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vanthebrand.bsky.social
Van
@vanthebrand.bsky.social
920 followers 170 following 110 posts
WGA 2023 strike captain
TV Writer (Brooklyn 99)
Screenwriter (Fist Fight)
Minion Wrangler

more info: https://van.link
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vanthebrand.bsky.social
Some mixed news: I did not win the election for WGA Secretary-Treasurer but I did win the estate sale auction for Larry King's 1988 Cable Ace Award for Best Talk Show.
Van’s face reflected in an award trophy with a wooden base and a mirror finished spade. A small plaque reads NINTH ANNUAL ACE WINNER Talk Show Series Larry King Live CNN
September 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
…and a video of it in action in the lab.
June 6, 2025 at 3:42 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
Here’s a rendering of the process…
June 6, 2025 at 3:42 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
The technology uses laser pulses of varying intensity and wavelength to encode the information into silica crystals. It is in the process of being commercialized but has yet to be functionally utilized outside of the lab…until Luther perfected it of course.
A black man wearing a black beanie and a dark leather jacket with a high collar (Luther Stickell as portrayed by Ving Rhames) stands against a dark blue background giving a characteristic, but eve-so-subtle smirk
June 6, 2025 at 3:42 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
It was developed by the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Center by Professor Peter Kazansky. (Pictured here with the entity?)
A middle aged white man wearing a white shirt, dark jacket and glasses stands in front of a background featuring a colorful, pixelated sphere the looks frighteningly similar to the circular undulating patterns of data used to represent the digital consciousness “the Entity” in the most recent Mission Impossible.
June 6, 2025 at 3:42 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
The five dimensions are the three spatial dimensions (width, length, and height) plus two optical dimensions (polarization and intensity of light) which allows for high density storage.
A hand holds a small, transparent circular disc with a faint iridescent center against a black background, showcasing a 5D optical data storage medium. Two fingers hold a transparent disc showing diagrams of DNA and text that reads "Preserving Human Genetic Code for Eternity," above a rectangle of encoded data, illustrating the application of 5D data storage for genetic information.
June 6, 2025 at 3:42 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
The Mission Impossible 5D Optical Data Drive sounds silly but for what it’s worth, that’s the real name for a real storage technology.
Screen grab of Mission Impossible Final Reckoning. Willaim Doneloe holds a glowing cuboid and looks at it. Subtitles show him say “It’s a 5D optical data drive.”
June 6, 2025 at 3:42 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
Van Robichaux
Norms Hotcake Pile, 2025
Social Media Post
A warmly lit, shallow-focus photo of a fresh stack of golden pancakes on a plate at Norms Diner on La Cienega, resting beside the griddle amid a bustling kitchen scene
April 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
L.A. has the most insane gas price spread.
Same side of the street, same brand of gas, but about 1000 yards north…$1.20 cheaper!?
February 28, 2025 at 12:53 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
Seeing the Accountant 2 with the boys opening night
movie selection chart with every other seat empty
February 14, 2025 at 11:38 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
My main man Mitch ready for action
February 13, 2025 at 6:51 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
Fun video my wife’s iPhone made of the old show I used to do with my pal Mitch
February 9, 2025 at 6:20 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
men of the house
Van, Lucky Blue, and Graham Nash in Laurel Canyon
January 31, 2025 at 4:15 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
January 27, 2025 at 3:14 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
Minion huh? Well he’s got the hat for it, besides that brand a chaos’ll fit right in here in the patch. Don’t matter to me if somebody used to run with a villain—what kinda men you think I’ve worked for? Ain’t been heroes…tell you that much.
Landman on the phone hiring Tim the Minion to work the patch Tim the Minion excited to start a new career in petroleum mineral rights management.
January 27, 2025 at 1:06 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
I will never sign another if/come deal and neither should you.
END IF/COME DEALS If/come deals made some sense when there was a network buying schedule that created a small window where a sale would either happen or not happen. Under the current system of year round development and vertical integration, if/come deals only make sense as a way for companies to abuse writers. I'm done with if/come deals. I will never, ever sign one again and neither should you! We should amend our internal rules to prohibit making if/come deals. We don't need the get this in the MBA, we can do it ourselves with an internal vote. Some say eliminating if/come deals could disadvantage younger, less established writers, but in my experience, what disadvantages these less established writers most is the status quo of allowing them to get trapped in YEARS of unpaid if/come development.
July 22, 2023 at 6:53 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
We must not forget about the Teamsters or anyone else who has stepped up to support us.
