2ND UPDATE: AFTRA Chairman Claims Joint Resolution With SAG "Erroneous" But Admits OKing It; "I Regret I Did Not Object"

PPDATE: Huh? No SAG-AFTRA Lovefest After All?

This is potentially bad news for the AMPTP today. The Hollywood CEOs had been hoping to exploit the longtime bitter rivalry between SAG and AFTRA in order to pit both unions against one another in the run- up to contract negotiations (just as the moguls had done between the DGA and the WGA). But the following joint SAG and AFTRA resolution seems to indicate the start of a new solidarity. "Only when the Chief Negotiators, the Joint Wages and Working Conditions Committee and the Joint National Board of Directors of SAG and AFTRA decide it is strategically the best time to negotiate with our employers will an official statement announcing such decision be made by our unions," the new resolution says. Here it is in full:

SAG and AFTRA Hollywood Joint Wages and Working Conditions Committee Adopts Resolution

Los Angeles (February 29, 2008) – The Hollywood Joint Wages and Working Conditions Committee of Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists today unanimously adopted the following resolution:

The  Hollywood Joint SAG/AFTRA Wages and Working Conditions Committee, which represents the majority of working actors in this country and has worked so well together to create proposals that truly reflect the needs of middle class actors in all categories, reaffirms that:

The Joint SAG/AFTRA Wages and Working Conditions Committee, negotiating team and National Boards will diligently and patiently adhere to the wages and working conditions process;

and

Only when the Chief Negotiators, the Joint Wages and Working Conditions Committee and the Joint National Board of Directors of SAG and AFTRA decide it is strategically the best time to negotiate with our employers will an official statement announcing such decision be made by our unions.

Unanimously adopted February 29, 2008.

After all this time -- the years, the witnesses before the grand jury, the rumors, and the media coverage -- I can tell you that the trial memo filed last night by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the case of United States v. Pellicano, et al is not going to shake up Hollywood one iota. Of course, these are very serious charges against Anthony Pellicano and his co-defendants Mark Arneson (a 29-year veteran of the LAPD), Abner Nicherie (a Las Vegas businessman), Rayford Turner (a former telephone field technician), and Kevin Kachikian (who allegedly developed the “Telesleuth” wiretapping software program for Pellicano). (The prosecution's case against an additional co-defendant, bigtime entertainment attorney Terry Christensen, will be made in a separate trial). Of course, the alleged activities negatively impacted all the victims' lives. But this trial memo is a long, long way from the bombshell that many thought would turn Hollywood inside out. Yes, Hollywood figures are mentioned in it prominently. But no specific charges among the 111 counts are leveled against any of them and, in some cases, they're victims. But perhaps more information will come out at trial since the government said it expects to call approximately 80 to 100 witnesses to testify before the jury. Here are the entertainment-related names in chronological order with the feds' statement of the case and my own explanation of the showbiz connections:

-- Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane, the CAA partners, are mentioned in a footnote (#11) because "recovered from Pellicano's computers were scanned computer printouts of DMV and criminal history information for Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane bearing Arneson's name and a date of August 10th, 2001, which comports with the date when Arneson conducted database inquiries on these individuals". No context is provided in the trial memo. But Lourd and Huvane were clearly victims. Their CAA issued an "it's Ovitz or us" ultimatum in 1999 after Michael Ovitz broke his promise not to raid the talent agency he co-founded and instead signed Robin Williams and seven other actors and directors away from CAA to his newly started management company AMG. Ovitz is mentioned in the feds' trial memo as having hired Pellicano.

-- Alec Gores: The trial memo says that, at the end of 2000, venture capitalist Alec Gores hired Pellicano to investigate his wife's relationship with his younger brother Tom. Alec and Tom Gores are the brothers of Paradigm talent agency owner Sam Gores. Sam Gores is not mentioned. Alec Gores will be testifying during the trial about the allegedly illegal work which Pellicano did.

-- Paramount boss Brad Grey is mentioned, but no wrongdoing by him is alleged in the feds' trial memo: "In July 2000, screenwriter Vincent Bo Zenga sued Brad Grey for breach of contract and fraud. The defense team representing Grey retained PIA in early February 2001. During the course of the subsequent investigation, confidential information regarding multiple investigative targets was acquired through, among other means, protected law enforcement database inquiries and illegal wiretaps. For these services, Grey’s attorneys paid Pellicano $25,000, which cost was then passed on to Grey as part of the firm’s monthly bill for litigation costs." There is no other mention of Grey in the feds' trial memo. But there is a footnote (#19) stating, "Grey, upon the advice of his attorneys, previously had hired PIA in January 1999 in connection with a civil proceeding involving former client Garry Shandling." At the time, Shandling was an important client of Grey and his major talent management and production company (which also put together and ran the The Larry Sanders Show series on HBO). That is, until the two men fell out in a long and nasty legal wrangle over Shandling's charges of conflict-of-interest against Grey.

-- Garry Shandling is talked about in the footnote above, which continues: "On January 20, 1999, Arneson conducted NCIC databse inquiries for information on Garry Shandling and his personal assistant Mariana Grant, and conducted a DMV database inquiry for information on Shandling’s accountant Warren Grant. On February 10, 1999, Arneson conducted an NCIC database inquiry for information on Shandling’s private investigator James Nielsen, Nielsen’s wife, daughter, and investigative partner. On March 4, 1999, Arneson conducted an NCIC database inquiry for information on Shandling’s friends Kevin and Linda Nealon and Shandling’s girlfriend Linda Doucett. On March 9, 1999, Arneson conducted an NCIC database inquiry for information on Shandling’s friend Gavin DeBecker." Not explained is that Shandling had sued Grey, his longtime manager.

-- Comedian Kevin Nealon, mentioned in the above footnote.

-- Actress Linda Doucett is mentioned in the above footnote. Fans of the old HBO series The Larry Sanders Show will remember her as busty blonde secretary Darlene Chapinni, as well as star Shandling's real-life girlfriend. She was fired when they broke up, and she filed two lawsuits against him, Grey and the show.

-- Gavin DeBecker, the security expert whose firm has serviced many Hollywood superstars, is mentioned in the above footnote.

-- Screenwriter Bo Zenga is prominently talked about in the feds' memo because he was allegedly investigated by Pellicano and Arneson inside the NCIC datatbase after he sued Brad Grey over profits from the motion picture Scary Movie. Also allegedly investigated by the two defendants was Zenga's wife Zorianna Kit, a TV reporter covering the entertainment beat. Bo Zenga's telephone also was allegedly wiretapped because of a reputed deal between Pellicano and SBC employee Teresa Wright.

-- Keith Carradine was mentioned in the feds' trial memo because his then wife Sandra Carradine hired Pellicano to investigate the actor in connection with property issues in her then-pending divorce proceedings. "Specifically, on April 26, 2001, Arneson conducted an NCIC database inquiry for information on Keith Carradine and his girlfriend, Hayley Dumond. As to the use of illegal wiretaps, Sandra Carradine, who pled guilty to perjury for lying about the existence of PIA-implemented wiretaps when questioned before the grand jury, has since admitted that Pellicano wiretapped Keith Carradine’s telephone and that Pellicano played wiretapped conversations for her.

[Sandra] Carradine’s admissions are corroborated by a telephone conversation recovered from Pellicano’s computer, dated May 17, 2001, in which Pellicano told Sandra Carradine that 'what I’m hoping to get the next time I go and gather all this stuff that I’m gathering is that there is a conversation between he and Hayley.' Pellicano and [Sandra] Carradine then discussed the contents of the conversation he had just played for her. In doing so, Pellicano reminded Carradine that he 'had to do this twice' because 'they cut the f****** cables.' "

-- Bert Fields is mentioned once as the attorney hired by hedge fund manager Adam Sender to represent him in a civil lawsuit against movie producer and Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Russo. "On Fields' recommendation, Sender retained PIA [Pellicano's PI firm] in March of 2001." There are no allegations of wrongdoing by Fields, one of the most prominent entertainment attorneys in Hollywood.

