November 19, 2008 by WW.

We’re collectively in hysterics at the antics of the Fool Off the Hill (OK, it’s a little obscure, but it’s our new name for HER), whose reaction to the just announced IATSE-AMPTP deal is the following astonishing nonsense: 

Talk about a conveniently timed announcement intended to undermine SAG’s federal mediator-ordered formal talks with the AMPTP tomorrow. It’s also conveniently timed to undercut the WGA’s news today that it’s going after Big Media for reneging on making those New Media payments contained in the new contract. But labor sources tell me they suspect this is a phoney baloney announcement because there’s not even any revelation of terms in the news release. 

Never mind that the “convenient timing” is because the negotiations have been going on this week and have just concluded. Apparently the Fool Off the Hill can’t read any better than she can report. This is the part of the press release she apparently couldn’t understand.

The IATSE-AMPTP agreement is consistent with the five other major agreements AMPTP has already negotiated this year, and it includes meaningful economic gains and groundbreaking new media rights. … Terms and conditions of the tentative agreement are in line with industry standards as established by other labor negotiations in 2008, and with applicable modifications for the particular needs of IATSE members. The IA received the unanimous support of the negotiating committee to recommend ratification of the tentative agreement by the membership. 

 Now maybe it would have been better to put percentages and a little more detail in the release, but it looks like the IATSE committee figured with the economy in crater mode, it’s better to have a deal with raises than not.

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Update:  We’ve heard from a reader who says the Fool is censoring comments on her loony post, and refused to publish a sarcastic note saying that the IATSE contract is obviously all part of a worldwide conspiracy against SAG and Membership First, and that everyone is in on it, except for the Allens.

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November 19, 2008 by WW.

Just a few hours before the first SAG/AMPTP session since July, this announcement came from IATSE. The key line is, “The IATSE-AMPTP agreement is consistent with the five other major agreements AMPTP has already negotiated this year.”

Joint IATSE-AMPTP Statement

IATSE and AMPTP Agree on New Three-Year Contract

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) tentatively agreed today to the terms of a new three-year IATSE contract.  Terms apply to about 35,000 IA members represented by the West Coast studio Locals and New York-based Locals 52 and 161.

“This was a tough negotiation during tough economic times but both sides worked hard and negotiated reasonably to come to this agreement,” IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb said.  “This new agreement both protects members and allows new media to evolve.”

In response to the agreement, AMPTP issued the following statement:

“The AMPTP is pleased to announce its sixth major labor agreement of 2008, this time with IATSE.  The IATSE-AMPTP agreement is consistent with the five other major agreements AMPTP has already negotiated this year, and it includes meaningful economic gains and groundbreaking new media rights.  Taken together, these six new labor agreements will keep our industry at work, allow producers to experiment with new media, and give everyone in our industry a stake in the success of new and emerging markets.”

Terms and conditions of the tentative agreement are in line with industry standards as established by other labor negotiations in 2008, and with applicable modifications for the particular needs of IATSE members.  The IA received the unanimous support of the negotiating committee to recommend ratification of the tentative agreement by the membership.

The IATSE is an International Union that represents members employed in the stagecraft, motion picture and television production, and trade shows industries throughout the United States, its Territories, and Canada.

Posted in Exhibit A - TV Theatrical | Print | 1 Comment »

November 19, 2008 by Editor.

OK, so this is more AFTRA’s worry than SAG’s, but the bottom line is the same. And, by the way, we think one part of the story is wrong - our note on that is at the bottom.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and
Guns N’ Roses released their biggest hits on vinyl records and
compact discs, but on Thursday, their new albums will debut
online on MySpace.
Users of MySpace, the world’s largest social network on the
Internet, will be able to listen for free to “Electric
Arguments,” the new album by McCartney’s side-project group The
Fireman, and “Chinese Democracy,” the long-delayed album by
hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, before the songs are in stores
and at online shops like Amazon.com.
Members of News Corp-owned MySpace will be able to
play the songs on the bands’ MySpace pages, but they will not
be able to download them onto their computers.
Geffen Records plans to exclusively release “Chinese
Democracy” on Nov. 23 in the United States at consumer
electronics chain Best Buy Co Inc. Most of its tracks
have already shown up in various forms, including pirated
versions on the Internet.
“Electric Arguments” is due to be released on Nov. 25. Fans
can also order songs from that album, but not songs from
“Chinese Democracy”, through MySpace Music.
MySpace Music is a joint venture with Vivendi’s
Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music
Group

Here’s the part that’s wrong. The companies have to know that there are plenty of audio recorders and capture programs that will record the songs as they’re played on a computer. Even if it’s technically not a download, we think the file sharing/piracy problem isn’t solved by this kind of release - it’s probably made worse.

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