I. VP VINCE TROMBETTA\u2019S RECENT OVERTURE COLUMN
\nII. NEW AFM VIDEO GAME CONTRACT
\nIII. REGARDING THE RECENT SIMPSON\u2019S WALKOUT COSTING LA MUSICIANS TEN SESSIONS
\nIV. PASADENA POPS PICKETING THIS PAST WEEKEND
\nV. A MESSAGE TO PMG MEMBERS
\nVI. ASMAC MASTERCLASS WITH RUSS GARCIA
\nVII. READER\u2019S COMMENTS<\/p>\n
I. VP VINCE TROMBETTA\u2019S RECENT OVERTURE COLUMN<\/p>\n
Did you read Vice-President Vince Trombetta\u2019s latest Overture article?<\/p>\n
Vice-President Vince Trombetta used the pages of our Local\u2019s newspaper, the
\nOverture, to launch thinly-veiled attacks not only on a Local 47 delegate to
\nthe national convention, but also fellow members who cared enough about the
\nfuture of our federation that they spent their own money to attend the convention
\nfor a week to witness the democratic process at work.<\/p>\n
GOOSE IS COOKED<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Imagine our surprise (or lack thereof) when we found that, because of the tenor
\nof Mr. Espinosa\u2019s campaign and the conduct of the RMA leadership that backed
\nhim, they pretty much had their own goose cooked, carved, and served before
\nthe convention even convened. While Mr. Trombetta may have paid the price for
\nbeing associated with them, don\u2019t let them rewrite history and pretend that he or Mr.
\nEspinosa were anywhere close to getting a foothold in the national offices of
\nour federation. The rest of the federation saw them coming.<\/p>\n
ILLEGAL VOTE<\/p>\n
There are a few things that should be cleared up to understand this situation.
\nAt last April\u2019s general membership meeting an officer of the RMA tried to
\nillegitimately pass legislation binding the delegates to vote as a block, following
\nthe will of the majority. When the lack of adequate notice about this proposed
\nlegislation was exposed as contrary to the by-laws the board was forced to
\nwithdraw it. Despite lacking the authority to do so, they then commanded
\nour delegation that they had to vote as a block anyway.<\/p>\n
Mr. Trombetta has told you Local 47 members that he only lost his bid for a
\nseat on the International Executive Board by a couple of votes. At the convention
\nhe tried to blame his loss on a Local 47 delegate whose participation counted for
\nonly eight votes.<\/p>\n
The problem? Mr. Trombetta didn\u2019t lose by a \u201ccouple of votes\u201d\u009d, he lost by FIFTY-NINE. He was nowhere near being elected, unless something happened to the three
\nmembers who received the next higher vote counts.<\/p>\n
Them’s the facts, folks.<\/p>\n
Here it is by the numbers:
\nINTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTIONS RESULTS ’07
\nJoe Parente 478 – elected
\nBob McGrew 462 – elected
\nRay Hair 361 – elected
\nErwin Price 303 – elected
\nBilly Linneman 293 – elected
\nWayne Morris 278
\nTina Morrison 247
\nVince Trombetta 234
\nBarbara Owens 220
\nDan Cerveny 168
\nFrank Glasson 137
\nVicky Smolik 54
\nHayden Wayne 20<\/p>\n
Why he would try to mislead the membership is anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n
We know this is old news, and if Mr. Trombetta hadn’t raised the issue,
\nneither would we. However, when he uses his column in our official
\npublication to continue to vent his sour grapes and try to avoid responsibility
\nfor his and his associates’ political setbacks, the situation simply demands
\na response. <\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
II. NEW AFM VIDEO GAME CONTRACT<\/p>\n
According to our sources, which include composers, players, contractors and
\nAFM sources, the new AFM Video Game contract has been bringing back and
\ncreating new Union video game work that would never before have been done
\nhere. The new AFM Video Game agreement is a great success at encouraging
\nnew UNION video game recording in Los Angeles. <\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
III. REGARDING THE RECENT SIMPSON\u2019S WALKOUT COSTING
\nLA MUSICIANS TEN SESSIONS<\/p>\n
The fear of player walkouts has made many composers hesitate to work here
\nsince the Simpson\u2019s VG debacle.<\/p>\n
Please let all your composer colleagues know that there are only a very small
\nnumber of rogue players who will actively sabotage their work. If they call
\nenough credible union contractors and players, it should become obvious very
\nquickly that there are so many world class, earnest players in Los Angeles that
\nthey will never have to worry about a walkout problem.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s up to all of us to get the word out!<\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
IV. PASADENA POPS PICKETING THIS PAST WEEKEND<\/p>\n
The picketing this past weekend at Descanso Gardens helped many in the audience
\nbetter understand what the Pops is facing. The audience overwhelmingly expressed
\ntheir support for the Pops Musicians.<\/p>\n
Many members and non-members of the Pops came out in solidarity for their
\ncolleagues. Who was missing? For the most part, Executive Board members.
