Results tagged “wga”

As the Screen Actors Guild and the movie studios, represented by AMPTP, meet for the first time in four months today, the Writers Guild of America announced that writers are not getting paid for new media residuals, which was the core issue they held a 100-day strike over. That can't help today's meeting, which will include a federal mediator, because new media is one of the big reasons that SAG and AMPTP have not come to a deal yet.

Exactly one year from the first day of the Writers Guild strike, the Screen Actors Guild will meet with a federal mediator next Wednesday, November 5, to help the union and studios come to an agreement. If either side doesn't budge, then Los Angeles could be looking at another large strike.

Strike.TV announced the launch of its online HD video network at Digital Hollywood this week. The network features original short-form content by the creative talent behind television shows like “The Office,” “Friends” and “Ugly Betty.” Among the shows are “Global Warming,” a romantic comedy about an overworked corporate drone in New York (SNL’s Kristen Wiig) and a caring database support technician in Bangalore (the Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi). For fans of Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor on “The Office”), there is “House Poor,” about her comedic, underhanded efforts to furnish her house in LA.

The concept of reality jurisdiction was a controversial one during the recent writers strike. The idea was divisive, even amongst WGA members who debated how much, if any, reality television should be covered by the union. When the WGA announced it was abandoning its fight for reality rights during the negotiations, it did so with the caveat that the Guild would aggressively pursue authority on reality projects once the strike was over.

The Screen Actors Guild contract runs out on Monday, yup, the day is fast upon us, and it looks like, according to the Hollywood Reporter, the SAG will attempt to extend their contract instead of vote for a strike. This will keep the studios' projects moving forward while the SAG and AFTRA get in lockstep (or not) and the SAG decides what its deal-breaking points are (or not). The SAG is becoming very aware of how shaky its membership is feeling, economically speaking, after the WGA strike last year. As LAist reported earlier this month, the economic impact of the WGA strike was significant, can the region handle another similar event?

Studio Reps: "'Frustrated and discouraged' at the guild's attitude."

Screen Actors Guild members outside of Los Angeles are reportedly fuming over Monday's rally, which was billed as a pro-SAG "solidarity" event, but ended up having anti American Federation of Television and Radio Actor tones. Around 500 actors and supporters of the movement rallied outside SAG's Wilshire Blvd. headquarters chanting "Vote No!"

       

Although the Screen Actors Guild said today was a "solidarity" rally, Variety plainly headlines the event: "SAG rallies against AFTRA, Guild member encourage to vote down deal."

UPDATE: About 500 people showed for the rally. See photos here.

True, the strike has been over for awhile now and things have pretty much returned to normal. But I don't want you writers to think we are taking you for granted just because we're not honking anymore. We are honking with our hearts.

If there's one scene Hollywood actors aren't eager to rehearse, it's the one where they march back and forth in front of studios in shifts, carrying signs and accepting honks and donuts from sympathetic supporters. It's something the Screen Actors Guild is hoping to avoid, particularly in the wake of the lengthy and costly WGA strike that held the local staple industry and its workers hostage for 100 days starting last fall.

How many ways can you say “Today I walked in a circle for three and a half hours”?

This morning at the Marriott Downtown, Los Angles Development and Economic Corporation (LADEC) financial uber-guru Jack Kyser will be presenting the 2008-09 LAEDC Forecast Results, a 71-page document entailing the region's financial future. Highlighting a recession watch, the crumbling housing market, and growth opportunities such as tourism, one loosely dubbed as "Its NOT business as usual!" talks strike and its ill-economic impacts upon the city. From the Hollywood Reporter:

The figure includes lost wages from TV shows that were canceled and films that were put on hold as well as a plethora of support services, ranging from limo drivers to florists. Kyser suggested that the cancellation of the Golden Globes resulted in a $60 million shortfall for the community.

Continue reading "That'd be a $2.5 Billion Strike"

a writer's perspective

Just moments ago, in a letter to its members, the WGA announced that writers have voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the “restraining order” and officially end the strike. The move comes on Day 100 of the labor dispute.

There's a good chance that the WGA strike will end tomorrow. What implications does this have for the rest of the year? Will we really not see any effects on TV until the late fall sometime, or will we get some reason to turn the TV on over the summer?

Some productions may start up again on Monday, however, as showrunners prepare to relaunch filming. How fast episodic television series will return to air will depend on how many scripts were left unfilmed prior to the start of the strike; those that completed filming of all their scripts will need to get their writers back at the keyboards before the cameras can roll again.

a writer's perspective

The Writer's Guild of America (WGA) didn't hold a gala ceremony this year (who can afford a gown when you're not getting paid?) but they did take a break on the East coast from discussing the possible end of the strike to announce the winners of their annual awards. This year's very informal and somewhat unusual gathering "was decidedly looser than past ceremonies and peppered with references to the likely strike settlement. 'WGA on Strike' signs filled the ornate lobby of the Hudson Theatre in Times Square, and writers gathered by the open bars, comparing notes about the membership meeting earlier in the day when they finally heard the details about the tentative deal."

Photo by victoriabernal via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

At nearly 3am last night, WGA members received an email announcing that "we have a tentative deal." I'm told that the language of the deal could have been done earlier, but that the AMPTP attempted some last minute shenanigans - most reprehensible in the fact that it made me use the word "shenanigans."

In an interview on CNBC's "Fast Talk," ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner said the writers strike is over but was noted "to hesitate initially about whether it was possible that the writers could still reject the agreement," yet finally suggesting the acceptance of the deal was inevitable.

"A deal has been made, and they'll be back to work very soon," Eisner said, adding, "I know a deal's been made. I know it's over."

Continue reading "Writers Strike is Over According to Ex-Disney Exec"

Photo by GarySe7en via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

a writer's perspective

The WGA strike has created a shortage of new television and films. If it can't be resolved soon, the studios can always take old movies and re-edit them. This trailer reimagines David Lynch's Blue Velvet as a romantic comedy ala Meet The Parents.

John Mulaney - talent reel

a writer's perspective