Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men.

A few years ago I discovered the MGM cartoon Peace on Earth while watching an episode of the Cartoon Network's Toon Heads. Since then it has been one of my favorite holiday cartoons. This 1939 cartoon was written by Jack Cosgriff, Charles McGirl and Khat Harman and directed by Hugh Harman and is the only cartoon ever nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Before reading any further I want you to watch the cartoon.

This cartoon was created prior to America's involvement in the Second World War by people who served in the First World War. This amazing story takes you on a journey:

From Cute and Fuzzy,
To Man's inhumanity to man.
To a climax.
To a resolution.
And back to Cute and Fuzzy.

The cartoon was remade by William Hanna & Joseph Barbera in 1955 as Good Will to Men and was also nominated for the Best Short Subjects Oscar.

While the remake is set in a post atomic bomb era the message stays the same and sadly that message has not been learned. One of my favorite moments in Peace On Earth is towards the end when the audience collectively realizes that the animal’s houses were made from the men's helmets and the lamppost was made from a sword. Then you sober up when Mama Squirrel sings, "Sleep in heavenly peace". On a final note I want you to think about this:

The story that was told.
Those moments that touched you.
The buttons that were pushed.
The feelings felt.
The lessons learned (and not learned by some).

The writer started this journey with an idea, and then it was translated:

To words.
To voice, music and Foley.
To ink & paint.
To the big (and later small) screen.
And the audience translated the sight and sounds back into the writer's original idea.

Something to think about when you are enjoying those holiday specials.

To quote Tiny Tim, "God bless us, everyone!"


Merry Christmas



Tony & Donna Figueroa

"Santa Ho Ho No!"

Our Holiday Show is also the final episode of Season Two of Story Salon ON THE AIR. The theme is "Santa Ho Ho No" with Dan Tirman as our Featured Performer. Enjoy!

"Winn's 88 Blues" shot by Lance Anderson... Music by John O'Kennedy...

Recorded Live on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at The Coffee Fix in Studio City, California...

1:o3:22 / 58.1 MB / Rated: PG-13 (Some Adult Language and Themes)... Until we meet again in the New Year... "Thanks for the Download!"

Dennis Potter's Parting Shot to Rupert Murdoch

Check out Joseph Dougherty's A Parting Shot from Dennis Potter that features a few moments with groundbreaking television writer Dennis Potter from the interview he did shortly before he died in 1994.

Take Out Stories: Christmas Specials

We launch our Story Telling Podcasts with two holiday offerings.
Both stories are set at Christmas time in Puerto Rico.

First Donna has a story about why you should "Never name your food".

Then Tony recalls the first time he was "Santa's Helper".

Enjoy

Donna & Tony

Writer's Strike Day 33: Fremantle Rally & AMPTP Breaks Off Negotiations

I was at the Fremantle rally today in Burbank where Tenacious D performed.

Later that same day the AMPTP broke off negotiations.
WGA's Response to AMPTP Breaking Off Talks
This is the letter that was just sent to the membership:

December 7, 2007

AMPTP BREAKS OFF NEGOTIATIONS


Today, after three days of discussions, the AMPTP came back to us with a proposal that included a total rejection of our proposal on Internet streaming of December 3.

They are holding to their offer of a $250 fixed residual for unlimited one year streaming after a six-week window of free use. They still insist on the DVD rate for Internet downloads.

They refuse to cover original material made for new media.

This offer was accompanied by an ultimatum: the AMPTP demands we give up several of our proposals, including Fair Market Value (our protection against vertical integration and self-dealing), animation, reality, and, most crucially, any proposal that uses distributor’s gross as a basis for residuals. This would require us to concede most of our Internet proposal as a precondition for continued bargaining. The AMPTP insists we let them do to the Internet what they did to home video.

We received a similar ultimatum through back channels prior to the discussions of November 4. At that time, we were assured that if we took DVD’s off the table, we would get a fair offer on new media issues. That offer never materialized.

We reject the idea of an ultimatum. Although a number of items we have on the table are negotiable, we cannot be forced to bargain with ourselves. The AMPTP has many proposals on the table that are unacceptable to writers, but we have never delivered ultimatums.

As we prepared our counter-offer, at 6:05 p.m., Nick Counter came and said to us, in the mediator’s presence: “We are leaving. When you write us a letter saying you will take all these items off the table, we will reschedule negotiations with you.” Within minutes, the AMPTP had posted a lengthy statement announcing the breakdown of negotiations.

