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!

WGA Strike - Day 26

No picketing today, and since it's pouring rain in Los Angeles maybe that's a good thing. The blackout on official strike news was finally lifted last night and the news on the negotiating front was not great, but then expectations of a quick resolution were probably unrealistic from the start. Hank Steinberg, creator of WITHOUT A TRACE, sent out an excellent open letter that I've reprinted below. We live in interesting times, indeed!

FROM HANK:

To my fellow writers,

I'm sure tonight's email from the Writer's Guild was a
tad disheartening, particularly after expectations
were raised this week that we would be close to making
a deal and that the studios were prepared to make
substantial concessions.

I spoke to a member of the Negotiating Committee
tonight to get more enlightened myself as to what the
hell happened: what was the disconnect between the
rumors and expectations and the dismal results of this
week?

The answer, apparently, is that this is precisely the
studios' strategy: raise expectations through
disinformation in the media and elsewhere, get us
feeling comfortable, get us psychologically used to
the idea that the strike will end, and then dash those
hopes. This is essentially what they did on november
4th and they are trying to do it again. That is why
they leaked the news to nicky fink on monday that the
deal was essentially done. If we go soft and get
comfortable, the thinking goes, we'll end up accepting
a shitty deal. Apparently, this strategy has worked
for them in the past but we can't let it work now.

As long as we understand what they are doing and why
they are doing it, we should not be disheartened. The
studios' real mandate is to close this deal by mid to
late december to get the tv season back on track in
january and to save their pilot season. They have no
urgency right at this moment to resolve this. Their
coming back to the table now was part of a p.r.
mislead and was actually meant to raise our hopes,
then thwart them as a means of psychological warfare.
To wear us down. They will, in fact, probably not
negotiate for real until closer to their mid-december
deadline and in the meantime will try to work on our
collective resolve.

So although the idea of picketing for a couple of more
weeks doesn't sound particularly glamorous to any of
us, we're still in good shape to make a fair deal and
we shouldn't allow their tactics to dampen our spirits
or forget what it is we're striking over in the first
place. They need to make a deal, they will make a
deal, they just want to gauge us as much as they can.
I thought it enormously helpful to understand where
they are coming from and hope it will help you too.

The leadership understands that an informed
constituency is a motivated constituency and members
of the leadership and negotiating committee will be
out on the picket lines on monday to elucidate some of
this and to answer questions, but no reason to churn
and stew all weekend til then.

So rest up this weekend and don't despair.

And by all means, feel free to forward this email to
any of our brethren.

We're all in this together!

Hank

WGA Strike - Day 25 (early report)

Yes, I'm posting at 5:00AM, if it's Thursday it's time for another early morning of picketing. And coffee... a LOT of coffee...

Odds and ends. First, here's a pretty funny video telling the "AMPTP's" side of the story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF7b-5xFDJE

Now, you're probably asking yourself, "Mark, what do you listen to this early to get yourself revved up and ready for duty?" Here is a small list of today's favorite car tunes:

Dexy's Midnight Runners/"BBC Radio One Live", a small label release from 1995, this is a great live show by the Dexy's at their peak.

Robert Gordon/"Reunion 2005." Gordon's manager has released a series of limited edition live shows from throughout Gordon's career, and if you're into rockabilly you'll want every one. Check out www.robertgordon.dk for the details...

Squeeze/Extra tracks from 2007 tour. Five live tracks, complimentary to the new live CD, are available for download from officialsqueeze.com. Including a nice, 8 minute-plus version of "Black Coffee In Bed", a personal favorite... especially on mornings like this...

WGA Strike - Day 24 + this is post #300 (!)

No weather report or reports of any kind today, since I'm under the weather and trying to recuperate. I suspect my comrades on the Barham gate soldiered on despite my infirmity, and with any luck I'll be back out with them for day #25. Meanwhile, rumors continue to abound about settlements close and yet so far; the scattered reports provide fodder to discuss on the line but otherwise don't mean much.

