What I Hope, Want and Expect From a Composers Union

12 Comments

• 

  Bruce Broughton

  May 20, 2010 @ 8:22 pm

  Dear Chris,

  I’ve just read your very long, thoughtful and impassioned plea addressed to the AMCL Organizing Committee. I recognize your ideas are sincere, but I need to respond on behalf of the Committee.

  First of all, if this was meant for the AMCL Organizing Committee, we never received it. Our new website, which has just gone live, can be found at http://www.theamcl-399.org. It will be growing with information about the progress we are making over the next few weeks. An email address that you can use to contact the Committee is info@theamcl-399.org. It is important to note that there is no other website or email address which represents or speaks for the AMCL.

  There is a lot of confusion over who will be represented and who will not. There is some confusion over what the present goals of unionization are and why. I hope the following information will be helpful.

  The initial push for composer recognition will be with those production companies that come under the aegis of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Excluded from that group will be composers for games, commercials and library music. It is important to state that this is not because these composers are inferior, “no good” or not of interest to us, especially as we look forward to the future. Rather, we are focusing on composers who have a history of working for members of the AMPTP, composers who have not been able to enjoy either individually or as a group the advantage of paid-for health and pension benefits that the AMPTP has provided via negotiation for every other person in the Hollywood creative community. We absolutely agree with you that “the place is not for us to choose who is good and who is bad,” except that it’s a non-issue in terms of what we’re trying to achieve. We’re only concerned at this time with beginning to get a collective bargaining agreement with composers who have worked with the 350 and more television and film producers who make up the AMPTP.

  You “beseech” us “to not abuse this power to simply create control mechanisms for your careers but rather… [do]…the right thing for the whole.” This is another non-issue. There are no “control mechanisms.” In fact, if we are successful and get to union status, the advantage will not be to the majority of the Committee members. Several of them, myself included, will not benefit greatly. The advantage of the union will clearly be primarily for younger writers, our future.

  There is no discussion, nor has there ever been, about “the value of someone who can write with score paper and maybe piano, who can orchestrate, who can write a fugue or a chorale,” or any of the other things you mention. These issues have nothing to do with unionization, any more than is the ability to learn to tune a banjo five different ways. The only thing that is an issue here is the identifying of composers who have a working history with the AMPTP, no matter how great or small, for which our stated goal is benefits.

  We are not unaware of traditional union issues like minimums and working conditions. We are not unaware of the state of composing for film and TV these days. Many of us have witnessed first-hand the change in the way the composing business has changed over the last several years and are painfully aware of the deterioration and modification of work standards. After the initial “informational meeting” in November, however, the Committee — which at that time consisted of only four people — found that there was a great amount of fear in the community from working composers who felt that if any unionization attempt set upon the course of anything other than benefits many composers and lyricists would find their jobs and futures at risk. We eventually found that the only idea that gained traction with the majority of composers, both well known and not so well known, was benefits only.

  The AMCL Organizing Committee was clear to state this position at the meeting on April 19th held at the WGA Theater in Los Angeles. Are there opposing views? Yes. Do these views, some of which have been published and distributed anonymously and in secret, reflect the present goals of the AMCL for unionization? No.

  In answer to your question regarding lyricists, no, they are not represented by the WGA, nor are they represented by any other union. Lyricists who work in film and television have the same problems as composers. In terms of the stated goal for the AMCL, lyricists are entitled to benefits for their work the same as composers are. You asked “what issues do lyricists have . . that genuinely coincide with composers?” They are creative partners, equally contributing to and co-writing the songs that are written for television and motion pictures, partners who also work under the constraints of Work for Hire. Lyricists write words, composers write notes, but they both mutually create a single work under similar conditions. What reason would there be to exclude them?

  Your list of issues that you would like to see the AMCL consider is in many respects admirable, but extraordinarily premature. The baby hasn’t been born yet. How can you expect him or her to clean up Congress?

