Greetings Colleagues!,<\/p>\n
I.\tPASADENA POPS ELECTS NEW PLAYER COMMITTEE
\nII.\tRECENT FILM MUSIC WEEKLY EVENT CONSIDERED A SUCCESS
\nIII.\tMEMBER COMMENTS<\/p>\n
Colleagues!,<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget the General Membership Meeting on July 23rd! We need
\nyour participation to make sure our Local represents all of us! The meeting
\nstarts at 7pm. Don\u2019t be late!<\/p>\n
At the AFM Convention, representatives of the committee were frankly
\nsurprised and encouraged by how far and wide our e-mails were being distributed throughout the federation. From big and small locals, we received encouragement to continue pressing for a union that works for all its members
\nand for accountability of its officers. We found that the issues we deal with
\nin Los Angeles are shared by many locals around the federation.<\/p>\n
If you are receiving this mailing second- or third-hand, and wish to be added
\nto the mailing list, reply to: Commresp47@responsible47.com.<\/p>\n
The COMMITTEE<\/p>\n
I. PASADENA POPS ELECTS NEW PLAYER COMMITTEE<\/p>\n
Members of the Pasadena Pops showed up at Local 47 on Monday, July 2nd,
\nto vote for the Orchestral Committee that will take part in the negotiations
\nbetween the Pasadena Symphony, Pasadena Pops and Local 47. At stake are
\nthe jobs of 65 musicians in the Pasadena Pops. Initially described as a merger
\n(much like the LA Phil and the Hollywood Bowl), it wound up being the
\ndissolution of the Pasadena Pops, with the entire summer season going to
\nmembers of the Pasadena Symphony. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The members of the new Pasadena Pops Orchestral Committee are:
\nPaul Castillo
\nBob Carr
\nPhoebe Ray
\nBarry Socher
\nDoug Tornquist <\/p>\n
Hopefully they will keep the Local\u2019s feet to the fire on behalf of the tenured
\nand contracted musicians who have been in the Pasadena Pops over the past
\n20 years. We will keep you informed of what transpires.<\/p>\n
II. RECENT FILM MUSIC WEEKLY EVENT CONSIDERED A SUCCESS<\/p>\n
Last Tuesday, June 26th, 2007, Mark Northam and Charles Fernandez
\nmoderated a panel discussion of film recording in Los Angeles.
\nThose invited were:
\n*The AFM (American Federation of Musicians)
\n*NES (New Era Scoring)
\n*The PMG (Professional Musicians Guild)<\/p>\n
The PMG found they had no one to attend on their behalf and chose not
\nto answer written questions to had been shared with the audience.<\/p>\n
Though Local 47 had turned down the opportunity to participate a few weeks
\nearlier, they arrived expecting to be seated on the panel. AFM President Tom
\nLee insisted that Local 47\u2019s rep John Accosta be included, so with the
\npermission of the organizers Local 47 took the PMG\u2019s place on the panel.<\/p>\n
Below you will find the Article recently printed in the Film Music Weekly
\nconcerning the meeting:<\/p>\n
AFM, NES, Local 47 Speak Together at Historic Event in LA<\/p>\n
American Federation of Musicians (AFM) International President Tom Lee;
\nGreg Townley and Yoav Goren from New Era Scoring (NES); and AFM
\nLocal 47\u2019s John Acosta spoke together about unions, buyouts and more at
\na landmark event in Los Angeles sponsored by Film Music Magazine.<\/p>\n
For the first time in history, top representatives from the AFM and Local
\n47 sat at the same table with representatives from New Era Scoring, an
\norganization promoting buyout recording, at a public function and openly
\nand candidly answered questions about their respective business models,
\nbuyouts, special payments, unionizing composers, and much more. The event
\nwas moderated by Film Music Magazine\u2019s Mark Northam and composer
\nCharles Fernandez.<\/p>\n
The panelists were first asked prepared questions they had been sent in
\nadvance about areas of industry concern, including their views on why
\nmany recording jobs leave Los Angeles and are done non-AFM, and how
\nthe AFM can recapture lost recording work. After a short break, the panelists
\nparticipated in a 90-minute open question and answer session with questions
\nfrom the audience.<\/p>\n
AFM President Tom Lee spoke at length about his desire to work with
\nall parties involved in recording work to find answers that would
\ncreate more employment for AFM musicians in Los Angeles and
\nelsewhere. When asked about the subject of buyout agreements,
\nLee was supportive of preserving those gains which had been won
\nover decades of negotiations, but made it clear that given the realities
\nof the marketplace today, he believed reform was needed in order
\nto create more recording jobs for AFM players. Lee said he was open
\nto all ideas about how to move forward and noted that he believes
\nthe newly elected International Executive Board (IEB) of the AFM
\nshares his views about the need for reform.<\/p>\n
Greg Townley made it clear that NES was focusing its efforts on
\nthose companies who required buyout recording agreements and
\nwere not AFM signatories, and said NES had no interest in work
\nfrom those companies already working with the AFM. Townley
\nadded that just this past week NES had turned down work from a
\nclient who had previously been recording using AFM contracts.
