Somewhere very warm, Tailgunner Joe is smiling

The battle over Phil Ayling's membership status in the PMG continues with an email blast from the anonymous members of the "Committee for a More Responsible Local 47." What's most interesting about it (and I've posted it below the fold in its entirety) is the use of the recent IM article to "prove" Phil's "involvement" in PMG.

Perhaps my reference to the unsavory tactics of "Tailgunner Joe" McCarthy was not on-point; what this reminds of most is the modus operandi of Karl Rove. Getting a lie into the press and then creating a buzz over the resulting coverage is pure Rove. Having the work done anonymously on someone else's behalf simply makes the comparison complete. No doubt the next step are flyers at the Convention claiming that Phil plays the viola.

RMA: THE TANGLED WEB EDITION

I. RMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT VS. EVERYBODY
- EXCERPT FROM RMASF DISSOLUTION LETTER
- RMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT STEPS IN IT
-….AND STEPS IN IT AGAIN - Letter from Skywalker Sound
-….AND STEPS IN IT YET AGAIN! – Letter from AFM President Tom Lee
- RMALA/RMA International’s SELF-CREATED WAR

II. PMG PRESIDENT ANDY MALLOY ASKS FOR INFO CORRECTION

----------

i. RMASF LETTERS TO RMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT PHIL
AYLING AND THE INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
ii. PHIL AYLING’S RESPONSE TO RMASF DISSOLUTION AND LETTERS
iii. ARTICLE FROM FILM MUSIC WEEKLY ON MR. AYLING’S CHARGES
AND LOCAL 6 PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE.

Greetings AFM Delegates!,

Have you read your latest International Musician?

You should.

Of particular interest are Tom Lee’s answer to the Variety Article (Page 3), Sam Folio’s article (Page 6), and the Article from an L.A. video game composer about the video game scoring situation (Page 10-11).

RMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT IDENTIFIED AS LEADER IN THE PMG

Especially interesting is the confirmation of RMA International President Phil Ayling’s involvement with the PMG, to quote the Article on page 11:

“I have had exploratory discussions with PMG leaders Marc Sazer and Phil Ayling, as well as separate discussions with the AFM, about creating work for musicians on video game scores.”

This composer has meet with everyone, so no one can question his sincerity or his support for all of LA’s musicians.

The above and other info confirms Marc Sazer, the VP of the RMALA and Phil Ayling, the President of the RMA International are directly linked to the PMG, an organization organized to compete with, and possibly replace, the AFM, and a group President Espinosa equates in public with New Era Scoring in its threat to the union, but supports in private.

I. RMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT VS. EVERYBODY

First the RMA-San Francisco (RMASF) voted unanimously to dissolve, primarily blaming RMA International for operating to the benefit of the RMALA elites above all.

In response to the RMASF dissolution letters, Mr. Ayling, in a statement submitted to Film Music Magazine, blames the dissolution vote on, (are you ready for this?): The AFM not Recording Musicians!  An AFM blog also intimates that somehow the RMASF is in league with Tom Lee.  Right.  The entire member- ship, without exception, of the San Francisco chapter of the RMA voted itself out of existence just to support a politician.

Here’s a short excerpt from the RMASF letter, the entirety of which you can read for yourself  at the end of this mailing.

-EXCERPT FROM RMASF DISSOLUTION LETTER

“RMALA appears to be dedicated to keeping this work away from RMA musicians in other chapters, and, in fact, other musicians within their own Local…”

------------

Hmmmm,…

For the record, there are no members of the COMMITTEE in the RMASF, although their letters and their unprecedented action confirm that we have been right all along:  The much-whispered- about greed and selfishness of the RMALA inner sanctum is a reality.

-RMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT STEPS IN IT

First, Phil Ayling blames the RMASF dissolution not on the RMALA business practices but on the AFM.

