Paul Haggis is the real deal
zencat
Studio City, CAPosts: 224MI6 Agent
So I saw Paul Haggis at the WGA rally yesterday in Burbank. He spoke (and I think Athena posted a video of this on YouTube). But it's what's happened afterwards that shows he talks the talk, but he also walks the walk.
It was cold and rainy and after the rally there was a huge pile of wet discarded picket signs that needed to be taped up and loaded into the WGA trucks. There was one poor guy who had to deal with it. Haggis steps right up and starts lugging signs. Everyone around starts doing the same (including me). The job got done in 2 minutes. And then Haggis sort of lingers looking to see if there's any other way he could help. There wasn't, so he finally drifted away, one of the last to leave.
A lot of people (celebs, etc.) turned out and helped like this is the first week. Many are long gone -- but here's Paul Haggis in the second month still working away. He's the real deal.
To Mr. Haggis.
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It was cold and rainy and after the rally there was a huge pile of wet discarded picket signs that needed to be taped up and loaded into the WGA trucks. There was one poor guy who had to deal with it. Haggis steps right up and starts lugging signs. Everyone around starts doing the same (including me). The job got done in 2 minutes. And then Haggis sort of lingers looking to see if there's any other way he could help. There wasn't, so he finally drifted away, one of the last to leave.
A lot of people (celebs, etc.) turned out and helped like this is the first week. Many are long gone -- but here's Paul Haggis in the second month still working away. He's the real deal.
To Mr. Haggis.
{[]
www.thebookbond.com - New Look. New Book. Pure BOND.
Comments
Hey-here's a silly question: do you have any insight on how long the strike might continue?I just read this morning that negotiations broke down again yesterday(and of course,the producers are blaming the writers for this turn of events).
I have no idea how long the strike will last -- but it might be a very long time.
The breakdown in talks was very depressing, but it was also predicted (right down to the hour). The AMPTP planned this "breakdown" and have hired a political PR firm to "spin" all the facts against the writers. Be very wary of what you read and see on the news. After all, the companies the writers are fighting OWN most news oulets. I highly recommend these two websites for the truth:
Deadline Hollywood Daily:
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/
United Hollywood:
http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/
I'm afraid you're likely right about that, 'Shooter, and more's the pity. Writers remain (unfairly) low on the Hollywood food chain...
It's good to hear about Mr. Haggis' personal character, though...thanks for sharing it with us, Zen! {[]
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Full agreement,'Shooter.As I recall,the last strike lasted about five months and during that period(late 80s),the big three networks had miniseries and maxiseries on hand for "Sweeps" which they released early to fill some of the gaps in their evening programming.They also showed more movies, and ABC even remade one famous TV show-Mission:Impossible-by using older previously filmed M:I teleplays from earlier seasons when this series had been on CBS.In addition,the nets also created several inexpensive evening newsmagines(Dateline NBC came about during this strike).
Today,however,we know that the nets don't show movies much-those are usually on cable.And it's a rare event when a miniseries or maxiseries is made by any the big three networks.But they will create more reality TV to plug the holes in their schedules--and that's unfortunate.Heck,I like some reality TV as much as the next guy, but I'd really rather have the chance to see more scripted shows instead of American Gladiator or The Apprentice.What's next?Fear Factor V?Married by America II? Oh,the humanity!
Here's hoping this strike comes to an end soon,and with a resolution that's fair for the writers.
So I guess I am supposed to believe that a union publication is more likely to tell the truth than a news show. Sorry I don't. Like all union managment negotiations the "truth" won't be heard from either side. I have seen some of the union demands and I think they are ridiculous. I have also seen some of managements counter proposals and I think they aren't serious. However, I do think some of the items the union has on the table should be removed because they are adding to the cost of business before any money is being made in that area, namely digital downloads. What right minded business person would agree to pay someone more if they are losing money at something?
Having been on the management side in some negotiations, I know the union often comes in with issues they don't really want just to have something they can give back to management without losing what they really want. I suspect many of the issues on the table could be quickly scuttled and talks focus on what the real issue is, more money for the writers.
You're right, Barry. The 'truth' will always reside in the "no man's land" between the warring factions...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Ha!
Deadline Hollywood Daily has nothing to do with the union. It's the showbiz blog of The LA Weekly written by Nikki Finke and is considered one of the best showbiz news websites period.
And as far as the claim that the studios are not yet making any money from digital...I suggest you watch this clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a37uqd5vTw
And as far as making concessions, the WGA already took one of the MAJOR issues off the table -- the 4¢ increase in DVD residuals -- because they were told via back channels that it would lead to a deal on internet and avert a strike. It did not.
Here are the key writers demands spelled out very clearly. Judge for yourself if they are reasonable. (And, remember, we already took the 4¢ DVD increase off the table.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk
As for the strike I will let this article from the Washington Post speak for me. Other unions are pressuring the Writers Guild to stop being so rigid and a writer and a member of the union stated in his blog that the union should drop all their side issues and concentrate on the one that matters, which would be money for downloads.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/11/AR2007121100347.html
The WGA shouldn't drop any demands, IMO. And if production workers are losing work, then they need to put pressure on the REAL culprits who let negotations break down.
I hate it when the studios trot out the blue-collar production staff whenever they need to work up sympathy for the studio's cause. In fact, Hollywood had put out a campaign of ads to stop illegal downloads and movie-pirating with weepy-eyed production workers saying that it was tantamount to 'stealing from them'. 8-) what!? Don't try to tell me that these union workers have a piece of the download pie and writers don't!
Here's something you didn't read in The Washington Post. The AMPTP also have side demands -- 20 pages worth of rollbacks -- including a demand that the writer credit be eliminated from films altogether. Silly negotiating points that can be dumped? Hopefully. But they have not taken these off the table, so why should the writers take their side negotiating points off the table? Because they trust the AMPTP? Like I said, the WGA already removed a HUGE part of their real package -- the 4¢ increase in DVD residuals. That wasn't a side point, that was HALF our proposal. The other side has not removed anything from their nightmare 20 pager, yet they call the writers inflexible.
Negotiation is a give and take. It's time for the other side to give instead of issuing ultimatums -- which is what they are doing now.
As far as other unions go, the IATSE boss is, for his own personal reasons, talking trash about the WGA. That's it. But 20% of IATSE's health and pension come from the same residues we are fighting to persevere. If we lose them, they lose them, and the IATSE membership I encounter everyday understand this and hope we win. In fact, IATSE members held their own rally in support just last week.
Other major Hollywood unions -- SAG, AFTRA, the Teamsters, DGA (so far), all support us and many are out there on the lines with us.