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July 12th, 2010TWILIGHT NATION SCRIPT TO SCREEN FOLLOWUP
June 7th, 2010
Philip Daay and Chris Engen & Cast of TWILIGHT NATION
Check out the AAC Facebook page for a calendar of upcoming events.
TWILIGHT NATION SCRIPT TO SCREEN READING IN AUSTIN
June 3rd, 2010
Twilight Nation Poster
FREE and open to the public
Seating is limited: RSVP to the AustinActorsConservatory at gmail.com
As a Reminder, parking signs at St. Edward’s are NOT enforced on the weekends.
SCREENWRITERS BIOs:
PHILIP DAAY
Based in Austin, Philip Daay learned his craft from the late Malvin Wald, the Oscar-nominated writer of the legendary noir classic The Naked City. Born to immigrants, his mother from Thailand and his father from Iraq, Philip’s first break came with the sale of his movie Left In Darkness to prolific television producer/writer Stephen J. Cannell. The movie enjoyed a release on Worldwide DVD and the Sci-Fi Channel (SyFy).
Ever since, Philip has continued his work in the entertainment industry. Past options include a Horror project to Haxan Films/White Ape; the creators of the cult hit The Blair Witch Project. He has also signed a past option on a Sci-Fi/Horror script with producer Robert Kandle and Oscar-nominated producer David Levy. He has recently concluded a Romance/Comedy assignment still in development for director Todd Cantelon and Trillenium Media Group up in Canada.
Philip’s upcoming projects include Black Salt, an Action/Martial Arts/Thriller starring Michael Jai White and Tom Sizemore to be directed by veteran stunt coordinator Nick Powell. He also wrote the upcoming Sci-Fi/Action graphic novel Scionic for Arcana Studios to be published in 2010.
CHRIS ENGEN A talented writer, musician and actor, Chris Engen has enjoyed an extensive career over the past decade. He played recurring roles on varied television shows such as CSI: New York and Felicity and main character roles for Saints & Sinners and As If. His movie career began in 2004 with DIRTY DANCING: HAVANA NIGHTS. His acting continued as one of the main characters on the movie LEFT IN DARKNESS written by Philip Daay. His latest projects include primary cast in EASY RIDER: THE RIDE BACK the official prequel to the classic EASY RIDER in 1969 starring Dennis Hopper. His collaborative relationship with Philip began on the set of LEFT IN DARKNESS which culminated with Twilight Nation.
More about Script to Screen:
The Script to Screen series is a LIVE read with professional actors of un-produced film or TV scripts before an industry audience. Our scripts are selected from professional writers and/or script festival winners. They are rehearsed, directed and performed by professionals before industry casting directors, producers, directors, potential investors and industry pros for one performance only.
The Script to Screen program began in Houston in 2007 and has grown to now include regular reads in the Austin and Dallas area. Production, financing and re-development of these projects has been the result. Script to Screen is committed to helping professional writers present their work to potential investors and provide a level of talent that can help facilitate casting. Our goal is to provide more work opportunities for industry professionals living and working in Texas.
Script to Screen – RETURNING CHAMPION – SUCCESS!
September 1st, 2009With only two rehearsals, the SAG / AFTRA sponsored, Austin Conservatory presented a live presentation of RETURNING CHAMPION, by Michele Gendelman and Ursula Ziegler at St. Edwards University this past weekend.
Director Heather Scobie and a large cast of SAG and AFTRA actors presented a blocked for the state, live reading of the script with minimal lighting effects and sound effects. Frankly, I wondered if we’d pull this off as it was no small task. But under Heather’s confident guidance and with the talents of actors from Austin, Houston, Dallas and even Tulsa, OK it really turned out well.
The best part, to me at least, is that the writers, who were in attendance, seemed genuinely happy with the experience. They got to see their script on its feet and hear their characters speak aloud for the very first time. A Win/Win situation. If you’re a Central Texas SAG member and you haven’t joined the Conservatory, please do.
