Thanks to “WGA Writer,” who posted the following response in the comment section of yesterday’s post… “So it was okay for him to cross a picket line and take a WGA writer’s job (Daytime is a WGA covered area) while they were on strike? That’s called being a scab and it will bar you...
The Writers Strike 2007
Is the WGA Bullying Non-Members?
Hey, folks– At long last, I am finally back to civilization, after 8 days of no Internet access or cell service, which was– strangely– AWESOME! So first of all– thank you to everyone who has emailed over the last week… I promise I’ll get to your messages, questions, and posts asap. In the mean...
A Special Message from the WGA
Hey, everyone– David Young, Executive Director of the Writers Guild West, just sent this email to members. It’s got some great updates and information on what’s happened in the months since last year’s writers strike… thought you’d find it interesting and informative (also, it copies and pastes funny, so my apologies for the weird...
A Message from the Writers Guild
Hey, everyone– Just wanted to post this email sent this evening from Writers Guild presidents Patric Verrone and Michael Winship. They say some interesting things about the post-strike world of new media and online entertainment, as well as their stance on the current standoff between studios and the Screen Actors Guild…Dear Fellow Members, It’s Labor...
Speaking of the Writers Strike…
Hey, guys– On the heels of yesterday’s Variety article about the aftermath of the writers strike, check out today’s article about the WGA‘s upcoming elections. Even if you’re not living or working in L.A., the results of these elections will help shape Hollywood– and writers’ roles in it– for the near future… http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991184.html?categoryid=10&cs=1 You...
The Writers Strike: 6 Months Later…
Hey, everyone– it’s been six months since the end of the 100-day writers strike that shut down Hollywood for almost four months in 2007 and 2008… and we’re still feeling the effects. Pilot and development season has been revamped (at least for now), networks and studios have fewer projects in development, and the Screen...
The WGA Ratifies Its New Deal
Hey, screenwriters– Half an hour ago, the Writers Guild of America announced that membership had voted to ratify the new AMPTP contract, putting an official end to the tumult and negotiations that had caused the 100-day writers strike. Here’s the official email from the WGA… “To Our Fellow Members: Today, it is our pleasure to...
VIDEO OF THE DAY: Harlan Ellison on Getting Paid as a Writer (oh my God– I love this!)
Thanks to Kate at FishbowlLA for finding this video, but OH MY GOD– IT’S INCREDIBLE. A quick bit of backstory… yesterday, UnitedHollywood.com posted a recently-written– and fairly pissed off– response to the WGA-AMPTP deal by sci-fi guru Harlan Ellison. I don’t necessarily agree with him, but his passion is AWESOME. Even more awesome is...
IT'S OFFICIAL: THE STRIKE IS OVER
The full reports… The Hollywood ReporterVarietyThe New York Times You might also like:No Related Posts
Strike To End By Wednesday?
Hey, everyone– the latest update: the WGA West Board of Directors and the WGA East Council will meet tomorrow and officially recommend the new WGA/AMPTP deal. This recommendation will start an speeded-up two-day voting process for the entire WGA membership. Work will not resume until the membership votes to ratify the contract… which they’re...
Interesting Perspectives on the WGA/AMPTP Deal
Hey, screenwriters– As analyses and perspectives on the pending deal go up, I’ll try and post links to the most interesting. Check these out… • UnitedHollywood.com – Ad Supported Streaming: Point/Counterpoint• Huffington Post – Hollywood Writers Union Head Backs Deal• Mark Evanier’s News From Me – Back from the Shrine You might also like:No...
BREAKING NEWS: WGA Deal Inked!
Hey, screenwriters– After an all-night negotiating session, haggling over deals, the WGA and AMPTP have set in ink their new deal. The deal is very similar to the deal finalized by the Directors Guild last month, although it does have some impressive gains in the areas of residuals, separated rights, etc. This deal has...
READER POLL: Should the WGA take the AMPTP deal currently on the table?