\nOnly on Saturday did we see a lone board member, Bonnie Janofsky, who took
\nthe time to come out. <\/p>\n
On Friday, General Manager John Accosta came out representing the Local. And
\nto their credit, according to a Pops committee member, the Local supplied the funds
\nfor the materials used to make the signs and leaflets.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve gotten no report of board members attending the Sunday picketing.<\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
V. A MESSAGE TO PMG MEMBERS<\/p>\n
You might consider calling and asking the leadership of the PMG point blank where
\nyour H & W and Pension contributions will be going if they record. The contracts
\nbeing sent around for the PMG do not explain where those funds will be held. The
\nanti-AFM PMG benefits certainly cannot be going to the Motion Picture Fund, since
\nthey are not signatories to any AFM contract and have no standing to
\ncontribute on your behalf.<\/p>\n
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING!<\/p>\n
Why aren\u2019t Local 47 officers aggressively pursuing the illegality of this anti-AFM
\nmusicians group? Why is a PMG officer still employed by our Local? Whose side
\nis the President of our Local on? Need you ask?,\u2026<\/p>\n
Yes, you do.<\/p>\n
==================<\/p>\n
VI. ASMAC MASTERCLASS WITH RUSS GARCIA <\/p>\n
Saturday, August 25, 2007 \u2013 10am \u2013 1pm
\nin the auditorium of Professional Musicians LOCAL 47 \u2013
\n817 N. Vine \/ Hollywood, CA 90038 <\/p>\n
Modern Symphonic Composition Technique
\nwith RUSS GARCIA <\/p>\n
the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers
\nproudly presents a Masterclass with legendary
\ncomposer\/arranger\/author Russell Garcia. <\/p>\n
Over the last 70 years, Russ has been involved in so many high level
\nprojects one\u2019s imagination is staggered. Early years in radio \u201cThis Is
\nAmerica\u201d, later given his first \u201cbreak\u201d by Henry Mancini (The Glenn
\nMiller Story), then going on to work for Universal, Disney, Warner\u2019s
\nand NBC. Russ arranged the top selling album of Porgy and Bess, with
\nElla Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong. He collaborated with Mel Torm\u00e9,
\nMargaret Whiting, Stan Getz and worked for Stan Kenton, Oscar Peterson,
\nRay Brown and others. Russ was the composer on: Dark Harbor, Backtrack,
\nMy Dog Shep, Laredo, Three Guns for Texas, Atlantis, the Lost
\nContinent, The Time Machine, Carnival in April, and TV shows like
\nRawhide and The Virginian. He assisted Quincy Jones on his first 2
\nfilms, and has many albums out under his own name. He is currently
\nstill writing for artists, TV, concerts, using both big band, and
\nsymphonic orchestra. <\/p>\n
ASMAC Members free, Non Members 10.00, Students 5.00 <\/p>\n
Contact: David Blumberg (310) 454-3963
\nor the ASMAC office @ The Proper Image (818) 994-4661 <\/p>\n
OR RESERVE by email – asmac@theproperimageevents.com <\/p>\n
Website—www.asmac.org <\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
VII. READER\u2019S COMMENTS<\/p>\n
The comments below are the views of the contributors and not
\nnecessarily those of the COMMITTEE.<\/p>\n
Hello: <\/p>\n
So now, all of a sudden, I’m on RMALA’s mailing list. What’s up with
\nthat? I never asked to be on their list, and I did unsubscribe, but damn….. <\/p>\n
I’m REALLY getting sick and tired of the useless political mess that
\n47 has become. While some people are farting around trying to re-
\ncapture whatever monied glory days they enjoyed in the past, the
\nrest of us are being “bent over —- no ——– or ——— “! <\/p>\n
Nothing at all for composers, less than nothing for free-lancers,
\nno seeming opportunity for career advancement, and a bunch of
\npersonal bull—- that has no place in a Union that should be trying
\nto modify it\u2019s operations to deal with 21st Century issues. <\/p>\n
In light of all this, even the small personal pride I have just being an
\nAFM Member is being seriously and quickly eroded. <\/p>\n
I used to think no administration could be worse that Bush’s, but
