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Hollywood Homecoming

Hollywood Homecoming, an event honoring the veteran writers, directors and stars of yesteryear who helped form and shape the unions we are fighting to protect, will be held this Friday, November 30th, from 10AM-12PM at Sony Studios in Culver City.

But your help is needed getting the word out and locating those trailblazers of Hollywood's Golden Age.

So who do you know? Is Shirley Temple your next door neighbor? Do you go to church with Esther Williams? Are you related to Mickey Rooney? Do you live next door to an Academy Award winning director from years past? Was your grandfather one of the writers on "The Wizard of Oz?" Did your great aunt work as the assistant to David O. Selznick? Does your family have a long history in the biz?

Help locate these guests and join us to pay tribute to them.

If you know of someone who would like to attend as a guest or if you have any questions, please contact Chad Darnell at HollywoodHomecoming@gmail.com as soon as possible.

The event is being sponsored by HOT IN HOLLYWOOD - a collaboration of performers, writers and directors that helps raise money for various AIDS-related charities in Los Angeles - in association with the WGAw.

Similar entries
  • Norman Borisoff (Academy Award winner Titan: The Story of Michelangelo, writer: Ironside, Quincy, I Spy) was one of many who attended The Homecoming Picket outside of Sony yesterday.

    The picket was a small way for newer members to pay tribute to the veteran writers, actors, and directors who helped form and shape the unions we are protected by today.

    Other attendees included:

    Christopher Knopf (president of the WGA 1965-1967, The Dick Powell Show, The Big Valley, Dr. Kildaire, and Equal Justice.

  • United Hollywood has secretly obtained a transcript of one of the earlier negotiating sessions which illustrates just what the writers are facing at the bargaining table...

    WGA: We'd like a whopping four pennies more on each DVD sold.
    AMPTP: We're going to punch you in the face and take your dog.
    WGA: We'd like to be compensated for our work that's distributed over the Internet.
    AMPTP: We're going to punch you in the face and take your dog.
    WGA: We don't think it's fair you're trying to have short-form content written non-guild.
    AMPTP: Fine. We won't take your dog. That's off the table. After you shout from the rooftops and thank us, which proposal are you going to take off the table?

  • Below is an op-ed piece from Wednesday's Los Angeles Times.

    Stopping the cash flow will strengthen the writers' case, not cutting deals.

    January 9, 2008

    We get the impression, in this third month of the Hollywood writers strike, that morale on the picket lines and in the coffee shops isn't so hot. That's odd, given how strong the writers are looking right now.

    With the downfall of the Golden

  • Tune in to hear writer/director/producer Joss Whedon (Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) who joins us on United Hollywood Live today (12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern). We'll be talking to Joss about the "Mutant Enemy Strike" in which fans of Joss' shows will picket outside Fox's Pico Gate this Friday.

    Also on the show will be the staff writers from JERICHO as well as members of the Network Organizing Committee who will be discussing the Fremantle rally, also coming up this Friday.

  • MONDAY DECEMBER 17th:

  • STRIKER’S STUDIO WALK-A-THON: A 7 mile walk beginning at Disney’s main gate at 9:00 am. For more information, please contact Josh Singer at jsinger10@gmail.com
  • DAYTIME UNITED: The writers of Daytime Dramas, Telenovelas, and Internet Serials are hosting a special picket event on Monday, December 17th, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at CBS Television City, on the Fairfax side. This will coincide with a similar event in Manhattan, organized by WGAE. With the enthusiastic support of AFTRA, the actors from our favorite Daytime Dramas -- plus directors, staff and crew -- will join the picket line in solidarity with the writers. For more information, please contact Karen Harris (poainc@sbcglobal.net) or Sara Bibel (sarab@earthlink.net )
  • United Hollywood Live (12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern) will be joined by Robert J. Elisberg, whose excellent article on The Huffington Post questions why the AMPTP - made up of competitors - is allowed to negotiate as a single entity against the WGA. The show will also feature a live remote from the Trekkie Day rally at Paramount Studios where the writers of all Star Trek Incarnations will join us on the picket line.

  • Will 1+1 someday = 2?

