D.B. Sweeney, "Two Tickets to Paradise" a hilarious buddy film. "Great Gretzky" corals talent!

I slipped into a theatre to catch the comedy - "Two Tickets to Paradise" - not expecting much.

But, when the openings scenes flashed up on the screen, I sat up and took notice.

To paraphrase actor Pacino's emotionally-charged character in one of the Godfather sagas:

"They dragged me in"

I suppose it was because of the snappy bang on dialogue between the three main characters in this hilarious independent film by D.B. Sweeney.

And, because the off-the-wall buddy road pic resonated with an undeniable intelligence, wit, and charm.

Bottom line, though, it was probably because of the high standard Sweeney imposed on himself, that resulted in the success of this little charmer.

"Two Tickets" was originally released a year ago under the oddball title of - "Dirt Nap".

And, in spite of the fact the earthy comedy was received well at a handful of reputable Film Festivals, Sweeney was inclined to reel it back in and tool with the independent project a bit.

Actually, at the suggestion of filmgoers at a sneak preview, Mr. Sweeney shot a couple of extra scenes to add some punch.

For example, the doey-eyed actor responded to their call for a lusty gal or two to grace the screen; after all, it was a "guy" picture.

"Where were the dames?" they quizzed.

In a Q & A afterwards, Sweeney - who wore several hats in the production - delighted the audience with background fodder on how a Hooter's scene came about.

"SAG actresses were too costly, so we hired a couple of strippers."

The audience roared!

In addition, he revealed that the ending was changed so that it was more upbeat, in keeping with a plea from the audience at a marketing session, to pair two unlikely characters at the end of the earthy offering.

Sweeney also drew on the assistance of best buds, like hockey great, Wayne Gretzky.

In fact, Gretzky participated hands-on.

Sweeney laughingly recalled that Gretzky actually stood in a parking lot at a stadium, and personally guaranteed t-shirts and sodas to passers-by, who agreed to play extras in the crowd scenes at a Super Bowl event stage for "Tickets".

After stepping up - and signing on - volunteers glanced askance at the hockey star and wondered aloud:

"Heh, you're Wayne Gretzky, aren't you?"

Gretzky's wife, Janet Jones, was cast as one of the wives - and his real-life son - as her young boy.
Before marrying Wayne, Ms. Jones savored a promising career as an actress, if you recall.

The attractive blond appeared in a handful of quality films such as - Annie, Beastmaster, A Chorus Line, and A League of Their Own.

But, her break-out role was in "Flamingo Kid", opposite Matt Dillon.

For some pick-up footage, Sweeney also called on another long-time pal to rustle up a fake street permit, so he could shoot a bit of celluloid during the Super bowl.

All was well until a couple of cops happened along.

When the director calmly noted he had a permit, the cops turned to each other and chuckled.

"Oh yeah? Let's take a gander at that."

Sweeney confidently displayed the well-crafted phony; sure the men in blue would be fooled. But, the two cops laughed at it under close scrutiny.

"Pretty good."

There was one glaring problem, though.

The city banned all permits that week - unbeknownst to Sweeney - so the two coppers knew it had to be a fake.

At this juncture, one of the officers piped up.

"Weren't you the guy in that film "Fire in the Sky"?

Sweeney was flabbergasted.

They recognized him.

Then, they noted in an off-handed way, they had a couple of rounds to do.

"You'll be gone when we get back, right?"

Wow, a nod of approval, sort of.

Alright!

Sweeney was also fortunate to land a "thumbs up" in respect to a couple of chart-busting hits he chose to incorporate into the soundtrack.

Yup.

Bob Dylan, Dire Straits, and Bruce Springsteen - to name a few - signed releases on the dotted line, which gave a big musical boost to the project.

Unfortunately, the film got "kicked out" of the Toronto Film Festival shortly after it was accepted for screening.

Why?

Turns out, it wasn't a "Virgin" release.

When officials found out "Two Tickets" screened previously at another festival - and failed to meet Festival Rule Requirements - Sweeney was given the jolly heave ho.

Ah, who needs 'em!

Unfortunately, Sweeney later opted to forgo on the costly expense of securing distribution rights.

So, "Two Tickets" won't be screening in your local movie house.

Since the comedy screened, I understand that it may be on DVD release, though.

Try to catch the hilarious "dude" comedy, if you can!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Spiritual Warrior...author John-Roger rips-off teachings of Masters. Odd pairing with Fine Arts Theatre!

