Archive for March, 2018

OOPS! / THANKS / MPS MEETING / COMMENTARY / EVENTS

Friday, March 30th, 2018

3/30/18

I. OOPS!
II. WHO DO WE THANK?
III. RESCHEDULED MPS MEETING THIS COMING WEEK!
IV. MEMBER COMMENTARY

V. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer

’

…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician

…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician

…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

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

I. OOPS!
We’ll bet the buyer of the union hall didn’t count on this!
So much for those big plans for that land.
Heard of a “Pig in a Poke?”
————–
Musicians Union Hall in Hollywood

Given Local Monument Status
Posted by Contributing Editor

on March 23, 2018 in Hollywood |

Leave a response

 

The Los Angeles City Council Friday voted to add the Musicians
Union Hall in Hollywood to the city’s list of historic-cultural monuments.

The Musicians Union Hall at 817 Vine St. was built in 1950 and was
one of the final commissions of architect Gordon B. Kaufmann
before his death in 1949. It was nominated for monument
status by Hollywood Heritage.

“Hollywood is a neighborhood deeply rooted in the entertainment
industry, rich in landmarks and historic resources that help paint
a picture of our past as well as a look to our future of film and
television production,” said Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, who
represents the Hollywood area. “I was thrilled to work on this
application with owner Lincoln Property Company and the
applicant Hollywood Heritage. The collaboration will help
preserve a bit of Hollywood history for generations to come.”

Until July 2017, the hall served as a clubhouse and organization
headquarters for the Musicians Union Local 47, now known as
the American Federation of Musicians Local 47.
Kaufmann was the architect who designed the Greystone
Mansion in Beverly Hills, a 1930s-era section of the Los
Angeles Times complex, the Earl Carroll Theater and the
Palladium.

The council’s 11-0 vote found that the hall qualified for
monument status for multiple reasons, including that it
is an example of Corporate International style architecture
in Hollywood. The union was also the first local musicians
union in the United States to desegregate, and the building
was where tens of thousands of musicians paid their dues
over the years.

Lincoln Property is currently securing tenants for the building,
and the space will be used for studio and creative office uses,
O’Farrell’s office said. Lincoln Property is also constructing a
three-story, 52,477-square-feet office building neighboring
the Musicians Union Hall to the north.

https://tinyurl.com/y75mfk2g

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

II. WHO DO WE THANK?
So who really started the process of making
the Vine Street building a Local Monument site?
Who brought it to the attention of the city?
One we can certainly thank is Helen Crosby.
The other is Susan Winsberg, who gave a very
effective and influential presentation to the
Los Angeles City Council.

BRAVA!

Here is the letter that most likely started the process.
Re: Proposed Sale of Musicians Union/ Musicians Club
building and property-Vine street and Lillian Way,
Hollywood, CA 90038

You and/or your organization are receiving a copy
of the enclosed Letter of Concern regarding the
proposed sale of the real estate property owned
by the Musicians Club of Los Angeles, a 501 ( c)
2. The property is held for the benefit of the parent
organization, Professional Musicians Union of
Hollywood, Local 47 AFM, a 501 ( c) 5.

One or more of the issues contained in the
Letter of Concern may also be of concern
to you and/or your organization.

Excerpts from a Letter of Concern: Dated November 9, 2015

LETTER OF CONCERN

This letter is being written to communicate to those interested
parties of clear opposition to the decision of the Executive
Board of the Musicians Club/Local 47 to sell the real estate
property owned in Hollywood, CA. Approval of the sale
must be obtained from the membership by referendum.

Contrary to the proposal of the elected officials, there is
deep concern among the rank-and-file that 1) the membership
strongly disagree with the sale of the union hall, which is a
Hollywood “mid-century” landmark and our historic home;
and 2) the membership has been systematically kept from
engaging in regular membership meetings where concrete
action might be taken; and 3) the timeline for the process
of the sale of the properties has been manipulated to frustrate
any debate; and 4) the Local 47 officers, who have been
working towards the sale of this real estate for six months
before making the membership aware of the proposal, are
now using every tool at their disposal, including the official
newspaper, phone banks and staff personnel, to influence
the outcome of the vote on the issue.

Simply put, there is a consensus outside the administration
by the few who have been able to engage in discourse, that
the elected officers are seeking a quick fix to a long term
problem, i.e. the decrease in revenue to the local. Simply
put, we are being hustled and muscled out of our historic
home without consideration of alternatives to being divested
of a wholly owned facility.

Cc: Professional Musicians’ Union/Club-Local 47
Executive Board: Gary Lasley, Secretary-Treasurer;
International Executive Board-American Federation
of Musicians: Sam Folio, Secretary-Treasurer, AFM;
Los Angeles Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO: Rusty
Hicks, Executive Secretary-Treasurer; U.S. Department
of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards:
Ed Oquendo, Director; Los Angeles Times: Paul
Pringle, Reporter; Hollywood Reporter: Business;
Variety: Joseph Meehan, Features; LA Weekly:
Mara Shalhoup, Editor; Los Angeles Heritage
Commission: Richard Barron, AIA, et.al.; Hollywood
Heritage: Bryan Cooper, President; Los Angeles
Conservancy: Linda Dishman, President/CEO;
Committee for a Responsible 47.com

 

POSTSCRIPT

On March 23, 2018, the Los Angeles City Council
unanimously approved the former headquarters of
Local 47 Musicians Union Hall as a Historic Cultural
Monument.

We would like to thank the efforts of Hollywood
Heritage, Los Angeles Cultural Commission,
Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, and Local
47 Members Helen Crosby and Susan Winsberg.

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

III. RESCHEDULED MPS MEETING THIS COMING WEEK!
MUSICIANS FOR PENSION SECURITY
Wednesday, April 4th
MPS National Meeting Reminder
Next Week!

Nationwide Meeting for all AFM Musicians
Wednesday April 4, 2018 at 5pm
St. Malachy’s Church
239 W 49th St, New York, NY

Come and hear the experts on our team:

Thanks to your contributions, our
independent actuary Tom Lowman,
has finished his analysis and will
present his findings and give his
recommendations for the AFM-EPF.

You will also hear from Jonathan
Kantor, our legal counsel, who will
explain the process that our trustees
must follow in order to obtain cuts
to our pensions, together with legal
options that they — and we — have.

If you haven’t already, please click here to RSVP

It is critical that all AFM members make
every effort to attend this meeting. If you
cannot attend, join us via Facebook LIVE
on the MPS Facebook page. Your attendance
at the MPS National meeting will help to give
you a better understanding of what is happening
to our pension and the solutions we think will
make a difference.

 

LIVE STREAMING ON FACEBOOK
Streaming will start 5 pm EDT. Go to our
Facebook page here. Click follow and opt-in
to receive notifications when we go live. Due
to time constraints, we will not be able to
answer questions posted to Facebook
during the meeting. Please send all questions
to [email protected].
We will get back to you ASAP.

REMINDER: FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
Twitter has become a popular tool with politicians.
In future calls to action, we can use it to
message them directly. Go to our Twitter
page here and click FOLLOW.

Who is MPS? Click HERE.

What is MPRA? Click HERE.

In solidarity,
Musicians for Pension Security

 

Stay informed with MPS. Join our mailing list here.

 

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

IV. MEMBER COMMENTARY

RMALA 30 years late, when most of what they
profited from is gone they just now are bringing
this to Musicians attention?

When they have time on their hands they’re
forced to look around and find out how much
they lost. And caused to be lost.

Last weekend brought the 2018
UCLA Entertainment Symposium –
and a focus on streaming.

Streamers’ Spending Spree the Talk of UCLA
Entertainment Symposium is the title of a great
article by Jonathan Handel, One key excerpt
demonstrates how far music and musicians
have been left behind in this new “Golden Age
of Television”:  That loot has enabled SVOD
services to spend $5 million to $7 million per
hour-long episode, significantly greater
than the $3 million to $5 million that
networks spend…”

Here some links for more information:
Tom Wolzien, media analyst: http://www.wolzien.com/
Jonathan Handel, entertainment law and journalist: http://www.jhandel.com/

 

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

V. EVENTS

DEAN AND RICHARD 
are now at Culver City Elks

the first 
Friday of 
every month.

 7:30pm-10:30pm,

11160 Washington Pl.
 Culver City, 90232

310-839-8891

———————————————————————————
4/3/18

The BBB featuring Bernie Dresel
(13 horns, guitar, slap bass, and plenty of drums!)
THIS TUESDAY April 3 4/3 21 and older
from 8:30pm-11:00pm
at Joe’s Great American Bar & Grill
NO COVER CHARGE!! No reservations necessary!!
4311 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505

We are ready to jump into the studio and record all new tunes for our upcoming 2nd album!
So come check out the new arrangements this April 3 while they are hot off the presses and ready to go!!!

