I. FLASHBACK TIME – 2005 – PART I
II. MEMBER COMMENT I
III. MEMBER COMMENT II –
IV. VIENNA SCORING STAGE REACHES OUT
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. FLASHBACK TIME – 2005 – PART I
In 2005, a highly placed group of musicians, frustrated with the
destruction of work in recording, put forward this proposal.
Even then the damage to recording because of the unusable recording
contracts forced down the throats of AFM Members because of the
RMA leadership was losing us major work – and that was almost 11
years ago.
AS A REMINDER, THIS WAS ALMOST 11 YEARS AGO….
MAY 2, 2005
Recording music for film, TV and video games is a commercial business. While
the music itself is a creative art form utilizing many talents – negotiations with
producers, directors and composers, in addition to the preparation of budgets
and contracts is nothing less than running a business.
Recorded music becomes a product for sale, a commodity. What does the
market demand and what will it bear? How can the musicians who record this
music be fairly compensated, without giving away or compromising their product?
How can their product result in a steady revenue stream while competing in a
global economy that has changed the way we do business forever? These are
the questions we must face and respond to when considering and ultimately
proposing monumental changes to the national AFM Motion Picture Agreement.
The rapid and dramatic decline of motion picture union recording projects in the
U.S. during the last 10 years coincides with a substantial and devastating
increase in recording projects outsourced in non-union environments as well as
foreign unionized countries. The historical pattern of how and why we got to this
point must be reviewed and analyzed. We must then make an organized and
thoughtful effort to recapture and reinvent our recording opportunities by creating
a new business model.
The current longstanding business model – reflected in AFM recording
agreements – has failed to maintain a regular flow of recording opportunities for
the majority of our rank and file recording musicians. The agreements are
outdated and woefully inadequate to compete in today’s global market.
Producers consistently seek a buyout alternative so they can close out their
books once the music is recorded. In addition, many composers confined with
package deals and a restricted budget are forced to go non-union or with a
foreign orchestra “buyout”, rather than face the unknown back-end charges
associated with our current motion picture agreements.
There is a significant financial burden placed on our locals and the AFM due to
policing and enforcing the secondary market issues on these outdated contracts,
not to mention the consuming hours of labor in order to impose compliance.
Money and time would be much better spent on lobbying for more work for our
musicians through federal and state tax incentive legislation.
The complexity of the agreements themselves consistently turn off producers
because they are difficult to read and the terms and conditions challenging to
understand. A more user-friendly and concise agreement is necessary.
We have just witnessed video game recording – a new and explosive opportunity
for recording soundtracks – fly right out of California, where most of the larger
video game companies reside, and go directly to Seattle and London. It is a fact
that only one video game score has been recorded on an AFM contract in the
U.S. since early December 2004, compared with 14 projects recorded last year.
The business model that resulted in the outsourcing of motion picture production
and recording – a process over the last 15 years – is the same model in its
infancy used for video game projects, which are running away at warp speed. It
has taken just four months for this new industry to be almost completely
outsourced.
This broken business model – with new use provisions attached – is driving work
away at an amazingly accelerated speed. This recording work must be recaptured
immediately or we will be lamenting about these runaways for many years to come,
just as we are now looking back at years of motion picture scores being recorded
elsewhere.
As long as other viable options (i.e. non-union; buyout agreements in foreign
countries) exist for film producers, the U.S. will never see a substantial amount of
work return to this country without adopting a “buyout” option in our agreements.
A successful business model, offering attractive economic incentives must be
procured to bring back work to our U.S. recording centers and to help foster new
relationships with film producers and composers.
WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL MODEL
A successful business model takes an idea and converts it into an
economically viable business. It defines how an entity is positioned
in a specific industry and market, and how its value can be maximized
and sustained. A consistent and successful generation of revenue is
related to strategy, economics, operations, finance, innovation and
marketing.