\nTownley and NES co-founder Yoav Goren emphasized that neither
\nNES nor the AFM were in the business of obtaining work for
\nmusicians, and discussed the fundamental difference between the
\nAFM business model of musicians working as employees and the
\nNES model where musicians are hired and paid independent contractors.<\/p>\n
Local 47\u2019s John Acosta spoke about the encouraging increases in
\nfilm and television scoring work seen by Local 47, and the need for
\nAFM enforcement of current union agreements. Acosta and Lee
\nagreed on most issues discussed at the event, which may signal a
\nthaw in the chilly relationship between Local 47\u2019s recording musicians
\nand the AFM International, most recently involving Local 47
\nPresident Hal Espinosa\u2019s unsuccessful campaign against Lee for
\nthe AFM Presidency.<\/p>\n
Film Music Magazine\u2019s Mark Northam commented, \u201cThis was indeed
\na historic event. These two organizations with very different business
\nmodels came together and answered a lot of hard questions. Perhaps
\nmost importantly, it was clear that both organizations shared the goal
\nof wanting to create more recording jobs. After all the AFM election
\nrhetoric of the past few months which got unnecessarily personal and
\nugly, the industry was able to see Tom Lee, Greg Townley & Yoav
\nGoren, and John Acosta as the passionate professionals and concerned
\nleaders they are. They certainly did not agree on all the issues, but there
\nwas an open and candid dialogue, and that kind of candid communication
\nis the key to progress. We were honored to have them with us for this
\nimportant evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Co-moderator Charles Fernandez said, \u201cWe keep hearing so much
\nabout the conflict between Local 47 and the AFM, but after seeing
\nthe agreement at this event between Local 47 and Tom Lee on the vast
\nmajority of issues discussed, we have to wonder what the real source
\nof this conflict may be. The fact that the President and the Secretary
\nTreasurer, Sam Folio, of the AFM International traveled to this event
\nto speak to composers says a lot about this event, the AFM\u2019s commit-
\nment to Los Angeles composers and musicians, and their desire to work
\nwith everyone to create more AFM recording work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Highlights from the event:<\/p>\n
-Lee suggested that current union recording contracts may need to
\nbe updated to make them more competitive with the global marketplace.<\/p>\n
-Townley said NES is now ready to do buyout recording sessions and
\nhad assembled an orchestra of top Southern California players. <\/p>\n
-Lee suggested that based on what he heard at the event, he would be
\nwilling to sit down with NES representatives to discuss issues.<\/p>\n
-Acosta emphasized the growth that Local 47 was seeing in recording
\nwork for film and television.<\/p>\n
-Lee suggested that the AFM was interested in discussing the idea
\nof the AFM representing composers on videogame contracts and possibly
\non other contracts, including film and television.<\/p>\n
-When asked about the rates NES is paying musicians, Townley said
\nthe base hourly wage is $75 per hour, with higher rates for section
\nprinciples and the concertmaster.<\/p>\n
-Lee, Townley and Acosta all agreed that Los Angeles musicians were
\nthe best in the world.<\/p>\n
The Professional Musicians Guild, a new group formed by Los Angeles
\nrecording musicians, was invited to participate on the panel. PMG
\nPresident Andy Malloy indicated that the PMG\u2019s leaders were unavailable
\ndue to work and travel commitments, and declined an invitation to
\nprovide written answers to questions that would have been distributed
\nat attendees the event. <\/p>\n
III. MEMBER COMMENTS<\/p>\n
The comments below represent only the views of the writer and not necessarily
\nthe views of the COMMITTEE.<\/p>\n
I see the RMA is back to doing what they do best, playing the blame game.