In other news, this is indeed my 300th posting on this blog. Who could have imagined? If I felt better I'd expound even further, but I'm afraid this is the special "man down! Bring the bloodstopper!" edition of FMVOF. FYI, "Bloodstopper" is nasty medical powder that will be featured in an upcoming season-four episode of BATTLESTAR. Evidently it's something you pour into bad wounds to quickly cauterize the area; i.e., it burns like an S.O.B. This lovely bit courtesy the diabolical medical/military mind of BSG writer/producer Bradley Thompson. Now, whenever someone on staff is feeling sick, the call goes out for "bloodstopper! More bloodstopper!"

Though I don't think it would have much effect on my sore throat, so back off, Bradley!

WGA Strike - Day 23

Another early morning on the picket line. I almost feel like doing a weather report these days, since I'm seeing more of it than usual as I trudge the Barham gate. Enthusiasm continues to be high, rumors continue to fly, and that's about that for strike news. Info gets a little sparse when there's a news blackout on all sides.

On other fronts, the reviews for RAZOR continue to come in and I'm waiting for someone to do the cliche Sally Field riff, "you like us, you really like us!" Fingers remain crossed that the WGA will be able to come to terms with the AMPTP and we can finish BSG as intended, with 20 more episodes for season four.

New SQUEEZE!

As in the English rock band, popular in the late 70's and 80's, recently reunited for a tour. Songwriters/singers Difford and Tilbrook have been faves around here since their first album, and so anything unleashed from these folks is welcome indeed.

First up, a new live disc, "Five Live", featuring performances from their 2007 tour. Sound quality is exquisite, performances are great and if you like Squeeze, you're probably already trying to find it. (I got mine from www.glenntilbrook.com, but I believe Amazon UK also has it on sale).

Next, Tilbrook's releasing the second in a series of five (!) discs of demos. The first bunch, "The Past Has Been Bottled", was from the 80's, the next one is going to be from the early 90's. Don't have this in my greedy paws yet, but if the first release is any indication, it'll be a must-have item.

Finally, and definitely least but what the heck, the entire Squeeze catalog has been reissued in Japan in paper sleeves, as in identical reproductions of the original vinyl LP sleeves. Nothing new about that, there are hundreds of these paper sleeve reissues available for an incredible array of bands (Rubinoos? Rachel Sweet? Raspberries? Check!), but I admire the anal retentiveness of this particular release. The album "Cool For Cats" was original released in five different colored jackets, and the Japanese reissue actually comes with all five sleeves (though just one disc). I guess I just love that someone's actually more obsessive than me when it comes to this stuff!

WGA Strike - Days 20, 21, 22

We're in the middle of day #22, but I've completed my early morning picket duty, and besides, the news of the day is that a settlement is imminent. Or so says Nikke Finke in today's Deadline Hollywood column. Ms. Finke is careful to caveat the report, but she's been pretty good at reading the tea leaves so far, so... I guess we'll see. My idea of a great Christmas present would be a resolution of the strike and, oh, a nice bottle of Hirsch Rye Whiskey. In that order.

We had quite a crowd at this morning's strike line, despite this being week four and some expectation (in "some" quarters) that folks might start peeling off. I don't get that sense at all, in fact, all signs point to the contrary. I'm seeing new faces on the line all the time, and our resolve remains steady.

Boy, it gets cold in the Valley at 6:00AM, but on the other hand there is a beautiful sunrise coming, and NO TRAFFIC (on the way out).

Going back was another story, since I was caught in the middle of a high speed car chase on my way home. Apparently some carjacking lunatic was going 120MPH (!) down the 101 freeway. He passed me, tailed by a caravan of police cars, then evidently took an exit and doubled around, because I saw him backtracking in the opposing lanes a few moments later. I was just mad I couldn't get home and watch it on teevee (talk about a guilty pleasure!), but I guess the lunatic wrecked his car going over some sort of barrier, took off on foot and was grabbed by the cops. A happy ending!

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - "Razor"

It's been awhile since I've been able to announce a new episode of BSG, and it's going to be awhile before I can do it again, so...