“The classic business model that has dictated the structure of every
company from General Motors to Microsoft is so at odds with contemporary
economic currents that it must and will disappear. The old principles no
longer work in the new age. Businesses have reached the old model’s limits
with respect to complexity and speed. The real problem is a ruinously
dysfunctional mismatch between today’s business environment and the
classic business model… Quite simply, the wrong model may transform a
company into the vehicle of its own death.” 1
The successful entities of the future need to harness the full potential of
the entire organization in the rapidly changing business environment.
“The world is going to be too tough and competitors too ingenious as companies
are shaken loose from traditional ways of conducting business. The winners
will be the unbridled firms that are responsive to challenges and adroit in both
creating and capturing opportunities.” 1 Consistent ineffectiveness in how we
have been doing business requires new strategies and thoughtful innovation.
HOW DO WE COMPETE?
A sustainable competitive advantage that positions our recording industry in
the market to effectively maintain a steady flow of business, while surviving
against the competition over a long period of time needs to be implemented.
This requires constant reinvention of the terms and conditions of our agreements
and resources, adaptability of ever-changing global market conditions and
the creation of value-added incentives for new and sustained business.
Now is the time to take advantage of favorable economic conditions in the
U.S., when the British pound is strong and the dollar’s purchasing power
is considerably diminished in other countries. In addition to the proposed
changes to the Motion Picture Agreement, there should be continuous lobbying
for taxincentives through federal and state legislation to keep production in this
country.
Foreign governments have been extremely aggressive in this area, in order
to attract U.S. businesses and keep them returning. In some instances, there
are partnerships (government and production company) encouraging foreign
investment in the local economy.
We would prefer to maintain a national agreement that represents ALL recording
musicians, rather than shift to the current and popular idea of negotiating
separate local agreements in individual cities. Now is the opportunity for us
to leverage our negotiating power and lead our recording industry into a
new level of sustainability and prosperity in the U.S.
NEXT TIME – HISTORY
…and London
===============================
MEMBER COMMENT I -DUPLICITOUS CONDUCT?
Dear Editor,
Contrary to the initial reasons offered by the Local to sell Vine Street, e.g.
the need of a new roof, electrical upgrades, and the desire for ADA
compliance, the real reason to sell Vine Street appears to be about
having enough money to continue doing business as usual. To get
the referendum passed, the Local spent thousands of dollars of its
resources beyond the the costs of promotional materials and mailings
charged to the “Club”. The Local by their own admission generated
20,000 phone calls encouraging members to vote YES.
What the membership might not know, is that the Union hired a person
by the name of Erick Cruz at the beginning of the referendum process in
October. Erick, who only one month prior, looks to have been an employee
of the same company that was hired by the Local to promote the sale of
Vine Street.
Erick Cruz was assigned to help the Election Board and indeed was the
person identified by the Election Board Chair as the person who helped
scan the ballots.
Erick Cruz’s LinkedIn profile identifies his job description at Bridge Street
as “Social Innovation Organizer” and subsequently Local 47 “Campaign
Manager.” Does anyone see a problem with this?
A partisan with his hands all over the ballots? In what universe does the
administration reside in thinking this is appropriate?
An attempt to speak with Erick Cruz on the day of the referendum count
concerning his participation was thwarted by the gruff intentional intrusion
by the Local’s attorney. Not only was the conversation interrupted
but, the attorney physically removed him from member inquiry.
In an event that appears to be related, the Board minutes of 2/16/16
reflect the resignation of a member of the Election Board. As a member
observer at that Executive Board meeting, I can attest to the naming
of Erick Cruz and that certain of Cruz’s actions were disturbing.
Member Observer
[EC: What was the attorney afraid of? More and more questionable
conduct,… and the board says nothing. do ethics mean anything
anymore?]
===============================
III. MEMBER COMMENT II
The local put in a formal bid several weeks ago.
I don’t know what that was or whether or not they
received a response yet.
Using the facts that are known and methods of deductive
thinking, 47 has some real challenges going forward.