Our debut album Live N’ Bernin’ is still available at this show and:

Cd at Amazon.com & CDBaby.com
Blu-ray audio 96k/24bit (stereo/5.1 surround/9.1 Auro-3D surround)
at Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, & ElusiveDisc.com
Vinyl double 180 gram at Amazon.com & ElusiveDisc.com

Reel-to-reel tape double audiophile 15 ips at TapeProject.com
Downloads at iTunes, Amazon.com, & CDBaby.com

——————————————-
4/4/18
FREE GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS
BRENDAN WHITE Piano Recital
Works by SORABJI & DEBUSSY.

http://glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com

Thank you!
Jacqueline Suzuki
Curator, Glendale Noon Concerts
818 249-5108

——————————————-

4/11/18
Coming to Vibrato April 11th @ 7:30pm
The Fabulous Grammy Nominated
 PHIL NORMAN TENTET 
reminiscent of the refreshing sounds of
West Coast Jazz.x
Los Angeles, CA.90077
Resevations call 310-474-9400
Click here to visit Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz
PLAYING THE MUSIC OF 
Rogers & Hart, George Shearing, Benny Goodman,
Hank Mancini, Debussy, Joseph Kosma, Billy Strayhorn, Jimmy Forrest, Stanley Turrentine
Bob Nolan and others.
—————————————-
4/20/18

Sanford Hinderlie and Tom van der Geld in concert!
Friday, April 20, 7:30 p.m
Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall
Loyola’s main campus
Admission is free
Coming back to New Orleans after several concerts in Europe this year
Sanford Hinderlie and Tom van der Geld perform a jazz duo concert for piano
and vibraphone. Tom and Sandy are performing original compositions, both
new and from the 40+ years each has contributed to the world of jazz.
This concert is sponsored in part by the State of Louisiana Board of Regents Support Funds
for Louisiana Artists and Scholars (ATLAS)

 

—————————-

The Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at the Seattle Film Institute
is now accepting applications for the one-year
Master of Music in Film Composition
One of the Top 4 Film Music Programs in the World!
Recently rated as the #4 school in the world for film
scoring education by Music School Central.
“in just one year, the school places students into a
pressure cooker of intense learning resulting in a
professional demo reel that can be used to obtain
future paid commercial opportunities.”

Learn from Industry Professionals
All PNWFS faculty are active professional film and
game composers, orchestrators, copyists, and
engineers, including the program’s creator and
lead instructor Dr. Hummie Mann.  Hummie is the
two-time Emmy Award winning film composer of
“Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and featured in
Variety Magazine’s article “Leaders in Learning”.
Our Program Features:
• 9 live recording sessions with professional
musicians at Studio X, Seattle’s premiere, world-class studio.

• Opportunities to work with student directors
to score actual films from film programs all
over the world.
• Training in all major software programs used
in the industry.
• A state-of-the-art workstation assigned to
each student fully installed with the latest versions
of all software, sample libraries and plug-ins needed to complete the program.

Accelerated and Affordable
We are a one-year Master of Music in Film
Composition program which not only gives our
graduates the opportunity to enter the industry
and start their careers a year sooner than other
programs but saves them an entire year of living
expenses. In addition to our accelerated format
we also offer the most affordable tuition out of
competing programs. Our students have access
to FAFSA financial assistance, loans, and
scholarships as well.

History of Success
We are very proud to have a high success rate
for our graduates who have gone on to work on
television shows such as Castle, Empire, and Once
Upon a Time; video games such as World of Warcraft,
Spate, and Destiny; and films such as The Revenant,
Trolls, The Dark Tower, and Guardians of the Galaxy
Vol. 2. Apply now and you could be joining their ranks!
Applications are being accepted for the Fall 2018
school year.
We offer rolling admissions – no deadline to apply.

(800) 882-4734 | www.pnwfilmmusic.com

——————————————–

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

ABUSE STORY IN MEDIA / BOARD MOLE? / RIGHT THING / COMMENTS / EVENTS

Friday, March 23rd, 2018

3/23/18
I. MUSICIAN ABUSE STORY NOW IN THE MEDIA
II. A MOLE ON THE BOARD?
III. LOCAL DOES THE RIGHT THING (NO, REALLY)

IV. COMMENTS

V. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer

’

…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician

…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician

…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

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

 

I. BULLIED MUSICIAN GOES PUBLIC – from SLIPPED DISC website

Here is the full story in the media of the musician’s story – you
can also watch the video of her being harassed by Grayson.

Luanne Homzy, a gifted musician who was concertmaster at Colburn as a
student, says she has been bullied by AFM Local 47 in a case of mistaken
identity. The fight has cost Luanne $15,000.
Here’s her post:
In August of 2016, I found out through back channels that I was
being accused by AFM Local 47 for taking part in a non union
recording session at which I was not present, yet one month later,
I was formally charged by the AFM. Erick Cruz (whose back
you will see in this video – not able to look at me) made the
fraudulent claim that it was me in the photos he took of a
musician walking on a street with a violin case.

During the time between the leaking of the list of accused
musicians and officially charging me, Mr. Cruz was given
information that I was in a different county at the time,
yet he and his “colleagues” still went ahead with charging
me. As soon as I received the official charge in September
2016, my attorney, who I had made aware of the situation
when the information had been leaked to me in August
2016, replied with my phone location records and signed
receipts from the day and time of the alleged session.
However, as you will see in this video from late October
2016, Gordon Grayson (who was recently fired from the
Local) still hadn’t removed my charge, more than 2 months
after I had found out I was being falsely accused.

I have since spent over $15,000 defending myself against
the slanderous claims made about me and distributed with
intent by the Local, not to mention the harassment,
intimidation, false promises, and threats that would
follow. I was presented with an unlawful NDA by the
local in exchange for a public apology and reimbursement
of approximately 40% of my legal fees (which at the
time totalled to about 10K), yet if I were to breach the
agreement, I would owe the Local $10,000, and another
$20,000 if I breached it a second time. I refused to sign
such an agreement, so, tonight, I break my silence and
I ask for your solidarity as I take a stand for what is
right.

Keeping silent will only allow them to keep getting away
with their behavior and abuse of power, and I do not wish
upon anyone the mental, financial, and emotional misery
they have intentionally inflicted upon me. The Union
cannot continue to abuse its members when they should
be looking out for them. Shame on you Local 47.

I am not alone, and there are numerous accounts of this kind
of union thuggery. I’m collecting stories like mine for an
upcoming news feature, so please feel free to reach out to
me if you are (or someone you know is) interested in sharing
their story — my wish is that this will bring awareness and
ultimately put a stop to this kind of harassment.
(This is footage from my car’s dash cam, from October 2016
when I was accosted by union officials in the parking lot of
Local 47, after going in for help with filling out music prep
forms.)

[EC: Watch the video: You could fill a dumptruck with the
BS spewed by Grayson]

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

II. THE LOCAL BOARD HAS A MOLE?

Related comment from an anonymous source.
Executive board to issue a public statement
regarding the victim of “misidentification.
Plan is to discredit claims….admin in
shambles. Female board member PG breaking
executive session confidentiality to
colleagues and contractors attempting
to slam accuser.

Board used as puppet.

Watch what the local will do….
you heard it here first.

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

III. LOCAL DOES THE RIGHT THING

Message from Charles Fernandez:
After letters to the officers and much research
and evidence to back up my claim of double
charging, the Local chose to send me refund
check for my 2018 dues.

While this situation should never have happened,
I am grateful that someone at the Local saw that
they needed to do the right thing.

Would they have done the right thing if I had not
found another musician in virtually the same
situation that they refunded? Talk amongst
yourselves.

You know what they say, “Even an broken clock…”

This should serve as an example to members:
If you choose Fi-Core status and have recently
paid your annual dues, you must be re-imbursed
by either refund of dues OR transfer of membership
dues to the fi-core fee.

Charles Fernandez

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

IV. COMMENTS

At that Village session, union cronies
tried to sneak in 3 times posing as
workers, and have shown up at this
composers sessions several times.

[EC: Their conduct toward the composer
is illegal.

1) If he IS a union member, the union
cannot say squat about what they do.
There is no COMPOSERS wing of the union.
It’s truly none of their business what a
composer does.

Composing is not covered in any union
scale.

2) If he is NOT a union member, they
have even less to say about the situation.
It’s truly none of their business.

Either way, the Local is looking to
get themselves served with a class action
lawsuit from composers and conductors if
they don’t stop breaking the law and
back off.

Conductor? None of your business.
Composer? None of your business
Remember that Mr. Acosta.]

————————-

Hopefully, John and Eric will be fired over this.