-- Aaron Russo is talked about in the trial memo because hedge fund manager Adam Sender partnered with the movie producer to create a movie production company. "Ultimately, after Sender spent more than $1,000,000 in start-up costs, the production company never materialized and Sender hired attorney Bertram Fields to represent him in a civil suit against Russo." Government allegations say Russo was illegally investigated through protected law enforcement databases and his phones were illegally wiretapped by Pellicano and associates. Russo managed Bette Midler, produced her Tony award-winning Clams on the Half-Shell Revue, and produced her first feature film The Rose. Russo also produced Trading Places and Teachers. Over the course of his showbiz career, he also created and managed The Manhattan Transfer. and actors David Keith, Frederic Forrest, Susan Sarandon. Russo died of bladder cancer on August 24, 2007.

-- Michael Ovitz is prominently mentioned in the feds' trial memo, but there is no allegation of wriongdoing by him. The time period discussed occurred after Ovitz, at one time the most powerful man in Hollywood as chief of CAA, was fired as president of Disney had started a talent management and production firm. "In May of 2002, PIA was retained by attorneys representing Michael Ovitz to assist in separate lawsuits against Ovitz’s business, Artists Management Group (“AMG”), by sports promoter Arthur Bernier and sports agent James Casey. During the course of this representation, confidential information regarding multiple investigative targets was acquired through, among other means, protected law enforcement databases inquiries. PIA was paid $25,000 for its services in each case.

"In addition to the specific matters for which PIA was retained, Pellicano and Ovitz discussed individuals within the entertainment community who were the source of bad press against Ovitz. During these conversations, Ovitz and Pellicano discussed Ovitz’s belief that New York Times writer Bernard Weinraub had been recycling negative stories about him and that, on occasion, he was assisted by Los Angeles Times writer Anita Busch. AMG billing records reflect that the payments for the Bernier and Casey litigation matters were made on May 10, 2002. On May 9, 2002, Arneson conducted an NCIC database inquiry for information on Arthur Bernier."

Ovitz's AMG failed and sold out to rival management company The Firm. Since then Ovitz has not been welcome in showbiz because of a Vanity Fair interview he gave in 2002 in which he blamed Hollywood's supposed “Gay Mafia” and its accolytes for his professional demise. See my LA Weekly column, Vanity Too Fair.

-- Anita Busch, the former Hollywood Reporter editor, gets the most ink in the trial memo as a repeat victim. "On May 16, 2002, Arneson conducted NCIC database inquiries for information on James Casey, Anita Busch, and Bernard Weinraub. On that same day, Arneson also requested DMV photos for Casey, Busch, and Weinraub by Express Mail. Reformatted DMV reports on Bernier, Casey, and Busch, as well as a six-page computer printout showing all of their respective runs, were recovered from Pellicano’s computers, with the Casey and Busch reports being dated May 31, 2002.

"Also on May 16, 2002, SBC employee Teresa Wright conducted an inquiry on the SBC proprietary BOSS database for information on Anita Busch, entering 'ERR' as her reason for access. Wright has pleaded guilty to computer fraud for conducting this inquiry unlawfully, has admitted that she did so on Turner’s behalf, and further has stated that she used the term “ERR” (error) to 'cover' for the inquiries that she conducted on Turner’s behalf.

"Turner’s home telephone records reflect that he called Wright twice on May 16, 2002, and Wright called Turner three times on the same date. Turner had retired from SBC months earlier. After noticing persistent problems with her telephone line, Busch, on November 5, 2002, contacted SBC and asked the phone company to investigate the problem. Later that day, SBC technician Clifford Shillingford discovered a wiretap on Busch’s telephone and further confirmed that there was no court order authorizing the wiretap. Shillingford then had the wiretap removed. Shortly thereafter, however, Busch’s problems with her telephone line returned, which led Busch to recontact SBC. On November 18, 2002, SBC employee Teresa Henry discovered yet another unauthorized wiretap on Busch’s telephone."

But that's not all. "On July 9, 2003, Mark Arneson, who previously had resigned from the LAPD rather than participate in a compelled interview with Internal Affairs regarding his database inquiries, was interviewed at the United States Attorney’s Office in the presence of his counsel. The interview was governed by a standard 'proffer' agreement providing that Arneson’s statements could not be used against him as long as he was completely truthful. He was not.

"Specifically, when asked about his inquiries of law enforcement databases on the name 'Anita Busch,' Arneson affirmatively asserted that his inquiries on Busch were related to a legitimate gambling investigation he was working on in his capacity as a vice squad detective in the LAPD Pacific Division. Arneson stated that as part of that investigation he and other detectives conducted surveillances at previously identified gambling and organized crime hangouts, including Enzo’s Pizzeria and Matteo’s Restaurant. Arneson recalled seeing a woman he believed to have been Busch at Enzo’s and Matteo’s on repeated occasions, and said that he conducted inquiries on her in order to determine whether or not she was involved in gambling or other organized crime activities. Arneson further claimed that no surveillance reports were generated documenting his observations of Busch, and said that whatever documentation he received as a result of his inquiries would have been discarded when Busch was eliminated as a potential suspect in the investigation.

"The evidence will show that this Arneson’s story regarding Busch was a complete fabrication. For example, Busch will testify that she has never eaten at Enzo’s Pizzeria, and did not eat at Matteo’s Restaurant on or around May 16, 2002, the date that Arneson conducted his computer inquiries of Busch and his daily report indicated that he spent the day in an alcohol sales decoy operation and in “prostitution” enforcement. Moreover, as noted above, Arneson conducted these database inquiries as part of a series of runs that he conducted on PIA investigative targets, including occasional Busch writing partner Bernard Weinraub."

I wrote an LA Weekly column, Requiem For Anita Busch, detailing how the one-time editor and reporter had forsaken journalism because the Los Angeles Times and the Hollywood press corps turned their backs on her when she became an alleged target of Pellicano et al. The timing of the alleged Pellicano probe of Busch came a few months after she as a freelancer and Bernie Weinraub as a staff reporter together wrote a series of articles about Michael Ovitz's financial troubles for The New York Times. (The probe also coincided with an investigative story about actor Steven Seagal which Busch was working on as a contract employee for the Los Angeles Times. That's why the initial search warrant for Pellicano's office by the FBI mentioned Seagal, not Ovitz.) Ovitz ranted about Busch and other perceived enemies in a 2002 interview with Vanity Fair. (See my previous LA Weekly column, Vanity Too Fair.) 

-- Bernie Weinraub is mentioned in the trial memo because of the above. Weinraub was a staff reporter for The New York Times for decades, including 13 years covering Hollywood until he retired in 2004. He is now a playwright. He also is married to Sony Entertainment Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal. Ovitz ranted about Weinraub and other perceived enemies in that 2002 interview with Vanity Fair. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles has filed the trial memo outlining the case against Anthony Pellicano and his co-defendants. It's lengthy. Hollywood figures are mentioned in it prominently. I will summarize as quickly as I can for posting.  

If a federal judge severs a pair of counts from the wiretapping and conspiracy case against Anthony Pellicano, then the imprisoned Hollywood P.I. would have two trials -- the one starting Wednesday, and a second to be held later alongside bigwig showbiz attorney Terry Christensen. Pellicano surprised U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer by not objecting to the severance motion. Fischer asked whether Pellicano wanted two trials, and he answered, "Yes." That's the reporting from Robert Iafolla in today's respected legal newspaper, the Los Angeles Daily Journal (online requires subscription). Meanwhile, LADJ and Radaronline.com say those last-minute plea bargain talks have stalled with three of The Pelican's co-defendants.  Meanwhile, jury selection continues.

Not only has Blu-ray won the format war, but now HD-DVD is rubbing consumers' faces in it. Paramount will stop releasing HD-DVDs after next week. Cancelled releases include Bee Movie (DreamWorks Animation, which is distributed by Paramount, had scheduled it for March 11), Sweeney Todd (April 1), and even the just announced There Will Be Blood. Into the Wild and Things We Lost in the Fire will be Paramount's last vestiges of its short-lived HD-DVD agreement. Instead all those titles and more will be released on Blu-ray sometime in the future. 