Acosta stated in this month’s electronic newsletter that
they will not sell the Vine street property until the new
property is secured first. That means that for all practical
purposes they will have to put up some cash as deposit on a
new property to secure it.
So, how much money would it take in deposit to secure a
$10M property, and does 47 have that cash?
I think what really has not been available is full disclosure
to the membership. What I’m not sure about is how much of that
is being deceitful and how much of that is ignorance, It seems
that nobody on that Board knows what to do, let alone just what
is going on.
[EC: According to the record of the 2/9/16 EC Meeting, Acosta
accepted an offer on the Vine Street building (We further heard
that the bid was for 25 Million). We’ve also been told that the
Alameda building is still in play, but no word that it has been
definitely secured. So did he misrepresent the situation to the
membership? If the bid was accepted before a building was
secured, it’s just another example of the President printing
untruths in his articles. and yet the membership just sits idly by.]
===============================
IV. VIENNA SCORING STAGE REACHS OUT
…another result of our unusable contracts
Info from Postcard….
HOLLYWOOD MUSIC WORKSHOP 2016
Learn hands on from Hollywood’s Music Elite
3-day and 6-day Master Classes
from July 6- August 11,2016
Work with top Composers, Arrangers and Orchestrators
Record your composition with an 18pc orchestra at the brand new
VIENNA SCORING STAGE
www.hollyoodmusicworkshop.com
===============================
V. EVENTS
DEAN AND RICHARD
DEAN AND RICHARD are now playing every third Friday
at Culver City Elks 7:30pm-10;30pm,
11160 Washington Pl.
Culver City, 90232
310-839-8891
————————————-
LA WINDS JAZZ KATS 584
NO COVER, NO MINIMUM.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Viva Cantina
7:30-10:00.
900 Riverside Drive, Burbank.
Free parking across the street at Pickwick Bowl.
Come hear your favorite charts played the way they
should be.
We are in the back room called the Trailside Room.
Come on down. Guaranteed to swing.
————————————-
NEW RUSS GARCIA BOOK
Russell Garcia: Russell wrote his auto-biography
“I Have Hundreds Of Stories, Some Of Them True”
before he passed away at age 95 in New Zealand,
on 20 Nov 2011. The book is out now.
Russell was a world renowned composer-arranger-conductor
who wrote music for over 100 films. He is known for his
innovative music score for the film “Time Machine”. Garcia
is also known in both the TV and recording fields and has
composed music for countless TV shows such as, Rawhide,
Twilight Zone, Laredo, The Virginian. He has recorded many
CDs in his own right, as well as with stars such as, Louis
Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Vic Damone, Judy Garland,
Oscar Peterson, Julie London, to name a few.
Garcia has also written 2 best-selling text books The Professional
Arranger-Composer “ Book I and Book II, which have been translated
into 6 languages. He is known also for his symphonic and classical
works which have been performed by the New Zealand Symphony,
Munich Symphony, the Vienna Symphony, plus countless Radio
Symphony Orchestras throughout Europe. He was often a guest
lecturer at many universities around the world on Symphonic
Composition Techniques. Russell and his wife Gina made New
Zealand their home in 1971 while continuing to work in the Music
and Film Industry. He was awarded the Queens Service Medal
for his service to music in 2009.
(www.buildabetterworldproductions.com)
—————————————————
3/31/16
DIANE HUBKA
Thursday, March 31, 2016
@ 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Canyon Bistro in Topanga
120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. #119
Topanga, CA 90290
310-455-7800
Diane Hubka – vocalist, guitar
Chili Corder – guitar
Harvey Barkan, LA JAZZ SCENE – “Delightful crystal clear vocals,
with a jazz-attitude presentation.”
