Actor with Oklahoma ties elected to Screen Actors Guild Board of Directors

Actor Ed Harris says his most embarrassing moment was modeling tuxedos at the Oklahoma State Fair in 1971.
   Oklahoma is also where Harris was introduced to acting. He grew up playing sports in New Jersey, but he fell in love with acting while studying at the University of Oklahoma in 1972. He moved to Los Angeles the next year to pursue acting.
   Now he is a four-time Oscar nominee (recognized for his performances in ¡°Apollo 13,¡± ¡°The Truman Show,¡± ¡°Pollock¡± and ¡°The Hours¡±) and newly elected to the National Board of Directors for the Screen Actors Guild¡¯s Hollywood Division.
   Starting today (Sept. 25), he will serve a three-year term on the board along with Martin Sheen (¡±The West Wing¡±), Elliott Gould (¡±Baby Bob¡±), Ed Asner (¡±Lou Grant¡±), Anne-Marie Johnson (¡±JAG¡±), Connie Stevens (¡±Hawaiian Eye¡±), Diane Ladd (¡±Alice¡±), Dulé Hill (¡±Psych¡±), Hill Harper (¡±CSI: NY¡±), Nancy Travis (¡±The Bill Engvall Show¡±) and Marcia Wallace (¡±The Bob Newhart Show¡±).
   Ken Howard (¡±Crossing Jordan¡±) was elected as Screen Actors Guild president. He received 12,895 votes, with Anne-Marie Johnson coming in second with 8,906 votes.
   ¡°I am deeply honored to be chosen by the membership to lead the Screen Actors Guild,¡± said Howard, who will serve a two-year term. ¡°I campaigned on the promise that I¡¯d do everything in my power to strengthen our position at the bargaining table by building a greater unity with AFTRA and the other entertainment unions, and that¡¯s exactly what I intend to do. Despite the sharp differences that those of us active in Guild affairs sometimes have over strategy and tactics, we need to continually remind ourselves that we¡¯re all on the same team, fighting for the same thing — and by pulling together, we¡¯ll only grow stronger.¡±
   For complete results of the SAG elections, go to www.SAG.org.

Pictured above: In this Sept. 4, 2008 file photo, actor Ed Harris poses for a portrait at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto during the International Film Festival. (AP Photo/Carlo Allegri, file)

Open casting call in Holland for "What's Wrong with Virginia," starring Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly

by John Serba | The Grand Rapids Press

Monday August 10, 2009, 5:46 PM

TicTock Studios just announced an open casting call Saturday for "What's Wrong with Virginia," a drama starring Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly that will shoot in West Michigan in late September.

From the TicTock press release:

We are seeking:Real looking people of all shapes and sizesAges 18 and upUnion/Non-UnionNon-actors welcome

Of particular interest: 18+ year olds who can play younger, Male and Female Caucasian - principle roles

Speaking parts are available for the following:
Caucasian Females, ages 18-60
Caucasian Males, ages 18-95
Korean Female, age 50-70
African American Male, age 60-70
African American Female, age 40-50
Asian American Male, age 40-50

The casting call will take place:
Saturday, August 15, 2009
3PM - 6PM
11172 Adams St, Holland, Michigan
(Corner of Adams/16th St. and Country Club Rd., parking in rear of building)
Please bring proof of age!

Note: This is an OPEN casting call - there will be NO auditions.Selected people will be invited back for an audition at a later date.

Ed Harris has replaced Liam Neeson in "What's Wrong with Virginia."

The casting call is being hosted by Michigan Casting Services, part of TicTock. Actors can register in the MCS database at tictockstudios.com.

"Virginia" is studded with Oscar winners and nominees: It will be the feature-length directorial debut from Dustin Lance Black,who won for his "Milk" screenplay. It will be executive-produced by"Milk" director Gus Van Sant, nominated for said film and "Good WillHunting." Connelly won for "A Beautiful Mind," and Harris was nominatedfour times, including "Pollock" and "The Truman Show."

Harris will play a sheriff and Senate hopeful, and Connelly, hislongtime lover; his bid for office is in jeopardy when his daughterbegins dating her son.

Liam Neeson was originally slated to star, but scheduling conflictsled to Harris' casting, according to Dori DePree of TicTock Studios.

Posted: Wed., Jan. 7, 2009, 6:22pm PTJacob Burns Center honors Ed Harris
Actor to be feted on Jan. 13
By SAM THIELMAN

The Jacob Burns Film Center is set to honor Ed Harris at its eighth annual Silver Screen Circle dinner on Jan. 13. Harris has received a Golden Globe for his performance in "The Truman Show" and Oscar noms for his work in that film plus "Apollo 13," "The Hours" and "Pollock." Previous honorees at the Pleasantville, N.Y.-based Burns Center include Robert Duvall, Kevin Spacey and Hilary Swank.

