by
Mark London Williams

“This decision by the membership marks the end of a very long process. We can now move forward with a new sense of certainty.” Those were the words of actor Sam Freed, a 2nd National Vice President in SAG, as quoted in Jonathan Handel’s showbiz column over at Huffington Post, rounding up reactions to SAG’s settled-at-last de facto “strike” of the...

Location Manager Jeremy Alter Moves to Director’s Chair for “The Perfect Sleep”
by
Mark London Williams

When one considers “traditional” below-the-line avenues to directing, it’s usually editing or cinematography — or lately, visual effects supervising — that come to mind as usual routes to that storied above-the-line perch.

For Jeremy Alter, whose “The Perfect Sleep” is currently in release, it was location managing.

“I’ve always...

From the current print issue of Below the Line:

Union Roundup
by
Mark London Williams

It’s the economy, smartypants! And it’s everything else!

Of course, what is it that we mean by “economy” anymore, since we seem to allow the word to encompass all human endeavor? — the refusal to confront environmental collapse, the backing of dictators, wives leaving husbands, husbands using their moment of peak...

Get ready to work longer hours for your health “benefits,” BTLers! From the IA press release earlier today:

IATSE LOCALS UNANIMOUSLY RATIFY NEW HOLLYWOOD BASIC AGREEMENT

The 15 Hollywood-based locals representing over 35,000 members of the IATSE working in motion picture and television production have ratified the new Hollywood Basic Agreement with the AMPTP. The three year contract, which will go into effect August 1,...

Union Roundup
by
Mark London Williams

As of press time, SAG and the AMPTP are said to be working in back-channel fashion toward a deal — think a vastly lower-stakes version of JFK’s off-the-record offer to the Soviets to take American missiles out of Turkey, during the Cuban Missile Crisis — over the commercials contract, which is set to expire, and join the other defunct contracts,...

Sure, you could post a "bassist wanted" ad on craigslist instead of the old coffeehouse bulletin board. But there's a better way to find kindred indie spirits. A host of Web sites have sprung up to help musicians connect and collaborate online. Whether you're seeking virtual bandmates for a recording or soliciting remixes from up-and-coming producers, you can now tap into a worldwide talent network...