All About Vocals – “Hubka has an unaffected style that feels
honest and organic. She truly conveys the story of the lyric”
——————————————-
4/6/26
ASMAC PRESENTS: FIRST WEDNESDAYS
CONCEIVING AN ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENT
Eliot Deutsch and Patrick Williams
FIRST WEDNESDAY’S
Wed. April 6, 2016 – 7:00pm
ELLIOT DEUTSCH and PATRICK WILLIAMS
Wednesday April 6, 2016 7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.
Free Event for members of Local 47 and ASMAC, $10 for guests
AFM Local 47, 817 Vine St. Hollywood CA 90038
Elliot Deutsch is a rising star among young arrangers in
Los Angeles. Patrick Williams is one of the most accomplished
and in-demand arrangers today. They will each present an
arrangement that they have written and recorded and talk
about their process. Come and learn how an accomplished
arranger conceives of his or her unique vision through the
scope of a familiar tune.
PATRICK WILLIAMS
Having composed the music for over 65 feature films,
100 television films, 25 television series, as well as 19
albums and 30 concert works, Patrick Williams has established
himself as one of the most accomplished and prolific
composers in the music industry today. He has received
four Emmy awards with twenty-two nominations and two
Grammy awards with twenty-one nominations, two of
which come from his latest release, “Home Suite Home”.
He has also been nominated for both an Academy Award
and the Pulitzer Prize in music. He is a recipient of the
Richard Kirk Award from BMI and the Golden Score Award
from the American Society of Music Arrangers and
Composers.
Born in Missouri, Williams grew up in Connecticut and received
a degree in history from Duke University. His first love, however,
was always music, and when he went on to Columbia to study
music composition and conducting, his passion became
his profession. He quickly became busy as an arranger in New
York, and then in 1968, he moved to California to pursue work
in the film and television industry while continuing to write
and arrange jazz albums. Proficiency in composing for
symphony orchestras as well as jazz bands has offered
Williams an opportunity to create a wide variety of works.
Among his critically acclaimed compositions are An American
Concerto, a piece featuring a jazz quartet and symphony orchestra,
for which he received a 1977 Pullitzer Prize nomination; Gulliver,
featuring a symphony orchestra with narrator, for which he received a
Grammy nomination (narration by Larry Gelbart and performed by Sir
John Gielgud); Suite Memories, which features a solo trombone with
symphony orchestra and won a Grammy award; Theme for Earth Day,
an overture, recorded by the Boston Pops; Spring Wings, a double
concerto written by saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and pianist Dave
Grusin with symphony orchestra; Romances, a concerto for jazz
saxophonist Tom Scott and orchestra; A Concerto in Swing for big
band and clarinet, which was dedicated to and premiered by Eddie
Daniels; Adagio for Orchestra composed in 2004; and August
composed in 2005. He recently completed a ballet, “Ziji”, with
choreographer Edgar Zendejas to honor the 60th Anniversary of the
College of the Fine Arts at the University of Utah.
Some of Williams’ big band recordings are considered classics of
contemporary big band instrumentals, such as Threshold for which
he received a Grammy in 1974; Too Hip for the Room, for which he
received a Grammy nomination in 1983; Tenth Avenue which received
a Grammy nomination in 1987 and Sinatraland, a big band tribute to
Frank Sinatra for which he received a Grammy nomination in 1998. In
2006, he received two Grammy nominations for the album Elevation
with Tom Scott and Eddie Daniels.In September 2001, he won an
Emmy for his song, “A Dream That Only I Can Know,” from the film,
Yesterday’s Children. In 2002, he received an Emmy nomination for
his score for “We Were The Mulvaneys” and a Grammy nomination for
“The Theme from Blonde” from the sountrack album for the TV
miniseries Blonde, a portrait of Marilyn Monroe. In 1992, Williams
