More at the Source: LINK

Times and locations:

27 July-LEATHERHEADS PF – PANORAMA FEATURE
114′ USA 2OO8 22h15
Location: STER KINEKOR MUSGRAVE

and

30 July- LEATHERHEADS PF – PANORAMA FEATURE
21h15, 114′ USA 2OO8
Location: ELIZABETH SNEDDON THEATRE

At the risk of being yet another actor giving his opinion about the ongoing fight between SAG and AFTRA, I’m hoping that there might be a way out of this. Rather than pitting artist against artist, maybe we could find a way to get what both unions are looking for.

Both are, of course, right. AFTRA feels that a work stoppage would be devastating to its members and SAG believes that if they don’t draw a line in the sand, the studios will repeat what they did with DVDs.

There are a couple of fundamental facts that both sides have to start with … first is that the WGA, DGA and IATSE all agreed to a certain model (DVDs not being a part of it). Breaking that model for AFTRA or SAG would retroactively break the other models … so you can be pretty sure that the AMPTP isn’t going to do that. The second thing is understanding the way these unions work. They’re unique in structure to other unions. Doug Allen (the SAG national executive director) has said on several occasions that this would be a negotiation for “the linemen, not for the quarterbacks.” (Doug did a lot of the negotiating for the NFL.) The spirit of the statement isn’t wrong … it’s just the structure. Unlike the NFL, in this guild, the quarterbacks protect the linemen. I’ve been very lucky in my career, which has put me in the place that I don’t need a union to check on my residuals, or my pension, or protect my 12-hour turnaround. I used to need that, and may again … but right now I don’t. That means it’s my responsibility to look out for actors who are trying to stay afloat from year to year. Anything less is irresponsible of me.

Work stoppage will do a great deal of harm to those actors … agencies will close … TV pilots won’t get made … more reality shows … we all know the scenario. But that doesn’t mean just roll over and give the producers what they want … it means diligence.

The producers say that there’s no money in new media right now. There’s some truth in that … for this moment. It was also true for cable, VHS and DVD … all of which became very profitable for the studios … and the actors were out in the cold. With new media, we have our foot in the door, but who’s to say a year from now, if it becomes profitable, that the same thing won’t happen again … actors out in the cold. So here are a couple of ways that the quarterbacks can protect the linemen:

First, we set up a panel … Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks, for instance … 10 of them that sit down with the studio heads once a year … 10 people that the studio heads don’t often say “no” to. Those 10 people walk in the door with all the new data that SAG and AFTRA compile, and adjust the pay for actors… once a year.

Second, we go to the actors who make an exorbitant amount of money, and raise their dues. Right now, there’s a cap of 6,000 bucks that actors pay their union … based on $1 million in earnings. Make it $6,000 for every million … if someone makes $20 million, they pay $120,000 into the union. That could go a long way in helping pensions and health care. The quarterbacks have to do more.

To be sure, I’m not the brightest bulb out there. So maybe someone has a lot better idea … I just happen to believe so strongly in both unions … my father, my mother, aunt, uncle, even cousins were all members of either SAG or AFTRA long before me.

What we can’t do is pit artist against artist … because the one thing you can be sure of is that stories about Jack Nicholson vs. Tom Hanks only strengthens the negotiating power of the AMPTP.

George Clooney

A full page advertisement in Indonesian English language daily The Jakarta Post by US-based pressure group Not On Our Watch said Asia must pressure the reclusive regime to fully open its doors to foreign aid after Cyclone Nargis.

“Burma’s neighbours have the power to help victims who remain desperately in need,” said the advertisement, signed by former and current regional leaders and Nobel laureates, referring to Myanmar by its previous name.

Signatories included former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi and former Czech president Vaclav Havel.

The advertisement said Myanmar’s regime is risking thousands of lives by holding out on aid, although the junta has been giving increasing access to foreign relief workers despite its initial refusal to cooperate.

The advertisement singled out Myanmar’s military leader General Than Shwe for criticism, saying the general had backed out on a May promise to allow all foreign aid workers into the country.

