Comments on: Excerpting the Blacklist http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/31/excerpting-the-blacklist/ Just another Pajamasmedia.com weblog Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:57:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Howard http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/31/excerpting-the-blacklist/#comment-90660 Howard Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:54:00 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/31/excerpting-the-blacklist/#comment-90660 As usual, a well thought out and presented piece. Thanx. Something you miss is the fact that WGA and the rest of the film unions exist to freeze new people out, not to be inclusive. Talent means nothing. The initiation fee of $2,500 is like rubbing everyone's nose in it. What kid has $2,500 unless it comes from daddy? It costs tops, $100 to process a new member. So why the $2,500? To keep people out. My very first job in this business was a very large part in a movie that paid less than my SAG initiation dues. I've carried resentment about this for decades. The internet is the first real bastion of freedom I've ever experienced. Anything can get on. A kid can now use Apple equipment and make a movie, a real movie, for $300. I saw one in a large screening room in town and was amazed at the technical stuff, cameral angles, dolly shots and so on that his guy put into 65 minutes...note that I didn't say the script was good. I emphasize that the projection on the screen was crystal clear, the colors balanced, and the acting bad. Youth will be served, Roger, and no union or unions will keep the next band of movie makers out. As usual, a well thought out and presented piece. Thanx. Something you miss is the fact that WGA and the rest of the film unions exist to freeze new people out, not to be inclusive. Talent means nothing. The initiation fee of $2,500 is like rubbing everyone’s nose in it. What kid has $2,500 unless it comes from daddy? It costs tops, $100 to process a new member. So why the $2,500? To keep people out. My very first job in this business was a very large part in a movie that paid less than my SAG initiation dues. I’ve carried resentment about this for decades. The internet is the first real bastion of freedom I’ve ever experienced. Anything can get on. A kid can now use Apple equipment and make a movie, a real movie, for $300. I saw one in a large screening room in town and was amazed at the technical stuff, cameral angles, dolly shots and so on that his guy put into 65 minutes…note that I didn’t say the script was good. I emphasize that the projection on the screen was crystal clear, the colors balanced, and the acting bad. Youth will be served, Roger, and no union or unions will keep the next band of movie makers out.

]]> By: LarryD http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/31/excerpting-the-blacklist/#comment-90659 LarryD Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:32:06 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/31/excerpting-the-blacklist/#comment-90659 Decades (if not generations) of "Hollywood accounting" have made this area bereft of trust. Otherwise, one solution might be for creative staff such a writer to take part of their compensation in stock. I.e., residuals = dividends. But who could trust Hollywood studios now? Especially with a lot of films being made by "independents" who might not be around in five years. Decades (if not generations) of “Hollywood accounting” have made this area bereft of trust.

Otherwise, one solution might be for creative staff such a writer to take part of their compensation in stock. I.e., residuals = dividends. But who could trust Hollywood studios now? Especially with a lot of films being made by “independents” who might not be around in five years.

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