WGA Contract Is Approved. That's A Wrap!

This letter went out to the WGA membership this evening. Onward and upward...

To Our Fellow Members:

Today, it is our pleasure to inform you that members of the Writers Guilds of America, East and West, have voted to ratify the MBA contract with 93.6% approval. With a total of 4,060 votes cast, the tally was 3,802 to 258. These numbers reaffirm the tremendous level of support and commitment our membership has continuously demonstrated over these last few crucial months.

We are also pleased to report that the trustees of our health fund voted yesterday to follow the recommendation in our strike settlement agreement to provide additional coverage and an extension of the earnings cycle for a full quarter (three months) to participants who would otherwise lose health coverage following an earnings cycle that included all or a portion of the strike period. Participants whose health coverage is paid for by points will only be charged points if they have ten or more points as of April 1, 2008.

As we close this chapter in our union's history, what we together have accomplished should not be underestimated. The 2008 MBA establishes a beachhead on the Internet and in new media that will guarantee our share of a potentially vast and bountiful future. Writers already are working on new media projects under this agreement and residuals must now be paid for streaming and downloads of our library of films and TV shows.

Language in the contract will allow us to monitor and audit these new technologies and new business models, but it will take vigilance on the part of our membership to make sure that original Internet writing is done under a WGA contract and with appropriate terms and conditions.

The same sort of vigilance will be needed to assist members of SAG and AFTRA. They are about to go through a similar process to the one we experienced. Their support of our cause was invaluable. We must use all our efforts and experience to support them as well. Further gains that they can achieve will have an immediate, positive effect on our contract.

We must take our newfound spirit and unity and use it to move our two unions forward. We look to the future and our newly revitalized member engagement to reaffirm writers as the first among equals in the most collaborative art form in history. As the last few weeks proved once and for all, we are all in this together.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW

Michael Winship
President, WGAE

Comics You Should Buy: Hot Wire #2

At $22.95, this isn't a casual buy, but this large format, 150 page + full color anthology series from Fantagraphics is worth the bucks. The stories are all over the place, ranging from the abstract to slice o' life, but the artwork's mostly amazing and the "stories" often compelling. My favorite's a laugh out loud strip called "In The Trenches" by Christian Northeast, which somehow perfectly captures the dull, bureaucratic ennui of a guy flexing what tiny power he has in an absurd circumstance. There's also an excellent Western story that contrasts the real life story of Sheriff Sam Cartwright with the possible movie versions of the same events.

I'd offer an Amazon link, but they don't carry it, so give your local comic shop a try, or go to fantagraphics.com and try their crack mail-order department.

On Writing...

Not to jump on Jane Espenson's "writing tips" bandwagon, but I recently recieved an e-mail pushing another screenwriting self-help book. You're never too old to learn and we can all use some tips now and again, but the questions posed and the answers promised by this one seemed a little... I dunno... strange. For instance:

- What should you say if you arrive late for a pitch meeting with a Hollywood executive? (The answer is on page 49.)

There's actually a secret answer to this, besides an apology?

- Does it matter how you dress for a meeting with a Hollywood executive? Answer: a lot. So how should you dress? (See page 48.)

Aside from being clean, avoiding the garlic/onion lunch special and covering your "Impeach Bush" tee-shirt, if this actually mattered I'd be living out of a cardboard box.

There were a bunch of other Q & A's, and seriously, for all I know this tome offers wonderful common sense tips to earnest beginners on a host of subjects. I'm sure the author is a good guy with some good ideas, but the focus of the questions, at least in the e-mailed ad, illuminate a pet peeve I have with some of these books. They often zero in on the external as opposed to the single most important thing involved in having a writing career, i.e., "the writing." You can wear whatever power-plaid happens to be in style, excuse your lateness with the perfect bon mot and play all the inter-office political games in the world, but if it's not on the page, your "career" will be be a blip on the screen. In fact, if an expensively dressed, slick and self-possessed staff writer gave me a script that needed a total rewrite, I'd be even MORE cranky about it. While he's out shopping for designer suits, I'm stuck at my computer fixing his mess.

This emphasis bugs me because I think new writers often get hung up on the technical details, like what to wear, the perfect word processing program or some special format trick that will solve all their problems. Some of that stuff IS important (script's written in crayon? That's a pass), but to fixate on these incidental details as opposed to the writing is a mistake...

Late Night Landfill

"The Phantom of the Landfill" turned me onto his own news site/blog, which reviews and discusses wonderfully trashy B movies. Since I watched "Ricco The Mean Machine" with Chris Mitchum just last night*, this is obviously my cup o' tea. Besides, anyone who links to Herman Cohen, William Martell, Ray Dennis Steckler and me is okay in my book.

http://latenitelandfill.blogspot.com

*Ricco is a trashy '70's Italian crime/sleaze drama starring Chris Mitchum (Robert's son) and Arthur Kennedy (in a very bad moustache), perhaps most notable for an exceptionally graphic scene where a poor fellow is relieved of his private parts for playing footsie with the Kennedy character's girlfriend. Now THAT'S entertainment.

WGA Strike - Tomorrow's Big Vote

Having been back at work for a week and a half now, I almost forget that the WGA membership hasn't actually ratified the new contract yet. That most likely will happen tomorrow (Monday, 2/25), since aside from a few comments here and there (and Harlan Ellison's vociferous opposition), it appears that most WGA folks are ready to take the deal. I don't think people should confuse our accepting the contract for wild enthusiasm re: all the deal points, but in all negotiations there comes a time to close. And as far as I'm concerned, it's time to close on this one.

Don't be surprised to see various WGA-focused websites install counters ticking off the days until THIS deal expires, though (May 2011). Here's hoping the business (and the world) are still in one piece when that comes around...

Battlestar Galactica Season 4 - Spoilers?!

You won't get any out of me, but Maureen Ryan from the Chicago Tribune runs down some tidbits gleaned from various interviews over at her blog. I would call these minor spoilers, but they still might reveal a thing or two you don't want to know. So be warned...

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/
entertainment_tv/2008/02/battlestar-ga-2.html

One of the, umm, "benefits" of the strike is that the BSG staff was able to step back from the show for a few months and come back with a fresh eye, meaning details are constantly in flux. So take all spoilers with a couple shakers of salt, because even stuff that may have been true pre-strike may have changed. Or not.

But I have been given permission to reveal the identity of the fifth Cylon, whose birth name is the very difficult to pronounce "Tusj Wohsehthctaw." You're welcome!

The Adventures Of Thompson and Weddle

What do the world-class writers of Battlestar Galactica episodes like "Maelstrom" and "Scar" do when they're not making incredible television? Why, they write cool new video games! The grisly details are available at --

http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/
sega-unveils-more-aliens-details/?biz=1

New/Old Nick Lowe...

Nick Lowe's first solo album, "Jesus of Cool", has just been reissued by the fine folks at YepRoc Records. With ten bonus tracks and the obligatory remastering, this swank deluxe edition brings the same smile as the original record, way back in 1978. As others have noted, anyone who can write a song about an unfortunate actress who died at home and was eaten by her dog ("Marie Provost"), offering the perky couplet "she was a winner, who became the doggie's dinner," is okay in my book. Lowe's most recent releases have been much more, umm, "mature", but my affections still lie with his rock and roll period.

This release also comes with an informative booklet written by Will Birch, who teamed with Rockpile's guitarist Billy Bremner on some cool songs way back when.

Incidentally, Lowe's collaboration with guitarist Dave Edmunds, Rockpile's "Seconds of Pleasure", was also reissued a couple years back in a new edition with extra tracks. Both are well worth another listen (for older fans) and discovering (for you friggin' kids).

Gahan Wilson - Cartoonist

Steven-Charles Jaffe, producer of STAR TREK IV and various other projects, has recently put together a documentary on the life and times of cartoonist Gahan Wilson. Wilson's probably best known for his unsettling cartoons in Playboy, but I'll always remember his comic strip for the National Lampoon, "Nuts." There was more bittersweet truth in that one page strip (ostensibly a parody of "Peanuts") than most people can cram into a whole book.

Tom Spurgeon at the excellent Comics Reporter has a nice interview with Jaffe discussing the project at --

http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/
newsmaker_steven_charles_jaffe/

HD-DVD is Dead. Pick At The Bones Now!

So the announcement from Toshiba that they'll no longer manufacturer HD-DVD players pretty much cedes the battle to Blu-Ray. However, if you were an early adapter (aka, "idiot") like me and actually popped for an HD player, there are some pretty good bargains on HD discs at Amazon. Amazon's cut the prices in half on a bunch of discs, and the indie-sellers are under-cutting even further. I just picked up Carpenter's THING at the new lower price, figuring it'll play just fine until the next format comes along, or Universal releases them on Blu-Ray. Of course, all loyal Famous Verheidens readers have already coughed up their green for the HD versions of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA season one and TIMECOP the movie. Right? Right? Are those crickets?

