Cash for the Crew

A Is For Allyson Who Died From The Damp

It’s been cold and rainy in Los Angeles. It feels like I’m standing inside a vat of raw hamburger every time I go outside. Just cold and wet and sticky and gross and gray. While I really love looking at Edward Gorey art, I’m not so fond of living it.

But despite every freeway being completely frozen in soul-sucking gridlock, Tim Minear’s assistant showed up at my place last night with a crate of scripts; masters of everything Tim has written since he started working on Angel.

I’ll be off to Kinkos later to make copies of as many of them I can, and then battle the 5 back to Tim’s with a sharpie and a batch of homemade cookies.

Jane Espenson has tossed a signed copy of BtVS “A New Man” into the pile, but is mailing it, bless her heart.

Then I’m off to pick up signed headshots of Eureka’s Sheriff Jack Carter (um, super nice actor and all around awesome human, Colin Ferguson).

I’m tickled to say that some of the big screenwriters are contributing their works: Ken Nolan is sending Black Hawk Down. Chap Taylor is sending over Changing Lanes. Craig Mazin also promised to send along a script for one of the Scary Movies. Thanks!

Friends picketing on the lines have promised to collect scripts in between walking in circles.

So! If you’re a writer who will be back out on the pickets on January 7^th, and you’d like to contribute a signed or other goodie to the drawing, please drop me or Kristen Reidel an email, and we’ll arrange for pickup/handoff/kisses/handshakes.

Also? It appears that we’ve got about $3000 in donations in to the MPTF! Our goal is 10K by January 31^st, and we’re well on our way! MPTF will have a tally for us by the second week in January, after the accounting is closed for December.

Thanks so much for doing something nice for the hardworking crews. Thousands of them are out of work, and not only need the cash for those little life comforts like food and shelter, but need to know that they have fans, too.

Nick Counter Controversy #125673

I’ve received emails from fans concerned that AMPTP head Nick Counter sits on the Board of Directors of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Counter also sits on the Board of the WGA’s Health and Pension Fund, and by all accounts does his job well. On these particular issues, I promise, his heart is not two sizes too small.

I spoke with an IATSE rep and checked MPTF’s rating at Charity Navigator and they get a nice three star rating for doing what they say they’ll do.

The Solidarity Fund that the WGA is setting up plans to work with the MPTF and the Actors Fund, as well.

No worries. IATSE’s Tom Short also sits on the board at MPTF, you know? And by donating to the Work Stoppage Relief Fund, you can feel comfy knowing that your donation is going right to the people BTL who are in need.

Where fore art thou, HTTPS?

Concerns regarding site security at the MPTF’s site are being addressed. If you’re uncomfortable with the current site security, you can make a donation by phone at 818-876-1977.

And thanks for all the donations.