Wednesday, May 20, 2009

ED ASNER CALLS FOR CREATION OF NEW ACTORS UNION IN HOLLYWOOD

MEMBERSHIP FIRST'S ED ASNER SPOKE AT A RALLY IN GRIFFITH PARK IN LA ON MAY 17 AND CALLED FOR MEMBERSHIP FIRST TO CONSIDER BREAKING AWAY FROM SAG AND CREATING A NEW ACTORS UNION IF THE TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACT IS RATIFIED BY MEMBERS.

"PIGMIES OF THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD" IS HOW ED ASNER, A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD, DEFINED THOUSANDS OF WORKING ACTORS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

THE FORMER SAG PRESIDENT SAYS "HE HAS NO BIG SOLUTIONS" BUT URGES MEMEBERSHIP FIRST PARTISANS TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACT.

Below is the entire explosively divisive speech made by former SAG President Ed Asner at Membership First's "Vote No Rally" in Griffith Park on May 17, 2009.

ED ASNER (into bullhorn): "Does this work? I wish I was. (Laughter). Uhhh…I understand that, what is it, on the 21st? Uh..Mr.—Mr. White, is going to deliver a (Off: "Hang the white guy!")…deliver a…(Off: "Traitor!")…a considered opinion as to why we should okay this contract. And, ah, I gather you'll all be there to help him explain (Off: "Oh yeah!") and to delineate and—uh—show people how we'll benefit in future years from this great contract.

I am merely here to add to all the other good people that talked to you today,and to say that it is the beginning of the end if we sign this contract. It may well be the "end of the end", I don't know. There's a Churchill-ian phrase for that (Off, female voice says something in Italian). What she say? (Off: malevoice "We just gotta defeat it!") Oh! Well! Defeat it! Yes!

But we are surrounded by the pigmies of the entertainment world. We're surrounded by New York, and its little people branches and it—it's an enormous uphill fight that we have to fight, to win this battle.

WE –control –and inspire the working actors in this business. We are Hollywood. Hollywood is the heart and soul of this business (applause). And I really don't have—you've heard me speak many times in the past—I don't have any big solutions or hopes, or resolutions, but I call upon you here today, that if they defeat us in this contract, that it is up to all of us—all of us—to go out and create a new union to believe in. Because these other bastards will have betrayed us. We will have to fight for what WE want, for ourselves, our children, and the future and dignity of screen-actors in Hollywood.

You are Hollywood. Don't let them betray the principals by which our union has existed. It began in Hollywood, and prospered in Hollywood and the moguls respected it. Now these moguls are dirty, shorted—tramps. They do not believe in anything in concerning—they certainly never held down a job. Other than being a mogul. It is up to us to restore the dignity that the former moguls allowed; the Lew Wassermans in this town. It's up to us to find those people to control and not let science run away with the Igers and the, uh, Peter Chernins and the ,uh, Les Moonves, and the Sumner---what ever the hell his name is---Redstone! What a strange name for a Jewish man! (Laughter).

We have to fight them here and now. We have to re-create Hollywood, if necessary, if National SAG betrays us with this contract.Remember that. Think about it. Think about how to do that. I thank you for letting me speak." (Applause).

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