LOS ANGELES (AP) - Four major studios have canceled dozens of writers' contracts in a possible concession that the current television season cannot be saved, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday, Jan 15.

The move means the 2-month old writers strike may also endanger next season's new shows, the Times said.

January is usually the beginning of pilot season, when networks order new scripted shows. But the strike leaves networks without a pool of comedy and drama scripts from which to choose.

20th Century Fox Television, CBS Paramount Network Television, NBC Universal and Warner Bros. Television told the Times they have terminated development and production agreements.

Studios typically pay $500,000 to $2 million a year per writer for them and their staffs to develop new show concepts.

"I didn't see it coming," Barbara Hall, a writer and producer whose credits include former CBS series "Joan of Arcadia" and "Judging Amy," told the Times, which said ABC executives gave her the news Friday. "I am not entirely sure what their strategy is, all I know was that I was a casualty of it."

The newspaper said more than 65 deals with writers have been eliminated since Friday.

Two Months In :
The Past 30 Days in Review

by Peter Clines

Submitted for your approval is the ongoing list of major events from the picket lines and the negotiating rooms.  As before, there’s also a few announcements and incidents that weren’t linked to the strike when they happened, but probably should’ve been.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007—The Sundance Film Festival announces the 83 short films that have been selected to air both at the festival itself and also as video downloads through iTunes.  Sundance’s online producer, Joe Beyer, notes that all filmmakers will be paid for such downloads, and that some of last year's contributors have made “tens of thousands of dollars.”

Dec. 6—The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announces it has hired political spin doctors Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane to handle publicity during the strike.  Fabiani and Lehane, who worked for President Clinton and Vice President Gore, among others, are known by the nickname “Masters of Disaster,” a nod to their aggressive attacks on opponents.

Dec. 7—Strike talks break down again.  The AMPTP refuses to alter their previous proposal and also issues a list of demands, insisting there will be no negotiations unless the Writers Guild of America takes a number of proposals off the table.   Guild negotiators reject this ultimatum and begin to prepare yet another counter-offer.  When Nick Counter is told their demands will not be met, the producers again walk away from negotiations.  Within minutes, the AMPTP issues a press release saying the WGA has derailed negotiations with its “unreasonable demands.”

Also on this day, more than 400 fans of the Joss Whedon series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly rally at the 20th Century Fox lot with Whedon and regular writers Marti Noxon, David Fury, and Tim Minear, among several others.  Also present are many of Whedon’s regular cast members, including Eliza Dushku, Nicholas Brendan, and Nathan Fillion.

Dec. 8—In the online virtual reality game Second Life, the NBC “island” is picketed for over an hour by a collection of avatars wielding red-and-black WGA strike signs.

Dec. 9—Approximately 500 “below-the-line” crew people, mostly International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees members, hold a rally urging the AMPTP and WGA to keep negotiating.  Many of the marchers interviewed blame the writers for striking rather than the producers for leaving the negotiating table.  This march receives far more network media coverage than either of the WGA rallies, which had 10 times the attendance.

Monday, Dec. 10—The AMPTP posts a rolling monetary counter on their website to show how much writers have lost in combined salaries since the strike began, attempting to prove the strike is financially unsound.  When it is posted, the counter already reads over $100 million.

Also on this day, reports reveal that NBC has been reimbursing advertisers because of the extreme slump in ratings, returning as much as $500,000 per client.  One media buyer is quoted as saying “They got greedy, and now they are paying the price.”

Dec. 11—The first boxes of pencils are delivered as part of the “Pencils2Media Moguls” project.  Two laundry carts containing more than 150,000 pencils are delivered to NBC by Ron Moore, Joss Whedon, and other writers (and refused at the gate).  The WGA then offers to donate all the pencils to children’s charities.

Also on this day, DailyKos.com reports that the Fabiani & Lehane publicity firm has been fired by a number of union clients, including a group representing the Teamsters.

Dec. 12—Nominations are announced for the WGA Awards.  Leading the pack are Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Lost, The Simpsons, Pushing Daisies, The Office, and 30 Rock, all of which have shut down due to the writer’s strike.

