Written By Rick Ellis, Friday, November 16th, 2007
In the days since the members of the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) went out on strike, I've heard from hundreds of readers all asking the same question. What can TV fans do to help bring this strike to a conclusion?
Like the majority of the people I've heard from, I'm sympathetic to much of the WGA's position, and I certainly don't want to argue that the union should settle before coming to an equitable deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). But at this point, getting everyone talking seriously again might require some encouragement.
TV fans have been very vocal in their support of the writers of their favorite shows, and much of the discussion about the strike has centered around the television wing of the WGA. Primarily because the TV side will feel the effects of the strike much quicker.
The consensus until now has been that the motion picture industry can weather a six month strike without any horrific consequences. Between films that have already been completed and ones in the pipeline (plus scripts that are in shape to shoot), movie theaters will have new product for months to come.
And that's a challenge to people trying to force AMPTP back to the bargaining table. How do you impact their bottom line sufficiently to make negotiation the most reasonable choice for economic health? When you're dealing with a multinational studio, simply taking some TV shows off the air isn't enough. You need to hit them across the board.
That's why I'm suggesting that each and every one of you pledge to stay away from the movie theaters over the long Thanksgiving weekend. That weekend is vital to the motion picture industry, and those box office numbers are watched and reported by every media outlet. If enough people stay away to impact that number even slightly, it will send a message to all sides that its time to sit down and negotiate a fair deal.
This plan isn't some empty PR stunt, it's not something that can be easily ignored like online petitions or the mailing of four cents to studio heads.
This strike is about the bottom line, and the only thing that bring it to a close is an economic cost. As consumers, we need to show the powers that be that we have an interest here. And that we are willing to exercise our leverage if necessary. A Thanksgiving weekend boycott will hit the studios in the pocketbook, and will be impossible to ignore.
So I'm asking all of you to refrain from visiting your local movie theater between Wednesday, November 21st and Sunday, November 25th. If you want to encourage other people to do the same, that's great. But just the act of skipping a movie or two--particularly if you're planning on going already--will be an action that can truly make a difference in this strike.
I do want to be clear about something. While I have written extensively about the strike (including in our writers strike blog), this idea came strictly from myself and the rest of the staff here at AllYourTV.com. I didn't coordinate this idea with anyone, including the WGA.
Now go out there and share the word.
And have yourself a happy movie-free Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Remembering September 11, 2001
Six years ago today, also on a Tuesday, I was sitting in the Dentists office having a troublesome tooth extracted. As the dentist and his assistant were running about the office, letting the Novocain kick in a bit before starting work on my tooth, I lay in the reclined chair listening to the piped in radio. It was Magic 107.7, playing their light contemporary music when they broke in to announce that a plane that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.
Not much information was known at that point. I remember sitting there, thinking how strange it was that a plane hadn’t been able to see the tower and maneuver out of its way. That’s when the second newsbreak interrupted the soothing music. A second plane had collided with the second of the World Trade Center towers. That is no coincidence, I thought.
I listened as much s I could before the dentist returned to yank my tooth out. Slightly distracted, I only noticed the pressure of him pulling out the molar, and hearing the cracking of the tooth, as he had to break it apart to get it out. I felt no pain, thankfully, and when he was finished, he packed the tooth and sent me on my way.
All the way back to the office, (yes, I went back to work) I was listening as the coverage of the plane crashes consumed the airwaves. Not sure what to think, I ran over the many possibilities that could have lead to such a tragic accident. I don’t remember it ever occurring to me in those first few hours that it was a terrorist attack. Then the first building came down, followed shortly by the second. Sending plumes of smoke and debris through out the city, injuring the people who were still out on the street.
Not long afterwards, the world learned that a plane had also crashed into the impenetrable Pentagon, and a fourth plane had crashed somewhere in Pennsylvania, apparently failing to accomplish it’s mission. It was only later that we learned that the truly brave men and women on that plane overpowered the terrorists and brought the plane down, before it could hit its intended target, The White House. And then we heard those now famous, and soul stirring words, “Let’s Roll.”
The atmosphere at the government office where I was working at the time was tense. People had there radios tuned in, TV’s turned on. Many went home for lunch, as did I, and watched anxiously as the rescue efforts ensued. It was so surreal. I couldn’t believe this was happening. The gravity of the situation, two seemingly indestructible buildings crumbling to the ground, part of the pentagon reduced to rubble, and a failed attempt on the White House. It seemed too much to handle. All I could do was pray for those people who had lost their lives, for those who survived and the families of all those brave men and women who ran into a burning building while everyone else was running out.
