Powerpuff
Girls Cast Update: The Day is Saved! ...And Lost Again?
Gookie
Thu Jan 25 00:38:17 2001
In the
wee hours of the morning, I received this news direct from a PPG cast
member, stating the following:
Thanks to all the publicity,
Cartoon Network agreed to a better deal for the three girls. Now they
start to negotiate for the rest of the cast.
Thank you so much.
A huge thank you to all the fans who have offered their support for
the actors.
But it's not over yet! Let Cartoon Network know that the rest of the
cast is just as important to the show's success. [See the links at
the close of this article for the details.] It's a team effort, and
it's a great cast. The fans certainly don't want to hear sound-alikes
for Mojo Jojo (Roger Jackson), Professor Utonium and "Him" (Tom Kane),
the Mayor and the Narrator (Tom Kenny), Sara Bellum (Jennifer Martin),
Miss Keane (Jennifer Hale) and the other members of the supporting
cast: Jeff Bennett, Rob Paulsen, Chuck McCann, Jim Cummings, Carlos
Alazraqui, Frank Welker, and Kevin Michael Richardson. [And my apologies
if I've neglected to mention other supporting cast members.]
What fans aren't yet aware of regarding these negotiations is the
sad truth that there is actually a "bad guy" in this situation.
Steven J. Stark of The
Hollywood Reporter published an article Wednesday revealing evidence
of something fans are all too familiar with: corporate greed.
According to a Cartoon Network representative, The Powerpuff Girls
"generated about $350 million in merchandising revenue last year",
having only been on the network for 2 years.
Apparently, the network isn't willing to share any of those profits,
even with those to whom credit is due. As of Wednesday, Cartoon Network
had informed the agents of Catherine Cavadini (Blossom), Tara Strong
(Bubbles), and E.G. Daily (Buttercup) "that their clients [would]
not be paid more than scale for their services and that there will
be no back-end participation".
Stark reported, Sources said Cartoon Network has offered Strong,
Daily and Cavadini about $5,000 for a guaranteed five sessions and
that the typical pay would range from $7,500-$10,000 each.
The actresses' agents would not confirm the offers but said the back-end
participation is more important that the upfront payment.
ICM senior vp Jeff Danis, who represents Cavadini and Daily, said
Cartoon Network's offer is not competitive with what the marketplace
will bear or what other movie companies have paid for similar types
of service.
A Cartoon Network spokeswoman said the executives involved in the
negotiations researched comparable salaries for animated properties
and believe the offer the network made was more than generous. While
"the situation is not ideal," the network believes it made fair offers
to Strong, Cavadini and Daily.
Stevens said what it boils down to and what "has gotten really frustrating"
is that he and his client have tried to come up with creative ways
to be a "risk partner" in the "Powerpuff Girls" movie with the understanding
that Cartoon Network is a younger network and is nervous about doing
its first feature.
Danis said that with a franchise as successful as "Powerpuff Girls,"
he thinks it would be important to maintain its integrity.
"These voice actors have worked very hard to give great performances,"
Danis said. "I truly find it disingenuous to come to us with offers
that are so far below the market trends."
Danis said every animated TV series made into a feature film has maintained
the cast and has done extremely well at the boxoffice, so sharing
some of the profits with his clients on the back end would not be
extreme.
"You cannot underestimate the built-in following these voices have,"
Danis said. "My child will know the difference."
Following this business report on the negotiations, here is a first-hand,
down-to-earth account from one of the show's own cast members (who
has asked to remain anonymous "for the time being"). This is a combination
of two separate messages from the cast member. Please keep in mind
that these messages were received prior to the announcement that the
first negotiations were successful. [The first was received last Thursday
(1.18.2001), and a second one yesterday (1.24.2001), shortly before
receiving the latest news that the first negotiations were successful.]
Unfortunately, it's true that Cartoon Network is trying to find replacements
for the cast. So far, it's just the girls [Catherine, Tara, and E.G.],
but if they make the rest of us the same insulting offer for the feature
film, then they'll be replacing us as well.
They [Cartoon Network] keep saying, "There's no 'track record' for
the PPG's as a feature film, and we don't know if it will make any
money, so we won't pay very much."
What they're offering is about a TENTH of what the cast of The Rugrats
got for their last film ["Rugrats In Paris: The Movie"].
And that's for the Three PPG's. What they're proposing to pay the
rest of the cast is about what an actor in a single 30-second TV commercial
would make to sell a PPGs toy. [And I'm not] exaggerating.
And this for a film they brag in the Trades will make $100 million
dollars.
It's not just for our pockets that we're holding out... If we take
their embarrassing offer, it will lower the bar for the entire industry.
And [voice-over] people are already totally disrespected as it is.
When the negotiations started, [Cartoon Network] actually tried to
negotiate a 'package deal'. Their offer to the girls for TWO feature
films and an entire season of PPGs was less than I got
for just ONE [animated] feature.* And their offer to me was HALF that.
We scrapped that, and said we would only negotiate for the one feature.
The bulk of the negotiating is for the girls. There has been a little
talk about the rest of us, but it will be the deal for the girls that
sets the rate for the rest of the cast, so they're doing them first.
As far as I know, it is just Cartoon Network involved. Warner Brothers
isn't in this.
As far as we know, only two talent agencies, William Morris and CED
[Cunningham, Escott & Dipene] have participated in the re-casting.
The rest said no.
We'll see what happens.
Thanks for your support.
* letters in bold added for emphasis
Please
see our previous reports on the cast negotiations in the links below
for contact information and other details offering ways that you can
help show your support for the supporting cast members which are now
in negotiations with Cartoon Network.
Toon
Zone News (1.18.2001): Powerpuff Girls Update: Craig McCracken Responds
Toon
Zone News (1.14.2001): Powerpuff Girls May Lose Their Voices
In semi-related news... did Cartoon Network make an indirect reference
to the PPG cast negotiations in their Toon
Tattler newsletter? Judge for yourself - here's an excerpt:
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 17:54:57
Subject: [cartoonnetwork.newsletter] The Toon Tattler, Vol. 2, Issue
1
Psst! Toon Tattler here with the latest report from inside CartoonNetwork.com.
I just got out of a planning meeting that was supposed to be top-secret,
but hold on to your mops, 'cause I'm spilling the beans:
------------
** TATTLER TIDBIT **
Rumor has it Dee Dee of the hit laffer "Dexter's Laboratory" has been
in meetings with Cartoon Network for weeks negotiating her new contract.
The twinkle-toed star's demands include a padded ballet studio and
pony stable in her trailer. The network has countered with three cotton
balls and a 50-cent goldfish. No end to the stalemate is in sight...
Toon Tattler
January 2001
Some fans have said that the similarities
are merely "coincidental", that it's probably related only to the
recent news that Dexter's Laboratory returns to CN in November with
all-new episodes, and implies nothing about the PPG cast negotiations.
Others commented that it could be intended as satire, while others
stated that the reference was "inappropriate", and in "bad taste"
as it does appear that they are making sport of the situation. And
it could very well just be a case of bad timing and coincidence.
What do you think? Post your thoughts to The
Warner Bros Club Bulletin Board.
Craig Crumpton
aka "Gookie", Toon Zone Staff
aka "Voiceroy", Host: Voice
Actor Appreciation
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