WORKING TOGETHER The inter-guild solidarity this year has been incredible to witness. As a dual member who also belongs to The Animation Guild, l've been able to experience it from both sides and have been heartened by what l've heard on both fronts. What I can't stress enough though, is that we owe the Teamsters a debt of gratitude and must live up to that when their contract is negotiated. Some of that responsibility will fall on all of us, but some will fall on our showrunner members who will surely be pressured by studios to work around the Teamsters when and if they go on strike. I strongly encourage those members to remember this moment when a studio asks you to do something like suddenly film everything on a greenscreen, so they won't need any trucks or whatever tactic studios propose that might undermine your fellow workers. Stand up for the Teamsters and stand up for yourself if that happens. The guild won't be able to force you to honor this debt, but I hope you will.
July 22, 2023 at 6:51 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
The studios are all hiring data scientists. We need our own.
BIG DATA Traditionally the studios employ lawyers to figure out ways around the terms of our MBA and individual contracts, and so the guild and individual members employ our own lawyers to fight back. There's a new area where we also need to match some of their power. Following Netflix's lead, studios now employ dozens of data scientists to analyze all their digital data, not only on viewership and revenue, but also of their costs and payments to writers and other creative partners. They use this data to set budgets as well as determine the best opportunities to put downward pressure on our income. The guild needs to counter this by hiring its own internal, modern data scientists. The guild possesses an abundance of data on residual payments, deals, late pay, foreign levies, and more. In fact, because we have data from every company, we have a data advantage in some areas over any one company. By collaborating with our sister unions, we can compile even more data. Using the same open source data tools the companies use, a union data scientist would be able to determine, for example, things like which shows are most likely underpaying residuals and should be audited. Currently, studios can evade consequences for underpayment until someone notices, and sometimes no one ever notices. We can't audit every show, but by analyzing our existing data, we can determine where to allocate our resources effectively. Additionally, if we succeed in getting streaming data transparency we will need the capacity to analyze and verify that information.
July 22, 2023 at 6:51 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
We need to stand together after the strike and not leave the burden of enforcing our rules on individual writers.
THE STRIKE In the current strike we've exhibited an inspiring level of solidarity. It's been breathtaking to witness our members from all areas and levels of experience coming together and supporting each other. We need to stick together and stay out until there is a fair deal for members from every area. I believe this will happen no matter who wins this election, but it's so important it deserves repeating. AUTOMATING ENFORCEMENT I want to change the WA process for collecting interest on late pay from the current opt-in system, in which the guild stresses it won't act on late pay without a writer giving the okay, to an opt-out system, where the guild will automatically seek payment & interest if a writer has not been paid within a certain amount of time. The current system is well intentioned, but places too much of the burden on the writer. As a result, many of our most vulnerable writers are either unaware they can exercise these rights or are afraid they will be singled out if th
July 22, 2023 at 6:45 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
I’ve worked as a writer in almost every area including animation. I have a degree in economics, a background in computer science, and am a dedicated advocate of organized labor. I want to use my skills to help all members benefit from our union protections.
I've been a member for over 10 years, a captain for 5 years, and the assistant lot coordinator at Television City since we went on strike. I was also part of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group that provided recommendations to the negotiating committee to help shape the 2023 contract proposals. l've worked as a feature writer, a TV staff writer, a comedy/variety writer, and I'm a dual WA/IATSE-TAG member. I have a degree in Economics and a background in technology and want to serve the membership by sharing my unique perspective, as well as through my dedication to our union and the labor movement. My immediate goals for the guild include actionable solutions to end free work and late pay, banning if/come deals, enforcement of contract gains, and maintaining and expanding the unprecedented inter-union solidarity. we've forged this past year.
July 22, 2023 at 6:43 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
I’m running for the WGA Board of Directors.

I want to ENFORCE OUR GAINS, AUTOMATE COLLECTION OF LATE PAY, use BIG DATA ANALYSIS to locate underpayments, BAN IF/COME DEALS, and SUPPORT OUR SISTER UNIONS. 🧵
Van Robichaux For Board Of Directors In last year's WA election I was the only candidate to bring up Artificial Intelligence. I'm thrilled the strike will give us the opportunity to negotiate Al protections, but for Al-just like late pay, free work, and other abuses-enforcing the terms is as important as what's in the contract. Van Robichaux photo from his WGA Candidate site.
July 22, 2023 at 6:39 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
So you want AI to write scripts? Careful what you wish for…
May 18, 2023 at 9:20 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
Back at it today with my pops. Vans United.
May 12, 2023 at 12:37 AM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
On the WGA picket line with my dad Van. He's lawyer now but he paid for law school working as a Teamster in the 70s.
Two Vans picketing at CBS Television City in Los Angeles.
May 9, 2023 at 3:20 PM
vanthebrand.bsky.social
“Bluesky, this is Van”
May 2, 2023 at 6:25 AM