2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike

By Hurmoth
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2007 Hollywood Strike  

282 members have voted

  1. 1. Who do you support in the strike?

    • The AMPTP
      35
    • The WGA
      140
    • Undecided/Don't Care
      107

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Grand Master

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Can someone summarize the strike? I've read a few articles and what I can grasp is that the writer's are on strike to get more money because they are offering shows at a price to download so they want a piece of that pie, am I correct?

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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Can someone summarize the strike? I've read a few articles and what I can grasp is that the writer's are on strike to get more money because they are offering shows at a price to download so they want a piece of that pie, am I correct?

Essentially the writers contract ended Oct. 31, the writers went on strike Nov. 4.

The strike is over "New Media" residuals. The writers want a piece of the pie from new media sales. For example, if you go to NBC.com you can watch an episode of Heroes for free, but there's still ads, so NBC is still making money off of that, but they pay the writers, actors, and directors nothing. The same is also true with shows downloaded from iTunes at $1.99: writers, directors, and actors get nothing.

They also get nothing from studios airing reruns as promotional material.

So that's the strike in a nutshell.

Mentor

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Can someone summarize the strike? I've read a few articles and what I can grasp is that the writer's are on strike to get more money because they are offering shows at a price to download so they want a piece of that pie, am I correct?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Writers_..._America_strike

That should tell you everything you need to know. And then some.

Grand Master

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They should get more money, but I want the strike to end.

I need new episodes of 24, Heroes and Lost! GRR!

You and me both but it seems even if it ends today we will won't get new stuff to at least Fall :(

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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Too many cooks in the AMPTP negotiating kitchen?

If you've never been in a Hollywood development meeting, one of the most frustrating things for writers about such gatherings is often the lack of consensus amongst those giving the studio notes. With so many people involved - from the creative exec, to the director of development, to the VP to the Senior VP, to INSERT RANDOM PERSON HERE - each giving their opinion and input, they're rarely all on the same page.

But have the studios brought "development hell" to the current strike negotiations?

According to a showrunner who was briefed on the situation, there is real dissension in their ranks. Each of the corporations comprising the AMPTP has a labor lawyer in the room negotiating for them (not to be outdone, Time Warner has three!). Furthermore, some of the companies are willing to make a deal today and are getting more than a little ****ed at those who are holding out.

Thus, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why things are moving so slowly. And it ain't because of the writers, folks.

Sounds like this thing could have been over for a while now, but because of one or two studios holding out... well, you know.

Grand Master

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NEW YORK - As the writers strike heads into its sixth week, your favorite scripted dramas and comedies are continuing to dwindle.

The networks plan lots of new programs for January and beyond, including loads of reality fare. And there will be fresh scripted series that were wrapped before the strike began.

Sure, there'll be stuff to watch. But that's cold comfort for fans feeling the premature absence of new episodes of the shows they love best.

___

END IN SIGHT:

? The last new "Pushing Daisies" airs on ABC Wednesday.

? There's just one more new episode of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (yet to be scheduled).

? ABC's "Desperate Housewives" has one new episode, likely airing in January.

___

A FEW TO GO:

? The "Crime Scene Investigation" trio, "NCIS," "Criminal Minds," "Without a Trace" and "Cold Case" are down to a couple of new episodes apiece on CBS.

? NBC's comedy "30 Rock" has a fresh episode Thursday, with one more after that, as yet without an airdate.

? Just three new episodes of ABC's "Ugly Betty" are left.

? ABC's comedy "Samantha Who?" has four more episodes in the can.

? Fox's "Family Guy" has scheduled a normal mix of new and repeat episodes at least through January. Even better, "The Simpsons" has a full season's worth of episodes in store.

___

STUCK IN REPEATS:

? NBC dramas "Heroes" and "Life" are kaput.

? NBC's "The Office" is closed for business, as is ABC's "Private Practice."

? "Big Bang Theory" has run dry, along with fellow CBS sitcoms "How I Met Your Mother," "Two And a Half Men" and "Rules of Engagement."