And if you wait 'til the end of the year and hold on to your player, you'll probably be able to get almost any HD release for pennies. Somehow I don't think these babies are going to become collector's items anytime soon.

More Squeeze? Yes! Split Enz? Sure!

Glenn Tilbrook, singer/songwriter from the band Squeeze, is in the process of releasing five CDs worth of demos, and the second batch "In The Sky Above" has just come out. Like the first set ("The Past Has Been Bottled") it's an interesting look at the songwriting process, since the final band versions of many of these tunes are considerably different. That said, this new collection, covering 1993 to 1998, feels more produced than the earlier set of 80's-era demos, and so it's a nice companion to the official releases. The later set also covers Squeeze's later years, so the songs won't be familiar to most folks... but they're still good!





Meanwhile, the Split Enz gang continues to raid the vaults, with a new remastering program that spruces up the sound of all their original albums. I've become a little suspicious of this "remastering" gimmick, having bought and rebought certain CDs four or five times without discerning much difference in the audio quality, but this remastering is definitely noticeable and (in my opinion) a big improvement. For some reason a lot of 70's/80's bands went the "thin" route with their sound, and this new edition fattens up the tunes without losing their charm. All this is available by individual CD or in a nifty box set that also tosses in the essential "Rootin Tootin Luton" rehearsal/demo sessions that came out late in 2007.



Oh my God, I'm pushing Squeeze and Split Enz, two bands from the 70's and 80's. How do I regain my musical "street cred" with the "young people"? I know, how about by recommending "The Better Beatles" and their one and only release, "Mercy Beat." This is a great collection of atonal, deconstructed Beatles songs created by an Omaha Nebraska art band in the early 80s. I'm not sure if these are the best or worst Beatles covers ever, but I like them. They're not selling this one on Amazon, but the CD is available from the label at http://www.hookorcrook.com.

WGA Strike - Harlan Ellison Weighs In!

I don't agree with Harlan on this one, but Ellison unbridled is a wild read whether you're with him or not. For another perspective on the WGA's MBA ratification vote, go to:

http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2008/02/harlan-ellison-reacts-to-proposed-wga.html

My "yes" on ratification goes into the mail tomorrow, blue bottom and all...

Horror Yearbook Interrogates Moi

My friends at Horror Yearbook asked a few leading questions about Evil Dead, My Name is Bruce and other current events. Checks out the results at:

http://www.horroryearbook.com/542952/quickie-interview-with-
mark-verheiden-my-name-is-bruce

And yes, that is original comic book art behind me in the photo. Now if I could only get Frank Frazetta to redraw me...

Was (Not Was) - 2/14/08 Live In Los Angeles!

Their second annual Valentine's Day celebration was just as great as I had hoped. Besides featuring the first gathering of the band's original singers since 1992, seeing Brian Wilson duet with Kris Kristofferson on "Me And Bobby McGee", then "Fun Fun Fun", was amazing.

It's tragic that this band isn't getting more attention on this reunion tour (the show at the Orpheum didn't seem particularly packed), but with a new CD coming in April and a full fledged tour promised, hopefully that will change. Meanwhile, you can read the article/review below and weep copiously because you weren't there...

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/
reviews/music/la-et-was16feb16,1,7392107.story

Trust Me...

When I was working on SMALLVILLE the series, my friends, it seemed like the Lex Luthor character would say "trust me" at least once or twice an episode. Like, "Trust me, Clark, I have no idea how that Kryptonite got in your coffee" or "trust me, Lana, it's not just a bald spot." I got the "trust me" meme so ingrained into my writing mind that it started to seep into other scripts, until I went through a (not to be named) draft of a script with the "find and replace" search and found something like six versions of the phrase. I have since banned "trust me" from my dialogue vocabulary. You shall never see those two words in confluence in my work again! Trust me!

This comes up because I think John McCain might want to consider a similar phraseological ban. He's taken to using "my friends" as almost Tourette's-style punctuation during every public oration, and it's getting out of hand. It's a swell sentiment, John, but enough already! Aside from the fact that I doubt all those folks are, in fact, your friends (if they are, your Facebook page must be ah-mazing!), why not try "pals", "comrades", "amigos", "buddies", "chums", "compadres," but pul-ease give "my friends" a rest!

Another Day, Another Dollar...

It's been almost fourteen weeks since I've been able to say that, and it feels good. Without the daily grind of a strike to gird my blog production, combined with the addition of this pesky "work" to my schedule, I may not be here as much as I was during the work stoppage, but I'll do my best.

While I was off work an attempt was made to scrimp and save, but one eBay auction caught my eye and demanded wallet attention. When I was a kid, I picked up my comics from the local drug store's spinner rack, which had the famous "Hey Kids! Comics!!" logo emblazoned on the table. I've always wanted one of these racks for my own books, and opportunity finally knocked thanks to the auction site. And now I've finally got my own "Hey Kids! Comics!!" spinner in my home office, just waiting to be filled with the funny books of my choice.

I guess it is true, you spend most of your adult life trying to recreate the naive joys of childhood anyway you can. Now if I can just find a mint-in-the-box Man From U.N.C.L.E. briefcase/cap-gun set...

Gerald Jones Has A Blog?!

My buddy Gerard Jones, author of the excellent "Men Of Tomorrow," has decided to join the ever-blogging universe. Check out his observations at:

http://gerardjones.blogspot.com/

Back to Battlestar...

...and it felt like we'd been gone maybe, oh, twenty minutes. Or maybe a long lunch. Phones and computers had been turned off, but the offices were the same and the writer's room was still festooned with cards and white-board notes from where we left off. Weren't the writing Gods (or would that be the monotheist "God") supposed to come in and get everything in shape while we were gone?

As the wonderful Terry (Mrs. Ron) Moore explained over at Galactica Sitrep, the staff just watched all eleven new episodes back and back, and while I am, of course, biased, I think viewers are going to be riveted by what's coming up. Season four/the last is a roller coaster/gut-punch from start to finish, with some of the rawest emotional moments yet, from characters you may not expect. Plus space battles!

It all starts April 4. Pen it in!

WGA Strike - Day 100, that's a wrap!

The contract still needs to be ratified, but barring some sort of disaster that's pretty much a done deal. So it's over. It's interesting; making a living as a writer in the film and television business is nerve-wracking almost by definition, but the strike was a different sort of stress. For one thing, most writers are sole proprietors, used to making business decisions for themselves. To hand the reins over to others (even the crack WGA negotiating team) is inherently frustrating. Also, like most writers I'm used to working under deadline, aiming toward a due date. Strikes don't work that way.

Still, it's amazing how fast and yet how slow one hundred days can pass. And it's even more amazing what the collective, determined will of a group of like-minded folks can achieve.

We now return you to our regular blog, dealing with my various projects, obsessions and interests. Hey, how about that Springsteen tour? And remember, Battlestar Galactica season four returns on April 4th!

Now back to work!

Steve Gerber

Writer Steve Gerber died Sunday night from complications caused by his long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Steve was the creator of characters like "Howard The Duck" and "Omega the Destroyer", but more importantly, and maybe especially relevant in the wake of the WGA strike, he was an early combatant in the war over creator's rights. Gerber helped blazed the trail for better deals from the major comic book companies, and anyone who entered the field in the wake of those changes (like me) owes him a debt of gratitude.

Steve was working on DC's "Doctor Fate" right up to his death, and just like a true writer, he was blogging from his hospital bed last week. Tom Spurgeon has a lengthy and informative obituary up at his site:

http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/steve_gerber_1947_2008/

And Mark Evanier also has an excellent post at:

http://www.newsfromme.com

WGA Strike - Days 98, 99

Well, if pencils aren't quite "up" yet, I suspect they're being sharpened and buffed for duty. While anything can happen, it's difficult to imagine a circumstance where the WGA membership does not approve lifting the strike and then approving the new contract. Fall out continues, including more articles today that seem determined to skew against the WGA, but then maybe I'm a little sensitive about these things.

One life skill I've developed during my tenure in this crazy racket is that it's best to put unpleasantness behind you, consign it to the mental dustbin of life and move on. So, with lessons learned, it's almost time to say "next!"

WGA Strike - Will End on Day 100?

Is Monk involved in our negotiations? We're really going to end this on day 100?

Either way, tonight's L.A. membership meeting was not the rancorous session some anticipated, but instead the negotiating committee received a standing ovation, the first of several during the evening. The membership will vote yea or nay and the results released Tuesday. Assuming, as I think almost everyone does, that the contract is approved, that will be that.

As soon as I know anything official about BSG, I'll let you know!

Daniel Plainview For President

Is nothing sacred?!

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/b25acedb5d

WGA Strike - Days 96 and 97 (the last day?)

The AMPTP and the WGA negotiators put in a classic all-nighter and have reached a tentative agreement. For those interested in the details and a summary of the actual deal, click on the United Hollywood url to the right and all will be revealed.