RAZOR. A double-length slice of BSG history, dealing with the Pegasus, Admiral Cain, young Adama and a significant piece of Cylon history.

I've seen both the television cut and the DVD cut, and it's interesting how the same story plays out slightly differently between the two. The shorter TV version moves a little faster, naturally, and gets you where you want to go. The DVD version, due out Dec. 4, is uncut and unrated and features close to 20 minutes of extra footage, giving the story more scope and featuring scenes with folks unseen in the TV cut, including (for instance) a moment with our good friend Baltar and his ephemeral buddy Number Six.

RAZOR'S also chock full of space battles and combat action, so if you've been pining for that, sit back and enjoy.

It's running Nov. 24 on Sci-Fi Channel and probably multiple times after that, and again the DVD will be available on Dec. 4. Check it out!

WGA Strike - Days 16,17,18,19 + BRUCE CAMPBELL!

I'm spending the week in my hometown of Portland Oregon, usually rainy and cold but this year sunny and REALLY cold. I'm sorry I missed Tuesday's big WGA rally on Hollywood Blvd., which from the photos looked like quite an event, but I'll be back on the picket line bright and early Monday morning.

Most of this trip has been spent with family, but I did spend an afternoon with my friends at Dark Horse Comics and Bruce Campbell, who was up to review some MY NAME IS BRUCE stuff. We discussed everything EXCEPT the BRUCE sequel, since I'm on strike, yes, even against MY NAME IS BRUCE LTD., and can't mull new projects until this mess is resolved. Oh well.

For what it's worth, plans are still afoot to get the first BRUCE epic out in the Summer of 2008. There has been some consternation about how long it's taking to get the picture finished, but welcome to the world of indie filmmaking. Bruce likes to say indie films aren't released, they escape, and that's pretty much the story here.

I did take another look at the soon to be released EVIL DEAD comic pages, and once again I was dazzled by John Bolton's amazing art. This book is finished, done, complete, ready to go, so there will be no delays or late issues... a miracle!

WGA Strike - Days 13, 14 & 15

I can post at 6:00AM on day 15 because I'm away from my picketing post as well as the State of California, dealing with family business and medical emergencies. And also because, with negotiations looming next week, there really isn't a lot to say. I doff my chapeau to my friends on the line today and tomorrow, and, honestly, wish I could be there as opposed to dealing with these other travails.

It's becoming almost a strike cliche to say this, but I've met more writers in the last two weeks than I have in my entire 20 year career, and if there is any silver lining to an otherwise extremely unfortunate situation (nobody likes being out of work, and nobody likes putting anyone else out of work), it's been that. There's nothing like walking in circles in a bright red shirt at 6:00 in the morning to bring people together.

In other, free associative news, I think I forgot how difficult it can be traveling around the holidays. Difficult, of course, is relative, but massive lines and traffic jams definitely = consternation. I'm beginning to think they should stagger holidays, last names A-M get Thankgiving on the second Thursday in November, names from N-Z get the third Thursday. Might be a little complicated with larger families, but that's a small price to pay.

WGA Strike - Day 12 STOP THE PRESSES

Excellent news from the WGA and the AMPTP, they're going back to the negotiating table on Nov. 26. Let's hope a fair deal can be made and everyone can get back to doing what they love, which in the case of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA will mean getting back into the writer's room and finishing up season four!

WGA Strike - Day 12

Somehow the reporter on KNBC thinks the strike's been going on for 17 days, but no, it's just 12, though that's long enough. Looks like the John Edwards appearance at NBC was a hit, and I'm hearing reports that a lot of fans braved traffic to join the BSG writers. I'm sorry I missed it, but I hope a good time was had by all. Well, as good a time as possible given the circumstances.

Nothing much else to say or report, except to cross the fingers and hope both sides get back to the table soon...

Springsteen, Anaheim, April 2008

Good news for fans of Mr. Springsteen, he's taking another swing through the southland next year. Having seen every tour since (gasp) 1978, I will definitely try to make this next stop, which I think is at a venue that used to be called "the Pond."