In addition to the Script to Screen series, we are actively programming seminars, classes, etc. to benefit Central Texas SAG and AFTRA members. Some programs and events will also be open to non-SAG actors as space and cost allow.
NEXT UP: Incremental Goal Setting – For Bicyclists and Actors, too
Free Seminar: Texas Incentives – How To Get A Piece Of The Pie
June 30th, 2009AUSTIN CONSERVATORY PRESENTS a free seminar featuring Texas Film Commission head, Bob Hudgins and friends. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear first hand what Hudgins has to say about the new law, about the positive impact on Texas film production and maybe even yet another explanation of the ‘Waco’ brouhaha.
TEXAS INCENTIVES—HOW TO GET A PIECE OF THE PIE!
Discover the ins & outs of the TX Moving Image Industry Incentive Program & building the biz in Texas.
Join this open forum for producers, directors, actors and crew. Learn about the new incentives for growing work in Film, Commercial Advertising, Corporate Film, Video Gaming, & New Media. Find out how the new incentives have impacted Texas production, who’s using the incentives, and how home grown creativity can benefit from the new program.
When: Sunday, July 12, 2009
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Congregation Beth Israel
3901 Shoal Creek Blvd.
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 454-6806
Panel includes:
· Bob Hudgins—Director, Texas Film Commission
· Linda Dowell—Regional Branch Division Exec Director, SAG
· TJ Jones— Texas Regional Director, AFTRA
· Craig Berlin—Business Manager, Pro-Tape Systems
· Ken Rector—Business Manager, IATSE Local 484
· Tom Booker—Moderator, Austin Conservatory
Cost: FREE
Please RSVP to Sheila Cooper at: (972)361-8185 OR (800) 724-0767, option 7 or sheila.cooper at sag.org
SAG and AMPTP Settle – Texas Film Incentive Law Passes
April 20th, 2009SAG and AMPTP settle…bad contract but at least we get to vote on it now…it will pass…
Is this the contract we want and need? No. However, after a year of on and off negotiations, this is the contract we’re stuck with and, given the overall economic climate, this contract will pass. At least we got two year expiration that will give the various guilds the opportunity to work together next time and hopefully improve the pitiful compensation package that this agreement establishes for new media. Time will tell, of course, but those of us who’ve been around the block a few times have little reason for optimism that the AMPTP will give significant improvements going forward. Our best hope there is if SAG, AFTRA and WGA can work together in two years. Each day seems to bring a new announcement concerning new media company alliances that will continue to alter the current product distribution landscape. Right now, actors are set to get the short end of the stick. In two years we should have ample documentation to make a strong case for significant improvements to this just approved agreement.
And now some really good news…
TXMPA effort pays off with improved film incentive package… gov will sign into law and now it HAS TO BE FUNDED…
And more good news…
SAG and AFTRA successfully negotiated a new commercials contract so no negative excitement on that front…things are looking very positive for resurgence of Texas film business…Great way to start a new week!
Here’s the email SAG members got concerning the new theatrical contract:
Dear Screen Actors Guild member:
We are pleased to inform you that the National Board of Directors today voted to approve the tentative TV/Theatrical deal and recommend it to the members.
Please see the following announcement.
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES TENTATIVE TELEVISION AND MOTION PICTURE CONTRACTS AND RECOMMENDS RATIFICATION
Los Angeles (April 19, 2009) – The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today voted 53.38 percent to 46.62 percent to approve and recommend to members, new, two-year successor agreements to the 2005 Producer-Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement.
The proposed agreement, covering actors in motion pictures and television delivers 3.5% effective annual increases comprised of a 3% wage increase and a .5% pension and health contribution increase upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase in year two.
The board passed the below motion shortly after 4:00 p.m. today:
It was moved and seconded that the National Board directs the Interim National Executive Director to send the tentative agreement between the Producers represented by the AMPTP and the Screen Actors Guild for successor agreements to the 2005 Producer–Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement to the membership for ratification, with a recommendation from the Board to vote ‘Yes.’
