Strike update: Rumors, behind-the-scenes maneuvering and an announcement from the Golden Globes
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The latest in unofficial and/or pending news, all from Deadline Hollywood Daily:
Will Big Movie Scribes Settle WGA Strike?
I’m told there’s a secret meeting of some top screenwriters — the really, really successful ones known as the A-listers — coming up this weekend and their intention is to band together and make a powerful coalition that will force the WGA leadership to accept whatever deal the DGA makes with the AMPTP. Many of these big movie scribes are hyphenates who carry cards for both the writers guild and the directors guild. They’re confident the DGA will make a deal that the two guilds can live with.
If true, then I certainly hope the DGA’s deal is one that the WGA can be happy with. I can’t say I’m optimistic, but if it’s a reasonable deal, then kudos to them all.
Regarding the return of the late night shows, Nikki Finke had this to report (internal links omitted):
Late Night TV Returns: Update…
–> WGA East planned a small picket and leaflet session outside NBC headquarters in Rockfeller Plaza where Conan O’Brien will tape this afternoon.
–>I’m told that, yes, there’s a plan by some striking writers to disrupt The Tonight Show along the lines of what was done to Carson Daly, but not at tonight’s taping…
–>According to an insider, David Letterman’s Late Show writers “are painfully aware of the thousands still out there and also aware of our responsibilities”. I’m told that, as a result, the writers are planning to do a daily picket line shift representing the show until the strike is settled. “The writers as a whole plan to contribute in whatever small and large ways we can.” Once those plans are more concrete, I will let you know.
I’m impressed by the Late Show writers’ commitment. Good for them.
In other news, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (who runs the Golden Globes) has just released a statement; it looks like the HFPA is seeking an agreement like the one Worldwide Pants put together:
“Big” Golden Globes Announcement
. . .
I am happy to announce that on Saturday morning, December 29, 2007, our attorneys began discussions with the Writers Guild of America to enter into an interim agreement similar to that entered into by the WGA and Worldwide Pants, which permits writers guild members to go back to work writing for The Late Show With David Letterman. We feel that the Late Show With David Letterman agreement is very reasonable, and hope and expect the WGA will agree to the same terms and ultimately permit the “Golden Globe Awards” to be broadcast as scheduled, without picket lines, on Sunday, January 13.
We are pleased that the WGA has made interim agreements available for independent production companies. The process established by the WGA permits writers to get back to work, grants the WGA the rights it is seeking on behalf of all writers, and allows certain shows to move forward. The Late Show With David Letterman and the “Golden Globe Awards” are similar in structure and are administered in the same way. Worldwide Pants produces The Late Show with David Letterman for broadcast on behalf of David Letterman, Dick Clark Productions produces the “Golden Globe Awards” for broadcast on behalf of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. CBS does not own Late Show with David Letterman, and NBC does not own the “Golden Globe Awards.”
We strongly support the WGA and the efforts they are making on behalf of writers, and applaud the fact that they have agreed to allow certain industry awards shows to move forward with WGA writers and be broadcast. Much like the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Film Independent’s Spirit Awards, we want to enter into an agreement with the WGA that will allow the entertainment industry to celebrate the outstanding work of creative individuals in addition to millions of fans nationwide. It is only fair that we be afforded the same opportunity as these other awards shows.
. . .
Well, on the one hand, I want the guild to continue pursuing individual deals so that the AMPTP’s united front cracks. On the other hand, I hope the guild is thinking long and hard about which deals to accept, as the risk to the still-striking WGA’s morale is also considerable. I wish the WGA the best of luck.
And seriously, the AMPTP needs to come back to the table. The posturing needs to stop; this isn’t a game, even if they’re treating it like one.
UPDATE: The WGA repeats, ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to the Golden Globes.
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5 Comments
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Doesn’t it feel like we’re all back in elementary school again? Unreal.
And, what can I say about the Late Show writers…now THAT’s a class act if I ever saw one. Brava!
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January 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Unfortunately, I think Eric Bogosian’s analysis of the AMPTP’s actions (at Nikke Finke’s site) is spot on.
Staying away from the bargaining table is a deliberate move calculated by them to break down the union(s) and, ultimately, head off any close examination of their own ever so creative accounting systems.
Because digital streaming media would allow a third party to keep -perfect- track of how many views any particular program got (and thus, how much an artist might be owed in royalties/residuals/etc), the last thing the AMPTP wants is -any- deal that lets anyone but them, see unbuffed new media viewer numbers.
If only congress was threatening to investigate the AMPTP’s accounting systems—given that their behaviour is going to cold-bloodedly devastate the entertainment industry in general, and LA’s economy, in particular. I’m sure a compromise could be speedily generated.
Doesn’t anyone in the WGA or DGA have access to the shell-like ear of a congressman/woman?
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January 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
You nailed it looped linear.
“Doesn’t anyone in the WGA or DGA have access to the shell-like ear of a congressman/woman?”
Get thee to Iowa, WGA!
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January 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
Here, here! Where IS Congress on this one?
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January 3rd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Can anybody explain to me how the WGA profits from individual deals with production companies? I do not understand it.
I mean, CBS is dancing in the streets about the deal on Letterman. They’ve got their show back. They can sell ads for a full show. NBC can only sell ads for a lame version of the show. Whatever Letterman agreed to is his problem, not CBSs.
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