tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8353202945076223387..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Save L.A.'s theater sceneBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21508615296571380152015-04-08T02:33:16.763-07:002015-04-08T02:33:16.763-07:00Angry Gamer: a world without theatre, the joy of h...Angry Gamer: a world without theatre, the joy of human connection that doesn't come from a damn screen, is not one worth living in.Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81425844959320707202015-03-28T08:29:28.985-07:002015-03-28T08:29:28.985-07:00And once again, a union shoots itself in the foot....And once again, a union shoots itself in the foot. If this goes through, the board will be patting themselves on the back, congratulating themselves, and wondering a few months later where all the productions went, and whining about how the theaters in "right-to-work" states are flourishing!<br /><br />Since I hope to join a union someday anyway, please keep me anonymous.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20045184501251964952015-03-27T09:46:02.980-07:002015-03-27T09:46:02.980-07:00"It's my right to act for free if I want ..."It's my right to act for free if I want to" is a very selfish attitude. By accepting less than a living wage, you are making it harder for your fellow actors to ask for a decent wage.<br /><br />That being said, Equity is likely pushing this for the extra money they'll get from dues. $50000 is nothing to sneeze at.<br />Lounoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91153811272412788792015-03-26T20:01:42.845-07:002015-03-26T20:01:42.845-07:00MikeN, we're talking about microbudget nonprof...MikeN, we're talking about microbudget nonprofits run by actors and other theatermakers for the love of it, not for-profit businesses. Theaters have a civic function. And their presence in a neighborhood also helps other businesses nearby, bringing customers.<br /><br />I support unions and the minimum wage. I also support volunteering at nonprofits that have a civic or charitable function. These are not mutually exclusive beliefs.Corey Klemowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05580719754801020158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20022922230168525772015-03-26T19:49:20.498-07:002015-03-26T19:49:20.498-07:00This reminds me of McGovern, who wrote after he wa...This reminds me of McGovern, who wrote after he was out of politics and running a bed and breakfast, that had he known everything involved in running a business he wouldn't have supported all those regulations.<br /><br />Why should theaters get special exemptions? Ken mentions that theatres will close. Don't you think there have been a number of stores that have already closed because of minimum wage laws and other union requirements.<br /><br />I'm a little confused why the union is insisting on a minimum wage. It is usually to a unions benefit to not have such laws, because then the union is more valuable to members.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36769893940703552632015-03-26T18:05:37.259-07:002015-03-26T18:05:37.259-07:00* So far as commercial producers taking advantage,...* So far as commercial producers taking advantage, that problem could be solved very easily by slapping a budget cap on the existing plan. One of the flaws with it is that anybody can use it. With a budget cap, that problem will vanish overnight, without having to impose what amounts to an up to 1000% budget increase overnight for many smaller theaters - which is to say, the majority of them - plus the headache of becoming full-fledged employers and having to deal with paying workman's comp and so forth.<br /><br />And there have been tons of great suggestions that AEA has completely ignored. At an AEA Town Hall meeting in January, a majority of people in the room were calling for a tiered agreement tied to budget, a reasonable solution that would make sense for theaters of all sizes. One possible implementation of this can be found at http://www.99tohat.com/ - proposed by a friend now running for AEA Councilor. The proposal AEA put forth shortly after that meeting doesn't reflect in any way what the people actually affected by this change want.<br /><br />And no, accepting a stipend does not affect bargaining with actual producers for actual contracts elsewhere. The idea that allowing actors to produce and act in microbudget productions erodes bargaining power is bogus. I cannot walk in the door at the Mark Taper or any other contract house and offer to work for free. And when you volunteer (and page one of the current Plan explicitly sets it up as volunteerism, which means anybody who thought they should be able to make their living doing 99-seat shows has been very, very misinformed), you've still in theory got a "quote" that you're waiving for a stipend when you choose to do so – it doesn't lower any baseline. While if you accept minimum wage as an actual baseline wage, that's where you're valuing yourself. SAG-AFTRA understands the economic realities of small-budget productions, and that's why we have the New Media and Short Film agreements that allow "deferred" payment where money only kicks in if the film actually makes money, so union members get to act more often. It's a pity that AEA doesn't understand this.