  You write that “None of this is easy, but this union must be built from the highest echelon of ideals and with the morality of championing all composers, not just ones that are easiest to deal with and make the most sense to the organizing committee.” I’m sorry, but this is a presumptuous and offensive statement. Composers and lyricists have been without any union representation for more than 30 years. If it had been an easy thing to organize, it would have been done by now. If there was ever any personal advantage to those who tried to organize in the early ’80s. or even in the ’50s, it certainly escapes me. If we could wave our magic wands and make it happen, our hands and arms would be a blur. There is no easy way to unionization and there is no guarantee of success. If the effort is successful, there are no knighthoods waiting for those who worked to make it happen. And there are many who are working to make it happen.

  The AMCL has no intention of excluding anyone. There is certainly no plan under consideration to “lock the rest out.” Although it is not clear to some of us why a composer or lyricist who is not working could possibly derive any benefit from paying monthly dues and initiation fees and get nothing in return, we hope that if we are successful we might in the future be able to have many different kinds of composers working in many different kinds of media in many different places throughout the country. But we have to begin somewhere, and we intend to begin by negotiating with the AMPTP for benefits because it has gained the most traction with the majority of composers and lyricists we have spoken with, individually and in groups.

  I thank you for voicing your concerns and appreciate the input. I can only once more assure you we have no plans to shut out, ban, ostracize, rule out or be exclusive of anyone. But as Steve Dayan, our Teamster organizer, recently wrote to someone, “We are (hopefully) going to be negotiating with the major Hollywood studios on behalf of those individuals who work regularly on film & television productions for now.”

  – Bruce Broughton
• 

  Keith Moore

  May 21, 2010 @ 7:06 am

  This is a well written letter, as was Mr. Broughton’s response. Getting this composer’s union off the ground is feeling like the health care bill, so many different things to consider. But like that issue, this one is too important to ignore as well.
• 

  Chris Alpiar

  May 21, 2010 @ 12:47 pm

  Dear Bruce,

  Thank you for your thoughtful response. Please understand in no way am I trying to simply be rude or imflaming as some of your words indicate your feelings. I am simply trying to be honest and direct in my personal perspectives that I have been defining in my head since I first heard about this movement. From my experiences in LA and from my life, I dont trust anyone, especially folks creating a seat of power, of any kind, until I see the results. Its not personal at all, especially since we have not met, and while I genuinely look forward to the opportunity at some point I have to start my opinions based on what I have learned to expect from the music business in general.

  It is very warming to my heart to hear you emphatically declare several times that there is absolutely no intention to divide the community of professional composers. I hope with all my heart that this can be our reality and that the AMCL and the Teamsters actively work to build the union into a national one that represents all composers and not just folks who have AMTP history. As one who has every ounce of my life force dedicated to music composition but has not yet had the wonderful opportunity to get on board the AMTP level of productions, the idea of doing this and leaving me and those like me out of the picture is one that is very hard to embrace. And it will only change, assuming the AMCL works and takes off, by you guys actively pursuing means to open the gates for other types of composers.

  As for the issues I mention, of course I would never expect that these all be dealt with as the doors open for the AMCL. I understand how difficult it is to create something like the AMCL and I am in awe of you and your fellows for the labor you have contributed towards its inception. However I do remain worried that while you acknowledge that these issues and problems are understood by the AMCL committee, there is no desire to talk about them or create any type of stance or ideas of how to solve them. Which comes across, regardless of the empathy you suggest, as the new center for championing composers labor rights and laws, being a mechanism to ensure they never do get dealt with. I hope that in reasonable time your committee will express its desire to fight for composers rights as the AMCL and that there will be some transparent means of demonstrating the steps being taken to work on them. Honestly all the pensions and health care will do less for composers than any one of the real issues will. Because if the Labor Union for Composers will not use its newfound leverage to instigate tough yet badly needed changes, who will? And then in 20 years the art of composition will just fade away and it will be like going to the tri-corner hat store in colonial Williamsburg where you can witness someone doing a craft left over from an age past. At least thats how it feels to me.

  Again, I am completely supportive of your labor and the idea of a Teamsters backed Composers’ Union. I think its WONDERFUL. But we are at the precipice where we can either create a real legacy for the future of our art and craft or we can create a secure bubble to ride out the last days of it. And since you are focused solely on AMTP folks only and with the cast of impressive names you have assembled, can you blame me for being in fear of where it may or may not go?

  Thanks again for your time. I am very hopeful of a bright future for us all!