Then, in Mr. Ayling’s response to the RMASF he blames San Francisco AFM Local 6 President David Schoenbrun, saying he “inappropriately made proposals to the AFM on the [RMA] chapter’s behalf and would use the weight of his office to back-in local approval afterwards.”

What Mr. Ayling doesn’t say is, the reason President Schoenbrun made the proposals on behalf of the RMASF is because (according to Schoenbrun,) “Any attempts by RMA SF musicians to add their input and opinions to RMA proposals were met with rejection by the RMA International.” ? So here are the RMALA elites and the RMA International once again creating a problem by locking their colleagues out of the policy and decision-making process, then trying to blame others when they revolt.  Classic definition of chutzpah:  a child who kills his parents, then pleads for mercy because he's an orphan.

-….AND STEPS IN IT AGAIN

Film Music Weekly published this letter from Skywalker Ranch concerning the RMA International President’s fabrication about Skywalker Ranch Recording shutting down:

Dear Film Music Weekly:

While Skywalker Sound does not wish to involve itself in the dispute between RMA San Francisco and RMA International, we do feel it is absolutely necessary to comment on the gross inaccuracies of Mr. Ayling's letter of June 3rd, 2007 as they relate to our company and our business.

Clearly Mr. Ayling has not spent much time in the San Francisco Bay Area. If he had he would certainly know that Skywalker Sound continues to thrive in Marin County, and has no intentions of moving anywhere else. In fact our post facilities and our scoring stage/ recording studio have been busier than ever.

Not only do we continue to work on big budget features but pride ourselves in making our facilities available for independent projects as well. This is also true of our Scoring Stage where we record music for features such as Zodiac as well as Video Game scores and countless record projects with many independent artists. As to our ‘remote location’, that is a big reason why people continue to bring their projects here, and frankly it takes longer to get from Santa Monica to Hollywood than it does from the Oakland airport to Skywalker.

Leslie Ann Jones
Director of Music Recording and Scoring
Skywalker Sound

[QUICK NOTE TO ALL RMA MEMBERS: Congratulations, the International RMA President just managed to piss off George Lucas and Lucas Arts. Well done.]

-…AND STEPS IN IT YET AGAIN!

Film Music weekly also received this letter from AFM President Tom Lee.

Dear Film Music Weekly:

I have read the Film Music Weekly article, ‘RMA SF Dissolves Chapter,’ and the letter from the President of the RMA International. While I do not wish to engage in a discussion about the arguable points in his letter, there are two issues in it that are beyond argument.

The first issue is that each local is responsible for organizing the work in its jurisdiction. This is how it is done in Montreal, Nashville, Miami, New York, Vancouver, and other cities in North America. And this is what AFM Local 6 President David Schoenbrun has been doing: organizing work in the local?s jurisdiction. The role of the AFM International is to assist locals in these efforts, which it does with regularity.

The second issue is regarding contract proposals.  In preparation for negotiations, the AFM International encourages locals and members to send suggestions and contract modifications to Local Officers, who submit them to the AFM International.  The AFM International prefers to receive all proposals so that the entire bargaining unit may engage in a discussion of the merits of each proposal and determine, as a group, which should go forward. Local Officers are governed by the AFM Bylaws, not those of the RMA International.  Therefore, the RMA International President is incorrect when he alleges that it was inappropriate for AFM Local 6 President David Schoenbrun to submit members? contract proposals direct to the AFM International.

Thomas F. Lee
President
American Federation of Musicians

----------------

Just so you can understand the entire debacle for yourself, at the end of this mailing you will find:

- The two RMASF dissolution letters - Mr. Ayling's response to the RMALA letters - The FILM MUSIC WEEKLY article that reported on the Ayling response to the RMASF and the Local 6 President Schoenbrun's answer to Mr. Ayling's comments.