___

WHO KNOWS WHEN?:

? The planned January return of Fox's "24" has been postponed indefinitely. Since only some of the series' 24 episodes have been shot, Fox didn't want to risk beginning a new season that might be interrupted.

___

MIDSEASON RELIEF:

? Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" will have a two-night premiere Jan. 13-14. This new drama, a reinvention of the "Terminator" film franchise, arrives with 13 episodes completed.

? Fox has three new episodes of "House" slotted for early 2008, one of them following the Super Bowl broadcast.

? NBC's "Medium" will return Jan. 7 with nine episodes in the can.

? "The New Adventures of Old Christine" will be back Jan. 28 with at least eight episodes of this CBS sitcom, and the apocalyptic drama "Jericho" returns in February with seven episodes.

? "Cashmere Mafia," ABC's new comedy-drama starring Lucy Liu, will arrive with seven episodes completed.

? NBC's "Lipstick Jungle," with Brooke Shields, premieres Feb. 7.

Grand Master

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Talks between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America have broken down, it has been confirmed.

In a statement, the AMPTP said: "We?re disappointed to report that talks between the AMPTP and WGA have broken down yet again. Quite frankly, we?re puzzled and disheartened by an ongoing WGA negotiating strategy that seems designed to delay or derail talks rather than facilitate an end to this strike."

The AMPTP cited six "unreasonable demands" made by the WGA in the most recent round of talks as "roadblocks to real progress". According to the AMPTP, the WGA has demanded that membership in their union be mandatory in the reality TV and animation industries; that networks should be prevented from airing reality TV material that was not produced in accordance with WGA rules; that a "no strike" provision should be ignored, thus enabling the WGA to participate in other disputes; that writers receive a slice of ad revenues; that a third party should determine transaction and therefore residual values, instead of the market; and that the WGA's proposal for new media residuals "could actually cost producers more than they receive in revenues".

The AMPTP added: "These are the terms the WGA organizers demand for ending the strike ? money that doesn?t exist, restrictions that are legally dubious, and control over people who have refused to join their union."

In response, the WGA's negotiating committee chairman John Bowman said of the AMPTP: "They are holding to their offer of a $250 fixed residual for unlimited one year streaming after a six-week window of free use. They still insist on the DVD rate for Internet downloads.

"They refuse to cover original material made for new media.

"This offer was accompanied by an ultimatum: the AMPTP demands we give up several of our proposals, including Fair Market Value (our protection against vertical integration and self-dealing), animation, reality, and, most crucially, any proposal that uses distributor?s gross as a basis for residuals. This would require us to concede most of our Internet proposal as a precondition for continued bargaining. The AMPTP insists we let them do to the Internet what they did to home video."

He added: "We remain ready and willing to negotiate, no matter how intransigent our bargaining partners are, because the stakes are simply too high. We were prepared to counter their proposal tonight, and when any of them are ready to return to the table, we?re here, ready to make a fair deal."

:(

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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^ Here's the full letter to WGA Members:

WGA's Response to AMPTP Breaking Off Talks

AMPTP BREAKS OFF NEGOTIATIONS

Today, after three days of discussions, the AMPTP came back to us with a proposal that included a total rejection of our proposal on Internet streaming of December 3.

They are holding to their offer of a $250 fixed residual for unlimited one year streaming after a six-week window of free use. They still insist on the DVD rate for Internet downloads.

They refuse to cover original material made for new media.

This offer was accompanied by an ultimatum: the AMPTP demands we give up several of our proposals, including Fair Market Value (our protection against vertical integration and self-dealing), animation, reality, and, most crucially, any proposal that uses distributor?s gross as a basis for residuals. This would require us to concede most of our Internet proposal as a precondition for continued bargaining. The AMPTP insists we let them do to the Internet what they did to home video.

We received a similar ultimatum through back channels prior to the discussions of November 4. At that time, we were assured that if we took DVD?s off the table, we would get a fair offer on new media issues. That offer never materialized.

