Tuesday, August 30, 2011

SAG and AFTRA Continue Discussions to Create One Union

Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists continued formal discussions this weekend between the AFTRA New Union Committee and the SAG Merger Task Force to facilitate the creation of one union to represent all members of Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA

(from sag.org). I've posted why the unions must merge. I'm a member of both SAG and AFTRA and I'm a SAG signatory producer.

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Friday, August 26, 2011

Senate Committee backs CA film incentive extension

Legislation for an extension of California's film production incentive program has received backing from the State Senate Appropriations committee.
The panel agreed Thursday to send Assembly Bill 1069 to the Senate floor - but with some key details still to be worked out, such as the number of years before the entire Senate votes on the bill. If the panel had not acted Thursday, the bill would have been suspended until next year's legislative sessions.
The program - aimed at halting runaway production - is slated to end in fiscal year 2013-14, with the last credits to be allocated by July 2012. It offers significantly smaller incentives than other states, with a maximum 25% credit and a total of $500 million in credits over five years

(from Variety, thanks to Woody Schultz and Unite for Strength for pointing it out).

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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Let the Audience Buy from You or They'll Pirate from Others

For years it has been clear that the audience wants to watch what it wants to, where and when it wants to. Even some major media companies realized, back in 2009, that [t]raditional television viewing patterns are collapsing [and have collapsed by now]. Yet somehow, some are unwilling to let the audience give them their money (in the form of ad views).

You might remember that Fox just recently did away with next-day access on episodes of their shows streaming online. That move went into effect about a week ago, and already appears to have nearly doubled the piracy rate of Fox television shows. I’m guessing that wasn’t the outcome Fox was hoping for

(from Fox's 8-Day Window For Online Episodes Drastically Increases Piracy). Piracy is bad, and as an actor and producer I do not encourage it. However, any business that makes it hard for their customers to give them money is not doing things well. As iTunes showed eons ago, the audience will pay you if you let them.

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Monday, August 22, 2011

You Are Enough

She [April Webster] then said this to me (words that changed my entire career):
"You need to know that you're enough."

(from Working Actress).

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Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Working on Shakespeare in LA

Putting on high-quality productions that rival the best companies in the world is ultimately what will make Los Angeles a Shakespeare destination. "Just because L.A. doesn't have it yet," Chalsma says, "doesn't mean that it isn't possible."

(from Los Angeles Times).

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Thursday, August 04, 2011

Doubt Happens

But it isn't real, isn't worth influencing decisions:

It's hard to maintain a sense of dignity in an audition. I have done so many auditions where I've put it out there and have been met with that kind of blank stare - "Great! Thanks! OK! Great work! Thanks for coming in!" At the door I'm thinking, 'What the hell am I doing with my life?'

- Ben Stiller, Emmy winner (among other distinctions)

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this posted by David August at 4:44 PM - 2 comments -  

Monday, August 01, 2011

Twittering Backstage More Mainstream

In between all the networking and simply being themselves, Broadway stars have found that Twitter is also a very helpful promotional tool and a way to build a fan base

(from Backstage).

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this posted by David August at 2:25 PM - 0 comments -  

Battles Waged

It's not the battles won, it's the battles waged. On the face of it we know it's true. It isn't how many auditions that turn to bookings, but how many auditions you do good work at. It's not how many fans you have, but how much your work could move people. It's not how many performances win awards but how many are worthy of them. The results certainly matter (ask a landlord or grocer) but are not necessarily changed by worrying about them; results are something we influence, but beyond our control. So breathe, live, and whenever possible: act in faith, not in fear.

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