Writers on Strike

If you follow this kind of thing, you may have heard that the Writer’s Guild of America, who represent movie and TV scribes, called for a strike yesterday. Listen here.

As I understand it, the chief bone of contention relates to $$$ from DVD sales and new media (web, streaming, phone-cast) rights. Of course the real problem is that Hollywood has been screwing writers since the days of silent movies–but I digress. I mean, what are you going to do?  Compensate the person who creates the story?

Anyway, this could be interesting. A lot of the TV writers also co-produce their shows, so do those guys continue to shoot and somehow abstain from rewriting scenes that aren’t working? How many crappy new ‘reality’ shows will we be subjected to? Will Hollywood have to resort to remaking the same tired movies again and again? Wait…

You know the real losers here–those poor execs, producers, and actors who never get enough money or adulation.

Here are the strike rules. They’re kind of interesting. I’ve been on a mini-strike myself lately when it comes to writing; unfortunately it has nothing to do with getting paid.

More Quality Podcasting

…from writers I can personally recommend.

This one courtesy of Mark V., who did a piece for the Chicago Public Radio show, Hello Beautiful. Linky.

Mark and other writers take a shot with stories named for the show. It’s part of the ‘Same Title, Different Story’ project. He’s up at about the 13 minute mark, part of Act II. Here’s the promotional photo:

Mark also has a new show at Donnie’s Skybox Theater in Chicago, called Blind Stinkin’, which is bound to be great fun–the kind of comedy you can sink those Halloween teeth into.

Harry Potter, Part the Seventh

Finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows a few weeks ago and have been biding time and reflecting before posting a review and commentary.

At one point a couple of weekends back, while staying at my Mom’s house, we had three copies of the book out for three people (for the wife, my sister, and me). The fourth copy, my Mom’s, was on the road with her. So JK did well by the Beems. This is something I love about Harry Potter and will truly miss: The excitement. The anticipation. Kids and adults in deep conversations about books… Folks at work saw me reading over lunch, and we talked about Harry–folks I wouldn’t necessarily have pegged as readers.

A cultural phenomenon tied to reading books. Hasn’t it been grand? In a time of ever diminishing attention spans and cheaper faster interactive media, HP has provided hope (and $$$) to book people. Let’s hope it wasn’t an anomaly.

Comments on The Deathly Hallows after the bump. Be forewarned, the rest of this post assumes you’ve read the book and are for some reason interested in what I have to say. Mega-spoilers abound.

My Last Fantasy & Science Fiction issue

I’ve a subscriber to The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction for about ten years now, and I’m done with it. For awhile, at least. My last issue along with the warning of pending subscription cancellation arrived last week.

Thought about letting F&SF lapse before, but always came up with reasons to keep it. Well, not this time. Instead I’m taking the money I would’ve spent on this mag, and putting it toward a couple of other smaller subscriptions. This allows me to continue to support short sci-fiction and enjoy a greater range of stories.

And why am I letting my sub to F&SF lapse? It’s pretty simple, really…

The World Calls it Football

…and here it’s soccer.  That’s cool with me.  I like gridiron football just fine (BTW, go to nike.football.com and you won’t see any helmets), and basketball’s my favorite to watch and play–so long as it’s college.  But soccer has been growing on me the last decade or so, to the point that it’s firmly second on my sports list.

Now this guys shows up.  Is he a savior, a marketing ploy, the beginning of the end?  Depends on who you ask.  I will tell you that his arrival has bumped up soccer in the American consciousness, and that’s a good thing.

Dog Demolisher Still At Large…

…click here for the pdf of Black Oak Presents, Spring 2007.

‘The Case of the Dog Demolisher’: part mystery, part reflection on smalltown life. Here’s your first paragraph:

What really catches your eye when entering Sheriff Reg’s office is the trophy head trio: an alligator from Louisiana, an Alaskan gray wolf, and a twelve-point buck from right here in Haver County. Dead as can be, yet still fierce and stately in their way. I know they never really had a chance because the Sheriff is a crack shot with every breed of firearm. He does a shooting exhibition every year when the carnival-and-tractor show comes to town—one reason why he keeps getting reelected.* More…

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Also, Black Oak Media has just released their Summer issue, including some art by a friend of mine, Perry Hines. Check it out.

*from ;The Case of the Dog Demolisher’, Copyright 2007, Scott Beem

Welcome

Good. Bad. I’m the one with the gun… blog.

Welcome. The myspace blog and occasional mega-update emails just weren’t cutting it anymore, so here we are. What to expect?

Geeklog goodness, writing and reading, reviews, soccer, life in IL, comics, sci-fi, Illini… Whatever else comes up. Check back often and spread the word.