Strike News

WGA Update: Talks Resume on Nov 26

By: Jarrod Sarafin, News Editor
Source: Variety
Date: Saturday, November 17, 2007

The famous Hollywood Sign.

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It seems that talking between sides will resume very soon inside Hollywood. Variety reports that AMPTPA and WGA have issued the following statement to the press.

"Leaders from the AMPTP and the WGA have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26," the statement said. "No other details or press statements will be issued."

Until now, AMPTPA insisted that the strike needed to end before they went back to the bargaining table with the WGA. They seemed to have dropped that stance after numerous productions have shut down due to the work stoppage. It doesn't help their cause that two polls were conducted last week on the strike itself and the studios clearly didn't come out ahead. WGA had a backing of 69% in a Pepperdine poll and 63% in a SurveyUSA poll while the studios received only a smattering of support, with 4% and 8%.

"This announcement is a direct result of your efforts," WGA West president Patric Verrone said. "For 12 days I have repeated that a powerful strike means a short strike. ...Now it is equally important that we now prove that good news won't slow us down, either. We must remember that returning to the bargaining table is only a start. Our work is not done until we achieve a good contract and that is by no means assured. Accordingly, what we achieve in negotiations will be a direct result of how successfully we can keep up our determination and resolve."

So, both sides are heading back to the bargaining table on November 26, ready to hear new proposals.

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Comments

#1 - Whiskeymovie [Nov 17 2007, 5:51 am CST]

Well, the writers do seem to have everyone by the short curlys, and seem to be twisting and pulling too. The studios should just give them what they want now. I am pretty sure we are all sick of this. I know movies studios are money whores, but come on now. I was siding with the stuidos for a bit, but now I am all for the writers. The thing is that no one likes to be threatened or bullyed, and by striking, that is what they are doing to the studios. I can see why the studios are less inclinded to give them what they want for that reason. Damn unions.

#2 - WarCry [Nov 17 2007, 7:25 am CST]

"the writers do seem to have everyone by the short curlys"

I think the point here is that now everyone REALIZES that the writers are just extra baggage on a TV or movie, and that, yeah, they really do deserve to get a bigger piece of the pie.

"no one likes to be threatened or bullyed, and by striking, that is what they are doing to the studios"

I beg to differ. In this case, the writers are standing up to the bully and saying 'You're not taking my milk money any more.' I've watched enough 80s sitcoms to know that the only way to stop a bully is to stand up to them....

#3 - WISEGUY562 [Nov 17 2007, 9:09 am CST]

Trying my hardest not to take a side,but both have legit issues and I'll say this much for the writers, they did yield on at least one of their demands (dvd royalties). And that's all the credit I'll give the self-important overrated lot of them.

#4 - WarCry [Nov 17 2007, 10:24 am CST]

"And that's all the credit I'll give the self-important overrated lot of them."

Well, glad to see you aren't taking side.....

#5 - bdd [Nov 17 2007, 11:15 am CST]

I think everyone should get more money besides the big actors that should get less money. The makeup people should get paid more, and the costume people, and the writers because without them there wouldn't be a show. It's easy to replace a character or an actor, it's not as easy to find good writers or other people who know how to make the actors look good.

#6 - miko34 [Nov 17 2007, 1:22 pm CST]

Unless you want more shows that place idiots against children in a quiz show, you should take the writers' side on this. Most reality and/or game shows are created by Producers who want to put something on the air for easy money since it's low risk financially. They probably come up with these ideas on the toilet.

Internet downloading is here and will just continue to grow. They are showing less and less reruns on the main networks now. This is what the writers want to secure, otherwise they won't get any residuals. Computers can be hooked up to HDTVs and eventually all computers will be. This is why NBC dropped out of iTunes ... Apple was making too much money on their shows. The producers know this. The writers know this.

Also, when people call writers overrated, they should understand that many times (if not all the time) scripts are rewritten because of a producer's pointless comments. Sometimes it's for the better, but oftentimes it makes scripts worse. This is why some movies have five writers on there.

I'm not saying all producers are bad and evil. They have an important role and they need to keep every penny to save their jobs, but to take it out of the hands of the writers who begin this entertainment process is just wrong.

