[NEohioPAL]Re: Jean Zarzour's recent Pay-No Pay post

[Pommy]

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Dear Jean: Regarding your recent post to NEOPAL (copied below for ease of 
reference) I would like to thank you for speaking on our behalf. My husband 
and I and many friends in the community are actors and, like most actors, 
have done lots of community theater work plus a little paid work. The paid 
work is very nice, but until the debate last year we were just happy to act 
in anything that came with some sort of recognition. Again, like many 
people, we thought that having a commercial (or any other work like that, 
which is typically paid) would be good for our image and may lead to real 
paid acting jobs.

The debate you began really started us thinking, though. We had not 
considered the people who actually make a living at this type of work 
(i.e., if they can get free actors why pay them?) Plus, as you say, raising 
the bar in this area for actors is obviously necessary. We don't regret the 
commercial we made for WOIO, but would not do so again under the same terms 
(free). That one commercial was over a year ago and I can't tell you how 
many people have mentioned it to us. We've had complete strangers stop us 
in the street and say how much they liked the commercial - just the other 
day was the most recent! Well, this is all very good for the ego :-) but it 
just goes to show how much impact a 30-second spot on TV has. WOIO must 
have made money on that commercial (and I can't believe their client hasn't 
made a bunch on it -- we were featured in prints ads, as well, from the 
same commercial). So why shouldn't the ones who do the work get paid?  It 
was pretty much an all-day thing. We both gave up the whole day to this 
commercial. As I said we enjoyed it - but our time is certainly worth 
something.

We're with you all the way! I've copied this email to WOIO, also. Thanks, 
Jean for your work in this regard. I'm sure that WOIO will honor their 
agreement, but just wanted to add my 2 cents worth to the debate.

--Linda Ryan

>Dear NeohioPals-
>
>For those of you not familiar with last year's debate about PAY vs NO PAY 
>commercial gigs and the GOT PAY? Organization, here is a quick synopsis: 
>On February 17, 2005 WOIO posted a casting call for a commercial they were 
>producing, but offering NO PAY to anyone who would appear in the 
>spot.  After a heated debate on NEOPAL, a panel of 12 area artists, 
>writers, producers and directors formed the GOT PAY? Organization and on 
>March 21, 2005 we held a town hall meeting to discuss the best business 
>standards & practices for all artists, union or non union, in order to 
>establish their worth in the NE Ohio region, in particular.  67 people 
>attended for a 3 hour discussion.
>Visit 
><http://www.gotpay.org/Got_Mentor.html>www.gotpay.org/Got_Mentor.html for 
>the panelist bios and much more.
>
>On April 1, 2005 I called Rob Boenau, Marketing Director at WOIO,  to 
>discuss the "rumor" emailed to me that they were indeed going to pay 
>actors as a result of the Pay vs. No Pay debate and meeting.  The 
>conversation was very respectful and focused.  We came to an agreement 
>that each non union actor would be paid a minimum of $100 per commercial 
>appearance produced by WOIO!  WONDERFUL NEWS!  From 0 to 100 in 30 minutes!
>
>He also said that the next audition notice was going out very soon and 
>that he would have his producer post that announcement through me.
>
>Below are my follow up emails after that conversation, sent to Rob Boenau 
>and Chris Stabile (the same promotions director who posted the notice last 
>week) back in April 2005. I never heard back from anyone at WOIO, but I 
>never doubted that they would honor their end of the agreement.  You can 
>also read the update to these events at 
><http://www.gotpay.org/Got_Results.html>www.gotpay.org/Got_Results.html
>
>I am disappointed that WOIO has decided to renege on the agreement to pay 
>$100 to anyone appearing in their commercials. It was a verbal agreement, 
>but I took his offer seriously because it was an agreement made after a 
>very intense and serious conversation about the need for progress in this 
>arts community, among other things.
>
>I think the best action to take at this point, is to have anyone replying 
>to WOIO postings ask them:  "What happened to the $100 agreement you made 
>with GOT PAY on April 1, 2005?"
>
>It is with the utmost respect to the WOIO Marketing team that I have cc'd 
>them on this email.
>
>It is not  my intention to start another heated debate, but an agreement 
>is an agreement.   It was made on your behalf and now it's time you, the 
>artist, ensure it was not made in vain.
>
>
>Remember:  If Money Is Made, The Talent Gets Paid!
>
>
>Your devoted advocate and founder of the GOT PAY? Organization
Jean Zarzour


