[Fmpro] Poop......... instead of 'turd' - OFFLIST
Rick Blanc
pazuni at sbcglobal.net
Mon Sep 17 17:42:08 GMT 2007
I didn't actually "decide" to post it to the
net. I didn't realize what happened until it
was done, i.e., that I had received a private
note in error -- I hit 'Reply' and that was it.
Sometimes all the addresses are there sometimes
not and I add them. I don't remember that
detail.
Anyway, even if someone is "bitter" what does
that mean? It cannot be used to denigrate
someone's character, in my opinion. Maybe it
just means they've gotten to a certain level of
experience in life: been burned a few times.
Bitterness doesn't mean someone is wrong, or
irrational for that matter. To me that means,
in this context, that if Les were bitter, as has
been alleged, it in no way effects his
testimony.
Rick
----- Original Message -----
From: Pete
To: fmpro at nxport.com
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 12:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Fmpro] Poop......... instead of 'turd' - OFFLIST
First let me apologize. My private "offlist" email was
meant to be a positive note of encouragement to Chris.
I never meant to publicly call Les "jaded and bitter".
I accidentally sent my "offlist" email to Rick's reply
to Chris. And then Rick decided to post it publicly to
the list.
That said, I think Les would agree that he is
"bitter". And, I've told him in private that I thought
he was "jaded". And I stand by my statement that "I
think in the end, he's really a good guy."
I agree with Mark that I'd love to "invite Les to give
us some history lessons and share some of his past
experiences with the list." And, maybe he can resist
the temptation to shoot down us innocent starry-eyed
dreamers.
Without dreams (balanced by knowledge) there can be no
progress.
Best,
P e t e
S u r d o v a l
--- Mark Northam <mnortham at gmdgroup.com> wrote:
> On 9/16/07 11:27 PM, "Rick Blanc"
> <pazuni at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Pete
> > To: pazuni at sbcglobal.net
> > Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 10:46 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Fmpro] Poop......... instead of
> 'turd' - OFFLIST
> >
> >
> > Hey Chris,
> >
> > As someone who has done battle on the FMPRO
> list, and
> > particularly Les, I understand how mentally
> draining
> > it can be.
> >
> > Like you, I've had only the most positive
> intentions.
> > Les, unfortunately, is a bitter, jaded soldier
> in our
> > fight. I think in the end, he's really a good
> guy.
> > Absorb his wisdom, but don't let him suck you
> down.
> >
> > Keep your spirit up!
> > Pete Surdoval
>
>
> I think rather than calling less "bitter and jaded",
> it would be more
> insightful to look into why he may be coming off
> this way to others...
>
> Les has put more time, energy and money into PRO
> reform than anyone else I
> know. He traveled to DC on his own nickel to talk to
> the DOJ, not knowing
> they had already secretly completed the infamous
> AFJ2 deal which has led to
> many of the most outrageous ASCAP practices we see
> today, starting with
> 1,250 signatures to get on the ballot for
> independent candidates.
>
> Tens of thousands of composers get settling for
> lousy royalty rates for
> their music because it doesn't have lyrics. Who
> decided that "having lyrics"
> made a minute of music worth 500% more than music
> that didn't? Songwriters
> and lyricists, of course. Les has battled this for
> years now, and has been
> highly effective here in LA at getting a lot of
> issues to the forefront and
> helping composers understand what's going on. And I
> say this from personal
> experience - had I not met Les Hurdle and learned
> from him what the "real
> deal" was with the PROs, I would never have done the
> investigation I did and
> continue to do in this area. And I can tell you that
> when first confronted
> with the truth about the PROs and instrumental
> music, I didn't believe it.
> It took Les months to convince me to look deeper
> than the glossy brochures
> and the website and see the truth behind how
> instrumental music is tracked
> and paid by the PROs.
>
> But while Les has continually demonstrated the
> oppressive and unfair actions
> of the PROs to many, most composers have not chosen
> to act on that
> information and work for better royalties. Why is a
> good question. Maybe
> they're afraid of the PROs, maybe they don't care,
> maybe they're getting
> special deals to keep quiet, maybe their getting
> sponsorships, or maybe they
> just don't care about the industry, only themselves.
> Who knows. But it's
> perhaps our industry's biggest problem - even when
> faced with mountains of
> direct evidence of unfair treatment that is costing
> composers millions of
> dollars per year, most composers do nothing, at
> least publicly.
>
> Never in my life have I seen an industry full of
> people so ready and willing
> to be treated so poorly. Never. It amazes me every
> day - I wonder what more
> I can do about it, but faced with the sea of apathy
> and fear that is out
> there, it's daunting. Or maybe those decades of PRO
> conditioning that our
> music is "worth less" have taken their toll and the
> collective industry has
> been conditioned for long enough to just "take it" -
> I don't know.
>
> If anything I hear frustration in Les. Frustration
> with his fellow composers
> that so many are so complacent with the situation,
> frustration that so few
> are ready to spend time, energy and money to try and
> get composers some
> respect and fairness from the PROs, and frustration
> that the PRO's efforts
> over the last 12 years to get Les written off as a
> "troublemaker" because
> (in my opinion) he's been so effective at revealing
> so many embarrassing
> facts about them are even taking hold here on the
> FMPRO list.
>
> Les himself will tell you he's not a diplomat, and
> his shorthand (we're
> considering a quiz - whoever can correctly translate
> 10 of Les' top
> shorthand abbreviations wins a prize! - Seriously.)
> leaves some in the dust,
> and it's fair to say and Les will probably agree
> that he's not the most
> patient person in the world when confronted with
> people who don't "get it"
> yet.
>
> But Les Hurdle, in my book, is ultimately
> responsible for more PRO knowledge
> and education getting to composers than anyone else
> I know. Sadly, the
> revealing PRO's continued determination to get Les
> written off as a
> troublemaker has taken its toll with the uninformed.
> I think we know better.
>
> Rather than continue the current debate, and since
> Les' experience with the
> PRO battles is so extensive, I'd like to invite Les
> to give us some history
> lessons and share some of his past experiences with
> the list. I can tell you
> I've learned a lot from his experiences, and I think
> others will too. Les,
> it's up to you, but I hope you'll take me up on
> this.
>
> Best,
>
> Mark Northam
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> The Film Music Pro List is sponsored by Film Music
> Magazine - http://www.filmmusicmag.com
>
> To edit your list options or unsubscribe, visit:
> http://nxport.com/mailman/listinfo/fmpro
>
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.
http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545433
_______________________________________________
The Film Music Pro List is sponsored by Film Music Magazine - http://www.filmmusicmag.com
To edit your list options or unsubscribe, visit:
http://nxport.com/mailman/listinfo/fmpro
More information about the FMPRO
mailing list