Rinpoche true Spiritual Warrior...

Normally, a screening at the Fine Arts Theatre tends to be an entertaining experience - occasionally thought-provoking - depending on bill-of-fare.

When I arrived for a sneak preview of - "Spiritual Warrior" - a table was set up in the lobby and a rep from a publisher was touting the book of the same name by author John-Roger.

A pretty blond woman noted that the concepts in the book were used by the character in the movie to achieve his goals; hence, the promo to push the publication.

Curiously, there was a large can sitting on the table with a sign taped on it which read "Donations".

As theatre-goers arrived, they were informed that the book was free, but donations were required to take in the film.

This is where it got tricky.

If anyone was inclined to pop a dollar or two into the can, the staff at the door firmly noted that a "donation" was required.

Then, if you can believe it, patrons were advised that the offering for an adult was $10.00 and $5.00 for a child.

Golly! What kind of chicanery was this?

I always thought that a donation was just that: cash given "freely".

The Webster Dictionary defines the term as follows:

Main Entry: do·na·tion
Pronunciation: \dō-ˈnā-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English donatyowne, from Latin donation-, donatio, from donare to present, from donum gift; akin to Latin dare to give — more at date
Date: 15th century
: the act or an instance of donating: as a: the making of a gift especially to a charity or public institution b: a free contribution : gift

Once an actual value is set, the entrance fee would then be defined as the "ticket price", wouldn't it?

Screwy, if 'ya ask me!

When I picked up the book and thumbed through it, I noticed right off the bat that the slim volume - from some oddball publisher I never heard of - appeared to be a total "rip-off".

For starters - the term "Spiritual Warrior" - was one coined by well-known Master Trungpa Rinpoche.

Rinpoche is widely acknowledged as a pivotal figure in introducing Buddhadharma to the Western world.

In fact, he developed a revolutionary approach to teaching the "dharma" to the North American culture, in a bold contemporary way.

The Eastern Master was known for his fearless stance on an approach which he taught should be free from hesitation, true to the purity of the tradition, and utterly fresh in approach to the scriptural texts.

In 1974, Rinpoche founded the Naropa Institute (Naropa University), which became the first and only accredited Buddhist‑inspired University in North America.

He lectured extensively at the institute and his book - Journey without Goal (1981) - is based on a course he taught there.

In 1976, he established the Shambhala Training program.

The teachings consisted of seminars that presented a nonsectarian path of spiritual "warriorship" grounded in the practice of sitting meditation.

His book - "Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior" (1984) - gives an overview of the Shambhala teachings

But, Mr. John-Roger (what kind of a name is that anyway?) has not referenced the spiritual leader to my knowledge.

Inside the covers, the quick fix-it Guru has also expounded on a myriad of concepts and ideas with spiritual leanings which appear to have been lifted from Sacred Buddhist texts and Yoga teachings known to have been passed on down (by virtue of documentation) throughout the generations.

If you've studied - Easter Religion, philosophy, and new age spirituality - that becomes apparent from the get-go.

John-Roger hasn't given one credit to the sources; in fact, he appears to be passing off all the spiritual "material" as his own.

That's kind of like reciting a famous quote from Christ and acting like you just coined the little nugget of wisdom on the spot.

Ironic - that a man who claims to be so developed spiritually - would attempt to steal the "wisdom" of the sages in a bold-faced effort to claim it as his own.

At this juncture, a scripture springs to mind:

"Beware of false prophets". (Matthew 7:15)

Mr. Jolly-Roger is obviously one.

Warped Tour...punk, X-treme sports, and fanticipation!

For the past ten years, as the sleepy days of summer rolled out, roadies have loaded up a caravan of trucks and barreled on down the highway - at-the-ready - to unleash the "Warped Tour" on die-hard fans across the Nation.

The "Tour" was created in 1994 by Kevin Lyman, who got the idea while working on skateboarding shows such as Vision Skate Escape. The moniker "warped" comes from the short-lived Warp Magazine which covered surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and music.

The fledgling festival started out small - 10,000 heads or so in the halcyon days - but soon mushroomed into a gargantuan event that now attracts about 1 million Americans throughout the course of punk season each year.

Essentially, the festival is an eclectic mix of spunky punk bands, extreme sports, and an endless parade of colorful die-hard punkers who dive into the fray head on each season with great machismo.

There's the occasional human cannonball thrown in for good measure, too.

"We love to surprise the fans. Each year, we come up with something novel," noted the savvy festival producer, who has been at the helm since day one.

