Crew Statement

The following is an on-the-record statement from inside the walls of Crew Creative.  If you only read this blog, you would think that Crew has only a couple of employees left and has a tumbleweed blowing past the entrance.  But, in fact, we are fully staffed, we are busy with work, and we are looking to the future.

Dear Colleagues,

On May 26, Crew Creative filed for Chapter 11 Reorganization (not closing our doors). First and foremost, we want to assure all our clients, vendors, and associates that the company has been recapitalized by our Lender to continue operations at the highest level. Our loyal team remains intact and is committed to providing the best creative solutions and client service in the entertainment industry (we’ve downsized slightly, but still have over 100 of the most talented people in the business).

Crew is in the process of restructuring its debt and hopes to emerge from Chapter 11 by the Fall of this year. This reorganization resulted from a failed merger attempt in 2008 to quickly grow the company just prior to one of the worst economic times in decades (so much for timing).  We have developed a new plan centering around our core businesses within the industry that will allow us to remain one of the strongest shops in town (focus on creativity and service, not world domination). 

We understand and embrace the challenge before us. We believe the path we have chosen will best serve all parties, including our trusted clients, vendors, and our dedicated associates (we are working tooth and nail to protect the value of the company for the creditors, vendors and freelancers).  We thank you for your support as we continue to focus on what we do best, which is Entertainment Marketing.

Jack (Jennifer and Charles)

Comments

[Anon]

"If you only read this blog..." What other movie- marketing-blog is there?

[Bean Counter]

I hope they thrive. I hope we all survive and thrive.
There should be enough work to go around.
The studios are making money hand over fist in this economy.
Network TV is hurting, but cable seems strong as ever.

Have a great summer.

[Moveonpeeps]

I mean after all the crap written on this blog it's nice to finally hear that this is being handled and the correct information is being disseminated. Who knew this particular sector of the business was so horrific to each other and so hungry to eat their own? It's a serious recession people! Wake up! We all want to thrive and do our best. We all want jobs and careers and to be creative. Let's hope we all can continue and that we all can be paid --and that Crew continues to be a responsible employer in the future. Good luck to everyone, including Damon and let's all move on for Pete's sake!

[Your Ex-Wife's Pool Boy]

It's not all crap.
This is a very competitive business we're in and one man's loss is another man's gain.
And all rumors ARE true.
Refreshing to have a community here. Not everyone is polite, but that's life.

[Moveonpeeps]

Yes you're right. My bad. All rumors are true. And there is a Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy is real. And Sarah Palin was a valid VP candidate. And Hollywood is all about truth and honesty. Dumb ass.

[Glas Halfempty]

"Moveonpeeps"...must be new in town.

[Moveonpeeps]

Not new. Just better informed.

[Notso Anonymous]

Not all rumors are true. Unfortunately, rumors are often connected to gossip, innuendo, wishful thinking, twisted versions of real information, etc. Let's just put it that way. The rumors are connected to something real a certain percentage of the time. But even when there is a connection (at least from what I've seen in these comments sections), what we end up hearing about doesn't necessarily have any resemblance to the real events.

Similarly, don't confuse official statements from a company with what's really happening at a company. I am hopeful that what's mentioned in this official statement is an accurate reflection of reality. At the very least, it looks like the best intentions of Jack, Jenny and Charles with a dash of "put your best face on" spin.

I'll tell you what. Whichever freelancer or vendor gets paid by Crew, please speak up - whether it's anonymous or not. That would only be fair, right? For all the smack that's been talked here, we should at least acknowledge when there's some sort of positive flow to the freelancers. And that would certainly give everyone else some hope that we might get some pennies on the dollar of what's owed to us.

[Banjo Socks]

I like the part of the statement where Jack, Jenny and Chuck pledged to forego any salary or income until everyone else is paid first. Well done!!

[givememymoney..]

a statement like that can only mean one thing....panic!

September? They will be lucky to make it to the 4th.

[Peevish Pixel]

What was it Kenneth Lay said to his employees and creditors before their "restructuring"?

