“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY, Monday through Friday around 7:30 AM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly add or subtract words at a moment’s notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-18 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see and hear? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Programs from the week of April 22, 2019
This Week’s Podcast
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Terrible Movie Advice
I’m
going to go off on a little bit of personal ramble today. It all
began as I was sorting through some junk mail.
going to go off on a little bit of personal ramble today. It all
began as I was sorting through some junk mail.
I
have no idea why, but I always take a look at the junk mail flyers
that we get. I’ve done it as along as I can remember. Rather than
simply throwing them out or into the recycling, I will take a quick
scan through them. My best bet is that I have some deep seated Fear
of Missing Out issues that make me waste my time this way. Because
it is a waste of time. The number of offers I’ve found that I had
any interest in after decades of doing this don’t require all the
fingers on one hand.
have no idea why, but I always take a look at the junk mail flyers
that we get. I’ve done it as along as I can remember. Rather than
simply throwing them out or into the recycling, I will take a quick
scan through them. My best bet is that I have some deep seated Fear
of Missing Out issues that make me waste my time this way. Because
it is a waste of time. The number of offers I’ve found that I had
any interest in after decades of doing this don’t require all the
fingers on one hand.
But
the other day I did run across something that stopped me cold. It
was an offer from some kind of educational institution (just because
they call themselves a college doesn’t mean I believe them) and the
tag line snagged me. “We’ll teach you to watch the movies like a
college professor”. And my thought was “What a terrible thing to
offer!”
the other day I did run across something that stopped me cold. It
was an offer from some kind of educational institution (just because
they call themselves a college doesn’t mean I believe them) and the
tag line snagged me. “We’ll teach you to watch the movies like a
college professor”. And my thought was “What a terrible thing to
offer!”
No
surprise here, I love the movies. I tell you that every couple
months. And I enjoy offering my little insights into what makes a
great movie, a good movie, an “ehhhh” movie and even what makes a
bad movie. But there’s an upper limit on knowing what’s going on
weighed against enjoying something.
surprise here, I love the movies. I tell you that every couple
months. And I enjoy offering my little insights into what makes a
great movie, a good movie, an “ehhhh” movie and even what makes a
bad movie. But there’s an upper limit on knowing what’s going on
weighed against enjoying something.
Back
when I was studying theater in college, one of my professors looked
out at our bright shining faces and told us, “We are about to ruin
theater for you.” His stance was that once you know too much
about how things are done, the ability to believe in the magic of the
stage is diminished or even destroyed. Based on my experience, he’s
right. I walk into every play or musical now and spend my time
looking at how things are being done. The lighting cues, the scenery
design, the actor’s blocking. Which means I’m not immersing
myself in the wonder of the show. And that’s sad.
when I was studying theater in college, one of my professors looked
out at our bright shining faces and told us, “We are about to ruin
theater for you.” His stance was that once you know too much
about how things are done, the ability to believe in the magic of the
stage is diminished or even destroyed. Based on my experience, he’s
right. I walk into every play or musical now and spend my time
looking at how things are being done. The lighting cues, the scenery
design, the actor’s blocking. Which means I’m not immersing
myself in the wonder of the show. And that’s sad.
It’s
why I have intentionally limited my study of the movies. I don’t
WANT to know too much. Sure, I understand acting and some directing
principles, but I am careful NOT to become a student of the medium.
At least not in depth. I want to keep my sense of wonder.
why I have intentionally limited my study of the movies. I don’t
WANT to know too much. Sure, I understand acting and some directing
principles, but I am careful NOT to become a student of the medium.
At least not in depth. I want to keep my sense of wonder.
That’s
why I very carefully crumpled that piece of junk mail up, and threw
it away.
why I very carefully crumpled that piece of junk mail up, and threw
it away.
