There are those who do and those who critique.
Four years ago those who do stepped up to the plate.
There is no competition here. Merely criticism. No one else has done diddley except these wealthy, mean old men.

If you have a problem, where were you four years ago? Go to other unions and see how much interest you can drum up. The only thing easier, is to blog criticism. And this is definitely the right place for that!

Well said Richard given that I’m sure you expect to be one of ‘the chosen few’… just like ASCAP.

Unless a ‘union’ encompasses all then just like ASCAP et al the ‘chosen’ one’s will benefit and to hell with everyone else………. where were you when the AACO made a few facts very clear…. you hid then

Very best

Les

Having spoken to the Teamsters rep. make no mistake about it, if there is a strike, composers will be expected to honor the picket line.

Here’s the really sad part… and kudos to Mr Bellis/Mark………. so few on this list are prepared to put their names to their POV……. wimps.
Little wonder composers get shafted.

L

I must admit the entire concept and stipulations of what this union is actually about is a bit confusing to me, also I do not have a great amount of knowledge as to how unions work in general.

I do apologize if I am incorrectly summing up posters positions here, its just a lot of content to get into a few sentences. Corrections are welcome…

Plastic is suggesting that we do what is necessary to get this union up and running, which as this point is a benefits only plan. Plastic also believes that the steering committee is acting in an honest fashion and making decisions that they believe are in the best interest of composers as a whole, correct? This to me makes a good amount of sense. Get composers represented, some strength, and start addressing these other issues along the way.

Mark it seems as if you are suggesting that the board has personal agendas that are not in the best interest of composers as a whole, and that these behind closed door meetings must be either stopped or opened up. I do fully agree with your position about the closed door meetings, I’m not sure who in their right mind would join an organization in which the steering committee has regular meetings in which the members of said organization are not invited and are in no way able to access information that covers what was discussed.

Mark, it also seems that you believe its best to have a more solid foundation on working conditions and spec offs and similar issues before moving forward? You haven’t really said this anywhere, so I apologize if I am putting words in your mouth, that is not my intention. Do your worry that if we get this union off the ground without some promises of working conditions and other issues being addressed that they never will be? Do you think that the steering committee would take control of what the union is really about?

I’m hoping to get a clearer picture as to what this union is really about and what it is that’s stopping it from moving forward.

WOW!

Plastic Fantastic has nothin’ but HATE. I didn’t get anything positive from Plastic’ words. Although Plastic gives the perception of answering your questions, he clearly did not and made it personal. Pretty weak Plastic.

You, on the other hand, kept it professional and not personal. Well done!

Reveal yourself O mighty Plastic Fantastic. Your words remind me of the demons talking to Father Damian in the Exorcist. Nothing personal Plastic, I’m not a big fan of Lucifer!

Excellent points. I’ve just completed a mini-survey of some folks I know and trust in the industry and as a result we’ve changed the policy and aliases are now fine for comments. That being said, we’re going to be keeping a close eye on comments and those that are inappropriate will not appear.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts about this and for being part of the FMM community.

Good point, and I would hate to see you stop posting. The challenge we’ve got our people who come on here, post anonymously and start saying derogatory things about other people. If someone wants to complain about or criticize someone or their actions, fine, but they should at least take responsibility for their words. Asking people to include their name and including IP addresses with comments (done by many other folks) are basic ways of letting people take responsibility for what they say publicly. The other method is to simply moderate all comments and not publish those that include personal attacks, etc, but that can be tricky too – honest discussions and dissenting views are an important part of a democratic society.

Your thoughts?

Best,

Mark

I don’t know if this will go through since I don’t want to put my last name out there. I just want to mention that posting somewhat anonymously is only to protect myself from the all powerful and mighty google. If you start posting with your full name it will only be a matter of time before everything that you ever say is on full searchable view by anyone who googles your name. I think there is a certain right to privacy and opinion and I don’t want anyone who searches me out to find a whole bunch of posts from a film music website. I’m afraid that if posting anonymously is not allowed I will only be a reader and not a poster.