Meanwhile, Springsteen's official site has posted some great videos from the current tour. Unfortunately you don't get the complete song, but it whets the whistle AND gives me hope that there are plans afoot to release some sort of official document (DVD, CD, 8 track, I don't care) from the Magic tour.

http://brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html

WGA Strike - Day 11

Another glorious early morning picket at the Barham gate behind Universal. Sure is pretty out at 5:30AM... and MUCH cooler. We've been walking over a peculiar burn-mark in the pavement most of this week... evidently an SUV (as opposed to an SVU, whose writers have been marching with BSG since the beginning) caught fire at that very spot one evening earlier this week. Perhaps scorched by the residual fury of the writers?

Big news is tomorrow (Friday), of course. It is an unofficial "fan day," and here is the poop as best I know it... BSG fans can meet with the writers at the big Universal sign on Lankershim, the one on Lankershim that marks the entrance to City Walk. (There's no gate #). Last I checked, the staff will be marching from 10:00AM to Noon or so, but that's been a little fluid, some may be there a little earlier.

You won't be meeting me, unfortunately, because I have a prior personal committment, but I'll be there in spirit. Hopefully no more cars will erupt in flame, either. Give my peeps a shout-out!

WGA Strike - Day 10

Nothing much to report from the picket line, except boy, that's right, NOW I remember -- we're in the Valley, as in "hot."

The big news is what's coming up for Friday. Here's the straight dope as of this evening: folks/fans interested in joining us should come to Universal Studios, Gate #2, which is on Lankershim Blvd. Walk with us from 9:00AM to 11:00AM, then there will be a rally at Noon. There is also a chance that Presidential candidate John Edwards will come by sometime in the afternoon on Friday... more news as it develops!

Also, fans might want to check out fans4writers.com, a site that's devoted to fans and shows and all that fun stuff. Thanks to Terry Moore for the info!

In some fun non-strike news, we had a special private screening of the DVD version of RAZOR, the upcoming BSG film, this evening. It was a stunning high def presentation, a total knock-out. The TV version is great, but the uncut DVD version is really something. Coming VERY soon to DVD stores near you!

Excellent Story On The WGA Strike

One of the better pieces I've seen, from today's Los Angeles Times...

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/
la-et-bigpicture13nov13,1,3048316.story

WGA Strike - Day 9

Another day, another early morning of picketing. Contrary to most expectations, our group has been gaining more people day by day, and today we had the biggest turn out ever. Besides writers, there were fans, folks from the NY Film Academy and people from SAG (hi there, Jerry O'Connell) and the DGA. This, I believe, is what they call "solidarity." It's a great bunch of people, and hey, more are always welcome!

Afterward, Jane Espenson, David Weddle, Shamus Fahey and yours truly did an video interview for the Canadian Space Channel, which has been a great supporter of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA through the years. I'll post here when the interview goes up on the Space Channel site. You can see three sweaty writers and the ever cool Jane Espenson chat about the strike, BATTLESTAR and "etc."

And finally, I should have definitive times and places for the big "fan day" gathering this Friday very soon, it's still being figured and plotted and planned, but if you pencil in 11:30AM to 1:00 or 2:00 PM, you'll probably be in good shape.

I'm still a little fuzzy today, catching up after driving to Ventura Monday night for an audience screening of the BSG RAZOR movie. The crowd seemed to have a good time, and it was nice to have a vivid reminder of why we love what we do. If you didn't catch RAZOR on the big screen, remember to watch the Sci-Fi Channel on Friday 11/24...

What They REALLY Think About Internet

Check out this short video and maybe you'll understand the frustration of negotiating with folks who claim they need a three year study to better understand the internet before considering a deal with the WGA...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a37uqd5vTw

WGA Strike - Day 8

I can post even earlier than usual because I was on a picket line even earlier than usual, 6AM to 10AM. There's still a lot of press (our line was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight, KNBC and CNBC) and much frenzied honking from passing motorists. Our strike Captain, Mick, is an amazing force of nature who keeps our spirits up with his incredible enthusiasm, but we're all motivated. And what a group, from seasoned feature writers to first-timers, staff writers to show-runners, and every step in between.

