3/23/18
I. MUSICIAN ABUSE STORY NOW IN THE MEDIA
II. A MOLE ON THE BOARD?
III. LOCAL DOES THE RIGHT THING (NO, REALLY)
IV. COMMENTS
V. EVENTS
…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer ’
…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’ scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician
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I. BULLIED MUSICIAN GOES PUBLIC – from SLIPPED DISC website
Here is the full story in the media of the musician’s story – you
can also watch the video of her being harassed by Grayson.
Luanne Homzy, a gifted musician who was concertmaster at Colburn as a
student, says she has been bullied by AFM Local 47 in a case of mistaken
identity. The fight has cost Luanne $15,000.
Here’s her post:
In August of 2016, I found out through back channels that I was
being accused by AFM Local 47 for taking part in a non union
recording session at which I was not present, yet one month later,
I was formally charged by the AFM. Erick Cruz (whose back
you will see in this video – not able to look at me) made the
fraudulent claim that it was me in the photos he took of a
musician walking on a street with a violin case.
During the time between the leaking of the list of accused
musicians and officially charging me, Mr. Cruz was given
information that I was in a different county at the time,
yet he and his “colleagues” still went ahead with charging
me. As soon as I received the official charge in September
2016, my attorney, who I had made aware of the situation
when the information had been leaked to me in August
2016, replied with my phone location records and signed
receipts from the day and time of the alleged session.
However, as you will see in this video from late October
2016, Gordon Grayson (who was recently fired from the
Local) still hadn’t removed my charge, more than 2 months
after I had found out I was being falsely accused.
I have since spent over $15,000 defending myself against
the slanderous claims made about me and distributed with
intent by the Local, not to mention the harassment,
intimidation, false promises, and threats that would
follow. I was presented with an unlawful NDA by the
local in exchange for a public apology and reimbursement
of approximately 40% of my legal fees (which at the
time totalled to about 10K), yet if I were to breach the
agreement, I would owe the Local $10,000, and another
$20,000 if I breached it a second time. I refused to sign
such an agreement, so, tonight, I break my silence and
I ask for your solidarity as I take a stand for what is
right.
Keeping silent will only allow them to keep getting away
with their behavior and abuse of power, and I do not wish
upon anyone the mental, financial, and emotional misery
they have intentionally inflicted upon me. The Union
cannot continue to abuse its members when they should
be looking out for them. Shame on you Local 47.
I am not alone, and there are numerous accounts of this kind
of union thuggery. I’m collecting stories like mine for an
upcoming news feature, so please feel free to reach out to
me if you are (or someone you know is) interested in sharing
their story — my wish is that this will bring awareness and
ultimately put a stop to this kind of harassment.
(This is footage from my car’s dash cam, from October 2016
when I was accosted by union officials in the parking lot of
Local 47, after going in for help with filling out music prep
forms.)
[EC: Watch the video: You could fill a dumptruck with the
BS spewed by Grayson]
=========================
II. THE LOCAL BOARD HAS A MOLE?
Related comment from an anonymous source.
Executive board to issue a public statement
regarding the victim of “misidentification.
Plan is to discredit claims….admin in
shambles. Female board member PG breaking
executive session confidentiality to
colleagues and contractors attempting
to slam accuser.
Board used as puppet.
Watch what the local will do….
you heard it here first.
=========================
III. LOCAL DOES THE RIGHT THING
Message from Charles Fernandez:
After letters to the officers and much research
and evidence to back up my claim of double
charging, the Local chose to send me refund
check for my 2018 dues.
While this situation should never have happened,
I am grateful that someone at the Local saw that
they needed to do the right thing.
Would they have done the right thing if I had not
found another musician in virtually the same
situation that they refunded? Talk amongst
yourselves.
You know what they say, “Even an broken clock…”
This should serve as an example to members:
If you choose Fi-Core status and have recently
paid your annual dues, you must be re-imbursed
by either refund of dues OR transfer of membership
dues to the fi-core fee.
Charles Fernandez
=================================
IV. COMMENTS
At that Village session, union cronies
tried to sneak in 3 times posing as
workers, and have shown up at this
composers sessions several times.
[EC: Their conduct toward the composer
is illegal.
1) If he IS a union member, the union
cannot say squat about what they do.