\nThey ought to look in the mirror.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
When I started elementary school, I was taught that 1+1=2, not 3. I use
\nthis analogy, because based on the information I have heard over the last
\nfew months and have been reading in e-mails from the Committee,
\nsomething does not make sense to me. In addition to the revelation that
\nMarc Sazer is the Secretary of the PMG as described in the last Committee
\ne-mail quote from PMG President, Andy Malloy, “The PMG president
\nwanted us to let you know that Mr. Sazer is most certainly NOT the
\nPMG Secretary-Treasurer; Mr. Sazer is the SECRETARY of the PMG”
\n(which I assume is a factual statement), I have also been reading in the
\nOverture and heard stated publicly by our Local 47 President, Mr. Espinosa,
\nthat our union considers the PMG a threat to the union. <\/p>\n
Now if President Bush were addressing the Senate, giving an anti-terrorism
\nspeech, and Osama Bin Laden stood up in the Senate chamber and asked to
\nput forth a piece of legislation, what do you think would happen? (OK, bad
\nexample, we are after all, talking about George W. Bush!). And for that
\nmatter I don’t even take as extreme a position against the PMG or Mr. Sazer
\nas Mr. Espinosa does – in fact, despite the fact that organizations such as the
\nPMG and NES are in competition with the AFM, in this political climate, a
\n little competitive motivation might be in order. <\/p>\n
What I am talking about is that after hearing the board’s strong position
\nagainst the PMG, it was interesting to be among the 400+ at the last general
\nmembership meeting as I watched Mr. Sazer submit his proposals for tripling+
\nthe quorum, etc., and hold the floor for a good portion of the evening without
\nbeing challenged even once by Mr. Espinosa about his position in the PMG.
\nAre we to believe that Mr. Espinosa is in the dark about Mr. Sazer’s involve-
\nment in the PMG or is it just bad union etiquette for the board to confront a
\nmember in a public forum (and wait until later to bash the PMG in the union
\npaper)? Or is it something else? <\/p>\n
Getting back to the national stage, Bill Maher made in my opinion a brilliant
\ncomment one night when talking about all those who have been loyal to President
\nBush despite scandal after scandal – (I paraphrase), “I can understand being
\nloyal to your country or an idea, but you’re not just supposed to be loyal to a
\nperson”. Of course, if we all lived in England, the latter might be true; but in
\na representative democracy, when an elected official is no longer loyal to an idea
\nthat is the basis for your involvement in a union or other organization, only in a
\ntrue democracy is it reasonable (and often healthy) for a grass-roots movement
\nsuch as the Committee, NES or even the PMG to arise. I truly wish I could be
\nmore proud of the job my Local 47 leadership was doing and be able to
\nsay that they are representing the interests of the entire membership. If the
\nunion and its board were doing its job for the benefit of all, we would not
\n likely see such organizations gain the momentum they have. But lately all
\nwe hear from the board is “stick with us”, “show unity”. We don’t need
\nmore slogans, what we need is a change in leadership.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Lennie Moore has been a friend of mine since College & I think the Mr.
\nBabcock\u2019s attack on him is unwarranted. What is it with people in this
\nbusiness? Do they reach a certain degree of success and develop selective
\namnesia when it comes to their own career? Please, Local 47 leadership,
\nplease publish, if you can, a list of people working today that have never,
\nnever ever, done a non-union job.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Thanks. Not sure what you meant about Phil Ayling, although I am aware
\nhe basically ran that meeting. I still noticed that Sazer had a lot of ‘air time’
\n that night – plenty of opportunities for Hal to say, “Hey, aren’t YOU a member
\nof the PMG!?”. <\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Dear Committee for a responsible 47,<\/p>\n
Thank you for keeping me on the mailing list. I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet
\nany of you at the Convention. <\/p>\n
After hearing the arguments from the RMA, both publicly and privately, I
\nwas convinced that they are making a mistake in following the path they
\nare on. In fact the more they talked, the less sympathy I had for their position.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Hi _________,<\/p>\n
Thanks for posting my last diatribe. Now, here’s a good one:<\/p>\n
I spelled it right this time. I would like to share with the rest of the union
\nwhat the PMG (which is not part of the union), has in store for Local #47.
\nAnd to think that the Pacific Symphony Committees threats to it’s musicians,
\nLocal 7’s threats to members of Pagent of the Masters, and Local 47\/RMALA’s concerns, are all directed at New Era Scoring, and the legal status of was is
\nnow called Fi-Core.
\n Boys & girls, here is a threat that will destroy the union forever. Please
\nread the goals and purposes of this organization who promise fair dealing
\nand equal opportunity for all. (Hey, that means me too!!! I’m sending
\n’em my hundred bucks right now! I can’t wait for my first real gig. Never
\nmind if it’s illegal, everybody\u2019s doing it! Besides, I want to get mine. Even
\nif I have to abandon my freinds who don’t make the grade.)<\/p>\n
“It’s more about personality than hardly anything else. You have to be
\nout there to sell yourself \u00ad\u00ad it’s really not so much about the music.”
