Save Union Music at the Greek

wearethegreek#WeAreTheGreek campaign seeks to keep the Greek a family-operated – and union-friendly – venue

Nederlander Concerts, the family-owned company that has run the Greek Theatre for over 30 years with a collective bargaining agreement with Local 47, is in danger of losing its contract to Live Nation, putting union music at the historic venue at risk.

Last month, Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks commissioners recommended in favor of a takeover by national conglomerate Live Nation, which has no obligation to negotiate a CBA. Continue reading →

Acupuncture for Musicians

by Stephanie Hayman

In the music world, injuries may occur frequently as musicians often push beyond their limits. Inadequate rest, unhealthy eating habits, improper posture and mental and emotional strain compound this problem. With a musician’s hectic lifestyle, sufficient time is often not allowed for the body to heal. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory (especially steroids) medications are often used to dull the aches and pains. It’s a quick and easy approach, but only a temporary fix.

By medicinally covering up pain, stiffness, swelling, or aches, you may be masking a deeper problem. These symptoms are signals from your body telling you that something is weakened and out of balance. These warning signals are telling you to stop, rest, and heal. Continue reading →

Local 47 Reps at Inaugural Union Jobs Festival

Local 47 Electronic Media Division Administrator Gordon Grayson and Communications Director Linda Rapka manned the Local 47 booth at the Union Jobs Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Plaza. Photo by Linda A. Rapka

Local 47 Electronic Media Division Administrator Gordon Grayson and Communications Director Linda Rapka manned the Local 47 booth at the Union Jobs Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Plaza. Photo by Linda A. Rapka

Local 47 was proud to participate in the inaugural Union Jobs Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 at the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Plaza.

Hosted by Congresswoman Karen Bass, the event welcomed more than 1,000 visitors to learn about area unions and labor-friendly organizations. Joining representatives from Working Californians, IBEW Local 18, LAANE, the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, MTA, SCOPE, SFUA Local 709, Repower LA, and many more, Local 47 Electronic Media Division Administrator Gordon Grayson and Communications Director Linda Rapka were on hand to share information about Local 47, the Referral Service, and our #listenLA project.

Local 47 congratulates and thanks festival coordinator Anthony Mack for his efforts in putting together a very successful festival. Should this become an annual event as hoped, Mack looks forward to featuring a concert with Local 47 musicians at next year’s festival.

#listenLA spotlight: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Expecto Patronum! Composer Timothy Williams casts his melodic spell over the Los Angeles Local 47 orchestra on the Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage with his music for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction at Universal Park Japan. Photo: Kori Chappell

Hogwarts attraction at Universal Park Japan gets a taste of Los Angeles with Timothy Williams’ musical score

To the delight of muggles around the world, a Harry Potter themed attraction opened earlier this year in Osaka, Japan. The impressive Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a life-size imagining of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, complete with various rides and special effects. The music heard throughout the $442 million attraction was scored by a Los Angeles orchestra last December on the Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage, with composer Timothy Williams conducting his works.

Read the full story at listen-la.com!

AFM Inks Innovative New Recording Deals

Agreements mark new efforts by the musicians union to create more flexible contracts

by Linda A. Rapka

The AFM and Local 47 recently inked two innovative agreements.

One new deal with Los Angeles-based company Confidential Music allows for unique provisions regarding trailer music. Musicians receive a payment when creating the music beds for trailers, then a second scale payment when the music is licensed into a trailer.

