The AMPTP just made this announcement. Talks begin tomorrow and I'm told this news reflects significant "progress." Indeed, DGA President Michael Apted told members in a letter today "We would not enter negotiations with the AMPTP unless we were within shouting distance of an agreement on our two most important issues: jurisdiction for our members to work in new media and appropriate compensation for the reuse of our work on the Internet and other new media platforms." But Apted also noted: "There are still hurdles to jump."
As a top insider in the negotiations just emailed me, "The process is fully functioning, and both sides are engaged with a keen eye on what's good for everyone (other guild members, community, etc)."It's common knowledge that the Directors Guild, whose contract expires in June, doesn't start formal negotiations until most of the big issues are ironed out ahead of time in months of early pre-sessions. 
And that's what happened over the past two weeks, including a secret meeting between News Corp No. 2 Peter Chernin and Walt Disney President Bob Iger about Internet issues with reps for the Directors Guild, including negotiations committee chair Gil Cates and executive director Jay Roth. (See my previous, EXCLUSIVE: DGA Met With Moguls Today.) Even hardliners among the moguls like Warner Bros boss Barry Meyer are widely known to be "very eager" to get a DGA deal quickly in order to lord it over the striking WGA. The big question still remains whether the deal which the DGA can reach with the studios and networks will be acceptable to the Writers Guild so the current scribe strike can end and possibly prevent a Screen Actors Guild come June:
LOS ANGELES - The Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers agreed today to enter into formal contract
negotiations. Negotiations are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Saturday, January 12, 2008, and will be held at AMPTP headquarters in Encino, CA. The DGA and the AMPTP have agreed that neither organization will comment to the press regarding negotiations until negotiations have concluded.
Here is DGA President Michael Apted's letter about it to members:
I am writing to inform you that with the unanimous agreement of the Negotiations Committee and the recommendation of Negotiations Chairman Gil Cates, I have authorized the start of formal negotiations with the AMPTP and we will begin our first negotiations session tomorrow.
As I have stated before, we would not enter negotiations with the AMPTP unless we were within shouting distance of an agreement on our two most important issues: jurisdiction for our members to work in new media and appropriate compensation for the reuse of our work on the Internet and other new media platforms.
We've spent the last few months discussing these and related issues with the studios and we've been doing intensive research on these points for the past year and a half. Now we believe it is time to move forward with the goal to hammer out an agreement. I am very mindful of how many members are unemployed and believe that our reaching a deal will bring the industry closer to getting back to work.
There are still hurdles to jump. However, we would not be going forward unless we believed we could make a good deal.
As is our practice, once we enter negotiations tomorrow, there will be a total news blackout on the talks. As soon as there is anything definitive to report we will be in touch with the membership.
Sincerely,
Michael Apted
When all the people raging against the WGA do their fussing, I keep wondering if they’re blindly overlooking the fact that the AMPTP is refusing to come back to the table with the WGA.
REFUSING.
I’m not saying that the guild hasn’t made a single misstep in this process, but seriously. If their negotiating partner won’t even show up, how is that the guild’s fault? What are they supposed to do, people?
This complaint brought to you by the number of people about to start whining about why the DGA is negotiating and the WGA refuses to.
Comment by Velveeta — January 11, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
Hope the DGA has more luck with that press blackout than the WGA had.
Comment by Tim Lea — January 11, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
I say good. If the DGA can get a good deal, that’ll help the writers, if not, it’ll show that it’s not the guilds who are the problem.
Comment by Evan Waters — January 11, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
The DGA has tremendous leverage right now. If they play their cards right, they can settle WGA and SAG contracts at the same.
Comment by justanotherwriter — January 11, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
And the WGA is putting on a Union solidarity film festival while the DGA negotiates. Great. As a feature writer, I’m feeling less and less like this is my strike.
Comment by Almost Broke — January 11, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
good or bad news? i am so turned around at this point.