Approved: 53.38% –46.62%
“I urge members to carefully review both the pros and cons in the referendum materials, and exercise their right to vote,” said Screen Actors Guild National President Alan Rosenberg.
Interim National Executive Director David White said: “We are pleased that Screen Actors Guild members will soon be voting on a deal for television and motion pictures. We’re eager to get our members back to work and to focus now on the challenges ahead, particularly on initiating a comprehensive effort to thoughtfully plan for the future.
Our negotiating committee, task force and professional staff have worked countless hours on this agreement over the last year. On behalf of the National Board, I thank them for their time, commitment and expertise.”
Chief Negotiator John McGuire stated: “This tentative agreement delivers increased contributions to the SAG pension plan, increased minimums, a significant gain in background actor numbers from 50 to 55 over the term of the contract, and it tracks the new media provisions achieved by other entertainment industry unions. The term of the agreement puts SAG in sync with the other unions, and does not include the extended term recently proposed by the AMPTP.”
Provisions of the proposed deal include:
• A two-year term of agreement concluding June 30, 2011.
• Effective annual increases comprised of 3.0% in wage increases and .5% in pension contributions upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase one year following ratification.
• A new media structure that tracks those achieved by other industry unions, resulting in gains for actors including:
o Jurisdiction on all derivative, made-for new media productions; automatic jurisdiction on all high-budget, original, made-for new media productions; plus jurisdiction on low budget original, new media productions that employee at least 1 covered performer.
o Residuals for exhibition of TV and Theatrical motion pictures on consumer pay platforms (Electronic Sell Through) at a greater percentage than those paid for DVD distribution.
o Residuals for ad-supported streaming of feature films and television programs.
o Residuals for derivative new media programs.
• Additional 5 covered background actors in feature films. From 50 to 53 covered background positions upon ratification of the contract, and from 53 to 55 covered background positions in year 2. Adds 1 covered background position in TV, from 19 to 20, upon ratification.
• Increased compensation for guest star premium from 7.5% to 10%.
• Increased trailer money break from $2,500 to $3,000, or more per week.
• Increased overtime money break for three-day performers from $2,700 to $3,000.
Ratification ballots will be mailed to eligible SAG members in early May, with an expected return date at the end of the month. Tabulation will occur immediately upon the conclusion of balloting.
Bargaining for a successor agreement to the 2005 SAG TV/Theatrical Contract began on April 15, 2008.
SAG and AFTRA Make Commercials Contract Deal with Producers
April 1st, 2009The following is from an email blast sent to SAG and AFTRA members:
Dear Screen Actors Guild Member,
I am very pleased to inform you that early this morning, the SAG/AFTRA Joint Commercials Negotiating Committee, under the capable leadership of John McGuire, Mathis Dunn and Ray Rodriguez, reached a proposed deal on the commercials contracts. The committee voted unanimously to recommend this agreement to the SAG/AFTRA Joint National Board for approval and membership referendum.
I would like to express my congratulations and sincere appreciation to the members of the negotiating team for their hard work and dedication during this challenging process.
Please take a moment to review the below news release which provides some details about the proposed agreement.
In unity and looking forward.
David White
AFTRA AND SAG REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ADVERTISING INDUSTRY ON NEW COMMERCIALS CONTRACTS
NEW YORK (APRIL 1, 2009)—Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced today that the AFTRA/SAG Joint Negotiating Committee has reached a unanimous tentative agreement with the Joint Policy Committee (JPC) of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) on terms for successor agreements to the AFTRA Television and Radio Commercials Contracts and the SAG Television Commercials Contract, subject to approval by the SAG/AFTRA Joint National Board.
The new three-year agreement contains a more than $36 million increase in wage rates and other payments for all categories of performers in the first year of the contracts, approximately $21 million in increased contributions to the SAG Pension and Health Plan and the AFTRA Health and Retirement Fund, establishment of a payment structure for work made for the Internet and other New Media platforms, important new monitoring provisions, and improvements for choreographers, extras, and Spanish language performers.
