Meeting Minutes
June 2026
AGT Meeting Agenda for June 2026
The Authors Guild of Tennessee held its monthly meeting on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Church, Farragut, from 10:30 until noon.
The following members were present:
Bill Barbour, Gary Butler, Bobbi Chapman, Gayle Curtin, Carmen Flores, John Forcum, Kaye George, Leoma Gilley, Jim Hartsell, David Johnston, Ernie Lancaster, Jerry Morton, Brian Mulliner, Cheryl Peyton, Nancy Pressley, Ron Pressley, Chuck Roseberry, Brenda Sellers, Kit Sexton, Marty Shoffner, Frank Snyder, Art Stewart, Jeri Weems, Victoria Winifred, and Curt Young.
Visitors: Elaine Jungk and Daniel Gracely
Welcome – Cheryl
Visitor Dan Gracely found AGT on AI, but after 3 attempts. He lives in Seymour and has two published books. He plans to make an application to join AGT.
Cheryl introduced our newest member, Brian Mulliner, who recently retired. In his career, he wrote briefs and articles and is now writing for pleasure. He leads a writers’ group at Kahite in Tellico Village.
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Committee Chairs.
Retail – Cheryl and Curt had an adventure putting books in Cup Runneth Over in Sweetwater. First, Curt delivered a tall double bookcase and two short bookcases. The next day, the manager didn’t want one of the tall ones or one of the short ones, and Curt picked them up. Two days later, she wanted the second half of the tall bookcase. When Cheryl and Curt arrived at 10 on Tuesday, Curt brought it in and had to take it out again. They left some children’s books and several adult books. All are standing as the owner wants them. Cheryl informed us that the Vonore Emporium has Brian Mulliner’s books and her mystery series.
Fairs and Festivals – Nancy reported that June is a busy month. This weekend is the Lenoir City Arts (one spot is open on Sunday). Next weekend is Southern Charm and Sweet Tea at the Venue in Lenoir City, then the Lavender Festival is in Oak Ridge on June 20. Five people are going to the Tomato Festival on July 17-18. The Scopes Festival will run two weekends in July at no charge. They really want us to come.
She is working on more. There is a Balloon Festival in August.
Program
Our speaker was AGT member Chuck Roseberry, who shared stories from his three decades of work on movie sets in Hollywood. Chuck’s new book, not yet released, is Blue Collar Hollywood. Chuck is about his experiences working alongside legendary movie stars.
Chuck worked in Hollywood from 1981 to 1999. He described 12-hour workdays and told of one occasion he worked 36 straight hours. It has taken him 8 years to write the book.
He began as a boom operator. Eventually, he became the assistant art director for “At Close Range,” where he had to grow corn in place of soybeans. He met his future wife in the locations department. During “Set Dresser in American Anthem,” he became an honorary member of a motorcycle gang.
His role as Art Department Production Assistant in “Howard the Duck” changed his career, even though the movie was a bomb. It led to his becoming the Set Dresser for “Teen Wolf,” which was released after “Back to the Future.”
The Prop Master controls anything an actor touches, eats, etc. While working for Roger Corman Studios, he had to work with a very low budget. He put oatmeal cookies in a bun to pretend they were hamburgers.
As Assistant Prop Master in “Weekend at Bernie’s,” the Prop Master changed Chuck’s career and became like a father to him
On one set, filmed in a gang neighborhood, the crew got caught in a gang war. Chuck had to duck for cover as bullets whizzed over his head.
When animals are required for a movie, a wrangler is hired to handle them. When a bunch of rattlesnakes got too loud on one set, the wrangler quieted their rattles by spraying them with a water bottle.
Obtaining his union card opened up opportunities for Chuck to have insurance, retirement benefits, and to work with union members.
His wife worked for the VP of Production, who introduced Chuck as his best friend, so he was hired.
He became the Supervising Prop Master for “Cheers.” One day’s work turned into three days, which turned into years at Paramount.
When he moved to Florida, he worked as the third broom Asst Prop Master because he needed a few more weeks to complete his work to qualify for retirement benefits.
Chuck offered his advice on how to get a book idea turned into a movie:
- Get an agent,
- Write a script using Final Draft software,
- Get an agent,
- Make a proof-of-concept video,
- Get an agent,
- Enter the Blacklist and get noticed.
- Get an agent
- Get a connection (I’m not one anymore)
- Get an agent
- Get lucky
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 12:10. Next meeting, July 2.
Respectfully submitted,
Leoma Gilley, Secretary