2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike

[Hurmoth]

NBC Cancels Pilot Season... Forever?

NBC has announced that it is doing away with pilot season. The New York Times reported Wednesday that NBC Universal chief executive officer Jeff Zucker made the announcement during a videoconference from London with the company's international employees. Zucker's decision to eliminate pilot season is an effort to cut costs due to the writers strike and a slowdown in the economy. According to Zucker the cuts will reportedly save the company as much as $50 million a year. Zucker went on to say that may still occasionally produce a pilot or two each year, just not on a regular schedule.

This comes on the heels of rumors that GE may be looking to divest itself of NBC Universal during this year's second quarter.

[Hurmoth]

RKO Signs Interim Agreement with WGA

RKO Productions, Inc., a subsidiary of RKO Pictures, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced today that they have reached an interim comprehensive agreement.

The company's current production schedule, to be announced next week, includes several original screen projects, as well as the financing, production, and distribution of a number of new versions of classic films from RKO's 1,300-film library.

RKO's CEO, Ted Hartley, commented: "The negotiation with the Guild was smooth and business like; they kept their agreement and we kept ours. It all moved ahead at a steady pace and resulted in good feelings on both sides. This now releases the pent-up energies of the talented executives, producers, and writers at RKO. We all are eager to get back to creating great films and innovative programming today."

"In the past, RKO gave the world such classics as 'King Kong,' 'Citizen Kane,' and 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Now it looks to the future, signing an interim agreement that recognizes fair and respectful compensation for writers on the Internet and in new media. We applaud their forward thinking and are pleased to join with them in this agreement," said Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East, and Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West, in a joint statement.

The deal is similar to agreements the WGA recently reached with Lionsgate, Marvel Studios, The Weinstein Company, United Artists, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Spyglass Entertainment, MRC, Jackson Bites, Mandate Films, and Worldwide Pants.

[Rappy Veteran]

NBC Cancels Pilot Season... Forever?

Yeah I heard about that, have to say I am not that bothered.

[Hurmoth]

Writers, studios edge closer

Hollywood's striking writers and major studios have moved closer to bridging their divide after a week of talks, raising hopes that a new contract is within reach.

The parties have narrowed the gap between them in some key areas, including how much writers should earn when films and TV shows are distributed online, according to people close to the situation who insisted on anonymity because talks are confidential.

The discussions could still derail, as they did in early December, these people cautioned. The parties remain apart over how much writers should be paid when their shows are streamed online and union jurisdiction over original content created for the Internet. Moreover, relations between the two sides have been marred by distrust and near-loathing as positions hardened in both camps.

Nonetheless, there is guarded optimism on both sides that the outlines of a deal could be reached as early as this week, paving the way for formal negotiations.

Writers and studios alike face enormous pressure to cement an accord that would end the 3-month-old strike that has cost thousands of workers their jobs and the Los Angeles economy about $1.6 billion, by one estimate. If the work stoppage continues, it will upset program development for next season and spoil the Academy Awards show Feb. 24.

Talks revived last week, after studios negotiated a contract with directors in short order. The directors won terms that were superior to those offered in the writers' previous round of negotiations.

A number of top writers, including several members of the Writers Guild of America's negotiating committee, have viewed the directors pact as a flawed but workable model for their own agreement. They have strongly conveyed that message to guild leaders David Young and Patric M. Verrone.

Citing a "press blackout," representatives of the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, declined to comment.

The guild's board of directors, which ultimately has to approve any contract, met Monday to discuss the status of negotiations. One main area of concern is a flat residual payment of $1,200 that studios gave directors for streaming their shows in the first year.

Writers fear that such a rate could one day give networks greater incentive to rerun shows online, where residuals would be a fraction of what producers currently are required to pay.

For example, writers currently earn about $20,000 when a one-hour drama is rerun on the network.

Additionally, writers have specific issues that need to be addressed that are unique to their craft. Chief among them is securing so-called separated rights to their projects, which guarantee writers additional payments and credit when their work migrates from one medium to another, such as a Web show that spawns a TV pilot.

Talks are expected to resume today.

[Linkinfamous]

I really don't care who wins or loses at this point. I just want my scripted television to return. It's been way too long without "The Word" on Colbert, and we've got Lost coming up, and I want more "The Big Bang Theory".

[Rappy Veteran]

^^

I agree man there are now the days I just sit and watch DVD's and forget the strike even exists because its been so long since the shows aired.

[metallithrax]

^^

I agree man there are now the days I just sit and watch DVD's and forget the strike even exists because its been so long since the shows aired.

Rappy & DVD's... does not compute, does not compute.... :laugh:

How's it going dude?

[Rappy Veteran]

Rappy & DVD's... does not compute, does not compute.... :laugh:

How's it going dude?

You know its nice that when you beg for money people leave you items like a DVD Player and a Telly...everything is looking rosey for Rappy :blush:

[Rappy Veteran]

It would seem that without their writers, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are more popular than ever.