\njudging from the hassles with the referral service, quorums, etc., I’m
\nafraid I was wrong. <\/p>\n
This is just wrong, period. And I thought Petrillo was the worst thing
\nthat ever happened to the Union. <\/p>\n
Please remind me….what am I paying $200 a year for? <\/p>\n
————–<\/p>\n
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that people of privilege, power, elite
\nstatus and position endeavor to preserve their advantages. In Pedagogy
\nof the Oppressed, Paulo Freire talks about how, seemingly ironically,
\nthe oppressed are often equally interested in preserving the controlling
\nstructure as the oppressor. This happens for a variety of reasons
\nincluding: the oppressed identify with or envy the oppressor, and
\nthe oppressed have been taught to change how they feel about
\nthe dominant structure rather than to change it. <\/p>\n
It doesn’t hurt that a portion of the unprivileged population will, under
\nmost any circumstances, remain loyal to a given power structure. It
\nis an apparently natural inclination toward self-imposed slavery,
\npersonal subjugation; these are people for which the reality of rugged
\nself-determination is either too rigorous or simply too demanding
\nintellectually. Thus domination persists and the status quo preserved. <\/p>\n
We LA musicians didn’t invent this human predicament but we find
\nourselves embroiled in it. However ineffective, unprincipled, dishonest,
\ncorrupt, covert, vision-less, entrepreneurial, greedy, and frankly jive, our current
\nunion leadership — however detrimental to the aspirations and dreams of the
\nrank-and-file, a large percentage of union members remain blindly loyal.
\nWhy? I’ve given you, the reader, a few hints above, and surely you have a
\nfew ideas of your own. <\/p>\n
One of the most effective weapons available for dealing with our current
\ncritical situation is information. We are familiar with the cheerleading
\npropaganda from Local 47. As they propagandize they act covertly. Like all
\nleaders with ambition and a totalitarian impulse they prefer the dark. We
\nneed information. The more the better. It\u2019s a shame that musicians are not
\nmore engaged in the discovery, understanding and dissemination of
\ninformation. <\/p>\n
When all is said and done the musical community owes a debt to the Committee
\nFor a Responsible 47. The Committee is increasingly unique and its activism
\nindispensable. One needn’t agree with everything presented, in fact one can
\nexpress one’s displeasure at will, anonymously if one wishes. Here one finds
\nan invaluable forum for communication and the exchange of vital information.
\nIf the union can be saved it will be through reform, reform which is only
\npossible (these days) through this kind of forum. This forum has predictably
\ncome under repeated attack but is certainly none the worse for wear. <\/p>\n
I write this as an independent; I’m not part of The Committee, nor am I an
\nadvocate for Tom Lee or any other union officer or aspirant. I am a lifelong
\nmusician however, who has worked all over the USA and Europe, as well as a
\nfew dates on other continents, so I would assert that my outlook is
\ndistictly unprovincial. <\/p>\n
Bravo to The Committee! <\/p>\n
Rick Blanc<\/p>\n
————–<\/p>\n
\u2026.about the Pasadena Pops<\/p>\n
Just got back from NYC. I notice that Rachel Worby [Conductor of the
\nPasadena Pops] landed in a soft place and kept HER gig. <\/p>\n
————–<\/p>\n
Unfortunately I am working at those times however, please relay if you can,
\nthat Dr. Foy aka Yo Yo Foy wants to organize an international orchestra that
\nwould eventually play before the United Nations. I know this sounds a bit “out
\nthere” but this evening I met Dr. and Mrs. Pearl, the parents of Daniel Pearl
\n(remember he was the news reporter who was executed) and they are the founders
\nof the Daniel Pearl Foundation which has one of its activities the Daniel Pearl
\nWorld Music Days, around the world. In this same crowd I made contact with
\na person at the United Nations . . . you can see where I am going with this . . .