-RMALA’s SELF-CREATED WAR

The RMALA and RMA International have a real habit of creating problems, only to blame others. It’s Ironic that President Espinosa and the RMA talk about a ‘war” that they blame on AFM President Tom Lee. In fact, almost every charge made against Tom Lee by the RMA and Mr. eSPINosa are due to issues on which Mr. Lee would not slavishly indulge the RMA.  So they in turn charge that Mr. Lee won't fulfill the ‘will’? of the AFM membership, when all he's doing is failing to give one small faction everything it wants.

We can certainly get specific, if the RMA likes, but we expect they won’t say word one, knowing once again that we’re telling the truth and are more than willing to back it up.

And their puppet, Hal eSPINosa, wants to be AFM President? Why would anyone beyond the RMA elite want a president who protects an anti-AFM organization which was spawned by that elite?  The mind reels.

II. PMG PRESIDENT ANDY MALLOY ASKS FOR INFO CORRECTION

PMG President Andy Malloy was not at all happy with some information the COMMITTEE presented in a recent mailing and wanted to set the record straight. We’re more than happy to comply:

1)      Mr. Malloy took great exception to our describing Marc Sazer as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Guild. The PMG president wanted us to let you know that Mr. Sazer is most certainly NOT the PMG Secretary-Treasurer; Mr. Sazer is the SECRETARY of the PMG. We’re happy to clear that up.

2)       According to Mr. Malloy, at no time has the RMA office phone number appeared on any official Guild material. He further said that if,  at any point, someone did give out the Local 47 2nd floor RMA office number, it was without their permission and it was not an official guild document. We’d received reports that material handed out by the Guild representatives at a Video Game conference in San Francisco contained the RMA’s 2nd floor office phone number. The composers and producers that reported that information to us must have all been mistaken. We apologize if our info was incorrect.

--------
--------
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i. RMASF LETTERS TO RMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT PHIL
AYLING AND THE INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

May 25, 2007
Phil Ayling, President RMA International
817 North Vine St., Ste4 209
Hollywood, CA 90038

Dear Phil:
This letter shall serve as official notification to RMA International that on May 21, 2007 the membership of RMASF voted to relinquish its charter and dissolve the chapter. We regret the necessity of this decision but the membership and board of directors believe that this official affiliation between the recording musicians of the Sari Francisco Bay Area and RMA International has not only failed to promote their careers and professional needs, but in fact has worked to their detriment.

We look forward to a better working relationship in the future towards our mutual goals of improving the work and security of all AFM recording musicians.

Fraternally,
The Board of RMASF

##############

May 25, 2007

Dear Members of the International Executive Board of the American Federation of Musicians:

We are writing to inform you that on May 2 l, the membership of the San Francisco Chapter of Recording Musicians Association unanimously voted to dissolve RMASF. The RMASF Board of Directors would like the IEB to understand why this unfortunate decision was necessary.

As you are well aware, the commercial recording industry is in a tremendous state of flux. The increase in outsourcing of recording work to non-Union venues, both domestic and international, has created a situation where the former paradigms of compensation for such work are no longer inevitable. Our goal has been to recapture that work for local players, with a Union contract that works for both producers and musicians.

The mission of RMASF has always been: • to unite and organize professional recording musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area • to promote and develop recording opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area • to communicate, exchange information and address issues of mutual concern with other RMA chapters

We have increasingly found this mission impossible to fulfill under the existing conditions within the RMA Players Conference. Especially with regard to motion picture, television and videogame recording work, RMA International seems to exclusively serve the interests of a small group of musicians in its Los Angeles Chapter.

In turn, RMALA appears to be dedicated to keeping this work away from RMA musicians in other chapters, and, in fact, other musicians within their own Local. One particularly offensive example of RMA International's attitude toward RMASF was its attempt to raise the qualification levels for contract ratification, which would have rendered almost all of our members ineligible to vote. We were pleased that the IEB saw fit to maintain these levels, and hope it will continue to do so in the best interests of all recording musicians.