“Despite this, foreign supply ships with emergency and lifesaving equipment have been turned away or gone home. International relief continues to be slowed,” the advertisement said.

“Burma’s delta remains shattered, its people starving and in danger.”

The May 2-3 cyclone left around 138,000 people dead and missing in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta region, according to the junta, and the UN estimates 2.4 million people are in need of aid.

The junta has refused entry to most Western aid workers but allowed in a 250-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) backed assessment team on June 2.

Local donors including volunteers and Buddhist monks have stepped in to try to fill the gap, and have managed to deliver aid to many remote villages of the Irrawaddy despite complaining of regular impediment by the military.

Aid workers in the cyclone-hit region have reported that many survivors have managed to feed themselves by fishing in the flooded delta, but a long-term risk to crops remains.

Agencies such as the World Food Program say they still need funding for even basic parts of the relief effort such as fuel for helicopters.

The ASEAN team has finished work and met in the Myanmarese capital Yangon on Tuesday but its findings have not yet been made public.

Jakarta is the home of the Secretariat of ASEAN, which has been criticised for failing to strongly press Myanmar’s government to allow full foreign aid.

The advertisement in The Jakarta Post was funded by the board of New York-based Not On Our Watch, which includes Clooney, Pitt and fellow actor Matt Damon.

Source: LINK

It seems the image of “Clooney” has brought more attention to the small town than it can handle and the mayor is looking to involve George in the community perhaps in a foundation that would promote the cinema and humanitarian issues of the community.

Mayor Pozzi cautions that while their interest is to ensure all citizens of Laglio maintain the quality of the town and life, The tourist and media would not be there if it were not for George. The numbers of people have grown in hopes to meet George. The town has taken great care in not exploiting George but is hoping that with George’s past involvement in charitable and humanitarian groups he would be willing to head the foundation promoting humanitarian efforts or perhaps promoting the youth in cinema for the local community.

Also concerns were brought up that George was either not paying or not paying enough taxes due to the fact that Villa Oleandra is bound by “the Superintendency of Environmental Goods” the only Villa in Laglio receiving this special treatment. Mayor Pozzi reminds everyone that while this may be George still owns three other houses in town and pays taxes on them so while he may not be the largest tax payer in town he is still considered in good standing.

Non ha ancora conosciuto personalmente George. Ma l’occasione potrebbe essere dietro l’angolo, perché «prima o poi - dice il nuovo sindaco di Laglio - dovremo consegnargli la cittadinanza onoraria».
Roberto Pozzi sa che nei prossimi cinque anni di mandato dovrà fare i conti con un concittadino “ingombrante”, almeno a livello di immagine. E anche se a Laglio, ancora, non è nato un assessorato alla “gestione di Clooney”, il nuovo sindaco immagina qualche modo per coinvolgere l’attore nella vita del paese. Una fondazione, ad esempio, che porti il nome di Clooney e si occupi di «cinema o questioni umanitarie».
Mister Ocean è un cittadino da trattare con i guanti. Non foss’altro per la sua capacità contributiva. Nelle casse comunali il bel George versa ogni anno un bel gruzzolo almeno di Ici.
«Attenzione - avverte subito il sindaco - a non focalizzare l’attenzione solo sull’attore americano. Il nostro interesse è garantire tutti i cittadini di Laglio, nei servizi sociali, nella manutenzione del paese, nella qualità della vita. Però, se Clooney non abitasse in paese voi, ora non sareste qui». E non lo sarebbero, forse, anche le centinaia di turisti che, tra tutti i paesi del lago, scelgono proprio Laglio, nella speranza di incontrare George.
«Non ho avuto modo di incontrarlo - ammette Pozzi - ma ci sarà l’occasione. Dal paese mi dicono che è arrivato, l’hanno visto in Harley e di sera si notano movimenti in villa. Quand’è arrivato, anni fa, la gente non lo disturbava e lui viveva in mezzo a noi. Poi, i clamori della stampa e dei fan l’hanno portato a ritirarsi. Le ricadute sulla visibilità del Lario comunque sono sotto gli occhi di tutti». Altrove, forse, ad ogni angolo di via ci sarebbero in vendita i pupazzetti di Clooney e le gigantografie dell’attore. Ma a Laglio non c’è nulla di tutto ciò. L’illustre presenza non è poco “sfruttata”’
«Il termine non mi piace. Diciamo - risponde il sindaco - che preferirei pensare a un’iniziativa che sia in grado di coinvolgere l’attore. Laglio, ad esempio, potrebbe essere sede di una fondazione col nome di Clooney, ovviamente sempre se lui fosse d’accordo. Questa fondazione potrebbe occuparsi di questioni umanitarie, oppure di promozione di giovani talenti del cinema». Insomma, una fondazione umanitaria o culturale, «dato che dai giornali viene dipinto come una persona disponibile alla beneficenza». Pozzi vuole anche dare all’attore la cittadinanza onoraria, «che gli è stata attribuita dal consiglio comunale, ma non gli è mai stata fisicamente consegnata».
Infine torniamo sulle tasse. Quanto paga di Ici Mr Clooney’ «Non mi sembra corretto dirlo - risponde, sorridendo, il sindaco - ma in percentuale, poco, visto che Villa Oleandra è vincolata dalla Soprintendenza dei Beni Ambientali, perciò gode di trattamento particolare. È l’unica villa a Laglio. Ma se sommiamo anche le altre tre case, possiamo considerarlo un buon contribuente, se non il maggiore».