We remain ready and willing to negotiate, no matter how intransigent our bargaining partners are, because the stakes are simply too high. We were prepared to counter their proposal tonight, and when any of them are ready to return to the table, we’re here, ready to make a fair deal.


John F. Bowman
Chairman, WGA Negotiating Committee
Contract 2007

New Episode of "Saving Grace"

A New Episode Containing 100% Certified Pre-Strike Writing!

“It’s better when I can see you.”
written by
Joseph Dougherty
&
Roger Wolfson

Monday, December 3 • 10:00 P.M. Eastern/Pacific
on TNT

Visit Saving Grace
at TNT.TV

Mel Tolkin

Front, from left, Gary Belkin, Sheldon Keller , Michael Stewart, Mel Brooks;

behind, Neil Simon, Mel Tolkin and Larry Gelbart.

The group assembled in the above photo along with Lucille Kallen, Sam Denoff, Bill Persky, Danny Simon, Joseph Stein, Sylvester L. Weaver Jr. Tony Webster, Woody Allen and Carl Reiner represent the most influential collection of comedy writers to ever work in television. At a time when all of the entertainment industry is focused on writers, we lost a master of the craft. Mel Tolkin died at the age of 94. Mr. Tolkin was the head of Sid Caesar’s famous television writing team for Your Show of Shows from 1950 to 1954 and later went on to write for Danny Kaye, Danny Thomas, Bob Hope and also wrote for the TV sitcom All in the Family.

Mel Tolkin was interviewed for the Archive of American Television for four hours. This what he had to say about comedy,

"First I'd say that humor cannot be taught. Humor is an attitude towards life. It's a rather cynical approach. It's a negative approach. It's saying people misbehave. People put on shows. People wear masks. People are proud of what they shouldn't be. People compete unfairly. If you think life is wonderful, you don't belong in comedy. Of course, there's a lot that can be taught and at UCLA I taught very detailed things. Some of the things I mention here: how people recognize themselves on the screen and so on. What people are funny? And I quote the opening line of Anna Karenina by Tolstoy when she says, happy people are alike in their happiness. Only unhappy people are different from each other, and that's all there is. Because she proceeded to have one of the unhappiest marriages of all time, Karenina. But she left him. So that's an important lesson. Happy people are dull conversationalists -- no fun to be with and probably vote Republican."

To quote Mel Tolkin when his writer's pace slackened, . “Gentlemen, we’ve got to get something done!” Jews all over America will be watching Saturday night!”

Good Night Mr. Tolkin


In Solidarity



Tony Figueroa

An Evening with Holly Hunter and Saving Grace

If you're going to be in New York on Monday, December 3rd check out.

An Evening with Holly Hunter and Saving Grace
Monday, December 3; 6:00 pm

Join us for a conversation with Academy and Emmy Award–winning Holly Hunter as she discusses her acclaimed new TNT series Saving Grace. Hunter portrays fast-living Oklahoma City police detective Grace Hanadarko, who, tormented by demons both internal and external, nearly reaches her breaking point before redemption arrives in the form of an unconventional angel named Earl. A yet-to-be-aired episode of Saving Grace will be screened.

Tickets: SPECIAL DISCOUNT PRICE: $25 (use promotional code PALEY)Click here to buy tickets.

And speaking of Holly Hunter

On Thanksgiving Day (November 22), a group of Writers Guild Of America members began posting Public Service Announcements featuring A-list Screen Actors Guild talent as part of an independent WGA membership’s “Speechless” campaign conceived by director/writer George Hickenlooper and writer Alan Sereboff. They can be found on SpeechlessWithoutWriters.com with links on UnitedHollywood.com. Ms. Hunter was in the first episode

In Solidarity


Tony Figueroa

YouTube - In solidarity

YouTube - In solidarity
by Tony Figueroa

Lets face it, nothing happens in Hollywood until a writer types the words FADE IN.

Comedy Callback - the Show (Nov. 2007) part 2

Comedy Callback - the Show (Nov. 2007) part 2

Every month or so I will pod cast an episode of Comedy Callback and during those weeks in between shows, I will be interviewing all sorts of people on the business of being funny. I’ll also be blogging and letting you know where you can find the funny.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions please drop me an ‘e’ at comedycallback@gmail.com.
And remember, life is short - so laugh hard!

Dan Farren

Part two of our show has a theme. I didn’t know it at the time, but I do now. Comedy and transportation.
Dylan Brody hits the road with a guy named “Doug”.
Beverly Mickins hits the road with Andre & Reggie.
And Tony Figueroa just hits the road thanks to a motorcycle accident.
Enjoy! Some mature language.