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Most Recent United Hollywood Posts

• Paul Haggis: The Reality of Reality and Animation

• The First Delivery of Pencils2MediaMoguls. UPDATED with report from Jeffrey Berman.

• Laeta Kalogridis Weighs in on Reality and Animation

• David Milch: "The Idea of the Writer" Business Model Discussion

• A Reality Writer Responds to the AMPTP

• The War of Words: No Substitute for Real Negotiations

• AMPTP's Union Buster Fired

• Links: NBC Under Siege Edition! But don't worry about NBC's ailing fortunes too much. They have a plan:

Similar entries
  • Speechless #21: The Batemans

    "Speechless" continues to demonstrate the support of SAG talent in the WGA's fight for a fair contract. UH contributor Justine Bateman stars in the latest episode with her brother Jason.

    All "Speechless" videos:
    Hi-res/Brightcove
    Lo-res/YouTube

  • Your Mid-Week Links

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    Exorcism at Warners,

  • A Working Writer: "Right in the Middle"

    The latest interview from the "Working Writer" Project is Dawn Dekeyser:

    See more at aworkingwriter.com.

  • Speechless #24

    "Writing's hard! Rufff! Rrrowrr -- ruff! Rufff!"

    There really isn't anything more to say.

    See all the "Speechless" videos:
    Brightcove (hi-res)

    YouTube (low-res)

    Speechless #18 is the most-subcribed on YouTube this week!

  • Why the AMPTP Didn't Show at the City Council Meeting

    The WGA waits by the negotiating table while the AMPTP is MIA. And the moguls couldn't be bothered to attend Wednesday's LA City Council meeting because they were flying off for their vacations. (from Strike Life)

    Or... was it because they had some other, more important meeting to attend?

  • Should Limits Be Placed On Bacteria Levels In Raw Milk?

    Bill Marler is blogging about raw milk if you'd like to add your two cents.
    He posted a link to this video of Mark McAfee, owner of Organic Pastures, defending the sale of his raw milk:

    "You have no question in your mind that you are absolutely fricking on target. There's no question. There's no scientific test. There's no rationalization. There's no argument. You're fricking right."

  • News and Links: AMPTP vs. The D

    UPDATE: The Fremantle picket and rally on Friday will feature a performance by Tenacious D. Also scheduled to appear: Writer Boi. We are told more bookings will be announced.

    Most Recent UH News

    • Info on the Holiday Harvest Food Drive at picket sites
    • E-mail from John Bowman on the current WGA proposals
    • Financial details of the WGA proposals, analysis of the AMPTP's partial proposal

  • Links to Info on Numbers, Opinions, New Business Models and the Reality that No One Owns the Internet

    - "New Economic Partnership." NEP. Hmm. Sounds so familiar. Wasn't there another famous NEP somewhere? Some other exciting NEP cooked up by a really trustworthy and benevolent organization? Oh, now I remember.

  • Ad/Packaging vs Reality

    Found a great site, pundo3000.com, which showcases global food products (with their well-art directed "perfect spoonfuls") VERSUS THE PRODUCT REALITY inside the package.

    MMmm, tasty.

  • Videos!

    I knew it was a good sign when the AMPTP resorted to buying full-page newspaper ads last week. Because you know who has to buy full-page newspaper ads? People who have grounded tankers spilling crude into a bay. People who have stepped in it. Even the font looked guilty. We're in a negotiation over the digital future, and they take out a newspaper ad? Maybe these guys actually can't figure out the Internet. And speaking of that ad, this video by Tim Carvell shows you the reality of digital download residuals:

    Let's hope when conglomerates waddle back to the table on 11/26 they bring more than an "imaginary offer."

  • Safety of Imported Food

    I was reading through the FDA's new Food Protection Plan and came across a few facts I didn't know. See if you can guess first. Then select the hidden text above the line with your mouse. It should reveal the answer.

    • Approximately 60 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed in the US are imported.

  • Today, 80 percent of seafood in the country is imported; less than 2 percent is inspected.*
  • Weighing in on Animation and Reality

    I’m going to weigh in on something that I feel strongly about.

