JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Just another Friday night in Studio City...

I don't know how many of you know but I have an extensive history in film production, having worked for more than a decade in special effects for Universal Studios and in a number of other capacities for independent film and video production.

Well, at 7:30 last night, my old special effects buddy, Dave Kelsey, (effects coordinator for CSI:NY), calls me on the phone and says that Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band are going to play a party on New York Street on the CBS lot at 9:00 and if I want to come over, he'll leave my name at the front gate.

So, the wife and I threw on some clothes and went partyin'. It was the third year they've done this - I've attended twice. It was a wild time - they had just returned from a world USO tour that included Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Last year, Jim Belushi jumped on stage and played harmonica with the group on "Sweet Home, Chicago", but no such luck this year. Instead, Jon Voigt was in the crowd and we danced in a conga line with him to, what else, "Conga"... it was such a crack up...

I can't wait til next year...

Great... what a difference a weekend makes...

Now, the studio is surrounded by hundreds of striking writers and those who support them...

I hope this strike doesn't last as long as the last one did... really crippled our community...

Hey Von,

Sounds like a great party !

What's the deal with the writers' strike ? Heard it here in Oz on the news. You mean artistic types acually go on strike and someone listens ? Those WGA guys must have some clout. Didn't they do it some time ago, almost crippled the industry ? , and Hollywood ended up loosing a lot of business to . . .ahem......Australia and Canada.

I think if we had a writers' strike here, no one would notice. Except of course for the reruns of I Love Lucy.....

I understand it's something about the residuals on new media, but that's about all. How many other people does it put out of work, and does it really do any good ? Just curious.

cheers, niteshift

Jon Voight is also a supporter of the military and has toured with the USO. Ben

http://benwillismusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/bwillismusic

First, it was a GREAT party...

As for the strike, it cripples the industry and that's what we all do around here. Everything from all production crews and staff - it puts them out of work since nobody crosses picket lines. Then, all residual workers, such as caterers, businesses that do business with the studios, just about anyone who supplies any faction of the industry.

Does it do any good? Sure - for the upper echelon that is striking...

Writers, directors, and actors can successfully strike. If the propmakers union, or grips, or electricians strike, the producers just replace them with a scab force and end careers. Trust me, I've seen it all happen before.

Do you think Tom Cruise would be walking the picket line in support of propmakers?

hahahahahahahahahahaha....

Very cool... that may be why he was even there...

Gary Sinise's lead guitar player, Kimo Williams, is a vet and served in Vietnam. I think that's what led to the creation of the Lt. Dan Band in the first place.

BTW - Lt. Dan was the name of the character that Gary Sinise played in Forrest Gump, for which he received an Oscar nomination.