Source: LINK

Thanks and Find Credit to Reve

This is a rough translation using Google Translate. Please forgive any mistakes on my part and if anyone can provide a better translation please email me.

Robert De Niro da un paio di giorni è in vacanza con la moglie e il figlio a Villa d’Este sul lago di Como. È il secondo anno consecutivo che il celebre attore di Hollywood decide di trascorrere un periodo di vacanza sul lago, dove sembra intenzionato a farsi affittare Villa Margherita, l’ultimo e opulento acquisto immobiliare del suo «collega» George Clooney. Per tentare di sfuggire all’assalto continuo dei curiosi e dei paparazzi, De Niro ha dovuto nascondersi: il primo giorno sul lago, così, è passato «blindato» nella suite e solo dopo il tramonto, su un potente motoscafo, ha raggiunto Villa Oleandro a Laglio, invitato a cena proprio da Clooney. L’occasione era decisamente speciale. Secondo alcune indiscrezioni, tra gli ospiti c’era anche il regista inglese Guy Richie, ex marito di Madonna.

And for a bit more gossip… It seems Mr DeNiro is very interested in renting George’s latest purchase Villa Margherita.

Source: LINK

He has made a lifelong career out of pursuing his ideals, which began at age 16, delivering the news on air at WFTM, a Maysville, Kentucky radio station. Now, you can find him mobilizing efforts to end violence in Darfur, addressing the United Nations Security Council, and hosting the politically conscious and socially relevant “Moments that Changed Us” on AmericanLife TV.

Thanks to Anne for sending us the information and hopefully we will be able to bring more to you later.

Project, penned by Danny Zuker (“Stacked”), is a dark single-camera laffer that revolves around a man whose life flashes before his eyes as he jumps off a building.

Show will follow the lead character, Bob, as he narrates his life through flashbacks.

Showtime’s been aggressively pursuing top-name talent of late, recently greenlighting the Steven Spielberg-produced, Diablo Cody-penned “United States of Tara.”

The channel also just piloted the darkly comedic “The End of Steve,” from Matthew Perry and Peter Tolan.

Meanwhile, the project reps the latest at Showtime from Clooney, who last year developed a televangelist-themed series at the cabler.

Clooney’s still more closely identified with HBO, having exec produced the series “Unscripted” and “K Street” at the pay cabler, as well as longforms such as “Sand and Sorrow” and “PU-239.”

Also in TV, Smoke House is developing the cop drama “Delta Blues” for TNT.

Zuker’s credits also include “Come to Papa,” “Just Shoot Me,” “Off Centre,” “Grace Under Fire” and the U.S. version of “Coupling.”

Source: LINK