<br /><br />It's also important to understand that the 99-Seat Plan, as currently written, was deliberately engineered to make it very difficult to make money, by limiting length of run and number of seats, as well as ticket price (though market forces mean that lifting the ticket price cap won't really help – is anybody going to pay $100 to see a storefront show?) And some theaters have 40 seats or less. How is a business that's only open 3 nights a week for about 6 weeks, and can only serve 40 to 99 customers a night – and then is closed for another month or two – supposed to survive with such a huge increase in costs? And all this for "minimum wage" – which, for an actor, would currently average to about $130.50/week before taxes for three months of work for the average rehearsal and run of a 99-seat show. Which still ain't a living wage by a long shot.<br /><br />There's so much more I could say about this, but this is already far too long. Thanks to anybody who indulged and read this far.Corey Klemowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05580719754801020158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65508978857480942512015-03-26T18:05:22.433-07:002015-03-26T18:05:22.433-07:00Ken, thank you for your support. As somebody who ...Ken, thank you for your support. As somebody who joined in the rally on Monday, it's nice to see support from other corners of the industry.<br /><br />My only comment on your post is that you mention "producers" in your post without mentioning that in the 99-seat arena, actors often ARE the producers. This is a semantic point that AEA has used as a cudgel, framing this (as unions do) as the righteous union vs. the big bad evil rich producers, when it's really union members vs. their own union.<br /><br />To respond to some of Mr. Lambert's points:<br /><br />* You can always find a lawyer to say what you want them to say, especially if you phrase the question to them just right. But somehow, not one suit has been bought in 30 years. And AEA is offering exemptions that involve NO stipend or wage for anyone, albeit with poison pills cooked in (one for actors who self-produce, so long as they don't form a 501(c)3 or use any other existing infrastructure, so good luck to them and their fundraising efforts and I hope they don't get sued for anything 'cause they'll be personally liable; and one for currently-existing membership companies, permanently freezing their membership lists, so too bad for any future union members who come to town and want to start a company or work with an existing one). If this were really about the illegality of volunteerism at nonprofit 99-seat theaters, those exceptions would not be on the table. Also, if it were clearly illegal, it wouldn't just be actors - it'd be directors, designers, box office staff, EVERYONE getting at least minimum wage. Is Johnny Law going to shut down every single volunteer-driven small theater in the country, union or non-union - including community theatres - if they can't pay everyone minimum wage?<br /><br />* It's getting wearying to see that copy-and-pasted list of the budgets of various 99-seat theaters keep popping up without any acknowledgement that looking at budget means zero if you don't take into account expenses as well. For example, Actors' Gang gets a major grant for a prison outreach program, and the money they receive MUST be allocated to that program and nothing else. Also, that particular company DOES have some living-wage touring productions. And the company to which I belong, Sacred Fools, pays - like many theaters - most of our annual budget in rent and bills, leaving about $40,000 for all five of our annual mainstages. At the end of a good year, we'll have maybe $10,000 after revenue and expenses to plow back into the company, which isn't even two months' rent. Other companies on Mr. Lambert's list are operating in the red. The numbers are easily findable at guidestar.org. You can talk all you like about re-allocating existing expenses and making actors the first line item, but the truth is there's next to no wiggle room when everybody's already donating their time to begin with. You can read more about this issue here:<br /><br />http://ilove99.org/2015/03/07/padraic-duffy-of-sacred-fools-theater-on-the-proposed-aea-plan/<br /><br />(cont'd...)Corey Klemowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05580719754801020158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24579492086375166292015-03-26T11:58:58.456-07:002015-03-26T11:58:58.456-07:00Johnny Walker,