2ND UPDATE: The New York board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild released a resolution today that urges the guild to begin negotiations on a new contract as soon as possible. It's well known that the NY and LA branches of SAG are often at odds. The resolution comes only hours after SAG leaders Alan Rosenberg and Doug Allen sent a letter to members updating them on the union's immediate plans. Pressure on SAG leaders to start talks earlier is coming from big-name actors, moguls and the trades who do the Hollywood CEOs' bidding.

Here's the SAG-NY branch news release and the resolution:

Members of the New York Board of Screen Actors Guild have passed a resolution (attached) demanding that the Guild begin the TV/Theatrical negotiations. Frustrated by what they see as unnecessary delays, the New York Board demands a start date no later than the end of March, 2008. Members of at least five other regional branch divisions have issued similar resolutions. 

“I see absolutely no value to the members in delaying these talks any longer,” said New York President Sam Freed.  “We are dealing with serious issues.  We should already be at the bargaining table.”

The resolutions echo the sentiments already expressed in Hollywood by many rank and file and high profile members. New York based actor Alec Baldwin agrees. “SAG should pursue a course similar to the DGA where early negotiations short circuit the need for a strike.” 

Resolution

Whereas:

Screen Actors Guild leadership is ignoring the proven success of the strategy of early negotiations.

Whereas:

Were we following the precedent of recent history, negotiations on the TV/theatrical contract would now be in process and would be completed by the end of March.

Whereas:

The current Guild leadership is instead wasting valuable time and Guild resources fighting with our bargaining partner and unnecessarily delaying the start of negotiations.

Whereas:

The continued delay of negotiations jeopardizes the ability of our members to continue working, limits our negotiating options and diminishes our ability to make the best deal possible.

Therefore be it resolved:

That SAG leadership immediately announces that negotiations for the TV/Theatrical contract will begin no later than the end of March, 2008.

UPDATE: The following statement was released today by Screen Actors Guild National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Doug Allen:

“President Alan Rosenberg and I reported the status of SAG’s Wages and Working conditions process and negotiations timeline via an email sent to our national board of directors last night, and to SAG members this morning.

"We feel it is important to communicate directly with our members regarding the progress of our preparation for formal negotiations and as indicated in our letter, our internal member input meetings conducted jointly with AFTRA, have been very productive. We are not only pleased with the level of participation and commitment our members have demonstrated, but also with the productive pace of these critical preparatory sessions.

"We are, and will continue to meet with rank-and-file and high profile members, and management representatives including the CEOs, to lay the foundation for formal negotiations.

"Despite claims to the contrary by a few that we are not moving fast enough, we are well underway in this important, collaborative process.“

[NF: Here is what was sent to SAG members:]

LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM ALAN ROSENBERG & DOUG ALLEN

Dear Member,
We want to thank the hundreds of members around the country who have so far participated in the process - called wages and working conditions (W&W) - by which member input is given to your negotiators for the new TV/Theatrical contract covering movies, television and new media. Our W&W process, jointly conducted with AFTRA and required by SAG's constitution, will conclude March 31, 2008. The TV/Theatrical Contract expires June 30, 2008.  Sometime after March 31, 2008 we will begin formal negotiations with the employers' representative, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

We want to begin formal negotiations as soon as we have the best chance to finish the negotiations with a fair agreement, acceptable to SAG members. In the meantime, and while we finish the W&W process, we are doing the other things necessary to prepare. That preparation includes assembling up-to-date financial, economic and member earnings' data. In the coming weeks we will be meeting with management to exchange information and our perspectives on the state of the industry. We will also meet with management to work on the schedule and logistics of negotiations. Our lines of communication with management have been and will continue to be open. Given the experience of the DGA and WGA in their recent negotiations, we will certainly continue to meet with the CEO's of the major networks and studios as we prepare for formal negotiations.

There are a number of issues very important to actors that have not been dealt with in either the DGA or WGA contracts, just as some of their most important issues only affected their memberships. The compression of compensation for middle class working actors and forced endorsement by product integration, for example, must be addressed in our negotiations. Also, the impact of some of the new media provisions of the DGA or WGA contracts would fall more harshly on actors than on writers and directors. SAG and AFTRA must negotiate an agreement that is in the best interest of actors.

The impact of the calendar on the industry, particularly its impact on movies not yet in production, affects actors and employers. It is important that our response to the urgency of the calendar is thoughtful, measured, and productive. We cannot ignore the calendar. Neither should we impose deadlines on ourselves, in essence bargaining against ourselves. We will diligently and patiently finish the work necessary to best position your negotiating committee to secure a contract that will address the needs of the membership. That work will include determining with AFTRA, and then with the AMPTP, when our negotiations will begin. That date will be as soon as possible, but not before we finish our member-driven W&W process and not until we are in a position to finish what we start. Your elected and staff leadership will do everything we can to achieve the results you deserve. We appreciate your continuing support. We are proud to represent you in these critical negotiations.

Alan Rosenberg, President
Doug Allen National Executive Director

This is, in my estimation, a logical, necessary and ballsy move by Time Warner's new chief Jeff Bewkes (unless Toby Emmerich is kept on as New Line Cinema's president of production, which would be moronic). It also shows that Bewkes is moving aggressively to start the transformation process of a corporation desperate for change after so many years when his predeccessor Richard Parsons acted like just a caretaker of the status quo. But with change comes pain, and New Line Cinema into Warner Bros will indeed cause pain to personnel and projects. Right now, there are more questions than answers about how this is going to work precisely. Even the Warner Bros people are saying that. The short-term good news for those fearful of losing their jobs is that, as part of the consolidation, New Line will be operated as a unit of Warner Bros and maintain separate development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs operations. Of course, how long that lasts is anybody's guess, and Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne forecast that New Line will become a much smaller company. Bewkes refused to renew their contracts. The pair co-founded the company 40 years ago and did a brilliant job creating a powerhouse studio large in profit if not size and scope. They also sold that company and made a shitload of money. Hollywood has witnessed this again and again: moguls sell the company they built and then expect to have a free hand running it under the new ownership. But they can't have their cake and eat it too. Shaye especially became a victim of his own arrogance and avarice. Worse, he didn't keep his eye on the bottom line. And he unnecessarily pissed off creative partners who had done great work for the studio. Bob had a long and successful run: now it's over because of hubris and karma. Readers of DHD know that I first broke this story back on January 21st, and followed every twist and turn since then. For background, read my previous postings below. Then scroll down for the various interoffice memos and official Warner Bros/New Line news release.  

1. Decision Day Fast Approaching For Bob Shaye, Michael Lynne, and New Line
2. Worse News For New Line: Tolkien Sues
3. BusinessWeek Urges Jeff Bewkes To Move New Line Into Warner Bros
4. TW's Bewkes Confirms New Line Changes
5. SOURCES: Terry Semel Looks At New Line
6. SOURCES: Bob Shaye's New Line Contract Won't Be Renewed By TW Boss
7. Peter Jackson And Bob Shaye Settle; Jackson Will Exec Produce 'Hobbit'
8. Another Reason Bob Shaye Should Retire
9. The Dog Ate New Line's Balance Sheets...
10. Bob Shaye's Mea Culpa Too Little Too Late
11. It's Official! Carlisle To New Line
12. Is This Russell's New Line Replacement?
13. Another Reason Why Bob Shaye Is A Prick
14. Bob Shaye Looks Like Even Bigger Idiot...
15. Studios To Fight Over Unusual Peter Jackson Pic Deal (But Not New Line) 
16. Bombs Away: Shaye's 'Mimzy' Tracking 0
17. Peter Jackson Answers Lord Of The Rants

Memo From Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne to New Line staff:

To: New Line Colleagues
From: Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne
Subject: Our Company

This afternoon, Time Warner is announcing that New Line will become a unit of Warner Bros. This is, of course, a very difficult and emotional time for all of us who have worked at New Line. While there is not much we can say that can lessen the impact of this announcement, we did want you to know about the decision before you read about it in the press.

New Line will maintain its own identity and will continue to produce, market, and distribute movies. But New Line will now do so as part of Warner Bros. and will probably be a much smaller operation than in the past. Time Warner hopes that operating New Line as a unit of Warner Bros. will allow New Line to focus on the creative side of movie-making, while reducing costs and taking advantage of Warner Bros.' distribution systems. The company will be holding group meeting with New Line employees tomorrow in Los Angeles and New York to discuss this announcement, and is committed to letting employees know as soon as possible about how this change affects them individually.

For our part, we will be stepping down as Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOS of New Line. This was a painful decision, because we love New Line and the people who work here have been like our second families. But we will be leaving the company with enormous pride in what all of us at New Line have accomplished together. From its humble beginnings 40 years ago, our studio has created some of the most popular and successful movies of all time. Those movies are a tribute to the amazing creative energy and entrepreneurial abilities of the talented people at New Line. They are a legacy that will endure forever.

Although we are stepping out of New Line, we intend to remain actively involved in the industry in an entrepreneurial capacity, and will keep you advised of developments.

We thank all of you who have worked so hard to make New Line such a success. We are very proud of every one of you.

Bob & Michael

Memo from Barry Meyer and Alan Horn to Warner Bros and New Line staff:

Dear Colleagues,

Today it was announced that New Line Cinema will be operated as a unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Full details of that announcement are in the memo from Jeff Bewkes distributed earlier today.

As Jeff said, this consolidation is necessary to help ensure the ongoing success of Time Warner’s filmed entertainment operations by maximizing efficiencies and more effectively exploiting creative opportunities. This decision was also, in part, driven by the fact that the worldwide movie business is rapidly changing on a daily basis, and we need to constantly refine our business model to remain competitive.

New Line has a 40-year history of creative success, and we have enormous respect for the company and its co-chairmen and co-CEOs, Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne. We want to take our time to make sure that we understand New Line’s business and properly align this valuable asset that’s now affiliated with the Studio. We will share pertinent information with you as it becomes available.

Thank you for your continued support through this time of change, and please join us in welcoming New Line to the Warner Bros. family.

Best regards,
Barry Meyer, Alan Horn

Memo from Time Warner's Jeff Bewkes:

To: All Time Warner Employees
From: Jeff Bewkes
Subject: New Line to Become a Unit of Warner Bros.

This afternoon, we announced that New Line will be operated as a unit of Warner Bros. New Line will continue to retain its own brand identity and will maintain separate development, production, marketing, distribution, and business affairs operations, but it will now coordinate those functions with Warner Bros.

The combination should strengthen our company's filmed entertainment business by combining New Line with Warner Bros.' industry-leading position and global reach. New Line has a proud 40-year legacy of producing creative, cutting-edge entertainment. That will continue. But, given trends in the industry toward fewer movie releases, the importance of a coordinated strategy for the international and digital distribution of filmed entertainment, and the need to continue to make sure that we're running our businesses as efficiently as possible, it made sense for us to combine our studios' infrastructures.

Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, the Co-Chairs and Co-CEOs of New Line, have chosen to leave the company, but we're in discussions about possible future business relationships. Bob and Michael have a unique partnership that is noteworthy not only for its longevity, but also for its record of innovation and success. They have guided New Line's growth from a privately-held art film distributor to the world's leading independent film studio - home to such popular films as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Mask, Austin Powers, Blade, Rush Hour, Elf, Wedding Crashers and Hairspray. I thank Bob and Michael for their enduring contributions to Time Warner and look forward to working with them in the future.

This consolidation will also result in changes, including the elimination of jobs at New Line. Warner Bros. is currently working through the details and will let people know how the changes affect them as soon as possible. Colleagues whose jobs are eliminated will be treated fairly and respectfully. These are very difficult decisions, but they're important for the future success of our film studios and our company.

As always, thank you for your hard work and support as our company moves forward. I'll continue to keep you updated on our progress.

Time Warner Official News Release:

TIME WARNER CONSOLIDATES FILMED ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES
New Line Cinema To Be A Unit Of Warner Bros. Entertainment

NEW YORK, February 28, 2008 – Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) announced today the consolidation of its filmed entertainment businesses, Warner Bros. Entertainment and New Line Cinema.  The combination brings together New Line’s 40-year legacy as the world’s most successful and innovative independent film studio with Warner Bros.’ creative leadership and unparalleled scale and reach in global distribution and marketing.

As part of the consolidation, New Line will be operated as a unit of Warner Bros.  New Line will maintain separate development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs operations, but will closely integrate and coordinate those functions with Warner Bros. to maximize film performance and operating efficiencies, achieve significant cost savings, and improve margins.

In making the announcement, Time Warner’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes said:  “We are moving quickly to improve our business performance and financial returns.  New Line has built a strong franchise of cutting-edge entertainment.  We can enhance its value by combining it with Warner Bros.  Given the trend toward fewer movie releases, New Line and Warner Bros. will now have more complementary release slates, with New Line focusing on genres that have been its strength.  With the growing importance of international revenues, it makes sense for New Line to retain its international film rights and to exploit them through Warner Bros.’ global distribution infrastructure.  We can also take better advantage of digital distribution platforms by combining our studios.  These changes will enhance our revenue opportunities and drive dramatic cost efficiencies and higher margins at New Line.”

New Line’s Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne have elected to leave the studio, but are in discussions about possible future business relationships with the company.

Mr. Bewkes said:  “Bob and Michael have a unique partnership that is noteworthy not only for its stability and longevity, but for its record of innovation and success.  They have guided New Line’s growth from a privately held art film distributor to the world’s leading independent film studio that is home to some of the most popular films in entertainment history, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Mask, Austin Powers, Blade, Rush Hour, Elf, Wedding Crashers and Hairspray.  We thank Bob and Michael for their enduring contributions to Time Warner and look forward to a continuing working relationship with them.”

Mr. Shaye and Mr. Lynne said:  “New Line has been our respective life’s work as well as our second family.  While we’re sad to be leaving, we’re enormously proud to have overseen its extraordinary growth and worked with so many dedicated and talented colleagues.  New Line represents innovation, creativity, and independent success.  We hope that the company can continue to be a leader in creating entertainment that resonates around the world.  We will now focus our efforts on exploring new entrepreneurial opportunities.”

Now that the writers strike is truly behind Hollywood, I'm turning my attention as much as possible to the actors' upcoming contract negotiations with Hollywood CEOs. Already, Variety is using its Page One bully pulpit to pressure SAG leadership to begin talks with the moguls because the studios are "refusing" to schedule new start dates on films that can't complete shooting by June 30. (See my previous, Spielberg Delays Start Of 'Chicago 7' Due To "Uncertainty Over A SAG Strike". Variety sure did...) But SAG has some internal business to dispose of, first. And I have news about one issue: that controversial petition drive lobbying the Screen Actors Guild leadership for an earnings threshold requirement for "qualified voting" on the union's contract issues.

I've been told that the leading actors behind the petition drive, including Amy Brenneman and Ned Vaughn, met last week with SAG president Alan Rosenberg about it. I have more comprehensive info about their proposal. And some new and weighty names have been added to the list of signers, including Meryl Streep. The group even has their own gmail account. (For an opposing viewpoint, see Ron Livingston's):

From: Amy Brenneman & Ned Vaughn
To: Concerned SAG & AFTRA Members
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008
Subject: UPDATE: Our meeting with SAG leadership.

To our colleagues,
 
We had a promising and productive meeting with President Rosenberg and NED Doug Allen at SAG offices Wednesday afternoon. There was frank discussion and an open exchange of views; best of all, after hearing our presentation, President Rosenberg agreed that this idea has gained enough traction that it should be considered by the Board in time for the upcoming contract vote.
 
Your support—over 1000 names and counting—caused the leadership to listen far more intently. Our next task is to convince SAG’s National Board, and that will be our focus. Your support is our greatest asset and must continue to grow. Below is our last letter and updated supporters list—check it for your friends and colleagues and if you don’t see their names, reach out to see if they want to join us.
 
We are also pursuing this issue with the leadership at AFTRA, so that ALL working performers have an effective voice in the contract decisions that directly impact their lives and livelihoods.
 
Sincerely,
Amy Brenneman & Ned Vaughn

The petition drive says its effort is "to strengthen SAG by giving working performers an effective voice in the upcoming contract negotiation." In the first two weeks, over 1000 supporters from SAG's membership added their names to the petition. (SAG has a membership of 120,000,) The group's goal is to bring this matter to SAG's board for resolution prior to the TV/Theatrical contract negotiation. "The Board needs to reasonably define 'affected' members—those eligible to vote on the contract." Here is what the petition drive proposes, quoting from an earlier email from Amy Brenneman and Ned Vaughn: 

"For TV/Theatrical contract voting, an affected member is any member in good standing who over the previous 2 contract terms (6 years), or total years as member if less than 6 years:
 
1. Performed an average of 5 days principal work or 15 days background work per year (or an equivalent mix thereof); or
 
2. Had average residual earnings per year equivalent to 5 principal days at scale; or
 
3. Is fully vested in the SAG Producers Pension Plan.
 
We believe this reasonably takes into account the ups and downs of the business for currently working members, and is flexible enough to include members who, while perhaps not currently working, still have a concrete stake in the negotiations.
 
You may hear this effort criticized as 'elitist', but the response from our supporters suggests otherwise. They include many SAG members who wouldn’t vote on some contracts under this structure—but who recognize the power of putting contract decisions in the hands of members who work those contracts. Like a young LA member, who wrote that she 'would be happy for you to add my name although I definitely count among those not affected'. Or the commercial performer who 'has not yet worked under SAG's TV/Theatrical contract, but…completely understand[s] the need for this change'. And a member in Baltimore who says, 'Way to go. Please sign me up. And even I shouldn't vote on contracts I don't work under often enough!'
 
We hope you will continue to spread the word. We are also reaching out to AFTRA to schedule discussions and will keep you apprised of our progress.

Here are the names who have signed the petition:
 

Caroline Aaron, Brooke Adams, Hayden Adams, Paul Adelstein, Joanna P. Adler, Charlie Adler, Matt Adler, Ben Affleck, Lori Alan, Shari Albert, Brad Aldous, Jace Alexander, Jason Alexander, Manny Alfaro, Richard Allison, Chris Allport, Ryan Alosio, Bruce Altman, Hira Ambrosino, Steve Amerson, Morgan Ames, Sandy Ames, Kurt David Anderson, Teja Anderson, Jill Andre, David Andriole, Karin Anglin, Floanne Ankah, Nicole Ansari, Christina Applegate, Amy Aquino, Anne Archer, Al Dana Arioli, Adam Arkin, Michael Arkin, Rosanna Arquette, Michelle Arthur, Philip Ashley, Jennifer Aspen, Essence Atkins, Jayne Atkinson, Scott Atkinson, René Auberjonois, John Augustine, Hank Azaria,

James Babbin, Dave Bachman, Conrad Bachmann, Kevin Bacon, Greg Baglia, Jordan Baker, Becky Ann Baker, Dee Bradley Baker, Dylan Baker, Shaun Baker, Bob Balaban, George Ball, Edoardo Ballerini, Talia Balsam, Briel Banks, Adrienne Barbeau, Ted Barbra, Jennifer Barnes, Ken Barnett, Anita Barone, Justin Barrett, Robin Bartlett, Bobbie Bates, Kathy Bates, Brian Baumgartner, Samela Beasom, Graham Beckel, Ed Begley Jr, Peter Beitmayer, Catherine Bell, Ned Bellamy, Jane Beller, Nellie Bellflower, Maria Bello, Nat Benchley, Bob Bergen, Erik Bergmann, Xander Berkeley, Chopper Bernet, Corbin Bernsen, Octavio Gómez Berrios, Kay Bess, Patricia Bethune, Tom Beyer, David Bickford, Jessica Biel, Craig Bierko, Mary Birdsong, Raye Birk, Joshua Biton, Robin Bittman, Lewis Black, Geoffrey Blake, Susan Blakely, Mark Blum, Alan Blumenfeld, Joan Bogden, Heidi Bohay, Chip Bolcik, Patrick Boll, Philip Bosco, Jeff Bottoms, Andrea Bowen, Cameron Bowen, Alex Bowen, Graham Bowen, Jillian Bowen, Tom Bozell, Jim Bracchitta, Eric Bradley, Jim E Brady, John E Brady, Barbara Bragg, Kenneth Branagh, Leanna Brand, Alicia Brandt, Lucia Brawley, Patrick Breen, Peter Breitmayer, Amy Brenneman, Nick Brett, Paget Brewster, Kevin Brief, David Brisbin, Brent Briscoe, Connie Britton, Bill Brochtrup, Ivar Brogger, Sally Brooks, Clancy Brown, Lynne Marie Brown, PJ Brown, Robert Curtis Brown, Brianna Brown, Dylan Bruno, Jon Bruno, Ian Buchanan, Ralph Buckley, Angela Bullock, Will Burke, Kate Burton, Rebeccah Bush, Bill Butler, Ronald R Butler, Ralph Byers, Amick Byram,

Larry Cahn, Dean Cain, Robert Cait, Jonathan Cake, L Scott Caldwell, K Callan, Dean Cameron, Ken Hudson Campbell, Julia Campbell, Mario Cantone, Geoffrey Cantor, Andrew Caple-Shaw, Angela Cappelli, Jessica Capshaw, Nestor Carbonell, Lou Carbonneau, Tom Carey, Andrew Carillo, Barry Carl, Amada Carlin, Brian Carney, Anne Carney, Geneva Carr, Lizette Carrion, Carmen Carter, Gabrielle Carteris, Veronica Cartwright, Francesca Casale, Philip Casnoff, Paul Cassell, Luna Catarevas, Reg E Cathey, Dominic Catrambone, Joe Cerisano, Michael Cerveris, Esther Chae, Kathleen Chalfant, Nancy Linehan Charles, Erika Christensen, Paul Christie, Debra Christofferson, Susan Chuang, Gordon Clapp, Sarah Clarke, Christian Clemenson, Robert Clendenin, Eric Close, Glenn Close, Scott Cohen, Enrico Colantoni, Jack Coleman, Townsend Coleman, Denise Alexander Colla, Stephen Collins, Patrick Collins, Maria Cominis, Mary Ann Conk, Jack Conley, Brian Connors, Dan Conroy, Linda O Cook, Jane Cooke, Vincent Corazza, Dave Corey, Maddie Corman, Michael Cornacchia, Brian Corrigan, Brian Cox, John Henry Cox, Richard Cox, Peter Coyote, Wendell Craig, Bryan Cranston, Ellen Crawford, Randy Crenshaw, Tandy Cronyn, Merrilyn Crouch, Ashley Crow, Phil Crowley, Jon Cryer, Suzanne Cryer, Steven Culp, Todd Cummings, Michael Cumpsty, Leigh Curran, Jane Curtin, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ann Cusack, Ryan Cutrona,

Tim Dadabo, Tim Daly, Malcolm Danare, Beverly D'Angelo, Duane Daniels, Carol Danilowicz, Elizabeth Dann, Blythe Danner, Kenny D'Aquila, Allison Daugherty, Kelly Deadmon, Laura Dean, Tim DeKay, Mark Deklin, Trista Delamere, Yasmine Delawari, Pete DeMeo, Brian Dennehy, James Denton, Mark Derwin, Frank Dicopoulos, Olivia Anderson Dicopoulos, Jaden Anderson Dicopoulos, Jason Dietz, Garret Dillahunt, Valerie Dillman, Melinda Dillon, Heidi Dippold, Melissa Disney, Deb Doetzer, Jason Dohring, Andrew Dolan, Patrice Donnell, Elisa Donovan, Tate Donovan, Erin Donovan, Steve Downes, Minnie Driver, Cece DuBois, David Duchovny, Ilona Dulaski-Williams, James DuMont, Jennifer Dundas, Kevin Dunn, Griffin Dunne, Wayne Duvall,

James Eckhouse, Stacy Edwards, Edward Edwards, Michael Edwin, Chris Eigeman, David Eigenberg, Helen Eigenberg, Ned Eisenberg, Jenna Elfman, Bodhi Elfman, Rob Elk, Greg Ellis, Chris Ellis, Michael Emerson, Linda Emond, Troy Evans, Justine Eyre,

Patrick Fabian, Bill Fagerbakke, Bill Fairbairn, Morgan Fairchild, Caroline Farah, Ronnie Farer, Kevin Farley, Diane Farr, Robert Farrior, Ron Fassler, Meagen Fay, Sally Field, Iris Fields, John Finn, Jennifer Finnigan, Kate Flannery, John Fleming, John J. Fleming, Louise Fletcher, Calista Flockhart, Colleen Flynn, Jackie Flynn, Dan Fogler, Sam Fontana, Nicole Forester, Cedering Fox, Alison Fraser, Wendy Fraser, Sam Freed, Roger Freeland, Peter Friedman, Kurt Fuller, Dan Futterman,

Jane Gabbert, Boyd Gaines, Joseph Gallagher, David Gallagher, Tim Gallin, Anitha Gandhi, Chris Gannon, Gloria Gantt, Victor Garber, Jeff Garlin, Jennifer Garner, Spencer Garrett, Brad Garrett, Stephanie Garry, Willie Garson, Anne Gartlan, Larry Gelman, Jane Gennaro, David Gennaro, Mike Genovese, Jason Winston George, Brian Geraghty, Jay Gerber, Peter Gerety, John Getz, Stephen Gevedon, Marcus Giamatti, Nicholas Giangiulio, Cynthia Gibb, Shelly Gibson, Thomas Gibson, John Gidcomb, Richard Gilbert-Hill, Nancy Giles, Jen Giles, Peri Gilpin, Dan Gilvezan, Mary Pat Gleason, Joanna Gleason, Traci Godfrey, Joanna Going, Marcy Goldman, Lisa Ann Goldsmith, Tony Goldwyn, Carlos Gomez, Rick Gomez, Eli Goodman, Eve Gordon, Joyce Gordon, Milena Govich, Randy Graff, Curry Graham, Vince Grant, David Marshall Grant, Faye Grant, Sheri Graubert, Chad Tyler Green, Mary-Pat Green, Michele Greene, Graham Greene, David Greenman, Brad Greenquist, Melissa Greenspan, Clark Gregg, Googy Gress, Joel Gretsch, Jennifer Grey, Joe Grifasi, Frank Grillo, Malcolm Groome, Arye Gross, Julianne Grossman, Saverio Guerra, Christopher Guest, Paul Guilfoyle, Bob Gunton, Jeff Gurner, Annabelle Gurwitch,

Jeanie Hackett, Marianne Hagan, Molly Hagan, Debbie R Hall, Robert David Hall, Edd Hall, Julie Halston, Sarah Hamilton, Jim Hanks, Marcia Gay Harden, Melora Hardin, Mark Harelik, Tom Harges, Mariska Hargitay, Brian Hargrove, Linda Harmon, John Harnagel, Jason Butler Harner, Karen Harper, Tess Harper, Cynthia Harris, Danneel Harris, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Harris, Gregory Harrison, Kathryn Harrold, Roxanne Hart, Mariette Hartley, Teri Hatcher, Christopher Hatfield, Ethan Hawke, Kelly Hawthorne, Cathy Lind Hayes, Sheila Head, Christine Healy, Patricia Heaton, Gina Hecht, Paul Hecht, David Heckel, Helen Hedman, Mike Heintzman, Tricia Helfer, Florence Henderson, Eileen Henry, Peter Hermann, Catherine Hicks, Dulé Hill, Skip Hinnant, Judith Hoag, Bari Hochwald, Mike Hodge, Ed Hodson, Jackie Hoffman, Chris Hogan, Dorian Holley, Johnny Holliday, Kaitlin Hopkins, Monica Horan, J R Horne, Peter Horton, Jacquelyn Houston, Ken Howard, Charles Howerton, Tony Hoylen, David Hunt, Helen Hunt, Linda S Hurd, Michelle Hurd, Kieren Hutchison,

Ray Iannicelli, Laura Innes, Michael Ironside, Gregory Itzin, Zeljko Ivanek, Dana Ivey, Edith Ivey, Sheri Izzard,

Marc Jablon, Luana Jackman, Jill Jackson, Hank Jacobs, Peggy Jo Jacobs, Peter Francis James, Angie Jaree, Brian Jarvis, Dawn Jeffory-Nelson, Lucinda Jenney, Jennifer Jiles, Kristen Johnson, Lauri Johnson, Bob Joles, Eddie Jones, Jeffrey Jones, Richard T Jones, Kathryn Joosten, Jackie Joseph, Robert Joy, Mary Joy, Bob Joyce, David Joyce, Susan Boyd Joyce, Jon Joyce,

Jane Kaczmarek, Ilyana Kadushin, Rick Kain, Kirsten Kairos, Bob Kaliban, Melina Kanakaredes, Tom Kane, Mandy Kaplan, Jay Karnes, Elizabeth Karr, John Kassir, Cindy Katz, Bruce Katzman, David Kaufman, Zoe Kazan, Kathy Keane, Larry Keith, Barnet Kellman, Mary Ann Kellogg, David Kelsey, Lori Kennedy, Heather Paige Kent, Janice Kent, Joanna Kerns, Linda Kerns, Patrick Kerr, Judy Kerr, Kelle Kerr, Brian Kerwin, Amy Kiehl, Chris Kies, Kevin Kilner, Colette Kilroy, Matthew Kimbrough, Richard Kind, Andy Kindler, Regina King, Dani Klein, Dick Klinger, Kathryn Klvana, Shirley Knight, Wayne Knight, Jon Kohler, David Konig, Thomas Kopache, Randy Kovitz, Jason Kravitz, Susan Krebs, Catherine Kresge, Sara Krieger, Kirsten Krohn, David Krumholtz, Muriel Kuhn, Shishir Kurup, Clyde Kusatsu,

Don LaFontaine, Christine Lakin, Maurice LaMarche, Phil LaMarr, Jerry Lambert, Wendy Lamond, Norma Lana, Katherine LaNasa, Jack Landron, Lilas Lane, Nathan Lane, Diane Lane, Susan Lange, Anne Lange, Linda Larkin, Dan Lauria, Lucy Lawless, James Kyson Lee, Laura Leighton, Neal Lerner, Susan Leslie, Matt Letscher, Eugene Levy, Geoffrey Lewis, Lisa Lewis, Dawnn Lewis, Henry Martin Leyva, Richard Libertini, Jason Lifton, Diane Ligon, Paul Linke, Mark Linn-Baker, Becca Lish, Sharline Liu, Marty Lodge, Lisa Long, Rob Lowe, James Lurie, Matt Lutz, Will Lyman, John Carroll Lynch, Elena Lyons,

Marguerite MacIntyre, Peter Mackenzie, JC Mackenzie, Peter MacNicol, Peter Macon, Bruce MacVittie, Roma Maffia, Michael C Mahon, Wendy Makkena, Josh Malina, Matt Malloy, Camryn Manheim, Dinah Manoff, JP Manoux, Joe Mantegna, Henriette Mantel, Michael Mantell, Katie Maquire, Stephanie March, David Marciano, Julianna Margulies, Peter Michael Marino, Lily Mariye, Jodie Markell, Abigail Marlowe, Ali Marsh, Dave Marsh, Paula Marshall, Sandy Martin, Benito Martinez, Greg Marx, Michelle Maryk, Madison Mason, Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Danny Masterson, Michael Mastro, Richard Masur, Eric Matheny, Samantha Mathis, Dakin Matthews, Danny McBride, Bill McCarty, Jim McCauley, Ron McClary, Mike McColl, Kevin McCorkle, Mary McCormack, Matt McCoy, Paul McCrane, Arnold McCuller, Lynne McCune, George McDaniel, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Mary McDonnell, Theresa McElwee, Brian McFadden, Bruce McGill, Catherine McGoohan, Peter McHugh, Raymond McKinnon, Rod McLachlan, Todd McLaren, Don McManus, Kathleen McNenny, Charlie McWade, Donna Medine, Annie Meisels, Randy Mell, Christopher Meloni, Nick Mennell, Michael Merton, Tamra Meskimen, Jim Meskimen, Debra Messing, Laurie Metcalf, Nancy Meyer, Christopher Michael, Tracy Middendorf, Dash Mihok, Andy Milder, Daya Vaidya Miller, Taylor Miller, Kate Miller, Andrew Elvis Miller, Candi Milo, Michael Mislove, Beverley Mitchell, Alfred Molina, Janel Moloney, Wendy Moniz, Michael Monks, Mary Elaine Monti, Peter Moore, Christopher Liam Moore, Rob Moran, Tina Morasco, Jill Moray, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Nancy Morgan, Elise Morris, Sarah Jane Morris, James Morrison, Sue-Anne Morrow, Marianne Muellerleile, Jack Mulcahy, Dermot Mulroney, Warren Munson, Christopher Murney, Harry S. Murphy, Joel Murray, Jim Murtaugh, Pat Musick,