    But before I do, I want to point something out that should be obvious, but maybe isn’t: every story that Fabiani and Lehane are shilling for the AMPTP right now has the words “reality and animation” in the first couple of sentences. It’s there for a reason; they know this is a wedge issue for writers, and they want to create dissent within the membership to weaken us.

    But in some ways they’re doing us a favor. Because we needed to have this conversation sooner or later, as a membership, so even though I’d prefer we had it together where we could hash things out privately, it doesn’t look like that’s what’s going to happen.

  • Nando's Marketing Free Gum

    This is what happens when you listen too much to your advertising agency.

    Then again, every client has the right to say no to an idea presented to them.

    Probably a great ad in the schoolyard - 21,000 hits on YouTube. But surely you can target a male 17-23 demographic without every other target group looking on in amazement and thinking whether they'll ever buy the stuff again.

    Nando's - quality food, well designed stores, slutty advertising.

  • Links: Viacom On Already!

    TECH NEWS

  • Yep, the conglomerates just don't know what the digital future will hold. Will there be more $500 million deals like this pact between Viacom and Microsoft in the future? Who knows?!

  • Andrew Baron, producer of the popular video blog Rocketboom, expalins Eight Reasons the TV Studios Will Die. Allow me to propose one way NOT to die: Make a fair deal with the creators of your content so you can work TOGETHER to preserve and grow your business. Seems simple enough.
  • Poll: More TV viewers turning to the web.

    STRIKE ANALYSIS

  • Social Networking Sites Buying Internet Original Content

    WSJ today gives overview of social networking sites getting into business of producing online video.  Article features three shows:

    - Kate Modern, a mystery on social networking site Bebo.
    - Roommates, a soap opera on MySpace TV
    - Special Delivery, a hidden camera reality show on MySpace TV.

    It notes that while MySpace and Bebo push into original content, Facebook hasn't and other internet companies - AOL and Yahoo, specifically - are backing away from it.   

    Article doesn't disclose budget for KATE MODERN but says Bebo sells sponsorships at $400,000 for six months. 

    Claims production budgets for Roommates and Special Delivery are about $1000 per minute.

    Article also notes that the shows themselves aren't very profitable to their writer / producers, who are portrayed as doing internet stuff to build assets and relationships "in a bigger entertainment medium." 

  • "Got The Facts On Milk?"

    I probably wouldn't have posted this a year ago. I didn't think milk could possibly be so unhealthful. All these years I've been eating dairy products and recommending them. I feel duped.

    I've been researching like a fiend this past year the relationship between certain compounds in dairy foods, especially the milk protein casein and the milk sugar lactose, and certain chronic diseases, cancer and diabetes to name two that have caused I and my family no trivial amount of stress.

    With no further ado, here's a one-minute trailer put together by a group of earnest folks at Unleashed Productions. Thanks to Shira Lane for bringing her work, and this important message, to our attention.

  • 2007 Farm Bill, Nix

    A former White House Administration official wants to Nix The Farm Bill: 1"I’ve got a way to reduce global poverty, decrease the number of workers crossing our borders illegally, save American taxpayers money, and cut your supermarket bill -- in one fell swoop. How? Get rid of US farm subsidies and tariffs."

    For the rest, see former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich's latest blog post: Nix The Farm Bill.

  • Links: NBC Under Siege Edition!

    NBC FIRST NETWORK TO SHOW MAJOR CRACKING
    The Peacock's feathers are starting to droop. Who will be next?

  • NBC is quietly giving advertisers their money back. In all fairness, the CW is apparently tanking also. The real "ouch" quote is this one about NBC's new non-scripted efforts: “We’re trying to understand NBC’s recent moves,” said Laura Caraccioli-Davis, exec vp, Starcom Entertainment. “We are concerned that it might be thinking about adopting a programming strategy like some of its sister cable networks. American Gladiator and even some of the shows they have in development, like Knight Rider, are remakes, being dusted off rather than coming up with new creations.