There's been some confusion about the upcoming "fan day", but it's definitely Friday and it's open to fans of ALL shows, not just BSG. More details as they become available, but keep Friday open! Meet the writers of some of your favorite shows! Watch them walk on aching feet!

WGA Strike - Day 7 Battlestar Edition!

We're hoping to gather up as many devoted BSG fans as possible to join us on the picket line THIS FRIDAY, 11/16. Time, studio and gate to be announced, but most likely outside NBC/Universal. If you're a fan of the show and you'd like to show your support (and maybe add a wee more pressure so we can get back to work and finish the final season!), start making plans now!

WGA Strike - Day 6

First, an interesting article from Media Life Magazine...

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/
Television_44/Four_days_in_strike_tilts_to_the_writers.asp

Second, a link to Mark Evanier's site and a three minute clip of a remarkable mini-speech that was given at the big Thursday summit meeting just before the strike. A writer named Howard Gould, a self-professed moderate, totally nailed the issues at hand and I remember getting that "yeah, that's right!" feeling as he wrapped up. I wasn't alone, since as Mark notes Mr. Gould got a standing ovation from the writers still in attendance. Well worth a listen.

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_11_10.html#014339

Once you check Mark's site, read on for his other strike commentary. I've had the same experience that he has; people I never, ever expected to see backing a strike or marching on a picket line have picked up the mantle this time. There is an issue of flat-out unfairness in the studio stance that has trumped the usual, vocal trepidation over taking it to the streets.

WGA Strike - Day 5

Well, THAT was something. 4000 writers converged on Fox this morning, and the street was red with... shirts and signs and passion and all that good stuff. After a few probably interesting speeches and musical performances (I was too far back to hear much of anything), suddenly there was a loud "NOW LET'S MARCH" and brother, we marched. I ran into a lot of friends (old and new, amazing how fast you bond with your picket partners!) and was sort of amazed that 4000 of us could get together and do much of anything as one.

Bottom line? We're not going away. So I end with my customary plea, could we PLEASE get back to the negotiating table and make nice?

Why A WGA Strike?

The WGA's put together a good, short video that explains it all...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk

Battlestar Galactica - RAZOR In Theaters!

Just a reminder that BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's two episode epic "Razor" will be getting a one night only theatrical showing at theaters across the country NEXT MONDAY, 11/12. I'm trying to attend the showing in Ventura California, so if you see a big guy with sore feet from picketing, that's me!

WGA Strike - Day 4

Another day, more picketing. The cast from THE OFFICE stopped by our site, so a hale and hearty THANK YOU to them. I got my picture taken with Creed, which some felt only appropriate. I wonder what they're trying to tell me?

Our numbers continue to grow day by day, as we're joined by more writers, friends, family and fans. Enthusiasm remains high while my feet remain sore, but so it goes...

Not much else to say, except to reiterate that I'm proud to be a member of the Writer's Guild, and continue to hope for a quick, fair resolution so I can toss the Dr. Scholls and go back to work!

WGA Strike - Day 3

Another day, another fun filled picket at Universal Studios. The weather continues to cooperate, even if the feet are getting sore and cranky. The sun came out sooner than the last two days, but there was a nice breeze.

Today we had semi-permanent traffic police assigned to our corner(s), all of whom who were very nice and frankly welcome. Again, the vast, vast majority of passing cars and trucks honked and waved and gave us thumbs-up signs (sorry, Mr. Ebert), there was a lot of noise and traffic at our location. Universal security came out in force (well, three guys) at one point, but I'm not sure what that was about and we just kept marching.

