# Any movement on settling the Writers Guild of America strike? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852 "2007-12-04T23:06:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/1 "2007-12-04T23:06:33Z")
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Writers_Guild_of_America_strike) says only that talks resumed November 26 at an undisclosed location and are still in progress. Has anyone heard any rumors? (I don’t much care, except that I’m getting tired of reruns of _The Daily Show._☹ ) ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/2 "2007-12-04T23:45:28Z")
The news section of the IMDB keeps saying “no progress has been made” over the last few days. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/3 "2007-12-04T23:59:24Z")
From [Jeff Wells](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2007/12/apatow_on_wga_s.php): > [@](#): > > The WGA strike situation “doesn’t look good right now,” producer-director-writer Judd Apatow tells the Toronto Star’s Peter Howell. "I think if you look at what is being offered by the studios, it doesn’t look like they want it to end. I mean, it’s clear they want this strike to continue. > > “It would cost very little money to end the strike and [the producers] are basically trying to create a way of paying people so that when the internet explodes, they’ll wind up paying less than they do now to writers. And I don’t think they’re going to get away with it.” > > Now, that’s a gulf and a half. The writers aren’t satisfied with current status quo arrangements and want more, but the producers, to hear it from the well-positioned Apatow, are not only opposed to this but want to pay writers less, in a future-tense sense, than what they’re currently getting. > > “The writers really failed to stand up for themselves with the DVD (in a previous contract dispute) and they feel terrible about it,” Apatow continues, “and enough of them will not give up [meaning that the strike] will have to be resolved in a reasonably fair manner.” > > Except that the vast majority of heavyweight producers and studio chiefs stopped believing in “fair” when they were 13 years old. Accepting the basic unfairness and occasional brutality of life and adjusting their game plan accordingly is how they came to be big alphas in the first place. “Fair?,” says Peter O’Toole to Jack Hawkins in Lawrence of Arabia as they discuss the campaign to capture Damascus. “What’s ‘fair’ got to do with it? It’s going to happen.” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/4 "2007-12-05T00:08:28Z")
Also [this](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2007/12/schulmans_wga_l.php): > [@](#): > > The “WGA strike being settled by Pearl Harbor day” line, passed along a week and a half ago, evaporated last week. Two days ago Variety’s Dave McNary wrote that “with both sides back at the barricades, many believe the writers strike won’t be resolved until March at the earliest.” Three more months? March? What happened to the mind games being over and serious horse-trading about to begin? > > Deadline Hollywood Daily’s Nikki Finke has just posted a letter sent to WGA membership from WGA board member Tom Schulman. The gist is Schulman quoting a conversation he had at a party few years ago with “a gentleman who until recently had been for decades the chief negotiator for the companies in another segment of the entertainment industry” who told Schulman about his negotiating strategy. Schulman write it down and here it is, more or less: > > "Strategy for Hardball Negotiations: > > "Piss off the leaders and spokespersons for the other side. A leader who loses his temper loses something in negotiations. Why? because anger clouds judgment, and because a person who loses his temper is embarrassed, usually comes and apologizes, and always gives something away to get back into the good graces of the other side. > > "The end game is the money, but hardball negotiations aren’t about money, until the end. The real game is dividing and conquering. > > “Lower the expectations of the other side – divide and conquer. Raise and lower the expectations of the other side – divide and conquer. Do everything possible to destroy the credibility of the other side’s leadership – divide and conquer. Use confidantes and back-channels to go over the heads of the stronger leaders to the softer targets – divide and conquer. When you figure out the other side’s bottom line, offer a fraction – it’s surprising how many times that stands.” ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/5 "2007-12-05T02:12:37Z")
[The most recent commentary by Mark Evanier on the strike](http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_12_04.html#014417) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/6 "2007-12-05T05:29:27Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] (originally said by Judd Apatow, bolding mine) > [@](#): > > It would cost very little money to end the strike and [the producers] are basically trying to create a way of paying people so that **when the internet explodes** , they’ll wind up paying less than they do now to writers. [/QUOTE] The Internet is going to explode? :eek: [chicken little]Is it the apocalypse?[/cl] Yes, I know they’re talking about media “taking off” on the Internet. As if it hasn’t already. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/7 "2007-12-05T15:29:30Z")