--Pommy
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<html>
<font size=3D3>Dear Jean: Regarding your recent post to NEOPAL (copied
below for ease of reference) I would like to thank you for speaking on
our behalf. My husband and I and many friends in the community are actors
and, like most actors, have done lots of community theater work plus a
little paid work. The paid work is very nice, but until the debate last
year we were just happy to act in anything that came with some sort of
recognition. Again, like many people, we thought that having a commercial
(or any other work like that, which is typically paid) would be good for
our image and may lead to real paid acting jobs. <br>
<br>
The debate you began really started us thinking, though. We had not
considered the people who actually make a living at this type of work
(i.e., if they can get free actors why pay them?) Plus, as you say,
raising the bar in this area for actors is obviously necessary. We don't
regret the commercial we made for WOIO, but would not do so again under
the same terms (free). That one commercial was over a year ago and I
can't tell you how many people have mentioned it to us. We've had
complete strangers stop us in the street and say how much they liked the
commercial - just the other day was the most recent! Well, this is all
very good for the ego :-) but it just goes to show how much impact a
30-second spot on TV has. WOIO must have made money on that commercial
(and I can't believe their client hasn't made a bunch on it -- we were
featured in prints ads, as well, from the same commercial). So why
shouldn't the ones who do the work get paid?  It was pretty much an
all-day thing. We both gave up the whole day to this commercial. As I
said we enjoyed it - but our time is certainly worth something.<br>
<br>
We're with you all the way! I've copied this email to WOIO, also. Thanks,
Jean for your work in this regard. I'm sure that WOIO will honor their
agreement, but just wanted to add my 2 cents worth to the debate.<br>
<br>
--Linda Ryan<br>
<br>
</font><blockquote type=3Dcite class=3Dcite cite><font face=3D"arial" size=
=3D3>Dear
NeohioPals-</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>For those of you not familiar with last
year's debate about PAY vs NO PAY commercial gigs and the GOT PAY?
Organization, here is a quick synopsis: On February 17, 2005 WOIO posted
a casting call for a commercial they were producing, but offering NO PAY
to anyone who would appear in the spot.  After a heated debate on
NEOPAL, a panel of 12 area artists, writers, producers and directors
formed the </font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3 color=3D"#008000"><b>GOT PAY=
?
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3=
 color=3D"#FF0000">Organization</b></font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>
and on March 21, 2005 we held a town hall meeting to discuss the best
business standards & practices for all artists, union or non union,
in order to establish their worth in the NE Ohio region, in
particular.  67 people attended for a 3 hour discussion. 
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>Visit
<a href=3D"http://www.gotpay.org/Got_Mentor.html">www.gotpay.org/Got_Mentor.=
html</a>
for the panelist bios and much more.</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br=
>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3 color=3D"#FF0000"><b>On April 1, 2005 I=
 called Rob Boenau, Marketing Director at WOIO,  to discuss the=
 "rumor" emailed to me that they were indeed going to pay actors=
 as a result of the Pay vs. No Pay debate and meeting.  The=
 conversation was very respectful and focused.  We came to an agreement=
 that each non union actor would be paid a minimum of $100 per commercial=
 appearance produced by WOIO!  WONDERFUL NEWS!  From 0 to 100 in=
 30 minutes!</b></font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3 color=3D"#FF0000"><b>He also said that=
 the next audition notice was going out very soon and that he would have his=
 producer post that announcement through me. </b></font><font face=3D"arial"=
 size=3D2><br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>Below are my follow up emails after=
 that conversation, sent to Rob Boenau and Chris Stabile (the same=
 promotions director who posted the notice last week) back in April 2005. I=
 never heard back from anyone at WOIO, but I never doubted that they would=
 honor their end of the agreement.  You can also read the update to=
 these events at <a=
 href=3D"http://www.gotpay.org/Got_Results.html">www.gotpay.org/Got_Results.=
html</a></font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>I am disappointed that WOIO has decided=
 to renege on the agreement to pay $100 to anyone appearing in their=
 commercials. It was a verbal agreement, but I took his offer seriously=
 because it was an agreement made after a very intense and serious=
 conversation about the need for progress in this arts community, among=
 other things.</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>I think the best action to take at this=
 point, is to have anyone replying to WOIO postings ask them: =
 </font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3 color=3D"#FF0000"><b>"What=
 happened to the $100 agreement you made with GOT PAY on April 1,=
 2005?"</b></font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>It is with the utmost respect to the=
 WOIO Marketing team that I have cc'd them on this email.  </font><font=
 face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>It is not  my intention to start=
 another heated debate, but an agreement is an agreement.   It was=
 made on your behalf and now it's time <i>you, the artist, </i>ensure it was=
 not<i> </i>made in vain.  </font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3> </font><font face=3D"arial"=
 size=3D2><br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3><b>Remember:  If Money Is Made,=
 The Talent Gets Paid!</b></font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D2><br>
 <br>
 <br>
</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3>Your devoted advocate and founder of=
 the</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3 color=3D"#008000"> <b>GOT=
 PAY?</font><font face=3D"arial" size=3D3> </font><font face=3D"arial"=
 size=3D3 color=3D"#FF0000">Organization</font></blockquote><font=
 face=3D"Brush Script MT" size=3D6 color=3D"#FF0000">Jean=
 Zarzour</b></font><font face=3D"Brush Script MT" size=3D3> <br>
<br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
--Pommy</html>

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