[Sue D. Nimh]

What's with "working tooth and nail"? Is that anything like "fighting tirelessly"?

[Fool Me Once]

"Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no reason to panic....there are plenty of lifeboats for everyone..."

Let me first say, I really hope Crew pulls it off and thrives. I used to work for them and it was nothing but a great experience. And I know a lot of people who still work there and wouldn't want to see anyone on the street.

But I went through pretty much the same thing with another agency, and the similarities are eerily the same. At the time I believed all the happy talk, while everyone else was burning up the phones looking for another job. Three months later I was the one unemployed. The partners spent the "reorganization" setting up cushy deals elsewhere.

The reality is most of the essential vendors (messengers, art supplies, Canon repairs) are probably insisting on being paid C.O.D. now, which certainly doesn't help the cash flow. Not with the studios using every trick in the book to stall payments.

And the clients aren't stupid. OK, not THAT stupid. While there will be plenty on declarations of support (expect to see a LOT of hugging and air kissing at the Key Arts), they are more than likely double vending all their Crew projects out right now, "just in case". And there's no shortage of agencies actively trying to get the work. They'll happily finish the projects they have with Crew, but come Fall, the well will r u n d r y.

Again, I hope history doesn't repeat itself, but if you look back over the brief history of this industry, you'll see this is a lot more common and predictable than we'd all like it to be.

[Florence Nightingale]

Will anyone really miss Crew? I mean, one down 5 or 6 more agencies to go. There IS NOT enough work for everyone and those of us who want to remain in this industry will do whatever it takes to do so. This is bloodbath time, and the weak WILL be crushed. Crew had a good run, but now it's over. We look forward to the next lame vendor so we can put a bullet in their head too. It's every shop for itself. No more pleasantries. It's war!

[MooVeeNut]

That's not the light at the end of the tunnel....it's the train.

[Damn That Felt Good]

Having worked at studios and agencies, here's my opinion.

No client is going to feel confident placing their precious baby with an agency that has been freshly eviscerated. When news spreads that creatives are being laid off, asked to take pay cuts, jumping ship, hunting around for safer shores or being lured away by other agencies, customers get frightened. Remember...their ass is on the line. All they really care about is how good the agency makes them look. When that is jeopardized, even executives that CREW thought of as their "friends" will suddenly fall silent.

Secondly, remaining clients will apologetically pull and reassign the existing jobs when they realize that the creative juice is running dry, deadlines are missed, customer service is dwindling and expensive perks and gifts (as well as kickbacks - c'mon we all know it happens...) disappear. It's not very hard to tell when an agency's mojo and street cred are quickly evaporating.

There is no way to put a shiny spin on the demise of a company. CREW's remaining administration has announced to the world that everything is "business as usual", but everyone knows they are composing their next list of layoffs in the back room. Any ad agency's highest cost is creative salary overhead and it is the first thing to get whacked. The only way for them to survive at all will be to cut ALL unnecessary expenses, strip down to bare-bones minimum operating costs and start over.

Wake up people. The business of film advertising is overpopulated with greedy, backstabbing vendors and the studio's routinely (and criminally) abuse their power and inspire a frantic sense of "take no prisoners" competition. According to another (now retired) studio source, one Westside shop has "ignited" a price war by giving away their first round of (plagiarized) creative for free in order to lure new business. How can you compete with that?

With creatives making six-figure salaries and client budgets now almost non-existent, margins are miniscule. Add to that the well known fact that the majority of studios take 3 to 6 months to pay. As a clever video posted days ago demonstrated, studios routinely ask for discounts AFTER the work has been delivered. Many boutiques are forced to take out high interest loans just to cover their salaried employees payroll. It's a house of cards that will eventually fall. Even though the system of studio creative advertising is fundamentally broken there will always be bottom feeders to scrounge whatever they can - usually in the most felonious way possible.

Nobody wants to admit the awful truth, but that's why there are so many vitriolic responses on this blog. There are serious reasons that everybody feels so angry. Jealous studio execs think agency owners are getting too rich on their dime. Agency owners feel ripped off by their own talent, vendors and the studios. Creatives feel underpaid and overworked. Vendors compete for peanuts and then can't get paid. Sadly, what used to be a fun cottage industry has become a cesspool of fear and loathing driven by greed and ego.