Comment by merryj — January 11, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
Good news, imo. DGA knows that they have to make a “good” deal. AMPTP is looking to make a quick deal with the DGA and embarrass the writers so they can say “See how difficult they are! We made a deal with the director 5 months before their contract’s up!” So hopefully it’ll go reasonably quickly, and the rumors are true that the moderate writers are going to get the WGA to take it.
Comment by imo — January 11, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
I hope the DA takes a deal that isn’t to our liking. It’s time to end pattern bargaining once and for all.
Comment by Striking Writer — January 11, 2008 @ 2:08 pm
Well, I hope they know this…
“At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, NBC Universal’s president of Integrated Media Beth Comstock said she expects her company to hit $1 billion in digital revenue by the end of this year.”
We do.
Nikki hit the nail on the head when she said “The big question still remains whether the deal which the DGA can reach with the studios and networks will be acceptable to the Writers Guild”.
Comment by PJ - Writer — January 11, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
I could care less what the DGA does at this point. I don’t want to extend my hate mail much further, but my attitude is after the way the AMPTP has “negotiated” with us, I don’t give a flying fuck what contract the DGA signs, if it isn’t EXACTLY what the WGA wants (which is only slightly different from what I want), I hope we stay out until the deal is perfect.
Yeah, I’m that pissed.
Comment by Jake Hollywood — January 11, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
This could go two ways.
If they’re smart the AMPTP would use these negotiations to make the WGA look unreasonable.
But this is the AMPTP we’re talking about here.
The smart thing isn’t normally their thing.
Most likely they’ll make the DGA the same crappy offer they made the WGA, then walk away when the DGA looks for something better.
Comment by Furious D — January 11, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
I guess we won’t see DGA picketers playing chicken with SUVs.
Comment by Finally — January 11, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
Almost broke, I certainly hear you — I’m a feature writer as well. But this does affect us just as much as our brothers and sisters in TV. As someone said above, it’s not that the WGA is without failure - there certainly has been some, but the other side isn’t even showing up to the table. I personally feel that the guild could do a lot more to rally public and government support and intervention. Stuff like “singles day,” “take your kids to picket day,” and the film festival aren’t exactly pro-active maneuvers in my opinion, but whatever faults the guild has, this is still our fight too.
Comment by Stand strong — January 11, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
The WGA talks broke down over the ridiculous jurisdictional issues the guild insisted on raising. Even if the DGA’s deal on new media is palatable to the WGA, the jurisdiction issues remain the stumbling block. Only when the WGA gives up on these will a deal be reached.
Comment by anon — January 11, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Yeah this is GREAT news for the rest of us held hostage by the strike! The DGA must have something good up their sleeves to agree to start - good for ALL OF US.
TRANSPO
Comment by TranspoBill — January 11, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
wow, starting on a Saturday. Sounds like the real deal.
Comment by Mike — January 11, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
Thank goodness the competent negotiators are now arriving at the table! No name calling, no posturing, no grandstanding, no skits or silly videos — just professionals who realize what should have been obvious to the WGA leadership — we are all in this business together. I hope for a swift and fair outcome — one that both SAG and the WGA can get behind.
Comment by SoonToBeUnemployed — January 11, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
“Save us Obi-Apted. You’re our only hope.”
Comment by Danzig — January 11, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
I’LL TAKE IT!
Oops. I mean… I look forward to the DGA making a deal that can possibly be a framework for further WGA-AMPTP negotiations, but of course, the WGA should only agree to a contract that is fair and reasonable, and makes sense for writers.
Comment by TV Showrunner — January 11, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
The WGA strike has scared the hell out of the moguls. they want a way out without it looking like the strike took its toll. They want to pretend they were always ready to make a reasonable deal, and that the WGA (and any other striking union in the future) is roadkill. This is their chance.
And Gil Cates, and the DGA, who blew VHS/DVDs for all three guilds twenty years ago, get their chance to make good.
All the AMPTP has to do is offer something like 100 to 200 times the 250 dollar offer they left on the table when they walked away two months ago, and we’re all good to go back to work.