  Sincerely

  Chris Alpiar
• 

  GrisGrisJouJou

  May 21, 2010 @ 7:23 pm

  This is a nice, pleasant pat-on-the-head-kid, note by Mr. Broughton but it tells us what we unfortunately were told last week by Mr. Gibbs:

  The AMCL will do nothing for our community until Mike Post and his old men probably bleed us dry.

  Here’s my first question for the committee, perhaps Mr Broughton will dig in and answer these too:

  1) Why is the AMCL not telling everyone that the WGA letter has nothing to do with the “pension and benefits” that is a separate negotiation entirely with the AMPTP?

  2) Why, Mr. Broughton can’t you spell this out as elegantly as your above letter dances around that issue?

  We are big boys and girls and we can handle it.

  3) Why are the WGA, AFTRA, SAG and AFM featured on your brand new web site’s right hand side but you refuse to honor the agreement that was passed by the WGA?

  4) Why have these endorsements if all the AMCL wants to do is have more pats on our heads instead of rolling up our sleeves?

  I am sure you will tell us there are all these composers who won’t sign up for that. However, doing the right thing is never going to be convenient for getting slave owners to sign a deal they will never agree to.

  I was at both meetings and watching Mr. Post and his group take the union over has been very deflating for those of us who want to stop the bleeding now. Heck, Mr. Post said the minute we talk about anything besides what he wants he’s “outta here”- I think I can speak for many of us when I say, if that’s your stance, good riddance. Which leads me to my last questions, Mr. Broughton:

  5) What happens if a plurality wants to talk about these vital issues but Mr. Post stays true to his word and pulls out?

  6) Are we all just not to discuss this until you and your group make us wait a year or two (or never) to POSSIBLY face the AMPTP while ignoring the simplest and most easy thing to do: implement an already negotiated WGA agreement.

  As a supporter of the union and a composer, the new committee’s backpedaling is disgraceful from it’s original intention. I have no idea why a bunch of older men have decided to patch up the next generation with a band-aid over our open gun shot wounds. It makes no sense.

  Like the saying goes, you gotta stand for something or you’ll fall for everything. Give us a reason why we should believe you stand for us.

  Look, I am a supporter. I want to believe. So remember, I am the constituency for this union. But I don’t want to spend my life working on spec and I don’t want to wait two years for a maybe on an AMPTP health care plan that won’t help me like talking to my WGA boss and having him stop making me do free work will today.

  Thank you.
• 

  Gael MacGregor

  May 22, 2010 @ 12:30 am

  Remember, folks…

  You have to build the foundation before you can raise the walls and put in the toilets.

  @ GrisGris JouJou – Bruce’s reply was anything BUT a “pat on the head” – he took the time to delve into a lot of the “whys” and “wherefores” and explain them thoroughly.

  As long as folks are trying to read into someone’s words what they personally think is the other’s agenda, there will be unnecessary mistrust, paranoia and prejudice.

  And, btw… that WGA letter was a draft, not a final, and was meant to be brought forward once it had been finalized and deemed to be able to do the most good for the unionization efforts.
• 

  Bruce Broughton

  May 22, 2010 @ 10:00 am

  To GrisGrisJouJou:

  There was no intent to pat anyone on the head, to talk down or to hide anything. I believed Chris’ letter to be, as I said, “thoughtful, impassioned and sincere.” Read my response again. There was also no intent to get sidelined on issues which are not directly related to our immediate goal, which is to form a collective body of composers and lyricists to be represented by the Teamsters and recognized by the AMPTP.

  This reply is an attempt to “dig in and answer” your questions. I will try to be “elegant,” as requested, but make no promises thereto.

  The WGA letter was an internal draft which was anonymously released for publication to coincide with the date of the April 19th meeting at the WGA theater. It has as a result caused a great deal of unwarranted suspicion, paranoia and vitriol in forums such as this one, even though it remains a non-issue in terms of what the AMCL is presently seeking. A further email from “Supporters of the AMCL” led to further, though understandable, confusion in the composing community. But even if the WGA letter had been sent by the guild to its membership, it would have been nothing more than a request of its members. It was not a negotiated settlement, as it’s being touted, for it was no settlement, nor was it negotiated, as I have read, by “members” of the AMCL organizing committee. The committee of which you are so suspicious, while preparing for the April 19th meeting, talked over whether they wanted such a letter of support to go out and decided against it, for the same reason that the committee decided to push for benefits only.