The new contracts also contain an agreement in principle outlining terms for a pilot study for the purpose of testing the Gross Rating Points (GRP) model of restructuring compensation to performers as proposed by Booz & Co. The two-year study is scheduled to commence on April 15 and will be conducted by a jointly retained consultant engaged by the Unions and the Industry. The results and possible adoption of the study’s findings will be subject to negotiation by the parties not later than January 3, 2012.
The unions successfully protected the critical “Class A” payment structure and continued unchanged the editing provisions in the existing contract.
Highlights of the new agreement include:
• Three-year agreement, term effective April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2012
• 5.1% overall increase in wages and other compensation over the life of the contracts, including a 4.43% increase, effective April 1, 2009, in Class A, Wild Spot, and basic cable session fees
• For product made for the Internet or in New Media, 1.3 times the minimum session fee for 8 week’s use and 3.5 times the minimum session fee for one year’s use
• 0.5% increase in the employer contribution rate to the AFTRA H&R and SAG P&H plans bringing the total contribution rate to 15.3%. The agreement provides for a cap on P&H and H&W contributions, but the committee successfully negotiated the industry from their initial demand of $250,000 to $1,000,000 per performer, per contract, per year.
• Secured five, new covered jobs for commercial extras, up from 40 to 45
• Established new exclusivity provisions for made-for cable only commercials
• Instituted, for the first time, a contract provision to pay extras a round-trip mileage fee of $8
• Increased foreign use payments under the Spanish Language section of the contract
Austin Conservatory Presents: Script to Screen at the State Theater
March 26th, 2009Professional performers present the first in a series of live script reads before directors, producers, agents, casting directors, and potential producers.
“Feather in the Rain”
by Alex Conrad
Monday, March 30
6:00-6:15pm Network
6:15-9:00pm Script Read
State Theater
719 Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701
512.472.5470
TEXAS FILM INDUSTRY LOBBY DAY IS HERE
March 3rd, 2009DATE: Wednesday, March 4th
TIME: 7:15am
LOCATION: The South Steps of the Capitol Building
WARDROBE: Wear Red. Look nice.
AGENDA:
· 7:15am – CALL TIME! Be on the South Steps of the Capitol Building in
your snazzy red outfits! There will be a table set up where you can get
information, pick up a Rally Fan, and be directed to the Rally area.
· 7:30am to 8:30am – Governor Rick Perry and other film bigwigs will
address our group while we RALLY and make a big show for the press
· 8:30am to 9:15am – Skits based on popular Texas films will be
performed for our entertainment and encouragement
· 9:15am to 11:15am – Rally on the steps OR walk the halls of the
Capitol wearing your red and carrying a sign or fan
· 11:30am to 1:30pm – Form a receiving line into and out of the lunch
tent so we can thank the legislators for their time and attention to our
issue (NOTE: Lunch is being served only to the legislators, their staff,
and TXMPA members who are taking meetings with them, not all in attendance!)
You are not REQUIRED to stay for any length of time for the Rally, but
we’d love to have the largest group possible earlier in the day to make
the best impression on the Governor and the press. If you can only come
for an hour or two, plan to be there right at CALL TIME!
IATSE GETTING THE ‘SAG’ TREATMENT FROM AMPTP
February 26th, 2009For some time now I’ve wondered why SAG wasn’t getting more support from our fellow workers in the film industry as we try to come to a contract agreement with the AMPTP. If you read the various forums, most of the talk has been of the ‘just settle the contract so we can all get back to work’ variety. AFTRA signed the deal. WGA signed the deal. Just get on with it. Stop being a bunch of overpaid, pompous asses and sign the deal. Revisit the issues you don’t like on the next negotiation.
Here’s what I know:
The AMPTP says they can’t make any money on so called NEW MEDIA (internet delivery of new product) if they pay actors what they pay for Network TV or Cable TV, especially the residuals that actors earn for reruns.