The carnival-like grounds are comprised of booths in a flea market-like setting where proprietors in canvas tents sell merchandise, independent record labels flog their artists, and magazine publishers and non-profit orgs ply their way.

The "Warped Tour" benefits upstart bands looking to gain recognition. After all, the tour provides a direct market so the musicians may obtain or extend a fan base.

Recently, I was in for a treat when a documentary - shot on a tour in 2004 - was unveiled.

Although a bit ragged around the edges, in its context - "Warped Tour" - not only resonates, but thoroughly entertains.

The range of - um - anti-music is far-reaching; from heavy metal to anarchistic, in nature. And, in a take on the surreal, a non-stage offers up out-in-the wild fringe bands for the far-reaching punk ear.

When queried about the bands, one fan cackled,

"Punk musicians don't know how to play instruments, that's the idea."

Ah, so that accounts for the ear-splitting explosions of sound - the strident rhythmic clashing - and the smattering of jolts and jangles that jars the musical sensibilities now and then.

Tickets have remained at $25.00 per head over the years. And, while corporate sponsors have tried to muster up a presence into their cozy fold, the show organizers have resisted their purse-strings, in an effort to stay "pure".

In keeping with tradition, there is no "star" billing here, either. Although major acts have appeared over the years, they wipe their a**es in the bushes along with everyone else, I'm assured.

Actually, the documentarians didn't take much of a foray into the musical roots of the phenomenon, which rendered a big hole in the doc.

So, here goes...

Punk rock is an anti-establishment rock music genre and movement that emerged in the mid-1970's. For those in the know - the Ramones, Sex Pistols, and The Clash - are recognized as the vanguard of the musical movement. And, by 1977, punk was spreading around the world.

The pioneers of punk created a furious, hard sound, with stripped-down basic instrumentation, and lyric themes of a political or nihilistic nature. Essentially, the true punk note expresses youthful rebellion and is characterized by an audacious style, hinged to anti-authoritarian ideologies.

A big draw at the "Warped Tour" festivities?

The fans; after all, they're an eyeful!

Throughout the event, the punksters strut their hard-core plumage, and exalt their rabid style.


And, as the stage musically rages, endless streams of tangled bodies - for the most part all tatted up and strung with rings - are inclined to surf over the throngs. A punk sport, that is a mainstay of the proceedings and awesome to watch.

And now, Punkers have somethin' to crow about. Punk has been inducted into the "Rock 'n Roll" Hall of Fame.

Part of the philosophy?

"Punk accepts everyone," one leather-clad fan noted.

The throngs reflect that; festival-goers are young and old, costumed and not. Either way, they're at the ready for a blast of punk enthusiasm to come their way full throttle for the duration of the carnival-like extravaganza.

Surprisingly, there wasn't a lot of colorful footage on teen space-outs or much focus on the use of recreational drugs. Odd, given the milieu.

Since "Woodstock" was rife with reefer madness, I was inclined to ask the producers if the younger generation was just sober, or if there had been a deliberate effort to edit those parts out.
At first, the director asserted there weren't any problems of that nature. But, I expect when they caught the look of disbelief on my face, they quickly re-thunk that one!

"Well, we've experienced some problems in a couple of the larger cities, but that was about it," he noted, almost under his breath.

Ah, I had an inkling.

As much as I found the doc entertaining, it appeared that something was amiss.

And, when the ads for this year's "Warped Tour" starting up in the local press just recently, it hit me like a mac truck.

Quite simply, "Warped Tour" is a squeaky-clean full-length promo, calculated to boost tickets sales and lure fans in the gate.

That's cool, man!

But, I wasn't born yesterday.

Kids will be kids...

Jennifer Tilly..."The Caretaker", free screening for Industry Professionals; Fine Arts Theatre! March 8th...

On International Woman's Day - March 8th, 2008 - the Fine Arts Theatre (Beverly Hills) will be presenting a free screening of the feature - "The Caretaker" - starring two popular stars - Jennifer Tilly and Judd Nelson...

Industry Professionals - both in front-of and behind-the-camera - are invited to attend by reserving now at the Screening Series Website,

www.screenitfirst.com/ssg/events/list

A plot summary...

"A group of teenage boys out to give their girlfriends a good scare on Homecoming night, which also happens to be Halloween, head to an abandoned house in an out-of-the-way grapefruit orchard where they uncover the story of a real life urban legend, well-known as "The Caretaker"."