No real rumors tore through the line today, just more of the same. A trio of CAA agents dropped by with much appreciated water, and a couple of struggling-to-be writers came by with chow and intend to join us tomorrow in solidarity. Thanks to all of them, sincerely, every ounce of support is appreciated. By the way, ANYONE can join us if you support the writers, walk for an hour or stay through an entire shift, come on down!

There continues to be this assumption that all the writers in the Guild are super rich and spoiled and etc., but the truth is writing is a mercurial business where you can have one good year and then three bad ones. It is not a regular pay day, which is why residuals (for reruns on the air, DVD and internet) are so important. They sustain a lot of writers through the lean years.

And I'll end with my constant refrain -- I urge the WGA leadership and the AMPTP folks to get back to the table as soon as possible and start hammering out a deal that's fair to both sides.

WGA Strike - Day Two

Another fine day picketing outside Universal Studios. Different location, MUCH bigger reaction, 99.9% positive from passing cars and traffic. Much honking, noise, shouts of encouragement. In fact, the only overt anti-strike sentiment was expressed by some asshole wearing a halloween skull mask as he (I think it was a "he") drove by in a Universal truck flipping us off. So it appears the hellspawn Ghost Rider a), works for Universal and b), has a problem with the Writer's strike.

Went to a nearby restaurant afterward, where we bumped into John Stamos and Maura Tierney, both of whom said they would be joining us on the picket line in the afternoon. Big thanks to them, we need all the help we can get!

Nothing new to report in terms of negotiations, but I continue to hope that the WGA and the AMPTP get back in a room together and get back to finding a solution that works. Until then, "Writers United, Never Divided!"

WGA Strike - Day One

Okay, so it's still mid-day, but I've finished my shift on the picket line, so... it's update time! The entire BATTLESTAR staff worked corners outside Universal Studios, covering a gate a little off the beaten track, but that's okay. Lots of folks honked in solidarity, and a few of Jane Espensen's fans dropped by in support, which was great.

A very friendly policeman dropped by to give us some instruction on how to handle ourselves and to ask if we had had any problems, since a picketer at the Sunset/Gower lot suffered a broken leg after being hit by a car. We didn't have any problems like that, but we were certainly being scrutinized by Universal security.

No celebs at our location, no cameras and no shade. At least the weather cooperated today, it was cloudy until almost Noon and temperatures were mildish.

Not a lot more to say. I hope this isn't a "long haul" situation, and a contract agreement can be reached ASAP, but we are definitely in it for the long haul, if that's what it takes.

Strike Prep Day 0

Barring a miracle of negotiation, WGA writers are hitting the picket lines Monday in full force. I have my red shirt (STAR TREK humor is NOT appreciated), my comfy shoes and perhaps most importantly, a sense that we as a union have that mysterious alchemic ingrediant called "resolve" in spades. I will try to post something every day as the strike goes on, sort of a running journal on these complicated and unsettling times...

Apocalypse End Times Have Arrived

The Sex Pistols performed "Anarchy In The U.K." on the Jay Leno show last week...

Strike One...

As everyone pretty much expected in the wake of the big WGA membership meeting Thursday night, the WGA strike has been called for 12:01AM Monday 11/5. Personal belongings have been packed up, the last bits of work turned in, and now...

Well, now it's time for both sides to try and make a deal. The posturing continues (new drinking game, take a shot every time Nick Counter with the producers/studios calls the WGA "reckless"), but it would be nice to see that end and some actual negotiating begin. Negotiating that doesn't start with "take it or leave it", since obviously at this juncture the writers have decided to leave it.

Oh, and I guess you can expect more blog entries. I've got the time!

WGA, Strikes and "etc."

Guess I'll be able to remove the modifier "potential" when discussing the WGA strike pretty soon. I attended last night's gathering at the L.A. Convention Center, and all signs point toward a walk-out, possibly as early as Monday 11/5. We'll know by mid-afternoon today (11/2)...

Walk-out means walk-out. Shows will stop being written, production will stop soon after, and picket lines will be established.