RMA International has been consistently unresponsive to our concerns about the state of the recording industry, and it has deliberately and actively blocked our initiatives. Each time we have formulated a proposal, whether for video games or motion pictures, we found the support we needed from AFM Local 6, and accordingly submitted our proposals through our Local.

Our experiences with RMA International have been exceedingly frustrating and unproductive. In pursuing our primary goat of increasing the quantity of high-quality recording work nationally and in the San Francisco Bay Area, two significant proposals were offered by RMASF: A theatrical motion picture proposal was made in 2005 that effectively addressed the outsourcing issues plaguing the motion picture industry, and most recently, a video game promulgated agreement proposal was put forward that would recapture recording in an industry that has seen only 2.5% of its games recorded on AIM contracts over the past five years. Both RMASF proposals were dismissed by RMA within hours of their submission, and as a result had to be presented by AFM Local 6.

The Board and membership of RMASF feel that it is impossible to continue to pursue our objectives through the RMA Players Conference, and that by maintaining an RMA chapter in San Francisco our members are unwittingly undermining their own recording opportunities.

The best service we can do our members, our colleagues and the Union is to withdraw from RMA, state these issues publicly for the record, and urge the IEB to:

1)    Restore integrity to the AFM's MPTV recording contract negotiations and the process by which promulgated agreements are created. We hope you will investigate, confront and sanction those individuals who have recently misused their positions for their own personal gain and at the expense of their fellow Union members.

2)    Pursue recording opportunities that are currently being outsourced to non-Union environments. We fully support your negotiating contracts based on the mutual interests of all recording musicians. These contracts and the interests that guide their negotiations should be responsive to the hard facts of globalization operating within the commercial recording industry.

Our motion picture and videogame recording industry is in crisis. On behalf of the Union recording musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area we urge you to consider our withdrawal from RMA as a symptom of the inequities and abuses within our industry that require your ongoing scrutiny and stewardship.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.

Fraternally and in solidarity,

Board of Directors, RMASF

----------------

ii. PHIL AYLING’S RESPONSE TO RMASF DISSOLUTION AND LETTERS

RESPONSE TO FILM MUSIC MAGAZINE FROM RMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT PHIL AYLING CONCERNING THE DISSOLUTION OF THE RMA SAN FRANCISCO CHAPTER

June 3, 2007

RMA has long been supportive of commercial recording in San Francisco. In response to reports of non-union records and jingles, we worked vigorously with local musicians to confront that. Neither the Local President David Schoenbrun, nor AFM President Tom Lee has made substantive efforts to organize that employment. The closure of RMASF is all about AFM leadership failure in representing recording musicians. The unfortunate fact is that a film, television, or videogame industry using AFM musicians has never really developed in San Francisco. Claims to “recapture” work are without substance.

Fortunately the San Francisco musicians have a vibrant symphony and opera orchestra scene, as well as other live music venues – these have always been the primary AFM employment for San Francisco’s excellent musicians.

Even as RMA San Francisco President Wieslaw Pogorzelski participated fully in all RMA proposals brought to the AFM, Local 6 President David Schoenbrun continued to claim to speak for RMA in San Francisco. David Schoenbrum inappropriately made proposals to the AFM on the Chapter’s behalf and would use the weight of his office to back-in local approval afterwards. His actions drove people from the San Francisco RMA Chapter members expressed concerns to me about intimidation and he effectively destroyed the independence of the Chapter there. The RMA President in San Francisco resigned 6 weeks ago citing health considerations.

Claims that RMA International, along with RMALA conspire with multi-billion dollar Media Companies to prevent recording work from going to San Francisco (or anywhere else) is not a realistic scenario. All of the powerful Hollywood entertainment unions combined (AFTRA, DGA, SAG, IATSE) are unable to impose their will on the production decisions of the entertainment industry. Musicians from Los Angeles, who are attached to the less powerful AFM, cannot and do not dictate recording locations to Film, Record or Video Game companies for any of their products.