Tonight's full membership meeting at the Shrine promises to be interesting. I suspect there will be much venting over what the new deal did not achieve, but if we've trusted our leadership this far, then jumping overboard at the last moment doesn't make much sense. And the uncomfortable truth, as was explained to me by one of the negotiating committee members earlier this week, is that if the WGA rejects this deal, we lose our leverage. At this point there can still be a truncated pilot season, networks shows could possibly go back into production and the Oscar-cast can happen. Past that, writers would have no leverage until SAG goes out June 30. Me? I don't think any possible incremental improvements we might get by holding out for another four + months would be worth the financial devastation that would befall writers, actors, directors, production people and "the town." If that doesn't sound open minded, well, I guess it's not.

Hopefully this ends tonight...

Jane Espenson is a LINKER!

Boy, Jane links to my site and the hits skyrocket! Well, no deed goes unpunished, so here you go Jane, I'm linking right back at you. Gird yourself for the, well, tens of hits that are sure to accumulate!

You should all be reading Jane's blog every stinking day, for the writing tips, the strike commentary (hopefully soon to end on both our blogs) and the lunch revelations. She also has a great design for her site, while lazy ol' Mark just sticks with the blogspot template. That in itself tells you a lot. What it tells you, I have no idea, but I know it's plenty.

Her url is to the right, so go for it! Now!

WGA Strike - Day 95

Yesterday's "Sci-Fi Channel fan day" was great, lots of people showed up and a good time was had by all. Well, as good as you can have carrying a "strike" sign. I did an on-camera interview for our friends at the Canadian Space Channel discussing both BSG season four and the Evil Dead comic, so North of the Border-ers, keep your eyes peeled. Also, BSG cast members Kate "Ellen Tigh" Vernon and Michael "Sam Anders" Trucco were on hand. Michael, who was in a serious car accident a few weeks ago, has clearly enjoyed a quick and complete recovery and it was great to see him.

Post strike, almost the entire BSG writing staff retired to the nearby Acapulco for margaritas. It was just like being back in the writer's room, except with better refreshments!

In strike news, our line was briefed by Marc Cherry and Shawn Ryan on the next steps. Basically (as I understand it, given the difficult of hearing on a busy street corner), the negotiating committee will be taking the temperature of the membership at Saturday's mass meeting and then decisions will be made. Details of the proposed deal are still not available to the rank and file, but one gets the feeling that it is being at least tacitly endorsed by those in the know. I guess a lot rides on that Saturday gathering.

WGA Strike - Day 94 - Sci-Fi Fan Day On The Line!

Join me and a whole bunch of writers, producers and cast from the Sci-Fi Channel line-up (Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, Flash Gordon, Painkiller Jane and others) on the picket line today! Time is NOON to 2:00PM today (2/6) outside the NBC Studios, 3000 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA. Learn how much fun it can be to walk back and forth with a sign! Enjoy the smell of Mexican food wafting across from the nearby Acapulco restaurant! Get there early and watch people line up to see Ellen, stay late and watch them line up for Jay Leno!

Evil Dead #2, Battlestar, My Name Is Bruce UPDATE

The second issue of my four-issue comic book adaptation/expansion of the first EVIL DEAD movie will be out Feb. 13, according to "inside sources" (the Diamond Distributing catalog). Reviews (and sales) for the first issue have been really solid, and the series just picks up steam from here. I'm just happy that John Bolton's incredible painted artwork is receiving the raves it deserves.

And I suspect the whole BATTLESTAR GALACTICA loving world knows this already, but the official Sci-Fi channel premiere date for the post-RAZOR season four is now FRIDAY, APRIL 4. Early review copies of the first two eps have gone out (I know because a friend got one) so plot details may start creeping out across the internet soon. Just to reiterate for concerned fans, the first eleven episodes of season four were shot and wrapped before the strike, and I believe the plan was always to break this part of season four into two ten episodes chunks, so... you'll get the full measure of BSG once the show begins to run.

In other news, the long awaited feature film MY NAME IS BRUCE is hours away from final delivery to the distributor, per Mr. Bruce Campbell himself. I still don't have an official release date for the DVD (though "Summer 2008" continues to be the general target), or word on whether there will be any theatrical showings, but the movie is finally, really, finished. Chinese demons, Ted Raimi, Bruce Campbell, "you wanna move that hand?"... soon all will be revealed!

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - New Singles!

And I'm talking "singles" in the classic sense, 45RPM vinyl records in cool little seven inch sleeves. The Me First gang are a gaggle of players from bands like NOFX who do hardcore punk covers of famous songs. They've done the 70's, Broadway show tunes, the 60's, and most recently a country-western covers album. After each CD/LP release, the band releases a batch of 45's with non-album B-sides and funny, stolen art covers. They're putting out five different singles following their "Love Their Country" record, some on square vinyl, various different colors and anything else that strikes their fancy.

The five singles are "Cash", "Dolly", "Willie", "Kenny" (as in Rogers) and Jerry (as in Reed), and they're all worth getting. Unfortunately, pressings are limited and sell-out almost immediately, making eBay the best place to find copies. But it's worth it; we're talking great songs and everybody needs a stack of 45's. Check it out!

WGA Strike - Day 93

Big membership meeting this weekend at the Shrine Auditorium (in Los Angeles) to go over the current state of play. I'm sure things will be "exciting" at the confab, but I remember what a producer recently told me about one of our last meetings. He had "heard" that anyone daring to question the negotiating committee was shouted down and harassed. I guess that was one of the meetings I missed, because at the ones I attended, the biggest "sin" was going on too long at the microphone, whether that involved praise or complaint. Anyhow, it's funny how "word" spreads...

WGA Strike - Days 91, 92

Back on the picket line today, where the tension was... well, not palpable, but sorta there. Rumors continue to fly as we await some word from WGA Central on the on-going discussions. The informal negotiating folks are reporting their progress to the full negotiating committee today, and we should get some sort of news this evening or tomorrow. I'm also told a membership-wide meeting may be called for as soon as this week. Whether that's to discuss the issues on the table or just share recipes, I don't know yet, but I hope/suspect it's the former. I tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to optimistic forecasts, but I think there is a glimmer of sunshine peeking through the clouds...

If You're In L.A., You Should See Was (Not Was)

That's right, "Was (Not Was)", probably most remembered for their hit "Walk The Dinosaur" back in the late 1980's, are back on the road. This is a rare and special event; last time I saw them at a sparsely attended show at L.A.'s House Of Blues circa 2004/5, they blew the roof off the place with their own funked-up tunes and closed with an incredible, 11 minute killer version of James Brown's "Cold Sweat."

Well, they're playing Valentine's Day (2/14 for the calendar impaired) at the Orpheum Theater in downtown L.A., with special guests Kris Kristofferson (!) and Brian Wilson. Yes, the famous "Beach Boys" genius Brian Wilson. I got tickets late and still landed near the front row, so good seats are probably still available, they're not that expensive and it promises to be a GREAT SHOW. Visit Ticketmaster and gets your tix now! (And for San Francisco fans, it looks like they're doing a show there the same week, too.)

WGA Strike - Day 90 Part Deux

Suddenly the floodgates have opened and rumors are flying that a deal is close to being made. The New York Times broke the story (as far as I know), but it's made the Los Angeles TV news and other outlets. So... if true, great! If not, uhhh boy. But I like hearing me some good news for once!

WGA Strike - Days 87, 88, 89, 90

Posting has been light from yours truly as I deal with some family health issues. (Everybody's hanging in there, thanks.) And with the WGA/AMPTP blackout still on, there's been no word on how the informal negotiations are progressing, other than Nikke "Deadline Hollywood" Finke's assurances that sources are telling her that things are going well. It sounds like the goal is to get things somewhat resolved in time for the Oscars to go on, which is later in February. For those who care to read the tea leaves and speculate, the fact that nobody's left the table can only be taken as a sign of progress, and the fact the WGA cancelled a meeting next week with investment types re: Viacom suggests now is not the time to be roiling the waters. We shall see...

WGA Strike - Days 84, 85, 86

Not much to report on this end since I've been taken "out of town" on urgent family business, so I'm just watching the news like everyone else, fingers crossed for the best. United Hollywood (see url to the right) has an interesting and disturbing "worst case scenario" posted for those who would like to wallow in despair. I would prefer to hope for the best at the moment...

WGA Strike - Day 83

Mark Evanier has another excellent piece up at his blog, this time on the ever-thrilling rumor mill churning over WGA strike developments.

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_01_26.html#014706

I can attest to the rampaging "rumors" situation; I received an almost panicked e-mail yesterday claiming negotiations has completely broken down, then read that things were actually all peachy at Nikke Finke's site (see url to the right for Deadline Hollywood). And I have no idea of either is true, not that I doubt Nikke's reporting, but who knows why people are talking to reporters and if there may be another agenda at play.

Mark's sage advice is to expect another bump or two in the road before this mess resolves. On that, I agree completely. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst...

