.”

Eight series set to premiere this fall are filming in L.A., compared with five a year ago, according to FilmL.A.

TV dramas saw a 43% increase in production days, reality TV jumped nearly 50%, and pilot production was 41% higher. TV sitcoms, which make up a small portion of television filming days, declined 29%.

New shows streamed over the Internet, such as “Bosch” from Amazon Studios, also have helped to fuel an increase in TV permits. Web-based TV jumped 12% in the third quarter, according to the report.

Additionally, more TV shows than before are being filmed in the summer months as cable TV programming has expanded. The competition has prompted broadcast networks to extend their production seasons into summer.

Still, L.A.’s share of the TV pie has been shrinking because of rising competition from New York and other cities offering steep tax breaks to producers. The L.A. region’s share of pilot production dropped to a historic low in the most recent pilot season.

Runaway production also has led to a long-term slide in feature filming in Southern California.

Feature film shoots declined 4% in the third quarter compared with the same period a year ago, with 1,881 production days. Several films with low to medium-sized budgets qualified for state tax credits, including “Straight Outta Compton,” “Scouts vs. Zombies” and “The Perfect Guy.”

Most big-budget studio films shoot out of state because they don’t qualify for state credits. For example, after filming the last two “Star Trek” movies in L.A., Paramount Pictures is filming its third film in Vancouver, Canada.

Follow me Twitter: @rverrier

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times
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Arl

The Ol’ SAG Watchdog

*Photo selected by Watchdog,

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