Despite all the claims about “outsourcing” in the film scoring business, more unique AFM film projects were processed in 2006 than in any year since recordkeeping began in 1978. So far in 2007, AFM film employment is up a healthy 40% over the same period in 2006. This is not because more films are being released (in fact big studio films are on the decrease) but because efforts made by RMA (not the AFM) to organize foreign films and low- budget independent films have been fantastically successful.

The lack of film scoring in San Francisco is not the result of scheming or politics or the AFM Agreements; rather it is a result of business trends. The Skywalker post-production facilities in Marin County are being phased out. The increasingly compressed and fluid post-production schedules for big budget films often preclude recording at a remote location like Skywalker, and small independent projects can’t afford it.

As RMA President, I am sad to lose a chapter of the RMA, and even more disappointed to have internal AFM politics manipulating that loss.

Phil Ayling
President, RMA International

----------------

iii. ARTICLE FROM FILM MUSIC WEEKLY ON MR. AYLING’S CHARGES AND LOCAL 6 PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE.

RMA SAN FRANCISCO DISSOLVES CHAPTER

(Film Music Weekly - June 5, 2007) - In the latest episode of the internal struggles occurring within the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) labor union, the San Francisco chapter of the Recording Musicians Association has dissolved just days before a critical national meeting of AFM leaders.

The Recording Musicians Associations is a 'player conference' within the American Federation of Musicians that focuses on recording musicians.

In a letter sent by the RMA SF chapter to the RMA International office in Los Angeles, the RMA SF board cited major conflicts with the RMA International in the areas of film, television and video game scoring, stating, "Our motion picture and video game recording industry is in crisis."

The RMA SF dissolution letter stated, "Especially with regard to motion picture, television and videogame recording work, RMA International seems to exclusively serve the interests of a small group of musicians in its Los Angeles Chapter. In turn, RMALA appears to be dedicated to keeping this work away from RMA musicians in other chapters, and, in fact, other musicians within their own Local."

RMA International President Phil Ayling sent Film Music Magazine a detailed response to the RMA SF letter, and said that AFM (San Francisco) Local President David Schoenbrun "inappropriately made proposals to the AFM on the [RMA] Chapter?s behalf and would use the weight of his office to back-in local approval afterwards," Ayling cited what he sees as larger issues with the AFM and recording musicians, saying, "The closure of RMASF is all about AFM leadership failure in representing recording musicians." Ayling?s statement continued, "RMA has long been supportive of commercial recording in San Francisco. In response to reports of non-union records and jingles, we worked vigorously with local musicians to confront that. Neither the [San Francisco] Local President David Schoenbrun, nor AFM President Tom Lee has made substantive efforts to organize that employment."

San Francisco AFM Local 6 President David Schoenbrun, in a statement to Film Music Magazine today responding to Ayling?s statement, said that it is every AFM  Local's right per AFM bylaws to submit proposals on any and all agreements to the AFM, and that proposals submitted by AFM Local 6 were approved by the RMA SF Board. Schoenbrun emphasized that proposals were submitted by Local 6 because proposals submitted through the RMA SF must be vetted by the RMA International, and according to Schoenbrun, "any attempts by RMA SF musicians to add their input and opinions to RMA proposals were met with rejection by the RMA International."

Schoenbrun continued, "The RMA SF letter speaks for itself. The RMA SF believes that the actions of the RMA International worked to the detriment of San Francisco recording musicians, and that is the sole reason the RMA SF membership voted to dissolve the chapter. My response to Phil?s accusations that I intimidated members is, "methinks he doth protest too much..."

Film Music Magazine will provide continuing coverage of AFM activities including coverage from the AFM National Convention being held in Las Vegas next week.

-----------------

Thank you for reading.

THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

Comments

So Skywalker sound does no film scores? These bloggers aren't even good liars!

Check it out yourself...

http://www.skysound.com/

The films I saw there?