WGA Strike - Days 81, 82 TORNADO Edition

Nothing like hearing a siren blare then watch a crawl across the television screen warning of tornadoes in your neighborhood. I'm sure this is a fairly regular situation in tornado prone areas, but Los Angeles? Not so much. And I thought Wednesday's wind and rain storm during picketing was extreme. Sheesh!

In the news, both Lionsgate and Marvel have signed interim agreements with the WGA while informal talks between the Guild and the AMPTP theoretically continue. (I say theoretically because with this on-going strike-news blackout, nobody except those closest to the negotiations really knows.) Fingers remain crossed in this tornado-prone area that the talks are proving productive... but otherwise, we're in a holding pattern until something substantive develops.

Casino The Movie and Lefty/Ace...

After watching the movie Casino, did you wonder what ever became of the Ace Rothstein character? "Ace," played by Robert DeNiro, was actually a thinly veiled version of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who ran the Stardust casino in the 70's and '80's and enjoyed a... remarkable life. If you're curious, you can check up on Frank's recent activities by going to his very own website (!)...

http://frankrosenthal.com/

WGA Strike - Day 80 -- RAIN Edition

I've been a little under the weather, so naturally I get back on the picket line just in time for a mighty wind and rain storm. My umbrella turned inside-out, my first sign melted away into scraps of cardboard and I managed to get soaked to the skin. Just another fun-filled day outside the NBC Studios. I doff my chapeau toward all the hardy NYC picketers, who brave far more extreme weather and do so on a regular basis. Me, I put on a jacket when it dips below 65...

The news black-out re: strike info continues, so it's still wait and see for those of us manning the barricades...

Elvis Costello's "This Year's Model" Turns 30...

And to celebrate, Universal Music's releasing another "Deluxe Edition" on March 4, similar to last year's "My Aim Is True." We're talking bonus tracks and a second disc with a live E.C. & the Attractions concert from 1978. Here's the track listing:

ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS:
THIS YEAR'S MODEL

DISC ONE:

1 No Action
2 This Year's Girl
3 The Beat
4 Pump It Up
5 Little Triggers
6 You Belong To Me
7 Hand In Hand
8 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
9 Lip Service
10 Living In Paradise
11 Lipstick Vogue
12 Night Rally
13 Radio, Radio

Bonus material: B-sides,demos, live tracks, alternates, etc.

14 Big Tears
15 Crawling To The USA
16 Tiny Steps
17 Running Out Of Angels (demo version)
18 Greenshirt (demo version)
19 Big Boys (demo version)
20 Neat Neat Neat (live)
21 Roadette Song (live)
22 This Year's Girl (alternate Eden Studios version)
23 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea (alternate
Basing Street Studios version)

ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS
Live At The Warner Theater, Washington, DC, February 28, 1978

DISC TWO:

1 Pump It Up*
2 Waiting For The End Of The World*
3 No Action*
4 Less Than Zero*
5 The Beat*
6 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes*
7 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea*
8 Hand In Hand*
9 Little Triggers*
10 Radio, Radio*
11 You Belong To Me*
12 Lipstick Vogue*
13 Watching The Detectives*
14 Mystery Dance*
15 Miracle Man*
16 Blame It On Cain*
17 Chemistry Class

* Previously Unreleased

More details at: http://www.harpmagazine.com/news/detail.cfm?article=12156

Incidentally, there's been some on-line fan griping about this latest release, which is at least the fifth major reissue of the original album since CDs were born. I have five CD versions myself, from the original Columbia release through the Rykodisc reissues, the Rhino reissues, the Japanese "cardboard sleeve" reproductions and last year's "just the album" re-master from Universal. And for all that, I'll definitely pony up for the next wave, and I really don't understand why folks are cranky about the release. If you don't want to part with another $30 for the live show, then... don't! See, unlike the reasoning of the fellow quoted in the Bear McCreary post below, there actually is an alternative between buying the music and stealing it. And that is "going without." I know, I know, that way lies madness, but it IS an option...

Bear McCreary's Battlestar Blog...

Battlestar Galactica composer Bear McCreary has a must-read post up at his blog, prompted by the italicized blog-comment I've copied below...

“Bear, No offense, but I’ve been spoiled by itunes. I’ve come to appreciate the ability to purchase a song from an album without having to purchase the whole album. That being said, and again, no offense, but I really have no interest in buying your album to hear one song. I really dig your version of “…Watchtower”, but not enough to go through the hassle of purchasing the whole album online. I have to admit that I would probably like your other music too, but, that’s besides the point, I would love to purchase your version of “All along the Watchtower”, but if it’s not available as a single, you’ll lose my support. I’ll just wait till someone uploads it to a bit torrent site and get it for free. Wouldn’t you rather get paid for your work?”

Click to Bear's site for his response, but me, I'm just impressed with this poster's brass. In a note to the guy who actually recorded the song, the comments-writer blithely tells Bear that since Bear hasn't released his recording of Watchtower on i-tunes, well, then he's just going to steal it. Yes, the unbelievable hassle of ordering the CD on-line (a click or two on Amazon, see below, I'll make it easy for you!) forces him to rip off music from a composer he theoretically enjoys. And then, and here's where the sheer brass comes into play, he has the audacity to blame Bear for forcing him to take this step.

Let's translate that into other retail situations. You're in a 7/11 and you really want a Twinkie, but just one Twinkie and all they have are the two-packs. So you tell the clerk, "no offense, but I only want one Twinkie, and since you don't sell the one-Twinkie packs, and it's a hassle to go to a store that stocks them, I'm just going to steal one. Better get those one-Twinkie packs ASAP, though, because I'm sure you'd rather get paid for your product."

Bear's response to the poster is considerably more... nuanced. Check it out at:

http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=240

And if you're ready to go through the "hassle" of ordering Bear's CD online, here's a link:

WGA Strike - Days 77, 78, 79

Back channel negotiations between the AMPTP and the WGA are beginning, hopefully to lead toward formal negotiations where we can reach deal nirvana, that glorious place where all sides can walk away feeling like they got something. The WGA's opted for another news blackout during this period, and there's no secret "members only" conduit (Nikke Finke at Deadline:Hollywood doesn't count), so for now it's just wait and see.

I've been under the weather and so off the line the last couple of days, but word from my sources say the mood continues to be "determined." And I've got strike on the brain... I was watching an episode of MONK the other day and there was one of those great "TV" strikes, where the agitated picketers are all shaking non-specific signs ("Unfair!") and screaming with great vigor. All I could think was, boy, I'd have been gasping after fifteen minutes of all that frenzied screaming and shaking. Real life long-term picketing tends to be a little less dramatic, I guess...

Robert Gordon On Conan O'Brian

My favorite rockabilly stylist made a rare appearance on U.S. TV this month, doing a number on Conan O'Brian's show. I guess this means Robert crossed the WGA picket line, but when he sings so purty it's hard (for me) to get too cranky...

Incidentally, Gordon's Elvis tribute album is really, really good...

Random Pop Culture Comments...

The movie Cloverfield is a wild ride, and for once I mean that almost in the literal sense. I sat close to the screen for this baby and the shaky-cam almost made me nauseous, and this from a guy who works on shaky ol' Battlestar Galactica. (Jeez, I thought even low-end video cameras had image stabilizing built into them these days...)

Springsteen's current, live tour version of "Reason To Believe" is amazing. For Southern California types, the upcoming April Anaheim Pond stint is a must see.

The latest issue of The Comics Journal (Jan. 2008) has an interesting article on Mort Weisinger, legendary editor of the craziest silver-age Superman comics and (evidently) legendary jerk. His son is quoted as having fond memories of spending the day with Dad and watching him ream some unfortunate writer or artist (!). For more insightful psychoanalysis, you'll have to buy the mag...

The great rock band The Smithereens will be recording tracks for a new live album starting the end of January in lovely New Jersey. Check out lead singer Pat Dinizio's site (http://patdinizio.com) for the gruesome details.

WGA Strike - Days 75, 76

So a little time has passed and some analysis has been done on the DGA's deal with the AMPTP, and whether it makes sense as a springboard for the WGA. Evidently informal talks have started between the WGA negotiators and the other side, which is an enormous first step. Meanwhile, controversy reigns re: the details of the DGA agreement, to the point where I'm not sure the actual nitty-gritty of the agreement have actually been made public or available to the WGA negotiating team yet.

Personally, and based on this limited info, I'm still sorting it out. But here are some places to go for varied and differing views on the DGA agreement and what it means for writers.

First, television producer John Wells has weighed in with a laudatory opinion. I worked with John a few years back on a pilot and consider him one of the true good guys in this racket. You can find that piece at http://artfulwriter.com/?p=318

(Hat-tip for the Wells letter to Mark Evanier, whose own http://www.newsfromme.com/ remains an invaluable resource as well.)

As always, http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com has a flurry of good information about the DGA deal and the WGA's official reaction at the moment.

Meanwhile, over at the Huffington Post, writer Robert Elisberg reflects on the "why now" of it all: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/
wga-strike-primer-the-d_b_82106.html

I'll post more as it becomes available...

