Newsletter

November 2009 · Newsletter Archive

“'Are you the Spirit whose coming was foretold to me?' asked Scrooge. 'I am.' The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance. 'Who, and what are you,' Scrooge demanded. 'I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.' 'Long Past.' inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature. 'No. Your past.' ”

Ushering in the Dawn of Augmented Reality

What’s this? Yet another techno-term we have to learn? Good heavens, I’m still trying to figure out TWITTER and why I need to know how to use that when I have a perfectly good cell phone that gets adequate reception most of the time. Where will it end?

Well, hold on to your hat, Gramps, 'cuz we’re heading down yet another rabbit hole here. Seems Esquire Magazine, always the height of fashion, continue their cutting-edge tradition by offering something rather new... in the form of augmented reality (AR), which means, according to their site, "Technically, 'augmented reality' refers to a technology that layers various kinds of data — pictures, sounds, words, drawings — over live video. With our special software running on your computer, you'll be able to hold each page bearing an AR marker up to your webcam and see the additional digital content added in real time to the video on your screen."

Here’s a little taste of exactly what that means and how they used it in their November issue, as seen on the Today Show ala HULU.com.  

POINT-OF-VIEW

I loved this. A friend sent it to me. The primary reason I’m including it here is because it denotes point of view (POV) so well. Certainly, as talent, assuming POV is a primary element in every performance we deliver. And the viewpoint of child is a truly insightful, remarkable thing. Case in point...

HERE’S A PRE-SCHOOL TEST FOR YOU:

Which way is the bus below traveling? To the left or to the right?

Can't make up your mind? Look carefully at the picture again.

Still don't know?

Pre-schoolers all over the United States were shown this picture and asked the same question. 90% of the pre-schooler's gave this answer 'The bus is traveling to the left.'

When asked, 'Why do you think the bus is traveling to the left?'

They answered: 'Because you can't see the door to get on the bus.'

Elementary!  

Union 411

Here’s some updated info taken directly from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) web site regarding “unlimited usage” of your performance. Considering even non-union work is typically based on union standards, this is food for thought for you guys, too!

What does “clean contract” mean?

On the front of the standard SAG employment contract, there are 4 separate boxes to check if you do not consent to use of your commercial on the Internet, as a dealer commercial, on New Media, and/or on a simulcast. On the reverse side, two separate paragraphs grant rights to producer for foreign and theatrical/industrial use. Although not a contractual term, “clean contract” is used by producers to mean as a condition of employment, that you must grant these rights at the time of booking at scale, i.e., you may not mark your contract by checking off these boxes or crossing out the paragraphs.

In the event that the producer did not acquire these rights at the time of booking, the performer should check the boxes on the front and strike the paragraphs on the back. By doing so, the producer must come back to you and negotiate for these rights. If there is any question as to whether any of these rights were granted to producer, check with your agent before signing your contract.

Can a producer require the performer to accept a “clean contract” as a condition of auditioning for a commercial?

No. Performers cannot be required to accept minimum fees as a condition of auditioning. A producer is permitted to state the company’s intent to offer a performer the minimum fees; however the producer is obligated to advise the performer at the same time of his/her right to negotiate for better terms and conditions. 

I grew up in Detroit. That meant every Thanksgiving Day we made our way downtown at about seven o’clock in the morning to see or take part in the parade, followed by a trip to the Lafayette Coney Island for, what else—a Coney Island! Then we’d meander home while singing along to Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant on the radio. My Mom’s name was Alice so this significance was never wasted on my siblings or me, especially when we were overcome with the aroma of a roasted turkey and pumpkin pie the moment we hit the front door.

“It was his own room. There was no doubt about that. But it had undergone a surprising transformation. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove; from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that dull petrifaction of a hearth had never known in Scrooge's time, or Marley's, or for many and many a winter season gone. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam.

In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see: who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.

'Come in,' exclaimed the Ghost. 'Come in and know me better, Man.'”

In Conclusion, until Next Year...

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas... now. Stay cozy, warm and healthy. Know you’re loved and cared for and we’ll look forward to seeing you next year. Enjoy the very best of the season!

-Kate, Colleen, Camilla, Jeff, Greg Weiss, Greg S, Amelia, Alex, Sean, Gina, Jamie, Jessica, Courtney and Cricket!! Happy Holidays!! And to all... a good night!  

Like radio theatre? Enjoy Audiobooks? Check out our
latest venture. Pin Drop Audiobook Theatre Company