Also on this day, the details of CBS Inc. chief executive Les Moonves’ new contract become public.  The CEO will receive a $3.5 million annual salary, a $10.5 million “target bonus,” an annual grant of free shares worth up to $7.6 million, and an option covering 5 million shares that could be worth as much as another $57 million annually.  Under the terms of the financial plan put forward by the WGA (and rejected by the AMPTP negotiators), CBS Inc. would only pay writers an additional $4.7 million per year.

Dec. 13—The WGA files a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the AMPTP is breaking federal law by issuing ultimatums and breaking off negotiations when the demands are not met.

Also on this day, Paramount Pictures, in partnership with MTV, announces it will release Jackass 2.5 not in theatres, but as a broadband internet release.  Thomas Lesinski, the president of Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment, explains in the press release that the movie will make money from online embedded ads, video downloads, and DVD sales.

Dec. 14—Despite the wishes of showrunner (and WGA negotiator) Carlton Cuse, ABC announces it will begin to air new episodes of Lost in January.  Cuse had voiced hopes the network would wait and not air an incomplete season.  Lost is one of only two non-reality shows being added to ABC’s spring schedule, the other being Cashmere Mafia.

Also on this day, the Write Aid Concert is held to raise funds for health and financial services to all entertainment industry professionals affected by the strike.  Headliners include Eddie Izzard, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, and the band Tenacious D (featuring Jack Black and Kyle Gass).

Dec. 16—Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg releases a solidarity letter, once again pledging the actors’ support of the WGA strike and the writers.

Monday Dec. 17—Tired of stonewalling from the AMPTP’s negotiators, the WGA announces it will gladly broker deals independently with studios. The guild also rejects a waiver request from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for its NBC broadcast of the Golden Globes awards show, explaining that a televised event only serves as advertising and ad revenue for studio products.

Also on this day, NBC announces that both Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien will begin airing new shows starting January 2.

Dec. 18—ABC announces that Jimmy Kimmel with return to the air on January 2.

Dec. 19—A USA Today/Gallup poll shows that 60 percent of Americans support the writers.  Over a third of those polled say they are watching less television because of the strike.

Dec. 20—The Los Angeles City Council holds a meeting to assess the financial damage the strike is having on the film industry and the L.A. economy as a whole.  Several hundred members of the WGA show up to listen and speak before the committee.  The AMPTP is invited, but does not attend the meeting.  The Motion Picture Association of America enters a statement into the meeting records on the producers’ behalf, but also does not attend.

Dec. 21—The WGA announces it has entered negotiations with World Wide Pants, David Letterman’s production company, for an independent contract.

Dec. 22—Amazon.com sends out a general email blast reminding customers that Amazon Unbox (a digital download service for movies) can be delivered instantly and makes a great last-minute holiday gift.

Dec. 26—Apple announces a deal with 20th Century Fox to rent online movies via timed-expiration digital downloads to view on PCs or video iPods.

Dec. 27—The American Film Institute names its “2007 Moments of Significance.”  The number one item on the list is the WGA strike.  The next is the release of the iPhone, which allows people to download or stream movies and television shows.

Dec. 28—The AMPTP announces on its website that its financial counter has passed the critical mark, and that writers have now lost more money than they were asking for in negotiations.  The producers' organization also adds a second counter showing what the strike is theoretically costing below-the-line IATSE crew members.  How this second number is reached is only vaguely clarified.

Also on this day, the WGA announces an agreement with World Wide Pants.  The production company agrees to the full deal proposed by the guild and rejected by the AMPTP negotiators.

Monday, Dec. 31—NBC insists it will still air the Golden Globes, despite the threat of WGA pickets and a possible boycott by actors who support the strike

January 1, 2008—Fans4Writers.com, a group of fans from a variety of shows, pays for a series of skywriting messages over the Rose Bowl parade.  Five planes draw out four different pro-WGA messages in the air while teams in the crowd hand out flyers.