There is no COMPOSERS wing of the union.
It’s truly none of their business what a
composer does.
Composing is not covered in any union
scale.
2) If he is NOT a union member, they
have even less to say about the situation.
It’s truly none of their business.
Either way, the Local is looking to
get themselves served with a class action
lawsuit from composers and conductors if
they don’t stop breaking the law and
back off.
Conductor? None of your business.
Composer? None of your business
Remember that Mr. Acosta.]
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Hopefully, John and Eric will be fired over this.
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We need to get rid of special payments,
they only benefit a few people.
The VP can’t tell members to play
non-union gigs and then bust them
————————-
From “TAKE BACK OUR LOCAL”
Feel free to TEXT MESSAGE your “President”
John Acosta and let him know what YOU THINK
about the job he is doing: 323-337-7631
————————-
I understand that unions need to represent
union work but… they are hiring
representatives that are second rate
which the 47 bored approves.
Cause those bored people think they
have a handle on it while pinching
pennies at incompetent personnel
hoping the problem will be clinched
in the end.
This is going to cost 47 some money.
We all know how musicians are viciously
taken out in La La Land behind close
doors without hearing the other side.
I found it interesting that they
sought her out in the parking
lot rather then in the building.
————————-
You seem to be expecting ethical conduct
from people who have been proven unethical.
————————-
At least keeping both payments for the whole
year should not be a policy…perhaps some kind
of pro-rate? Do you think that they do this to
incentivize people from going if-core during any
given year…having to pay more to a union that
does everything it can to keep union work
confined to a few?
————————-
Interesting question….just what part of the
bylaws applies to the fi-core “members”?
EC: No part of the bylaws mention or apply to
financial core musicians}
================================
V. EVENTS
DEAN AND RICHARD are now at Culver City Elks
the first Friday of every month.
7:30pm-10:30pm,
11160 Washington Pl.
Culver City, 90232
310-839-8891
——————————————————
HELIX COLLECTIVE COMPOSING OPPORTUNITY –
DEADLINE, MARCH 25TH!
Apply to have your original score performed live-to-
picture by Helix Collective at the 2018 Los Angeles
Live Score Film Festival! Apply with a link to your
video reel and a PDF score.
Application deadline: March 25, 2018
APPLY HERE
More info: www.lalsff.org
LASFF Trailer Video
The Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival features
short films with original scores performed live-to-
picture. The 2018 festival on Saturday, July 21st
at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre is presented by
Helix Collective in collaboration with the
Academy of Scoring Arts. Films for the 2018 festival
are curated by the faculty at the New York Film
Academy, Columbia College, Hollywood, and
the L.A. Film School.
Selected film composers are paired with a winning
filmmaker to create an original score for the festival.
The film is screened with the score performed live
by the renowned performance and recording ensemble,
Helix Collective. The screening includes an interview
with the filmmakers and composers. Awards for Best
Picture and Best Musical Score are presented at the
close of the festival.
Now in it’s fifth season, LALSFF’s goal is to highlight
the role of collaboration between composers and
filmmakers. Acting like a talent agent, the festival
brings experts in the two disciplines together. At the
screenings, filmmakers and composers hear and
see the work of new colleagues, meet new collaborators,
and establish working relationships with each other.
Helix Collective www.helixcollective.net
3/25/18
LA WINDS CONCERT THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 25TH
Stars of the LA Winds!
Come out and hear a concert featuring members of the
LA Winds as composers, arrangers and soloists!
Greg Anderson – Trumpet
Charles Fernandez – Arranger
Mark Marcus, Saxophone
Debbie MacMurray – Piccolo
Caryn Rasmussin – Saxophone
Andrea Vancura – Composer
Gabriel Velasco – Trumpet/Flugel
Join us afterwards for our Wine Tasting Reception! This
concert takes place at the Performing Arts Center of Agoura
High School with a No host post-concert reception at the
Boar Dough Tasting Room in Agoura.
4/4/18
FREE GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS
BRENDAN WHITE Piano Recital
Works by SORABJI & DEBUSSY.
http://glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com
Thank you!
Jacqueline Suzuki
Curator, Glendale Noon Concerts
818 249-5108
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PLAYING THE MUSIC OF Rogers & Hart, George Shearing,
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UNTIL NEXT TIME,
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47