Weather Weirdness
Let’s
face it, all of us like to complain about the weather. Whether it’s
the snowbound parts of the north or the “let’s fry eggs on the
sidewalk” summer heat of the south, everyone has an opinion about
the weather. And we generally blame the local weather person for it
all, one way or the other. So two stories about the weather today.
One serious and one silly. Really silly.
face it, all of us like to complain about the weather. Whether it’s
the snowbound parts of the north or the “let’s fry eggs on the
sidewalk” summer heat of the south, everyone has an opinion about
the weather. And we generally blame the local weather person for it
all, one way or the other. So two stories about the weather today.
One serious and one silly. Really silly.
First,
the serious one. Just over a week ago, most golf fans were nailed to
their seats watching Tiger Woods complete his amazing comeback with a
win at the Masters. It was a compelling story. But in Atlanta,
Georgia there was another story brewing, one that involved a tornado.
WGCL TV decided it was time to make sure their viewers knew about
the potential storm. So they went split screen on the Masters,
muting the play by play, and with meteorologist Ella Dorsey giving
the important update. That might seem like a reasonable compromise,
you can still watch the action, without the annoying chatter of the
golf commentators. Heck, I’d call that a win for the viewing
audience.
the serious one. Just over a week ago, most golf fans were nailed to
their seats watching Tiger Woods complete his amazing comeback with a
win at the Masters. It was a compelling story. But in Atlanta,
Georgia there was another story brewing, one that involved a tornado.
WGCL TV decided it was time to make sure their viewers knew about
the potential storm. So they went split screen on the Masters,
muting the play by play, and with meteorologist Ella Dorsey giving
the important update. That might seem like a reasonable compromise,
you can still watch the action, without the annoying chatter of the
golf commentators. Heck, I’d call that a win for the viewing
audience.
Seems
not everyone agreed. The stations got complaints. And Dorsey got
death threats. One complaint maintained that, quoting now “…there
could be a tornado outside my house and I wouldn’t care. Put the
Masters back on”
not everyone agreed. The stations got complaints. And Dorsey got
death threats. One complaint maintained that, quoting now “…there
could be a tornado outside my house and I wouldn’t care. Put the
Masters back on”
That’s
so appallingly idiotic that it boggles the imagination. I give
Dorsey credit because she didn’t back down one inch, calling out
both the death threats and the other complainers. Life and death
versus a golf tournament? The station made the right call.
so appallingly idiotic that it boggles the imagination. I give
Dorsey credit because she didn’t back down one inch, calling out
both the death threats and the other complainers. Life and death
versus a golf tournament? The station made the right call.
In
other weather news, there is a kerfluffle over in England between the
BBC’s weather presenters and folks in the far southwest of England.
It seems the presenters stand in front of that region, which is
Cornwall and the delightfully named Isles of Scilly, and never move.
So they can never see what the weather will be for that part of the
nation. There is a lot of tourism in that part of England, so
weather is important. It includes places like the seaside resort
town of Torquay, best known to John Cleese fans as the home of Basil
Fawlty in the classic English television comedy “Fawlty Towers”.
It would be like the national weather person standing in front of the
Outer Banks and never moving. The BBC says it is reviewing the
issue.
other weather news, there is a kerfluffle over in England between the
BBC’s weather presenters and folks in the far southwest of England.
It seems the presenters stand in front of that region, which is
Cornwall and the delightfully named Isles of Scilly, and never move.
So they can never see what the weather will be for that part of the
nation. There is a lot of tourism in that part of England, so
weather is important. It includes places like the seaside resort
town of Torquay, best known to John Cleese fans as the home of Basil
Fawlty in the classic English television comedy “Fawlty Towers”.
It would be like the national weather person standing in front of the
Outer Banks and never moving. The BBC says it is reviewing the
issue.
But
you know what they say about the weather? Just wait, it’ll change.
you know what they say about the weather? Just wait, it’ll change.