CARS
http://www.pixar.com/featurefilms/cars/
Pixar Animation Studios / Disney

American Gothic
American Gothic LLC

Rent
Revolution Studios / Sony Pictures Entertainment

Jarhead
Universal Pictures *1

Solo Dios Sabe
Dezenove Filmes

Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D
http://www.imax.com/magnificentdesolation/
Playtone / IMAX Corporation *4

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
IMAX Version *4
IMAX Corporation

Batman Begins : The IMAX Experience
IMAX Version *4
IMAX Corporation

The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience
IMAX Version
IMAX Corporation

The Matador
Miramax

The Darwin Awards
3 Ring Circus Films

STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH
20th Century Fox/Lucasfilm Ltd.
http://www.starwars.com

THE PRIZEWINNER OF DEFIANCE OHIO
Revolution Studios

XXX: STATE OF THE UNION
Revolution Studios *1 *2

THE WEATHER MAN
Paramount Pictures *1 *2

STAY
New Regency Pictures/20th Century 20th Century Fox

ADVENTURES IN ANIMATION 3D
Taarna Productions/TFX Animation Inc.

HOODWINKED
Independent Animated Feature

The site hasn't been update recently, and that's a pity . but here's another list on the site.

2005

XXX 2
RENT
BALLETS RUSSE
BROOKLYN RULES

2004

HELLBOY
ADVENTURES IN ANIMATION -IMAX 3D
DEAR MR. CASH
THE BOXER

2003

THE COMPANY
NEMO-Jacques Cousteau “The Reef”

2002

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO

2001

RAT RACE
THE MEXICAN
SPY KIDS 3
FINAL FANTASY
JURASSIC PARK III
SENIORITA EXTRAVIATA

2000

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
SPY KIDS
DRACULA 2000
STORM ISLAND
RUNNING MATES-IMAX

1999

DOLBY SURROUND EX-Trailer
STAR WARS: EPISODE I “The Phantom Menace”
INSPECTOR GADGET
FREQUENCY
TITUS ANDRONICUS

1998

ARLINGTON ROAD
ELMO IN GROUCHLAND
DRACULA (1931)
THE HORSEWHISPERER
54
A WILL OF THEIR OWN
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
STEPMOM
HALLOWEEN: H20
SPHERE
SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS
THE FACULTY
CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS

1997

MIMIC
THE HOUSE OF YES
THE GAME
CONTACT
WINNIE THE POOH’S GRAND ADVENTURE

1996

MEMBER OF THE WEDDING
ONE FINE DAY
COSMIC VOYAGE
GARY REMAL MUSIC
EICHMANN

1995

TOY STORY
JUMANJI

There's goes that theory, eh?

[Charles Fernandez]

Well well. I am Sparitus, I am Sparticus, I am Sparticus. The RMA lackeys have gotton so desparate that they're pretending to be me now. Someone told me that I was mentioned again, so I thought I'd check it out.

The last time some one from Local 47 (The fired General Manager from Local 47-convicted felon too) tried pretending to be someone else they lost their job. Sounds like the same person at it again. No one can accuse the RMA/Espinosa lackeys of having any shame...

But tell me folks, who would sign up for an account to trash themselves? No one of course.

If the arguments of the RMA folks weren't so laughable they would be tragic.

So members of the responsible 47 committee get info from the FILM MUSIC WEEKLY and forward it to others. That doesn't make Mr. Northam or members of the COMMITTEE Tom Lee parasites, it makes them informed.

If that is your contention then by your own definition the AFM Observer is a committee parasite, since they just now reprinted the whole committee email here. oops! Common Sense alert!

I read the article in the IM from the LA Composer, Lennie Moore. He has no axe to grind for Tom Lee or anyone else. Will the RMAers now say Lennie is a Tom Lee Parasite? Lennie is an LA composer, not a NY composer and a damn good one at that. He's also an honorable person.

Of course, none of this logic will make a bit of difference to the Kool-aide drinkers, but if there is anyone beyond the initiated, perhaps it will give them some perspective.