————————-

We need to get rid of special payments,
they only benefit a few people.
The VP can’t tell members to play
non-union gigs and then bust them

————————-

From “TAKE BACK OUR LOCAL”

Feel free to TEXT MESSAGE your “President”
John Acosta and let him know what YOU THINK
about the job he is doing: 323-337-7631

————————-

I understand that unions need to represent
union work but… they are hiring
representatives that are second rate
which the 47 bored approves.

Cause those bored people think they
have a handle on it while pinching
pennies at incompetent personnel
hoping the problem will be clinched
in the end.

This is going to cost 47 some money.
We all know how musicians are viciously
taken out in La La Land behind close
doors without hearing the other side.

I found it interesting that they
sought her out in the parking
lot rather then in the building.

————————-

You seem to be expecting ethical conduct
from people who have been proven unethical.

————————-

At least keeping both payments for the whole
year should not be a policy…perhaps some kind
of pro-rate?  Do you think that they do this to
incentivize people from going if-core during any
given year…having to pay more to a union that
does everything it can to keep union work
confined to a few?

————————-

Interesting question….just what part of the
bylaws applies to the fi-core “members”?

EC: No part of the bylaws mention or apply to
financial core musicians}

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

V. EVENTS

DEAN AND RICHARD 
are now at Culver City Elks

the first 
Friday of 
every month.

7:30pm-10:30pm,

11160 Washington Pl.

Culver City, 90232

310-839-8891

——————————————————

HELIX COLLECTIVE COMPOSING OPPORTUNITY –

DEADLINE, MARCH 25TH!

Apply to have your original score performed live-to-
picture by Helix Collective at the 2018 Los Angeles
Live Score Film Festival! Apply with a link to your
video reel and a PDF score.
Application deadline: March 25, 2018
APPLY HERE
More info: www.lalsff.org
LASFF Trailer Video

The Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival features
short films with original scores performed live-to-
picture. The 2018 festival on Saturday, July 21st
at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre is presented by
Helix Collective in collaboration with the
Academy of Scoring Arts. Films for the 2018 festival
are curated by the faculty at the New York Film
Academy, Columbia College, Hollywood, and
the L.A. Film School.

Selected film composers are paired with a winning
filmmaker to create an original score for the festival.
The film is screened with the score performed live
by the renowned performance and recording ensemble,
Helix Collective. The screening includes an interview
with the filmmakers and composers. Awards for Best
Picture and Best Musical Score are presented at the
close of the festival.

Now in it’s fifth season, LALSFF’s goal is to highlight
the role of collaboration between composers and
filmmakers. Acting like a talent agent, the festival
brings experts in the two disciplines together. At the
screenings, filmmakers and composers hear and
see the work of new colleagues, meet new collaborators,
and establish working relationships with each other.

Helix Collective www.helixcollective.net


3/25/18
LA WINDS CONCERT THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 25TH
Stars of the LA Winds!

Come out and hear a concert featuring members of the
LA Winds as composers, arrangers and soloists!
Greg Anderson – Trumpet
Charles Fernandez – Arranger
Mark Marcus, Saxophone
Debbie MacMurray – Piccolo
Caryn Rasmussin – Saxophone
Andrea Vancura – Composer
Gabriel Velasco – Trumpet/Flugel

Join us afterwards for our Wine Tasting Reception! This
concert takes place at the Performing Arts Center of Agoura
High School with a No host post-concert reception at the
Boar Dough Tasting Room in Agoura.

Stars of the LA Winds | Wine Tasting Concert


4/4/18
FREE GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS
BRENDAN WHITE Piano Recital
Works by SORABJI & DEBUSSY.

http://glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com

Thank you!
Jacqueline Suzuki
Curator, Glendale Noon Concerts
818 249-5108


The Fabulous Grammy Nominated
 PHIL NORMAN TENTET

reminiscent of the refreshing sounds of
 West Coast Jazz.

x
Los Angeles, CA.90077

Resevations call 310-474-9400

Click here to visit Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz

PLAYING THE MUSIC OF 
Rogers & Hart, George Shearing,

Benny Goodman,
Hank Mancini, Debussy, Joseph Kosma,

Billy Strayhorn, Jimmy Forrest, Stanley Turrentine

Bob Nolan and others.


The Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at the Seattle Film Institute
is now accepting applications for the one-year
Master of Music in Film Composition
One of the Top 4 Film Music Programs in the World!
Recently rated as the #4 school in the world for film
scoring education by Music School Central.
“in just one year, the school places students into a
pressure cooker of intense learning resulting in a
professional demo reel that can be used to obtain
future paid commercial opportunities.”

Learn from Industry Professionals
All PNWFS faculty are active professional film and
game composers, orchestrators, copyists, and
engineers, including the program’s creator and
lead instructor Dr. Hummie Mann.

Hummie is the two-time Emmy Award winning

film composer of  “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”

and featured in Variety Magazine’s article “Leaders

in Learning”.

Our Program Features:

• 9 live recording sessions with professional
musicians at Studio X, Seattle’s premiere, world-class studio.

• Opportunities to work with student directors
to score actual films from film programs all
over the world.

• Training in all major software programs used
in the industry.

• A state-of-the-art workstation assigned to
each student fully installed with the latest versions
of all software, sample libraries and plug-ins

needed to complete the program.

Accelerated and Affordable
We are a one-year Master of Music in Film
Composition program which not only gives our
graduates the opportunity to enter the industry
and start their careers a year sooner than other
programs but saves them an entire year of living
expenses. In addition to our accelerated format
we also offer the most affordable tuition out of
competing programs. Our students have access
to FAFSA financial assistance, loans, and
scholarships as well.

History of Success
We are very proud to have a high success rate
for our graduates who have gone on to work on
television shows such as Castle, Empire, and Once
Upon a Time; video games such as World of Warcraft,
Spate, and Destiny; and films such as The Revenant,
Trolls, The Dark Tower, and Guardians of the Galaxy
Vol. 2. Apply now and you could be joining their ranks!
Applications are being accepted for the Fall 2018
school year.
We offer rolling admissions – no deadline to apply.

(800) 882-4734 | www.pnwfilmmusic.com

——————————————–

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

COWARD / COMMENTARY / TRANSCRIPT / DOUBLE NOT RESOLVED MPS / COMMENTS / EVENTS

Friday, March 16th, 2018

3/16/18
I. COWARD DU JOUR
II. MEMBER COMMENTARY
III. BLUEBOY DASH CAM TRANSCRIPT
IV. DOUBLE CHARGING NOT RESOLVED
V. MPS MEETING ON THE 21st!

VI. COMMENTS (LOTS)

VII. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer

’

…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician

…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician

…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

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

 

I. COWARD DU JOUR

It’s has just been confirmed to us that after
being asked why he cannot work towards
getting rid of the back end
President John Acosta was quoted as saying:
“I can’t, the RMA would have my head.”

Coward indeed.

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

II. MEMBER COMMENTARY

 

Someone recommended I write to the blog when I
saw your latest post. Rick B told me to do non-union
gigs over the phone. He said: “Let me put on my
trumpet hat for you – I get that you need to do non-
union gigs in order to make a living so just do it but
don’t publicize it.” He told me several times it
was OK to do non-union gig but I shouldn’t post
about it on Facebook or social media.

Several people can confirm that he said this to
other people as well.

Total Hypocrites

I was also harassed by Gordon which is why
I went to Rick.

They would not direct me to the proper channels
in order to go fi-core. Gordon harassed me over
the phone and kept asking, “Why do you want
to go fi-core? You’re the reason why the union
in hurting.”

Anyways, I’m really glad what the blog is doing
– exposing those criminals. Something has to change.
I’m tired of selected harassment and I know who that
person was who was falsely accused and I hope
they’ll be getting all of that $$$ back that they spent.

name withheld.

[EC: We have reports, and some reports posted
publicly on facebook, of Pres. Acosta telling
musicians the same – the player he told that to
posted it himself.

So where do they get off charging anyone?}

 

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

III. BLUEBOY

DASH CAM TRANSCRIPT
(HARASSMENT BY GRAYSON)
Transcript from Dash Camera
Recording Time: 10/27/16
Approximately 2:30 PM
Location: Local Musicians 47 Parking Lot

Grayson: Your @@@@?

@@@@: Yes.

\Grayson: I’m Gordon Grayson. I’m the guy that file
charges against you. I just spoke to your attorney.

#####: I don’t think we can discuss that until
further proceedings, at this moment. We have
not had this properly negotiated so we are not
willing to make a statement.

Grayson: Who are you by the way?

#####: I don’t have to identify myself.

Grayson: No, you don’t. I’m just curious.

#####: I am looking out for the safety of
@@@@

Grayson: Well, I have some information
that you could find important.
#####1: We can’t speak on it but, we are
welcome to listen if you want to tell us
your standpoint.