Musicians and movie stars will turn out for Obama's inauguration
Here's a glimpse at the lineup so far at various parties.
By Tina Daunt
December 24, 2008

Other presidents have come into office concerned about the arms race. This one, the economy.

But when you're planning the parties that celebrate a new president's inauguration, the real issue on your mind is the battle of the bands.

Right now, anyone who can turn on a microphone or knows somebody who plays an instrument probably could get a gig in Washington the week of Jan. 18. Simply put: The laws of supply and demand seem to apply to musical talent just as they do Wall Street.

Here's a glimpse at the lineup so far at various parties:

This week, Feeding America, the nation's hunger reliever, and the Recording Industry Assn. of America announced that "multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning global superstar" Rihanna will perform at their inauguration charity ball on Jan. 20. (In this competition, the booking is the equivalent of Obama's Iowa victory.)

The chief executive and president of Feeding America, Vicki Escarra,said in a statement, "As the prevalence of hunger in America increases at an unprecedented rate, we are most grateful to Rihanna and to RIAA for helping us bring greater visibility to this tragic reality and helping us feed millions more people in need."

David Arquette, chairman of Feeding America's entertainment council (and husband of Courteney Cox), added: "We are hopeful that President-elect Obama's pledge to fighting hunger in America and ending child hunger by 2015 will bring relief to . . . Americans at risk of hunger today. We can all do our part by raising money, donating food or volunteering."

Last week, the Inaugural Purple Ball announced that Il Divo, an operatic quartet that toured with the real diva, Barbra Streisand in 2006, will perform along with crooner Peter Cincotti.

The host committee includes Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., Patricia Arquette, Amy Brenneman, Ed Harris, Ashley Judd, Josh Lucas, Amy Madigan, Brad Silberling and Kate Walsh. Hill Harper will give the toast (sponsored, of course, by Moët & Chandon). Proceeds go to support the Eracism Foundation, a group started by Gossett to address the effect of racism.

Meanwhile, the Creative Coalition, which started planning its inaugural party before the last midterms, announced that Sting, Sam Moore and Elvis Costello would be performing at its gala. (Now that's a bill.)

Confirmed guests include Tim Daly, Tony Goldwyn, Anne Hathaway, Ron Howard, Kate Walsh, Spike Lee, Tim Robbins, Marcia Cross, Kerry Washington, Susan Sarandon, Seal, Jane Krakowski, Adrian Grenier, Ashley Judd, Bradley Cooper, Alfre Woodard, Blair Underwood, Barry Levinson, Dana Delany, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Wendie Malick, Josh Lucas, Matthew Modine, Rachael Leigh Cook, Alan Cumming, Connie Britton, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Richard Schiff, Ellen Burstyn, Giancarlo Esposito, Gloria Reuben, Phillip Bloch, Tom Cavanagh, Lynn Whitfield, Tamara Tunie, Tom Fontana, Sue Kramer, Kim Raver and Maura Tierney.

No word yet on Oprah Winfrey's lineup for her Obama bash. And we're still waiting to find out who will be playing the National Mall.

Within the next week or so, all the major acts are likely to be spoken for. By the time the Obama inaugural rolls around, it won't be just policy wonks who are polishing up their résumés but garage bands as well.

Screen Actors Guild Announces ¡°Solidarity  Campaign¡±
First 31 ¡°Solidarity Signers¡± add names to list of  members in support of a ¡°yes¡± vote on the strike authorization referendum.
Among the names are several prominent Academy Award¢â nominees and recipients.

Los  Angeles, December 12, 2008 -- Screen Actors Guild today announced the  names of 30 recognizable members who, along with Guild national president Alan  Rosenberg, signed SAG¡¯s ¡°Statement of Support.¡± The first signers include Mel Gibson, Ed Harris, Holly Hunter, Martin Sheen, Sandra Oh, Hal Holbrook, Dixie  Carter, John Heard, Jerry O¡¯Connell, Rob Morrow and 20 others.

Guild  secretary treasurer Connie Stevens and 1st national vice president Anne-Marie  Johnson also signed on to the statement as did board members Elliott Gould,  Frances Fisher, Valerie Harper, Robert Hays, Justine Bateman, Clancy Brown,  Charles Shaughnessy, Scott Bakula, Diane Ladd and others.

