A provocative blog posting about the inner workings of the Screen Actors Guild leadership paints a bleak picture of just how split the actors’ union has become since its contract expired last June. According to Jonathan Handel, a former attorney for the Writers Guild who maintains the blog Digital Media Law while practicing entertainment law for TroyGould in Los Angeles, SAG president Alan Rosenberg gave an expletive-laced speech at a recent two-day meeting of the union’s national board that included threats like "you want a f–king civil war in this union? You do this, you will get a f–king civil war," when moderate members attempted to oust SAG lead negotiator and national director Doug Allen.
In his blog, Handel writes that he spoke with numerous board members, not for attribution, about last week’s marathon meeting and learned that the union’s hard-liners prevented moderates from replacing the negotiating committee and re-opening negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers. Moderates also wanted Allen replaced. "Sources added that Rosenberg repeatedly threatened to have some of the moderates evicted, even calling for the on-site security guard to add muscle to his threat," Handel writes. The attorney sought comment from Rosenberg for his blog but was denied. EW contacted a SAG spokeswoman Sunday and received this response: "The Screen Actors Guild, including staff, officers and board members, will not publicly comment on any subject, allegation and/or accusation regarding any situation, individual or event that may or may not have occurred during a meeting which took place in executive session."
In the meantime, The New York Times reported on Friday that Allen sent a letter to the board suggesting that they send the current offer from the AMPTP to the membership for a vote rather than ask the actors to authorize a strike. The board was expected to send out ballots for a strike authorization on Jan. 14, but the divisiveness of the two-day meeting demonstrated to the hardliners that they may not get the approval of 75 percent of the paid-up members.
Rosenburg isn’t doing the Guild any favors with his attitude.
He seems to think he’s doing a “reimagined” Norma Rae called “Norman Ray”.
Get off the lunchroom table, knock off the profanity and listen to what the Union members are telling you, Alan.
Wow, I thought Rosenberg was stubborn, but this is more than mere stubbornness! Good grief.Grow up, Alan!
if this results in any mid-season actors tv/movie strikes like it did last year with the writers strikes i will be incredibily ticked off. get a grip people. look around you and see all the problems going on, take a step back and realize you have it all compared to the ever-rising number of unemployed people in this country and around the world.
This article is filled with allegations and rumors and is supported by nothing. It’s mere badmouthing.
I understand the trades have a problem with Unions because they are owned by the major 6, but do you really need to make a news about nothing ?
At least Nikki Finke does relate proper stuff. Take example on her journalistic professionalism.
This article is just a disgrace.
Anyone who talks about going on strike during one of the worst economic periods in American history is an idiot. Especially after the particular industry hasn’t rebounded from the last strike.
It seems to me that Rosenberg has turned this whole situation into a “You are either with me or against me” kind of thing. The union needs to look for the best deal possible but with the way Rosenberg is acting lately, who knows if that will happen.
Carine,
If Finke is such a good journalist why hasn’t she reported on the email the SAG Majority sent out last night (really a shot across the bow)? It’s kind of an important development and it’s in all the trades today and was even in my inbox. Anyone counting on her to keep up to date on this wouldn’t even know it existed.
I suppose “proper stuff” is only stuff you want to hear?
The thought of another strike is just horrific. Do they not see what is going on in the world? People are losing houses, jobs and barely able to feed their families. The union trying to convince people to strike and put thousands of people out of work is just plain stupid and selfish. My husband works in the industry and we were totally wiped out by the last strike and thought of another is just scary. Get it together people….and QUICK!
It is pretty clear that Alan Rosenberg and his possy are complete idiots and need to be fired. I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt- but the last straw has finally broken with the stupidity of filing this law suit- and wrongly to make it worse.
EVERYONE in SAG is pretty tired of the high school behavior these morons display- and it is time the Obama facotr kicks in and we start anew. Get rid of Rosenberg and all Board members who are within his click. Maybe best to get ride of ALL board members and start over.
I am a SAG member. Alan Rosenberg is MY employee- yet he does not even return phone calls to his own members who elected him.