To all the Pollyannas out there that are offended by these comments, DO NOT READ THIS BLOG. Go on believing in the kindness and generosity of the human spirit. But don't come crying here when you get F'd in the A. I heartily applaud Edwina's forum and encourage everyone to keep vomiting up their grief. It's therapeutic for all of us who has suffered the gross indignities of the film advertising business.

Suck on that!

[goodvibe07]

Sorry to disappoint the haters but Crew will be just fine. If clients are so unsure, why are new projects still coming in? Don't underestimate loyalty, which Crew has plenty of from their clients, employees, vendors, and yes, freelancers. Things are definitely improving around here. But you wouldn't know, because you are on the outside looking in. Now let's hear from a made-up insider. Anyone?

[Justin Time]

Look Damn that felt Good...

A lot of us have been in this industry for awhile. Some of your thoughts hold true, and others, not so much. ie: (Secondly, remaining clients will apologetically pull and reassign the existing jobs when they realize that the creative juice is running dry, deadlines are missed, customer service is dwindling and expensive perks and gifts (as well as kickbacks - c'mon we all know it happens.) disappear. It's not very hard to tell when an agency's mojo and street cred are quickly evaporating.)

NO client will ever leave an established relationship with an agency, so long as they continue to get creative marketing solves, along with the customer service they were previously given. AND kickbacks, really? That left with the Tony Sella, rockstar paid, coke snorting of hookers' asses days!

And for the record, the big sandwich shop as well as the Ants both had recent layoffs and restructuring issues. Should the studios bail on them as well?

[Notso Anonymous]

I appreciate someone responding to DTFG. Nothing like "everyone's evil, this business sucks, everyone hates everyone else, nothing will ever be good about anything" kind of philosophy about the world and our industry in particular. Can't say that I agree.

I also appreciate Justin's sentinment about loyalty; however, there's a nuanced correction that needs to be expressed. That is, studio execs are not loyal to "agencies" per se. They're loyal to people. Employees (at least in our business) aren't loyal to "brands"; they're also loyal to people. They might look like they're loyal to the company, if they don't have other options.

And for the record, I wouldn't categorize laying off 1-3 people, or even a half dozen people in the same boat as "restructuring" or certainly not Chapter 11.

[dezeinstein]

goodvibe07: Are the freelancers who are looking at getting paid 30 cents on the dollar really going to be loyal to Crew?

I have a small agency that's been around for a while (just a little bit past the coke snorting off hookers' asses days) and we're chugging along these tough times with crappy budgets, but also with lower overhead and smart, economical project management.

I've resisted several chances to 'go big' and have a crew of 20 or more creatives over the years, and, although I'll never get rich from this business, I am debt-free and have a loyal staff off full-times and freelancers, and regular, reasonable, collaborative clients (obviously not major studios) who don't keep us here all hours of the night.

I only wish the best to Crew and their crew - they've done some beautiful work over the years.

[twistedsoul]

clients, loyal???

please. wanna buy some swampland?

DTFG is money.

a lot of misinformed newbies out there.

best of luck CREW. burn in hell IGNITION.

[Reality Check]

Loyalty? BS.

When push comes to shove and your back is to the wall the reality is that BUSINESS and EVERYONE in it is loyal to one thing, the DOLLAR!

Go America!

[Fool Me Once]

Look - nobody wants Crew to fail. Freelancers don't need even more competition for what scarce work is out there. And the staff art directors at the other agencies don't want the Crew crew bigfooting their way into the pecking order.

But perception is reality in this business, and the perception is that Crew is going down. Just look at what happened to Shoolery to see how well this is likely to work out.

As for kickbacks, they are most definitely still around. Just scan the floor seats at a Laker game. Having worked at one of the studios, I can assure you that agency "Christmas Gifts" factored into who was assigned what.