Are there any blogs or outlets where you can get the point of view of the producers? The coverage of this has just seemed really one sided and I’d like to get the other point of view. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/8 "2007-12-05T15:40:50Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] I’d like to get the other point of view. [/QUOTE] The other point of view is “we want all the money for ourselves.” Re the current strike negotiations, the AMPTP came to the table with an offer that one showrunner referred to as “a thimbleful of sputum.” Their tactics are as described in **ArchiveGuy** ’s second post: keep making incremental moves but talk them up in public in excess of the reality, in an attempt to undercut the faith of the union membership in their leaders. Divide and conquer, as it says. It’s going to be a long strike. Take it to the bank. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/9 "2007-12-05T15:59:51Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] Are there any blogs or outlets where you can get the point of view of the producers? The coverage of this has just seemed really one sided and I’d like to get the other point of view. [/QUOTE] Well, if they could just find someone to \*write \*for them… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/10 "2007-12-05T16:21:33Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Re the current strike negotiations, the AMPTP came to the table with an offer that one showrunner referred to as “a thimbleful of sputum.” [/QUOTE] Well, of course, this is a negotiation where, for once, labor is always going to outdo management in eloquence . . . ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/11 "2007-12-05T16:34:27Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Well, of course, this is a negotiation where, for once, labor is always going to outdo management in eloquence . . . [/QUOTE] I’m rather delighting in that myself. And really, it’s lucky for the directors and the whomevers guilds that are due for contracts down the road a bit that it’s the writers who came up first. Can you imaging if it was the key grips trying to draft a press release? We’d all be, like, “Dude, it’s a camera! Plug it in already and stop complaining!” But the writers, well…they sorta know how to write and how to manipulate our emotions. It’s almost like it’s their job or somethin’. None of this is to suggest that they don’t have an excellent point, by the way. But I’m sort of viewing this through two lenses - one “just the facts” and the other as performance. The writers come out on top by both accounts. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/12 "2007-12-05T16:41:44Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] The other point of view is “we want all the money for ourselves.” [/QUOTE] Well, that’s like characterizing the WGA’s position as “we want more money”. While it might be true, it’s not complete, and it’s not really fair to the WGA’s position. Likewise, I’m sure the producers have reasons they think the WGA members shouldn’t be paid more, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask what those reasons are. I personally hope you’re wrong and it’s not a long strike. I want to be able to watch TV again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/13 "2008-02-04T23:36:09Z")
[It might be settled this week!](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iade5585233ac61804c06853c85a9a606?imw=Y) (But there’s a lot of attribution to rumor in the story.) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/14 "2008-02-06T00:00:35Z")
It looks like a lot of might be in the [hands of the WGA as a whole](http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/strike-status-report-everything-i-know-about-where-things-stand/), not just the reps (if they decide to put the proposed deal up for a membership vote). We’ll see… ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/15 "2008-02-06T00:04:14Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] (I don’t much care, except that I’m getting tired of reruns of _The Daily Show._☹ ) [/QUOTE] _The Daily Show_ (or, as Jon calls it without the writers, a daily show) has been going on for weeks now without writers, as have all the talk shows. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/16 "2008-02-06T00:09:42Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] _The Daily Show_ (or, as Jon calls it without the writers, a daily show) has been going on for weeks now without writers, as have all the talk shows. [/QUOTE] Look at the posting date. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/17 "2008-02-06T00:21:14Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Look at the posting date. [/QUOTE] Ah, I see. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/18 "2008-02-08T20:12:48Z")
Looks like the strike is going to be over, according to Michael Eisner anyway. [Deal Has Been Reached to End Writers’ Strike: Eisner](http://www.cnbc.com/id/23057002/from/ET/) Looks to be official on Saturday, and he doesn’t think there’s any chance it’ll fall apart at this point. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-movement-on-settling-the-writers-guild-of-america-strike/428852/19 "2008-02-08T20:33:33Z")
It still [needs to be approved by the membership as a whole](http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2008/02/post_228.php). Embedded in this link are several more detailing some of the specifics of the final deal.