The Hollywood writers strike gets even more complicated as The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists breaks connections with its more powerful sister union, the Screen Actors Guild.

AFTRA’s board of directors voted Saturday to separately negotiate its upcoming prime-time television contract with the major studios — without SAG at the bargaining table.

While each group has its own list of grievances against each other — and agendas to pursue the big question is:

when will this strike be over, already???

One of Hollywood’s richest and most talented producer / managers is Brad Grey. A veteran in the biz (he’s been there for 23 years) he was responsible for the Sopranos and Just Shoot Me (he earned net profits of $262 million on that show — and an additional $50,000 fee per episode). He also handled A-list clients like Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.

One industry insider said, “There are 20 people who basically run this town. Brad can get any of them on the phone immediately. They answer his call because they never know what he might say that will be vital for them to hear.”

Get into the brilliant (and some would say, twisted) mind of one of the greatest directors and writers that Hollywood has ever known, Woody Allen. The book
Conversations with Woody Allen: His FIlms, the Movies, and Moviemaking by Eric Lax is as entertaining as its subject, and is dotted with quotes that are, well, so Woody Allen.

Allen explains many of the nuances of his films, his decision to make a “mockumentary” (long before the phrase was coined, and the project became trendy) and how he handles the cut-throat competition and general cattiness of Hollywood.

Excellent buy.

What do Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, the Marx Brothers, Clara Bow, Tallulah Bankhead, and Humphrey Bogart have in common?

These Hollywood stars were all residents of the apartment called Garden of Allah, which stood on Sunset and Crescent Heights. This was right in front of Schwab’s Pharmacy, and due to the location and prestigious residents, was a Hollywood hub. Celebrities gathered here for parties, lunches, private and very exclusive get-togethers. Get an invitation to the Garden of Allah, and you know you’ve arrived.

Unfortunately the apartment was torn down, a tragedy that Joni Mitchell sung about in her song “Big Yellow Taxi”: paving paradise and putting up a parking lot.

Sam Goldwyn is one of the key players in Hollywood History. He established many of the major studios — including paramount, MGM, and United Artists. He produced several films, including classics like “Guys And Dolls” and “Wuthering HEights” and worked with directors like Billy Wilder, and Ford, and actors like Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Brando.

Goldwyn epitomized the success of the Hollywood dream, rising from poverty as an uneducated Jewish immigrant to one of the industry’s movers and shakers. He had a quirky sense of humor.
and is credited with phrases like, “Gentlemen, include me out” and “a verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.”

In 1946, he also said: “Hollywood pays too much attention on star value and not enough on entertainment value.” So true!

Who are the smartest people in the entertainment world? EW magazine attempts to make a list, naming the showbiz industry’s brightest minds. The criteria? They had to be at the top of their game, consistently cited by their peers as the best in their line of work. It also looked at all aspects of entertainment, going behind the scenes to the technical team who put the movie together, and management team who make those important decisions based on sheer “instinct.” Of its 50 names, here are the top 10.

1. Judd Apatow, director/writer/producer
2. Steven Spielberg, director/producer
3. James Cameron, director/producer
4. Ari Emanuel, partner of the Endeavor Agency
5. Will Smith, actor/producer
6. Meryl Streep, actress
7. Peter Rice, president of Fox Searchlight
8. Tyler Perry, actor/director/writer/producer
9. David Heyman, producer
10. John Knoll, visual-effects supervisor of Industrial Light & Magic

People who benefitted others in their line of work were placed higher on the list than the loners. EW claimed that they did 3 months of research, live interviews and consideration before finalizing this list. To read the entire list of the Top 50 Smartest People in Hollywood, please visit the source.

Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has announced his engagement to Georgina Chapman, a fashion designer.

While Weinstein is over 20 years older than she is, but there’s nothing sexier than a couple of millions and the reputation of being one of Hollywood’s movers and shakers. He’s often spotted at big events, rubbing elbows with a-list celebrities, and signing billion-dollar contracts before his first morning cup of coffee. He and his brother started Miramax, which they left to form another group, the Weinstein Co.

The writer’s strike has got many people thinking about the Hollywood economy — and how most of the industry don’t lead the glamorous, luxurious life of A-list celebrities.

Though the 2006 study of the Motion Picture Association of America pins the average HOllywood salary at $73,000 a year, most employees get much, much lower than that. The average includes executive salaries, which reach millions of dollars a year. But carpenters, set decorators and scriptwriters are lucky to get $50,000 to $80,000 annually.

Pretty good rate, but factor in that these jobs aren’t steady. Most will work 8 months of a year, and will have to audition or bid for positions. Writer Diana Ljungaeus says “it’s milearned a place where everyone is something else.” Cab drivers are directors, cashiers are stand up comics. Most take two or three jobs to support a craft.

“Very few people can live off the arts of TV, theater and film. It’s a few that can and they live well. The rest of the hopeful are just struggling,” she adds.

Hollywood doesn’t have its own government, but because of its special status as the movie capital of the world, it does have an honorary mayor. And that is Johnny Grant, who’s held the job for decades. .

Grant is a radio personality and TV producer, who gained fame for the way he covered the murder trial of Irby Holmes. He was the first to give periodic live reports of the trial, after he managed to persuade the judge to let him stay by the doorway. Until then, no live microphone was ever permitted in a courtroom.

The defendant was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. But the part-time preacher begged the judge to deliver one last sermon. No go—but he was allowed to write it, and Grant later read that on air. Grant also hosted the first national telethon, and appeared in a few films. He won the Emmy Award twice.

Grant was chosen as Mayor, however, for his strong community involvement: he was a National Guard volunteer (receiving the Order of California twice), and has chaired the Fire Commission, Social Service Commission, and Police Commission.

The Hollywood writers guild and producers have reached a plateau in their discussions about pay.

Most Hollywood production outfits have gone multi-media, spinning off TV content to web or mobile. Great for the viewers, but unfair for the writers. They’re seeking additional compensation when their materials are reproduced in new content platforms like DVDs, the Internet, or the mobile phone. If the talks don’t get resolved soon, the writers may call a strike. Reruns, anyone?