Looks like they basically agreed that the number of crew at load-in could be a lot more flexible, that pre- and post-show calls could be extended some without initiating a minimum call (I.E. so they could call crew at an hour and a half to show and not have to pay a full four-hour minimum for that extra half hour.) In exchange for some of the concessions made on the behalf of the Union, the techs will see a higher than standard pay raise.

Dammit, I want a pay raise! I’d go on strike, but no one would give a damn.

I don’t see anything terribly earth-shattering here, but some of the fall-out remains to be seen. I just hope it doesn’t start to establish a precedence of justifying cutting into job security with paying more per hour. The temporary contract will be voted on by the members of Local 1 in the middle of December.

As those of you who pay attention to the news may or may not know, IATSE Local One (Broadway stage technicians) has gone on strike. Add that to the Writer’s Guild strike, and it’s a hell of time to be in the entertainment industry.

I can’t say that I blame anyone involved in either of these strikes, but it’s a shame that the parties have been unable or unwilling to come to an agreement before this measure was taken.

Regardless, I’m going to be paying close attention to how these strikes play out and the changes made to their respective contracts, because I know that it will have important ramifications for all of us working in the industry, especially those of us on a contract basis.

Something I’ve wanted so bad for more than a year is finally here and I’m scared shitless.

Holy webpage layout made easy, Batman!

I’m absolutely in love with Sidebar Widgets in WordPress. I’m a big fan of how you can rearrange items on your website with the click and drag of a mouse and be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be.

That said, I really need to stop futzing with my webpage right now and go to bed.

Boy is it nice to be excited about something again. I’m back in that “I could stay up all night working on this” mode again. I missed it.

OH MY GOD THE SEXY.

Now, the question is, who will be cool enough to carry it, and how incredibly expensive is it going to be? Oh, and will they make enough to meet what I’m pretty sure will be high demand? (as far as Apple hardware goes, anyway.)

UPDATE: Looks like it’ll be carried by Cingular and retail at $499-$599 (4GB/8GB)

That’s, actually, not bad…

(Shamelessly stolen from Digital Analogue.)

Will Ferrell has finally been cast in a role that allows him to show off more than his ability to be a crazy cheerleader. Fiction has a simple but elegant story with small cast of rich and powerful characters. It’s not a laugh-a-minute riot, but it’s not a slow, cerebral flick, either. It’s the common ground between mainstream comedy and the likes of I <3 Huckabees. It has the opportunity to walk down the existentialist path, but it pulls back to a more humanist, and more visceral end. Everything’s not happy-go-lucky, but there’s hope.

I can’t speak for many others, but I have to admit that during times of drama in my life, I can’t help but think that I’m living in some sort of story, be it film, play, or novel. It sympathizes with the insecurities that people feel in their lives, and is a subtle reaffirmation that we are not alone. There’s a great series of scenes in which Harold Crick (Ferrell) is trying to determine whether his life is a comedy or a tragedy. Who hasn’t wondered that? Especially when they’re feeling that it’s the latter.

I think everyone should see this movie. We need to deliver a message to Hollywood that smart, carefully-crafted movies will have an audience. E and I both noticed that the advertisements for Fiction played up the humorous side of the film, which is OK. I hope that it’s a successful tactic for getting people to come for dessert and stay for the meal, so-to-speak.

Loose Change (2nd Edition)(Google Video)

I have always been a little skeptical of the offical story of the events of 9/11/01, but I don’t have nearly enough faith in the government’s abilities to organize and execute a massive conspiracy, especially one involving so many civilians, without word getting out.

I have to admit, however, that the makers of this video do bring to light some very valid contradictions to the offical story. Using interviews taken that day, compared to interviews from later, the opinions of experts in a varity of fields, and the footage itself, they paint a picture that’s far more complex than men with box cutters.

A lot of the “mysterious circumstances” the video posits could probably be explained by much more… mundane reasons that just haven’t been discovered or considered. But some, such as the Pentagon crash site, and the Pennsylvania crash site just can’t be explained away.

Do I believe the official version of the events of that day? No. Do I believe that this government/financial conspiracy theory is all there is to the story? No. I believe that the truth lies somewhere inbetween. Much like a Pearl Harbor for the twenty-first centry, I would not be surprised if the government used the knowledge of impending attacks to its advantage, but I don’t think they have the wherewithall to plot and execute this whole ordeal.

You should watch this movie. Everyone should watch this movie. Not because I feel that everyone should believe it, but because everyone needs to question what happened that day. We need to plant that seed of doubt across the country so that someday, we can be more critical of ourselves.

On the upshot, at least I’m here for my last flunk day….