Really? Want to see some recent residuals I got for Cable TV usage?:
CPT Holdings, Inc. 12.19.2008 $29.60 Net Amount: 19.93
Payor: CPT Holdings, Inc.
Columbia Tristar Television, Inc. 12.18.2008 $14.65 Net Amount: 9.87
Payor: Columbia Tristar Television, Inc.
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. 12.04.2008 $72.59 Net Amount: 48.89
Payor: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
These residual payments may make me blush, but it’s not from embarrassment of being over paid. These are the kind of residuals that come from taking the AMPTP at their word.
Apparently that cable TV ‘experiment’ has worked out pretty well for 20+ years but the actors have never able to significantly improve on the deal we cut with the AMPTP when the pleading from the producers was ‘don’t kill this infant technology’.
Regardless of the opinion of how SAG negotiations were handled by the now defunct team of Rosenberg and Allen, hardly anyone I’ve spoken with or read has offered the opinion that the AMPTP offer to SAG is a good deal for actors. Good? It’s not even a reasonable deal.
Universally it seems it is understood that the deal that AFTRA and WGA signed are not ones that the guilds can be happy with or proud of. Yet SAG, because of an inexplicable lack of communication skills among other reasons, has let itself and ‘the actors’ become the punching bag for the rest of the industry. Gotta hand it to AMPTP for looking like the guys in the white hats. Unlike the guilds, the producers have played their hand beautifully.
If actors give up the contracted guarantee of residual income from television and films because they are now distributed (streamed or downloaded) via the internet, then frankly I’m left to ponder: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MEMBERSHIP IN SAG?
Actors by and large simply do not work enough, even at current rates, to make a living in the profession without residual income. Even WITH residual income most actors don’t make a real living from SAG wages. Why do I continue to turn down non union work when the new contract gives producers the okay to produce non union?
Once again we’re told to accept this deal now and we’ll ‘revisit’ the issues when the technology is more mature. Uh. Sure.
Well now it seems that the IATSE folks (from whom SAG has received little public support as our own contract woes have dragged on and on) are having their own issues with their leadership and with the AMPTP.
Nikke Finke’s site has a very good piece today about the IATSE contract situation.
Here is a section of the post on today’s DHD website:
… the IATSE/AMPTP Memo Of Agreement which opponents are calling “the worst concessionary contract” that the Hollywood locals have ever seen. As one activist in the International Cinematographers Guild emailed his IATSE Local 600 members: “So far as I’m concerned, the MOA gives away employment opportunities in New Media, guts our health plan, and gives no security to those who work on a day to day, or part-time, basis. This contract gives away every reason I can think of for belonging to a union. On top of that, it sews up ‘jurisdiction’ over the Internet which means that no group can create an alternative union that might fight for realistic wages and reasonable terms and conditions of employment.”
Substitute “SAG” for “IATSE” and it just sounds like more of the same from the AMPTP. So now, IATSE members who face loss of insurance benefits and loss of a livable wage from NEW MEDIA, how does it feel to be in the position SAG members have been in for the past 8 months? It’s not that easy to ‘just accept the deal’ is it?
A couple of pull quotes from the comments on Finke’s site:
…The New Media contract issues should be a bigger focus for all IATSE members. You might have your 300 or 400 hours to get your teeth cleaned every six months but you won’t be making enough on a “Web Episode” with no real guide lines on rates or staff requirements to make your house or rent payments.
New Media is the future. It should be made under the Basic Hollywood Agreement…
…And I hope that all members can read here, the Facebook site, or 400hours.com to see that anyone who votes in favor of this contract is voting himself, or herself, out of union protection in new media, voting themselves out of a share of future earnings, and possibly voting themselves out of their health care.
This contract, in conjunction with the contracts of the last twenty years, takes a gigantic step forward in dismantling our union and union protections. VOTE NO. VOTE “AGAINST RATIFICATION”.
Furthermore, now I hope all my brothers and sisters in IA can see how foolish it is to not support our sister guilds of WGA, DGA, and SAG…
