Franco-American D'Onofrio

Yesterday, a visitor to the site forwarded a link to the website of Vincent's French 'cousin', French Painter Fernand d'Onofrio along with an article (in French) regarding his exhibition at the Tama Gallery in Tribeca in 2006.

We contacted him and he kindly gave us his permission to post the article, information regarding his work, and association with the D'Onofrio family. He also provided several photographs of himself with Vincent and Gennaro D'Onofrio at the Tama Gallery in Tribeca, New York City.

Thank you to Mr D'Onofrio for allowing us to share this with everyone.

Thank you to Jane-Emily for forwarding the link to us, and to our friend, Supersam for his computer help.



More

Unscripted Lives

Washington Post, 1.30.08
by Paul Farhi


Warren Leight

excerpted --

Showrunner

As a "showrunner," or a TV show's writer-producer, Warren Leight, 52, is responsible for just about everyone and everything on NBC's "Law & Order Criminal Intent." "If something's wrong," he says, "it's my fault."

The showrunners' support of writers is critical to the strike. If top creative people such as Leight remain off the job, it's highly unlikely that production on a series can resume.

The strike has probably cost Leight more than most WGA members. Despite the walkout, he's still responsible for paying the rent on offices used by his writers. He's also paying the salaries of "3 1/2 people" on his staff whose livelihoods were cut off. "I will never be covered for the money I'm losing on this strike," he says. The bill, he figures, is already approaching six figures.

How does he feel about that? Leight shrugs, then grimaces a little. Showrunners "make a good living" -- he won't disclose his compensation -- "so I'm in a group of people who should be complaining the least."
Full article

Thanks Judy and Peachy

CI Writers Q&A

From Peachybc of Majorcase-ci.com--

We were honored by Charlie Rubin and Diana Son offering to participate with MajorCase-CI in a weekly Q&A. They have just answered some of the many questions our members asked.
Read the thread.

WGA/ AMPTP Hold Informal talks Wednesday

Braodcasting and Cable, 1.22.08
By Ben Grossman

The Writers Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will hold informal talks beginning Wednesday, and when they do, the WGA said it will pull its demands for Guild representation of reality and animation writers.

The sides put out a joint statement Tuesday saying that the informal talks will be held to determine “if there is a basis for both parties to return to formal negotiations.” The sides also agreed to a news blackout on the informal talks.
more

Informal WGA talks set to begin

Variety, 1.20.08
By CYNTHIA LITTLETON, DAVE MCNARY

Sides will meet as early as Tuesday

The communications impasse between the Writers Guild of America and Hollywood's majors has finally ended.
Following Thursday's deal between the DGA and the AMPTP, insiders said top execs of the entertainment congloms reached out to WGA leaders.

Those conversations are expected to lead to an informal face-to-face session this week, possibly as early as Tuesday. It would mark the first sitdown between the two sides since AMPTP reps broke off the last round of formal bargaining on Dec. 7.

Participants will likely include, for the guild, WGA West prexy Patric Verrone, exec director David Young and negotiations committee head John Bowman and, on the AMPTP side, News Corp. prexy Peter Chernin and Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger. More
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Also --

this sent in by Peachybc. Thanks!

Writers Strike Could End in Two Weeks as Key Players Show Clout
By Alex Ben Block

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) – 1/21/2008 – The same group of top TV show runners and industry hyphenates who added credibility, muscle and enhanced unity during the Writers Guild strike are now also going to be a force pushing within the guild for a contract modeled after the DGA deal. That is one reason we believe the WGA strike will be over in two weeks, and the Academy Awards will proceed as usual. Full article.

