WGA strike taking its toll

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Zoid
Well, they still have a majority of the public on their side. Which is why the AMPTP's not bringing in the big guns IMO. It's hard to union bust when they've got the sympathy of the nation...

We'll see how far that gets them when the public can't watch their precious episodes of Desperate Housewives or whatnot due to the strike... Americans have notoriously bad attitudes towards strikes when they are inconvenienced by them...

[Zoid]

True... We'll see how long it lasts. How did they react to the last strike in '88 btw?

[DinoDoc]

Indeed. Early reruns should kill any sympathy quite nicely.

[Admiral]

On the other hand, any replacement programming will A) suck, obviously and B) will remind viewers why the writers are there in the first place, and C) people won't watch it (see point A), thus putting way more pressure on the AMPTP to cave.

[Dis]

yeah reality programs are already on the down swing. I noticed a couple in the works like American Gladiator (not sure if that qualifies as reality, but close enough). I'm certainly not into them. I noticed a few more game shows coming out early next year as well. Not sure if that was already in the works before the strike, or they are just rushing them out.

[Zkribbler]

Things are getting worse....

In Hollywood, the fade to black begins

By Rachel Abramowitz, Maria Elena Fernandez and Meg James, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
December 9, 2007


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.

[DaShi]

Need. . .new. . .Daily. . .Show!

[Zkribbler]

...politicians saying stupid things...no Stewart here to looked stunned....gasp!

[Dis]

because of this strike I have to endure battle of the choirs. Why did they think this would be a great idea for a television event? Yeah I know, they were probably planning this before the strike, but it doesn't make it any easier.

[Wezil]

I'm getting a perverse pleasure from watching you junkies suffer withdrawal.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Dis


because of this strike I have to endure battle of the choirs. Why did they think this would be a great idea for a television event? Yeah I know, they were probably planning this before the strike, but it doesn't make it any easier.

Yeah, I bet it was greenlighted before the strike. This, like most reality shows out there, showing why the writers are important.

And I still think Wezil is crazy. TV

[reismark]

As a former member of a gospel choir, I'm actually legitly interested in Clash of the Choirs. God knows it's probably going to be better than most other original holiday programming made in the last few years. Certainly it'll be better than that Shrek Christmas special, for one (I'd love to tar & feather the greedy exec who green-lit that abomination).

[Zoid]

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."

[reismark]

Hmmm... I generally agree with the writers in this strike, so let's see what I think of the studios' claims.

membership in [the WGA] be mandatory in the reality TV and animation industries

Animation, I can understand; reality, absolutely not, since it undermines the point of the industry. Split the difference.

that networks should be prevented from airing reality TV material that was not produced in accordance with WGA rules

Since reality TV is supposed to be "unscripted", I call bull**** on the WGA on this one.

that a "no strike" provision should be ignored, thus enabling the WGA to participate in other disputes

No to the writers on this one. You have a valid contract, you work, period.

that writers receive a slice of ad revenues

Sure, but only in exchange for something else. DVDs & the Internet have been the issue, and now you put ads on the table; you can't have your way on them all.

that a third party should determine transaction and therefore residual values, instead of the market

Agree with the writers on this one, since the studios pretty much have total control over most aspects of the market.

and that the WGA's proposal for new media residuals "could actually cost producers more than they receive in revenues"

OK, I'm listening, how so? You gotta justify yourselves here.

We need to get reps for both sides in a penthouse suite and padlock the door shut until they come up with a deal.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

And I still think Wezil is crazy.

I'll admit to that.

TV

Wait until you've seen another 20 years worth then you may share my perspective.