Six years later, it is still very clear in my mind. It’s something that a person doesn’t easily forget, even if they were (as I was) a thousand miles away. To say that I was completely unaffected would be in accurate. How anyone could claim that it didn’t affect them would seem ludicrous. The world hasn’t been he same since…and I doubt it ever will be again.
Like those who experienced the events of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 those memories will forever be imprinted in the story that is each and every American’s life. We will never forget. I will never forget.
What do you remember from that day? Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Not much information was known at that point. I remember sitting there, thinking how strange it was that a plane hadn’t been able to see the tower and maneuver out of its way. That’s when the second newsbreak interrupted the soothing music. A second plane had collided with the second of the World Trade Center towers. That is no coincidence, I thought.
I listened as much s I could before the dentist returned to yank my tooth out. Slightly distracted, I only noticed the pressure of him pulling out the molar, and hearing the cracking of the tooth, as he had to break it apart to get it out. I felt no pain, thankfully, and when he was finished, he packed the tooth and sent me on my way.
All the way back to the office, (yes, I went back to work) I was listening as the coverage of the plane crashes consumed the airwaves. Not sure what to think, I ran over the many possibilities that could have lead to such a tragic accident. I don’t remember it ever occurring to me in those first few hours that it was a terrorist attack. Then the first building came down, followed shortly by the second. Sending plumes of smoke and debris through out the city, injuring the people who were still out on the street.
Not long afterwards, the world learned that a plane had also crashed into the impenetrable Pentagon, and a fourth plane had crashed somewhere in Pennsylvania, apparently failing to accomplish it’s mission. It was only later that we learned that the truly brave men and women on that plane overpowered the terrorists and brought the plane down, before it could hit its intended target, The White House. And then we heard those now famous, and soul stirring words, “Let’s Roll.”
The atmosphere at the government office where I was working at the time was tense. People had there radios tuned in, TV’s turned on. Many went home for lunch, as did I, and watched anxiously as the rescue efforts ensued. It was so surreal. I couldn’t believe this was happening. The gravity of the situation, two seemingly indestructible buildings crumbling to the ground, part of the pentagon reduced to rubble, and a failed attempt on the White House. It seemed too much to handle. All I could do was pray for those people who had lost their lives, for those who survived and the families of all those brave men and women who ran into a burning building while everyone else was running out.
Six years later, it is still very clear in my mind. It’s something that a person doesn’t easily forget, even if they were (as I was) a thousand miles away. To say that I was completely unaffected would be in accurate. How anyone could claim that it didn’t affect them would seem ludicrous. The world hasn’t been he same since…and I doubt it ever will be again.
Like those who experienced the events of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 those memories will forever be imprinted in the story that is each and every American’s life. We will never forget. I will never forget.
What do you remember from that day? Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Walkers for Knockers
Dear Coworkers, Friends and Family,
This year, hundreds of thousands of people will hear the words “You have breast cancer,” and there’s a good chance that some of them will be people we know and love. I have chosen to fight back against this disease and help make a difference by participating in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk … and I hope you will join me.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is our opportunity to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about early detection and prevention, and raise money to fund lifesaving research and support programs to help fight breast cancer. But Making Strides is more than just the name of a walk, it describes the amazing progress we can make if we work together to defeat this disease.
Below is a link to my personal page. I hope you will visit my site and sign up to join my team, Walkers for Knockers. If you prefer, you can start your own team, sign up to walk as an individual, or make a donation. Hope starts with me and it can continue with you. Please join my team and walk with us to experience an incredible day of inspiration and meaning, and to provide hope for all people facing breast cancer.
To donate now, use this link to visit my personal page.
Sincerely,
Donna Cooper
PS-Women across the world will appreciate your support. Every person has a woman in their lives...every person can help support the women they love...even if you don't have knockers! ;-)
This year, hundreds of thousands of people will hear the words “You have breast cancer,” and there’s a good chance that some of them will be people we know and love. I have chosen to fight back against this disease and help make a difference by participating in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk … and I hope you will join me.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is our opportunity to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about early detection and prevention, and raise money to fund lifesaving research and support programs to help fight breast cancer. But Making Strides is more than just the name of a walk, it describes the amazing progress we can make if we work together to defeat this disease.
Below is a link to my personal page. I hope you will visit my site and sign up to join my team, Walkers for Knockers. If you prefer, you can start your own team, sign up to walk as an individual, or make a donation. Hope starts with me and it can continue with you. Please join my team and walk with us to experience an incredible day of inspiration and meaning, and to provide hope for all people facing breast cancer.