Until then, we stay on the line. And you shills keep shilling.
WGA East on the line
Comment by Anonymous — January 11, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
I think the WGA got themselves into a much better position by getting those agreements in place with WWP, UA, and the Weinsteins before the DGA talks even started. If they hadn’t, I think they would have been pretty much forced to accept whatever deal the DGA made no matter how bad it was. But here they have proof that their terms are reasonable and some of the people in charge are willing to live with them.
Does anyone else think when all is said and done, we’re going to end up with the writers working off a bunch of separate interim agreements, with no full AMPTP agreement ever to come? And does anyone else think that might not be a bad thing?
Comment by Nick — January 11, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
Glad to see the AMPTP’s stooges are still hard at work on this site spreading misinformation, fear & outright lies.
Everyone hopes that the DGA gets a good deal on internet. Everyone. But just because the DGA’s two requirements are met (internet residuals & internet coverage), that doesn’t mean they’ll be met at a rate that the WGA considers fair, nor does it address any of the WGA’s other outstanding issues, such as the DVD residual formula, coverage of animation and reality writers, product integration (i.e. paid commercials inserted into scripts which the writers aren’t paid a percentage of, nor paid to extra to disguise this advertising as script), upping pay rates on Basic Cable, upping The CW to the status of the other networks, upping the residual rates on made-for-pay-television to at least what the DGA currently has, and more.
The DGA has their items, the WGA has their own. We can build off of their contract, but if they settle for a lousy deal, we’re going to refuse to go along with them… the AMPTP needs to hear & understand this quite clearly.
Comment by Card-Carrying-Leftist — January 11, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
I said it a month ago, I’ll say it again:
The writers’ strike will give the DGA the leverage it needs to make a decent deal. Because of the strike it will be a better deal than they would’ve gotten.
Then the WGA will take the same deal. The AMPTP will blame Patric Verrone, saying he could’ve had this deal in November if he hadn’t been such a hot head. Patric Verrone will not care, since he will have done his job and gotten the writers more then THEY HAVE EVER BEEN OFFERED.
Both the DGA and AMPTP need it to go this way.
The DGA can’t risk taking a deal that the writers will then reject. It would break pattern bargaining, and if the WGA eventually gets a better deal it will lower the status of directors — the thing they hate most.
The DGA knows this. That is why there has been unprecedented cooperation between the DGA and the WGA — sharing information, etc. It is also why the DGA is their recent letter refers to “reaching a deal will bring the industry closer to getting back to work.” They know they can’t take one that will be turned down by the other unions. They will make sure the WGA (and SAG) are on board before reccomendingany deal to their members.
The AMPTP needs it work because if another union goes on strike, suddenly the WGA is not as crazy as they’ve been saying. A DGA strike will also kill any film production based on existing scripts as well as some reality shows. Not much will remain.
So, let’s hope the DGA and the AMPTP go through the motions quickly.
Comment by Klaatu — January 11, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
How bout that ‘President of the WGA East, who sent a letter to members calling the AMPTP liars’
as opposed to a clever man, Apted, who has a news blackout…to avoid such idiocy as Winetrippers.
and Apted was talking for months before negotiating the final details. well how bout, that, knowing what your sitting down for? Ain’t that clever? Or is blind sheep walking into slaughter a better way?
The Weegie’s Management are bumblers alright, but who cares, Tina Fey’s gonna be at the next rally….the cause is not only ignorant, looks souless, but ya’ll fired the first shot, you went to war, kinda like Bush, when it was entirely unnecessary. War is for ego, negotiating for peace. To be complianing about the AMPTP now is silly, cuz you started the war.
Comment by rob — January 11, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
Did anyone forget what the AMPTP did was illegal! They can’t just forget about the negotiations. They can’t just walk away. That is not in good faith.
Comment by right — January 11, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
Best case scenario: DGA and AMPTP make a deal. WGA figures “close enough” and signs on. We all go back to work.