I don't know what the London f...Johnny Walker,<br /><br />I don't know what the London fringe theater scene is like in terms of pay, etc.<br /><br />But I really don't think that working on a film (or TV show) is at all comparable to the LA 99er scene.<br /><br />In those mediums, people are really making money, sometimes big, sometimes small, but it's always something. So yeah, you took money out of someone's pocket.<br /><br />But no one goes into a small LA theater production expecting to make anything. They do it to be seen, exercise their craft, etc. There are no profits. Trust me, a 99er on Magnolia Blvd. in N. Hollywood isn't raking it in.<br /><br />Perry L., would love to know all those LA 99er productions that went to NY and exploited the original actors. Can you name a few?<br /><br />I've been working in the theater all my life, and the only really big money made is by the bigger houses (i.e. Broadway, Music Ctr., etc.) in terms of rent. In a 99er, this really is a non-issue.<br /><br />Dixon Steelenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46940339743699052462015-03-26T06:14:30.419-07:002015-03-26T06:14:30.419-07:00"I'm sure there are now plenty of actors ..."I'm sure there are now plenty of actors in LA who would never do a 99er under any conditions.<br /><br />But if an actor wants to do a play and is willing to do it for carfare, it should be his/her right to do so."<br /><br />Absolutely. I'm an illustrator and I don't like the idea of being underpaid. I'm also an adult, and that means it's my discretion as to whether or not I take on a gig for low or no pay. Sometimes I have friends who are either starting a small business or want something cool to slap on a T-shirt for some kind of public appearance, and I will do those things either cheap or free, for practice sort of but mostly just goodwill and the fact that the projects sound like fun. The choice should always, always be up to the individual artist - not a union that they are sometimes required to join, and not subject to laws passed by people not at all involved in the creative arts.<br /><br />(This goes for non creative stuff, too: if I am a carpenter and want to build a deck for free, I oughta be able to.)Aaronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74852389101167878822015-03-26T06:13:31.373-07:002015-03-26T06:13:31.373-07:00Ken,
I understand the dilemma. It is never withou...Ken,<br /><br />I understand the dilemma. It is never without a problem, however, to accept a minimum below the minimum. If you allow one group to circumvent minimum wage or union agreements, other groups will demand the same.<br /><br />I would like to add a view from Europe. Theatres, opera houses, public broadcasting and museums will always have a tough time making ends meet with just ticket sales and sponsors. Local communities should strengthen their cultural institutions. In Europe many major cities subsidise art; in the US you have major cities like Boston without an opera house or an established theatre scene that offers sophisticated fare. Art is too important to just let the market decide whether it should survive or not. How many times a year do you have Arnold Schönberg's music performed in LA? jcsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86740213707574751342015-03-26T05:34:32.193-07:002015-03-26T05:34:32.193-07:00Joe Actor, it wasn't me who wrote that :)
Nic...Joe Actor, it wasn't me who wrote that :)<br /><br />Nice Harlan Ellison clip, too. I agree that it's the amateurs that undercut the professionals. I worked on a small movie here in London as a stand-in. It was great experience, and I loved being on set, but after talking for a while with some of the crew I realised I'd done something wrong: I was working for free, because I thought it would be fun, but there were professional stand-ins that I was undercutting by being there. I should not have done the production a favour. By doing so I was hurting someone's livelihood.<br /><br />It's always worth remembering that, no matter how much of a dream it may be for someone, these things are commercial productions. They exist to make money. If they're giving it away for free when they're done, then fair enough, by all means volunteer, but if their aim to make money then it's not right to ask people to work for free, with no chance of remuneration... And yet it happens a lot.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28475667327917406942015-03-26T01:17:16.054-07:002015-03-26T01:17:16.054-07:00No, please!
Not more "meta" comedy!
ht...No, please!<br /><br />Not more "meta" comedy!<br /><br />http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-big-time-review-20150325-column.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1842294915709098402015-03-25T22:15:03.952-07:002015-03-25T22:15:03.952-07:00By the way, here's your next column...