Jan. 2—Universal Pictures announces that 2007 was the most profitable year in the studio’s century-long history, grossing $2.7 billion in U.S. home video sales alone.  Worldwide theatrical releases total over $2.1 billion.  Under the terms of the financial plan put forward by the WGA (and rejected by the AMPTP negotiators), Universal would only pay writers an additional $7.4 million per year.

Also on this day, the majority of the late night talk show hosts return, Letterman and Craig Ferguson being the only ones with a WGA contract.  Letterman and O’Brien both sport beards, having refused to shave until the strike ends.  Leno does a short monologue, a Q&A with his audience, and his featured guest is presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who claims to be a union supporter.  Letterman returns amidst showgirls sporting picket signs and has his top 10 list of “writer’s demands” delivered by striking writers.  O’Brien finds a number of ways to eat up time on the air without actually doing anything, most notably attempting to beat his personal best time for spinning his wedding ring (41 seconds).  At the end of the night, the Letterman writers decide to donate a percentage of their salaries to the WGA strike fund.

Jan. 3—Debate breaks out between the WGA, NBC, and Jay Leno as to whether or not Leno violated strike rules by writing his own monologue.  Letterman discusses the strike again that evening and mocks Huckabee for crossing picket lines.

Jan. 4—SAG announces that actors will not cross the WGA picket lines to participate in the Golden Globes awards ceremony.  NBC insists the event will still go ahead as planned.

  =  

As the strike drags on into its third month, a faint light is visible in the form of independent deals that bypass the AMPTP's negotiating team. While this article was being prepared, deals were announced with United Artists (the studio also agreed to the WGA’s full proposal) and te Weinstein Co., and rumors are circulating about a similar deal with Lionsgate.  Alas, such a deal was not reached with the Golden Globes, as NBC remained firm that, under contract, the ceremony could only proceed if it was broadcast.  The awards show was cancelled, costing the network millions in ad revenue and causing an as-yet unknown ripple through the L.A. community of party planners, limousine drivers, and other related industries.

All of us at Creative Screenwriting continue to hope a 90-day update will not be necessary.

creativescreenwriting.com

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Regal Entertainment to Buy North Carolina Chain for $210M

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —Regal Entertainment Group, the largest movie exhibitor in the United States, announced Tuesday plans to acquire the Consolidated Theatres chain for about $210 million in cash.

Consolidated is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and operates 28 theaters with 400 screens in Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

Knoxville-based Regal has a presence in all of those states. The company has 6,355 screens in 526 locations in 39 states, operating as Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theatres and Edwards Theaters.

"We expect the acquisition of Consolidated Theatres to be accretive to cash flows and earnings," Regal Chairman and CEO Mike Campbell said, saying such acquisitions remain "a key component of our overall business strategy."

He called the Consolidated theaters "high quality assets" and predicted the deal will be finalized and the theaters blended into Regal operations during the first half of 2008.

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NC IndieCon '08
Sat, January 26th, 9am-9pm
Residence Inn
2200 Summit Park Lane • Raleigh, NC 27612

Talk with and learn from experienced, successful filmmakers and actors from all over the South and points beyond covering all aspects of acting and filmmaking for half the price you’d pay to take a one day class with one national touring actor or producer. This convention offers 7 one hour panel discussions, 7 one hour classes, ten minute pitches to ShadowDog Productions, Star Painter Productions, and other production companies on your ability as an actor or breaking into behind the scenes filmmaking jobs for absolutely no extra charge (all you have to do is sign up when you arrive at the convention), and a networking room with free refreshments for the low price of $75 if ordered online or $85 at the door.
 
Special Student Offer! The first 30 acting or film students with a valid student ID only have to pay $25 online or $30 at the door.
Order now because there will only be 100 regular tickets and 30 student tickets sold to ensure no overcrowding. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Note: No refunds once tickets have been ordered. However, anyone bearing the payment receipt on the day will be given a pass and allowed in so you can sell or give your ticket to someone else.
For questions or comments, or to arrange the sale of your Indie products at this event, contact us at dextergoad@att.net.

www.shadowdogproduction

s.com/NCIndiCon08.html

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RECORD NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED FOR COMPETITIVE PORTION OF THE SPRING LINE-UP

Festival Updates/Programming Highlights

  (Durham, North Carolina) -- More than 1,200 films have been submitted to the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, which will take place April 3-6 in Durham, North Carolina. This marks the largest number of entries received for the festival in its eleven- year history. The slate of competitive films will be announced in March.