We reject the idea of an ultimatum. Although a number of items we have on the table are negotiable, we cannot be forced to bargain with ourselves. The AMPTP has many proposals on the table that are unacceptable to writers, but we have never delivered ultimatums.

As we prepared our counter-offer, at 6:05 p.m., Nick Counter came and said to us, in the mediator?s presence: ?We are leaving. When you write us a letter saying you will take all these items off the table, we will reschedule negotiations with you.? Within minutes, the AMPTP had posted a lengthy statement announcing the breakdown of negotiations.

We remain ready and willing to negotiate, no matter how intransigent our bargaining partners are, because the stakes are simply too high. We were prepared to counter their proposal tonight, and when any of them are ready to return to the table, we?re here, ready to make a fair deal.

John F. Bowman

Chairman, WGA Negotiating Committee

Contract 2007

Doesn't look like this thing is going to be over for a long time. There's only a few more days that they really have before they'll definitely break for the Holiday season.

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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In Hollywood, the fade to black begins

Like a rolling blackout, Hollywood is shutting down.

Fallout from Friday's collapse of negotiations for a new contract between writers and studios will in the weeks and months ahead leave audiences with dwindling entertainment choices.

If the five-week-long strike by the Writers Guild of America continues, it's also poised to affect the awards season, the annual ritual of self-congratulation and promotion that runs through the winter.

And in short order, both the television networks and the movie studios will begin to suffer financial pain as the lack of original content prompts viewers to flee -- with advertisers not far behind.

"It's a dangerous time for the industry," said producer Richard Zanuck, who ran the studio at Fox for nearly a decade and whose current movie, "Yes Man," starring Jim Carrey, has been a target of picketing. "That doesn't mean that the companies have to give away the store to keep things alive or just stay afloat, but I think it's just a very dangerous time."

Both sides left the table Friday with a lot of rancor, and no new talks are scheduled. Further complicating any resolution is the looming prospect that the Directors Guild of America, whose contract expires in June, could reach an early agreement with the studios.

From movie stars to hair stylists, the Hollywood food-chain economy is highly integrated, with a disruption at one end causing dislocation at the other. Without original TV episodes or movie scripts ready to shoot, the supply of new content will quickly dwindle, leaving audiences with nothing to watch except reruns, reality TV shows and, as happened after the 1988 strike, a wave of films that are likely to be critically disappointing.

Although the studios are banking that they can hold out for at least six months, the long-term effect could be enormous not only for the entertainment industry but also for the region. Hollywood's stream of products contributes nearly 7% -- an estimated $30 billion annually -- to L.A. County's $442-billion economy, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. If the strike continues into next year, which seems possible now, it will result in the loss of $1 billion to the local economy, the development group estimates.

Beyond the bottom line, there is the question of what a long and fractious strike would do to the connective tissue of a town built on relationships. Certainly, tensions are rising.

After the talks broke off Friday, Jon Robin Baitz, creator and executive producer of ABC's "Brothers and Sisters," put it this way: "There's a humanistic tragedy in how we are all being forced to follow scripts that have tragic implications for both sides and the end of very good relationships."

Meanwhile, the kleig lights are being turned off in the entertainment industry.

First to disappear were new episodes of Letterman, Leno, Stewart and Colbert. Then scripted shows, including "The Office" and "Desperate Housewives," stopped shooting new episodes.

Over the last several weeks, the Writers Guild walkout also has forced the postponement -- and in one case, recasting -- of several prominent motion pictures. Because their producers did not think their screenplays were ready for filming, Ron Howard's "Angels & Demons," starring Tom Hanks; Oliver Stone's "Pinkville"; and Mira Nair's "Shantaram," starring Johnny Depp, all have been forced to postpone production, and filming of the next installment of the highly profitable James Bond franchise could be in jeopardy.

Brad Pitt left the movie "State of Play" because he felt the script needed revisions that, because of the strike, could not be made; Universal Studios last week recast his role with Russell Crowe.

