Chatting With Jonesy

For this week's podcast I was honored to be a part of the legendary LA Radio show Jonesy's Jukebox on 103.1 FM as part of the LA Times Envelope/Buzzmeter Panel.

The Envelope is a special section to the LA Times that I was able to write for in 2007 and the buzzmeter is a part of The Envelope's website which compiles a group of journalists, critics and pundits to rank Oscar categories and try and predict both nominations and the winners themselves.

If yer unfamiliar with Jonesy's Jukebox, it's a show hosted by Steve Jones, the guitarist for the Sex Pistols and is a fantastic interview and music show here in LA that has filmmakers, actors, musicians and yes even an occasional journalist like me on for a chat. To hear more Jonesy, just type 103.1 FM into Itunes to find their great podcast.

As a Sex Pistols fanatic and fan of the show - it was a blast to be on it as a guest and quite strange to actually answer questions for once rather than ask them.

If only I'd prognosticated more Oscar winners....oh well - I got best picture, original screenplay, adapted screenplay and director correct and of course there's always next year...JG

whew - the strike is over

I know it's a week late on my blog to say this - but - last week was a long week. So - just wanted to say congrats to all the hardworking men and women of the WGA who toughed out this strike. While many were confused about the strike being related to DVD pricing - really it was about setting some foundation of authorship in the new media age - which is quite important. I think the WGA had great leadership and unity and found it very interesting that the AMPTP moved forward in the strike without much of a face.

By face I mean - no real point of view. Sure they had a lead negotiator - but even after hiring a PR Agency they simply were never able to explain why they refused to deal fairly with writers. Interestingly the strike came to a close via back-channel dealings as the AMPTP's lead negotiator and membership were not in agreement as to what they wanted or would negotiate about thus - off-line chats ultimately settled it without the power-brokers help. Granted they were negotiating on the power-brokers behalf, but, it was just interesting how there seemed to be very little focus and definitely not much fiduciary sense to the AMPTP's refusal to come back to the negotiating table for so long.

Nonetheless - glad it's over and congrats again to the WGA for enduring a tough strike and having it conclude with some well deserved gains. -- JG

David Lynch vs. Flix on yer Phone

Lynch is a master of experimental narrative which is why I was slightly surprised he'd be against someone experiencing his work in an alternative environment like on a mobile phone, but, artistically I can completely understand his gripe with someone experiencing his work intended for a big screen on such a tiny device. To date, I've never watched a flick on a phone and I couldn't imagine having that much time to stare at a phone outside of a long plane ride. I definitely want the new iPhone when it comes out - so - maybe I'll give it a try.. but I certainly won't be watching Blue Velvet, out of respect to Mr. Lynch --JG

Why I Walk...

From www.unitedhollywood.com - a wild tale. It was recently speculated by Variety that if the strike continues too long some writers may lose their health insurance and the WGA's best move at that point is to pay for COBRA coverage. I hope it doesn't come to that... - JG







This was submitted by WGA member Mark Kunerth.

Invariably, while walking the picket line, conversations to turn to one of three things: dissecting the issues we are fighting for, speculating as to the status of the negotiations, or determining how many miles we’ve walked during a particular picketing shift. Perhaps it’s grown to urban legend proportions, but recent reports put the latter at 29 miles per shift. Oddly, in thirteen weeks, I’ve lost exactly zero pounds.

We all have our own reasons for marching in circles for hours on end. It may be the hope of achieving fair compensation for new media or the desire to revamp the dreaded DVD formula or it could simply be to show solidarity and resolve.

However, the reality that often gets lost in the mix is how the outcome of these negotiations – the fair compensation for all of our work – will affect contributions to our pensions and health fund. Any concessions or rollbacks, regardless of how the companies may try to decorate them, will directly and significantly affect the stability and viability of two funds we largely take for granted.

I know I certainly used to take them for granted. That was until six years ago when my wife was stricken with a life-threatening illness. It was a time filled with grief, confusion and uncertainty, yet the Guild was there. That is why I walk the strike line. To support a union that supported my family during a very dark time. During that time, a faceless organization became a collection of caring, compassionate friends. For that, I will always be grateful.

When my wife was just over seven months pregnant, I found her on the floor in our home office convulsing in a violent grand mal seizure. Instinct took over, paramedics were called, and an ambulance rushed my wife to the nearest hospital. There, while awaiting treatment, she suffered two more seizures, underwent a CAT scan and spent the next twenty-four hours drifting in and out of consciousness as doctors struggled to come up with a diagnosis.

Once stabilized, we were told my wife’s CAT scan was negative, and that her seizures were the result of adult-onset epilepsy; an odd diagnosis and punch to the gut, but a relief that the previous days’ drama was nothing more serious. Sent home with anti-seizure medication and an otherwise clean bill of health, my wife and I spent that day trying to wrap our heads around this diagnosis. That night, however, she had another seizure in her sleep. Again paramedics were called and back we went to the hospital.

Doctors performed another CAT scan. Afterward, they pulled me aside and said, “We found a mass. Your wife has a brain tumor.” This was impossible. The scan two days earlier showed nothing. The doctor checked my wife’s patient file. No record of a previous CAT scan. The cynic in me said, “Of course.”

Over the next thirty-six hours, my wife was held in intensive care where she suffered five more seizures, each more violent than the last. Finally stabilized with heavy doses of anti-seizure medication, she was moved to a private room in the High Risk Pregnancy ward where we would remain for the next six weeks, allowing our baby to grow as close to term as possible. The plan was to wait for our baby to be born; then schedule my wife for brain surgery. The entire time, she was exhaustively monitored by state-of-the-art equipment, impressive machines and mind-boggling technology that a writer can’t possibly begin to understand.

We spent time between blood draws and neurological tests learning all we could about brain tumors. We researched doctors, and tried, with great difficulty, to adjust to our new reality. Less than a week into our ordeal, the phone in our tiny hospital room rang. It was a representative from the Writers Guild of America. Word had gotten out about our little story, and the Guild wanted to make sure that we were receiving everything we needed, and to ask if there was anything they could do to help.
We didn’t know what we needed, just that our plate was suddenly and ridiculously full. There was even an IRS audit in the middle of this. Seriously.

We were reassured that the Guild was a phone call away, ready to provide anything: doctor referrals, recommendations, assistance with paperwork and the peace of mind that our medical insurance – still one of the best in the country – would cover everything. We were instructed to make our medical decisions based on need and what we deemed best for us, and the Guild and its insurance would do the rest.

A month and a half later, our little girl was born – three weeks early and with under-developed lungs. She spent the first several days of her life in the neonatal unit. (Because we still hadn’t had enough drama.)

With the help of referrals, we found the best brain surgeon in the country, if not the world. Dr. Keith Black, who heads up the Maxine Dunitz Neurological Clinic at Cedars Sinai Hospital, has dedicated his life to treating brain tumors and working for a cure. He agreed to perform my wife’s surgery, and a week later, she was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where she underwent four-hour brain surgery to remove a racquetball-sized tumor from her left, frontal lobe. Three days later, she was home. The WGA called again to inquire about the health of my wife and daughter. In the course of eight weeks, we had accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills.

All of it was covered by our insurance.

A week after brain surgery, we met with Dr. Black for her biopsy results. Our research had led us to a morbid hope. “We need the tumor to be either grade one or grade two.” Those, our research had told us, were the types of tumors that were eminently treatable or even curable.

Our doctor sat us down and said, “Surgery went incredibly well.” Hope.
He went on, “Unfortunately your tumor was a glioblastoma multiforme – grade four.” The words we didn’t understand turned out to mean, ‘Incurable.’ Complete devastation.

We were told that it would be treated aggressively. Radiation. Chemotherapy. Still, the prognosis wasn’t good. Most people diagnosed with these tumors live, on average, 18-24 months. We were told of the incredible likelihood that my wife would not see our daughter walk.
The next few months were filled with innumerable doctor visits, MRIs, radiation treatments and finally a steady diet of oral chemotherapy that my wife would continue indefinitely.

The whole time, the WGA supported us, helping us cut through healthcare red tape and managing an unending maze of hospital and insurance company beauracracies.

It’s now been nearly six years since my wife collapsed in our home office. Our little girl started kindergarten in the fall. My wife has valiantly fought her way back from the most vicious of diseases and the direst of prognoses. She discontinued her monthly chemotherapy nearly three years ago and now, aside from a really cool scar on her head, you’d never know she was sick. And despite no longer working as a sitcom writer, she still benefits from my WGA insurance coverage and marches side-by-side the rest of us, logging more hours than most, I’m sure.

For us, the strike is about much more than DVDs, streaming video, ESTs and any number of negotiating bullet points that involve math I don’t entirely understand. Like my fellow guild members, I want to be paid fairly for all of our work. On top of that, however, I hope to keep the very real and significant contributions to our pension and health care funds, which will continue to provide all of us with world class healthcare.

So while I walk for a fair deal, I also walk out of loyalty to my union. I walk because I will never forget their support in the face of adversity. I know my reasons are probably different than most, and oh, how it would be so very easy for me to hit the snooze button and forego that 6 a.m. strike walk. But it also would have been very easy for the Guild to have not gotten so personally involved in our lives.

And while this letter may be perceived as ‘heart-tugging,’ ‘manipulative,’ or some lame attempt at sympathy, it is really a long overdue thank you letter to the Writers Guild of America.

Thank you, WGA.

Mark Kunerth

Stephen Gaghan speaks out

Writer-director Stephen Gaghan chats about his views on the strike from voices4action.com and when Gaghan talks - I listen - JG

Good Dick

Marianna Palka wrote, directed, starred in and produced Good Dick a dramatic competition selection at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. I was really impressed with the film which also stars Jason Ritter and think Palka is definitely a screenwriter/director to watch. Here's an interview with her from the Sundance site...-JG

Use this link to watch it:

http://www.zoom-in.com/media/video/drupal/spotlights/sundance/2008/gooddick.swf

Human Tetris from The Game Over Project

I'm still in love with these guys and here's their latest video. I'm sure the logistics behind this were tricky - but well worth it! -JG

Same Old Story Video

Another great video from www.unitedhollywood.com with a long-term via as to how long writers have been getting the short end of the stick from the studios - JG

Phil Robinson - This Is Our Moment Video

Writer-Director Phil Robinson speaks out about the importance of the strike - JG

Simpsons Writers Speak Out!

Another great video from www.unitedhollywood.com this time with the writers of The Simpsons. This video was posted early into the strike but as it's continued - I figure it's a good thing to continue showing what the strike is all about. --JG

Ask A Ninja about the WGA Strike!

From the popular Itunes Podcast, "Ask A Ninja," he does his best to well...advise folks the way only a podcasting ninja can advise... However, it would seem that the Ninja himself might be in need of a few good writers to come up with some wittier material...-JG

Lars & The Real Girl LA Times Piece

As an entertainment journalist, this time of year is always especially busy due to the awards season. Below you'll find a link to an article I wrote for the LA Times that appeared in print in The Envelope special insert section. They've now posted it online too - here's a link.


Read Jeff Goldsmith's LA Times "The Envelope" Q&A article with screenwriter Nancy Oliver by clicking here

Nancy Oliver


Of course if you want to hear more from screenwriter Nancy Oliver, don't forget to tune into the podcast as I was pleased to do a Q&A with her in the screening series too! -JG

John Edwards Strikes with the WGA!

Old News - I know - but still worth mentioning. Afterall - you still gotta ask a serious question: Why is Edwards the only presidential candidate who's so publicly sided with the WGA that he showed up to march? Easy photo op? Sure. But - at least Edwards cared enough about the issue to make it a priority for his campaign that he would publicly side with the WGA. It's a good show of character. Edwards' warnings about media consolidation are actually part of a much bigger problem outside of the strike - I plan to discuss more on that soon - but for now enjoy this great video from www.unitedhollywood.com -JG

Imaginary Digital Download Residuals

The AMPTP said writers are getting paid for internet downloads of their work. Of course, they curiously didn't mention exactly how much that cut was... here's a video with some comedic insight to what TV writers make from current Netresiduals... it's from the always great www.unitedhollywood.com -JG

Screenwriter Phil Alden Robinson's Strike Story Notes!

Wow - I wish I had someone as cool as Phil Alden Robinson to submit posts to my rag-tag blog, but, since I don't - I gotta again say hats off to www.unitedhollywood.com for doing amazing coverage of the strike. This letter really cracked me up. --JG

Screenwriter Phil Alden Robinson


From www.unitedhollywood.com

Story Notes for Nick Counter

(Nick Counter and the AMPTP (The Media Moguls) paid for an expensive ad in yesterday's "Variety" -- for those of you who don't work in the industry, "Variety" is an entertainment business magazine that is in the pocket of the Media Moguls.

Since we don't have tons and tons of money like the Media Moguls do, we'll have to respond here - on the Internet - which they don't entirely own and control ( but they sure would like to).

Below, WGA member Phil Alden Robinson gives Nick Counter "story notes" on his advertisement and general "script".)

From: Story Department

To: Nick Counter

Dear Nick:

While we are still very excited about your project "Stonewall", we feel there are still some serious script problems that need to be addressed.

1) As every writer knows, the first rule of fiction is to at least SOUND believable. But you have a character saying dialog like "writers do receive residuals for digital downloading (regardless of whether the download is temporary or permanent)". Then why do you have the WGA character have to arbitrate to get what's already in the contract? Wouldn't the AMPTP character have more credibility if he just told the truth and did the right thing?

2) You also have a character say "the notion that we are not sharing new media revenue with writers is simply not correct." Wow. If that's what you want him to say, then we suggest you delete all the scenes in which entire episodes of TV shows - with COMMERCIALS - are streamed on the internet for millions of users, and the studios earn advertising revenue, but pay the writers nothing. This is a major logic problem with your script, and needs to be fixed.

3) Major typo: you've got a character saying "the Writers Guild is asking that writers get a percentage of what the Internet site owners receive in advertising revenue". But it's not. The WGA's proposal is for a percentage of "company's accountable receipts". It has nothing to do with Internet site owners.

4) In earlier pages (the Sunday night negotiation scene), you had the AMPTP character say that progress was being made, and then you have that character abruptly walk out of negotiations. We've asked you to fix that, but you still haven't made sense of it. This sort of behavior is usually reserved for the villain. Is that your intention for this character?

5) The WGA character keeps saying they're ready to return to the bargaining table, but you still haven't had the AMPTP character respond. Suggestion: why not have the AMPTP character call the WGA and return to the table? Along these lines, we suggest you put a pin in the 1st and 2nd act problems, and just concentrate on the ending.

In short, we still have high hopes for you, so please don't be discouraged. We're looking forward to the next set of pages.

Warmest regards,

Your friends in the Story Department.

p.s.: Aren't you glad we didn't give you a one-draft deal on this?

Todd Bridges Speaks Out! Um, thanks todd...

Man, I really wish I had some time and equipment to hit the strike lines and document more of what's going on, but I'm utterly short on both and sincerely wish I could be more active.

I take the strike very seriously, but have been under harsh journalistic deadlines that I can't get out of. I hope to write about the strike soon and have a few interesting articles being considered so - we'll see if they get the greenlight... Putting on my journalistic hat seems to be the best way that I can help the writers I so admire.

Thankfully www.unitedhollywood.com is continuing to produce great videos. And I guess - why not in a time of need turn to the important political rhetoric of TV's "Willis," Todd Bridges...JG

Actors Show Solidarity With The WGA

Perty repetitive - but that's the point right? Actors without good words might just get perty repetive...JG

Voices of Uncertainty

Another excellent video from www.unitedhollywood.com entitled, "Voices of Uncertainty." --JG

Have You E-Signed this E-Petition?

Here's a petition that has been generated and was mentioned on the www.unitedhollywood.com site. I think this is a solid way to show support. It seems like a legit document however it is unclear to me how and when this document will be submitted.

Click below to check it out for yourself and if you feel so inclined - don't forget to E-Sign it...JG



Check out the petition by clicking here

Patrick Dempsey Speaks About The Strike

Another solid video from www.unitedhollywood.com -- JG