Grayson: I just spoke with your lawyer, ********,
and I assured her that there has been a
misidentification. It’s unfortunate that
you even had to incur the cost of an
attorney. You know that this process
is not a legal process, it’s an internal
union process by which we are able
to be sure in certain instances or
circumstances, uh, where musicians
may or may not have been in violation
of our bylaws.

So, it’s really an investigative process
not necessarily disciplinary. So the idea
was to get a positive identification of
musicians who are in violation of the rules,
uh, if our identification was incorrect, we
want to know that too. So obviously the
interest is not to misidentify people or
accuse people of things that are not
necessarily true. So, I have received
information from some people who
were there (at the bridge) who confirmed
that you were not and that is satisfactory
to me so, our intent is to put that in writing
to let you know and also, to let the
Federation know that this is a misidentification,
uh, and that those charges will be withdrawn,
um, and for all of that I apologize.

As far as public disclosure the…..a….list of
musicians that was sent to each musician
contained every other musician’s name but,
that is the extent of the distribution. I sent
that to the Federation I am sure most
musicians on that list have a bedded
interest so other people don’t know that
don’t know that they were on it. So I
doubt very seriously that the list is
being distributed but I can’t say for
certain. Uh, it was not my intent to
distribute that list to every musician.

I sent that to the Federation, the Federation
sent that to every musician so they
could have redacted it. And in the
future, I would try to convince them
to do that. If there ever arose a situation
like this again, it’s pretty rare and it’s
pretty new to me to deal with such a
large scale so there are things I could
have done better and I will next time.

So I will put something in writing to you
and your lawyer, I will put something in
writing to the Federation and then as far
as do not hire list, there is no such list
as of now because these charges are
still outstanding. There’s no list out there
that says don’t hire

@@@@@, but there are some people
that might not want to hear from Mark
Robertson but, (awkward laugh) our
union is not telling anyone not to hire
anybody. You know I would not stand
in the way of any of those musicians
from getting union employment because
that’s what we come here every day for,
to try to help people look out for themselves
and for their interests. I want to extend an
apology; you know it was certainly not
intended. We come here to help musicians.
And that’s the intent here is to keep our
contracts going and protect the musicians
who do say no to non-union work. So it’s
unfortunate that you got caught up in that
and I appreciate how upset you are and
I understand that we didn’t do it on
purpose we will do everything we can to
not let that happen again.

[EC: So where’s his reimbursement
of legal fees? ($15,000) An apology in
no way is enough.,… no where near.]

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

IV. DOUBLE CHARGING NOT RESOLVED

Charles Fernandez wrote to the Local 47 secretary
asking for chapter and verse of the rule that allows
the union not to apply reg. dues to fi-core dues when
a musician converts.

He, to his credit, responded two days later, with two
screenshots

1) FROM THE BULLETIN BOARD
Annual Membership Dues – Regular Member
Full Year: $210 – Half Year: $100

Life member – Active Life Member: $110
Inactive Life Member: $90

Make checks or money orders payable to:
AFM Local 47, 3220 Winona Ave., Burbank, CA 91504

You can also make payments with
Visa, Mastercard or Discover

for future information, please contact the
Dues/Membership Department: (323) 993-3116,
[email protected].

[EC: Nice info, but doesn’t address the question
at all.]

———–

2) AFM LOCAL 47 REFUND/RETURN POLICY
Unless otherwise specified, Membership and
Work dues payments made to AFM Local 47
are not refundable.

Merchandise or other items purchased directly
from AFM Local 47 may be returned within
fourteen days of purchase upon return of the item(s)
in the condition in which you received said items.

To request a refund and return content, please
contact AFM Local 47, Attn. Vice President’s
Office, 323.993.3172
[email protected], 3220 Wiwona Ave.
Burbank, CA 91504, to receive instructions on
returning your product(s)

 

COLLEAGUES,

So, we’ve established that dues are non-refundable,
but it does not say membership dues cannot be
transferred for use as fi-core dues.
(In fact we now have proof that they do, more
info next week)

While the secretary said an additional packet of
information was sent, Mr. Fernandez has not as
of yet received it and has requested another.

THE BYLAWS

Checking the AFM BYLAWS
ARTICLE 5–LOCALS’ RIGHTS & DUTIES
Local Dues and Fees Authorities – Page 28

It says nothing.

The words Fi-Core, Financial Core
and Beck Status do not appear in the
AFM Bylaws we have.

Therefore, the Local cannot pretend
to have a policy preventing the transfer
of membership dues paid to be applied
to FI-Core dues if a member chooses
to go fi-core.

To be fair, it can also be said that there
is no policy ALLOWING the transfer of
funds for fi-core membership.

This would seem to leave it up to the ethics
and consideration of the administration.

If you’re an ethical Local, you’ll allow the
transfer of membership dues to fi-core
dues, save musicians money and
refund anyone double charged.

Will they do the right thing and refund
Mr. Fernandez’ double charging?

If they are ethical they will,
if they aren’t they won’t. If they
don’t, to our thinking this means
they are guilty of defrauding
each member they do this to.

Let’s just say we won’t hold our
collective breaths.

Any thoughts? We want to know.

THE COMMITTEE

 

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

V. MPS NATIONAL MEETING NEXT WEEK!
Save the date:
Nationwide Meeting for all AFM Musicians
March 21, 2018 at 5pm
St. Malachy’s Church
239 W 49th St, New York, NY

LIVE STREAMING ON FACEBOOK
Streaming will start 5 pm EST. Go to our
Facebook page here. Click follow and opt-
in to receive notifications when we go live.
Due to time constraints, we will not be able
to answer questions posted to Facebook
during the meeting. Please send all
questions to [email protected].
We will get back to you ASAP.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
Twitter has become a popular tool with
politicians. In future calls to action, we
can use it to message them directly. Go
to our Twitter page here and click FOLLOW.

BREAKING AFM PENSION NEWS!

•    Musicians for Pension Security recently
obtained the AFM-EPF trustees’ own
documents made public by law. (read
them here) These documents reveal
that the pension trustees have been
planning cuts to our pension benefits
going all the way back to August of 2015.
According to those documents the
trustees are targeting a 25-30% cut
to existing benefits.

•    On January 4, 2018, in a letter to
Congressional leaders, our trustees
declared that our pension plan “is on
the brink of entering critical and declining
status in the near future.” (Read the
January 4 letter here.) MPS believes
the trustees could set a MPRA
application into motion as early as
June 2018, which starts the process
that allows the trustees to cut our
benefits.

•    MPS hired Tom Lowman, a
nationally recognized pension actuary,
to review the situation. At the March 21
meeting, Tom will show how our trustees
are proceeding upon questionable
assumptions that we would like to
change and will explain why. Tom
Lowman thinks that delaying cuts
and working on improving the funding
is the way to go. Cutting benefits
now may result in larger cuts than needed.

•    You will also hear from Jonathan
Kantor, our legal counsel, who will
explain the process that our trustees
are following to obtain the cuts,
together with legal options that they
— and we — have.

It is critical that all AFM members
make every effort to attend this
meeting. If you haven’t already,
please click here to RSVP to the
March 21st meeting or join us via
Facebook LIVE on the
MPS Facebook page. Your attendance
at the MPS National meeting will
help to give you a better understanding
of what is happening to our pension
and the solutions we think will
make a difference.
Who is MPS? Click HERE.

What is MPRA? Click HERE.

In solidarity,
Musicians for Pension Security

Stay informed with MPS. Join our mailing list here.

 

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

VI. COMMENTS

Well…well…so they could not even credit Fernandez with
the dues he already paid?  They did have a published
policy on how monies received would be applied…e.g.
Annual dues, work dues (past) or (present)…etc.  I
don’t recall seeing anything about fi-core funds…
and btw I would say paying twice for the same time
period is providing the union with unjust enrichment…
they get almost twice as much while you get less than
half as much…hmmm.

They should be able to confirm when such a policy
was initiated and where was it first posted?

Does the local actually have a policy regarding dual
payments that explains how and why they should
be able to keep two payments for the same period?

I would argue that if they want to keep the regular
annual dues then you should be able to use their
facilities for the year.

———————————–

At least keeping both payments for the whole
year should not be a policy…perhaps some kind
of pro-rate?  Do you think that they do this to
incentivize people from going if-core during any
given year…having to pay more to a union that
does everything it can to keep union work
confined to a few?

———————————–

Kinda reminds me of the current white house s••• show –
Marc Sazer suing because he’s not getting hired – good god –
what entitlement -the RMALA is going to drive every last
session out of town except for the few that they’ll do at
the one major studio left – what reasons do we have to
be union anymore – my work dues were ZERO last month –
I’m not going to help them in upcoming negotiations as
they were requesting input from rank and file recording peeps –

———————————-

WOW….

Great public record…maybe should ask John Acosta what he
thinks of the Sazer suit? LOL!

