August 09, 2006
Becca's been spotted
Becca "Social Butterfly" Greene has been spotted on the intra-web once again.
If you're a regular Rocketboom.com viewer, then you've already seen her work...maybe.
Becca appears in todays broadcast during the Dodgeball segment. In a blink-and-you'll-miss-her performance, Becca can be seen eating delicious snacky-snacks as Denis from Dodgeball is being interviewed.
If you want to see Becca eating on the internet, congrats, your wish has been granted.
See it here.
For the next week, I, Will Nunziata, intend to eat Gyro's non-stop in front of any and all cameras I see about NYC in the hopes of it making it online.
The race is on Becca...the race is on!
August 06, 2006
Jerry Miller in the News
If you didn't know, Jerry "Bub" Miller, is currently the only Royal We member that makes his living as an actor. Everyone else has day jobs at non-actory institutions. For example, I, Will Nunziata, am a receptionist. Why? Because I've always been great at recepting.
One of the main Jerry Miller acting gigs is performing an ass-load of shows at the American Girl Place Theater. Being a boy, I never heard of American Girl, but apparently it's a huge corporation that makes these expensive dolls for pre-teen girls. The company makes like a billion-million-trillion dollars a year. Most of the business is done through catalogs and the American Girl website, but they do have 3 stores in the USA.
These stores are huge! They have all the dolls and all the accompanying story books to go with these dolls...they even have a salon where you can get your dolls hair cut and styled. They also have real-people clothes, so you can dress like your favorite doll.
(Why couldn't 'GI Joe' have a mega-store?)
"What does this have to do with Jerry?" Asks a reader.
"Wait for it." Will replies.
Um, Here it is.
The NYC mega store has a really nice theater where little girls and their parents can pay ridiculous prices to watch your favorite characters perform. Currently there are 3 different shows running. A musical, a play, and a show for little, little kids.
Jerry's in the Musical, and the little, little kids show.
Want proof?
Jerry as "Bitty Puppy." (actually, that pic might not be Jerry, but thats the costume anyways.)
Jerry works a fulltime schedule as an actor at this theater. Shows at American Girl are frequently sold-out. A dream gig for an actor, right?
Nope.
Nothing could be further from the truth. American Girl Place refuses to accomodate the actors request to unionize. 14 of the 18 actors employed at the theater want to join Actors Equity, and American Girl replied by denying them promised raises with the excuse "we now know where your hearts really lie."
All Jerry wants is the same as every other Equity performer, some basic employment rights. Health Insurance. Think about it, if Jerry is singing his ass off and fucks up his voice and needs a doctor, he has to pay for it out of pocket so he can continue being employed. Equal pay for equal work is what the actors need. There are actors at smaller theaters, in shows which are half-sold, working less hours, less rehearsals, less vocally challenging roles, and those actors are making DOUBLE. It's not fair.
Plus, if Jerry gets in the Union, The Royal We will have to put an asterisk next to his name in the program for our shows. The Royal We hearts the asterisk.
So the actors went on strike. And luckily for them, the press was there. During the strike, American Girl put up half-assed shows, still charging out the nose for tickets.
American Girl's response..."no comment."
Here's what the Press had to say:
(The Royal We's own Jerry Miller is quoted in most of the articles)
The AP story as carried by Newsday
More Gawker coverage: Now with video starring Jerry mid-strike!
Actors Equity on the strike (with more links)
American Girl will also be making a film based on its characters. Will those actors be allowed to be in a union?
Support Jerry, and call American Girl at 1-877-AG PLACE and tell them you support the NYC actors in their fight to unionize. And please boycott American Girl Place until this matter is resolved.
Thanks,
Will (on behalf of Jerry*)
*This actor appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association. Equity Approved Showcase.
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The New York Times reports that as an act of good faith, the actors have returned to work and the actors are still going ahead with plans of unionizing. No response from American Girl.
August 03, 2006
Beeca Been NYPress'd
Here's another shimmering example of how Becca is a lot cooler than me.
Party crashing in the Hamptons
http://www.nypress.com/19/31/news&columns/feature.cfm