Comedy Central?s Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report are both posting big gains since returning to the air on Jan. 7.

Jon Stewart is up 17 percent from the same time period in 2007 among viewers 18-34, and is up 9 percent among 18-49s. Colbert is up 21 percent in the 18-34 demo and 15 percent in 18-49s, compared to a year ago, writes Media Life.

Colbert and Stewart have returned to the air without their writers, crossing picket lines and relying on their wits, which are apparently seeing them through the writers strike without a hitch.

The late-night shows, on the other hand, are suffering. First-place Tonight is down 25 percent from last year in 18-49s. NBC?s Late Night with Conan O?Brien is down 18 percent. Both shows returned without their writers. David Letterman, who returned thanks to an agreement between the WGA and his production company, is flat to last year. Craig Ferguson, who returned via the same agreement, is down 14 percent, while ABC?s Jimmy Kimmel is down 14 percent.

[Hurmoth]

WGA Continues With Interim Deals

This was released by the WGA today:

WRITERS GUILDS REACH INTERIM AGREEMENTS WITH

INTERMEDIA AND THE FILM DEPARTMENT

Los Angeles ? The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East are pleased to announce they have reached interim agreements with The Film Department and Intermedia. The Guilds continue to sign agreements with companies that value the essential role writers play in making films, television programs, and content for new media.

?Companies like Intermedia and The Film Department recognize the importance of signing a deal that compensates writers fairly for the work they do,? said Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West, and Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East, in a joint statement. ?In turn, we?ve designed an agreement for the entertainment industry that takes into account the economic realities that it faces.?

?We are pleased that we were able to conclude successful negotiations with the WGA so that we can move forward with our production slate across all media, while being able to provide fair and equitable compensation to the writers now and into the future,? said Intermedia President Linda Benjamin. ?In light of this agreement, we will shortly be announcing our updated film and television slate.?

Intermedia Film is a global, independent media enterprise with affiliates in London and Los Angeles organized under Munich-based parent company, IM Internationalmedia AG. The core business of the company consists of the development, financing, and distribution of high-quality theatrical films as well as TV productions.

Current and future Intermedia releases include Breach, screenplay by Adam Mazer & William Rotko and Billy Ray, story by Adam Mazer and William Rotko, starring Chris Cooper and Ryan Philippe; The Hunting Party, written by Richard Shepard, starring Richard Gere and Terrence Howard; One Missed Call, screenplay by Andrew Klavan, starring Edward Burns and Shannyn Sossamon; and The Prodigy, written by John Romano, starring Richard Gere.

The Film Department is an independent movie finance, production and international sales company founded by former Warner Independent Pictures and Miramax Films president Mark Gill and former Miramax Films executive vice president and Yari Film Group COO Neil Sacker. With capitalization of $200 million, the company plans to fully finance and produce six films per year budgeted between $10 and $35 million.

The deal with both companies is similar to agreements the WGA recently reached with Lionsgate, RKO Productions, Marvel Studios, The Weinstein Company, United Artists, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Spyglass Entertainment, MRC, Jackson Bites, Mandate Films, and Worldwide Pants.

[Rappy Veteran]

At least we are getting there.

[Hurmoth]

Deal to End Hollywood Writers? Strike May Be Nearb>

Informal talks between representatives of Hollywood?s striking writers and production companies have eliminated the major roadblocks to a new contract, which could lead to a tentative agreement as early as next week, according to people who were briefed on the situation but requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak.

A deal would end a crippling writers strike that is now entering its fourth month.

The agreement may come without renewed formal negotiations between the television and movie writers and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, though both sides still need to agree on specific language of key provisions. If that process goes smoothly, an agreement may be presented to the governing boards of the striking Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East by the end of next week, the people said.

The breakthrough occurred Friday after two weeks of closed-door discussions between the sides. Even if approved by leaders of the guilds, a deal would require ratification by a majority of the more than 10,000 active guild members.

Writers walked out on Nov. 5 after failing to reach a new contract with producers in months of difficult bargaining. Talks resumed briefly in December, but quickly broke off again. The latest round of talks came more than two weeks ago in the wake of a tentative contract agreement between producers and the Directors Guild of America.

That deal confronted many of the same issues that have troubled writers ? including difficult questions related to pay for digital distribution of shows and movies ? and paved the way for Friday?s movement toward a deal.

A final sticking point had been compensation for ad-supported television programs that are streamed over the Internet after their initial broadcast. Companies were seeking a period during which they could stream such shows without paying a residual, and wanted to peg payments for a year of streaming at the $1,200 level established in the directors? contract. Writers were seeking 1.2 percent of the distributors? revenue from such streams, to ensure they would participate in any revenue gold mine discovered on the Web. How that issue was finally resolved in the informal talks remained unclear.

The talks were made particularly difficult by strong cross-currents within the guilds. Some members favored a rapid settlement along lines established by the directors, whose tentative deal made large gains in the area of digital media, but stipulated that new media pay schedules could not be regarded as final, because the markets are still not mature. Other writers argued that a much bigger step was required immediately.