“Being able to record orchestras in Los Angeles has always been something Confidential Music was very interested in,” said co-founder Kyle Biane.  “The world of movie trailer music is a constantly developing and competitive market. We are always striving to develop a new and unique approach in both our writing and production. We do this not only to stay competitive, but to expand the art form. Now that we have the ability to call upon the talents of Local 47 here in Los Angeles, the possibilities are truly endless.” Continue reading →

Free Movie Screening – ‘1M1: Hollywood Horns of the Golden Years’

1M1-poster-lg
Free Movie Screening:
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2:30 pm

Local 47 Serena Kay & Earl Williams Auditorium
817 Vine St. Hollywood CA 90038
Free & open to the public
Run time: 75 min

“1M1: Hollywood Horns of the Golden Years” is a documentary film from director/producer Annie Bosler about the history of the Los Angeles film studio French horn players from the 1920s through the 1960s. Featuring numerous interviews with L.A. music legends and narrated by Jon Burlingame, the film follows the development of the motion picture industry and its battles with the musicians’ union. The groundbreaking film uncovers many of the brilliant, never before acknowledged horn soloists of the big screen.

“Music can stand alone, but film cannot live without music.” — John Williams, Composer of Film Music

“The legacy of the Hollywood horn sound is like no other anywhere in the world.” — Richard Todd, Hollywood Horn Player

1m1hollywoodhorns.com

An Inspired Royal Visit

During his visit to Local 47, Saava Karim was kind enough to perform his ngoma (the Swahili word for “drum”). Photos: Nate Herrera

During his visit to Local 47, Saava Karim was kind enough to perform his ngoma (the Swahili word for “drum”). Photo: Nate Herrera

Ugandan prince and musician activist Saava Karim Nsubuga visits the Hollywood musicians union to spread his message of peace and unity

by Linda A. Rapka

The Hollywood musicians union was paid a royal visit last month by Saava Karim Nsubuga, a prince from Uganda and professional musician who is an activist with the Uganda Musicians Union.

Wearing a handsome white and gold hand-stitched kazu, the traditional tunic worn by men in East Africa, and kufi hat and vest made of bark cloth elaborately decorated with jewels and shells, the saava (Swahili word for “prince”) met with Local 47 officers and Overture staff. In his work as membership mobilization secretary of the Uganda Musicians Union, established in 1998, Saava Karim said he is using his time in the United States to learn more about unionism and how he can help improve the quality of life for working musicians in Uganda. Continue reading →

The Simpsons Take the Bowl

Photo by Matthew Imaging

Photo by Matthew Imaging

by Linda A. Rapka

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performs under the baton of Homer Simpson (aka Principal Conductor Thomas Wilkins). Photo by Matthew Imaging.

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performs under the baton of Homer Simpson (aka Principal Conductor Thomas Wilkins). Photo by Matthew Imaging

Springfield descended upon the Hollywood Bowl last month during an unprecedented three-day concert extravaganza celebrating the music of “The Simpsons.”

Preceding the show’s milestone 26th season, “The Simpsons Take the Bowl” premiered Friday, Sept. 12, and continued through the warm summer weekend. Guests filtering into the venue were greeted by “Simpsons” visuals throughout: ribbons of giant pink donuts cascading overhead; a jumbo blowup of Blinky, Springfield’s infamous three-eyed nuclear fish; the Duff Beer blimp (in balloon form) hovering over the amphitheater; and of course, “Simpsons” characters in full costume, greeting and taking pictures with excited guests of all ages. Continue reading →

CA Film and TV Tax Credit Gets Major Boost

With much fanfare from the local entertainment industry, Gov. Jerry Brown signs AB 1839 into law at a ceremony outside the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Sept. 18. Photo: Courtesy IATSE Local 600

With much fanfare from the local entertainment industry, Gov. Jerry Brown signs AB 1839 into law at a ceremony outside the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Sept. 18. Photo: Courtesy IATSE Local 600

Entertainment workers up and down the state celebrate Gov. Brown signing into law AB 1839

by Linda A. Rapka

On Sept. 18, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law AB 1839, a bill that strengthens our state’s film and TV tax credit program to bring more entertainment jobs back to California.

This effort has been years in the making. Local 47 and the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles worked closely with SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Teamsters, DGA and others to form a coalition to lobby and pass this important legislation. Continue reading →