More immediately, the strike leaves such televised events as the Golden Globes, the Grammys, the People's Choice Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and, of course, the Oscars in limbo.

No one expects the shows to be canceled, but anxiety is rife as the various organizations try to figure out how to put on essentially a comedy-and-variety show . . . without writers. And soon, all of the writers and other talent will have to decide for themselves whether they want to attend the shows, cross a picket line or attend galas with hard-line studio executives.

There are ways around it, of course. In early December, the WGA issued two waivers to the strike. One would allow Elizabeth Taylor and James Earl Jones to perform on the Paramount Pictures lot for an AIDs fundraiser. The other is for the Kennedy Center Honors, slated to air on CBS on Dec. 26.

But without getting a waiver, such shows as the Golden Globes would be treated as any other "struck company," said WGA spokesman Gregg Mitchell, adding that any member working on it would be considered to be crossing the line. The red carpets could also be potential targets for picketing, leading to unpleasant scenarios of stars discussing their Prada and Escada gowns to chants of "Peter Chernin, what ya earnin'?" (Chernin is president of News Corp., which owns the Fox studio and Fox network.)

Mitchell said the WGA issues waivers on a case-by-case basis and hasn't decided what it's going to do about the awards shows.

Still, awards strategists believe that the only shows that might be able to get waivers are the Academy Awards and perhaps the SAG Awards, because the Screen Actors Guild is perceived to be an ally of the Writers Guild. The Golden Globes will certainly be the first major awards show to face this hurdle. The nominees will be announced Dec. 13, and the show will air a month later.

A prolonged strike could cost the television networks tens -- if not hundreds -- of millions of dollars in lost advertising revenue. Most of the major networks were already off to a rocky start with the new TV season. Their shows are suffering lower ratings than last year.

Fox is the only broadcast network to post larger audiences thus far this season, and next month it will bring back its ratings juggernaut "American Idol," which doesn't rely on WGA writers. However, the network has decided to keep its popular drama "24" off the air until it can complete a full season. The fate of ABC's "Lost," which was scheduled to premiere in February, is yet to be determined.

But the other networks, including NBC, CBS and ABC, could suffer even further audience erosion if they air months of reruns and less-popular reality shows. They also would face the prospect of returning millions of dollars to advertisers for prime-time spots that the advertisers ordered in the spring.

At the moment, the networks insist that everything is fine. Asked at a Wall Street media conference last week if CBS is having to give back commercial time to advertisers to make up for a shortfall in ratings, the company's chief executive, Leslie Moonves, said, "No, we haven't. There were some make-goods left over from last year that we've dealt with. . . . So we're doing fine even with the ratings decline."

But the situation will only get more precarious the longer the strike goes on. It could effectively end production of new episodes for this year's television season. Most producers had turned in 10 to 12 episodes of their 22-episode season order when writers cleaned out their desks early last month. If the strike lasts into February, it could disrupt the pilot season, potentially compromising next year's TV season.

The strike could also hasten the departure of more advertising dollars from the networks to the Internet. Blossoming cable TV channels benefited enormously from the 22-week writers strike in 1988, attracting both viewers and advertisers who were desperate for something new to watch.

Although top media executives have told Wall Street that financial damage from the strike would be minimal, that optimistic view probably will fade as the strike drags on. Jack Myers, publisher of the media industry trade report jackmyers.com, said there haven't been any "meaningful losses" yet but estimated the networks could collectively lose $600 million if the walkout continues into next summer. The broadcast networks alone sell more than $9.3 billion a year in advertising.

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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Tomorrow is Trek Day

Star Trek has turned a lot of people into writers over the years. I count myself as one of the converted. I grew up watching Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and as a little kid I distinctly remember wanting to be Wesley Crusher (see...not everyone hated the character, and look how cool Wil Wheaton turned out to be?). My favorite tea became Earl Grey (hot). As I got older, my fan impulse morphed into an awareness that someone was writing these really cool stories that were both wildly imaginative and totally relevant to the world around us. Seemed like a cool way to make a living.

