In the past year or so, the Screen Actors Guild has reacted to a number of industry issues in typical knee-jerk fashion.
For instance, in an effort to curb "runaway" production, some clever person at the Guild stumbled on the idea to bring legal action against Canadian Filmmakers pursuant to anti-trust laws.
You see, in the mind's eye of these odd-ball reps at SAG, Canadians are responsible for Hollywood's woes - in part - because they had the foresight to offer up tax incentives to attract film production north of the border decades ago.
Well, I laughed out loud when the Guild issued a notice to the membership regarding the pending action.
It was evident to me from the get-go that such action would not only be fruitless, but result in a costly waste of financial resource.
In a news bite in the recent edition of "Screen Actor" (the Guild newsletter) administration noted that the United States Trade Representative denied the 301 Petition challenging Canadian Film subsidies.
Now, maybe SAG will get on with business.
Like Canada, the Guild should make a concerted effort to push for tax incentives not only on the Federal level, but at the State level as well, to encourage local film production.
The problem with Hollywood is greed!
Although the pie is large enough for everyone to share, all the power-brokers (and workers) in Tinseltown are gluttons with an eye on the whole enchilada.
The idea that industry issues on the table relate to "us and them" is not only off-putting, but is the wrong approach.
Personally, I urge an ongoing harmonious effort to work out the issues so that there is equitable solution for all, not just a privileged few.
As Gandhi once said,
"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need but not every man's greed"