won the Emmy for the mini-series “Jewels”. He has composed and
arranged themes and scores for television series including The
Streets of San Francisco, Lou Grant, The Days and Nights of Molly
Dodd, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, the Bob Newhart Show, Columbo,
Slap Maxwell, The Tony Randall Show, and the Magician. Recent
television projects include Hercules, starring Sean Astin, The Perfect
Husband: The Laci Peterson Story; When Angels Come To Town and
Finding John Christmas starring Peter Falk; James Patterson’s First to
Die; Power and Beauty;The Thin Blue Lie; The Three Stooges with
Michael Chiklis and A Cooler Climate starring Sally Field and Judy
Davis. Of the 65 plus films Williams has scored in his career, a few
include Breaking Away, for which he received a 1978 Oscar
nomination; All of Me, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Swing
Shift, Cuba, Violet’s Are Blue, Casey’s Shadow, The Cutting Edge,
Cry-Baby, and The Glass Harp. Williams is also an accomplished
arranger with extensive credits. The album, For Ella featuring Patti
Austin, which he co-produced and arranged, was nominated for a
2003 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal album. He was chosen by Frank
Sinatra to act as Musical Director/ Arranger- Conductor for his final
studio recordings, Duets and Duets II. He has arranged recordings for
Michael Bublé, Jack Jones, Andrea Bocelli, Paul Anka, Peter Cincotti,
Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, Gloria Estefan, Michael Feinstein, Vince
Gill, Amy Grant, Thomas Hampson, Barry Hay, Monica Mancini, Barry
Manilow, Bette Midler, John Pizzarelli, Brian Setzer, Barbara Streisand,
Traincha, and Russell Watson.
Williams has been a leader in the music education field for many
years, holding posts as Visiting Professor and Composer in Residence
at the University of Utah and the University of Colorado, which
awarded him an Honorary Doctoral Degree. He has performed and/or
lectured at many colleges including Berkeley College of Music,
Cornell University, Duke University, Indiana University, Texas
Christian University, (1993 Green Honors Professor), UCLA, USC, and
Yale University. In May 2001. he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate
of Fine Arts from Duke University. He served as Artistic Director of
the Henry Mancini Institute from 2001 to 2006.
——————-
Elliot Deutsch is a busy composer and arranger of large ensemble
jazz music. In its tenth year of performing, the Elliot Deutsch Big
Band has released two albums, played in every major jazz venue in
Los Angeles, and hosted an impressive list of guest stars including
Cheryl Bentyne, Janis Siegel, Ron Stout, and many others. Deutsch
has written for Arturo Sandoval, Bill Watrous, Jane Monheit, Take 6,
Terence Blanchard, and many others. In 2015, Deutsch arranged
several songs for the Kennedy Center Gala “It Don’t Mean a Thing… A
Celebration of Swing” under the musical direction of John Clayton.
His compositions and arrangements are published by Alfred and
Walrus Music.
Deutsch is also a busy educator, serving on the faculties of Cal Poly
Pomona and Long Beach City College. Deutsch has written numerous
commissions for school jazz bands including USC, Caltech, CSULB,
Cal Poly Pomona, Esperanza High School, and many others. He
lectured on arranging for Middle School Jazz Ensemble at the 2016
Jazz Educators Network National Conference.
Wednesday April 6, 2016 – 7 PM
FREE for ASMAC/Local 47 members
$10 for guests and students
Free parking.
Meet-up & Check-in: 7:00-7:30 PM.
Program: 7:30-10:00 PM.
PLEASE NOTE: NEW LOCATION
AFM Local 47 – Auditorium
817 Vine St.
Hollywood, CA 90038
* ASMAC Members who would like to share music at a
FIRST WEDNESDAYS event,
Contact [email protected] Attn: Milton Nelson
+++++++++++++++
NEXT ASMAC LUNCHEON
ASMAC LUNCHEON
Wed. April 20, 2016
11:30am – 2:00pm
CATALINA’S JAZZ CLUB
Special Guest
DAVE BLACK
Check out the ASMAC website – www.asmac.org
to see the new master class, luncheon and interview
DVD’s in the ASMAC store, to download ASMAC
luncheon podcasts, and more!