The Fine Arts Theatre is run and operated by Michael S. Hall, and is an elegant state-of-the-art screening facility, which was completely refurbished in recent years to its former glory from the heydays of Hollywood.

In fact, when I attended a preview of "Moscow Chill" the other evening, series Producer - Bob Nuchow - pointed out that this was the infamous theatre where the great Elvis Presley used to screen films for his closest buddies in the close-knit Memphis Mafia!

Imagine that, you might actually settle back into a plush velvet seat the King once relaxed in!

In recent years, many events have been hosted at the Fine Arts Theatre by the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and a continuing sponsor - BackStage West.

For those who prefer afternoon entertainment, there will also be a screening of April Moon at 2:30 p.m. earlier in the day.

The feature stars: William McNamara (Copycat, Chasers), Ryan Michelle Bathe (Good Fences, Brother to Brother), Kevin Dobson (1408) & Stephanie Reibel as April.

See 'ya there!

Moscow Chill...entertaining low-budget film! Norman Reedus charms!

As far as low-budget films go - "Moscow Chill" - is a stunner.

Hollywood should sit up and take notice.

For a cool million, the producers have turned out a delightful little popcorn movie.

A lot of the credit goes to the charismatic young lead actor, Norman Reedus (co-star American Gangster).

But, there are three stars in the film - shot in Russia - Reedus, the cinematographer, and a circus bear.

At a Q & A in Beverly Hills - director Chris Solimine held the audience in his thrall - with a couple of hilarious production tidbits.

For example, he laughingly recalled that when the circus bear first signed on the dotted line, the wranglers assured the crew that "Misha" would behave.

For good measure, they were promised a security detail would be on hand, to ensure a smooth lensing of the scenes without mishap.

"Empty promises. They lied," blurted out the good-hearted auteur.

In fact, one day the bear escaped from the cage and trotted down an old country road, with distressed crew members in hot pursuit.

The end result?

There were a few costly shooting delays and a migraine headache or two to boot.

To make matters worse, Mr. Solimine was bitten by a dog (featured in the film); subsequently, the filmmaker was in constant fear he'd wake up one fine morning with a nasty bout of rabies and foaming at the mouth.

Lead actor - Reedus - did not manage to stay out of harm's way either.

One wild and crazy night - when he sauntered out on-the-town to take in some local color - he got more than he bargained for, too.

After a gang of corrupt police officers caught Reedus pi**ing in the street - they proceeded to "toss him" in a Datsun - and relieve him of the meager twelve bucks in his wallet.

"It was worth it. 'Cause, I filmed the whole thing on my cell," he chortled to amused theatre-goers out to support the film.

Heh, has that precious footage ever been aired on YouTube?

Perhaps the funniest incident occurred when the prop master was forced to admit a gun to be used in a key scene was not brought to the location that day.

When the production teamed approached an on-duty police officer about offering up his firearm as a substitute to bag the shot - an official started to argue point-blank that it was illegal for a Russian to surrender his gun.

A fellow officer standing nearby - shrugged - and handed over his gun without any qualms.

Yup, it appears that folks are enamored of the movie biz in Russia, too.

In fact, "Moscow Chill" was financed by the Russian Government.

No doubt - they'll realize a tidy return on the savvy investment - Studio Moguls willing!

If so, it was not without some sweat and tears, though.

After all - post-production was a real b**** - according to Solimine.

On the heels of the nightmare, he had words of advice for young filmmakers, too.

"Never shoot a scene with four smokers. The shot is not only difficult to match, but negatively impacts the lighting," he warned the rapt audience.

When asked how the project came into fruition, he noted that the original script was slated for a big-budget release. But - as it wallowed in pre-production blues - the first handlers grew weary.

Film 101 stuff, eh?

When Solomine got on board, he thought a creative avenue of thought, might nudge the production forward, to green light status.

Can you make it less commercial, he queried the DP.

"I'll make it so no one comes to see it," he cackled in response.

Well, it's doubtful that will be the film's demise; after all, the cinematography is worth the price of admission, alone.

In fact, the scenes are breathtaking.

Each frame is artfully painted with a lush palette; at times rich - but gritty and down 'n dirty - when it needed to be.

There was a lot of thoughtful attention to visual detail which impressed me thoroughly, too.

And, I am a tough critic!

The set-ups were outstanding. No pedestrian shots here.

In fact, I was constantly amazed at their variety, as scenes flowed from one to the next seamlessly.