    The WGA, the Teamsters and California
    State Senator Sheila Kuehl have just announced the introduction of the
    "Fair Market Value Bill." The bill seeks to prevent studios from
    selling programming to sister companies for below market value. This
    particular strain of Hollywood accounting is designed to shift profits
    away from the studios (where they must be shared with talent and
    producers and serve as a basis for pension and health contributions) to
    networks, where they may be enjoyed without the pesky need to pay one's
    "partners."

    Press release below the break.  We'll have more soon on the bill in particular and Hollywood skulduggery in general.

    And if you're a studio accountant or lawyer looking to go all Michael Clayton on the Big Six, send us a tip or a post.

    NEW BILL TAKES AIM AT HOLLYWOOD ACCOUNTING

    California
    State Senator Sheila Kuehl Introduces Bill to End the Practice of
    Selling Television Series and Films for Less Than Fair Market Value

  • On Monday, February 11 from 2-6pm, United Hollywood and Strike Swag invite all members of the United Hollywood community to be photographed for a PR campaign to promote the new United Hollywood site.

    The concept of the campaign is to show writers, actors, directors, crew, staff and fans standing united to meet the challenges of the digital present. That's right, the challenges of now.

  • The strike is over. The WGA contract has been ratified. SAG and AFTRA are now center stage and there is still a lot of work to do before the town gets back to normal. At this moment it's useful to look back at our own history. There are lessons to be learned about how the process can move forward even against what seems like overwhelming odds.

    There are many who labored behind the scenes to support the writers' strike. At United Hollywood we worked with people who put their energy on the line but wanted to stay off the media's radar. Not content to just talk a good game, these are members and supporters who knew that if they wanted to make a difference, they had to work at it.

    One group in particular came of age during the early part of the strike: the writer-directors. Nicknamed the WD-40, forty writer-directors met to search for ways they could help facilitate the negotiation.

    From the beginning of the strike, most journalists accepted the AMPTP's lead and described the DGA and WGA as antagonistic to one another. Nicholas Counter was frequently quoted in the trades as preferring the DGA as a negotiating partner. The writer-directors objected to that characterization and felt that the AMPTP was doing what it always did in positioning the Guilds against one another to diminish each union's power.

  • Oscar-nominated writer-director and WGA board member Phil Alden Robinson will be the special guest today, November 28th, on United Hollywood Live (12-1:30PM Pacific/3-4:30PM Eastern). Robinson has been an articulate voice on behalf of writers during the current strike.

    Today's show also features live reports from the various picket lines, video clips and a surprise guest or three.

    Tune in by CLICKING HERE (or by using the widget located along the right hand side of UnitedHollywood.com). The show, which airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, is also available as a podcast immediately after each broadcast via the widget.

  • Will 1+1 someday = 2?

    The WGA, the Teamsters and California State Senator Sheila Kuehl have just announced the introduction of the "Fair Market Value Bill." The bill seeks to prevent studios from selling programming to sister companies for below market value. This particular strain of Hollywood accounting is designed to shift profits away from the studios (where they must be shared with talent and producers and serve as a basis for pension and health contributions) to networks, where they may be enjoyed without the pesky need to pay one's "partners."

    Press release below. We'll have more soon on the bill in particular and Hollywood skulduggery in general.

    And if you're a studio accountant or lawyer looking to go all Michael Clayton on the Big Six, send us a tip or a post.

    NEW BILL TAKES AIM AT HOLLYWOOD ACCOUNTING

    California State Senator Sheila Kuehl Introduces Bill to End the Practice of Selling Television Series and Films for Less Than Fair Market Value

    Los Angeles and Sacramento – California State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) has introduced Senate Bill 1765, the "Fair Market Value Bill," to end the practice by some major studios and networks of “underselling” television series or movies.

  • Last week, State Senator Sheila Kuehl introduced a bill in the California Senate that protects all entertainment union workers.  Below, WGAw Secretary-Treasurer Elias Davis explains the bill and asks the members of all entertainment-industry unions to support it by sending an email to its sponsors in the California State Assembly. 

    Over the past few years a number of TV show creators have brought suit against major studios in cases where the studios have sold TV series to companies owned by the studios themselves. The reason for the suits is simple - because of self-dealing, these shows have been sold for far less money than they could have brought in had they been offered for sale on the open market.