JUST ADDED:
Special Interview with the renowned composer/arranger
JIMMIE HASKELL
———————————
4/6/16
Free Admission Glendale Noon Concerts/ Jacqueline Suzuki & Susan Svrcek perform RAUTAVAARA Lost Landscapes
FREE ADMISSION GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS
Every FIRST & THIRD WEDNESDAY at 12:10-12:40 pm
On Wednesday MARCH 2, 2016 at 12:10-12:40 pm:
Crescenta Ensemble: Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Lost Landscapes
APRIL 6, 2016
VIOLIN RECITAL
GINASTERA Pampeana No.1, Op.16 (1947)
BRAHMS Violin Sonata No.3 in D minor, Op.108
Jacqueline Suzuki – violin
Rosa LoGiudice – piano
PLEASE NOTE:
The Glendale Noon Concerts series
now takes place in the Sanctuary at
GLENDALE CITY CHURCH
610 E. California Ave. (at Isabel St.)
Glendale, CA 91206-3701
INFO:
Please call Victoria Lucero (818-244-7241 office)
or email glendalecitychurch.org/
https://www.facebook.com/glendalecitychurch
****************************************************
UPCOMING CONCERTS in the same series:
(every FIRST & THIRD WEDNESDAY at 12:10-12:40 pm;
programs subject to change)
APRIL 20, 2016
CRESCENTA ENSEMBLE
TSCHAIKOVSKY Meditation Op.42, No.1
GINASTERA Piano Sonata No.1, Op.22
Jacqueline Suzuki – violin
Susan Svrcek – piano
CONCERT UPDATES:
http://www.glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com/
MORE FREE CONCERTS:
At the Edendale Branch Library in ECHO PARK
http://www.edendaleupclose.blogspot.com/
>>>Saturday MARCH 12. 2016 at Noon-1pm
Baroque concert featuring works by
Handel, Monteverdi, Purcell & Scarlatti
BRIAN ASAWA – countertenor
DIANA TASH – mezzo-soprano
ARTHUR OMURA – harpsichord
ALEXA PILON – Baroque cello
http://www.brianasawa.com/
http://www.dianatash.com/
http://www.arthuromura.com/
———————————————-
5/15/16
LACESMA 75TH ANNIVERSARY DIAMOND JUBILEE GALA
The Los Angeles City Elementary Schools Music Association,
LACESMA, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary of promoting
elementary music education in LAUSD with a Gala Event in
the Grand Ballroom of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at
the Los Angeles Music Center on Sunday May 15, 2016.
Banquet tickets are $60.00 each and can be purchased by
going to our website at lacesmamusiced.org or by mailing
a check made out to LACESMA to: LACESMA c/o Jeanne
Mitchell, P.O. Box 361 Topanga, CA 90290.
For questions, please email us at [email protected].
At the celebration there will performances by over 100 singers
of the LACESMA Children’s Honor Chorus, some of the 2016
LACESMA Instrumental Scholarship winners, as well as a p
erformance by a celebrity TBA.
We are proud to have Gail Eichenthal, Executive Producer of
KUSC, as the emcee of the Banquet. Please help support
elementary music education in LAUSD by attending this
Gala Celebration! Click here to see the first Promotional
Video Clip of the Gala.
——————————————–
MASTER IN FLM MUSIC APPLICATIONS STILL BEING ACCEPTED
The Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program
At The
Seattle Film Institute
is still accepting applications to the One year
Master of Music (MM) in Film Composition
Recently rated as the #4 school for film scoring education
in the world by Music School Central and the #2 school
for earning a Masters of Music degree in Film Composition
Study with program creator and lead instructor
Hummie Mann
2 Time Emmy Award Winning film composer of
“Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and featured in
Variety Magazine’s article “Leaders in Learning”
Click here to listen and watch student scores from previous years
Applications are now being accepted for the 2016
school year We offer rolling admissions – applying
early is recommended Scholarship support is
available to early applicants
================================
You can read all previous offerings at:http://www.responsible47.com
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47