The SAG  ¡°Statement of Support¡± which reads:

¡°I support the Screen Actors  Guild National Board of Directors request for members to vote YES to empower  the National Board to decide whether to call a TV/Theatrical contract strike,  and if so, determine its timeframe.

We must arm our negotiating  committee with the collective unity and strength of the Screen Actors Guild  members.¡±

Holbrook, Asner, Sheen, Ladd, Fisher, and Stevens have  recorded video testimonials and topical messages that will debut on Screen  Actors Guild¡¯s website next week along with other celebrity  testimonials.

The Guild¡¯s website now features video messages from  Bateman, Shaughnessy and Brown prominently displayed in a homepage video  viewer.

Initial signers include:

Ed Asner
Scott Bakula
Justine Bateman
Clancy Brown
Dixie Carter
George Coe
Anne  DeSalvo
Frances Fisher
Mel Gibson
Brian Goodman
Elliot Gould
Ed Harris
Valerie Harper
John Heard
Robert Hays
Hal  Holbrook
Holly Hunter
Anne-Marie Johnson
Diane Ladd
William  Mapother
Kent McCord
Rob Morrow
Jerry O'Connell
Sandra Oh
Alan Rosenberg
Alan Ruck
Charles Shaughnessy
Martin Sheen
Connie Stevens
Renee Taylor
Alicia Witt

All SAG  members are invited to sign the ¡°Statement of Support¡± by emailing their name  and member number to Contract2008@sag.org.

Video statements  of support are playing now at www.sag.org.

+ http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997375.html?categoryid=18&cs=1

SAG's war hits home

East, West guilds battle over strike

Civil war has broken out at the Screen Actors Guild.

Gotham leaders of SAG are demanding that the guild's plan to seek a strike authorization vote be called off due to the faltering economy, and they want the guild's contract negotiating committee replaced in the hopes that new blood will help end the guild's months-long stalemate with the majors.

SAG president Alan Rosenberg responded by setting the emergency national board meeting for Friday at SAG's Hollywood headquarters -- but he insists that the New York guild reps attend in person. Rosenberg blasted SAG's Gotham toppers for their "extraordinarily destructive and subversive" action.

A guild spokeswoman said SAG would not comment on why the emergency board meeting is a "face to face" session. New York reps indicated that requiring cross-country travel on short notice, when videoconferencing equipment is readily available, can only be interpreted as punitive and designed to hold down attendance by opponents of the guild's Hollywood leadership.

The skirmish that erupted after the New York board, headed by prexy Sam Freed, spoke out against the strike authorization vote on Friday afternoon widens the gulf between SAG leaders in Hollywood and the rest of the country. New York board member Mike Hodge had already publicly criticized the decision to seek the strike authorization vote, while Gotham board member Richard Masur, a former SAG prexy, has been a longtime foe of the guild's current Hollywood leadership.

Rosenberg and national exec director Doug Allen are certain to receive a chilly reception tonight at a townhall meeting for New York members at the Westin Times Square. That confab was scheduled a week ago to discuss the strike authorization, which is still set to go out Jan. 2 with results announced Jan. 23.

The New York division leaders -- who rep about 25% of SAG's 120,000 members -- noted in their statement that while they had voted in October to support seeking a strike authorization if federal mediation failed, conditions have changed since then.

"While issuing a strike authorization may have been a sensible strategy in October, we believe it is irresponsible to do so now, in the face of widespread layoffs, cutbacks and reduced programming," the N.Y. board said in a statement. "The hardest and most important decision any union member must make is whether or not to go on strike. Before we ask you to make that choice, we feel we must, as your elected representatives, make every move we can to get you a deal."

In addition to seeking the emergency board meeting, the New York reps asked that all plans for a strike referendum cease; a new negotiating task force to replace the current negotiating committee at this emergency meeting; and that the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers be encouraged "in the strongest of terms" to return to the bargaining table.

Control of SAG's national board shifted in September elections away from Rosenberg's Membership First allies to a more moderate coalition of New York and regional reps along with half a dozen board members elected from Hollywood in the Unite for Strength faction, including Amy Brenneman and Kate Walsh. But the negotiating committee remains under the control of Membership First.

"With a fresh team, the AMPTP will return to the table, and we can get a fair deal," the N.Y. reps said. "A deal that will not cost careers, homes, lives. We want our members to understand that while strikes are sometimes unavoidable, we will do everything in our power to avoid this one."

Rosenberg responded by saying the global economy was already failing before the new board OK'd the plan to take a strike vote should the attempt at federal mediation fail to end the six month-long stalemate between SAG and the AMPTP. The sides held two sessions last month with a federal mediator, who called the process off on Nov. 22.

