Hollywood Deep

With the Writers Guild of America still on strike for the fourth week, just about everyone I know in the production end of the biz, has been laid off. Hollywood has turned into a production wasteland. Assistant directors, camera people, gaffers, grips, make up & hair artists, costumers, prop masters, set construction workers, caterers, production assistants, Teamsters, and anyone involved in day to day television & movie production are out of work right before the holidays. What a slap in the face to those hard working people, some of whom have to live pay check to pay check, that the two sides could not get together to negotiate until this week. Sure, Producers, Directors, and Writers are out of work also but these people make considerably more money then the rest of us. They can afford to take 4 weeks off and play around on a picket line. It seemed like the writers were having a good old time walking the line, while people were in jeopardy of losing their houses and feeding their children. So finally they have got together top talk. In a secret location without giving any details. These negotiators who take themselves way too seriously, reportedly have resumed double secret negotiations somewhere in Hollywood. Can somebody please tell them… HEY YOUR NOT CURING CANCER OVER THERE! GET THIS THING SETTLED!!! LOCK YOURSELVES IN A ROOM, PUT ON SOME COFFEE, GET A MEDIATOR. DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO! GET IT DONE… THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH AND DEPEND ON EVERY DAY, YOUR CREWS, ARE GETTING RESTLESS AND RESENTFUL. WE DON’T THINK THE PICKET LINES ARE FUNNY OR CUTE, WE THINK IT’S STUPID THAT BOTH SIDES OF THIS ARE ACTING LIKE CHILDREN. GET IT DONE!

Meanwhile, Disney’s “Enchanted” captivated audiences over the Thanksgiving holiday, debuting on top of the North American box office with $35.3 million over the weekend and $50 million since debuting Wednesday. Starring Amy Adams as an animated fairy princess who comes to life, is now the second biggest Thanksgiving opener ever, behind “Toy Story 2″, which grossed $80.1 million in a five-day period in 1999. Among other new wide releases, the family dramedy “This Christmas”, starring Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo and Chris Brown, opened in second place with $18.6 million and $27.1 million since Wednesday, while the video-game adaptation “Hitman”, starring Timothy Olyphant, debuted in fourth with $13 million over the weekend and $21 million since Wednesday. Overall, the box office numbers went up after being in a slump. “”That’s good for an industry that’s been in a downtrend for almost two months,”" Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers told The Associated Press. “”Thanksgiving sets the tone for the rest of the year and the holiday season in general. This was a key weekend, and it delivered.”
So it seems like there are still plenty of millions to go around.

I personally have been able to keep busy. I’ve scratched together a little work, and I’ve been developing some future projects with directors I work with. So I have been out of the Hollywood scene for a few weeks. Here’s what’s been going on.

Hulk Hogan’s wife is divorcing him; Britney is still crazy, but maybe getting her kids for the holidays as long as she doesn’t drive; Kim Kardashian had an expensive amount of jewelry and other items stolen from her bag at JFK airport; Angelina Jolie’s “Beowulf” was the #1 movie last week; Boy George was ordered to stand trial for false imprisonment, he handcuffed his boy toy to a bed and threatened him with sex toys back in April. George, could face life in prison if he’s found guilty; and [tag]Oprah has proven to be more and more stupid every day.

I don’t feel like I missed much, but I’ll keep you posted.
…DEEP!

Technorati Tags: Writers Guild of America, Teamsters, Disney’s “Enchanted”, Thanksgiving, North American box office, Amy Adams, “Toy Story 2″, “This Christmas”, Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo, Chris Brown, “Hitman”, Timothy Olyphant, Paul Dergarabedian, Media By Numbers, The Associated Press, Hulk Hogan, Britney, Kim Kardashian, JFK airport, Angelina Jolie’s “Beowulf”, was the #1 movie last week; Boy George was ordered to stand trial for false imprisonment, he handcuffed his boy toy to a bed and threatened him with sex toys back in April. George, could face life in prison if he’s found guilty; and [tag]Oprah