Add RKO To List Of WGA Side Deals

15 Comments »

1. Hmmm…

   While it’s good to see things getting done in this strike. Lion’s Gate is the only company I know of that isn’t dependent on one of the AMPTP hard-corps for distributing their product.

   I hope the reports of renewed talks lead to a decent deal.

   PS: Good to see you posting again.

   Comment by Furious D — January 25, 2008 @ 2:16 pm

2. Sounds like the rumored agreement between the AMPTP and the WGA is coming none too soon for the AMPTP, as it sounds as though there foundation is crumbling.

   Rapidly.

   Comment by Raider — January 25, 2008 @ 2:34 pm

3. These side deals are irrelevant. They have no impact on the interests or negotiating strategy of the, as you call them, moguls, and indeed these interim agreements will, ultimately, be replaced by the industry-wide AMPTP/WGA deal. Much ado about nothing. And besides everybody knows (don’t they…) that it’s the TV business that pays for everything else. Who cares if Lionsgate can get an extra feature script in the pipeline before the WGA finally caves? It’ll lose money anyway. And WWP is never going to produce anything other than DL’s nighttime show so what did the WGA gain by any of this except to make enemies out of Leno, Kimmel, and all of the “little people” and companies who’ve been thrown out of work because Verrone and henchmen thought they’d gain a strategic advantage by prematurely declaring a strike. What? They thought the AMPTP would throw in the towel after a week? Their best thinking got us here? Hmmm. At least they’re not throwing the Grammys in front of the bus.

   Comment by aitchee — January 25, 2008 @ 2:37 pm

4. When the DGA deal was published I immediately called a director friend who said: “The deal stinks and I won’t vote for it. But it will pass because directors are a minority in the DGA.”

   I’ve yet to see anybody in the news-media talk to actual rank and file directors about their deal, rather than simply assuming it is great and setting up the WGA to be the bad guys if we don’t go along.

   When the AMPTP tries the same strategy of walking away and hoping this time the blame will stick to the writers, the WGA should simply announce that we are going to focus on interim deals alone — and that is how we intend to put our membership back to work. Any companies that don’t make those deals won’t be working with WGA writers again. Simple as that.

   Comment by i10 — January 25, 2008 @ 2:53 pm

5. Next up, Edison and Lumiere.

   Comment by Joe — January 25, 2008 @ 3:47 pm

6. Glad you are feeling better. We missed your reporting of the facts.

   Comment by dave — January 25, 2008 @ 4:25 pm

7. Anybody have a feeling that AMPTP/WGA talks are about to collapse. If that wasn’t the case, the WGA would have announced an suspension of these deals in order to get the main talks completed.

   Comment by Jessy S. — January 25, 2008 @ 4:43 pm

8. RKO……..that’s quite a deal. They are a major producer…back in the 40’s. When was the last time any of us saw one of those movies outside of TCM.

   Comment by independant producer — January 25, 2008 @ 7:38 pm

9. Next, Desilu…

   Comment by paint the town red — January 25, 2008 @ 11:42 pm

10. Just what is the crieria for giving interim agreements. It seesm to be quite arbitrary. I know of a couple of independent companies with no ties to any of the mogul companies (even for distribution) who are still waiting. That does not seem fair. In fact, keeping them waiting seems no different than the moguls leaving the WGA at the negoatiating table.

    Comment by Confused — January 26, 2008 @ 4:39 am

11. RKO primarily exists to license remakes of their Golden Era material, like last year’s “Are We Done Yet?”, a remake of “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House”.

    Comment by Alexander — January 26, 2008 @ 5:21 am

12. You mean the modern RKO that did “Are We Done Yet” which grossed $58,388,068 last year?

    Comment by Alex — January 26, 2008 @ 6:59 am

13. How are these things being decided. There are other companies that are trying to sign waivers but are not getting any traction and have more active projects than RKO.

    Comment by Frustrated — January 26, 2008 @ 8:12 am

14. I think the WGA keeps signing these deals as a way to hedge their bets, and to keep the pressure on the negotiations. Given the AMPTP’s behavior to date, it makes sense for the Guild to keep signing deals until an overall deal is in place.

    And if you want, “independant producer” (sic)you can mock RKO, but Lionsgate was a coup.

    Comment by Anonymous — January 26, 2008 @ 2:11 pm

15. Surely I’m not the only person to wonder what the hell movies RKO has produced this century. Therefore, why is there expected to be any excitement over this news? Do they even make movies anymore? I thought they were nothing more than a catalogue at this point. Lionsgate signing a deal was far more noteworthy due to their massive output.

    Comment by Sherilyn — January 27, 2008 @ 7:13 pm

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