[lucky]

Crew will be re-born. They made a critical mistake: putting all of their eggs in a basket hoping for a merger. didn't happen, economy collapsed, this is the fallout.

[Justin Time]

Notso Anonymous - I, as well as others, will have to disagree with your thoughts of studio execs being loyal to people. That used to be the case, and I will say, there probably are a couple of straggler execs that ARE loyal to particular Creative Directors and/or Partners. However the bottom line is, if an AE moves on to a competitor, they could possibly squeeze a couple rounds of work from a former exec-"friend", but at the end of the day, they are comfortable with the original shop that helped them along their promotions throughout their career(s). EVEN if that particular shop has let them down on few past projects. Is it fair for smaller shops and their talent? Hardly.

Unfortunately, its as old school as the 'kickbacks'. Just ask a 'current' studio exec as to what they receive as a 'perk' from the biz.

[Canary Inacoalmine]

"They're loyal to people."
OMG!!! Have you worked in this industry over a year??
We've all fallen for the BFF schtick more than once by pulling exec asses out of the fire, covering for them and making them shine thinking that it would make a difference in the long run. It doesn't. WAKE UP people. This is business, and a nasty business it is. No one gives a rat's ass, especially if you're on the vendor side.
The current climate is worse than ever and anyone who doubts kickbacks is rowing down da Nile. Having never played the "gift" game and relying on our quality and hard work, we've lost many a job over the years, while keeping our heads high, to people who routinely pay for sushi lunches, Laker tickets and big screen tv presents.
It stinks but it's nothing new and you just have to decide how you want to play the game so you can sleep at night and look yourself in the face in the morning.

[Gordon Gekko]

Kids - this is business. NOT personal. Anyone who thinks otherwise is naive. The client mantra is "what have you done for me TODAY." Don't be fooled by the smiles and handshakes. Everyone is on the take. And we all have to play the game or get off the field.

And in business, Darwinism takes over. It's survival of the fittest. Eat or be eaten. On Friday some of us will go to a meaningless event called the Key Art Awards. We'll go and mingle and be kind to each other secretly thinking every company is made up of hacks. I'll be there. I'll talk with you. We'll ruminate about the state of things. We'll clap for the winners and when it's all done, I'll come back to work and do everything in my power to beat everyone else out there so you all go out of business and I'll have a bigger piece of the pie. I'm pretty sure you all feel the same.

[Oltimer]

What the f*ck is wrong with you people? Have you nothing better to do or talk about? If studios really have no respect left for the vendor
(of which I am one)...who could blame them after this blog?

[Notso Anonymous]

Let me clarify my statement. No one individual can singlehandedly "bring work" wherever they go. However, if that individual does have strong relationships and they go to a place that either has strong creatives or they can quickly build a team of strong creatives around them, they will get work from those studio exec relationships. Studio Execs don't give work to "brands" except to the extent that they can use the name of a company as an excuse if the movie doesn't open: "Hey, I did my job. I used Ant Farm/BLT/Ignition/(fill in the blank)." Studio execs give work to people/a team of people that they know, wheher they're called Crew, Acme, (fill in the blank). Just ask Trailer Park what happened when Nick Temple left. They lost some business. Ask them what happened when Brad and Adam left. They lost some (perhaps, a great deal of) theatrical print work. Ask Intralink if they lost work when they lost David Stern, or Ryan and Barton, or Tom Merchant. Ask any company that's lost a high level creative or high level relationship-focused individual.

On another note, I do realize this is a competitive business. However, there is a lot of business to be had. I'm happy for my own competitors. They make me better. I consider some of them real friends. I respect who some of them are as human beings, dads/wives, fathers/mothers, volunteers in their respective communities, thoughtful people who challenge me intellectually and help me grow as an individual. Then, there are some who I wouldn't consider fishing buddies; but I can still have respect for them as human beings nonetheless.

[true dat]

You know why this business is so competitive?
Because there's so little at stake.
Just the Benji's

[Bacon Socks]

Because there's so little real "talent"...

[Notso Anonymous]

So little at stake? There are people's livelihoods at stake, people's families, etc.