'LAW & ORDER' ORDER

SanDiego Union-Tribune, 1.21.08
“In the criminal justice system ... ” NBC's “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (9 p.m. Wednesdays), the best of the three “L&O” shows, is back on the network after a few weeks over at the second-tier USA channel. It's better than ever. Vincent D'Onofrio, TV's most underrated actor, inhabits Robert Goren, the mercurial detective who this year battles personal demons as well as bad guys. His partner, detective Alexandra Eames (the stellar Kathryn Erbe), pairs with him beautifully, he protective of her, she understanding of him. “My partner,” she said on a recent episode, “doesn't adapt well to change.” D'Onofrio and Erbe alternate weekly with Chris Noth and Alicia Witt, also strong. This quartet sings.
Full article

Thanks Judy!

Mr. Big Has a Baby

E!Online, 1.20.08
By: Josh Grossberg

Just call him Big Daddy now.

Chris Noth, forever known as Mr. Big to Sex and the City fans, and longtime galpal Tara Wilson welcomed the arrival of a son on Friday, a rep for the actor told E! News.

"I am happy to confirm that Chris Noth and Tara Wilson are the proud parents of a happy and healthy baby boy," the spokesperson said.

"Chris and Tara are thrilled and all are doing well."

In continuing the burgeoning tradition of unusual celebrity baby names—think Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter, Apple Martin or Jason Lee's kid Pilot Inspektor—the new parents found inspiration in the stars for their first child.

Orion Christopher Noth was born in Los Angeles and weighed in at a not quite Mr. Big but pretty good 7 pounds and 10 ounces. More

Thanks Judy!

Guild sets up fund for non-WGA members

From Businessofcinema.com, 1.19.08

The Writers Guild Foundation has established an Industry Support Fund to assist members of the industry who are in financial distress as a direct result of the Writers Guild of America strike against the AMPTP, which began 5 November, 2007.

The fund is designed to provide industry workers affected by the WGA strike with emergency assistance for food, housing, medical needs, and other expenses. The fund will not provide cash assistance, but where appropriate, may pay one or more bills on behalf of the applicant, as recommended by the staff of the Actors Fund, which is assisting us in the distribution.

.....The Writers Guild Foundation is actively seeking contributions for this new fund. Initial contributions have already been made by Tom Smuts, creator of Founders Media Group and StrikeSwag.com; James L. Brooks; Red Clay Trust; Rene Balcer, on behalf of the staff writers on Law and Order; the Laugh Factory; and by Marti Noxon, Dawn Prestwich, and Nicole Yorkin, from the proceeds of December's Write Aid event.
Full article

1987 NY Times article

"The Trauma of Being a Kubrick Marine"

New York Times article dated July 1987 sent in by Tami - thank you!

2008 Edgar Award Nominees

Mystery Writers of America announced the 2008 Edgar Award Nominees

LOCI episode "Senseless" nomimated for ....

BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY

"It’s Alive" – Dexter, Teleplay by Daniel Cerone (Showtime)
"Yahrzeit" – Waking the Dead, Teleplay by Declan Croghan & Barbara Machin (BBC America)
"Pie-Lette" – Pushing Daisies, Teleplay by Bryan Fuller (ABC/Warner Bros Television
"Senseless" – Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Teleplay by Julie Martin & Siobhan Byrne O’Connor (Wolf Films/NBC Universal)
"Pilot" – Burn Notice, Teleplay by Matt Nix (USA Network/Fox Television Studios)

WGA Donates 200,000 Pencils To NYC Students

From Broadcastnewsroom.com, 1.16.08
By Linda Moss

Guild Also Disseminates Strike Symbols To Media Chiefs
The Writers Guild of America East, on strike since Nov. 5, Wednesday donated 200,000 pencils to the United Federation of Teachers for use by students in New York City.

Vincent joins the picketers!

UFT president Randi Weingarten accepted the donation at his headquarters and spoke, as the pencils were delivered by WGAE president Michael Winship and striking writers.

