While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing.
The facts: we are still in talks and do not yet have a contract. When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is alert our membership with an e-mail message. Until then, please disregard rumors about either the existence of an agreement or its terms.
Until we have reached an agreement with the AMPTP, it is essential that we continue to show our resolve, solidarity, and strength.
Picketing will resume on Monday. Our leverage at the bargaining table is directly affected by your commitment to our cause. Please continue to show your support on the line. We are all in this together.
Breaking News: Hollywood’s striking writers and the AMPTP have resolved key issues, moving them closer to a final agreement that would finally end the seemingly never-ending WGA strike. According to the LA Times:
“After two weeks of talks, the parties Friday bridged the gap on the central issues surrounding how much writers should be paid for work that is distributed via the Internet, said three people close to the talks who asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential.
A final contract could be presented to the Writers Guild of America’s board by late next week, the people said.”
Needless to say, while nothing is official, this TV Addict is thinking positive thoughts and readying the champagne.
The only question remaining (aside from the official announcement that puts an end to these dark times) is who had February in theTVaddict.com Strike Pool!
Good News: ONE TREE HILL got some serious media exposure in today’s NY Times. Bad News: For glamorizing teen pregnancy and being wildly unrealistic. Ugly News: Thanks to a never-ending WGA Strike, we’re still watching! [see link]
Good News: CBS has teamed up with Canada’s CTV to shoot 13 episodes of a cop show titled FLASHPOINT starring Enrico Colantoni. Bad News: The TV Addict may or may not have a mild restraining order placed on him when it comes to VERONICA MARS alumni! Ugly News: When the writer’s finally return to work, will their be any jobs left in Hollywood? [see link]
Good News: Conan O’brien shaves his beard. Bad News: This is what passes for big news these days. Ugly News: What’s next? Craig Ferguson becomes an American citizen? Too late![see link]
Question: Who needs new episodes of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER when we’ve got Josh Radnor starring in a video short written by Seth MacFarlane?
Answer: I do! Three months ago, these creative pot shots at the AMPTP were Legen… [wait for it]…dary…. Now they’re so November 2007. WGA/AMPTP. Let’s make a deal.
Reason #4: It’s one thing to help shut-down the Golden Globes, but the Writer’s Guild of America will face a far more serious backlash, not to mention PR nightmare if they help put the kibosh to Hollywood’s most important night of the year. How else will millions of woman around the world know what to wear on the off chance that they’re invited to an event with a red carpet?
Reason #3: Billy Bush’s Golden Globe Performance. ‘Nuff said.
Reason #2: The accountants of Price Waterhouse Coopers spend weeks carefully tabulating the awards results. Do they not deserve their moment in the sun. For the love of God, will someone please think about the accountants!
And the only reason that counts: Money. Be it actor, producer, studio, network or writer, the Oscars equals millions to everyone involved. Actors who walk away with a little golden statute can double their asking price. Nominated films see a substantial boost in both theatrical and DVD revenue following the awards. And the telecast itself, often referred to as the Super Bowl for woman generates millions in advertising for broadcaster ABC.
If there’s one thing everyone Hollywood understands, it’s money. Hence, the show must will go on.
The TV Addict here with a glimmer of hope. WGAw president, Patric Verrone and WGAe president, Michael Winship just sent out this letter to the members of the WGA. Is the TV season about to be saved? Stay Tuned…
To Our Fellow Members,
We have responded favorably to the invitation from the AMPTP to enter into informal talks that will help establish a reasonable basis for returning to negotiations. During this period, we have agreed to a complete news blackout. We are grateful for this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with industry leaders that we hope will lead to a contract. We ask that all members exercise restraint in their public statements during this critical period.
In order to make absolutely clear our commitment to bringing a speedy conclusion to negotiations, we have decided to withdraw our proposals on reality and animation. Our organizing efforts to achieve Guild representation in these genres for writers will continue. You will hear more about this in the next two weeks.
Perhaps motivated by the successful negotiations between the Directors Guild and the AMPTP, the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and various studio executives have agreed to meet and attempt to get negotiations underway in hopes of settling the now 4 month long strike. Negotiations broke off between the WGA and AMPTP on December 7th. Award season may also be a factor in renewing the negotiations, with the Golden Globes a hollow shell of it’s former self, Hollywood would do pretty much anything to prevent the Academy Awards from meeting the same fate. [Source: theREELaddict]
Not only has theTVaddict.com scooped Deadline Hollywood Daily (Hey Nikki, there’s no such thing as vacation in Hollywood!), the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) has tentatively reached a deal with the AMPTP following a mere six (no really, six!) days of negotiating.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the DGA announced that the new deal:
• Increases both wages and residual bases for each year of the contract.
• Establishes DGA jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution on the Internet.
• Establishes new residuals formula for paid Internet downloads (electronic sell-through) that essentially doubles the rate currently paid by employers.
• Establishes residual rates for ad-supported streaming and use of clips on the Internet.
Naturally, the speed at which this agreement was reached begs some obvious questions. Namely, how long until the WGA and AMPTP reach an agreement? Why has the WGA strike managed to last almost three months while the DGA negotiated an agreement in six days? And most importantly, can the WGA ‘borrow’ the DGA’s negotiating team to help reach and fair and equitable agreement faster.
Not to sound incredibly selfish or anything, but this TV Addict can’t take much more of this. For God sakes I watched a LIFETIME movie last week, a LIFETIME MOVIE!
Yesterday, theTVaddict.com reader ’scsc’ took this TV Addict to task for not focusing on the “great shows that CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation] has introduced” during the current Writer’s Guild of America Strike. To wit, here’s this TV Addict’s take on one of the CBC’s newest offering.
Far from great, MVP: THE SECRET LIVES OF HOCKEY WIVES is an unoriginal and poorly written mash-up of FOOTBALLERS’ WIVES and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES with a little hockey thrown into the mix. The show not only follows the fictitious Maple Leafs Mustangs as they deal with the exhilarating highs (money, power and fame) and inevitable lows (drugs and the untimely death of their captain) of being professional hockey players, but takes viewers behind-the-scenes to meet the greedy owners, desperate hanger-on-ers and stereotypical puck bunnies that inevitably surround the team.
Luckily for CBC and our hard-earned Canadian tax dollars, the result is a mildly entertaining hour of television that will serve Canadian TV Addict’s well during these dark days known as the “WGA work stoppage”. Score one for the CBC!
Just in case Sunday’s train-wreck of a Golden Globes ceremony wasn’t enough of a wake-up call, this TV Addict thought he’d take this opportunity to remind the powers that be as to what he won’t be watching tonight.
[Update 1:36PM] This TV Addict just realized how he’s going to occupy his evening. I’m going to take the plunge and start watching the fifth and final season of HBO’s critically acclaimed yet under-appreciated series THE WIRE. A question for my fellow WIRE addicts out there: Is it too late to join the party? Will I understand what’s going on not having seen the first four seasons?
Loading ...
