Analysis: SAG should face the facts - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety »

As the prima facie evidence mounts that SAG's 122,000-plus members are in no mood to approve a strike authorization vote, the guild's two top bosses -- prexy Alan Rosenberg and national exec director Doug Allen -- seem to be twisting in the chilly December wind..Film News, news from the entertainment source: Variety.Analysis: SAG should face the facts.

Article to be connected with this interview of Fred Vidal for VOICE-MAG (silent actors platform):

VOICE-MAG: So what about this new Variety article, Fred?

Fred Vidal: I respect Variety, I do their community site, I'm a subscriber but I want to tell you that this kind of analysis is maybe smart but not connected to the real life and challenges of the guild before January meetings. My bad if I'm wrong, with all due respect. But I think I already studied with you this issue.

VOICE-MAG: Yes but some people think and say that you are right but alone to support Background actors position.

Fred Vidal: I am ready to print 100,000 copies of the program-flyer with you guys and to send them to the members of SAG. I’m not alone, the background usually never speak a lot but they know what is a vote, you know, they are pretty interested about this debate. This problem with the producers will find a solution ONLY at A SOCIAL level and not a corporate one. It's the reason why I support Allen and Rosenberg for a strike authorization if they support the background actors for the following negotiations. Journalists are going to understand that SAG means SILENT ACTORS TOO AND MAYBE FIRST, I'm sorry, it's a fact, it's a workers Union, it's less exciting for articles BUT WE SPEAK ABOUT THE SETS, THE STRIKE, daily life members. For the Celebrities issues, I know pretty well this question as a PhD Post-Doctoral researcher and a friend of 75% of the No-Strike important actors on Myspace and Facebook. They express themselves like me but it is the same: journalists are doing an exaggeration of their power of influence inside the Guild, As a researcher, I appreciate anyway that the writer of this article speaks about them as CELEBRITIES. They have a social duty to share their opinion and they do it, I appreciate that and it's great. But the problem to prepare a strike is social first and I think that they are in the same mood than us, background actors, they want to know more, they think it's not social but too strategically oriented in a bureaucracy of contracts negotiations. The crisis? Ok, it's also a problem but in my previous interview, I told you THAT THE CRISIS PUTS THE PRESSURE ON THE MAJORS FIRST TO NEGOTIATE SOON.

Voice-Mag: Some people think that you were pretty hard against Major Studios in you vox.com interview with us:

Fred Vidal: If I chose to speak, it's not to say that I have nothing special to comment. Maybe, I was not understood. I'm a Major guy, I have difficulties to be excited by an independent movie (but I'm gonna improve myself) (laughs). Universal, Warner, Fox, MGM, Sony, I like them a lot but I can criticize a little, I don't mind to be misunderstood first because I know that the language of the truth is always the fair one that makes you new friends in a second time. So, background actors, it changes nothing to our daily life, all that story of a conflict between our Union and the Major Studios but if a strike is decided, if we have to stop to work, let's express ourselves before to take our responsibilities, right?

Voice-Mag: It's one more time the fact that we are in and out the conflict?

Fred Vidal: Who knows? Maybe there is no conflict at all but a MISCOMMUNICATION because of the 2 (Union and Companies) who don't speak about the same thing. Even a Federal Person didn’t succeed to make them calm down. Sorry SAG, I try to understand because I truly want a Yes Vote but WE HAVE TO KNOW FOR WHAT, for what strike, A STRIKE FOR WHAT?
About residuals, I'm going to overreact again: (in a good way) (laughs): HOW MANY MEMBERS RECEIVE regular important (more than $5,000 for instance) Annual RESIDUALS, I will say 40,000 but I don't really know, I want to know because I suppose that it's not a majority of the Guild, so let's respect the residuals issue but let's include the background careers and also obviously the principals daily problems INSIDE a REAL STRIKE PLATFORM and like in almost every good Hollywood movie THERE WILL BE A HAPPY END, how can we imagine the contrary? And I ask to the journalists to do their best to be positive in their articles for a fair deal possibility and a definitive agreement between us and our producers. Do we want to be the only place in America struggling against each other for more when our Country has less and less because of this huge crisis? This is unacceptable and obviously, it's gonna stop because I'm sure producers will make propositions when the strike will be voted or before (if they are smart but they will). You will remember that.

Voice-Mag: Ok, we are confident but your latest support for John McCain was wrong!?

Fred Vidal: Come on, we are unionists, right? I was not wrong, he lost, that’s it. Senator John McCain lost because he did a wrong campaign at the communication level. I wrote it ten times, HE HAD TO POSTPONE THE FIRST DEBATE because of the Crisis Explosion. He had to do it, he said it and he changed his mind. Also, the choice of a ticket with somebody who has family problems was not smart. I'm Republican, my point of view was a minority one (about the hiatus). I proposed also social measures, I think that it's time now not to criticize anymore Barack Obama but to support him 100% in a bipartisan way to finish the crisis SOON, it's possible if everybody decides we can do it and the end of the Hollywood Miscommunication will be a test, UNION is the keyword more than ever, We cannot rebuild our economy without the workers organized with the AFL-CIO. Workers are the Economy!! Producers and actors at the same table and everybody accepting to improve actors life, we can do it soon… if we want it!

Voice-Mag: Thank you.

Fred Vidal: Take care guys, I appreciate.

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