FAMOUS STARS GIVE THUMBS UP TO GUILD STRATEGY IN SECRET MEETING
Note: This post has been updated to correct errors and reflect further reporting.
LOS ANGELES – They met in the private room of an Italian restaurant, like in a scene from one of the Godfather movies: Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Nick Nolte, Annette Bening -- about 20 of Hollywood’s great stars from the past 30 years.
Their faces were grave. The subject was serious: the livelihood of the entertainment industry and the prospect of yet another strike, months after the end of a painful writers guild strike.
These top stars were called together last month by Screen Actors Guild president Alan Rosenberg to give the thumbs up – or thumbs down – on a strike, according to one person who was present, speaking on condition of anonymity.
But others familiar with the meeting, which they said took place a few months ago, say the purpose was to vote on whether to sign a solidarity statement in support of the negotiating committee, which was under pressure to take the deal offered by the AMPTP, at a time when a sister guild, AFTRA, had made its own deal with the studios.
At the time, a strike vote was nowhere on the horizon. Negotiations were Federal mediation was still ongoing between SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and Hollywood was in slowdown mode because the guild had been working without a contract since July.
But this elite gathering of stars had an agenda. They were given slips of paper to write down their views -- to support guild policy rejecting the studio offer, or not.
Their verdict, according to two sources: to support the guild strategy. Another source said the verdict was to support moving toward a strike. (Continuing to negotiate while AFTRA made its deal was ultimately a move down the path toward a strike vote.)
A spokeswoman for SAG said that the guild has had frequent meetings with high-profile actors to discuss issues related to contract talks. "We have met with high profile actors on sets and elsewhere to discuss various issues throughout our negotiations," said Pam Greenwalt. "We do not publicize the meetings nor do we release details."
The rest of the members of the guild of 120,000 will be allowed a more formal vote in the next few weeks as to whether to strike, though many in Hollywood now believe a stoppage is inevitable given the standoff and the current invective between the two sides.
Still, many in the guild have expressed anger in the past two days at the prospect of yet another strike in less than a year, after the three month work stoppage by the Writers Guild of America, at a time of great economic uncertainty.
An online petition against a strike, the No SAG Strike petition, had reportedly gathered more than 5,700 signatures as of Monday evening.
But the idea of a small group of actors being tapped for an early vote while mediation was meant to be the order may anger some members even more.
Negotiations between guild and the studios have been at a standstill for months. While the AMPTP has not budged from its offer of a $250 million increase in its contract with the guild, the union has pushed for more concessions regarding new media. The studios say they cannot possibly give more than they have already offered, a deal similar to that struck with other guilds.
What’s more, the economy has embarked on a downward spiral as the standoff has continued.
At stake are the fees to be shared on revenues for new media, entertainment distributed in new and as-yet-uninvented distribution channels over the Internet. The guild’s negotiating committee had, late in the mediation, agreed to the new media proposal extended by the studios, but only if the studios granted the guild an increase in the rate of DVD residuals. That fee – established in the decades before DVDs became huge, and a source of resentment among the Hollywood guilds – is considered sacrosanct by the studios, since DVDs constitute a huge part of their profits.
What role these major stars gathered at a favored Hollywood watering hole on the west side of Los Angeles would play in the decision-making of the guild was unclear.
“Everyone was writing their views on slips of paper,” said one person who was present at the secret meeting.
The final decision on a strike will rest with the national board.
Guess what? I don't care. We'll simply watch more Netflix....Hollywood is overpaid anyway.
Posted by: Ann | November 25, 2008 at 06:12 AM
I feel so much better knowing that someone of Nick Nolte's demonstrated good judgment and sound insight is working on this problem. Good luck and god bless.
Posted by: Movie Buff | November 25, 2008 at 07:27 AM
The SAG, has a valid point with the DVD issue. You do not see the over forty crowd in Theaters anymore for obvious reasons. They are all sitting home watching "Bugsy" on a Blue-ray DVD on a flat screen with close friends. I say "Bugsy" since this is an example of Classic movies made by Hollywood by the older and talented Stars (like Warren Beatty, Annette Bening etc.) who are slowly fading to be taken over by the Animation,Action and Voice-Over Stars and Films which cater to the under thirty five crowd here and abroad. For the older Stars the future income is in DVD and Video Streaming and not in Theater&Box office.They will loose substantially if they are left out of this market. A bad economy will always be used now and the years to come as a bait-but the SAG should not give in.
Posted by: Qmind. | November 25, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Hollywood is NOT overpaid. "Hollywood" in this case consists of thousands of rank and file SAG members who are being screwed in the era of new media (i.e. Netflix). Acting is a noble profession, yet most professional actors barely survive.
Posted by: nvz | November 25, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I agree with NVZ.... this is a serious decision towards equal rights and equal pay for over a hundred thousand actors. I say, if there is grave need; STRIKE.
hey, the liberals are having a good year!
Posted by: ghb | November 25, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I agree with NVZ.... this is a serious decision towards equal rights and equal pay for over a hundred thousand actors. I say, if there is grave need; STRIKE.
hey, the liberals are having a good year!
Posted by: ghb | November 25, 2008 at 11:19 AM
OF COURSE those stars are ok with a strike, and for two reasons:
1. They stand to benefit massively from airings of their dozens of past roles online.
2. They can survive not working!
How dare these MILLIONAIRES sit there and say "Go ahead and put thousands out of a job." I respect veterens for their craft, but as far as current events they are massively out of touch and have proven themselves to be completely and utterkly selfish! How dare they meet in private first of all and secondly how dare they put me out of work while they vacation to private islands alongside Oprah.
By the way, the petition looks like it will hit 10,000 strong by this afternoon (just 3 days after it was begun). I'd say the desperate cries of 10,000 people and industry workers far outweighs the illuminati-style gathering of the wealthiest actors alive.
Posted by: ANTI-STRIKE | November 25, 2008 at 01:34 PM
The fact that they met in secret DURING talks goes to show ho the SAG president never had any intention of reaching a deal. He has been talking about a strike for MONTHS. That's all they've been able to see is STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE. They do not care about the members, the issues, nor the economy. It is SHAMEFUL!
Posted by: ANTI-STRIKE | November 25, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Lets be honest- What ever contract decisions are made and agreed on will only effect 10% of the SAG membership- The other 90% haven't or couldn't get a job in years because SAG has over populated their membership to line the pockets of the union piggy bank. However if they do strike it WILL effect 90% of all Union craft and support employment- It's arrogant and short sighted for this bunch of worn out old Hollywood hacks to sit around at dinner and with a thumb (ie: middle finger) up or down say to the industry as a whole (Which has made THEM rich beyond their wildest dreams) "Let them eat cake"- It's disgusting!
Posted by: WeRDoomed | November 25, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Fine. If SAG strikes, I'll be on the other side of the street with some signs of my own. I'll have nothing to lose, it's where I'll be living.
Posted by: JLS | November 25, 2008 at 05:38 PM
Take it from some of us who know better...the online petition isn't going to accomplish much and here's why:
http://community.livejournal.com/whywewatchljcom/26712.html
Posted by: WhyWeWatch | November 26, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Actually they do work. I've done some in the past and they worked completely. Ye of little faith. Just wait.
Posted by: AgainssTheStrike08 | November 28, 2008 at 02:25 AM
I am SO glad the strikes are over. I hope that it doesn't happen again.
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For the older Stars the future income is in DVD and Video Streaming and not in Theater&Box office.They will loose substantially if they are left out of this market. A bad economy will always be used now and the years to come as a bait-but the SAG should not give in.
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