Worst case scenario: DGA and AMPTP make a deal. WGA figures “close enough” and tries to sign on. AMPTP says “No. Screw you. We’re assholes, remember?”
Probable scenario: DGA and AMPTP make a deal. WGA leaders say “not good enough!” 78% of WGA members immediately go Fi-Core.
Comment by Maynotlast — January 11, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
Jake Hollywood: “I could care less what the DGA does at this point. I don’t want to extend my hate mail much further, but my attitude is after the way the AMPTP has “negotiated” with us, I don’t give a flying fuck what contract the DGA signs, if it isn’t EXACTLY what the WGA wants (which is only slightly different from what I want), I hope we stay out until the deal is perfect.”
And the AMPTP are the bratty and childish ones? Once your tantrum about how the bullies have treated you is done, feel free to join us over here in the real world. Better yet, use your strike time to read some kind of business or negotiation book. You’re not getting every single thing you want…that’s not how negotiating works. If the WGA’s first offer is the minimum they could take, they’re terrible negotiators and have done you a disservice. If you’re staying out until that deal happens, you’re never going to work again.
Comment by @ jake — January 11, 2008 @ 2:49 pm
We must remember that Amptp ALWAYS intended on negotiating with the DGA first. I think they’ve played it badly and put the DGA in a stronger position than they planned, but will get to the figure they’ve always had in mind for DVD and internet pretty quickly. If DGA takes it, great - they’re right on plan, having undermined a number of our other issues, AND having had the strike allow them to clean a little house.
It’ll be interesting to see how DGA handles this. We’ve put them in a damn strong position, not that Amptp will ever admit that. Who can say exactly when, but Amptp WILL strike a deal with DGA. If it comes quick we almost certainly won’t like it, but Amptp knows that pushing close to June with have them bent over next to a tub of KYgel. So just a little stubborness from DGA should reap rewards.
Hang tough, brothers. Anyone who thinks writers are a bunch of punks doesn’t know what it takes to become a writer! DGA has a hell of an oportunity paved with the thickness of our skin.
Comment by tentoes — January 11, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
Remember the DGA guild is the least expensive guild who have rolled over time and time again for what is in their best interest and not what wil benefit the whole community.
The most expensive guild is SAG, then WGA…it would be interesting to see what is going to happened. I don’t think the AMPTP is going to roll over for SAG and since AFTRA and some moderates in SAG are doing a back run…it will be very interesting to see what is going to come out of the DGA negotiations.
Comment by boo — January 11, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
Danzig -
I was so annoyed by those posting things like I’ll stay out ’til hell freezes over just because I’m pissed off - as if lives, families and businesses aren’t at stake - then I read your post and it was all funny again.
Thanks.
Comment by ww — January 11, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Well if SAG strikes in June (depending on how long that could last) and if the WGA strike doesn’t end soon, won’t the studios have to start pushing back the release of some films from this year to next year?
Comment by Ash — January 11, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
Hey Steve,
You wrote, “How many talks have the WGA shown up to since they pissed off the AMPTP”
I understand you venting your anger, but at least be accurate about it. The WGA has wanted to negotiate since the AMPTP walked out.
”
by refusing to budge on their stupid Reality and Animaiton inclusion demand…Zero.”
”
Stupid to you. Not to reality and animation writers. I created a reality show where my writing was reworded in the contract as “artistic contribution”. The reality show ran for several seasons, had story editors who WROTE before and after the filming of every episode. Ask any reality writer if the want to be in the WGA, and they’ll tell you — hell, yeah. But the writers who tried to unionize, were fired.
As for animation, do you that Lion King was animation. And so was Beowolf. So non of those writers were covered by the union. None of those writers got residuals. When you write an animated film, you get a percentage of the profit of a film… which as every body knows, never happens. That’s why they’re called monkey points. So yeah, animation writers want to be covered by the WGA too.
“WGA doesnt care about its membership.”