  If a “plurality” wants to talk about “these vital issues,” then talk about them. And write to the AMCL Organizing Committee about them, rather than using forums like these for bluster. The Committee, like you, is also composed of “big boys” (no “big girls” yet, but be patient) and it, too, can handle it. If Mike Post and “his group” (whoever they are) decides to leave because of such a “plurality,” which I sincerely doubt, he or they can do as they please. But Mr. Post is not the only one on the committee who thinks for himself. Anyone can say he’s “outta here” anytime he wants. That’s our real “stance,” as you put it. There is no one on the committee bowing to any other person on the committee. All of the members are heavy lifters, taking different tasks, some of whom have different opinions from the others.

  I remind you again that you and other interested parties can reach the committee at its new email address: info@theamcl-300.org. This is, as I wrote to Chris (and by extension to you and to everyone else), the only email address that represents the AMCL. The new website, http://www.theamcl-300.org, is live and will be growing with more information in the coming weeks.

  As for your last question, the committee is not making anyone wait “a year or two (or never),” since it has no control over how long the process will take. Given that composers and lyricists have been without any sort of collective representation for over 30 years, everyone may even have to wait a little longer. In the meantime, the committee is willing to receive comments from composers and lyricists as to their thoughts and issues. The committee frankly needs the input from composers and lyricists on relevant issues, even when they are not in agreement with the proposed goal for unionization. But the committee cannot “implement an already negotiated WGA agreement” for the reasons stated above: the “agreement” even if implemented was not of a sort to “talk to [your] WGA boss and [have] him stop making [you] do free work.”

  By the way, although you say you are part of the constituency for this union, I’ll take you at your word. But I have no idea to whom this reply is addressed other than GrisGrisJouJou. My name is Bruce Broughton.
• 

  Chris Alpiar

  May 22, 2010 @ 4:51 pm

  I guess the bottom line of this whole thing is that you guys are creating this union and asking all of us to trust you, to have faith that you are going to do the right thing. A trust that when the time is right you will work on having the union represent larger pools of composers, and maybe someday work on issues.

  The feeling remains, from the outsider perspective, from generations of witnessing the corrupt nature of the music business (not saying any of you are or have alterier motives at all, just talking about history), and possibly from some members of this committee being board members of PROs and other industry orgs (that have either failed to champion composers in the past or possibly have in some cases directly interfered with our livelihoods), that the desire to create the union could potentially come as a means to curbing more volatile folks from creating real change which could affect your positions. Or, on a less conspiratorial note, in the least could be dangerous for your careers were you to put your names on something that the studio execs would not like.

  I wish I had a good solution for how to bring this about without unzipping our flies and letting it hang out. But I dont see one even though I hope we can all swing our things to the beat of a different drummer and find the way, together, as unified composers nationally, and find a good balance of dealing with real issues and not having the studios nuke us to movie jail.

  I just had a very lovely talk with Richard Gibbs and it was very enlightening to hear about the various committee members and the spirit of how this union is coming to be. I am convinced that in the very least most of the members of the AMCL committee are genuine in their interest to build a functioning union and to not shut out any particular groups of composers. And as always, I am very supportive of the idea and I hope this can succeed and at the same time the issues that we ALL know are plaguing composers everywhere (on all levels of composers who need or want to make money – I guess it wouldn’t affect composers that are independently wealthy and dont need to work) be not only acknowledged but plans put in action to bring about positive change.