  • Regular readers of the comments section here will know "BTL Guy." He's a crew member (protecting his identity) who supports a fair deal for writers and strong unions but doesn't think the WGA leadership should have called the strike when they did. He recently sent me a Modest Proposal and has posted it on his blog, Divided Hollywood. (And yes, as much as I respect BTL Guy, that name, grrr!)

    BTL

  • As announced on Deadline Hollywood Daily:

    speechless

    Actors, writers and directors coming together in solidarity. For more info, check out Deadline Hollywood Daily.

  • Tune in for another edition of the only show in Hollywood that actually hopes every broadcast is its last, United Hollywood Live (12 pm Pacific/3 pm Eastern).

    Today's special guest will be writer Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Toy Story).

    Join the live chat interface by CLICKING HERE (or by using the widget located along the right hand side of UnitedHollywood.com). The show,

  • UH News
    • Contract Update from Verrone and Winship
    • UH Live for 12/5

    Upcoming Events
    From the WGAw
    THURSDAY, 12/6THREE GENERATIONS OF WGA MEMBERS: Sherwood Schwartz, (creator of "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch"), his son Lloyd, (writer and producer of "The Brady Bunch" feature films and many television comedies), and Lloyd's son Andy, a story editor on "Scrubs" -- will picket together at the main gate of CBS Radford from noon until 1 p.m. Sherwood Schwartz, 91, was a founding member of the Television Writers of America, which merged with screenwriters to become the WGA.

  • Tune in for another edition of the only show in Hollywood that actually hopes every broadcast is its last, United Hollywood Live (12 pm Pacific/3 pm Eastern).

    On their tech extravaganza today, guests include Oscar, HuffingtonPost.com columnist Robert J. Elisberg about his experiences at C.E.S. and why the future is now, Kent Nichols, co-creator of AskANinja.com, and David Simkins, aka Tech

  • Click here (or go to the United Hollywood Live widget along the right hand side of the main page) to join us right now for a special Friday edition of United Hollywood Live.

    UPDATE: The show is over but you can listen to the podcast via the widget. And please join us Monday at 12 p.m. Pacific/3 p.m. Eastern for the next regularly schedule broadcast.

  • Tune in for another edition of the only show in Hollywood that actually hopes every broadcast is its last, United Hollywood Live (12 pm Pacific/3 pm Eastern).

    Join the live chat interface by CLICKING HERE (or by using the widget located along the right hand side of UnitedHollywood.com). The show, which airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, is also available as a podcast immediately after each

  • Stolen...(again lol) from Literary Feline.... (thanks!!)

    1. Plans and schedules keep me sane, but routine bores me (go figure!)

    2. I'm happy when things are calm.

    3. The last thing I drank was a bottle of water.....(excuse me, bathroom break!)

    4. One of the most valuable things in my life is right now.....my health for my unborn child!

    5. I like pepperoni and green peppers on my pizza.

  • I miss the Golden Globes. The fans miss seeing their favorite stars win awards for their favorite movies and tv shows. The Writers' Guild Awards have also been downgraded to a news event. All the writers who were nominated deserve their moment in the spotlight. And the Academy Awards... That's threatened too. Added to all the economic difficulties created by the strike, why not just let the

  • Compiled from WGA and United Hollywood emails. -JA

    TUESDAY DECEMBER 11TH:

    PENCILS2MEDIAMOGULS: It's here! The first delivery of pencils will take place today. Over 500,000 pencils have been shipped. Please join us as we deliver the pencils to NBC CEO Jeff Zucker, Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and to Universal Studios for GE's CEO Jeffrey Immelt. Writers slated to appear include: Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), Joss Whedon (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly), Carol Barbee (Jericho), Alfred Gough (Smallville), Miles Millar (Smallville). We will meet at 11:30 am at Johnny Carson Park, 400 Bob Hope Drive in Burbank.

  • Nikki Finke, the journalist behind Hollywood must-read website Deadline Hollywood Daily, and Emmy-nominated actress Kim Delaney will be the special guests today, November 30th, on United Hollywood Live (12-1 PM Pacific/3-4 PM Eastern).

    A large part of the show will deal with this week's negotiations and the latest AMPTP rollback offer.