 

———————————-

 

freelance players are not subject to tenure unless there is a
provision for it in the collective bargaining agreement.
To my knowledge there are no more “studio orchestras”
as was in the “golden age” of studio cinema…the players
showed up and worked an essentially 9-5 job.

The RMA has (by design and from the beginning tried
and very much) succeeded in creating a de facto tenure
for themselves where there was none.
You are either IN or OUT of their “club”.

———————————-

 

IF the DOL had the will, they could see what the RMA
has done to disenfranchise the majority of the membership.
They kicked out Bernie Fleischer because he wouldn’t
go along.   Only need to show that SDC was installed
in the Local by the RMA…the secretary to the deceased
music contractor at Universal….a few people made
boatloads of $$$.

———————————-

Another colleague says….

Not happy to consider a dead union….because it is
the people in charge of THIS local that are the
problem…unionism via the union movement
has helped a great many people in many industries.

[The committee has been and always will
be pro-union. But we’re pro “ethical” union,
not a corrupt one.]

———————————-

JA has his eyes on achieving big labor union leader
status (not necessarily with AFM)…the EB spends
the local dues flying him all over to “promote”
the Local…in reality he is using those resources
to promote himself…there is no political
photo-op he won’t chase.  Really…what kind
of return did LA get by handing out CD’s to
the Chinese?  What did be actually do in
Havana besides giving out priestly handshakes?

Does anyone know if JA has ever worked
under a collective bargaining agreement
as a playing musician?

———————————

….. Welcome to Trump’s World!!

———————————

Interesting question….just what part of
the bylaws applies to the fi-core “members”?

 

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

VII. EVENTS

 

DEAN AND RICHARD 
are now at

Culver City Elks the first 
Friday of 
every month.

7:30pm-10:30pm,

11160 Washington Pl.

Culver City, 90232

310-839-8891

——————————————————

HELIX COLLECTIVE COMPOSING OPPORTUNITY –

DEADLINE, MARCH 25TH!

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Application deadline: March 25, 2018
APPLY HERE
More info: www.lalsff.org
LASFF Trailer Video

The Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival features
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picture. The 2018 festival on Saturday, July 21st
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——————–

3/19/18
The Adam Cohen Band at TRIP Santa Monica 2018-03-19

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March 19, 2018 • 9-10PM
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—————————————-
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—————————————-

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——————————————–

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

PETTY PEOPLE / BLUEBOY SPEAKS / MPS / HELIX OPPORTUNITY / COMMENTS / EVENTS

Friday, March 9th, 2018

3/8/18
I. SMALL PETTY PEOPLE
II.   BLUEBOY SPEAKS
III. UPDATE ON NATIONAL MPS MEETING
IV. SHORT NOTICE COMPOSING OPPORTUNITY – HELIX COLLECTIVE

V. COMMENTS

VI. EVENTS


…

Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer

’
…

The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician


…

Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician


…

Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

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

I. SMALL PETTY PEOPLE
A (REGRETFULLY LONG w/apologies) MESSAGE FROM CHARLES FERNANDEZ

When I was illegally charged by Local 47 for my
conducting and attending an educational demo
session I knew it wasn’t about the session, it
wasn’t even about the CMG (Collective Media
Guild) it was about the Blog, the one you’re
reading now.

Since 2005 the AFM and Local have been
desperate to shut it down.
THANK YOU 1st amendment.

So I ultimately paid their illegal, unethical fine,
and went fi-core.

According to the rules, you cannot use
Union facilities if you’re fi-core. That’s fine,
However, if an outside organization
uses a room at the union, that organization
can have anyone at the meeting they want.
If they can have non-union people at
their meeting they can have fi-core people
as well, as long as the fi-core musician
doesn’t play, EXCEPT in the case of a
paid rehearsal, in such a case the union
must allow the Fi-Core musician in under
a CBA.
.
Those running the Local thought when I went
fi-core the blog would disappear, but the
membership has made sure that hasn’t happened.
We’ve been getting some explosive stuff
(MAKE SURE YOU READ ‘BLUE BOY’ BELOW
– it’s important).

WHAT’S A LOCAL TO DO?

So what’s an RMA controlled Local to do?
Go scorched earth, and abuse the power of the
Local they control through a complicit officer
to destroy one member they have a personal
grudge against, as well as try to destroy their
relationship with any musical organization they
are affiliated with, in this case ASMAC (American
Society of Music Arrangers and Composers
– ASMAC.org).

For the past 15+ years I have been a
board member, sometimes secretary,
sometimes vice-president of this 80
year old proud and important organization.
As long as I have been a member,
it has met at the union.

Now however, they will no longer allow
our group at the union if I am there.
Again, an officer abusing their authority
against one individual member for personal
reasons. There are other non union
members on the ASAMC board, but
this is directly solely at me as an
individual.

Why? The excuse is I “made a scene” when
I went Fi-core, but again this an excuse.
It’s all about the blog. They’re willing to sacrifice
a decades long relationship with a storied
musical organization through countless AFM
administrations because of their petty
personal vendetta against one person.
Utterly pathetic and small.

If this were any other business the offending
persons would be fired and likely sued, but not
at Local 47.
.
SO WHAT HAPPENED?
DOUBLE CHARGING.

When I went to go fi-core I had already paid the full
yearly membership dues for 2018 ($210). I was told
that didn’t matter and had to pay an ADDITIONAL
$175 fi-core fee. As would be the case with anyone,
this upset me.

I asked why it couldn’t be deducted from the dues I
already paid and was told it was policy. I had a
discussion with Secretary Gary Lasley and left
(we’ve since communicated by email, where I
apologized for getting upset, he wrote back and
we’re fine, according to both of us.)

Last Wednesday, March 6TH, I wrote to the secretary
and formally requested the chapter and verse that
allows the local to double charge those who choose
fi-core status if they’ve paid their reg member dues.
As of this writing, I have not heard from him. I will
certainly keep writing until I do. If, as I suspect, I am
told that as a non-member I am not entitled to that
information, perhaps one of you fine upstanding
Local 47 members out there can make the same
request and send us the reply.

But again, this isn’t about my conduct going fi-core,
it’s about the blog not shutting down, it’s about
hurting me and anyone associated with me in
any way they can to get me to stop the blog
and further damage my career and relationships
in the business.

Petty and small indeed.

SHUTTING DOWN THE BLOG

It’s not going to happen.

I don’t believe the secretary is behind this, since
we’ve talked, I don’t believe VP Rick Baptist is
behind it, he worked for me for many years in
the studios. A consummate professional, No
one gives waa’s and wop’s like Rick. That leaves
only one officer and the group that he is beholden to.

This is how small, how petty, how subservient
the Executive Board of Local 47 is to the people
who really run the union. No backbone, No shame.

The one I am most disappointed in is Vice President Rick
Baptist, who I’ve known for decades as a stellar musician
and person but who has seemingly become subservient to
John Acosta and his handlers. I expected he would stand
up for what is right and in defense of the rank and file. It pains
me to learn otherwise. He been doing Acosta’s dirty work
in sending letters and busting sessions. Why can’t John
do it himself? Won’t look good in pictures or documentation
I suppose.

No organization or member deserves this treatment by
such a small petty group of people. If this upsets you
and you have the conviction to actually speak up (I’m
looking at you Local 47 board members) it’s about
time you did so. How long will you allow the
rank abuse of the officer’s power against individual
musicians to go on? Again, make sure to
read BLUE BOY below. This goes for the rank and
file as well. What will it take to get more musicians
to stand up and say “I’m mad as Hell and I”m not
going to take it any more”.

The abuse and selective enforcement this Local
and it’s handlers have engaged in without
conscience and without precedent is deplorable.

In my learned opinion. This Local is no longer a
solution for the rank and file, it is the problem.

CHARLES FERNANDEZ

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

II.   BLUEBOY SPEAKS
Noticed that your recent leaks have generated quite
the reaction from the RMA cronies. I am also wondering
if you have any IP address of the user which tried to
hack your blog. I am nearly sure that the SMIRK tried
to hack a few of us…I have IP addresses to share.
I am sending you screenshots from a video that
was sent to me by a friend of the musician who
was falsely accused at the “busted bridge session”.

[EC: We have an IP address or two to share as well.]

I have been authorized to allow you to post these.
The video in its entirety will be posted very soon.

The musician has been harassed because of a
“union error” (which is more or less an RMA-
sponsored targeting operation) has incurred
more than $15,000 in legal defense fees to
fight the union to restore their good name.

The local sent around the name of this person
with their name, address and phone number
attached to a photo of A DIFFERENT PERSON.
This musician was not even present at the
alleged “bridge session”. All our bosses got
this list through “back channels”.  Erick Cruz
was, in fact, the official who made the false
identification. It would later be Gordon who
took the fall.