Joe Narciso, Geoffrey Nauffts, James Naughton, Dan Navarro, Kevin Nealon, David Negahban, Shawn Nelson, John Allen Nelson, Ted Neustadt, David Newsom, John Newton, Marisol Nichols, Hazzir Noble, Elisabeth Noone, Jeffrey Nordling, Nolan North, Judy Norton, Chris Noth,

Steven Ogg, Gail O'Grady, Kathleen O'Grady, Jenny O'Hara, Jim O'Heir, Michael O'Keefe, Ken Olin, Jason O'Mara, Kristen O'Meara, Timothy Omundson, Michael O'Neill, Brian O'Neill, Janice O'Neill, Peter Onorati, Terry O'Quinn, Daniel Oreskes, Kevin O'Rourke, Laura Owens,

Bobbi Page, Johnny Palermo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tina Panella, Stuart Pankin, John Pankow, Paul Pape, Adrian Pasdar, Tony Pasqualini, Jason Patric, Robert Patrick, Jay Patterson, Richard Joseph Paul, Rob Paulsen, Daniel Pearce, Barry Pearl, Joyce Peifer, Michael Pena, Don Peoples, Elizabeth Perkins, Jeff Perry, Melissa Peterman, Mary Peterson, Maggie Phillips, Ethan Phillips, Bijou Phillips, Cindy Pickett, Christina Pickles, Eric Pierpoint, Tonya Pinkins, Maria Pitillo, David Pittu, Maryann Plunkett, Mike Pniewski, Henry Polic II, Liza Politi, Jon Polito, Kevin Pollack, Toby Poser, Jay Potter, Annie Potts, Linda Powell, Kelly Preston, Terri Price, Jason Priestley, Freddie Prinze Jr, Harry Pritchett, Phil Proctor, Ray Proscia, David Purdham,

Michael Rady, William Ragsdale, Sara Ramirez, Patricia Randell, Dileep Rao, Dale Raoul, David Rasche, Jeremy Ratchford, Bill Ratner, Shelagh Ratner, Matthew Rauch, Joyce Reehling, Paul Reggio, Jim Remke, Gloria Reuben, Matthew Rhys, Giovanni Ribisi, Sy Richardson, Beth Riesgraf, Michael Rispoli, Huntley Ritter, Laila Robbins, Tony Roberts, Andy Robinson, NiCole Robinson, Mike Rock, Sam Rodd, Channon Roe, Daniel Roebuck, Jane Rogers, Regan Rohde, Mark Rolston, Stephen Root, Cristine Rose, Peter Pamela Rose, Romy Rosemont, Neil Ross, Clarinda Ross, Jennifer Roszell, Karly Rothenberg, John Rothman, Kelly Rowan, Brady Rubin, Mark Ruffalo, Scott Rummell, Mitchell Ryan,

Katee Sackhoff, Alan Safier, Katey Sagal, Laura Sametz, Beverly Sanders, Jay O Sanders, Miguel Sandoval, Sibyl Santiago, Chris Sarandon, Doug Savant, Marcia Savella, John Saxon, Rick Scarry, Elizabeth Schofield, Liev Schreiber, Catherine Schreiber, Woody Schultz, Armand Schultz, Rusty Schwimmer, Ann Scobie, Kimberly Scott, Carol Scudder, Kevin Scullin, Nick Searcy, Craig Sechler, Kyra Sedgwick, Brent Seltzer, Brent Sexton, Carolyn Seymour, Matt Shakman, Tony Shalhoub, Mike Shapiro, William Shatner, David Shatraw, Grant Shaud, Jack Shaw, Harry Shearer, Bev Sheehan, Charlie Sheen, Marley Shelton, Ben Shenkman, W Morgan Sheppard, Jamey Sheridan, Todd Sherry, Tom Shillue, Armin Shimerman, Grant Show, Elisabeth Shue, Adam Sietz, Susan Silo, Jonathan Silverman, Frank Simms, Gary Sinise, John Slattery, David Slavin, Tommy Smeltzer, Cate Smit, Ashton Smith, Brooke Smith, Hillary B Smith, Phyllis Smith, Sheldon Smith, Peter James Smith, Tucker Smith, Bill Smitrovich, Rena Sofer, Marla Sokoloff, Matthew Solari, Stacy Solodkin, Jim Soriero, David Spade, Joe Spano, Richard Speight Jr, Debra Sperling, Howard Spiegel, Beng Spies, Avhi Spindell, Alice Spivak, Suanne Spoke, Michael Spound, Jerry Sroka, David St James, Tim Stack, Michelle Stafford, David Starzyk, Todd Stashwick, Wayne Steadman, Mandy Steckelberg, Bob Stephenson, Jenna Stern, Nicole Stewart, French Stewart, Eric Stitt, Andre Stojka, Marcia Strassman, David Strathairn, Hank Stratton, Meryl Streep, KaDee Strickland, Sherry Stringfield, Brenda Strong, Craig Strong, Tara Strong, Geoff Stults, George Stults, Elizabeth Sung, Ethan Suplee, Todd Susman, Kristine Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Claudette Sutherland, Traci Swain, Barret Swatek, Kitty Swink, Keith Szarabajka, Eric Szmanda,

Jeffrey Tambor, James Arnold Taylor, Holland Taylor, Mark L Taylor, John Terry, Randy Thomas, Grant Thompson, Tracy Thorne, Peggy Thorp, Rebecca Tilney, Barton Tinapp, Paula Tiso, Steve Tom, Keri Tombazian, Rich Topol, Robert Torti, Edward Tournier, Sam Trammell, Stacey Travis, Adrian Tridel, Connor Trinneer, Lori Tritel, Jim Troesh, Toni Trucks, Nicole Tubiola, Maria Tucci, Jessica Tuck, Michael Tucker, Jonathan Tucker, Tamara Tunie, Paige Turco, Jim Turner, Carmen Twillie, Chad Tyler, Nikki Tyler-Flynn,

Skeet Ulrich, Gabrielle Union, Leslie Upson, Johann Urb,

Joan Valentina, Jennifer Van Dyck, Joyce Van Patten, Eric Van Wyck, Mary VanArsdel, Cynthia Vance, Dana Vance, Oliver Vaquer, Ned Vaughn, Terri J. Vaughn, Yul Vazquez, Milo Ventimiglia, Victor Verhaege, Tom Verica, Kate Vernon, Maura Vincent, Steve Vinovich,

Melinda Wade, Polly Walker, Ann Walker, Marcia Wallace, Keliher Walsh, Dylan Walsh, Kate Walsh, Melora Walters, Lisa Waltz, Anna Michelle Wang, Linda Wang, Jamie C. Ward, Todd Waring, Julie Warner, Mervyn Warren, Kerry Washington, Allan Wasserman, Barry Watson, Chloe Webb, Jake Weber, Steven Weber, Travis Webster, Fred Weller, Dick Wells, Richard K. Wells, George Wendt, John West, Tegan West, Travis Wester, Patricia Wettig, Bernard White, Cheryl White, Mitchell Whitfield, Vivicca Whitsett, Karl Wiedergott, Kathleen Wilhoite, Fred Willard, Delaney Williams, Eyvonne Williams, Kelli Williams, Treat Williams, Rainn Wilson, Hattie Winston, Jeff Winter, Sally Winters, Daniel Wisler, Roz Witt, Julie Wittner, Tory Wood, Shannon Woodward, Jimmie D. Wright, Karl T. Wright, Tom Wright, Kari Wuhrer, Teresa Wyatt, Noah Wyle,

Dwight Yoakam, Catherine York, Kathleen York, Judy Young, Barrie Youngfellow, Harris Yulin,

Grace Zabriskie, Janet Zarish, Liz Zazzi, Alicia Ziegler, Anna Zielinski, Chip Zien, Liz Zweifler

(DHD Advisory: Your comments relating to SAG will be more strictly monitored. They will be deleted if personal attacks are included in a discussion of the issues. NF)

 

Last night on The Late Show, David Letterman noted the writers approval of the new contract by having the WGA's Dave Young and the AMPTP's Nick Counter come out onstage at the Ed Sullivan Theater. And shake hands. And hug. And then lip-lock for a passionate 2-minute kiss. And then keep kissing throughout the show. Suffice it to say, these weren't the real Dave Young and Nick Counter. See the video here.