\nIt has been a musical dream of mine (one of many I have to complete before
\nleaving this earth) to put together a United Nations Orchestra that would be
\ndedicated to bringing music to those less fortunate and to create ‘bridges of
\nfriendship’ in the process. That is the general idea of the orchestra so with the
\nPops going under it would be a no-brainer to utilize their talents if they don’t
\nmind me being in charge! I would have guest conductors and blend non-Western
\nmusic in the program so all countries are represented, as well as incorporating
\nmusical instruments from around the globe. <\/p>\n
So if you can take this message to that group’s leadership within the ranks of
\nthe musicians ( I am sure most of them know me at least know of me! ), it would
\nbe most appreciated. <\/p>\n
Thanks, Dr. Foy or Dr. Yo<\/p>\n
———<\/p>\n
[Forward of a letter sent to the appointed Secretary, Leslie Lashinsky]<\/p>\n
Dear Leslie,<\/p>\n
The people going Beck status have gone so….because they are:<\/p>\n
1) sick and tired of 100 people taking all the recording sessions and touting they
\nare the only ones qualified to do them. And by the way, many of those people are
\ndoing cash dates and having their cake and eating it too.<\/p>\n
2) sick and tired of the AFM waiting to fix the outsourcing of our LA based sessions
\nto Seattle and abroad.
\nthe business models have changed and the AFM has not.<\/p>\n
3) sick and tired of waiting around for a chance to play for the big contractor(s)<\/p>\n
4) just trying to pay bills and be busier regardless of the business model<\/p>\n
5) sick and tired of having solidarity for the AFM and nothing in return – ie: the
\npension take is going down and down<\/p>\n
6) sick and tired of watching LOCAL 47 being run poorly.<\/p>\n
GET MY WORK BACK FROM AROUND THE GLOBE AND I WILL
\nRE JOIN IMMEDIATELY!<\/p>\n
————<\/p>\n
If you find any [Recording work] – let me know – it’s vacation time for most
\nfolks – and after that – good luck on getting the scoring work back from Eastern
\nEurope<\/p>\n
complain to the committee<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Please get the AFM to start putting out the word about making deals –
\napathy is out there in the composer world – there are all saying “yeah, right,
\nAFM is not gonna do sh-t”<\/p>\n
I hope it’s not too late….
\nI think it is……..<\/p>\n
————<\/p>\n
It has been brought to light that the AFM is going to start facilitating employers
\nthat would normally go out of town to record to now stay in town with a single
\nproject short form deal. This is due because LA is clearly becoming a ghost town
\nas far as recording high, mid and low budget projects, especially lower budget
\nprojects – valid jobs still at that. <\/p>\n
With the advent of NEW ERA SCORING, there really is no other choice and the
\nfact that you have to wait a month to six weeks to get a free time slot to record in
\nSeattle doesn’t help matters. The AFM was not founded on a sweetheart fund that
\nwas created back in the 60’s to get studio players to re-join the AFM. The AFM
\nwas FOUNDED on wages, pension, health and working conditions. <\/p>\n
For instance: If you happen to be playing 2nd fiddle in a studio orchestra – do you
\nreally think that your 2nd fiddle parts you played are truly intellectual property??
\nCome on – get a grip. The only new uses for the most part happen when hit
\nRECORD date tunes are used in movies, jingles, or TV shows. A score that has
\nbeen recorded for a past movie RARELY fits another scores picture and timings so…….