Solomine has a keen eye, is quite talented, and shows a lot of potential ripe with possibilities.

Also, Norman Reedus gave a stand-out performance.

Tough - yet vulnerable, at times - his characterization resonated in every fiber of his being.

Indeed, he has a captivating screen presence, waiting to bust out.

This kid is going places!

The plot for "Moscow Chill" is charming and believable, too.

An altruistic computer whiz uncovers the tale of Prometheus.

According to legend, the Titan - known for his wily intelligence (who stole fire from Zeus) - gave the precious gift to mortals for their daily use.

On the heels of this history lesson, the lad decides to become a modern-day version of the Ancient Greek. But, chooses a path along the lines of the Robin Hood character, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.

In the side-splitting scene opening scene - we first encounter the naive lad manipulating keys on a computer in the back of a taxi - which causes scads of bills to fly out this way 'n that from local ATM machines around the city.

Startled passers-by - who can not believe their good fortune - rush in to snatch up the ubiquitous cash no questions asked.

Unfortunately, the Reedus character gets caught.

However - his unique skills do not escape the attention of a master criminal overseas - who hatches a plot to rescue the fresh felon with the express intention of corralling his hacking skills.

In a nutshell, he's contracted to run an embezzlement scam on a grand scale.

But, there is a lot of mayhem along the way!

Although Moscow Chill is not earth-shattering or original in concept - the independent feature does have a heart - which beats to a different drummer.

However, the film is flawed.

The script itself is a tad loose and needs to be tighter.

I expect that some judicious editing may resolve that problem if the producers are capable of standing back and giving "Moscow Chill" a realistic once-over with a discriminating eye.

There are a couple of minor production snafus, as well

In one key scene - there appeared to be some powder or chalk on the shoulder of one of the lead players - which was also distracting.

Where the heck was wardrobe?

In a turn-around shot - the offensive blotch - was nowhere to be seen.

Continuity, folks!

I giggled when I noticed a subtitle error, too.

In one prison shot, a guard makes a curious announcement over the loud speaker.

"Prisoners return to their cells."

Well - since he was addressing the prisoners directly - the commands should have read "to your cells" instead.

Picky, I know.

But if a filmmaker wants to go "Hollywood" - and play in the big leagues - he's got to get it right.

There is no distributor yet, but I expect Solomine will land one in the near future.

Until then, rely on bootleg copies, selling straight from the streets of Moscow.

Or, tune in to Moscow TV via satellite, where the little flawed gem has been broadcasting in the local market in recent months.

Theatre-goer recalled Reedus in earlier film...

Bob Barker...Lifetime Achievement Award, AFTRA

At a special ceremony last night at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills, the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists presented Bob Barker - former host of "The Price is Right" - with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

In accepting the award, Mr. Barker noted, "...of the many awards that I have received over the years, this is the one that is most important to me."

The celebrated Game Show host has been a member of AFTRA for fifty-five years, and has always backed the Union in their efforts to protect the rights of workers in all areas of the media.

Attendees at the presentation were treated to a handful of hilarious clips from the "The Price is Right".

The popular daytime show has the unique distinction of being the longest-running game-show in Television history.

Barker was in true form last, delighting the audience in attendance with a few zesty one-liners.

At one point, he noted that at his age, he now recognized the need for Health care, for instance.

This joke was made in reference to the fact that AFTRA was the first entertainment union to secure health care benefits for their membership.

In fact, last night, UNION reps used the occasion to unveil a documentary - "Commitment to Action" - which not only celebrates AFTRA'S 75th birthday - but the Union's good works over the years.

In the doc, well-known celebrities - like Studs Terkel - spoke out vigorously in support of AFTRA'S efforts to secure worker's rights, encourage activism, and ultimately, ensure that all performers under the "umbrella" were equally protected.

While the Screen Actors Guild negotiates contractual agreements in the area of film, AFTRA maintains jurisdiction over TV Sitcoms, Soap Operas, Radio, and a portion of the new media proliferating now in the entertainment arena.

In one insightful segment, the filmmakers report how AFTRA went to bat for the first black female newscaster being discriminated against a few years ago on Channel 5.

There was also some nasty footage of early activists getting their heads cracked open, all in the name of the cause of activism in the ranks.

A behind-the-scenes look at how the TAFT HARTLEY LAW got passed was particularly educational - and inspiring.

Also known as The Labor-Management Relations Act, it is a United States Federal Law that greatly restricts the activities and power of labor unions.