Already Lorne Michaels has asked Jim Downey to write another Hillary vs Obama skit to open the next Saturday Night Live show. (With Ellen Page hosting, the Juno star might play Chelsea Clinton.) Not bad for a veteran SNL writer who 10 years ago was fired by NBC for going after politicians in power on the show's "Weekend Update". Not only did Downey's savvy opener last Saturday suddenly make SNL hot again, but Hillary Clinton cited the skit during yesterday's Democratic President Debate. "In the last several debates I seem to get the first question all the time," she said. "I don't mind. I'll be happy to field it. I just find it curious if anybody saw 'Saturday Night Live' maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable and needs another pillow."

Downey has had his share of ups and downs with SNL and NBC. The show's most political and veteran writer, Downey in 1998 was infamously fired along with Norm MacDonald by then NBC West Coast head Don Ohlmeyer. (The way I heard it at the time, Jim was really the guy Ohlmeyer wanted removed; when Norm refused to go along with that, he took a bullet, too.) Downey came back to SNL in 2000 (after Ohlmeyer left NBC) just in time to skewer the Bush-Gore debates. Unless NBC gets cold feet again, he should stay busy this campaign season which SNL sat out because of the strike up until now.

UPDATE: Sources say Quarterlife will move from NBC to NBC Universal-owned Bravo. 

The announcement that Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz had sold their 36-episode Internet show Quarterlife to NBC for a network series caused a lot of talk during the writers strike. (See my previous, Zwick/Herskovitz: WGA Friends Or Foes?) The show was seen as the first wave of an independent production future on the Internet for writers. But when NBC bought Quarterlife during the strike (after ABC passed years earlier on it as a TV series), striking writers questioned whether it was morally right for Herskovitz and Zwick, both WGA members, to help a network. But bad news: Quarterlife debuted last night and it bombed big-time. The team behind thirtysomething and My So-Called Life recorded NBC's worst time-period performance in at least 17 years despite The Biggest Loser as a lead-in. Agents are telling me that as a result the show may only get one or two airings on NBC.

Jeez, we hardly knew him. John Kilcullen, who since October 2006 has served as publisher of  beleaguered The Hollywood Reporter, will leave the company at the end of this month. The reason is "to pursue his passion as an entrepreneur," which has now officially replaced "to spend more time with his family" as the latest explanation for forced exits. Also senior vp of the Film & Performing Arts and Music & Literary groups within Nielsen Business Media, Kilkullen in his five years with the company has been president and publisher of Billboard since 2003. Kilkullen also oversaw Back Stage, The Bookseller and Kirkus Reviews. But my favorite Kilcullen accomplishment was his saying for months and months he was looking for a "star" to be the next editor of The Hollywood Reporter. He even told job candidates he wanted someone "along the lines of Ken Auletta". It seemed a joke when Elizabeth Guider was hired after being passed over and demoted at Variety.

But that was just symptomatic of what is Nielsen's increasing Variety-zation. You may have forgotten that in January 2007  Nielsen Business Media' hired one-time Variety publishing bigwig Gerry Byrne as a consultant. (And THR hired Variety veterans Eric Mika as senior V-P and publishing director and Rose Einstein in the role of V-P and associate publisher.) Now Nielsen Business Media today announced the creation of an Entertainment Group "that brings together the company's leading entertainment brands into one unit" with -- you guessed it -- Byrne as the senior VP head of it. Previously, the company's entertainment properties existed under two market groups: Film & Performing Arts, and Music & Literary. This news comes just as Reed Elsevier announced that it's putting Reed Business Information (owner of Variety and Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News up for sale.)

Based in New York, Byrne will report to Nielsen Business Media president Greg Farrar. Brands in the portfolio include Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Back Stage, Kirkus Reviews, The Bookseller, Film Journal International as well as the film industry trade shows ShoWest, ShowEast, Cinema Expo International and CineAsia Exposition. According to THR's story today, "The creation of the Entertainment Group is another step in Nielsen Business Media's integration strategy, setting in place a more unified editorial approach across entertainment properties to provide audiences with the most inclusive, in-depth access to news, data, analysis and insights on every aspect of the industry. In addition, the comprehensive strategy offers advertisers in the film, television, music, theater and literary industries enhanced, integrated opportunities to connect with their target customers across all of Nielsen's platforms."

This new development puts incredible pressure on Anthony Pellicano because it could dramatically strengthen the U.S. Attorney's case against him. But the Hollywood private investigator has been fighting the feds at every twist and turn of his much-delayed conspiracy and wiretapping trial which is now set to start on March 5th. Frankly, few think he'll give up -- or give up his former high-profile clients. Hollywood figures with something to hide up could become very nervous if The Pelican started singing to the prosecutors. 

Earlier today, RadarOnline.com tipped that two defendants were negotiating with the feds. Now the respected legal newspaper Los Angeles Daily Journal (subscription only) reports tomorrow that a total three of Pellicano's five co-defendants "are locked in last-minute settlement talks with federal prosecutors and a judge." Reporter Robert Iafolla identifies the trio as Mark Arneson (a 29-year veteran of the LAPD), Abner Nicherie (a Las Vegas businessman), and Rayford Turner (a former telephone field technician). 

A total 7 co-defendants were indicted plus Pellicano. Two already have pleaded guilty. And recently bigtime showbiz attorney Terry Christensen was allowed to be tried separately. Defendant Kevin Kachikian (who allegedly developed the “Telesleuth” wiretapping software program for Pellicano) is not involved in the settlement conference. Pellicano, who is representing himself at trial, has been preparing for months from jail.  

To Our Fellow Members:Today, it is our pleasure to inform you that members of the Writers Guilds of America, East and West, have voted to ratify the MBA contract with 93.6% approval.  With a total of 4,060 votes cast, the tally was 3,802 to 258. These numbers reaffirm the tremendous level of support and commitment our membership has continuously demonstrated over these last few crucial months.

We are also pleased to report that the trustees of our health fund voted yesterday to follow the recommendation in our strike settlement agreement to provide additional coverage and an extension of the earnings cycle for a full quarter (three months) to participants who would otherwise lose health coverage following an earnings cycle that included all or a portion of the strike period.  Participants whose health coverage is paid for by points will only be charged points if they have ten or more points as of April 1, 2008.

As we close this chapter in our union's history, what we together have accomplished should not be underestimated. The 2008 MBA establishes a beachhead on the Internet and in new media that will guarantee our share of a potentially vast and bountiful future.  Writers already are working on new media projects under this agreement and residuals must now be paid for streaming and downloads of our library of films and TV shows.

Language in the contract will allow us to monitor and audit these new technologies and new business models, but it will take vigilance on the part of our membership to make sure that original Internet writing is done under a WGA contract and with appropriate terms and conditions.

The same sort of vigilance will be needed to assist members of SAG and AFTRA. They are about to go through a similar process to the one we experienced. Their support of our cause was invaluable. We must use all our efforts and experience to support them as well.  Further gains that they can achieve will have an immediate, positive effect on our contract.

We must take our new found spirit and unity and use it to move our two unions forward.  We look to the future and our newly revitalized member engagement to reaffirm writers as the first among equals in the most collaborative art form in history.  As the last few weeks proved once and for all, we are all in this together.

Best,
Michael Winship
President
Writers Guild of America, East
 
Patric M. Verrone
President
Writers Guild of America, West

Alan Rosenberg, President, Screen Actors Guild released the following statement:

Screen Actors Guild congratulates the WGA on the overwhelming membership ratification of their new contract. We applaud the WGA's solidarity and the dedication of their membership in the struggle to achieve an agreement that serves the interests of professional writers.