The informal sessions involved on the company side Robert A. Iger, chief executive of the Walt Disney Company; Peter Chernin, president of the News Corporation; Leslie Moonves, chief executive of CBS Corp.

Writers were represented by Patric M. Verrone, the president of the West Coast guild; David J. Young, its executive director; and John Bowman, who headed the guilds? negotiating committee. Alan Wertheimer, a prominent entertainment attorney, also worked with the writers.

Even if the writers and producers hammer out a final agreement, there?s no guarantee that there will be an end to the labor strife in Hollywood. The companies? current contract with actors expires on June 30, and leaders of the Screen Actors Guild ? a staunch ally of writers throughout their strike ? have said they did not expect to begin negotiations early.

But the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which shares many members with the screen actors guild and traditionally has negotiated jointly with it, appears likely to start bargaining soon with companies on its own.

A spokeswoman for the Screen Actors Guild declined to comment on the writers talks, or the possibility her union might also start negotiating in coming weeks.

The writers walkout has not fully shut down Hollywood. But it stopped the production of dozens of television series, ended development work on future feature films, and created bitter divisions within the entertainment world.

One of the sorest points has been whether the 80th Academy Awards show, scheduled for Feb. 24, will proceed with its usual complement of stars, and without pickets. A rapid agreement between writers would clear the way for the ceremony, perhaps pointing again toward normality in an industry that has seen little of it lately.

[MGS4-SS]

Hope it turns out and the strike ends.

[Rappy Veteran]

oooo it may mean some new stuff....next year :laugh:

[MonkeyClaw Veteran]

i say the wga keep it up cause connan o biran has been great.

[Hurmoth]

I think it is safe to say that we can all trust E!'s Kristin :yes:

Breaking: Writers' Strike End Imminent

It seems this week's rumors that the writers' strike is coming to an end may indeed be true. We are hearing from several sources that the WGA and the AMPTP are "very close" to a deal, which could be announced as early as later today.

According to reliable insiders who asked not to be named, the writers and producers were in talks for nine hours yesterday and made a "staggering amount of progress," as all of the major sticking points have been settled.

"We are 99.9 percent of the way there," one source inside the negotiations said. "As of late yesterday, just a few small issues remained."

The stickiest issue of all, compensation for new-media projects, has been agreed upon by both sides, according to sources. Said one: "There is most certainly light at the end of the tunnel, and we are rapidly approaching it."

Stay tuned, and keep those fingers crossed. An announcement could come any minute.

Edited February 3, 2008 by Hurmoth

[Rappy Veteran]

ooo this is a major time!!!

[Hurmoth]

ooo this is a major time!!!

We could get a few more episodes in if the can end it this week. Sitcoms could at least get back to have several new episodes, dramas could probably record a hand full of new episodes so the seasons could be closed out nicely.

[Mathachew Veteran]

O SNAP! This could be the w00t of the year!

[Rappy Veteran]

We could get a few more episodes in if the can end it this week. Sitcoms could at least get back to have several new episodes, dramas could probably record a hand full of new episodes so the seasons could be closed out nicely.

I hope so!!!

[sTIMPZ]

That is great news!!

[Tikimotel]

When the "END" is near...

Bad time to have "writer's block" .... muhahahahhahha...

oh my silly me...

[Hurmoth]

Letter From the Presidents - State of Negotiations

This was sent today by WGA Presidents Patric Verrone and Michael Winship to membership:

To Our Fellow Members,

While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing.

The facts: we are still in talks and do not yet have a contract. When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is alert our membership with an e-mail message. Until then, please disregard rumors about either the existence of an agreement or its terms.

Until we have reached an agreement with the AMPTP, it is essential that we continue to show our resolve, solidarity, and strength.

Picketing will resume on Monday. Our leverage at the bargaining table is directly affected by your commitment to our cause. Please continue to show your support on the line. We are all in this together.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone

President, WGAW

Michael Winship

President, WGAE

[dud]

I love the strike. It is making people realize how uninteresting and useless the entire industry is and lets us focus on better and more creative forms of entertainment (books, video games). Kinda like the baseball strike; it was already on a downhill slide and people in the U.S. got to see just how boring it was and how easy it would be to live without it.

Hopefully, the studios and the writers will continue this path and mutually starve each other to death. Screw 'em.

[Hurmoth]

I love the strike. It is making people realize how uninteresting and useless the entire industry is and lets us focus on better and more creative forms of entertainment (books, video games). Kinda like the baseball strike; it was already on a downhill slide and people in the U.S. got to see just how boring it was and how easy it would be to live without it.

Hopefully, the studios and the writers will continue this path and mutually starve each other to death. Screw 'em.

Not everyone holds that opinion. There are fantastic, very intelligent shows (i.e. Damages, Lost, Heroes, Burn Notice, etc.).