"We are keenly aware of and sensitive to the fact that the economy has further declined since then," Rosenberg added. "When economic times are tough, members rely on their union even more to protect them from management's tactics. I believe we must be even more vigilant during these challenging times. The solution to the industry's economic hardship must not be rollbacks that cripple our member's ability to earn a living."

The AMPTP made its final offer on June 30 as SAG's primetime-feature contract expired. Over 75% of SAG members who vote would have to affirm the authorization, with the national board having the final say, if SAG is to go on strike.

The PR campaigns to persuade actors have continued in high gear as SAG announced late Friday that it had launched a "solidarity statement" campaign for members to declare their support of a "yes" vote. The first 31 signers included Mel Gibson, Ed Harris, Hal Holbrook, Holly Hunter and Martin Sheen, along with board members Scott Bakula, Justine Bateman, Frances Fisher, Elliott Gould, Diane Ladd and Kent McCord.

For its part, the AMPTP went to elected officials with a blast at SAG leaders on Friday by sending a letter to leading members of the California delegation including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein along with local, state and national elected officials in New York, Illinois and Michigan.

The missive, penned by AMPTP president Nick Counter, excoriated SAG leaders for refusing to accept the AMPTP's final offer, which contains similar terms to those in Hollywood labor agreements concluded this year by the WGA, DGA, IATSE, casting directors and AFTRA.

"Now, astonishingly, SAG is demanding that working actors attempt to wipe away the consequences of SAG's failed negotiating strategy by authorizing a strike," Counter said. "This strike vote is remarkable because it comes at a time when prominent economists are saying that the current recession may turn out to be the longest and most painful downturn since the Great Depression."

SAG deputy national exec director Pamm Fair disputed the majors' contention that SAG should accept a deal similar to those signed by the other unions.

"Screen Actors Guild represents actors who have different needs than writers, directors and crew members," Fair said in a statement. "We are different, not better. Our unique needs require that we negotiate a fair contract specific to actors, background actors and stunt performers, and not simply accept what has been agreed to by our sister unions."

Guild leaders have insisted that the needs of actors -- particularly in new media -- have not been adequately addressed in the AMPTP's final offer, issued June 30 as SAG's contract expired.

The AMPTP also took out an ad in today's Daily Variety that attempts to refute Rosenberg on statements he's made about the final offer such as it representing the "beginning of the end of residuals."

In response, the congloms contend that the proposed deal includes the first-ever residuals for ad-supported streaming for features and TV; an increased residual rate for permanent downloads; first-ever residuals for derivative new media and original programs; exclusive SAG jurisdiction for new-media programs; and jurisdiction over "high budget" original new media productions and low-budget programs that employ a single "covered" actor.

SAG has insisted that the budget thresholds in the AMPTP proposal -- $15,000 per minute or $300,000 per production -- will lead to the guild sanctioning non-union work as more production migrates to new media platforms.

SAG fired back Sunday night, accusing the AMPTP of lying about the offer and asserting that streaming of new TV shows on new media platforms will pay day performers $46 for the first year뭩 use after a 17-day free rerun window. It also complained about the jurisdiction language; the lack of compensation for original programming on network sites as abc.com; and rollbacks in clip consent and force majeure.

"Management is offering a lousy deal with 'zero' in new media and is threatening the promotion of non-union work in a residual-free environment without minimum compensation," SAG concluded. "That could be the beginning of the end for actors careers and livelihoods.

Ed Harris (left), Josh Brolin, Hugh Jackman, Richard Jenkins, Mickey Rourke, Benicio Del Toro (Photos by Kharen Hill)

Holland's films at NYC MOMA

Created: 08.12.2008 12:32
A retrospective of the film output of the prominent Polish director, Agnieszka Holland, opens at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on Wednesday, 10 December, with the screening of Copying Beethoven, introduced by Holland and Ed Harris, who plays Beethoven in the film. 

The programme of the event includes her features made in the west over the past two decades, such as To Kill a Priest (about the murder of the Solidarity priest Father Jerzy Popieluszko in 1984), Europa, Europa, A Secret Garden, Washington Square, The Third Miracle and Total Eclipse, as well as her early films made in Poland in the 1970s which probed into various aspects of life under communism (Sunday Children, Screen Tests, Provincial Actors, A Lonely Woman).

The MOMA retrospective lasts until 5 January 2009.

Agnieszka Holland is a graduate of the Film Academy in Prague. She started her career in Poland in 1972 as an assistant to Krzysztof Zanussi. She settled in the West in 1981. A week ago, she celebrated her 60th birthday.  (mk)