So it’s true… after exactly three months of striking, the WGA may finally have an acceptable offer from the AMPTP. Although we don’t know the exact terms, the proposed contract supposedly improves the residual rates for online streaming as proposed in last month’s DGA deal… it doubles the download residual rate… and secures guild...
THE WGA Deal Gets Closer?
Still no official contract announcement from the WGA or AMPTP, but the L.A. Times published this story this morning, offering more hope that a deal could be imminent. Very imminent. Then, just over an hour ago, the WGA sent this email to members: “To Our Fellow Members, While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout,...
BREAKING NEWS: WGA Deal Almost Here??!
Posted on the New York Times less than ten minutes ago… WILL A WGA DEAL WITH STUDIOS BE ANNOUNCED TODAY?! You might also like:No Related Posts
A "Suck-Salute" In Honor Of… CANADA
Hey, screenwriters— Every once in a while, I like to take a few moments to pay tribute to someone who’s done something so lame, so asinine, so irrefutably SUCKY that they deserve their own reward. I call this honor a “Suck-Salute,” and I am pleased to announce today’s very special winner… CANADA. Earlier this...
TEACHING THURSDAYS: Learn From Hollywood's Best Comedy Writers– This Thursday, Jan. 31
Hey, guys– If you’re in LA, this is an incredible opportunity to meet and learn from some of the best TV and film writers working today… The WGA has declared every Thursday during the writers strike “Teaching Thursday,” meaning that each Thursday, picketing writers from different genres meet at the Warner Brothers Lot (4000...
Listen to My Interview Online!
Hey, guys– After posting my interview with podiobook producer and executive Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff a few days ago, Mark interviewed me on the phone for his writing website, Word Sushi. We talked for a while about the current state of the WGA writers strike, the future of the film and TV industry, how technology...
Calling All Reality TV Writers!
Hey, screenwriters– Regardless of how the strike pans out, the WGA is working hard to protect the rights and livelihoods of TV’s reality writers. If you can attend, here’s info on a meeting tomorrow morning to help bring reality writers under the juristication of the Writers Guild… WGA ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: ACTION MEETING ALERT! WHAT: ...
The DGA Deal… What's It Mean?
Hey, screenwriters– So: the DGA signed its deal with the AMPTP last night, and Hollywood is abuzz with what it means for directors, writers, actors, the strike, and the future of Hollywood. Of course, the actual language of the contract itself has yet to be put together, so right now, all the speculation is...
BREAKING NEWS: THE DGA SIGNS A DEAL!
Hey, screenwriters– It was announced less than two hours ago that the DGA signed an agreement with the AMPTP. Although the terms of that deal haven’t been announced, all eyes are now on the WGA‘s response. Will they accept the terms of the DGA’s deal? Is the DGA deal fair for both writers and...
More WGA Side Deals… and Are Studios Breaking the Law When They "Force Majeure" Their TV Writers?
Hey, everyone– This email is hot of the press from the WGA… and a really interesting read… To Our Fellow Members, As you know, since the conglomerates walked away from the bargaining table on December 7, we have adopted the strategy of negotiating independent agreements with select companies. We believe this will accomplish several things. First,...
READERS POLL: Should the Writers Guild Accept the DGA's Deal with the AMPTP?
Today marks Day 74 of the Writers Strike… and the sixth day of the Directors Guild‘s negotiations with the AMPTP. All of Hollywood is watching with baited breath to see if the DGA closes a deal… and many people believe that if they do, their contract could serve as a template to restart the...
Murder Unscripted
Hey, guys– For our strike video of the weekend, check out this video starring Chris Noth, BD Wong, Eric Bogosian, Dean Winters, Kate Erbie, Peter Gerety, and Zeljko Ivanek— hilarious! And exactly what’ll happen in a world without writers… MURDER UNSCRIPTED You might also like:No Related Posts
ABC Fires Nearly 30 Writers (and I think this is a good thing)
Hey, screenwriters– Just wanted to weigh in on a piece of interesting news that broke yesterday afternoon. As you may have read, ABC became the first studio yesterday to axe nearly thirty overall deals. Obviously, this is a horrible thing for the writers involved and their families; these people were effectively fired at a...