I've been in the WGA for 17 years, having joined just after the long 1988 strike, so I've seen calls for strikes before, but I have to say, this feels different. There is a real solidarity out there, mostly because we all know how much this negotiation will impact our future. We really need to have some realistic payment structure for internet, webisodes and etc., because that's where the market is going. And our backs are up because we got burned back in '85/'88 by taking a lowball "we need time to study this!" number on home video. (Incidentally, that's no slam on the folks who agreed to that deal back in '85/'88, they paid quite a price to get what they did.)

Now that a strike looks inevitable, my new hope is that it is over quickly and we can all get back to work, not necessarily with big happy smiles, but with a new deal in place that addresses the future of this business...

HOSTEL 1 and 2, Alternate Ending... SPOILERS!!

Maybe it's my grim mood recently, but I recently watched the DVDs of HOSTEL and HOSTEL 2. Reviews can come later, but the new double-dip version of the first HOSTEL film features an entirely different ending, one director Eli Roth shot but later re-considered after some intervention by Quentin Tarantino (!). There are some

SPOILERS AHEAD!

DO NOT read on if you're trying to keep the twists and turns of the two movies to yourself.

HOSTEL the feature currently ends with the surviving victim coming across one of his torturers in a train station, following him into a bathroom and killing him. One thing that intrigued me about HOSTEL was that for all it's horrific violence, Roth opted for some version of "retribution" in the end. The tables get turned on the murderous, sadistic killers big time. Unlike so many hardcore horror movies (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE THE BEGINNING, anyone?), there is actually some redemptive comuppance for the evil-doers in HOSTEL, and I appreciated that.

The alternate ending, which is quite clever in a very sick psychological sense, is considerably less "audience friendly." In the alternate, our victim comes across one of his torturers in a train station, just as the torturer greets his young (six year old-ish) daughter. When dad and daughter split up to use the restroom, the daughter disappears and nasty Dad tries to find her, only to spot her in the clutches of our torture victim as they choo-choo away from the station on a train. The clear and unsettling implication from the little girl's struggles is that our victim intends to do her harm, hence becoming as cruel and demented as the torturer himself.

Obviously, the moral triumph deriving from the original ending would have been significantly, umm, "muted", in this version. I'm frankly not sure which ending I prefer, but in terms of "audience pleasing" (if such a term can be applied to a movie that features a kid getting power-drilled), seeing the torturer get his just desserts up close and personal probably trumps the little girl version.

Continuing on the theme of survivors and redemption, HOSTEL 2 opens pretty much where the first movie left off, catching up with the last survivor. And while I think Part 2 has, in many ways, a more compelling story than the first, something happens here that really bugs me. Call it the FRIDAY THE 13th PART 2/ALIEN 3/MANIAC COP 2 syndrome -- it's where the filmmakers wrap up the story from the last film by offing the last "survivor." What bugs me about this story-telling device is that it completely negates whatever sense of triumph the audience may have realized from the earlier chapter's resolution. So our victim survived the horrors of a torture chamber, so what? In HOSTEL 2, the bad guys track him down and take his cabeza off with a chainsaw anyway.

ALIEN 3 opens with virtually all the survivors from Cameron's brilliant ALIENS getting killed off camera. MANIAC COP 2 has the audacity to off Bruce Campbell's character (the BASTARDS), and FRIDAY 2 dispenses with the only survivors of Momma Jason's rampage in a jiffy. Guess it's just a pet peeve of mine, but can't we just leave some of these poor, troubled survivors alone?

More WGA Strike Stuff

As usual, Mr. Evanier interprets the latest machinations between the WGA and the studios better than I ever could...

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_10_31.html#014277

Various WGA Strike Related Sites Of Interest

As I write this, it's still a "potential" strike, but even playing the eternal optimist, I have to say things ain't looking good. Here are a couple places I go to keep up with the latest:

http://unitedhollywood.com/ This is a blog formed by WGA strike captains, I believe, to discuss the latest state of the state.

http://newsfromme.com Mark Evanier's site, where he has been doing a running commentary on the situation from the perspective who someone who was intimately involved in the 1985/'88 negotiations and strike.