For my film-making friends http://film.dc.gov/DC/FILM/For+The+Community/Employment+and+Training+Opp...
The webseries for the U.S. Department of Defense under the Obama Administration's Support Military Families Initiative that Anthony did this summer has gone live: You can see it here https://www.militarykidsconnect.org/tweens/videos/crossroads/itsmyturnnow after the main video, there's a link that says "Continue to Choices" where you can pick 1 of 3 possible endings. Enjoy!
Kerri (Anthony Hobbs) www.anthony-michael.com
Still not paid huh!? This is getting good.
I'll say this much. All that is happening to you happens to me at my job. I work in college adminisrtation and I always end up completing a project or job that as nothing to doo with my job description and already has someone on payroll who's responsibility it is. I do the work they are inadequate to complete, they still get paid and I am paid absolutley nothing extra for it.
Doug, I know there are unions and guilds for writers such as yourself. I wonder if at any point, their rules should have intervene with you're not being paid- or did they simply "NOT" intervene because you didnt' "report" it. I understand free labor for non-union folks like my son Anthony-and mostly you kind of know its going to happen because you agree to it. But someone like you, I have to wonder how it happens. From what I read, it appears that union talents can't do free even if they WANTED to unless it was agreed upon upfront (considering things like in SAG a bike ride is a stunt, and a "long" audition deserves a pay); Upfront, you had agreed to 3 months (I would imagine under a union, after that they would be obligated to pay you...I'd appreciate your allaboration. www.anthony-michael.com
That's a good question, Anthony. But the answer is never easy. Hollywood is all about leverage. And it's important as an artist to know how much you have versus how much they have in order to decide what the best course of action is. The unions, through their collective bargaining, have made important workplace gains for the trades. I've been a recipient of those gains in areas such as residuals, pay TV, etc. Yet in other areas, such as paid vs. unpaid work, it's pretty hard to police, especially if the writer's themselves are as guilty as the companies. In the case of Hostage, my choice was to try and squeeze blood from a stone and, while waiting for my union to play catch up, watch the train leave the station without me. And in doing so, letting down my compadres, the end product, and myself. I chose my work over my wallet. In doing so, I risk being exploited. It's happened before and it will happen again. I may not like it, but will accept it when it serves an end product with my name on it.
I agree Doug, and I have to admit. I feel better about some of the choices I make or agree to for Anthony. He has done (and I have agreed for him to do projects) where it was more about having his name attached to the project (because it was major) more than it was about his wallet. Glad to see I'm on the right track, or atleast, "hip" to the Hollywood game. Thanks! Looking forward to the rest of your story!
Never been much for politics, Jeffrey. And, believe it or not, I'm still friends with most everybody in the piece. At the same time, I'm not one to walk on eggshells as you'll discover in parts 3, 4, and 5. I believe in the words Leonard Goldberg uttered to me moments before going in for a notes meeting at Fox. I asked him, "What should our story be?" Leonard said, simply and eloquently, "Let's tell the truth. It's easier to remember."
Thanks, Anthony. Appears the consesus is the only victim was the doll.
Nah, I think we just accepted that the financial compensation lacked, but you must have benefited some way, maybe spiritually or psychologically, from the experience. Especially to stick around. But now that I think about it, you did mention your feeling if entrapment considering the "co-workers" had inflience over the projects you DID want to do. But you have to admit, with your daughter, like with. My son Anthony certain events with certain toys will last forever and never be forgiven (even if you buy a new one).