Gordon and Erick followed this member into
the parking lot after a business visit and,
essentially tried to intimidate and discourage
them. The member said nothing and Gordon
went on a wild rant, made snide comments
about a fellow member/contractor and gave a
softball “apology” all while scolding the member
for retaining a lawyer. The local still refuses to
rectify the distribution of fraudulent charges.

The member was also bullied in an attempt for
them to sign an unlawful NDA (non-disclosure
agreement) in exchange for an apology and a
tiny sum of taxable reimbursement.

The member is in the process of filing a civil complaint.

The member wants a proper apology but, John
Acosta refuses to print or post it all while hiding
behind the “decisions” made by his “executive
board”.

We can post it for them: I can’t say the union
was not warned multiple times……..Gordon
lost his job because of this…..who else thinks
its time for Acosta to lose his job over this?

PS: The RMA sent out a freakin love letter
thanking Gordon for his service after he got
the boot. Why else would the RMA thank
him unless he had been doing their dirty
work?! This is the newsletter statement
they sent around:

“Gordon Grayson has served as the Administrator
of the Electronic Media Division of Local 47
for the past eight years. A staunch labor advocate,
Gordon had previously worked at the Writers
Guild of America West. As he moves on, we
would like to express our gratitude for his
years of dedicated, straight-shooting service
to our Local, and to our musicians working in
recording. We wish him every future success!

– RMALA  Board”

#takebackOURlocal

-BlueBoy

[Blueboy also provided us pictures clearly
showing Gordon Grayson and Erick Cruz
targeting musicians, you can see them at
the following links.

UNION 47 HARASSMENT 2

UNION 47 HARASSMENT

 

[EC: The Local and AFM have once again
proven themselves morally and ethically
bankrupt. Charles Fernandez as well incurred
over $15,000 in legal fees fighting bogus
charges instituted by Gordon Grayson but all
assisted by John Acosta.

In Mr. Fernandez’s Hearing, though Grayson
was asked the questions, he didn’t seem to
know any of the details and had to be assisted
in answering most questions by consulting
John Acosta. (Picture Cheney having to be in
the room when Bush Jr. was interviewed)
Though Grayson filed the charges,
Acosta was the force behind them.

You can find the transcript online and
read it for yourself.

Regarding the session where Mr. Fernandez
was targeted, there were two musicians
seen in pictures playing the entirety of the
nonunion session . The cellist who signed a
letter stating they saw Mr Fernandez conducting
(NOT against the bylaws) was STEVE VELEZ,
who then escaped any fine, and led directly
to Mr. Fernandez’s $15,000+ in legal costs.
The violist who refused to fraudulently target
Mr. Fernandez was fined initially $400.

Mr. Fernandez, though no bylaw was broken
was fined $2,500 for simply being at the session
as an educator.

This conduct shows NO ethics, NO morals
and NO conscience.Such behavior cannot
be tolerated in any legitimate organization.

We want to know your story of abuse by
this Local and the National AFM. Write to us.
If it can be verified, we’ll run it.]

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

III. UPDATE ON NATIONAL MPS MEETING
Location Confirmed

Save the date:
Nationwide Meeting for all AFM Musicians
March 21, 2018 at 5pm
St. Malachy’s Church
239 W 49th St, New York, NY
LIVE STREAMING ON FACEBOOK

BREAKING AFM PENSION NEWS!

•    Musicians for Pension Security recently
obtained the AFM-EPF trustees’ own
documents made public by law. (read them
here) These documents reveal that the
pension trustees have been planning cuts
to our pension benefits going all the way
back to August of 2015. According to those
documents the trustees are targeting a
25-30% cut to existing benefits. *MPS
now believes the trustees could set a
MPRA application into motion as early as
June 2018, which starts the process that
allows the trustees to cut our benefits.

•    MPS hired Tom Lowman, a nationally
recognized pension actuary, to review the
situation. At the March 21 meeting, Tom
will show how our trustees are proceeding
upon questionable assumptions that we
would like to change and will explain why.
He will present a plan to stabilize our
pension in the near term and will recommend
measures to assure the long-term stability
of the plan.

•    Tom Lowman thinks that delaying cuts
and working on improving the funding is
the way to go. Cutting benefits now may
result in larger cuts than needed. Also,
cutting now while hoping to restore some
of those cuts later would be difficult.
He will explain why at the March 21 meeting.

•    You will also hear from Jonathan
Kantor, our legal counsel, who will
explain the process that our trustees
are following to obtain the cuts, together
with legal options that they — and we —
have.

It is critical that all AFM members make
every effort to attend this meeting. For
those across the country who can’t be
there, the meeting will be streamed via
Facebook LIVE on the MPS Facebook page.
Your attendance at the MPS National
meeting will help to give you a better
understanding of what is happening
to our pension and the solutions we
think will make a difference.

If you haven’t already, please click here to
RSVP to the March 21st meeting.
Who is MPS? Click HERE.

What is MPRA? Click HERE.

In solidarity,
Musicians for Pension Security

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

IV. HELIX COLLECTIVE COMPOSING OPPORTUNITY –

DEADLINE, MARCH 25TH!

Apply to have your original score performed live-to-
picture by Helix Collective at the 2018 Los Angeles
Live Score Film Festival! Apply with a link to your
video reel and a PDF score.
Application deadline: March 25, 2018
APPLY HERE
More info: www.lalsff.org
LASFF Trailer Video

The Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival features
short films with original scores performed live-to-
picture. The 2018 festival on Saturday, July 21st
at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre is presented by
Helix Collective in collaboration with the
Academy of Scoring Arts. Films for the 2018 festival
are curated by the faculty at the New York Film
Academy, Columbia College, Hollywood, and
the L.A. Film School.

Selected film composers are paired with a winning
filmmaker to create an original score for the festival.
The film is screened with the score performed live
by the renowned performance and recording ensemble,
Helix Collective. The screening includes an interview
with the filmmakers and composers. Awards for Best
Picture and Best Musical Score are presented at the
close of the festival.

Now in it’s fifth season, LALSFF’s goal is to highlight
the role of collaboration between composers and
filmmakers. Acting like a talent agent, the festival
brings experts in the two disciplines together. At the
screenings, filmmakers and composers hear and
see the work of new colleagues, meet new collaborators,
and establish working relationships with each other.

Helix Collective www.helixcollective.net

 

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

V. COMMENTS

Thank you for your blog post. Really thank you! Awesome.
————————

Thank goodness for the blog. You are the only
thing standing between the union and
blind corruption without accountability.

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

VI. EVENTS

DEAN AND RICHARD

are now at Culver City Elks

the first 
Friday of 
every month.

7:30pm-10:30pm,

11160 Washington Pl.
 Culver City,

90232

310-839-8891
——————————————————

3/12/18
Dear friends,
I’d like to invite you to a unique concert that will take
place next Monday night, March 12th at 7:30 pm
at the First Christian Church of North Hollywood.
It will be a rare opportunity to hear a first-rate
performance by a leading young concert artist
in the accordion world, Grayson Masefield.

Grayson is from New Zealand and has become a
sought-after concert artist, presently continuing his
studies towards a masters degree in music at the
HEMU – University of Music, Lausanne, Switzerland.
He will be in Los Angeles for this one night only and
will share his program mix of new concert music
specifically written for the accordion as well as
interpretations of Baroque and Classical selections.
Many of you have heard me speak of the wealth of
music for accordion that we seldom hear – music
that utilizes the accordion in ways other than as a
pop/folk instrument.  I often travel to other parts of
the world for events that celebrate the accordion
music in this way and to hear this kind of performance
and the new music being written for the instrument.

This is a rare opportunity to hear something that is
new to you.   Come join me (and bring a friend) in
welcoming Grayson in concert.   After the concert
I will provide dessert and beverages at my home
nearby to give you an opportunity to meet him!
Liz Finch
(818) 766-3101
(818) 679-7958 (cell)

First Christian Church of North Hollywood
4390 Colfax Ave.
Studio City, 91604
(The church is on the corner of Cofax Ave.
and Moorpark St. – East of Laurel Cyn. Blvd,
north of Ventura Blvd.  There is free parking
in the church parking lot and some street parking.)

———————————————————————————

3/21/18
Wed MARCH 21, 2018 at 12:10-12:40 pm at the

Free Admission GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS

NANCY FIERRO Piano Recital: “Music of the Belle Epoque;”
Works by Lili Boulanger, Cecile Chaminade ,

and Claude Debussy.

http://www.glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com
Thank you!
Jacqueline Suzuki
Curator, Glendale Noon Concerts
818 249-5108


Coming to Vibrato April 11th @ 7:30pm

The Fabulous Grammy Nominated

PHIL NORMAN TENTET

reminiscent of the refreshing sounds

of
 West Coast Jazz.x

Los Angeles, CA.90077

Reservations call 310-474-9400

Click here to visit Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz

PLAYING THE MUSIC OF

Rogers & Hart, George Shearing, Benny Goodman,

Hank Mancini, Debussy, Joseph Kosma,

Billy Strayhorn, Jimmy Forrest, Stanley Turrentine

Bob Nolan and others.