\nnew uses are a beautiful thing…….but the GLOBAL SCORING ISSUES
\nHAVE TO BE ADDRESSED and that is what the AFM is going to do……get
\nAFM musicians back in the marketplace…..get the AFM up to speed with the
\nglobe.<\/p>\n
It’s only business, and we are watching it pass LA by daily. Unfortunate times but
\nreality has to be addressed. <\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Members: <\/p>\n
I received this attachment advertising the Lisbon Symphony services, I assume
\nfor film scoring. I don’t know how they got my email, as it’s not addressed to
\nmy email, but I do have “film scoring’ on my website so that may be the reason. <\/p>\n
I just felt you should know about this. <\/p>\n
Thanks! <\/p>\n
[The Reader then included a flyer on recording in Lisbon, Spain. We have chosen
\nnot to reprint it here.]<\/p>\n
———<\/p>\n
Thank you !
\nWHEN is the next meeting where this kind of destruction could take place?
\nWHAT can we do to turn things around? WHO are the most influential on the
\nReferral Service’s side? consequently, WHAT are our chances of actually
\nstopping Referral Service abolishment? <\/p>\n
[Editor\u2019s note: The next membership meeting is October 22nd
\nWhat can we do? – COME TO THE MEETING AND PARTICIPATE!]<\/p>\n
———<\/p>\n
About the various member passings\u2026.<\/p>\n
———<\/p>\n
Hi,<\/p>\n
Let us not overlook the passing of former Local 47 BOARD MEMBER Dr. Art
\nDavis.<\/p>\n
A complete obituary–minus his service to the Union, which you could supply–was
\nin the LA Times of Aug. 3.<\/p>\n
Thank you,<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
Correction: Local 47 lost 3 dear colleagues in the past week. <\/p>\n
Dr Art Davis served on the board of Local 47 in the mid-90s. He never hesitated
\nto speak out against the arrogance, racism, and exclusionary attitudes of certain
\nboard members. Some of the issues he addressed then are the same you are raising
\ntoday. (The more things change, the more they stay the same.) As you can imagine,
\nhis candor did not endear him to the power structure and his tenure on the board
\ndid not last very long. While his detractors would not give him the proper respect,
\nArt had the credibility to speak out because he was a credentialed orchestra musician
\nat the highest level, a prolific recording artist, and a master of his intrument in any
\ngenre of music.
\nArt Davis deserves a salute and a thank you for keeping it real. He gave it his best
\nshot.<\/p>\n
————-<\/p>\n
The funeral service August 11 for Patrick Morgan was a very moving, and
\nmusical, experience. Most of his relatives met his musician friends for the first time,
\nand vice versa. His aunt Luanna spoke during the service of finding a contract on
\nhis desk after being notified of Patrick\u2019s death. Starting with that phone number, by
\nthe third call she was referred to she reached Bobby Korda, who immediately also put
\nher in touch with Helen Crosby. In just three calls, his family was in touch with the
\nheart of Patrick\u2019s musical community.<\/p>\n
Helen and Mark Casillas made calls, and a 20-piece orchestra materialized to play at
\nthe service, with Robin Ross conducting. Many years ago, Helen pointed out to me
\nthat we musicians are a community. That insight has always stayed with me. Patrick\u2019s
\nrelatives brought that connectedness to a further level, referring to us in their remarks
\nand in the printed program as \u201cPatrick\u2019s musical family.\u201d That feeling will stay with
\nme too.<\/p>\n
Harriet Katz<\/p>\n
————–<\/p>\n
I can’t wait to see my local 47 obit.
\nplease, if your going to include any good stuff, also
\n include as much of the bad.<\/p>\n
============<\/p>\n
Until next time,<\/p>\n
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I. VP VINCE TROMBETTA\u2019S RECENT OVERTURE COLUMN II. NEW AFM VIDEO GAME CONTRACT III. REGARDING THE RECENT SIMPSON\u2019S WALKOUT COSTING LA MUSICIANS TEN SESSIONS IV. PASADENA POPS PICKETING THIS PAST WEEKEND V. A MESSAGE TO PMG MEMBERS VI. ASMAC MASTERCLASS WITH RUSS GARCIA VII. READER\u2019S COMMENTS I. VP VINCE TROMBETTA\u2019S RECENT OVERTURE COLUMN Did you […]<\/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-55","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\/55","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=55"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=55"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=55"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.responsible47.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=55"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}