Another MY NAME IS BRUCE Poster?

I'm not sure if this is real or a fan creation (hey, I only wrote the movie, don't ask me for intimate details), but it's kinda fun. Bruce is VERY serious here...

http://img177.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=21232_
BRUCE_122_480lo.jpg

EVIL DEAD #1 - The Reviews Keep Slashing In!

Another nice review from Horror Yearbook... Ash lives!

http://www.horroryearbook.com/542810/
thursday-thirst-comic-book-roundup-evil-dead-and-jenna-jameson

Here's To Better Times...

Think back to a time when there was no strike, when studio and artist worked together in bliss and harmony, and when a simple wine-cooler could solve almost any problem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqMV90pnsZ4

(It's two parts, you will be directed to the second at You Tube.)

WGA Strike - Days 73, 74

I was just about to write another "well, two more days on the picket line" post when events overtook me. The Director's Guild Of America has announced they've managed to make a deal with the AMPTP and the details are just being released. I haven't had a chance to read enough to make a cogent comment, but... I like that there's some sort of movement. The devil, of course, is in the details. And as the next couple days ensue, I'm sure there will be plenty of those to discuss.

But for now? It's wait and see...

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Writers Scare President Of Pakistan!

At least that's what Jon Stewart on "A Daily Show" (not "The" Daily Show until his writers come back) told a guest on Monday's (1/14) show. According to Stewart, and I know he's telling the truth, the President of Pakistan won't come back on his show because that weenie won't dare cross the picket line and go face-to-face with a group of Battlestar Galactica writers. Hey, I don't blame the guy. Even I get a little scared when we're all together. Jane Espenson, especially, is one surly hombre. And Ron Moore? He put Col. Tigh's eye out!!

So world leaders, be careful! Since we can't write, BSG's staff is out there on the loose. Just... waiting.

Another Great EVIL DEAD #1 Review!

Deadites everywhere agree, it's grrrrrrEAT! Check out another good review at:

http://www.mania.com/57146.html

WGA Strike - Days 71, 72

"Endgame scenarios." Be great if the conversation actually began to turn toward resolutions. Rumor has it that the DGA is close to announcing a deal with the AMPTP, which could mean... a lot of things.

I finally met Robert Elisberg during my ill-fated sojourn to Las Vegas, and his commentary on the strike continues to be extremely interesting. Check out his latest at the Huffington Post re: the rumors of a pending DGA settlement (still, at this writing, just a rumor) and how that potentially impacts the WGA.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/
wga-strike-primer-the-e_b_81526.html

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - Crossroads Part 2, #2 Best Episode Of The Year!

A top fifty list from our friends at Futon Critic names Crossroad Part Deux the #2 best episode of television in 2007. And who am I to argue? The list and more at:

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant.aspx?id=20080111

(Thanks again to Anne Cofell-Saunders for the tip!)

EVIL DEAD #1 - It's on the stands. Yes, really!

Years in the making, months in the printing, weeks in the shipping, EVIL DEAD #1 is finally on the funny book stands. I just made Kevin Smith a few cents richer by buying two copies from his new "Secret Stash" store nestled in the back of Laser Blazer, my favorite Los Angeles DVD store. (My good friends at Dark Horse Comics neglected to provide any "advance" copies and I wanted to see how it looked.)

Incidentally, I read a review where someone assumed that since the EVIL DEAD series has been gestating for so long, something must be "wrong" that prevented a more timely release. Umm, "no." Basically, this was a case where two really busy boys (me and painter John Bolton) were given the time to realistically fit this baby in our schedules. So, no, Dark Horse wasn't cringing and waiting for some opportune moment to slip this in under the radar; rather, they waited for us to finish the entire four issue series and then solicited it. I believe that's called "responsible publishing." So get out there and snatch it off the stands before it's too late!

WGA Strike - Days 69, 70

Another weekend passes, but at least there have been some new developments. The WGA is hinting that more deals with splinter studios are on the way, while the DGA has started negotiating with the AMPTP. If they can make a deal for themselves that translates into something acceptable for writers, hey, more power to them. As always, my friend Mark Evanier offers some interesting and cogent handicapping of the situation:

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_01_13.html#014635

The Best LAW AND ORDER Episode Yet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_igKSYspPs

(Thanks for Anne Cofell-Saunders for the tip!!)

WGA Strike - Days 65, 66, 67, 68

And so it goes, on and on... sounds like the Weinstein Company will be making a deal with the WGA, joining United Artists and Worldwide Pants in accepting the Guild's terms. All of which suggests that the deal offered by the WGA in the beginning were less the ravings of diabolical madmen intent on destroying the industry than the some fairly reasonable requests from the guys who, you know, come up with a lot of this so-called "content."

But I guess everyone wants to be a writer these days. Sounds like a Fox employee was trying to pitch a LAW AND ORDER story to showrunner Rene Balcer, "angry driver runs over famous writer in crosswalk!", when things got a little out of hand. And now our friend Nikke Finke says there is a concerted disinformation campaign going on on various blog sites to demoralize writers. May I make a suggestion? Rather than running down writers in crosswalks and throwing money at expensive lobbyists so they can infiltrate blogs (!), why not go back to negotiations and end this?

EVIL DEAD #1 - Book Of The Week!

Even though I haven't seen a copy yet, I'm assuming EVIL DEAD the first (written by yours truly, painted by the amazing John Bolton) has finally hit the stands. Check out a very nice review at:

http://www.comicbloc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1255969

WGA Strike BREAKING NEWS: Famous Mark Verheidens Thrown Out Of The Wynn!

Dateline: Las Vegas. Me, Jane Espenson and some nice fans gathered to pass out some informational WGA leaflets to passing Consumer Electronics Show journalists inside the Wynn casino this evening. That is, we WERE passing them out until hotel security told us to, well, leave. I thought we were being quite polite, but evidently someone decided to be snitty. Having seen Scorsese's CASINO far too many times, we hit the bricks as ordered. Oh, the shame.

Ironically, the Wynn is the very same casino/hotel where the BSG staff sat down last year this time to start discussing BATTLESTAR season four. There is also some small irony in being tossed out of a "press" event, first amendment and all that. But perhaps the largest irony is that I actually have a slot hostess at the Wynn, after some heavy play at that self-same BSG season-four breaking session. "Oh well..."

WGA Strike - Days 63, 64 - Las Vegas Edition!

In a change of pace, this evening (Monday 1/7) I'll be joining Battlestar Galactica writer/co-executive producer Jane Espenson in a bit of leafleting and discussion in front of the Alsace Ballroom at the Wynn hotel/casino in Lost Wages, I mean Las Vegas, Nevada. Right now we're planning to be there from 7:00PM to 8:00PM.

The event is the big Consumer Electronics show, where it seems Bill Gates has just announced a bunch of new internet related media deals with NBC and others. (You remember the internet. It's that thing that doesn't make any money for anybody.) Anyhow, BSG fans, writers and friends are invited to drop by and offer your support!

EVIL DEAD The Comic - Interview

I discuss the upcoming EVIL DEAD comic series over at THE PULSE... according to one funny book site, the first issue's now coming out on Wednesday Jan. 9. It's so evil it doesn't want to be born! Anyhow, for some images and palaver, go to:

http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/
ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006936

WGA Strike - Days 61, 62 - United Artists Edition!

According to the ever-reportorial Nikke Finke (see the Deadline Hollywood url to the right), Tom Cruise and United Artists are going to break from the AMPTP tomorrow (Sunday) and sign on to the WGA's contractual proposals. It's still a rumor at this point and we've seen a lot of rumors fizzle to nothing, but if true, it is a significant development. UA isn't the biggest studio player out there, but it's an honest-to Gosh AMPTP studio and this will give them a leg up on their competitors. Basically, they can get back to producing films. Which is kinda all anybody wants at this point...

More if/when the news is actually confirmed...

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - The Last Supper

There's a very cool two-page, full color BATTLESTAR spread in the 1/11 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Interesting shots of most of the cast and some cagey hints at season four by Ron Moore. Prepare yourselves for lots of steamy looks and one character brandishing a knife (!). Yipes!

WGA Strike - Day 59, 60

Well, LATE NIGHT went back on with writers, LENO without, and the world didn't spin off its axis. I don't do politics much on this blog, but it does seem like a pretty dumb move on Mike Huckabee's part to cross a picket line first chance he could and do Leno. Evidently Huck shrugged his shoulders and said he thought there had been a waiver granted to ALL late night shows, but even once that had been straightened out, he still did his schtick... so much for "labor friendly."

And according to Nikke Finke, some big name writers (she names one) have recently gone financial core. Unfortunately, the guy she "outs" is a fairly well know media personality and hence gets more attention than some. Until it's confirmed I will withhold judgment, but if true... it's pretty damn sad.

And as we hit day 60...

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - Best Show of 2007!

Per our friend Hercules at Ain't It Cool news... check out the entire, EXTREMELY perceptive list at:

http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/node/35182

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - Best Show Of The Year!