#7 - gauleyboy420 [Nov 17 2007, 2:25 pm CST]

well I said it a week and a half ago and I'll say it again. Thos strike will lat 3 weeks. I'm glad the writers concieded, it shows they genuinely willing to comprimise. I have no love for cooporate studios taking advantage of the little guy, but much like Whiskey, I'm anti striking (at least in a case where the only issue is $$$ and not health or safety concerns of workers)

I'm still not realy wanting to take sides, because I hear bullsh*t statements from both sides.

The studios are against pirateing because they want their litttle piece of the pie.Thats all the writers seem to want. As one exec said "getting paid is the name of the game"

HOWEVER, I have trouble sympathizing with the writers, who descibe their residuals as a 401k plan (Iheard a writer put it that way) WELL GUESS WHAT? Not everyone has 401K plans. AND lots of people work for corperations that make a LOT of money off of said workers hadr work.. AND those workers have to work multiple jobs (sometimes) to support their families. MOST of those workers don't get adequate benefits, or retirement plans. AND Most of those workers continue working (multiple jobs) everyday without striking, and using union/mafia tactics to get more money. Mafia like because they stop working then the organization the ARE FORCED TO BELONG TO, won't let anyone else do the job, so it is akin to extortion. Sure you could do the job, but then the Union will prevent you from getting work in the future, effectively TAKING AWAY YOUR FREE WILL. You HAVE to conform to the union OR ELSE (we break you knees)

Well anyway I think the studios should pay up, just not be forced into it in a way that is fucking so many workers besides the writers.

AND bdd,

this statement is incredbly , well not very well thought out...

"It's easy to replace a character or an actor, it's not as easy to find good writers or other people who know how to make the actors look good. "

While I am against actors making so much money, I also realize that JUST AS MUCH AS A WRITER the actors are essential to the success of a production. Your rationale that the writer makes the actor look good is obviously HEAVILY BIASED, and completely WRONG.

It is a symbiotic relationship, and if something is poorly written the best actors cannot save it (X-3 for example). Conversely if something is well written and a horrible actor is preforming it, the production will suffer.

My point is to say the writers make the movie and no one else is incredibly ignorant. Good actors do have a talent, it is NOT something anyone can do, and if you give a horrible actor a good script it will not end up a good production. It takes teamwork to make a great show, movie, play whatever.AND there are just as many good writers out there as there are good actors (not that many).

#8 - rudewordsmith [Nov 17 2007, 2:55 pm CST]

Gauleyboy, I just have to ask: Where were these so-called "best actors" in X-3? I just saw a bunch of hacks who kept going for more money.

But you make good points, other wise. Both great writers and great actors (along with great directors and producers, crew etc) make great viewing. Film is the proverbial "Stew" art form, and if only a few of the ingrediants are fresh, there will be a lingering taste of ass in that meal from the ingrediants that have gone to rott.

#9 - almostunbiased [Nov 17 2007, 6:53 pm CST]

Well said, rudewordsmith.

I just say give 'em the cash so we can get back to business. Though I do hate it when people strike, I guess sometimes that's the only way to get someone's attention.

#10 - archrayne666 [Nov 18 2007, 12:37 am CST]

OK, now I feel inclined to add in my two cents. I believe that the strike is nessecary TO AN EXTENT. Should the writers get a pay raise? Yes, they should. Should they be complaining over DVD sales and getting a cut? I believe they should. But do I agree with some of the methods they are using? Not at all. They are forgetting some of the key elements of film-making. Morgan Freeman put it best, "Every so often we go to our local movie theaters and get ourselves an education. We allow ourselves to become involved with the lives of those who have passed on a legacy."

That was part of a speech that Morgan Freeman gave at the Academy Awards a couple of years back. and the reason I say this now is because if it wasn't for the screenwriters, and script providers, that education would not be seen. The writers are allowing the ability to learn to become a part of thier talent. History is becoming seen as it should be, and not fantasized like back in earlier times. The writers need to remember this and not forget what brought them to the industry to begin with.

Now I am not saying that all films and shows are like this, because they are not. I am just saying that it is because of this fact that they should be more recognized for thier efforts. But I also believe that if you end up feeling like you are fighting a losing battle, then give in and accept that which you hopefully still have.

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