Director/Producer Michael Bay (Transformers) is disgusted
with the Screen Actors Guild, which he says is trying to get its members paid more than the writers or the directors. He blogs:
Oh my god. SAG wants more than Directors and Writers? That's a smart tactic I guess. When are people going to understand, most importantly actors - we are at war -- we are facing a major recession -- our country is in dire need of being fixed - our country also has no money because we have given trillions to the Iraq war and we have NOT even started to pay for it -- it is just paid right now by printing more money on presses -- China owns our ass in every way. Why not strike on a business in a down fall. Just like the writer's they made pennies on the four extra months striking -- when you do the real math and they are paying the price for it still -- so many writer's (sic) out of work still!!! I want this business to thrive -- I know the studio heads and they will punish those that defy them. Okay, be an idealist -- but you will never get a better deal then the writer's (sic) or directors -- only the same -- the studio's (sic) will never allow it, don't kid yourself. The working actors don't want a strike - they have said so. Too many non working actors have a say which is crazy -- maybe there are just too many actors?? Gosh I'm even a member of SAG, but I don't feel I've earned the right to vote in this guild.
One hunch, the leaders of these guilds seem to like the limelight they get in the press, it becomes more about the ego in the room rather than something smart. Striking is not smart. Through the history in America, strikes in businesses have only gained the union worker 6% at the max -- so take the emotion out of it and go for the 6%. A path to strike is not smart for the the hundreds of thousands of people in this business. Sanity needs to prevail here -- talk real and talk the same talk as your union brothers -- not more!
Three of Michael's upcoming film project are remakes: The Birds, Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. We predict that his Transformers 2 will make one zillion dollars. In the opening weekend.