I might be so bold as to say that this business helps to shape culture, helps to determine who's seeing what, helps to understand what audiences respond to, helps to create new ways of reaching audiences. I know it's easy to get lost in the day to day and to become very cynical, especially if all your input comes from the comments on this blog. But try to understand a bigger picture and look beyond the nose on your own face. The content/advertising this business produces reaches masses upon masses of people.

[Rosco]

BRAVO CREW !!! Tell it like it was and is. Smoke out the "hangers on", show them the door, and go take names and kick some butt.

[true dat]

That's all true. But look at what's paying your bills for the most part.

As Robert Altman said of Hollywood late in his career "They want a tailor, but I'm a shoemaker"

It's so competitive because it's ONLY money. You're reaching masses of people and not really saying anything. If it were about more than money there would be a greater sense of community. You can't share ideas and aspirations if you don't have any.

Film, art, design, whatever. It's all cultural production. But if you think the work you're doing for the studios is advancing our culture in any positive and meaningful way, i'd have to disagree. And I don't think it's cynical to call it what it is. It's a living.

[Leather Belt]

Enough of this. Doesn't anyone want to talk about David Carradine's Auto Erotic death?

[Grasshopper]

Not me.
I get choked up just thinking about it.

[Notso Anonymous]

You're right, true dat. I don't pretend to think that everything this community does is high ideal, high art, in depth philosophy/worldview stuff. But the fact is, this community does produce the content that gets in front of millions of people. I can't help but think that we have the opportunity to influence and shape culture. And at the very least, there is a connection between the ideals and philosophies of the people who are creating that content and the content itself.

[Kung Fu U]

Auto Erotic? I thought he died in a closet?

[Self Important]

"true dat" oy vey.

Let's shape some more culture with big Tom Hanks heads in the sky.

[true dat]

I believe what little content is produced is done so by the filmmakers.

Trailer editors take it apart and put it back together.
Print designers make an icon out of it.
Best case scenario.

Also, I'd much rather have THIS conversation than gleefully pour over the details of someone else's financial troubles :)

[Owner]

WOW. You are all so exhausting. Guys, life is not black and white. Many elements go into the day to day of our business. Especially when you're dealing with an intermingling of art and commerce. Talent, relationships, deal making, problem solving, etc. The list is endless. I've been involved in the movie marketing business for 25 years on both the vendor and client sides and you know what, things change. Life's a cycle. You make the best of the ups and you deal with the downs. Things change. You meet the creeps and egomaniacs and the sweet people and the talented. They come and go. Things change. So purge the vitriol and the crap spewing and go create a comp that will make an impact. Or a trailer or spot that brings some magic to the campaign. The company I work for recently did just that and it more than made up for any of the shit we had to put up with this year.

[Richard Hed]

Owner, how does your head fit through you office door?

[Owner]

Dickhead-
...oh...well...I guess your name says it all.

[Canary N.D. Coalmine]

"But the fact is, this community does produce the content that gets in front of millions of people."
::::Don't make me laugh.:::: Phillip-Morris produces cigarettes for millions of people. Very weak justification, Not SoAnon. Don't fool yourself into thinking anything we do matters other than to boost the bottom line for an industry that chews us up and spits us out without any regard for "people". It's one big ego jerk-off and we all know it even if you're not man enough to admit it publicly. (See, I managed to work in the whole Auto-erotic theme too...) That doesn't mean you can't take pride in your work and do the best job possible..just know it's a friggin job. We're not curing cancer.
I'm thrilled to see, after watching 25 yrs of grotesque butt-sucking that there are people who get it, aren't afraid to say it here and know there's more to life than the "designs" we produce that might "influence and shape culture." (that little doozy made me throw up in my mouth a little.)
Notso and Owner, back away from the Macs, put the stylus down and go home. Do something real and of actual importance...hug your kids and stop treating your waiters like shit.
Meanwhile keep the convo going. It's finally feeling real round here.

[Walsh]

"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

[Owner]

Yo Canary-
Nice post. Glad you "get it" too.
I just tucked the kids in and I tip 20% always.
Just keepin' it real.