The Trek franchise has inspired and enabled the careers of multiple generations of writers, and it has one of the best fandoms in the history of...fandomage. Tomorrow (Monday Dec 10), contributors to all the Trek incarnations are marching with the fans at Paramount. The guild printed up some cool shirts for the occasion (pictured above). And if you're not in LA, or if you can't make it to the picket, StrikeSwag.com is selling a limited number of them with the proceeds going to the Support Fund.

The (non-inclusive) list of rumored attendees for tomorrow includes (this list is blatantly culled from TrekMovie.com): Ron Moore, Ira Steven Behr, Harlan Ellison, Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman, Bradley Weddle, David Thompson, David Goodman, Chris Black, Bradley Thompson, David Gerrold, Ken Lazebnik, Jane Espenson, Mike Sussman, Anthony Montgomery, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, Walter Koenig, Armin Shimerman, Chase Masterson, Gary Graham and Vaughan Armstrong (with his band).

The check in spot is the Windsor Gate. The event runs from 11-3 on Monday at Paramount Pictures at 5555 Melrose in Hollywood.

Grand Master

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Man, the amount of shows that have been affecte:|:| - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_the...e_on_television

Radish?

Basically everything that doesn't have any reality in:(t :(

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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^ Yeah, that's a lot of shows affected. Just wait 'til this starts affecting films. Well, two or three have already been affected, but if this lasts for a long time into the new year, a lot films will start being affected.

I've been reading that if this lasts for a while into the new year it could cost the studios a combined $1 billion. They'll end up having to return a lot of advertising money for spring time slots back.

--

The strike has given me a chance to catch up on some older films, such as Pulp Fiction, that I have never seen before. Reading is also something that I've put off this year, so I'll be able to get back into that (Double Cross by James Patterson :D ). Plus I went out and got Heroes (The Graphic Novel) Volume One.

On top of all of that, I'm writing my own screenplay and trying to finish that up as well, so the strike is not a bad thing for me. More time for things I really should be doing :laugh:

Edited by Hurmoth
Grand Master

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^ Yeah, that's a lot of shows affected. Just wait 'til this starts affecting films. Well, two or three have already been affected, but if this lasts for a long time into the new year, a lot films will start being affected.

I've been reading that if this lasts for a while into the new year it could cost the studios a combined $1 billion. They'll end up having to return a lot of advertising money for spring time slots back.

--

The strike has given me a chance to catch up on some older films, such as Pulp Fiction, that I have never seen before. Reading is also something that I've put off this year, so I'll be able to get back into that (Double Cross by James Patterson :D ). Plus I went out and got Heroes (The Graphic Novel) Volume One.

On top of all of that, I'm writing my own screenplay and trying to finish that up as well, so the strike is not a bad thing for me. More time for things I really should be doing :laugh:

I got sent that and its awesome :D

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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The New, Vastly Improved AMPTP Website

A press release from the "AMPTP" that landed in our inbox a little while ago invited us investigate the real reason that the studios had to break off negotiations Friday evening with a Writers Guild hellbent on destroying Hollywood with its greedy pursuit of a fair deal: to focus on a much-needed upgrade of AMPTP.com, the organization's minimalist web presence.

We wholeheartedly agree that our browsing experience has been appreciably enhanced by this recent wave of changes; whereas our previous visits had been mirthless affairs offering little more than the drab presentation of bellicose public statements, they've spiced things up with a gallery of rejected logos, helpful facts illustrating the rationale for some of the organization's positions ("Six out of 10 non-Judd Apatow movies never recoup their original investment," "Many writers are Jewish, or Jewish-ish") and a pulse-quickening online photo spread of heartthrob lead negotiator Nick Counter. Check it out before a humorless domain name registrar and a phalanx of studio lawyers ruin all the fun!

Grand Master

Hurmoth

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Lets hope one of the resolutions for new year is new talks and a deal!

Amen.

I just don't get why the AMPTP is being such a dick!

http://firedoglake.com/wga/index.php/write/compose <---Write letters to the studios supporting your favorite shows!

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