Per Boston Now's perceptive critic... check out the full list at:

http://www.bostonnow.com/entertainment/television
/2007/12/26/an-impressive-year-for-tv-dramas

WGA Strike - Days 54, 55, 56, 57, 58

Day 58 lands on New Year's, and I'm hoping there was good (non-uber-windy) weather over the Rose Parade for the fans4writers skywriting campaign.

I've been away from my computer and my blog for a few days, and there have been some new developments. Hopefully no one is actually getting strike "news" from my blog, because you'll be woefully behind, but the big development last weekend was making a deal with David Letterman's company so his shows (Late Night and the Craig Ferguson show) could get back on the air with writers intact. I have to admit, I had mixed feelings about this move, specifically about allowing a CBS profit center back on the air while we're still trying to make an overall deal with the AMPTP, but any misgivings are mitigated by two things. One, I'm sure the WGA negotiating committee argued the same points to death before making this move and two, there needs to be movement to break the logjam. Whatever else the Wordwide Pants deal is, it IS movement.

Nikke Finke some quoted "angry feature writers" who vowed to get back to work right now, because he or she is fed up with being on strike for issues that only affect television. Here's the commentary from Finke's column to Deadline Hollywood (url to the right).

"Before today's announcement, I received phone calls and emails from some well-known WGA members, especially feature film writers, angry that the WGA was even contemplating such an agreement while at the same time dumping those issues important to screenwriters like possessory credit, free rewrites and endless meetings without pay. They told me they planned to stop picketing and possibly go Fi-Core over what they see as a strike that's become more about television that movies.

Tonight I've managed to reach one of those successful screenwriters who phoned me and he's furious. "I'm going back to work," he said, asking me not to use his name. "I have gotten five phone calls tonight from feature writers and every single one of them has said some variation on, 'Bullshit on this. Why am I looking at staying out of work until April when these guys are going to start picking up paychecks on Tuesdays?'"

The writer continued: "All you're doing every time a movie or TV star goes on Letterman is making money for a member of the AMPTP. If you're going to strike GM, then you strike GM. You don't say, 'We're going to give a waiver to the guys making pickup trucks because they're really good guys.'" You don't maintain solidarity by letting a handful of guys go back to work. So what's next: Lorne's people go back to work? Then Colbert's people go back to work?"

This guy is essentially making my earlier point, so I have some sympathy, but not to the point of going financial core or scabbing. And I find myself getting tired of people suggesting that issues important to television writers have no effect on feature writers. As someone with size 15's firmly in both camps, I'll note that getting coverage on projects released over the internet is going to be vitally important in both arenas. And these feature folks shouldn't be surprised if one day the television world comes knocking, in which case suddenly all these TV issues will be VERY important. I sold 14 feature screenplays my first few years in the screenwriting business and never even considered a career in television until, well, I had a career in television.

I can't get back to wrapping up the final season of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA or continue working on the two features I have pending, so believe me, I know frustration. But going off the rails because Letterman's writers are back to work isn't the answer. The (unfortunately corny, but so it goes) answer is sticking it out, trusting the negotiating committee and getting a fair deal.

Oh, and... Happy New Year...

I Miss Letters Pages...

The fine folks at Titan Publishing in the U.K. have been reprinting a bunch of recent DC material in neat packages, comic-book sized but with more pages than U.S. "floppies" and with really cool cardstock covers. My recent run on the SUPERMAN/BATMAN series is currently being reprinted in "DC Universe Presents", where, with the most recent issue (#4), Titan is including a good, old-fashioned letters page.

DC in the U.S. killed their letters pages a few years back, reasoning that fans are interacting aplenty on the internet (and, I suspect, the time it took to assemble the pages was just one responsibility too many in a busy editorial schedule), but bandying opinion back and forth on a message board just not the same as seeing your name in cold print in your favorite book.

When I was a kid, I had letters published in several comics, including X-MEN (first series, of course), RAWHIDE KID, PHANTOM STRANGER, GREEN LANTERN and others. For someone with aspiritions toward professional writing, these "appearances" were a real thrill. And when I was running my own letters pages (for THE AMERICAN, mostly), it was usually fun to go through the mail and see what people had to say. (Note that caveat, "usually.") E-mail has pretty much put an end to pen and ink letters, but not the sense of investment that came from seeing your name or other fans "up in lights" and discussing their favorite books.

Anyway, kudos to Titan for bringing back the letters page!

WGA Strike - Day 53

Check the url below for some interesting financial analysis of the WGA/AMPTP standoff from the number crunchers at Bear Stearns. Bottom line; even if the AMPTP gave the WGA everything currently on the table, the effect on corporate "bottom lines" would be negligible. And yet the WGA's being assailed as the spittle-flecked bomb-throwers out to destroy Hollywood. Hmm. I think a rewrite may be required on that particular (bad) script...

http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/12/
wall-street-congloms-let-town-suffer.html

EVIL DEAD The Comic #1 - Friday Jan. 4!!

It's been four years (!) in the making, but it's finally coming out! Because of the New Year's holiday, comic book shops are getting new books on Friday Jan. 4 next week, and that is when Ash and friends will be ready to CHILL YOU TO THE BONE. Or something like that. Solicitation material below:

Artist John Bolton returns this January with his adapatation of Evil Dead in a four issue comic book series written by Mark Verheiden.

"We're gonna get you! We're gonna get you!"

Verheiden and Bolton present an exciting expansion on the classic horror film that introduced us to the powerful Book of the Dead, the relentlessly violent deadites, and Ash -- one resilient, blood-stained survivor. Now an iconic horror hero, relive Ash's first visit to the cabin that brought him face to face with the delectably deranged deadites who possessed his girlfriend and friends . . . and turned "the perfect place to get laid" into a house of fear and fury. Return to the original nonstop gore-fest and experience the thrills, gags, and gagging anew, with unexpected new directions, additional scenes, and Bolton's jaw-dropping new paintings.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4! The first of four glorious issues!

WGA Strike - Days 51, 52

Nikke Finke's dour words of warning on Christmas Eve were moderated by my friend Mark Evanier's more moderate commentary, so Christmas was celebrated with a smile after all. As Mark often points out, it is in the AMPTP's interest to claim they're ready to write off this TV season, the next TV season, the 2009 movie schedule and whatever else puts the fear of God into the WGA. Click on the appropriate links at the right for all the conflicting info...

Tip of the hat to Mick Betancourt, strike Captain of the Barham Gate Strikers, who welcomed his daughter "Untitled" to the world on Christmas Day. (Mick and his lovely wife are still trying on names for the youngun'.)

SKIDOO Alert - Don't Miss This Movie!

It really IS Christmas! I've written about the miracle that is "Skidoo" The Movie before, but now you can actually see it! TiVo it! Watch again and again and again and...

This never-released-on-DVD and rarely screened epic is going to break in 2008 big time with a one time showing on Turner Classic Movies. 2:00AM, Jan 4.

Otto Preminger directs. Groucho Marx plays "God." Carol Channing does a strip tease. Jackie Gleason takes acid and fantasizes about Mickey Rooney (!). The Turner people make a brave attempt to write a synopsis, but this is one movie that has to be seen to be believed.

All the info is at:

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/title.jsp?stid=90381

WGA Strike - Days 48, 49, 50

An unfortunate landmark in this standoff, it's now been 50 days since the AMPTP walked out on negotiations (the first time) and the strike commenced. I doubt there will be much action during the holidays, but I intend to continue the day by day count. Here's hoping negotiations resume soon...

But this headline from today's Nikke Finke column doesn't offer much cheer...

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/exclusive-attempt-fails-to-restart-wga-amptp-talks-outlook-very-grim/

Permission to be grumpy on Christmas, granted.

Early Christmas Present

If you love live music, the word "free" and the idea of not stealing illegal downloads, then check out this site. Hundreds of live shows from hundreds of bands, and according to the site it's all legal and approved by the performers. Thanks and a tip of the hat to http://atrios.blogspot.com for the heads up...

http://www.archive.org/details/etree

I'm just starting to poke around, but the 3/6/94 Wheeler Opera House show by Warren Zevon is pretty amazing, and there are a couple of fantastic Was (Not Was) shows...

BLADERUNNER The Briefcase of DVDs

That makes two fancy "briefcase" DVD sets in the last month (between this and the MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. collection)... what next, the complete SUPERMAN series packed in a phone booth?

At any rate, this latest 5 DVD BLADERUNNER release offers what one would hope is the final, absolute, definitive director's cut of the film in uber-quality, along with all the previous cuts (including the original release with narration) and, most interestingly to fans, a 3 1/2 hour long documentary on the making of the movie. This exhaustive study has new interviews with director Ridley Scott, writers Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, actors Harrison Ford, Daryl Hannah, Edward James Olmos, Rutger Hauer and many others, and a host of behind-the-scenes folks. This is not a sanitized "everyone loved one another" piece; the on-set and post-production tensions are fully explored, as well as many details of set design and special FX.