  So, here is my thoughts for today:
  1. it is obvious that the leverage we will gain from aligning with Teamsters is the ability to enforce some amount of change on union productions. Why we would need Teamsters backing to get pension and healthcare still evades me. But a smart league nonetheless.
  2. In order to make the Teamsters alignment make sense, starting with a focus on composers who are involved with AMPTP productions makes sense, because what good will Teamsters muscle have for game composers where there is no Teamsters or union productions, or for promo composers, library composers, advertising composers, ghost writers, stage theater composers, concert composers, etc. Who would the Teamsters strong-arm to demand anything even if there was a focus on something besides benefits?
  3. since the focus is going to be AMPTP productions, and there is no good way to enforce union rules on really any other situation, how do you see this union effort being of interest to anyone other than current AMPTP production composers? You claim emphatically that there is no desire to ostracize any type of composer from this AMCL attempt, but then how would a composer that, say, writes cable network promos all day, or advertising spots, or has placement on features from libraries, or etc etc ad infinitum, be eligible to JOIN the new union, so that in time with the union’s democratic process, be allowed to vote on officers and issues to change the shape of this initial union? By making AMPTP production the pre-requisite, how will any other type of full time working composers anywhere be even eventually represented? I totally get the “we have to have a foundation before we can have walls” argument, and I embrace it completely. But folks want to know what is the plan to include the rest of us?

  Again, I must state so I can be completely clear, that I am not trying to fan flames or put doubt in anyones mind, but rather am speaking about the main issues that my constituents have been writing me. As always I have the highest respect for you, Bruce, Richard, and for all the folks spending their personal time and experience to the goal of unionization. I know the headaches in creating organizations (truly i do!) and in the good juju that an altruistic endeavor can bring about. So I commend you over and over till you are sick of the lovin! And would like to hear about how you guys plan to make the union not split and divide the composer community of many thousands even further than it is today by this top-down approach. As much as bottom-down would not work, the opposite is true as well, and I hope to see a nice balance found in the middle somewhere where we can all prosper and flourish :-)
• 

  Bruce Broughton

  May 22, 2010 @ 7:26 pm

  Sorry, but there is a typo in the AMCL address I reported: It should be info@theamcl-399.org and the website is http://www.theamcl-399.org.

  Okay, Chris, I promised myself I would not respond further to these notes, since I think I’ve made myself clear, but I will respond to yours.

  Chris, there’s no way to prove that anyone is either honest or isn’t cheating you. if it makes you feel better, call the other members of the committee. You’ve called Richard Gibbs and you’ve heard from me. You will find different versions of the same message. The bottom line is that if you or any other person is distrustful of the committee or any of its members, then stay away from the process. There’s been far too many vitriolic and paranoid assumptions for some of the readers of these pages to feel completely comfortable.

  The basic idea of all of this is to be able to create a union of composers with the help and power of the Teamsters. Period. We’re starting with benefits. We’re focused on the AMPTP. If that is successful, we’ll have the first opportunity to collectively bargain for the first time in over thirty years! I fail to see the problem here.

  No, we weren’t voted in. No, we weren’t selected by the readers of Film Music Magazine or any other group. We came together independently, out of the Great Void of composers and lyricists working on their own to try to find a better way.

  This will be my last response on this site, but any other questions should be directed to the (corrected) address above. We will answer as many questions as we can or will continue to throw out information as it comes to us.

  I honestly appreciate your concern. We all do. You write as though you’re a sincere person, but nervous. Join the ranks or continue sitting on the fence. You’re not the only one. If you were at the April 19th meeting, you heard from Rick Marvin, who, even while he was on the committee, was on the fence, but finally decided for unionization.

  This is very possibly the last chance to do this. We don’t plan to screw it up.

  Best regards,

  Bruce Broughton
• 

  Alan Elliott

  May 22, 2010 @ 7:47 pm

  We need to make plain one fundamental fact and then let’s start the debate:

  THE WGA AGREEMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AMPTP NEGOTIATIONS- THEY ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE.

  The AMCL committee does it’s supporters no good by confusing the WGA with the AMPTP and this must stop.

  This parsing of words hides a potential cancer which can eat up what we have worked four + years to help organize. When we parse words instead of explaining positions, we sow the seeds of disloyalty and mistrust.

  We must create a union that does what is right, not merely what is convenient.

  The “benefits only” position works if we believe that two completely separate issues are one and the same. They are are two-SEPARATE- issues and they have nothing to do with each other. I hate to sound redundant… but it’s the key to understanding that this is not just black or white… there are many shades of grey. So here are the facts we have yet to hear from the committee, there are:

  1) the AMPTP negotiations (“benefits only”); and

  2) the WGA agreement, the SAG/AFTRA/and other potential alliances.

  The AMCL board should say this… clearly.