http:/...By the way, here's your next column...<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/arts/television/how-the-modern-tv-comedy-explores-narrative-ambition.html?hpw&rref=television&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0Dixon Steelenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63825671570444496402015-03-25T22:06:37.445-07:002015-03-25T22:06:37.445-07:00Walker Said:
"But if an actor wants to do a ...Walker Said:<br /><br />"But if an actor wants to do a play and is willing to do it for carfare, it should be his/her right to do so."<br /><br />No, it shouldn't, because he/she is skewing the marketplace by giving away his/her services for FREE! Your attitude shows a supreme disrespect for the craft of acting in general, and acting in particular.<br /><br />Furthermore, thanks to Facebook, twitter, and Youtube, actors who are hired have the ability to make sure the house is packed every night. That kind of marketing power did not exist just a few years ago.<br /><br />Also, I've witnessed myself productions that, though the playwright resided in NYC, he began here in LA with the express purpose of "working out the bugs" before taking it BACK to NYC, recast, and produced. In all cases, they COULD afford to pay actors minimum wage, they just didn't want to.<br /><br />Finally, this seems to come down to "if this passes, our small theaters will disappear."<br /><br />My answer would be GREAT! Now we don't have theaters with crappy business models, so there's more room for those theaters that DO! And the actors will be paid! A win/win.<br /><br />The small theater is the last whorehouse standing in Los Angeles in which the "whores" are still treated like shit.<br /><br />If you don't have a business model, which most shitty theater's don't, then you SHOULD fade away. There's too many new ways to market a production to stand by the old pimp argument of "they're lucky to have me."<br /><br />If a producer can't make money with a full house every night, then that producer sucks. If a producer can't pay the actor's minimum wage with a full house every night, then that producer shouldn't be producing.<br /><br />You'd think writers would be the first to stand up to people treating a fellow artist like a whore. In the tv and film business, they're frequently treated like shit.<br /><br />At least Harlan Ellison would agree with me. Maybe some of you should review:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE<br /><br />PAY THE ACTOR!<br /><br />-Joe ActorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83130203733196968782015-03-25T20:29:21.567-07:002015-03-25T20:29:21.567-07:00I'm sure there are now plenty of actors in LA ...I'm sure there are now plenty of actors in LA who would never do a 99er under any conditions.<br /><br />But if an actor wants to do a play and is willing to do it for carfare, it should be his/her right to do so.<br /><br />On the other hand, I remember when LA theater went from a waiver situation to the 99er plan, and that was also bitterly fought over. The naysayers said it would kill LA small theater.<br /><br />It didn't. <br /><br />Dixon Steelenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21931566721360552552015-03-25T17:49:27.014-07:002015-03-25T17:49:27.014-07:00Also, like Dan, now I'm interested in this iss...Also, like Dan, now I'm interested in this issue, I would also appreciate a follow up of what happens :)Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39754404758092325262015-03-25T17:47:47.114-07:002015-03-25T17:47:47.114-07:00Remember when iPhones worked properly? Sigh. Secon...Remember when iPhones worked properly? Sigh. Second time writing this. (Thanks Apple!)<br /><br />This has been a very interesting read, and while I understand your fears, Ken, I find myself siding with Perry. I'd attempt to explain why, but Mike (above) has written a much better and clearer reasoning than I was about to. <br /><br />In short: even though art is important, this feels immoral, and really that should take precedence, IMHO. Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67071794220503752212015-03-25T16:38:28.133-07:002015-03-25T16:38:28.133-07:00There's a story that the big band swing era en...There's a story that the big band swing era ended when musicians were paid minimum wage. But a commercial venture which can't afford to pay its staff enough money to live on is not a viable venture and needs to be allowed to die (one instance where the destructive nature of capitalism is useful). Otherwise the venture is indirectly subsidised by the state through in-work benefits paid to the low-paid workers, to the gain of the owners.<br />A special case for the arts? But special cases are always open to abuse.<br />Best approach is to remove the grey area and clearly distinguish between entirely voluntary productions in which costs are covered but no-one gets paid (like amateur dramatics) and commercial ventures which pay at least a living wage.<br />With California one of the world's biggest economies, tax the rich or use lottery money for explicit state funding to certain small theatres, rather than relying on largesse.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248182899977033579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79814238099945404012015-03-25T15:29:17.340-07:002015-03-25T15:29:17.340-07:00Ed Asner, former SAG president, weighed in on the ...Ed Asner, former SAG president, weighed in on the issue.<br /><br />http://deadline.com/2015/03/ed-asner-minimum-wage-union-actors-99-seat-theaters-1201398596/MikeK.Pa.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58260763434828027942015-03-25T15:15:25.132-07:002015-03-25T15:15:25.132-07:00Hey, Anonymous:
If "It will knock the baseba...Hey, Anonymous:<br /><br />If "It will knock the baseball ball into the next stadium" is typical of your writing, I wouldn't enter any contests either.<br />Earnest Heavyweightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38256747918930059572015-03-25T14:04:50.724-07:002015-03-25T14:04:50.724-07:00I have made this statement before...