There are some great finds, including screen tests (with actor Morgan Paull playing the Harrison Ford character against multiple actresses vying for the role Sean Young eventually landed), cut scenes and outtakes. But mostly it's a textbook look at the stresses and problems involved in doing an epic, expensive, visionary piece of work. If you're looking for a gift for the Replicant in your life, you can't go wrong here!

Mary McDonnell Talks BSG...

Courtesy a link from

http://community.livejournal.com/mary_mcawesome/

A lengthy and fascinating interview with Mary (President Roslin) McDonnell, touching on many things Battlestar. No spoilers, but some teasing about what we were up to when the writer's strike hit. Read the interview at:

http://flowtv.org/?p=1015

The Beatles Sing Stairway To Heaven?

Or a reasonable facsimile thereof... part of a series of Stairway/Zep tributes done in Australia in the mid 90's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfoccRna6I

WGA Strike - Days 45, 46, 47

As we approach Christmas week, there's still no real public progress on resuming talks. Rumors abound about an AMPTP "February strategy" (see Mark Evanier's blog for more), which doesn't exactly bring tidings of comfort and joy to all those currently out of work.

And the propaganda war continues, especially the charge that WGA members are all so rich that this strike is little more than a welcome, extended vacation for the membership. I'm sure the folks applying for emergency loans, in fear of losing their homes or apartments, appreciate this characterization. It's an especially interesting charge given that it's being promulgated by several enormous multi-national corporations whose CEOs make millions. I don't think you have to be Milton Friedman to understand that the conglomerates are the ones with the deep pockets here, not the writers. Or to remember that it was the AMPTP that walked away from the negotiating table twice now, not the WGA team.

Strange thing is, I don't "hate" the studios or the CEOs... or anyone, actually. I've worked with too many great people on the other side of the table to go there. So I watch all this transpire with something more akin to sadness than rage. Sadness that we've come to a place where charges and counter-charges have to be lobbed in the first place...

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - Popcandy says #2!!

Unlike my now deleted mistake re: TIME'S Ten Best List (I accidentally took the 2006 list for 2007), this one IS 2007. USA TODAY and Popcandy! We're #2! Yippee!

http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2007/12/mini-list-my-to.html

MY NAME IS BRUCE - Poster Art!!

You can feel the interest building... the passion... the majesty of Mr. Bruce Campbell. Check out some possible poster art at:

http://hopeless-devotion.org/brucecampbell-news/?p=139

WGA Strike - Days 42, 43, 44

Day 43 (Monday) was a busy day. It started with another successful picketing session at the Barham Gate at Universal. Our favorite parking patrolman was there (seriously, the police who have been assigned our gate have all been helpful and protective), spirits were up, and Chase Masterson (hi Chase! Thanks for reading my blog!), Mary McDonnell and several wonderful BATTLESTAR fans made appearances along with valuable donut/bagel/coffee contributions.

There were at least two location pickets during the day, which seem to be making a real financial dent against whatever's still out there shooting.

And finally, Monday night there was a major membership meeting at the Santa Monica Civic to discuss the current state of affairs re: the strike and the future. There seems to be a fixation by some of the press to focus on WGA dissenters, but the closest thing I heard to "dissent" was the guy politely suggesting a change in negotiators, and even that was met with strenuous and vocal disapproval from the assembly. I left before every question had been asked and answered, but if people were wavering or demanding the guild capitulate, I sure wasn't hearing it. What we did hear was that it's very difficult to "negotiate" with a group that resorts to bullying tactics and ham-fisted P.R. offenses instead of anything resembling a good-faith discussion.

There is also continued bewilderment among some over the fact, verified by the major advertising agencies, that the studios would rather lose a billion (with a "b") dollars in advertising losses/give-backs AND simultaneously destroy two television seasons, than negotiate over the modest proposals on the table from the WGA. And the AMPTP keeps saying OUR leaders are crazy?

It was also great to hear from Alan Rosenberg, the President of SAG... if you think the WGA is cranky, wait until 100,000+ SAG members decide to hit the bricks if this mess isn't resolved by next June. Of course we all hope things are resolved well before that...

WGA Strike - Day 41

More activity on the strike front, including the WGA's decision to push to negotiate with each individual studio as opposed to the monolithic AMPTP. Be interesting to see if this gets any traction (seems unlikely, at least at the moment), but as always, Mark Evanier has an eloquent and interesting take on the siutation at his site.

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_12_15.html#014467

MORE Live Crowded House?!!

Long time readers are unfortunately familiar with my Crowded House obsession, which neither strike nor sleet nor dark of night has diminished. Neil Finn and crew released 28 (!) live shows from their 2007 U.S. tour, all still available from those fine folks at kufala.com, and now there are five more live gigs up for grabs, this time from the Euro legs of their tour. One set has already sold out (Wembley) and these are strictly limited to 1500 copies, so the obsessed must move fast. Check it out at:

https://www.concertlive.co.uk

These guys also have a pretty great live Gang Of Four show from 2005, worth checking out as well!

Amazon, Ain't It Cool News, Cheap DVDs

I'm not sure how long it will be going on, but Amazon has been putting some interesting DVD sets on sale recently, in one day "Gold Star" events that are actually pretty good. Yesterday I picked up all three seasons of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT for the total price of $29.99. This morning (Saturday), they're offering both seasons of ROME for $59.99. (Retail for both was $200.00). The TV reviewer at aintitcoolnews.com, Hercules, spots these sales and gives a heads up when he can, but again the sales are for one day only or until supplies run out... they sold out of the ARRESTED sets around Noon. More ways to spend your money!

MY NAME IS BRUCE - The Trailer!

Years in the making! No, not the trailer, the epic adventure everyone has been demanding! Yes, Bruce (EVIL DEAD, BURN NOTICE, BUBBA HO-TEP) Campbell IS "MY NAME IS BRUCE." Or something like that. Written by yours truly, directed by Mr. Campbell, produced by Dark Horse Indie.

And now, the first trailer has finally been posted on-line! So here you go. Bruce. Guan-Di. "You wanna move that hand?" Ted Raimi. "Hooch for the pooch!" Watch, then prepare yourself for the full experience SUMMER 2008!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JChhVK2KaWg

MSN HEARTS BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - #5 Best Show Of 2007!

How about some good news for a change? Nice photo of Grace, Lucy and Tricia too!

http://tv.msn.com/tv/2007review/bestandworst?photoidx=6

WGA Strike - Days 39, 40

Day 39 picketing was a change of pace, as the BSG contingent took a later shift so we could congregate for lunch with Chicago Tribune columnist Maureen Ryan. We were joined on the picket line by Kate (Ellen Tigh) Vernon and Chase Masterson and a whole bunch of great Law And Order SVU writers and other WGA/SAG folks. At the end of the picket we were given an update on negotiations by Neal Baer from the negotiating committee, but even he didn't spill the latest development, which was the WGA filing unfair negotiating charges against the AMPTP. Details of that situation are available in depth at Nikke Finke's Deadline Hollywood site (see my sidebar for the url) and at the United Hollywood site. Interesting times, indeed...

Man From U.N.C.L.E. - 41 DVDS!

It was one of my favorite shows when I was kid, so it was a no-brainer when Time-Life announced this nifty MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. collection -- all four seasons + the unaired original pilot ("Solo") plus all sorts of extras. All packed in a cool attache case with the U.N.C.L.E. emblem front and center.

Just goes to show, tastes DO evolve, and the stuff eight-year-old Mark loved comes off just a bit silly today. Well, more than a bit. In a way, these U.N.C.L.E. shows are like silver age DC comics come to life. There are adventures with gorillas, the abominable snowman, ridiculously unscientific "science"... frankly, a Bizarro Napoleon Solo would have fit right in. And then there's the cheese factor; as other blogs have pointed out (most notably Ken Levine at http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2007/12/man-from-uncle.html) the wildly unconvincing back lot was getting a serious workout back in the day.

It probably proves that I've got striking on the brain, but my favorite catch so far was in the first episode of season two, starring a very young and stiff Rip Torn as "Alexander", a maniac who steals a military passifying gas (!) so he can rule the world like Alexander The Great. At one point, for no discernible reason, there is a picket line in the background as our hero Napoleon chases after the unbearable Dorothy Provine (don't ask). What are the very well-dressed strikers picketing? Who knows; all the signs say is "UNFAIR!" in different handwritten styles. Well. That explains that!

Jane Espenson = Good Blog

Jane Espenson, writer de la magnifico (that probably doesn't make sense, but I like the sound of it), has a much more reflective piece on the strike and our encounter with Frank McFurious re: residuals. Let me add that you don't want to get Jane mad. You won't like Jane when she's mad.

http://www.janeespenson.com/archives/00000487.php

When Jane's not prepping to pound strike-breakers, she offers up some of the best screenwriting advice in the racket. Check out her site!