  Then let’s discuss “benefits only” and the WGA agreement and other potential issues.

  Personally, I believe our union should be able to do good for many- on many different levels… NOW, but… It’s hard to order off the menu when you are only presented with one option of “benefits only.”

  I believe, after four + years of living these issues that if we fall into the previous generation’s peril of solely waiting for an AMPTP agreement, we are screwed.

  We will be playing a game that the previous generation has all ready lost and… for THIS generation, I believe we may not even need to be playing this game- as the WGA agreement provides relief NOW and has NO EFFECT on any potential AMPTP agreement.

  Look, if there is to be a union… we are going to need a lot of smart people thinking of different ways to help the community… but this is not a black and white issue- there is a lot of grey and if we are to mobilize… people need facts… not demonization. If we have a union, everyone will have somebody they don’t like in it. But that shouldn’t preclude our trying to set up a system that respects everyone.

  I believe our union- and our organizing committee- should be a healthy democracy with room for dissonant voices.

  For instance, if I disagree with war in Iraq, I am still an American. And… if I disagree with an AMCL issue, I am still for the union. So with regards to the cause from here on out, let’s unite and resolve to debate the strength of positions, not demonize personalities.

  That said, we need to have the facts straight- and THEN argue positions. In the words of Patrick Moynihan, “You are entitled to your own opnion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.”

  Further, to put a dagger through the “was it a draft? was it agreed to? wha’happened?” re: the WGA agreement…the details are as follows:

  – For four months, Bruce Broughton, Alf Clausen, Jim DiPasquale, Steve Dayan and I negotiated with WGA exec. director David Young before presenting a letter (not a draft) for presentation to the WGA board.

  – On Nov. 16, 2009 at the AMCL’s November meeting, I detailed my conversation with John Wells which began/led to the present WGA agreement.

  – On Feb. 2, 2010 the AMCL executive committee and Steve Dayan, Teamsters 399 organizer, sent a final version of a much-drafted letter to David Young.

  – On March 1, 2010, David Young presented the aforementioned Feb. 2, 2010 letter at the WGA board meeting where the letter was unanimously approved by the WGA board.

  In sum:

  – The WGA letter passed unanimously through the WGA board at the WGA board’s March 1, 2010 meeting.

  – The letter was supported by the WGA board wholeheartedly, without reservation and in support of improving our community- and mutually helping the WGA (as evinced in Steve Dayan’s well stated quote at the end, “The Guild believes once writing at any level is seen as /”free” /it compromises writing on all levels”).

  – Though the letter has nothing to do with “benefits only(AMCL/AMPTP negotiations)”, the current AMCL board will not implement it.

  Lastly, and most importantly so there is no confusion:

  – The WGA agreement can change the dynamic of WGA showrunners and composers the day it is implemented.

  (editorial: That’s how important I believe the WGA agreement is- it’s a paradigm shifter… and it’s 21st Century unionization in that it solves issues EVEN BEFORE WE NEGOTIATE WITH THE PRODUCERS.

  That’s why I believe it is important to say how important the WGA agreement could be RIGHT NOW- and… again:

  this agreement is completely separate from any “benefits only” conversation with the AMPTP.)

  Now that these facts are, ahem, straight, let’s discuss the positions.
• 

  GrisGrisJouJou

  May 23, 2010 @ 12:32 pm

  Thank you Alan for clearly delineating this issue and trying to remove the personalities from this equation.

  I am very interested in the AMCL’s response to this.

  It makes no sense to me why the AMCL board would not want you inside the room helping to put together a strategy given what you have detailed. Well done.
• 

  Brian Woodbury

  May 24, 2010 @ 7:59 am

  Fine, thoughtful letter on why we need a more inclusive composers’ union, which then advocates excluding lyricists, and by extension, songwriters. We’re all in the same boat, Chris. We don’t get a strong composers’ union by throwing any of us to the sharks.
• 

  Brian Woodbury

  May 24, 2010 @ 8:01 am

  Fine, thoughtful letter on the need for an inclusive composers’ union, which then advocates excluding lyricists (and, by extension, songwriters). We’re all in the same boat, Chris. We won’t get a strong union by throwing any of us to the sharks.

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