The writers are striking, WGA and AMPTP leaders are horn-locked. Wouldn’t it be great if a studio head took the reins into his or her hands? Well, don’t count on Sony’s Amy Pascal to rally the negotiation teams. This time next week Pascal, and husband Bernie Weinraub, will travel half way across the world and spend the weekend in Tel Aviv, where they will meet local filmmakers for a master-class entitled “How to break into Hollywood”. Alongside Pascal on the stage of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque will be ex-Disney chief Nina Jacobson, writer-producer Mark Platt, writer-director Brad Silberling and Oscar winner (but not-Nobel winner) documentarist Davis Guggenheim. Hey, maybe an impromptu negotiations session will ensue. Who knows. (or: hey, they’ll realize their town is ablaze, cancel their pep-talk and stay home, each one on his side of the picket line).
And indeed, foreign filmmakers, how do you break into Hollywood? a) don’t be a writer, or don’t expect to make money out of it; or b) call up Lati Grobman. Scabs are wanted.