\n -That’s right folks, some one important actually said this. If they are
\nright, may be you don’t have to be hot _ _ _ _ to play on film scores. <\/p>\n
————–<\/p>\n
Qoute from PMG:
\n\u201cThe Professional Musicians Guild is a new labor union dedicated to
\nthe democratic and effective representation of the world’s finest musicians.\u201d
\nI can think of a few musicians in world-class orchestras around the world that
\nwould find that statement amusing and absurd. It does however, reflect exactly
\nhow inflated they are of their own importance.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Hey Bruce Babcock<\/p>\n
Food for thought<\/p>\n
Have you ever thought that we wouldn’t be in the mess we are if all of the
\n composers banded together and TURNED DOWN that non-union score
\nslated for out of town?? – then the job just wouldn’t get done would it?<\/p>\n
BUT NO……….we have all the big names being sent elsewhere just so they
\ncan get their front end money and back end royalties, with no regard to me
\nand my freelance musician career here in LA<\/p>\n
ADDRESS YOUR FELLOW COMPOSERS and get them to TURN DOWN
\nnon-union work too…..<\/p>\n
Let’s start with that Bruce…….<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
A question for the RMALA: HAVE YOU NO SHAME? <\/p>\n
And one for LA musicians: HAVE YOU NO SPINE? <\/p>\n
And a rhetorical question: HOW LONG WILL THIS CRAP CONTINUE? <\/p>\n
Rick Blanc
\n(please attach name)<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
BRUCE BABCOCK – come up with a solution please – to make LA competitive
\nagain <\/p>\n
It’s not status quo with the same contracts with back end crafted well before any
\nof the technologies that are available today<\/p>\n
When the secondary markets plan was drawn up – years ago – You had to record
\nmovies in the US, mostly in LA and it was just the way it went. <\/p>\n
Technology has rendered OLD AGREEMENTS NULL AND VOID – sorry – <\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
When I sit here as a player\/contractor year after year, and wonder where my
\nlarger orchestral recording sessions have gone, all that I have to do is look at
\nthe movie credits and see Seattle, and London and Prague listed.
\nYes there are still many large and small budget movies being scored under
\ncurrent AFM agreements in LA but mostly but the same people week after
\nweek – because those producers “GET” the profit sharing equation.<\/p>\n
The producers that don’t “GET” the profit sharing equation should have an
\noption as well – and that is exactly what
\nTOM LEE and these new deals are going to provide – AN OPTION at a VERY
\ndesperate time in the scoring industry<\/p>\n
If you are a big session player – than these jobs will not be of interest to you…..
\nso you will not get the call and let the work come back to the young player,
\nthe passed over player so they can work too….they will have a higher pension
\nas a form of back end – PERIOD – GET OVER IT<\/p>\n
Ask some of your other unions like IATSE if they punish their members for
\ndoing a job that is not on contract…. they are encouraged to take it between
\ntheir union jobs – <\/p>\n
A union job regardless of back end – done in LA instead of non-union job
\nin SEATTLE should get the vote of ALL AFM members – defect PMG and
\nsee how you fare by yourself out there<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Dear COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47,<\/p>\n
Thank you for sending this update. <\/p>\n
I appreciate the time you are putting in to help us understand the
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
I truly enjoy reading this mail every time I get it. Keep it up.