The pencils were purchased as part of the Pencils 2 Media Moguls effort, which encouraged fans of TV shows to purchase pencils to send to the media models who head the six companies that dominate the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

....Earlier in the day Wednesday, the WGAE held a large-scale picket outside the One Life To Live Studios on West 66 Street off of Central Park West. More than 250 striking WGAE members took part in the demonstration outside the ABC Studios, with John Leguizamo and Vincent D’Onofrio joining the line. Many actors from One Life To Live also stopped by and demonstrated their support, including David Frumero, John Brotherton and Tika Sumpter. More

Thanks VdoVault and Linda!


sent in by Laura C. - thank you!
__________
Also
In "PipeDream", 2.1.08
School’s back, where’s my TV?
By Chris Harnick, Associate Release Editor

About 60 people stood behind police barricades outside of ABC Studios carrying picket signs on a cloudy January day last month. The crowd kept the noise to chatter.

It seems for the first time, the Writers Guild of America was without words.

You don’t know the names of the writers who have been on strike since November 2007, but you might recognize their faces from awards shows. About two weeks ago on Jan. 16, the Guild was striking over their dispute for more residuals from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, but reports indicate informal talks between the two groups are going extremely well.

Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess have been working together as executive producers and writers on projects like “Northern Exposure” and “The Sopranos” since 1988. They had a development deal in place with CBS. But all that changed when the WGA began striking in early November 2007 in an attempt to get more residuals from DVD sales and a cut of the burgeoning Internet market. more

Thank you to Laura C.!

Studios cancel TV writer contracts

From The Los Angeles Times, 1.15.08
By Meg James, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

The move signals that the development of next season's programs could be in jeopardy because of the strike.

Conceding that the current television season cannot be salvaged, four major studios canceled dozens of writer contracts Monday.

The move signals that development of next season's crop of new shows also could be in jeopardy because of the 2-month-old writers strike. Typically, January marks the start of pilot season when networks order new comedies and dramas. But with writers not working, networks do not have a pool of scripts from which to choose.

20th Century Fox Television, CBS Paramount Network Television, NBC Universal and Warner Bros. Television each confirmed that they terminated development and production agreements. Such arrangements typically cost the studios $500,000 to $2 million a year per writer in order to pay them and their staffs and overhead while they develop ideas for new TV shows. More

Striking writers deserve more credit than they've gotten

The Daily Emerald, 1.15.08
By Matt Petryni

~excerpted~
At issue in the strike action is "digital residuals," among a few other things, which essentially means the writers want a meager 2.5 percent of the revenue generated from their work that's put on the Internet. Currently, the corporations that primarily profit argue the Internet market for film and television shows is unproved, and unlikely to generate much money. This is a re-hashing of the argument from the previous writers' strike, which dealt with video tape sales. During that strike, writers insisted videocassette tapes would one day be a major means by which their movies reach the viewing public. We all know now that the writers were wrong and no one watches movies on video. I'm guessing the Internet won't go anywhere either.

More seriously, writers tend to be, well, underappreciated in the entertainment industry. The striking Writers Guild of America might even call this an understatement, and with good reason. Most people familiar with television or cinema can easily name at least two dozen famous actors and actresses, if not more. Some especially savvy viewers can probably also list off a few of their favorite directors. It is very rare that you find, among even the most avid trivia mavens, someone who can name anymore than maybe two or three writers. I know I can't.
More
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~~Visit VDOVault's CI and the Striking Writers thread on theUSA Network Forum for donating snacks to the striking writers.

Thank You from LO:CI Writers

Sent in by VDO Vault (see her Snacks donation to the picketing writers) and Fans for the WGA -- and also sent in by Peachybc, Majorcase-ci.com and CariB. Thanks!