WGA Strike - Day 38

Another freezing day on the line, literally! The temperature at day's start was a brisk 39 degrees and there was crunchy frost frost on the grass. Okay, so it isn't NYC nasty, but it was still cold!

Still, the "temperature" went up dramatically when our rag-tag picketers were confronted by a remarkably angry fellow who launched into a salvo about "residuals." As in (and this is paraphrased, but pretty close), "you writers, you all get residuals, right? So when the networks all go into reruns in 2008, you'll all make a ton of a money! Meaning you'll actually do better during the strike! You're not risking anything while you're putting everyone else out of work!" He ramped this up to a self-satisfied crescendo, like he had divined the subterfuge of the writers and figured out the DiVinci code all in the same moment.

This one's right up with the costume designer who complained on the radio that writers shouldn't bother striking because they all make "five million dollars a year." Which is kind of like suggesting all costume designers must be making millions, because Ralph Lauren is doing pretty well, right? I'm not sure the point can be made any clearer -- not all writers make millions. Not all writers make thousands. And anyone with any sort of career has experienced wild ups and downs regardless, so "doing well" one year can be followed by "nada" the next.

But I'm not pleading poverty here, and the members of the WGA are painfully aware of the damage wrought by a strike. More painfully aware, I might suggest, than the negotiators on the other side who have walked away from the table twice now in a manufactured huff over some issue or another. If you're going to be enraged, how about saving a drop of spittle for the other team?

As far as the residual issue goes, well, a few points. One, the networks aren't planning to flood the airwaves with drama/sitcom reruns in 2008, they're putting together a flotilla of really exciting reality shows. But to answer Mr. Really-Angry's question, yes, if a WGA covered show is rerun, then there are residuals paid to the writer who wrote that particular show. But "writers" are not some monolithic group who all get residuals all the time, so the vast majority of writers who haven't worked in television or aren't currently working on a show that's UP for a rerun won't see anything from this supposed boon. Same goes if you're a feature writer (unless your feature is run on television), haven't anything produced yet, etc., etc.

So if you want to talk about what strikers have put on the line, here's the deal. Staffers who had been working on television shows aren't getting paid. Guys who were in the middle of writing features aren't getting paid. Show-runners who were running shows aren't getting paid. Yes, some residuals may still trickle in, but to suggest they will make up for the shortfall from the other losses is specious to say the least.

I guess Mr. Furious will have to work up a new talking point for his next visit...

You Know You Have Too Much Stuff When...

I've been "taking advantage" of my enforced strike-based hiatus to go through my varied and sundry pop culture collections, startled to discover that I have purchased and repurchased any number of DVDs, CDs and funny books over the last few years. It's beginning to get ridiculous; I was bidding for a CHARLEY VARRICK one sheet on eBay (one of my favorite movies, see it!) and lost to a last minute sniper. And lucky I did, because a few days later I found a sweet VARRICK one-sheet tucked under some other movie stuff in a forgotten nook.

I've actually reached the point where it's sometimes easier to buy something again than to try and find it in the stacks of the Verheiden, *ahem*, "estate." I am hoping to rectify that this Winter with a serious purge. I'm talking about a Stalin-like campaign to pare down, clean, free up shelf space, etc. Maybe even find room to hang that cool VARRICK poster...

WGA Strike - Days 35, 36, 37

I don't know about days 36 and 36 (Monday required my attentions elsewhere), but days 37 was friggin' cold. It was a brr-chilly 45 degrees when we started, much warmed by the time we ended. A tip o' the hat to thespian Steven Culp who joined our line this morning, and to all those who offered friendly honks and waves. (And a hearty "what the f?" to the teenage kid who leans out the passenger window of his Mom's SUV every morning making screwy gibberish sounds.)

Nothing much to add that hasn't been said better on the United Hollywood blog. One day longer, one day stronger...

Re: Strike: Marc Guggenheim Sums It Up...

Writer (and my collaborator on a Superman/Batman story just a few months ago) Marc Guggenheim has an interesting piece on the United Hollywood website that pretty much sums up the attitude of most writers I've been commisserating with, following the latest breakdown in negotiations...

http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/12/amptp-deja-vu.html

Michael Trucco Will Be Fine

Since a few people have asked me about it -- yes, Michael Trucco, who plays Sam Anders on Battlestar Galactica, was in a serious car accident a week ago and fractured his neck. The good news is, he's had surgery, he's already out of the hospital and we've been told that the doctors expect a full recovery. So there's a little "good news" story in this otherwise unpleasant time for the entertainment business...

WGA Strike - Days 32, 33, 34

Well, THAT didn't go so well, did it? Talks have collapsed once again between the AMPTP and the WGA, with press releases, charges and counter-charges flying left and right. I've added both Deadline Hollywood and the United Hollywood blogs to my blog-list to the right. For details on the recriminations, these sites convey the lowdown better than any truncated version I could cobble up.

So how does this lowly "writer in the trenches" feel about all this? I would much prefer to get back to work, of course, but on the other hand, I've always had this problem with authority figures. (Thank goodness none of this comes across in my work on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA). I also don't like being gamed, and when the AMPTP back-channel informs reporter Nikke Finke that they plan to orchestrate a walk-out a week before it actually happens, regardless of progress, well, suddenly I feel like I'm in a David Mamet play and Mamet isn't allowing any ad-libs! I'm also a little baffled how a business that is all about making complicated deals can't figure out a way to make this one, and that goes for both sides.

Oh well. It's back to the picket line, and the hope that cooler heads will prevail and get everyone back to the table (and more importantly, to work) ASAP...

BSG and TREK - HIGH DEF!

Unfortunately, I have yet to step up to a high def television system. But with the finger's crossed optimism that has become a hallmark of the Verheiden household, I've picked up the BSG Season One High Def set, and the season one original STAR TREK set. Assuming that one day, I too will enjoy high def.

Fortunately, the TREK set can be viewed in high def and regular def, so I was able to enjoy some of the new "remastered" FX, music and etc. I was surprised at how unobtrusive the changes were (at least in "The Corbomite Maneuver", the one episode I've sampled so far), and frankly I have little problem with the spruce-up. (I also have the entire original series on DVD already, so if I want to see/experience the original version, they remain ripe for the plucking).

WGA Strike Days 30, 31

Another two days of picketing, today under the watchful eye of Security Dudes as well as the ever-present parking police. Yes, writers, the mad dogs of the protest world. After today's session I took advantage of Drew Carey's very generous offer and enjoyed breakfast "on him" at Bob's Big Boy, then the week of 4:30AM wake-up calls finally caught up with me and I took advantage of this off-time to guhhhzzzzz...

The news from the negotiations seems vaugely hopeful, but I'm trying not to set my daily moods by early morning e-mail and article reviews. I'd have the settled emotional state of a Jeffrey Dahmer if I let myself rise and fall on the waves of each day's progress (or lack thereof)...

More as news develops!

WGA Strike - Day 29

It was exceptionally cold on the picket line this morning, until the sun exploded over the hills around 8:30 AM and suddenly... well, it was warm. Despite (or perhaps because of) the frustrating news from last week, attendance was actually up and enthusiasm/determination remains high. After getting an update on the state of the talks from a member of the negotiating committee (in our case we were briefed by Neal Baer, showrunner from LAW AND ORDER SVU), I'll just say that I'm confident in our leadership and look forward to, fingers crossed, some productive talks.

One of the news outlets had a quote from someone on the studio side complaining that it seems like writers would rather "rally than make a deal." Trust me, writers would like nothing better than to get back to work. If I felt the Guild was asking for something unrealistic or pie-in-the-sky, I'd be the first to push for a quick settlement, but the simple fact is, the WGA's demands are modest. So I'll cross my fingers once again and hope we can get this settled!

New... Split Enz?!

Just received a copy of "The Rootin' Tootin' Luton Tapes", a two-CD collection of demos from a celebrated series of 1978 studio sessions by Split Enz. As in the New Zealand band that included Tim and Neil Finn and eventually spawned Crowded House and myriad other musical ventures. A single-disc version of this session will be out from Rhino sometime "soon", but members of the "Frenz of the Enz" fanclub got this special two CD set, with lots more songs. Despite demurs in the liner notes that these are demos and hence less finished, they sound perfectly realized to me, and sound quality is superb. So it comes highly recommended to fans of the Enz, though that endorsement will be frustrating to those not in the (excellent) fanclub!

WGA Strike - Days 27, 28

Interesting letter from Joss Whedon on developments, this from the always informative United Hollywood blog.

http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/12/
joss-whedon-looks-into-crystal-ball.html

The United site also has a FAQ letter sent out by the WGA negotiators in response to the AMPTP offer that was presented last Thursday. Give that a read to see why an offer sometimes doesn't feel like much of an offer at all...

FInally, one other "silver lining" to this otherwise unfortunate situation is learning about other writers. Who knew, for instance, that the fellow who wrote BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK (one of my favorite movies) also created MR. MAGOO (!). Millard Kaufman, take a bow!