    Tune in by CLICKING HERE (or by using the widget located along the right hand side of UnitedHollywood.com). The show, which airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, is also available as a podcast immediately after each broadcast via the widget.

  • The Christmas Season is upon us and we have one burning question: Have you been naughty or nice this year? Regardless of your answer, we are inviting our lovely readers a chance to win an eBookwise eReader! All you have to do is answer a few simple (okay, 10) questions on your blog/journal and leave the link to your Meme in this post. If you don't have a blog or journal, you can email us your answers. The winner will be chosen on January 5th, so you can enter up until 11:59pm on January 4th. Merry Christmas!

    1. What is your favorite Christmas romance to re-read each year? I'm not really a romance reader. I haven't even read that many Christmas novels.

  • United Hollywood is proud to announce that FairDeal4Writers has become the first annual United Hollywood Short Film Contest.

    Unlike Strike TV, films in this contest will tackle the issues that are roiling the entertainment industry right now. The winner of the contest will receive an authentic WGA strike poster with over 175 signatures by writers, actors, actresses and directors who autographed

  • United Hollywood Live (12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern) today will discuss the non-granting of waivers to awards shows like the Oscars and Golden Globes, the WGA meeting in Santa Monica Monday night and the City Council meeting this morning among other topics.

    Tune in by CLICKING HERE (or by using the widget located along the right hand side of UnitedHollywood.com). The show, which airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, is also available as a podcast immediately after each broadcast via the widget and on iTunes (search: United Hollywood).

    Fans and WGA supporters are encouraged to become a part of the broadcast via live IM chats, video feeds and phone calls to the studio. They can also add the United Hollywood Live widget to their websites.

  • Tune in for another edition of the only show in Hollywood that actually hopes every broadcast is its last, United Hollywood Live (Special time today: 1 pm Pacific/4 pm Eastern).

    Join the live chat interface by CLICKING HERE (or by using the widget located along the right hand side of UnitedHollywood.com). The show, which airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, is also available as a podcast

  • United Hollywood Live (12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern) will discuss the latest attempt by the AMPTP to fracture Guild solidarity using reality TV and animation as a wedge issue. In addition, there will be a live remote from Diversity Picketing Day at Paramount Studios.

    Tune in by CLICKING HERE (or by using the widget located along the right hand side of UnitedHollywood.com). The show, which airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, is also available as a podcast immediately after each broadcast via the widget and on iTunes (search: United Hollywood).

    Fans and WGA supporters are encouraged to become a part of the broadcast via live IM chats, video feeds and phone calls to the studio. They can also add the United Hollywood Live widget to their websites.

  • 1. Arizona Diamondbacks - playing the best baseball in the bigs
    2. Boston Red Sox -Kevin Youkilis 2nd in the AL with 8 home runs
    3. Chicago Cubs -Leads the major leagues in runs scored, scoring close to 6 runs a game
    4. Florida Marlins - tied for the best record in the NL and Uggla-Ramirez have been red hot
    5. Tampa Bay Rays -Scott Kazmir-James Shields might be the best 1-2 combo in AL Rotations
    6. St. Louis Cardinals - Cardinals continue to surprise and impress while Ryan Franklin goes from sucky starter to dominant closer
    7. Los Angeles Angels - Figgins could be out for awhile that will hurt them, however if Vlad and GMJ can heat up watch out!
    8. Oakland Athletics - Did you know the A's have the best team ERA in baseball? 3.25.
    9. Philadelphia Philles -Look for a jump up once Howard comes out of his slump
    10. Houston Astros - Lance Berkman is paving his way for MVP: .386 12HR 35RBI 6SB
    11. New York Mets - This team can move up by sweeping the Nationals but have been a big disappoitnment thus far this year
    12. Atlanta Braves - Struggling to win on the road...

  • Three of the original Munchkins from THE WIZARD OF OZ will be joining striking writers on the picket line Friday morning at NBC Studios in Burbank. Among them will be Jerry Maren, the original Lollipop Kid who uttered the famous line, "We represent the Lollipop Guild."

    Unfortunately for Jerry and his co-stars, the Lollipop Guild didn't have any better luck than other Hollywood guilds of the era in getting the actors or its screenwriter any residuals for their creation which has earned an untold fortune in the years since.