—————————————-

The Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at the Seattle Film Institute
is now accepting applications for the one-year
Master of Music in Film Composition
One of the Top 4 Film Music Programs in the World!
Recently rated as the #4 school in the world for film scoring education by Music School Central.
“in just one year, the school places students into a pressure cooker of intense learning resulting in a professional demo reel that can be used to obtain future paid commercial opportunities.”

Learn from Industry Professionals
All PNWFS faculty are active professional film and game composers, orchestrators, copyists, and engineers, including the program’s creator and lead instructor Dr. Hummie Mann.  Hummie is the two-time Emmy Award winning film composer of “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and featured in Variety Magazine’s article “Leaders in Learning”.
Our Program Features:
• 9 live recording sessions with professional musicians at Studio X, Seattle’s premiere, world-class studio.

• Opportunities to work with student directors to score actual films from film programs all over the world.
• 
Training in all major software programs used in the industry.
• 
A state-of-the-art workstation assigned to each student fully installed with the latest versions of all software, sample libraries and plug-ins needed to complete the program.

Accelerated and Affordable
We are a one-year Master of Music in Film Composition program which not only gives our graduates the opportunity to enter the industry and start their careers a year sooner than other programs but saves them an entire year of living expenses. In addition to our accelerated format we also offer the most affordable tuition out of competing programs. Our students have access to FAFSA financial assistance, loans, and scholarships as well.

History of Success
We are very proud to have a high success rate for our graduates who have gone on to work on television shows such as Castle, Empire, and Once Upon a Time; video games such as World of Warcraft, Spate, and Destiny; and films such as The Revenant, Trolls, The Dark Tower, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Apply now and you could be joining their ranks!
Applications are being accepted for the Fall 2018 school year.
We offer rolling admissions – no deadline to apply.

(800) 882-4734 | www.pnwfilmmusic.com
——————————————–
 
UNTIL NEXT TIME,

THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

HACKING ATTEMPT / KARMA INDEED / MPS – BENEFIT CUTS / MPS MEETING / EVENTS

Friday, March 2nd, 2018

3/2/18

I. A HACKING THEY WILL TRY
II. KARMA INDEED – MEMBER COMMENTS
III. POTENTIAL BENEFIT CUTS – MPS
IV.NATIONWIDE MPS MEETING
V. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer

…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician

…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

 

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

 

I. A-HACKING THEY WILL TRY

No sooner had the last blog gone out, than
someone who didn’t like it, you can guess
what group they are from, tried to change
the password of responsible 47.com. They
did not succeed however.

WhatEVER are they afraid of? Here’s an idea:
Change your conduct and you won’t have to
worry about whatever info gets out.

 

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

 

II. KARMA INDEED! – MEMBER COMMENTS

[EC: Since we have now gotten three separate,

reliable sources for this story, we feel confident

in naming names.]

————————————–

Member Comment:

The name of the RMA official that
sued was Sazer.

————————————–

AFM goes to bat for Sazer….and only Sazer.

————————————-

Member Comment:

[This comment was edited to remove anything that could be
construed as an attack on someone’s ability or musicality. We
only want to report the facts.]

Please post this.
Who will sue the Federation? How dare they
give someone tenure, especially for political
reasons. I know Sazer is turning in people.
Good people. [EC: This is common knowledge.]
People on the fringe that need
to make money doing projects that are
impossible to go union!

Really! Someone start a lawsuit against
the Federation! Guaranteed work?

How dare the Union do this for one and
nobody else. You turn in players and
contractors and we will guarantee you work.

Gina Zimmitti refused to sign this. Did others?

———————————–

 

DEMAND LETTER SENT TO GINA ZIMMITTI
This is a public record.

[EC: We contacted the member who sent this to us asking
for verification of it’s origin. This is the reply we got:

To the Committee: “this document was made public
to me and my use of it was approved by a party
that had permission to circulate. Not stolen or
lifted.

Further, here is a link to the NLRB page of this matter:
https://www.nlrb.gov/case/31-CA-179630]

——–

The American Federation of Musicians (“AFM”) and Gina
Zimmitti Music Contracting (“GZMC), agree to resolve
a charge made by the AFM to the National Labor Relations
Board (“NLRB”) on July 1, 2015, (Case No. 31-CA-179630)
regarding Marc Sazer (“Sazer”) as follows:

1. Music scoring work is intermittent. With that reality,
it is the intent of the AFM and GZMC to return Sazer’s
employment on music scoring projects contracted by GZMC
to the level that existed before 2015 (approximately
85% of days contracted by GZMC on major motion picture
projects and about 65% of days contracted by it on
all projects.

2. To achieve that, from the date this Agreement is
executed, GZMC will cause Sazer to be hired for music
scoring projects it contracts with the same frequency
as it caused him to be hired prior to 2015. Specifically,
GZMC will cause Sazer to be hired on substantially
all music music scoring projects requiring a string
section and an orchestra of 30 or more musicians,
in addition to some music scoring projects requiring
fewer than 30 musicians (as it did prior to 2015).

3. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than
14 days of the execution of this Agreement, the AFM
will withdraw the charge in Case No. 31-CA-179630.
But the AFM can reinstate the charge, or file a new
NLRB charge, in the event it determines that GZMC
has failed to comply with the obligations of
Paragraph 2.

4. By entering into this Agreement, GZMC admits no
liability or fault and specifically does not admit
that it engaged in the conduct described in the
charge. Similarly, the AFM reserves its position
that GZMC engaged in the conduct alleged in the
charge.

5. GZMC and the AFM agree that the terms of this
Agreement shall remain strictly confidential, except
that they also agree that they may be disclosed to
Sazer, and may be disclosed to others for the limited
purpose of carrying out the parties’ rights and
obligations under this Agreement.

[Colleagues, you can see the case page for the above at
https://www.nlrb.gov/case/31-CA-179630] So for anyone
not believing in the gross level of control the RMA
continues to have over the AFM, this should be all the
proof you need.

Only someone high up in in the RMA could get the
AFM/IEB to write a letter trying to force a contractor
to use a player they no longer wanted to use.
It’s freelancing, unless you’re an RMA officer,
in which case they MUST be used, right?

As was told to us. Ms Zimmitti refused to sign it
(just as she should have).

NOT WHO YOU THINK

[EC: ••••• In fairness, the section in the last blog post titled:
THE INNER CIRCLE SPEAKS: THERE’S ALWAYS
ANOTHER is NOT in fact about Marc Sazer, but
another current RMA board member If we can get one

more source (We have two), we can name that RMA Board

member as well..•••••

 

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

 

III. POTENTIAL BENEFIT CUTS – MPS

DOCUMENTS SHOW TRUSTEES KNOW MORE
THAN THEY REVEAL ABOUT POTENTIAL FOR BENEFIT CUTS

AFM President Ray Hair hosted a “Webinar” for
pension plan participants on January 29. When
asked, President Hair and the other participants
would not shed any light on the extent of the
possible benefit cuts: “At this time, we just don’t
know,” they said. Hair and the other trustees may
not know exactly how extensive or when the cuts
will happen, but according to their own documents
recently obtained by MPS (linked below), it seems
that they know far more about the potential for
benefit cuts then they let on. Here is a summary:

1. The trustees began actively considering cutting
our pensions beginning at their August 4, 2015
meeting, targeting 25-30% cuts beginning in
February 2016. (Supporting docs here)

2. It took Ray Hair and our other trustees a year
and a half after that August 2015 meeting before
they snuck the bad news of potential cuts to
existing benefits into a letter to plan participants
in December of 2016. (Read it here)

3. It is true that the trustees have not formally
decided to make the cuts yet. That decision
will be made in June of this year. However,
the trustees’ last “Base Case” (what they
expect to happen) projection from just two
months ago, dated December 18, 2017,
calls for cuts in 2018 (Projections here).

4. The prospect of cuts to our existing benefits
is so real that the AFM fund’s actuary, Milliman,
is already engaged in discussions with the key
members of the US Treasury, which will be
making the decision whether or not to approve
the cuts. In those discussions, Treasury gave
“informal nonbinding guidance” on how best to
fashion the cut application. These discussions
were initiated on November 1, 2017. (See here.)

The AFM-EPF trustees have repeatedly pledged
to be transparent with us and yet none of the
above information was discussed or revealed
in January when the trustees were asked about it.