[Gene Pool]

"influence and shape culture"?

You're kidding, right? Good work is constantly rejected because it's "too edgy" and not "mainstream" enough for "middle America". Even though such avant garde, counter culture companies such as Nike and Coke were doing similar work... back in 1994. Even the "hip" work Ignition rips off is 5 or 10 years old.

The studios run on fear and they'll stick with the big head in the sky because no one goes out on a limb. If they're feeling frisky they might throw in an "edgy" running figure, down below the Futura Bold logo.

Part of me doesn't blame them.... it's a no win situation. Marketing is always the scapegoat. Who do you think is going to take the fall for "Land of the Lost"? The marketing VP who OK'd the "Jurassic Park" retread ad campaign, or the braindead executive who thought "Will Ferrel meets Sid & Marty Krofft" was a summer blockbuster winner?

[Corey Nathan]

I'm not sure how "owner's" original post made him/her sound big headed at all. Seriously, it seemed to be about the most sensible comment I've read.

It's frustrating to see how much cynicism there is about this business by so many of the commenters. I also wonder how the tone of these comments might change if any of us actually had to take responsibility for our words. Hey Canary - "feeling real"? There's nothing real about projecting all that you do onto the character and lives of other commenters you might not happen to agree with, especially when you have the luxury of remaining anonymous.

Look, we all know crap movies get made and the best trailers are often version one. But I certainly respect someone who aspires to be great at what they do - even if it's only once in a rare while that the art and commerce meet up. I respect someone understanding the potential influence of what they do, taking that responsibility seriously and ernestly attempting to always do their best within all the obstacles and parameters that are thrown their way.

There are some who don't understand the difference between milk and piss. They're both merely the excretions of a body, right? But one is meant for waste and one is meant for nourishment. Many of the comments here seem to be complete waste. There are also some that, fortunately, seem to be attempts at something positive and productive. It'd be interesting to see the level of work that comes out of the different individuals behind the various anonymous comments.

[veteranofthepsychicwars]

"It's frustrating to see how much cynicism there is about this business by so many of the commenters".

thanks for piping in, Corey.

great comment about not hiding behind anonymity...

try to remember that line tomorrow when you're secretly calling some AE or AD behind the owners backs about jumping ship for an extra buck because it's in their best interest....no damage or bad kharma left in your wake.....just providing a public service...

no benefit for you in all this tragedy?

please.

[Corey Nathan]

I wish I did know who was behind these comments specifically so I could protect my clients from people who had such little regard for the industry they're in, the work they do and from those who are merely looking to "jump ship for an extra buck".

[Joey DePinto]

Well said Corey.

[Fool Me Once]

Three guesses who brokered Damon's Cimarron deal...

[Jimmy Dean]

Corey - You must be new in town. Let's see how you feel after a quarter century in the movie marketing meat grinder. Let's see what's left of your wide-eyed optimism by then. Good luck
with that "Protecting Your Clients" thing. I'm sure they're doing the same for you.

[Notso Anonymous]

That's a fair jab, Fool Me Once; but Damon & Farina knew each other directly from their dealings at the AEMA.

[Fool Me Once]

No offense to Corey, but his comments are more than a little disingenuous - his entire business model is predicated on a constant churn of the creatives in this business. If everyone was content and happy, he'd be out of business.

[Rat Bastard Freelancer]

If everyone were content and happy I'd never get any new business!

[Joey DePinto]

Jimmy Dean, are you new in town? Seriously, how can you have been in this business for 25 years and not know Corey Nathan?

He's a great guy and works hard to match great talent with great companies. If you haven't heard of him, perhaps you're neither. That you think Corey's comments classify him as a "wide-eyed optimist" says a lot more about you and your own cynicism than it does about him.

[Name Withheld]

I think Coery is a great guy with a solid reputation, but he should've known better than to put his name on this blog.

[Notso Anonymous]

It would've been even more disingenuous to criticize people for hiding behind their anonymous comments with putting his own name to it.