DGA, AMPTP to begin negotiations

From Variety, 1.11.08
Groundwork already laid for Saturday's talks
By CYNTHIA LITTLETON, DAVE MCNARY

After two weeks of informal talks to lay groundwork, the Directors Guild of America is set to begin formal negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on Saturday, the AMPTP and DGA said Friday in a joint statement.
DGA talks have taken on heightened significance in the context of the 11-week-old writers strike. Perception in the biz is that DGA has become the de facto negotiator for the WGA given the lack of communication between WGA and AMPTP since the latter broke off the last round of talks with writers on Dec. 7. More

Picket Fight - Rene Balcer nearly run down

'Law & Order' Showrunner Rene Balcer Victim Of Fox Employee's Picket Fight


From Deadline Hollywood Daily, 1.10.08
by Nikki Finke

"Not even a writer for Law & Order can get law and order when he needs it during the WGA strike. News Corp as well as striking writers have confirmed to me that an impatient Fox employee driving a black SUV got into a physical fracas with picketing Rene Balcer, showrunner of Law & Order and co-creator of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The altercation occured while Balcer was legally walking the line in the crosswalk of Fox Studios' Gate 3 off Avenue Of The Stars in Century City...

"...the driver drove into Balcer, began pushing him with his fender, and then got into a shoving match with the celebrated writer. Here's one witness account: "It's Mr. SUV's turn to wait for us to cross. He does not wait. He plows into us, knocking Rene Balcer back several feet. Then the guy leaps out of his car and takes a swing at Rene, and then shoves him out onto Avenue of the Stars. Thankfully, there was no traffic at that moment."..."
Full article

Thanks DJ and Peachybc

From Variety

N.Y. writers pick up pickets for 2008

From Hollywood Reporter, 1.10.08
by Gail Schiller

NEW YORK -- Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers and Richard Belzer joined about 300 protesters outside Viacom's Times Square offices for the first major New York City WGA picket line of 2008.

Writers walking the picket line on an unusually warm winter day reiterated that they were committed to the strike for the long haul despite mounting financial pressures.

"The reality is setting in that we must be right about the Internet because these people are absolutely refusing to negotiate so either they're just stubborn out of hubris or they're intelligent businessmen who know the Internet is the motherlode and they don't want to give us a piece of it," said Warren Leight, co-executive producer and showrunner for "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." "There's not a person in New York who's willing to go back to work for the offer they left on the table of $240 for a year's unlimited Internet use of an hourlong drama." More

Eric Bogosian's letter to Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily

From DeadlineHollywood.com, 1.3.08
by Nikki Finke

Eric Bogosian -- actor, playwright, screenwriter, and Writers Guild member for over 20 years -- emails me (and permits me to make his message public) about six issues he hasn't heard mentioned in all the talk about finances between the striking writers and the Big Media companies:

"1) In the spirit of 'residuals', the producers have never played fair. Contractually they short the writers (take a look at the international "buy-out", which isn't even being discussed in this negotiation) and then short the writers again by under-reporting income (again, especially internationally).

"2) In the new "Internet" age, for the first time, very exact accounting will be possible. Of course the advertisers will demand such exact accounting. Servers will be able to count the "hits" on any download very exactly. So potential residuals can potentially be calculated to the fraction of a dollar. More

Thank you to VDO Vault!
View VDOVault's updates on the FansforWGA LO:CI thread.

Viewers choose quality

From NewsandObserver.com, 1.3.08
By Danny Hooley, Staff Writer

Wow. When I asked TV Eye readers to list their favorite shows of 2007, I didn't expect so many of you to respond.
More than 50 readers (some of them online, which we'll get to in a moment) weighed in, and the results told me a lot about the viewing habits of people who read this column. You folks really like TV, for all the right reasons -- and the main one is quality entertainment.

- excerpted -

Here are the readers' picks:

1. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" on NBC/USA with 22* votes. Why the asterisk, you wonder? Someone posted my last installment of TV Eye on the Vincent D'Onofrio fan site thereelvincentdonofrio.com, and as a result, I got "Criminal Intent" votes from places as far away as Georgia, California and even London, England. Those should count, too, right? I mean, it doesn't reflect "our readership," per se, but you have to admire the dedication. And this fine police series is indeed worthy of such fandom. Full article.

sent in by Linda Stefaniak, who says she is still giggling......