\nLocal 47 member since 1971<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
PRINT THIS – <\/p>\n
IT’S OVER FELLAS – the ability to do what recording musicians in
\nLA can do CAN BE done all over the world<\/p>\n
IT’S OVER – how much are you working DeCresent studio musician?? \u2013
\nenough front end money to support your same lifestyle? – I am not
\ntalking bout that fat check coming up on the 1st of JULY either – I am
\ntalking bout FRONT END – DAY TO DAY WORK – <\/p>\n
Everyone who thinks that SEATTLE should continue to flourish write
\nback in……because that is exactly what continue to happen if you allow
\nthe status quo recording contracts to remain<\/p>\n
Everyone that thinks that SEATTLE needs to go away, and the only way
\nto squash them is to
\nBECOME COMPETITIVE – write back in – <\/p>\n
It is not the rank and files fault the the recording environment has changed \u2013
\nIT IS SIMPLE ECONOMICS and BILL GATES would tell you to go back
\nto work – or ride the TITANIC to the OCEAN FLOOR<\/p>\n
And leave TOM LEE and his cronies alone – he is listening to the needs
\nof ALL MUSICIANS<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Bruce Babcock is living in a hole somewhere??<\/p>\n
LIBRARY MUSIC IS A REALITY<\/p>\n
Unfortunate BUT TRUE <\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
REALITY CHECK – RMALA ELITE AND BIG SPECIAL PAYMENT
\nCHECK PEOPLE<\/p>\n
If I get one day of work doing a double session each week even at the
\nmiserly LOW BUDGET scale
\n181.63- 3 hrs X 2 = 363.26 with NO BACK END
\nand do that for 50 weeks – 2 weeks vacation accounted for – it will bring
\nin to me…..HOLD ON NOW……<\/p>\n
18,163 dollars more a year income –<\/p>\n
36,326 if I do TWO days of “doubles” at LOW BUDGET rate…….need I
\ngo on?<\/p>\n
And how long would it take for my Secondary Market check to get up
\nto that size??<\/p>\n
See why the rest of the NON RMALA ELITE want to just work!!<\/p>\n
For all those that are holding on to the OLD business model of
\nresiduals for EVERYTHING they do now – you can’t blame them
\nbut…..<\/p>\n
The music business has:
\nchanged technology wise
\nchanged from the producers perspective
\nbeen changed because of around the world scoring locations<\/p>\n
my income form the big check (mid 4 figures) in JULY is always welcome
\nfrom the handful of jobs that I have done over 20 years that end up on the
\nresidual train. In those last 20 years.
\nI have never worked a big session for the big contractor(s). I make low 6
\nfigures yearly being a survivor and being very good at business. I suggest
\nALL UNION MEMBERS get a grip on reality and GET BACK TO WORK
\nANY WAY POSSIBLE AS FAR AS SESSIONS! GET BEHIND THE
\nAFM – even if you think they are not doing you right.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Hello, <\/p>\n
I would like to submit a letter, but have my name kept off of it.
\nHow do I do that? (Sorry, I’m pretty naive about this stuff.) <\/p>\n
Thank you!<\/p>\n
[Editor\u2019s Note: Unless specifically requested, such as Rick Blanc\u2019s
\nletter above, the COMMITTEE always keeps the writer anonymous.]<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
I always look forward to reading your emails, and I appreciate that
\nthey are in TEXT format, unlike the slick HTML crap that Local 47
\nsends out. <\/p>\n
Speaking of their emails, have you seen the “Open Letter To Serena
\nKay Williams?” While I wouldn’t doubt that the writer could hold her
\nown as a player on any Sandy Session, the whole thing comes across to
\nme as a bunch of ass-kissing by someone who is hoping to ingratiate
\nherself with the “in crowd” and get more studio work rather than working
\nto improve employment opportunities for all Union members.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
I’m glad this is your final message. Each new one from your
\nnameless faceless committee turns me more against whatever you
\nmight be promoting. <\/p>\n
[EDITOR\u2019S NOTE: This was from an AFM member from another
\npart of the Country, responding to our last email before the recent
\nconvention.]<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Hi ______,
\n Why would any union contractor want to be on a board of advisors
\nat the USC Music School? I’ll bet they have really good advice for
\ngraduating musicians. “Join the RMA! We’ll get you enough work to pay
\nyour rent (hee-yuk, hee-yuk)!” I am sure that the USC music department
\nappreciates the advice (and donations?) from people who know how to
\ngive union members the business. Keep your fingers in the pie!
\n Why would Tambourine Studios say “The RMA is not the Union, but
\nthey know how to work with the AF of M efficiently.” I guess I’m chopped
\nliver.
\n RMA, you are correct about the ‘Anger Train’ you were talking about at
\nthe last union meeting. It already ran you over and you still don’t realize it.
\nBy the way, using ‘shame’ tactics on musicians who have gone fi-core is
\nillegal. Get out your law books.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
What is the RMA and who is Phil Ayling??????<\/p>\n
————-
\n————-<\/p>\n
Local 47 Brothers and Sisters,
\nWe\u2019ll see you at the meeting on July 23rd!<\/p>\n
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Greetings Colleagues!, I. PASADENA POPS ELECTS NEW PLAYER COMMITTEE II. RECENT FILM MUSIC WEEKLY EVENT CONSIDERED A SUCCESS III. MEMBER COMMENTS Colleagues!, Don\u2019t forget the General Membership Meeting on July 23rd! We need your participation to make sure our Local represents all of us! The meeting starts at 7pm. Don\u2019t be late! At the AFM […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-committee-newsletters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=51"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=51"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=51"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}