XPost: rec.arts.movies.current-films, rec.arts.sf.tv   
   From: am.swallow@eatspam.btinternet.com   
      
   "Michael Johnson"  wrote in message   
   news:grja90d0o6uj7eakus2a708rm8ti7bdsg4@4ax.com...   
   [snip]   
      
   > I think there is plenty there to drive some good films, while at the   
   > same time being able to use the stars from the series which don't   
   > incur major actor salary overhead.   
   >   
   > Bruce Boxleitner? Mira Furlan? Andreas Katsulas? Jerry Doyle? Pat   
   > Tallman?   
   >   
   > Not exactly what you would call B or even C list and i'm sure every   
   > one of them would kill to get a movie deal for just character actor   
   > money.   
   >   
      
   There is one way that JMS can pay the artists more with   
   out going over budget.  Include a New Technologies   
   residues clause in their contract.  The clause should   
   last as long as the film is in copyright.   
      
   No new display/distribution technologies then no money.   
   Since the suits did not written a new technologies   
   royalty cheque last year and will not be writing one this   
   year the studios will consider this free money and are   
   likely to capitulate in any arguments.  The successes   
   in a decade's time may get a shock.   
      
   The advantage to the studios is that the film can be   
   sent for distribution without having to get additional   
   approval from the actors, directors or musicians.   
   There are rumours that some egos refused to allow   
   their films to be sent to DVDs.   
      
   The BBC's lawyers have already sneaked a royalty free   
   clause into its complete a book competition.   
      
   A New Technology is defined as any method of   
   commercially showing or distributing a film, including   
   methods not yet invented, that is not explicitly named   
   in the artist's contract or standard union agreement.   
      
   Possibilities include:   
   Selling the play on flash memory chips,.  (Like those   
   used in digital camera)   
   Selling the play on computer disks.   
   On demand down loading to home computer   
   via the internet.  Both national and international.   
   Downloading to the video iPods. (iPlay?).   
   User to user distribution via satellites.   
   Grandson of DVD.   
   Holographic TV.   
   And of course data crystal.   
   (There will be others.)   
      
   Andrew Swallow   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)