"Don...I have made this statement before...<br /><br />"Don't be in the buggy whip business when the automobile is invented"<br /><br />Netflix is worth a bazillion... Small play theaters are on the endangered species list.<br /><br />Capitalism is a harsh teacher but would it not be better for 'actors' to discover that Small Theater is NOT a good venue in the 21st century?<br /><br />There are tectonic changes going on in digital media.<br /><br />I mean what are Theater actors going to learn about camera placement and action... when the cameras are actually quad-copter drones?<br /><br />Is theater going to teach actors the skills needed for a 3 min You Tube vid?<br /><br />Things change... Theater had a good run from it's Greek outdoor origins... let it die.<br /><br />I mean really, do we still use a typewriter?? Come ON.Angry Gamernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39749509648726962102015-03-25T13:53:25.554-07:002015-03-25T13:53:25.554-07:00Ken, the comment preceding your reply regarding sc...Ken, the comment preceding your reply regarding script contests and "Readers" has been part of a debate (some might call it a harangue) by this particular "Anonymous" since you were in Asia. Would like to get your thoughts on the matter -- though I sadly note that my table reading of "Fugitive Sweetheart," set for tomorrow, has been canceled for lack of entries. Oh well, there will be other times, other contests (ones said "Anonymous" probably will not enter). And as a consolation prize Thursday, I can go see "My Man Godfrey" on opening night of the TCM Classic Film Festival.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47448275783673611972015-03-25T13:33:06.288-07:002015-03-25T13:33:06.288-07:00Perry,
Thank you for your thoughtful and persuasi...Perry,<br /><br />Thank you for your thoughtful and persuasive argument. You disagreed with me so I'll have to delete you but still. (Just kidding)<br /><br />Seriously, you make some excellent points. I especially agree that if certain 99-seat theaters are making a handsome profit they need to be targeted and addressed. <br /><br />But I feel you're spraying the entire field with DDT to kill five isolated plants. <br /><br />You say the referendum will not kill intimate 99-seat theaters. Maybe so. But actors are playing a game of chicken with their careers. And if you're wrong, and intimate theaters go away or Equity actors are shut out for non-Equity actors everybody loses. Is it worth that chance to possibly score minimum wage on some intimate production? <br /><br />I'm here to tell you -- theaters will close. Producers will not fund shows. Playwrights will be told to have casts of no more than four (and four is stretching it). <br /><br />I applaud your principle but this is the reality. Am I wrong? Maybe. But is it worth taking that chance? <br /><br />When Equity's own membership pickets them you have to wonder if they're really looking out for their best interests? <br /><br />And again, I repeat, if I'm asking to work for basically gratis I will offer my play for the same. And I'd like to think that my time and experience is worth some value and compensation as well. I'm not asking any artist to sacrifice anything that I'm not willing to sacrifice myself. And from where I stand, it's worth it. <br /><br />But again, what a pleasure to read a well researched and articulated point of view.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78278215185721373312015-03-25T11:57:08.607-07:002015-03-25T11:57:08.607-07:00Hamid,
Ever since I moved to LA , I can't trus...Hamid,<br />Ever since I moved to LA , I can't trust Readers and script contests.<br /><br />Why are script contest SCAMS?<br /><br />I am writing a pure visceral thriller. It will knock the baseball ball into the next stadium.<br /><br />What do script contests and Readers know about filmmaking?<br /><br />Thanks for your past advice Hamid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78664680919877936822015-03-25T10:51:25.936-07:002015-03-25T10:51:25.936-07:00Sorry to be so off topic, but just wanted to let y...Sorry to be so off topic, but just wanted to let you know that the Goldberg's will be featuring an episode tonight about old Philly Vet Stadium :<br /><br />http://m.phillies.mlb.com/news/article/114471790?partnerId=ed-9039079-785298873DrBOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179469265158025584noreply@blogger.com