Hello World!

Wow, its been almost two weeks. Sorry guys, I've been so swamped with accounting crap that any extra time on a computer just felt like torture. But its over now (the crap, not the accounting, thank god) and I am back. Woo!!

SO much to blog about. Lots of rants I could go on, and lots of interesting topics, but I'm going to focus on two that affect us here in the entertainment industry in the state of California: the SAG strike negotiations and the California legislature.

/begin rant

SAG is STILL in negotiations with the studios. They are meeting today, hopefully to finally agree on something. Cause this is not the time to strike. EVERYONE connected to the film and TV industry is hurting because of this stupid contract negotiation. The economy is tight, so no one wants to waste money starting a project only to find out SAG is striking and they have to stop production, and that means that not only the actors, lighting, sound, camera men, directors, and producers are out of works but the caterers, the cleaning people, the costumers, the day care people, the limos and cabs, the delivery guys, the security men, etc etc. Yes the contract is crappy, and yes if you had leverage you should strike, but SAG, you do not have leverage, you have thousands who are out of work and hurting, so suck it up and take three more years of crappy pay.

And for all those guys who are out of work, do you get unemployment? You thought you did, but its all going to be taken away (or possibly never given), because the Republicans in the legislature won't pass the budget. It has temporary tax increases in it, which they just can't stand. So 20,000 people are laid off, benefits are being slashed or delayed, and everyone in California is not going to receive tax refunds anywhere near to ontime. And just for kicks, I checked out what they said would be a better solution: they want to cut the "bloated" state dept. Ok, except that even if they fired everyone (which would close prisons, hospitals, national parks, and their own legislature) it still wouldn't fill the budget deficit. So, that's not going to work.

Two groups who are so focused on their own version of "right" that they aren't noticing the reality of what's around them, and California is hurt for it. If there was anything I could do, I would. None of the Republicans are in my district, so they won't accept letters from me, and I'm not a member of SAG. But if anyone reading this is a member of either, do your own research and then write letters, faxes, emails or even call to tell these people to get their heads out of their asses and actually help their constituents.

/end rant