I think I read in a previous committee email that, "When confronted with their own actions, a person or group can either change their conduct or try to shoot the messenger.

The Espinosa Administration and the RMA are choosing the former.

What a shame.

and here are a couple more questions for the "RMA Parasites"

Who forced the RMA handler's to charge triple and quadruple scale for years? Was it Tom Lee? the Committee? Me?

Who forced the RMA to change the secondary market tax scale so that those who make $2,500 paid 5% tax and those making $250,000 paid .5%? Was it Tom Lee? the Committee? Me?

Who forced the RMA to change the votiing rules so that only those making above a certain amount have a voice? Was it Tom Lee? the Committee? Me?

Who tried the same stunt nationwide on their members, but were foiled by clearheaded people? Was it Tom Lee? the Committee? Me?

Who forced the RMA international to shut out any input from the RMASF, eventually leading them to disband? Was it Tom Lee? the Committee? Me?

Who forced some RMA and their Handler's to work not only protect their own work, but actively destroy others work? Was it Tom Lee? the Committee? Me?

The RMALA has been the author and finisher of the state of affairs of film recording in this town, and the detrimental effect it has had on thousands of members of our Local and beyond,... just ask SF. They can't blame Tom Lee, or the committee or any one else for the result of their greed and arrogance. But they do try, they do try.

I've been told repeatedly by colleagues not to bother responding in this obvious RMA blog,.. or in other words, Don't feed the troll.

If you're one of the trolls, keep on trolling.

Charles Fernandez

[Mark Northam]

We stand by the quality and integrity of our articles. We've had a positive dialogue with the AFM, RMA and PMG, as well as NES and are happy to cover all four organizations as they work out their differences. We'll be in Las Vegas with coverage of the AFM Convention next week, and welcome any viewpoints.

Mark Northam
Publisher
Film Music Magazine

[Reformer]

From what I understand of Lucas's dispute with the director guild was when Star Wars was being released, there was something with the opening intro text of Stars Wars "a long time ago..." and then the scrolling of the story set up was that it was against the directors guild bylaws or rules?

If I am wrong on this? feel free to correct me.

An exception should have been made for that ground breaking film know as Star Wars, it might have lead to a 30+ year relationship with George Lucas with the unions for the rest of his films to date.

"George Lucas NEVER does AFM scoring.
He doesn't like to deal with ANY unions.
Skywalker is NOT an active stage for recording film scores."

If George Lucas is operating any where world wide non-union, then there needs to be a coordinated effort among all entertainment labor unions to organize Lucas films top to bottom.

Where was Thomas F. Lee a few months back when he was a retreat for movie industry producers in the Napa Valley in Northern California only a short drive from Skywalker Ranch?

Lee should have been at least knocking on door and asking for a contract.

I know I would have been with or without an appointment at least a stop over saying "Hi I am from the AFM"

MichaelTroyMoore.com

So mark sazer is confirmed to be an organizing member of a potential rival union to the AFM? (by it's own president)..

and yet...
he is a "Board" Member of the RMALA, a conference of the AFM?
Why doesn't Tom Lee OR Hal Espinoza do anything about this?

RMA--LA board members & contact emails

[Charles Fernandez]

George Lucas NEVER does AFM scoring.
He doesn't like to deal with ANY unions.
Skywalker is NOT an active stage for recording film scores.
If it was then the RMASF would not be whining about there being "no recording work"
If there's so much AFM work then somebody provide a REAL list.

Oh, and by the way,

Charles Fernandez and Mark Northam are just parasites on the film scoring business. The quality of their work is not good enough to get them jobs, so they're trying to create a profile by telling lies about others who have the ability to get jobs.

[afm headache]

Jeez, I thought you folks in California are suppose to be laid back.......
This so called "Committee" could doom our chances of keeping the AFM in tact. For the sake of the entire AFM membership, put all this proproganda in perspective. We simply won't survive another term of Tom Lee.