To donate now, use this link to visit my personal page.
Sincerely,
Donna Cooper
PS-Women across the world will appreciate your support. Every person has a woman in their lives...every person can help support the women they love...even if you don't have knockers! ;-)
Monday, September 10, 2007
MTV~PLAY MORE VIDEOS!!!
MTV might be sitting around wondering what’s happened to their ratings and their audience base over the last, um, lets say 15 years. Here’s a clue—Music Television has little to do with music and more to do with CRAP! About 90% of their programming is reality shows like The Hills, My Super Sweet 16—which gives American teens a bad rap as spoiled rotten, good-for-nothing brats—stupid dating shows like Date My Mom, Next, and shows that break up relationships and instill upon America’s youth that infidelity is okay.
The only time you can catch a music video is early in the morning with Wake-Up, and TRL, which interrupts most songs anyway with stupid comments from fans, and a few other 1 hour time slots that play a few videos. Does MTV even do a top 20 countdown anymore? Oh, wait! VH1 does that.
It used to be that 90% of MTV’s programming was music videos or music related. There was a smattering of frivolous programming like classic game shows like Remote Control, Singled-Out and great series’ like Daria, Beavis and Butthead, Sifl and Olly, and other great, creative shows. Even VH1, who seemed to not be selling out, finally bit the bullet and started showing more reality TV than music-related fare. Even the Real World used to be a great card up the sleeve of the network. I quit watching it after New Orleans, that’s when it stopped being “real.” Now if you want to watch more music videos you have go to the more obscure MTV channels that most basic cable subscribers don’t have access too, or download them off the Internet.
Having grown up on MTV and VH1 in their heyday, I have since quit watching, except on such occasions as last nights VMA’s that warrant a peek. After being embarrassed by watching Britney Spears’ comeback farewell performance, I quickly switched the channel to something more appealing. The Italian Job was on FX and I found that a lot more palatable than anything MTV had to offer.
At one point, I flipped back to see if I could catch some awards being given out, when I saw Justin Timberlake and Timbaland taking the stage accept an award. It was then that Justin made a comment that should have rocked MTV’s world. He said loud and clear, “Play more videos!” Yes! Yes! I started cheering from the couch in my living room some 2000 miles away. After all, that is what MTV is supposed to be about, right? The music?
Hopefully, MTV will take JT’s advice and change things up a bit over there. Though, I’m not going to hold my breath. You would think, though, that since Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, too are such power players on the music scene that they might be able to effect some sort of change over there.
It used to be that MTV was the place where artists and bands to showcase their acts. Now…well, they only get to strut their stuff a few times a year like at the VMA’s or in the wee hours of the morning when music videos actually play.
Anyone remember what MTV’s typical program schedule used to be like?
The only time you can catch a music video is early in the morning with Wake-Up, and TRL, which interrupts most songs anyway with stupid comments from fans, and a few other 1 hour time slots that play a few videos. Does MTV even do a top 20 countdown anymore? Oh, wait! VH1 does that.
It used to be that 90% of MTV’s programming was music videos or music related. There was a smattering of frivolous programming like classic game shows like Remote Control, Singled-Out and great series’ like Daria, Beavis and Butthead, Sifl and Olly, and other great, creative shows. Even VH1, who seemed to not be selling out, finally bit the bullet and started showing more reality TV than music-related fare. Even the Real World used to be a great card up the sleeve of the network. I quit watching it after New Orleans, that’s when it stopped being “real.” Now if you want to watch more music videos you have go to the more obscure MTV channels that most basic cable subscribers don’t have access too, or download them off the Internet.
Having grown up on MTV and VH1 in their heyday, I have since quit watching, except on such occasions as last nights VMA’s that warrant a peek. After being embarrassed by watching Britney Spears’ comeback farewell performance, I quickly switched the channel to something more appealing. The Italian Job was on FX and I found that a lot more palatable than anything MTV had to offer.
At one point, I flipped back to see if I could catch some awards being given out, when I saw Justin Timberlake and Timbaland taking the stage accept an award. It was then that Justin made a comment that should have rocked MTV’s world. He said loud and clear, “Play more videos!” Yes! Yes! I started cheering from the couch in my living room some 2000 miles away. After all, that is what MTV is supposed to be about, right? The music?
Hopefully, MTV will take JT’s advice and change things up a bit over there. Though, I’m not going to hold my breath. You would think, though, that since Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, too are such power players on the music scene that they might be able to effect some sort of change over there.