  In addition to showcasing more than 100 documentaries, the Festival will honor legendary African-American filmmaker William Greaves with the 2008 Career Award. The 2008 Thematic Program will be guest curated by award-winning filmmaker Lourdes Portillo, focusing on the topic of migration.

  The 2008 Festival will also include a special sidebar series curated by founder Nancy Buirski, who announced in December she was stepping aside from day-to-day management of the festival to begin a new role as Festival advisor.

   Nancy Buirski

The Full Frame Board of Directors has named Peg Palmer to take over the responsibilities of Executive Director. Palmer is an experienced event manager and has worked with Full Frame for five years. Phoebe Brush continues as Programming Director, a position she has held since 2005. Robyn Smith, who has been with the festival since 2000, has been named Managing Director.  The entire Full Frame team looks forward to starting its second successful decade. 

  Opening day festivities kick off early April 3 at the historic Carolina Theatre in downtown Durham and conclude Sunday evening April 6 following the Awards Ceremony and Southern Style BBQ. Attendees can expect to experience fewer lines and more seating available this year due to improvements made to ticketing and theatre venues. Festival passes are now on sale; early prices will be available prior to January 28. Individual tickets will also be available once programs have been selected. Festival and ticket information can be found on the website www.fullframefest.org  .

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Special Screening: DOUBLETIME
February 1, 2008 at The Carolina Theatre
 
The Southern Documentary Fund (SDF) will celebrate five years of
documentary excellence with a gala reception and special screening of
Doubletime, one of its more than 60 sponsored documentary projects.
 
Doubletime follows the story of two renowned youth jump roping
teams-the Bouncing Bulldogs from Chapel Hill/Durham, NC and the
Double Dutch Forces from Columbia, SC as they perform in fierce
international competition at Harlem´s legendary Apollo Theater. The
evening will climax with a special live performance by the Bouncing
Bulldogs.
 

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Danny Glover to Perform as Part of UNC
Wilmington MLK Jr. Celebration Thursday,
January 24, 2008

Wilmington, N.C. -- Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover will perform as part of the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He will present "An Evening with Danny Glover" as part of the program to
honor King at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 in Kenan Auditorium.

"Mr. Glover's presentation is an appropriate piece to celebrate the principles
and legacy of Dr. King, using his words and those of the Negro Poet
Laureate, Langston Hughes," said Debra Saunders-White, interim vice
chancellor for institutional diversity. "'An Evening with Danny Glover'
promises to be a powerful and moving program. We are pleased to share
this presentation with our students, faculty, staff and the local community."
Admission to the event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets must be
picked up in person and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis
Monday through Friday from 10 .m. to 6 p.m. at the Kenan Auditorium Box
Office. Individuals will be limited to two tickets each and it is recommended
that people pick up tickets well in advance as the performance is likely to be
"sold out."

A native of San Francisco, Glover is deeply involved in the Vanguard Public
Foundation, which is based there. He also actively serves on the board of
The Algebra Project, a math empowerment program developed by civil
rights veteran Bob Moses. Internationally, he served as the United Nations
Development Program Ambassador from 1998 to 2004, focusing on issues
of poverty, disease and economic underdevelopment in Africa, Latin
America and the Caribbean. In recognition of his lifetime dedication to public
service, Glover was honored with the 2003 NAACP Chairman's Award and
the 2006 Director's Guild of America Honors Glover has been a
commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 25
years. As an actor, his film credits range from the blockbuster "Lethal
Weapon" franchise to smaller independent features, some of which Glover
has produced. At the same time, he has gained respect for his wide-ranging
community activism and philanthropic efforts, with a particular emphasis on
advocacy for economic justice, and access to health care and education
programs in the United States and Africa.
"Through his community activism and service, as well as through this artistic
performance, Danny Glover is helping to keep Dr. King's dream alive," said
Saunders-White.
 
 by Todd Ferrell

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ERMP 2008 Goals

These are in order of Organizational Group.  No order within the groups.  They should cover most aspects of ERMP.  The Senior Staff came up with this list after hearing and listening to many folks inside and outside the organization.  The process of getting organized begins with a list--a list to get you thinking about what has to be done. 