  • Web 2.0 in Plain Hip Hop

    In the vein of Comm Craft's web 2.0 in "plain english" vids, we now got Chuck at PopLabs who explains Web 2.0 in rhyme styles.

    Recognize. SEM and SEO rap.

    Put ya hands up. Social Media Addiction rap.

  • Largest Recall Of Beef In US History

    Hard to miss this top news story from last night:
    USDA Orders Recall Of 143 Million Pounds Of Beef

    I was watching this story since early February, when the undercover video appeared on YouTube. I opted not to post it because it's difficult to watch. I changed my mind.

    Here's the original footage of animal treatment at a California slaughterhouse (Hallmark Meatpacking Company), taken over a six week period by the Humane Society (5:46 minutes):

    Here's an Associated Press clip (1:48 minutes), based on the above footage, that summarized the situation a week after the video above went viral. It includes a statement by Hallmark/Westland President Steve Mendell:

  • Barley Rivals Blueberries for Antioxidants

    Talking about barley make me recall this Table I posted a while ago. It came from a paper written by Dr. Vinson in 1999, entitled:

    The Functional Food Properties of Figs

    I like figs.

    Well, I just ran some numbers. According to the data in this Table, 2 tablespoons of dry barley has 37% more polyphenols than 1/2 cup blueberries ... and 3650% more polyphenols than an equal amount of wheat.1

  • The AMPTP explains their latest proposal...

    This is the video the WGA doesn't want you to see! Studio Head and AMPTP Member, Roger A. Trevanti explains the AMPTP's groundbreaking new deal in a way writers can understand!

  • Politics 2.0: Yes, We Can

    Will I Am (and friends) recorded a song/video inspired by Barack Obama's "Yes, We Can" speech. Obama clearly inspires folks in a way that many candidates can't really match. This is an interesting phenomenon to watch.

    ...and well, from the profound to, uh, ObamaGirl is back with another hit at 1.9Million views already.

  • The 30 Minute Two Towers

    Here it is, in all its glory: the 30 minute Two Towers, as written and performed by the Dartmouth Forensic Union and the Dartmouth Physics Department.

    That's me as Gandalf, Faramir, a few random orcs, and the stunt double for Sam.

  • Thanksgiving Memories 2007
  • Clips from Rachael Ray's Talk Show

    Wallpaper decorating tips:

    Susan Lucci talks about her holiday traditions:

  • Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery

    Our boys over at Fallon London must be enjoying this. The much talked about Cadbury's Gorilla spot latest spoof comes from Wonderbra. Peep both below, judge for your self.

    Cadbury original:

    Wonderbra spoof:

  • A Reality Writer Responds to the AMPTP

    This letter was submitted anonymously by a working reality writer. He/She requires anonymity, because otherwise, he/she fears being fired for writing this.

    Dear AMPTP,

    Today, I read on your website, “thousands of people in reality and animation have chosen not to join the WGA.”
    This statement is false.

    As a writer (aka "Supervising Producer", the name I'm given to get around having to give me a WGA contract) who has worked in reality television for over three years and who knows many people on the reality circuit, I can tell you that reality writers desperately want to be part of the WGA.

  • Clips from Rachael Ray's Talk Show

    Jerry O'Connell drives into Rachael's set:

    Paula Deen and Rachael make Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes:

  • Obesity And Diabetes Are Not An Individual's Problem

    Oh. A trend!

    A few weeks ago I posted a report by the UK's Government Office for Science which said:"The obesity epidemic cannot be prevented by individual action alone and demands a societal approach."
    ...
    "The people of the UK are inexorably becoming heavier simply by living in the Britain of today. This process has been coined 'passive obesity'."I lamented that government agencies in the US still frame America's weight problem as the creature of an individual's nefarious choices. "Eat less refined corn and soy products!" they say, as if our weight problem is our fault.

    It's incomprehensible to me that those same agencies, backed by Congress, turn around and fund the production of those very corn and soy products they tell us not to eat - making them cheaper, more accessible, and, well, downright popular.