WGA set to strike - TV Season could be truncated/delayed (1 Viewer)

[Joseph DeMartino]

Actually the union has repeatedly said the Leno is violating the rules by writing for himself and they have left open the question of sanctions when the strike is over. As a practical matter there isn't a hell of a lot they can do about the situation at the moment, and it probably doesn't make much sense to get into a pissing contest with a Big Name who is also a member of the Guild, but they've gone on record as saying that Jay doesn't understand the MBA and the strike rules if he thinks he is somehow exempt because he's writing "for himself."

Regards,

Joe

 

[Yee-Ming]

Seeing as Leno's run on the Tonight Show is ending, the WGA might end up with an 'up yours' response and resignation from one of the bigger names in the industry, which would leave them with egg on their faces. Just as Lucas years ago told the DGA to shove it when they insisted he include the "A Film By" credit in the opening credits, which he felt disrupted the flow.

 

[Ray Chuang]

Didn't the DGA subsequently amend the rules so in modern movies where all the credits are at the end of the movie the credits list the director's name first?

I do think that because of the potentially HUGE financial impact of a prolonged strike we may see a deal within the next 3-4 weeks, especially now that they've taken reality programming and animated TV series "off the table" in terms of DVD/Internet delivery royalties.

 

[Kevin Grey]

IIRC, the issue was that if a producer got a credit before the title, then so did the director. Lucas argued that Lucasfilm Ltd was a production company (ie akin to having the Fox logo at the beginning) and not an individual producer credit but the DGA disagreed.

 

[Jason Seaver]

Actually, Marvel is producing their own features now - they're actually funding Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and a few others via a line of credit, with Paramount acting as distributor. The existing franchises (Spider-Man and the X-Men movies) are traditional licensee/licensor arrangements, but their newer projects are much more like the deal George Lucas had with Fox for the Star Wars prequels.

Also, animated programming doesn't impact the WGA; it's a different union/guild. Part of what the WGA wanted was to have animation fall under their jurisdiction, but it's looking like that demand is likely to be dropped (I half-suspect that the guild's request for jurisdiction over animated and "unscripted" work was so that they could have something to drop in order to get better internet and home video concessions).

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

NBC cancels pilot season; fate of previous season's successful scripted debuts up in the air

There goes ALOT of jobs for WGA and SAG members. Especially if the other networks decide to follow suit.

 

[Brian W. Ralston]

I guess what they are fighting for must really be important to them and have long term industry implications for them to be willing to lose so much then....huh?

{sigh}

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

Yeah, because nobody's ever going to do scripted television again after the strike ends, so all those jobs are gone for good. No one will ever work again. EVERYBODY PANIC!

Regards,

Joe

 

[Glenn Overholt]

Are any of the "other" workers that are now not working getting unemplyment insurance? (Like the stage hands and such).

Or, how long will it take for LA to go belly up?

Glenn

 

[Quentin]

I think they will. And, I think it was going to happen regardless. The old pilot season is no way to do things, and the networks and studios knew it. There have been rumors of overhauling it for a few years now. This just gave them the right excuse to do it.

I think, in the long run (provided they come up with a better plan), it is for the better.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

CBS turns to Canadian scribes for new scripted series

 

[LCD22]

This is interesting. I have both affiliates anyway, but bring on more Canadian programming.

 

[Brent M]

Just heard tonight that the LA economy has lost approximately $1.6 billion since the strike began 3 months ago. WOW!!!

 

[Mary_P]

Hm, I wonder how the Writers Guild of Canada feels about that, given their vocal support of the WGA strike....

 

[Patrick Sun]

If a lot of lines of dialogue end in "eh?" we'll know which guild members wrote those lines.

 

[Francois Caron]

And let's not forget the ever popular "Aboot!"

 

[LCD22]

There's more Canadian programming on the way.

Networks Look North for New Shows - NBC wants Canadian 'Listener'; 'Border' may cross too - Zap2it

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

They probably feel that they've already agreed to a contract that covers their members, and that anything that creates more jobs for Canadian union writers is a good thing.

I don't understand why the American WGA feels that everyone else somehow owes them and must accomodate them while their on strike. The U.S. WGA membership made the decision to strike, and it is they who will face the consequences. It still might pan out better for them in the long run over not striking, but the AMPTP is under no obligation to sit there and take it either.


...All that being said, the Canadian-scripted shows could bomb here and then it'd all be a moot point anyway.

 

[Chris]

What you talking aboot willis? Canadian shows could be a hit, eh? Never know about them there things. Degrassi High, here we come..

 

[Chris]

It appears as though a deal is about to happen; we may see a resolution put forward this week, which is great potential news.


Deal to End Hollywood Writers’ Strike May Be Near - New York Times