Hollywood Battle
When
we think about Hollywood we tend to think of the movies, their stars,
and how much money is involved. As I mentioned many times, there are
hundreds and sometimes thousands of people behind the scenes in the
making of a movie. It’s easy to overlook them, despite their
importance.
we think about Hollywood we tend to think of the movies, their stars,
and how much money is involved. As I mentioned many times, there are
hundreds and sometimes thousands of people behind the scenes in the
making of a movie. It’s easy to overlook them, despite their
importance.
So
the huge fight that has broken out in Hollywood is more important
than the coverage it’s been receiving. The Writers Guild of
America represents exactly who you think they do, the writers. The
WGA and the Association of Talent Agents, again exactly who it
sounds like, had an agreement on their working relationship that had
been around for decades. That agreement expired recently and there
is no new agreement in sight.
the huge fight that has broken out in Hollywood is more important
than the coverage it’s been receiving. The Writers Guild of
America represents exactly who you think they do, the writers. The
WGA and the Association of Talent Agents, again exactly who it
sounds like, had an agreement on their working relationship that had
been around for decades. That agreement expired recently and there
is no new agreement in sight.
A
quick review for those of us who have never had an agent. An agents
job, in simplest terms, is to find their clients jobs and negotiate a
contract. Pretty straight forward, right? Well, until agents banded
together and those agencies began to grow. Today, there are four
agencies that dominate Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, William
Morris Endeavor, United Talent Agency and ICM Partners. These folks
represent a lot of talent, in many fields. Writers, directors,
actors and more. Here’s the agencies bright idea. We represent
all these folks. Couldn’t we make a few more dollars by offering
them in packages? Get a director, a couple top actors and some great
writers, all at the same time. You pay their salaries and a
packaging fee to the agency itself. Make life simple for the
studios, keep the clientele working and everybody makes money. This
is good, right.
quick review for those of us who have never had an agent. An agents
job, in simplest terms, is to find their clients jobs and negotiate a
contract. Pretty straight forward, right? Well, until agents banded
together and those agencies began to grow. Today, there are four
agencies that dominate Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, William
Morris Endeavor, United Talent Agency and ICM Partners. These folks
represent a lot of talent, in many fields. Writers, directors,
actors and more. Here’s the agencies bright idea. We represent
all these folks. Couldn’t we make a few more dollars by offering
them in packages? Get a director, a couple top actors and some great
writers, all at the same time. You pay their salaries and a
packaging fee to the agency itself. Make life simple for the
studios, keep the clientele working and everybody makes money. This
is good, right.
The
writers aren’t convinced. The agreement that expired, the Artists’
Manager Basic Agreement has been around since 1976. The
entertainment wolrd has changed massively since then, and the writers
point to median weekly earnings dropping by 23% between 2014 and
2016. They say this new emphasis on packaging clients means that the
agents aren’t focused on the best interests of the individual
client. Private equity firms have become large investors and, as
always, the emphasis has shifted to profits over everything else.
writers aren’t convinced. The agreement that expired, the Artists’
Manager Basic Agreement has been around since 1976. The
entertainment wolrd has changed massively since then, and the writers
point to median weekly earnings dropping by 23% between 2014 and
2016. They say this new emphasis on packaging clients means that the
agents aren’t focused on the best interests of the individual
client. Private equity firms have become large investors and, as
always, the emphasis has shifted to profits over everything else.
So
while the two organizations scream at each other publically, the WGA
is requiring its members to sign and submit letters terminating their
relationship with their agent. They want a new code of conduct for
the new media age.
while the two organizations scream at each other publically, the WGA
is requiring its members to sign and submit letters terminating their
relationship with their agent. They want a new code of conduct for
the new media age.
The
writers struck for 100 days twelve years ago, giving rise to “reality
TV” which requires no writing staff. I’m hoping the two sides
will settle their issues before any further programming horrors are
inflicted on us this time.
writers struck for 100 days twelve years ago, giving rise to “reality
TV” which requires no writing staff. I’m hoping the two sides
will settle their issues before any further programming horrors are
inflicted on us this time.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2018
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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