[J. Dean]

Never heard of him. Sorry.

http://tinyurl.com/lwc2vx

[J. Dean]

Oh, THAT Corey Nathan
(http://tinyurl.com/ngbzo6)...

[Owner]

What is with you all? How nasty can you get? You ever sit down and TALK TO or Corey? How can you take jabs at a guy you don't even know? He made a business where there was none by helping to get talented people paid what they deserve. There is constant movement in business. People are never perfectly content or happy. That's just people's nature. He didn't invent headhunting, he just brought it into the mainstream of our business.

[Oscar Mayer]

Jimmy Dean is a sausage... someone who has been ground up by this business.

[Iceberg Slim]

Corey is a GREAT guy!!!

[KFC]

Agreed, Corey is the best.

[Easy Bigfella]

The nature of what he does might be a pretty easy target (kind of like "the mainstream media" seemed like an easy, convenient target during the last election cycle for one particular party) - if you've never actually dealt with him directly. I would say that if you have that strong of an opinion about him or if he's ever done wrong by you, call him or write him directly. He seems to be a pretty stand up guy who's capable of owning up if he needs to. But most people who've dealt with him know he makes the effort to not recruit people that are under contract or even people who are perfectly happy where they're at. The nature of what he does is aggressive. But he's always done his job ethically.

[Mrs. Magillicutty]

I've read an awful lot of whining on this blog from a bunch of angry people who seem to be very unhappy and ungrateful. I suggest each of the whiners and haters do the following:

Get a new job where you're responsible for about 30 children who don't belong to you, and make them do work that they may not necessarily want to do for 6.5 hours each day. Spend another 3 hours checking the work and planning for the next days activities. Spend another hour each day communicating with or responding to parents who believe that every problem their child is having is your fault. Spend another hour each day doing meaningless paperwork that your boss has deemed necessary b/c the state has passed new legislation regarding new standards.

And do it for $40-$80k per year.

Okay, this doesn't sound fun? Try spending your day with shitbags all day to protect the rest of the community from them. No? How about putting your life on the line everyday simply to save other people's property and an occasional life?

No? Not for you? Then quit your bitchin and be happy your making f-ing posters for movies for a living for twice what teachers, cops, and firefighters are making...

[di]

Hurry! Mrs. Magillicutty needs a tampon.

[Mrs. Magillicutty]

Is "di" short for diarrhea of the mouth???

[stpthblsht]

It's actually short for 'di'dn't graduate high school.

[Notso Anonymous]

Hey - Not sure if anyone's still reading this thread. I was wondering if there was some platform for the various smaller scale creditors (i.e. freelancers, smal co. vendors, etc.) of Crew to gather together to discuss how we might be able to get some consideration in the BK proceedings. My fear is that the little guys, especially if it's just a number of scattered individuals, will get completely washed out. Wells Fargo, for all intents and purposes is now the owner of Crew - and I'll bet they're going to see to their own interests first. I also suspect that if that's the case, the clients at the studios won't work nearly as hard to make any sorts of timely payments if they make payments at all. But is it too idealistic to think that if a bunch of us get together, we can at least have a voice at the table and perhaps even help the overall process by working with the studios to collect on Crew's (pre-BK) invoices? Any thoughts on this would be most helpful - other than those who might just want to take snarky, malicious shots at me just for saying this.

[Mrs. Magillicutty]

I own a bunch of Wells Fargo stock. Does that mean I'm a partner at Crew?

[Notso Anonymous]

I own a bunch of Wamu and Wachovia stock. Does that mean... oh wait...

[T. Geithner]

Good luck with that idea...

[Unpaid Freelancer]

I just want to get paid from ALL the work I did. My time is not free... and Crew not paying freelancers is a huge mistake. Pay all of us since we did the work for you. Not one mention in the statement about all of the freelancers that they are stealing from. Gee, I wonder why?

[Notso Anonymous]

Thanks for piping up Unpaid Freelancer. Again, don't you think we'd have a better shot at getting any kind of money if there was some sort of gathering together? That's really the only way I see there being any consideration being made in the bankruptcy proceedings.