Guy Gabriel
The last week of April was a frantic one in our home.
My daughter, Seychelle, and I would work on our last TV commercials
for who knows how long. Her job was on a sound stage recreating a pillow
fight with fellow young actors playing brothers and sisters. Mine was
helping to set up a street scene at Paramount's New York Street.
In the past, we've worked together, as on a commercial for the 2000
Census that was directed by Edward James Olmos. These two jobs would be
our last.
On Monday, we joined thousands of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) performers at
a strike and protest march down Wilshire Boulevard against the corporate
monoliths and the advertising agencies and industry that represent them.
I picked my daughter up from Jefferson Elementary School at 3 p.m. and
rejoined the picket line outside Grey Advertising on Wilshire. My
daughter would carry the first picket sign of her life and learn at 9
years old about corporate greed and union solidarity.
These sorts of lessons are not taught on notebook pads and are
valuable in a democratic society.
She enjoyed singing the chant with others -- "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho,
corporate greed has got to go." Later, it changed to "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho,
Tiger Woods just said no." This pertained to the good news that Tiger
Woods pulled out of Nike commercial scheduled to shoot that week.
SAG/AFTRA decided to strike because we believe we should reap a share
of the profits from the booming cable TV and other markets, especially
the Internet. As it is, we give our talents so that corporations can make
profits.
Actors study for years at their craft and are comfortable on a set.
Children also study and are seasoned performers in several years.
Nonunion talent will not satisfy this creative demand.
We should be included in this latest boom that has created the largest
CEO salaries ever. We represent 2% of the actual commercial production
budget yet receive only a few dollars for each time you see that
commercial on the air.
It used to be that a network commercial could yield $10,000-$15,000,
now it's $5,000-$8,000, which is not much when you factor in 15% to a
manager, 10% to an agent, photographs, gas to auditions and time.
The discontent of Hollywood rank and file is growing and these issues
will reappear when the studios and networks negotiate new contracts with
writers and actors, coming up soon. The Teamsters were united with us as
well as the Writers Guild, and now even Tiger Woods. How can we lose?
My daughter was anxious to picket again. She thought it was cool and
fun. I laughed and only wished and hoped that maybe Tiger Woods would
help us score a hole in one.
Until then, it's back to my summer bartending job at the Greek Theatre
and my photography business -- oh, and the picket line ... with my
daughter, of course.
* Burbank resident GUY GABRIEL is an actor, photographer and member of
SAG and AFTRA. Page him at (213) 704-1535.