Keep in mind, the AFM-EPF webinar in late January
was just six weeks after the trustees were discussing
benefit cuts at their December 18, 2017 meetings.
When asked about cuts AFM President Ray Hair
only said, “At this time, we just don’t know,” but
according to their own documents, he and the
other trustees have a very good idea.

In solidarity,

Musicians for Pension Security

Stay informed with MPS. Join our mailing list here.

Who is MPS? Click HERE.

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

 

IV.NATIONWIDE MPS MEETING

March 21, 2018 at 5pm
New York City (venue TBA)
LIVE STREAMING ON FACEBOOK

BREAKING AFM PENSION NEWS!
•    Musicians for Pension Security recently obtained the
AFM-EPF trustees’ own documents made public by law.
(read them here) These documents reveal that the
pension trustees have been planning cuts to our pension
benefits going all the way back to August of 2015.
According to those documents the trustees are targeting
a 25-30% cut to existing benefits. MPS now believes
the trustees could set an MPRA application into motion
as early as June 2018, which starts the process that
allows the trustees to cut our benefits.

•    MPS hired Tom Lowman, a nationally recognized
pension actuary, to review the situation. At the March
21 meeting, Tom will show how our trustees are
proceeding upon assumptions that we would like
to change and will explain why. He will present a
plan to stabilize our pension in the near term and
he will recommend measures to assure the long-
term stability of the plan.

•    Tom Lowman thinks that delaying cuts and
working on improving the funding is the way
to go. Cutting now may result in larger cuts
than needed and cutting now while hoping
to restore some of those cuts later would
be difficult. He will explain why at the March
21 meeting.

•    At the meeting you will also hear from
Jonathan Kantor, our legal counsel, who
will explain the process that our trustees
are following to obtain the cuts, together
with legal options that they — and we — have.

It is critical that all AFM members make
every effort to attend this meeting. For
those across the country who can’t be there,
the meeting will be streamed via Facebook
LIVE on the MPS Facebook page.

Your attendance at the MPS National meeting
will help to give you a better understanding of
what is happening to our pension and the
solutions we think will make a difference.

Please click here to RSVP to the March 21st meeting.
Who is MPS? Click HERE.

What is MPRA? Click HERE.

In solidarity,
Musicians for Pension Security

Stay informed with MPS. Join our mailing list here.

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

 

V. EVENTS
DEAN AND RICHARD
are now at Culver City Elks the first 
Friday of 
every month.
7:30pm-10:30pm,
11160 Washington Pl.
Culver City, 90232
310-839-8891

——————————————

3/3/18

Westlake Valley Symphony presents
SYMPHONY IN BRASS
music by Ewazen, Strauss and Bruckner
Paul Piazza, Music Director

Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 – 7:30 PM
Westminster Presbyterian Church
32111 Watergate Rd.
Westlake Village, CA 91361

Admission is Free!
RSVP by emailing
[email protected]

—————————————

3/5/18

MALIBU  FRIENDS  OF  MUSIC
p r e s e n t
A Concert Dressed in
St. Patrick’s Day Green

Monday, March 5th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
MAHMA Great Room

Featuring the
Malibu Coast String Quartet
Maria Newman & Rafael Rishik, violinists
Scott Hosfeld, violist
Paula Hochhalter, cellist

Performing Music of  ~
Alexander Borodin ~ String Quartet No. 1
Gustav Holst ~ “Thatxed” for String Quartet
W.A. Mozart ~ Divertimento
Maria Newman/Mary Pickford ~ “What the Daisy Said”
1912 Silent Film Short accompanied by live string quartet

Click here for reservations
www.malibufriendsofmusic.org
Or call (310) 589-0295

…for a taste of MAHMA:
Take a listen to Maria Newman’s,  “Pied Piper’s Lament”
Performed by MAHMA artists at the Warner Grand Theatre

————————————————-

 

3/7/18

ELVIS SCHOENBERG’S ORCHESTRE SURREAL

Wednesday, March 7th, 8PM
El Portal Theatre
5269 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
For tickets call: 818 508-4200
or 866 811 4111

Theatrical in a deranged-circus-Fellini-
German expressionistic-John Waters-burlesque
sort of way, the Orchestra Surreal is as Cinematic
as they come for the symphonic world.

http://theorchestresurreal.com/HELLO.htm

Nessun Dorma
https://tinyurl.com/y9rnqa9f

3 minute El Portal promo
https://tinyurl.com/y8xxm5aa

———————————————-

3/8/18

ASMAC Presents
the next First Wednesday’s,… ON THURSDAY!!!!
Yes, Thursday!

Scott Bradlee, founder or
POSTMODERN JUKEBOX

Thursday March 8th, 2017, 7:30 PM

Valley College Music Building, room 106 (recital Hall)
Scott Bradlee – arranger, pianist, author, and
founder of international sensation Postmodern Jukebox
will share his no budget to international success story
which has garnered nearly One Billion YouTube
channel hits and Sold Out live shows in more than 60
countries around the world. Find out about Scott’s
Postmodern Jukebox arranging and song production
process from inspiration to final cut video as well as
details about his new book:
Outside the Jukebox:

How I Turned My Vintage Music Obsession into My Dream Gig

Imagine marrying the 21st century party vibe of Miley
Cyrus or the minimalist angst of Radiohead with the
crackly warmth of a vintage 78 or the plunger-muted
barrelhouse howl of a forgotten Kansas City jazzman.
Bradlee’s choice of material ranges from the ‘80s hard
rock of Guns N’ Roses to hits as recent as 2015’s
Justin Bieber plea “Sorry.” They’re rendered by a
rotating cast of musicians and singers in fashions
that date back to a time when Axl, Slash and Bieber’s
parents had yet to be born – a time of street corner
harmonies and torch singers, blues belters and
golden-voiced crooners.
All About That Bass
http://www.viduba.com/video:QVlVIZFSWdnVrFDUSxmWpVmVVpXWR1TP
Don’t stop believing’
https://tinyurl.com/ycxzw77b

—————————

 

3/7/18

NACUSA concert

Three’s Company featuring Trio Accento,
with
Limor-Toren-Immerman, violin;
Maksim Velichkin, cello and
Nora Chiang Wrobel, piano,

at Mimoda Studio,
5774 W. Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019.

Admission is free.

Works include:
Gernot Wolfgang: Jazz and Cocktails
Kenneth Froelich: Polarize
Russell Steinberg:  Paleface
Deon Nielsen Price: Angel Trio
Richard Derby: Introspection
William Toutant: Homage a Debussy.

——————————————

4/11/18

Coming to Vibrato April 11th @ 7:30pm
The Fabulous Grammy Nominated
PHIL NORMAN TENTET
reminiscent of the refreshing sounds of
West Coast Jazz.x
Los Angeles, CA.90077
Resevations call 310-474-9400

Click here to visit Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz

PLAYING THE MUSIC OF
Rogers & Hart, George Shearing, Benny Goodman,
Hank Mancini, Debussy, Joseph Kosma, Billy Strayhorn, Jimmy Forrest, Stanley Turrentine
Bob Nolan and others.

 

—————————————-

The Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at the Seattle Film Institute

is now accepting applications for the one-year

Master of Music in Film Composition

One of the Top 4 Film Music Programs in the World!

Recently rated as the #4 school in the world for film scoring education by Music School Central.

“in just one year, the school places students into a pressure cooker of intense learning resulting in a professional demo reel that can be used to obtain future paid commercial opportunities.”

 

Learn from Industry Professionals

All PNWFS faculty are active professional film and game composers, orchestrators, copyists, and engineers, including the program’s creator and lead instructor Dr. Hummie Mann.  Hummie is the two-time Emmy Award winning film composer of “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and featured in Variety Magazine’s article “Leaders in Learning”.

Our Program Features:
• 9 live recording sessions with professional musicians at Studio X, Seattle’s premiere, world-class studio.
• Opportunities to work with student directors to score actual films from film programs all over the world.
• 
Training in all major software programs used in the industry.
• 
A state-of-the-art workstation assigned to each student fully installed with the latest versions of all software, sample libraries and plug-ins needed to complete the program.

 

Accelerated and Affordable

We are a one-year Master of Music in Film Composition program which not only gives our graduates the opportunity to enter the industry and start their careers a year sooner than other programs but saves them an entire year of living expenses. In addition to our accelerated format we also offer the most affordable tuition out of competing programs. Our students have access to FAFSA financial assistance, loans, and scholarships as well.

 

History of Success

We are very proud to have a high success rate for our graduates who have gone on to work on television shows such as Castle, Empire, and Once Upon a Time; video games such as World of Warcraft, Spate, and Destiny; and films such as The Revenant, Trolls, The Dark Tower, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Apply now and you could be joining their ranks!

Applications are being accepted for the Fall 2018 school year.
We offer rolling admissions – no deadline to apply.

 

 

(800) 882-4734 | www.pnwfilmmusic.com
——————————————–

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47