Internal and External Business Affairs

Eno Television Group

Eno Entertainment Group

ERMP 2007

List of Accomplishments

Eno Television Division

Eno Entertainment Division

Eno Corporate

LOOKING FOR A HOST who will act as a MEDIATOR/NEGOTIATOR with feuding
neighbors. FEUDING NEIGHBORS SHOW
 
IDEALLY with a legal background of some sort but not mandatory,
must have strong negotiating skills, very charismatic, BIG personality,
must be able to see and rule on who is right and who is wrong in a
variety of disputes from barking dogs to trees to personal property,
must be comfortable in front of TV cameras
If interested, Please email: BILLYWONKA@AOL.COM You can be a
lawyer, Judge, Politician, or just a GREAT PERSONALITY

YOU CAN LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY
Anyone who thinks they fit the bill, please drop us an email.
Please include your Full name, REAL age, where you live (state), your
personal and professional background, telephone #, email, why you
think you are the appropriate host for the show and a photo. If you
have any legal background (judge, lawyer, mediator, legal asst, police
officer, etc) please make sure to include your experience. The more
descriptive you are on why you would make a great host and
negotiator the better.

Casting Notice - Old Virginia Films:
For 2 Projects (non-union)

CBS SHOW NOW CASTING
 

Are you a type A personality always focused on the bottom line?
Are you a successful individual who works constantly and doesn't have
time to relax?
Are you all WORK and no PLAY?
Do you want to challenge yourself to change but don't know how?

Include your cell phone in the email- and check your email often for a
possible appointment!
 
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.
 
(please note: This is a Reality TV Show Pilot, we're looking for "real
people" to be themselves. If you are, in fact an actor, a legit business angle is needed, much like "The Apprentice". Please list your day job as your career of choice. We're looking for you to be yourself on this show, separate from your acting ambitions
and skills.)

If an agent recommended you, please let us know in the
email.
 
MORE FACTS:
 
CBS-PILOT FOR REALITY SHOW, IT WILL NOT AIR!
They are doing a nationwide search. Philly is the only city in the
NYC/Philly/DC area.
Everyone chosen will be compensated handsomely for their time in LA
and the winner will receive an even larger handsome compensation.
Contestants will need to be avail End of February, from roughly
2/19-2/28-They will be filming the shoot in GORGEOUS Los Angeles!
 
If you thought you were right for The Apprentice; then you are right for this!

=================================================================
 

Hi there!
 
We hope you are feeling energized and revitalized and are looking forward
to a successful 2008.
 
We thought we update your on some of the work we have been doing here
at Casting Call Pro.

Our coding team has been working hard to make the site more user friendly
and easier to navigate. We have been redesigning the way actors
information is displayed to make profiles clearer and easier to access.
 
We have improved our search facilities, enabling you to find SAG or AFTRA
registered actors, or those with voicereels and/or showreels with greater
ease.
 
Our advanced search allows you to filter by criteria such as height, accents,
dance skills, ethnicity, language spoken, musical skills and singing skills.
 
It is entirely free to search & contact our members, to post casting
breakdowns, track applications and bookmark members - potentially saving
you hundreds of dollars in advertising.
 
We maintain complete confidentiality of your information, ensuring that
whilst you have the contact details of our professionals they will not be given
access to yours.
 
We are more than happy to put a brief up on our site on your behalf, or at
your request, send you suggestions of suitable talent.
 
The Casting Call Pro software is already used around the clock to fulfill the
crewing requirements for major European production companies and
casting directors.
 
Should you wish to find our more about our service, please don't hesitate to
contact us at support@castingcallpro.com.

Many thanks,
 
The Casting Call Pro team

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