The Act, still largely in effect, was sponsored by Senator Robert Taft and Representative Fred A. Hartley, Jr. and passed over U.S. President Harry S. Truman's veto on June 23, 1947, establishing the act as a law.

Labor leaders called it the "slave-labor bill".

At the time, though, then President Truman argued that it would "conflict with important principles of our democratic society".

The Taft-Hartley Act amended the National Labor Relations Act which Congress had passed in 1935.

29 U.S.C.A. 141, specifically states that the NLRA was enacted to,

"To promote the full flow of commerce, to prescribe the legitimate rights of both employees and employers in their relations affecting commerce, to provide orderly and peaceful procedures for preventing the interference by either with the legitimate rights of the other, to protect the rights of individual employees in their relations with labor organizations whose activities affect commerce, to define and proscribe practices on the part of labor and management which affect commerce and are inimical to the general welfare, and to protect the rights of the public in connection with labor disputes affecting commerce."

The amendments enacted in the Taft-Hartley Act added a list of prohibited actions, or "unfair labor practices", on the part of unions to the NLRA, which had previously only prohibited "unfair labor practices" committed by employers.

The original Taft-Hartley Act prohibited jurisdictional strikes, secondary boycotts and "common situs" picketing, closed shops, and monetary donations by unions to federal political campaigns.

Union shops were heavily restricted, and states were allowed to pass "right-to-work laws" that outlawed union shops.

Furthermore, the executive branch of the Federal government could obtain legal strikebreaking injunctions if an impending or current strike "imperiled the national health or safety," a test that has been interpreted broadly by the courts today.

Over the years, there has been a push to merge the Screen Actors Guild with AFTRA.

One of the stumbling blocks of the plan appears to be an elitist view by a handful of members at the Screen Actors Guild.

Unlike SAG - where an actor must have a UNION job to join the Guild - AFTRA has an open-door policy.

"Any person off the street can join AFTRA," old-timers are often heard to lament to anyone within earshot.

I am in accord with the open-door policy, personally, because I am vehemently opposed to "closed shops".

I believe that everyone should have the right to work; moreover, in my view, competition is healthy.

The dedicated, hard-working few, will always work...because it is in their nature to do so.

After hearing the comments of some of the panelists at the Fine Arts Theatre - who spoke after the Documentary screened to loud applause - this would appear to be so.

A handful of AFTRA Members - an airborne news reporter, a former talk-show host, a soap actor, and a voice-over specialist - made a number of excellent points about the UNION, its value, and the need for more dues-paying members to get involved.

For the record, I have been an AFTRA member for over twenty years...having worked on TV Soaps such as "General Hospital" and "The Young & Restless"...on popular TV Sitcoms such as "Saved by the Bell" and "Silver Spoons"...and hit comedy shows on Fox like "In Living Color".

But frankly, I do have a bone to pick.

Although reps are supposed to drop down to the set to check on working conditions - I recall that a couple of the Television reps - Chris V. Hagstrom and Kathy Ewers, in particular - often neglected to meet their obligation.

Actors complained that calls on the telephone often went unanswered, because Hagstrom, Ewers, and others - were conveniently unavailable.

When it came to disputes over overtime, special business, and penalties...reps appeared to side up to the production companies.

On occasion, when SAG was picking up shows which normally would have been under AFTRA jurisdiction, the reps were also known to kow-tow to the "suits" to hold on to their small pickings...looking out for their own jobs, perhaps?

In addition, I was often put off by the horrendous attitude of AFTRA employees like Lauren Bailey, who were not only a tad slow to saunter to the telephone - but more-often-than-not - acted like they cared less...in spite of the fact the calls were made with the deliberate aim of resolving issues pertaining to benefits, residual checks, whatever.

Maybe if I was in management, or on the AFTRA Board of Directors - instead of a lowly actor - these three pig-headed employees at AFTRA would have treated me with a little more respect.

If you ask me, Union reps like the ones aforementioned, sold us down the river years ago - and just maybe - it's their fault we're in the pickle we're in today with producers.

For this reason, I wholeheartedly urge that members DO get involved, as they were requested to do last night...if only to keep a watchful eye over paid AFTRA employees who appear to be only concerned about their own backsides - not that of any relatively-unknown actor pulling down less than $15,000.00 a year.

For my taste, AFTRA employees are too clubby, prone to play favorites, and too-often engage in too much questionable politicking for their own good.

Just the facts, man.