It used to be that MTV was the place where artists and bands to showcase their acts. Now…well, they only get to strut their stuff a few times a year like at the VMA’s or in the wee hours of the morning when music videos actually play.
Anyone remember what MTV’s typical program schedule used to be like?
Ooops, Brit Does It Again! - Britney Spears Bombs VMA Performance
Just mere moments ago the world witnessed Ms. Britney Spears in her much anticipated comeback. The world was holding it's collective breath as the lights dimmed and the music began. The anticipation was at a fever pitch as the audience, and the millions of viewers at home awaited this much delayed moment.
Heh. Really? No, not really. I think most people actually wanted to see her blow it...and blow it she did!
Don't get me wrong. The song is good, but it's not GREAT. The performance opened up on the back of Britney's craptastic weave and then zoomed out to get a nice shot of her ass hanging out the back of her shorts. What's new there, right? Well, thinking back to that historic performance with the snake, Brit Brit has lost something along the mind...other than her mind, that is.
Her performance was lifeless...It reminded me of Sandra Bullock in Ms.Congeniality when she was thrown into the midst of a beauty pageant with no experience or IDEA what she was doing. It was painfully obvious that she hadn't rehearsed nearly as much as she should have (Britney, that is).
As I watched, it looked as though the brown-eyed-turned-blue girl wasn't quite sure what the words were, which didn't really matter since she was lip syncing anyway...and her movements seemed contrived and not very confident. It's sad really. Britney Spears used to have such a presence on stage, but that seems to have gone out the window (with her sanity).
I don't know if maybe it was nerves, having not done a show this big in quite some time, or if she is simply not the star she used to be. You could see it on the faces of the crowd. 50 Cent looked embarrassed and confused, Rihanna was laughing with her friend (at her, not with Brit), and others just had the same look when someone does something embarrassing and you just look the other way to pretend you hadn't noticed. OUCH!
Sad, sad, sad!
Poor Brit Brit. I had high hopes... NOT!
Actually, I take it back. I do feel bad for her. It was obvious that she wasn't ready for this. She looked visibly nervous and seemed like she wasn't able to concentrate. Poor girl. I mean, the song is not bad. It's actually quite good, she just needs to polish up her act a bit.
Come on Brit! We know you can do it!
Heh. Really? No, not really. I think most people actually wanted to see her blow it...and blow it she did!
Don't get me wrong. The song is good, but it's not GREAT. The performance opened up on the back of Britney's craptastic weave and then zoomed out to get a nice shot of her ass hanging out the back of her shorts. What's new there, right? Well, thinking back to that historic performance with the snake, Brit Brit has lost something along the mind...other than her mind, that is.
Her performance was lifeless...It reminded me of Sandra Bullock in Ms.Congeniality when she was thrown into the midst of a beauty pageant with no experience or IDEA what she was doing. It was painfully obvious that she hadn't rehearsed nearly as much as she should have (Britney, that is).
As I watched, it looked as though the brown-eyed-turned-blue girl wasn't quite sure what the words were, which didn't really matter since she was lip syncing anyway...and her movements seemed contrived and not very confident. It's sad really. Britney Spears used to have such a presence on stage, but that seems to have gone out the window (with her sanity).
I don't know if maybe it was nerves, having not done a show this big in quite some time, or if she is simply not the star she used to be. You could see it on the faces of the crowd. 50 Cent looked embarrassed and confused, Rihanna was laughing with her friend (at her, not with Brit), and others just had the same look when someone does something embarrassing and you just look the other way to pretend you hadn't noticed. OUCH!
Sad, sad, sad!
Poor Brit Brit. I had high hopes... NOT!
Actually, I take it back. I do feel bad for her. It was obvious that she wasn't ready for this. She looked visibly nervous and seemed like she wasn't able to concentrate. Poor girl. I mean, the song is not bad. It's actually quite good, she just needs to polish up her act a bit.
Come on Brit! We know you can do it!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
There’s No Place for Products Anymore
I will be the first to admit that I am a fan of DVR and TiVO. I know I shouldn’t be so willing to openly admit that, since I am in the advertising industry, but what can I say. It’s not that I don’t like watching commercials, its just I get really into the shows I am watching and don’t like them to be interrupted. I would prefer to just be able to skip right to the next segment with out any interruption. But since that is not possible with out DVR or TiVO, the commercials must be sacrificed. Sorry, Commercials.
This is the attitude of many TV watchers all across the country, and even the world. They either prefer to fast-forward through commercials or to be able to watch it later, if they can’t watch it when it actually airs. Since the inception of being able to capture programming on film, people have been fast-forwarding through commercials at an alarming rate. Now, with the revolution that is DVR and TiVO people don’t have to waste money on tapes…they can just store it on their digital recording unit, just like a computer.
The downside of this fantastic technology? None that really matter too much. Sure, the cable bill might go up a few extra dollars, but that’s to be expected. Everything goes up. What really happens in a society where people fast forward through unsolicited and irritating commercials is we start to see products (that we’d normally see in those pesky commercials) pop up in our favorite TV shows, music videos and movies.
If advertisers can’t get you to watch their commercials the traditional way, they’ll pay to have the likes of T.I. (rapper) flash you a nice shot of his Nokia phone in his latest video. Or, Will Smith will tell you what kind of shoes he’s wearing in his latest movie. The point is that traditional mediums aren’t working any more, so advertisers are forced to resort to new and inventive ways of getting their message seen and heard.
Product placement is just one of those creative ways to get their brand or product out there. Now, this isn’t exactly a NEW practice, though it’s more prevalent than ever. It started to gain popularity in the 80’s. For example, who remembers what Eliot was using to lure “E.T.” out of the shed? More recent examples of product placement in television and film include (as I mentioned before) I, Robot, where Will Smith responds to a question about his shoes, stating that they are “Converse. Vintage 2004,” Minority Report were Tom Cruise enters a Gap store, The Office who features HP computers, and every one has seen every day products featured in TV shows and movies like different brands of soda, or food items.
Not everyone is happy about the onslaught of product placement. There are watchdog groups out there that don’t appreciate the method of “sneaking in” an advertisement. The consumer group known as Commercial Alert feels that it is “an affront to basic honesty,” and asks for full disclosure of product placement agreements. One main reason they advocate this is to protect children who are more easily influenced by product placement.
To each his own, I suppose. In this day and age, however, it’s getting harder and harder for advertisers to get their message heard. So, if they have to resort to making movies and TV shows more realistic by placing products we actually want, need and use in it, then so be it. As long as it doesn’t get so out of hand that they start making entire movies based around a product I’ll be happy.
Oh wait…they already did that. Ooops!
This is the attitude of many TV watchers all across the country, and even the world. They either prefer to fast-forward through commercials or to be able to watch it later, if they can’t watch it when it actually airs. Since the inception of being able to capture programming on film, people have been fast-forwarding through commercials at an alarming rate. Now, with the revolution that is DVR and TiVO people don’t have to waste money on tapes…they can just store it on their digital recording unit, just like a computer.
The downside of this fantastic technology? None that really matter too much. Sure, the cable bill might go up a few extra dollars, but that’s to be expected. Everything goes up. What really happens in a society where people fast forward through unsolicited and irritating commercials is we start to see products (that we’d normally see in those pesky commercials) pop up in our favorite TV shows, music videos and movies.
If advertisers can’t get you to watch their commercials the traditional way, they’ll pay to have the likes of T.I. (rapper) flash you a nice shot of his Nokia phone in his latest video. Or, Will Smith will tell you what kind of shoes he’s wearing in his latest movie. The point is that traditional mediums aren’t working any more, so advertisers are forced to resort to new and inventive ways of getting their message seen and heard.
Product placement is just one of those creative ways to get their brand or product out there. Now, this isn’t exactly a NEW practice, though it’s more prevalent than ever. It started to gain popularity in the 80’s. For example, who remembers what Eliot was using to lure “E.T.” out of the shed? More recent examples of product placement in television and film include (as I mentioned before) I, Robot, where Will Smith responds to a question about his shoes, stating that they are “Converse. Vintage 2004,” Minority Report were Tom Cruise enters a Gap store, The Office who features HP computers, and every one has seen every day products featured in TV shows and movies like different brands of soda, or food items.
Not everyone is happy about the onslaught of product placement. There are watchdog groups out there that don’t appreciate the method of “sneaking in” an advertisement. The consumer group known as Commercial Alert feels that it is “an affront to basic honesty,” and asks for full disclosure of product placement agreements. One main reason they advocate this is to protect children who are more easily influenced by product placement.
To each his own, I suppose. In this day and age, however, it’s getting harder and harder for advertisers to get their message heard. So, if they have to resort to making movies and TV shows more realistic by placing products we actually want, need and use in it, then so be it. As long as it doesn’t get so out of hand that they start making entire movies based around a product I’ll be happy.
Oh wait…they already did that. Ooops!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
