Looks like no Golden Globes or Oscars this year

[MovieMogul]

A good article on the WGA/DGA negotiations (though the long-term pros & cons aren’t completely resolved yet):

Two issues are clear immediately, however.

The first is that the AMPTP would never have offered any of the steps forward to the directors if the WGA hadn’t been on strike for 2-1/2 months, catching networks by surprise and stopping production of television, forcing movies to be put on hold, putting pilot season in jeopardy, putting the next television season in jeopardy, putting the Oscar telecast and its $100 million payday and promotional bonanza for movies in jeopardy, putting the Grammy’s in jeopardy, jettisoning the Golden Globes, creating the potential of advertising “give-backs” into the billions of dollars, and creating deep dissension within the AMPTP itself, with independent deals already made with United Artists, Spyglass Entertainment, Worldwide Pants, The Weinstein Company and many more on the verge, as up to 25 requests come into the Writers Guild office a day, every day. Not to mention significant Internet deals with Yahoo, MRC (funded by AT&T and Goldman, Sachs), Jackson Bites, and many more notable deals on the verge.

And most critically, the AMPTP would never have offered what they did without all the unrelenting attention the WGA put on the union-breaking importance of New Media.

Not only did the AMPTP have to make this deal with the DGA - a guild that has only struck once in its existence, for five minutes - and make it now, but the DGA - a guild which 24 years ago egregiously gave back 80% of home video residuals - could not afford to close its eyes completely a second time, without causing a revolt among its members. Again, whether the deal both sides struck is a good one for directors (still yet to vote), and one that is in the Writers Guild’s best interest (this is, after all, a deal for directors, with different concerns), remains to be seen. But it’s a starting point that wouldn’t have existed without the ground laid for them.

[Bridget_Burke]

[QUOTE=Jodi]
I’m not speaking from the POV of anyone working in entertainment in any meaningful way. Are you? And I don’t pretend to declare what unknown amorphous others believe.

If I thought they universally did and if I cared enough about the subject, I would. As it is, I think I’ll just contribute to this thread as I see fit.
[/QUOTE]

Most employees in the entertainment business are unionized. If one group goes on strike, the others understand.

That’s called “solidarity.”

[Jodi]

[QUOTE=Bridget Burke]
Most employees in the entertainment business are unionized. If one group goes on strike, the others understand. That’s called “solidarity.”
[/QUOTE]

I see no basis for you to declare what others do or do not “understand,” nor is there any indication as to what you yourself mean by “understanding.” I’m sure the directors “understood” the WGA’s position; that didn’t stop them from striking their own deal. So much for “solidarity” between unions.

[Bridget_Burke]

[QUOTE=Jodi]
I see no basis for you to declare what others do or do not “understand,” nor is there any indication as to what you yourself mean by “understanding.” I’m sure the directors “understood” the WGA’s position; that didn’t stop them from striking their own deal. So much for “solidarity” between unions.
[/QUOTE]

But I thought you were worried about “the little people” who are out of work…

[Jodi]

[QUOTE=Bridget Burke]
But I thought you were worried about “the little people” who are out of work…
[/QUOTE]

You quote my post, but this is not responsive to it. If you would clarify the point you’re trying to make, I’d be happy to try to respond.

[Wendell_Wagner]

Justin_Bailey writes:

> If all unions disappeared tomorrow, I’d be a happy camper.

So you’re against unions. It would have helped if you had just said this at the beginning. Perhaps you should start another thread called “All Unions Stink” or whatever.

[Equipoise]

Huzzah! There might actually be an Academy Awards this year! Keep your fingers crossed. I didn’t want to start a new thread unless and until the strike is officially over, but things are looking up.

Strike: An end in sight?

The Writers Guild of America and studio brass made a breakthrough on the key issue of Internet streaming in a lengthy Friday session – generating cautious optimism that an end to the 3-month-old writers strike may soon be at hand.

“It’s not a done deal, by any means,” said a well-placed insider. “But Friday was a good day.”

The terms of streaming are said to be slightly different from those in the Directors Guild of America agreement but agreeable to both sides.

Over the weekend, lawyers and other reps for the WGA and Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers were exchanging draft proposals for contract language.

The WGA West’s board of directors and the WGA’s negotiating committee will get updates today on the status of the weekend’s talks at separate meetings that had been previously scheduled.

fingers crossed

[Boyo_Jim]

In my perfect world the settlement would come just slightly too late for the Academy Awards. The fewer gaudy, self-congratulatory circle-jerk awards programs, the better.

[Equipoise]

[QUOTE=Boyo Jim]
In my perfect world the settlement would come just slightly too late for the Academy Awards. The fewer gaudy, self-congratulatory circle-jerk awards programs, the better.
[/QUOTE]
:rolleyes: