I haven’t heard an idea yet that I feel particularly optimistic about, but here’s the latest suggestion from Deadline Hollywood Daily as to how to bring the parties back to the negotiating table. I’m not sure how much traction this idea will gain with either side, but if anything, anything will get people talking to one another in good faith again (or for the first time), I say bring it on.
It’s Time To Seriously Solve This Strike
I’d like to float several suggestions for moving the WGA strike talks out of the axis of paralysis they’re in now. I’m not presuming to act like a know-it-all. But I spend all day talking to very smart people (as well as a lot of mouthbreathers), and what I’m about to write reflects their expert opinion and analysis which no one should just ignore. I’ll be updating this thread of thought throughout the evening as well as my Day 3 strike notes:
Sure, Hollywood loves to make fun of agents. But I’ve received countless calls in recent days from partners in the tenpercenteries panicked that their companies can’t survive a prolonged walkout. This is especially true of the so-called “second-tier” agencies. One of those toppers told me he’d been thinking of retiring anyway, but now he’s filled with angst that his company’s doors may have to shut permanently. So because they have so much at stake, I say, “Bring On The Agents”. For crissakes, these people negotiate for a living on behalf of clients like the writers. And they’re licensed by the state. And they make multi-million dollar deals based on their word. They could, under the auspices of their Association of Talent Agents, mediate this dispute. Look, I respect these guys. I have confidence that they could work out a proposed settlement lickety-split which at least could provide the basis for bargaining. What everyone’s forgetting here is that one of the reasons Lew Wasserman could solve Hollywood labor strife was because he was an agent long before he became a studio mogul. I say put the board of the ATA and the major moguls together, sideline Nick Counter and Patric Verrone, and let the negotiating truly begin over lunch at The Grill and golf at Riviera Country Club.
Today, the media keep asking me how long I think the strike will last. So I’ll say it here. For all the reasons I’ve already reported, both sides in this fight are further apart than they have ever been, and that’s saying a lot. Both sides believe they have fresh and ample reasons not to go back into negotiations anytime soon or even backchannel. They claim they can’t trust the other side enough to talk about scheduling new AMPTP/WGA negotiations much less trying private talks. But backchannelling has been the only successful way labor strife in Hollywood has been settled in the past. So now I’ll bottom-line this: Really smart people have told me that if this walkout doesn’t settle in the next few weeks, say, by December 15th, then there may not be an incentive for the moguls to settle it until June when the Screen Actors Guild contract expires. As for the Director’s Guild, whose contract is up next June as well but will settle it sooner, everyone expects the DGA to fold like pup tents: no shocker there. In film, the studios prepared for this labor action starting two years ago. But I broke the story pre-strike that the Big Media and Hollywood CEOs viewed this TV season as a total loss and welcomed the walkout as an automatic “do-over” that would allow them to regroup and then refashion their business models. At the same time, the writers guild two years ago began to draw a line in the sand on New Media and Internet which they’re etching deeper with every turn on the picket line. I wish this weren’t such a horrific situation. But it is.
Further DHD coverage of Day Three of the strike is available here. There’s also coverage of Monday’s picketing over at The Reeler (this one is based on the New York picketers).
I think I’m about to cry…
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I feel like there are a lot of people posting there who are trying to break the spirit of the people on strike, by telling them that it is hopeless. But how can that be?
I know it’s going to hurt, but it’s not hopeless, is it? How can it be? Who the hell is going to write the scripts if the writers are on strike?
And what choice do they have? Maybe I’m too stupid to see any justification for the AMPTP refusing to pay the artists for the work they are selling online. Can anyone explain it to me?
I don’t see how the WGA has a choice but to strike. And, honestly, I don’t see why actors and other artists and workers believe they have any choice but to support them.
I’m simple, I guess.
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After reading that, I need alcohol…and a lot of it.
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Ugh! If I hadn’t taken that Absinthtinence Pledge, I could be flying right now.
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There’s definitely hope. Several major shows have already come to a halt, thanks to the showrunners (and a few stars like Carell) walking out. WGAE says they have $2.58 million in their strike fund, so they should be able to hold out for quite a while if necessary.
I’d also like to know why SAG hasn’t called a strike in solidarity, given the widespread consensus that they’ll be getting the same deal as the WGA when their contract is up next year. If they did, this would probably all be over in a week.
I honestly can’t see what the companies hope to gain from this. Maybe it is just pure arrogance. They just don’t have the upper hand in this, which will become painfully evident in a few weeks as they run out of new episodes to air.
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@ barenjager and Till,
The reason the Screen Actors Guild hasn’t called a strike is because they’re still under contract through June of next year, and the SAG contract contains a “no strike clause”. Because of that, the SAG is not allowed to call a strike (as an organization) without violating their collective contract, although individual actors and actresses obviously continue to choose whether to honor picket lines.
That’s why the fact that the Hollywood teamsters publicly voiced support for the WGA was such a big deal, because the teamsters’ contract allows them to honor picket lines without violating their contracts/losing their jobs.
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I am seriously very close to driving to the local affiliate and picketing myself. It doesn’t matter that I live in Texas, a place that doesn’t even have unions (I don’t think so at least), and probably wouldn’t do anything except make me look like an idiot. I can’t stand loading this site every day and seeing the “No Shows indefinitely” where the guests should be. I’m just so freakin’ frustrated by this whole situation. The WGA made very reasonable demands, and the AMPTP is just being an difficult about it. If they think Ia= an going to watch their scab reality shows, they’ve got another thing coming. Oh, plus, I saw the Jon Stewart biography tonight, and now, I’ll never be able to watch that channel again. I mean they used Tucker Carlson, of all people, as a commentator on Jon. What were they thinking?
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All this talk about the moguls holding out till June sound like a bargaining ploy to me (leaked by them) to demoralize the WGA and scare the rank and file. Think Karl Rove morphing into Sumner Redstone and you’ll get the strategy – a lot of “hot” talk by bigwigs with deep pockets trying to intimidate the writers who are facing ruin.
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@Melissa: Yeah, that “biography” was disappointing. I was also surprised to see Carlson, but not surprised by what he said.
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ONly $2.8 million in their strike fund? I know there are celebrities that support the strike… they should donate $$ to the fund..
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@MsInterpreted: AFTRA haven’t walked is the “No Strike” clause in our contracts. We CAN’T walk out. Comedy Central has a Letter of Understanding with AFTRA. as does MSNBC
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“Stephen’s” explanation of why they will be showing reruns is the best I’ve heard to date. That’s what I’m choosing to believe.
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=282528
As much as this all sucks, I really really want this to turn out for the better.
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@ MadMoll,
I’m not sure I understand your comment; can you elaborate, please? It sounds like you’re saying AFTRA has the same “no strike” clause that the SGA has, but there seems to be a word or two missing from your comment, so I don’t want to misunderstand you.
My understanding is that it’s ONLY the Hollywood teamsters whose contract allows them to honor picket lines in this current contract dispute without endangering their jobs; ALL of the other unions’ contracts contain the “no strike” clause.
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Has either Jon or Stephen made an “official” comment anywhere in support of the strike? I haven’t seen one. The actors/writers/producers on the west coast are vid-blogging daily on youtube from the picket line.
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