The WGA is made of writers and the writers as a whole voted for the strike… so how do you figure that the writers in the WGA don’t care about the member writers in the WGA?
“Its only trying to secure the next strike. ”
Wow. That’s the most unusual reason I ever heard. Can you explain that, please. Because I don’t get the logic at all. And I’m in the WGA and voted for the strike.
Thanks.
Comment by Writer/Director — January 11, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
A therapist once told me that people will usually tell you exactly what they are about. Someone who says, “I’m kind of cheap,” usually is. The AMPTP began their negotiations with the WGA by asking for a rollback of all residuals. They weren’t kidding.
I am hopeful that the DGA legacy will be that they created a fair deal and ended the campaign of the AMPTP to end residuals for all time once the internet is the primary medium of distribution for filmed entertainment.
Good friends of mine who are DGA members are not proud to have to admit that it was the DGA (under Gil Cates) who was primarily responsible for giving away home video back in the 80’s, and they would like the legacy of DGA give-aways to the AMPTP to end right here, right now.
The eyes of the town are on the DGA. I say go DGA go.
Comment by WGA Writer with Business Sense — January 11, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
tentoes, not sure you’re right about the “AMPTP always intending to negotiate with the DGA first.” Remember, AMPTP-WGA negotiations were originally slated to begin, by mutual consent, in Jamuary 2007. Until David Young changed his mind.
Comment by Mike — January 11, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Jake Hollywood- If you’re going to stay out until you get exactly what you want, you’re going to be out forever, no other option. The AMPTP are the assholes who won’t come back to the table. But negotations in their own right imply that both sides will make sacrivices. Don’t make your side look like the moguls. You’re the ones being reasonable. Keep that up.
I’m very pleased about this. I’ve said before, either it works and that can only work for the better, or it doesn’t and it doesn’t mean anything anyway. The DGA’s been smart. If they continue being smart, they might just save this town. And if the AMPTP gets a way out, so be it. The big guys will always have the edge; it’s just a sad fact of life. But the guilds and the fans will know we shook them up. This is proof of that. Good luck, all.
Comment by Caitlin — January 11, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Unbelievable comments!!
“I hope the DA takes a deal that isn’t to our liking. It’s time to end pattern bargaining once and for all.”
Comment by Striking Writer
“I don’t give a flying fuck what contract the DGA signs, if it isn’t EXACTLY what the WGA wants (which is only slightly different from what I want), I hope we stay out until the deal is perfect.”
Comment by Jake Hollywood
Yeah we’ll see how far you want to go if the internet offer looks good. I say go and get it DGA and FUCK YOU to those who would prolong the mess of a strike due to your feelings being hurt.
BTL 399
Comment by TranspoBill — January 11, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
If Gil Cates screws us, he doesn’t get his Oscars. It’s that simple.
Comment by Do the Right Thing, — January 11, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
“DGA has a hell of an oportunity (sc) paved with the thickness of our skin.”
That’s like Bush saying, “You know the real reason I invaded Iraq is so I could disarm Libya. Mission Accomplished!” The WGA doesn’t get to pat itself on the back if the DGA has successful negotiations. The WGA went on strike because it thought that was the best way to secure a deal before the DGA began negotiating and they were forced into the DGA’s pattern. Don’t try to re-write history. You’re on strike remember?
Comment by SoonToBeUnemployed — January 11, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
Remember, AMPTP-WGA negotiations were originally slated to begin, by mutual consent, in Jamuary 2007. Until David Young changed his mind.
Is this true?
Question: How long will David Young last in the WGA? Rather, how long should he last?
Comment by Chris — January 11, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
Don’t know where some of you get the idea that this will break down like it did between the WGA and AMPTP. The DGA entered into preliminary talks with the AMPTP, they wouldn’t be entering into formal negotiations unless there was common ground.
So I doubt that the DGA has the same issues that are distasteful to the AMPTP that the WGA had. It would be a real kicker to the WGA if the DGA manages to get a deal, just like WGA saying they can sign deals with minor studios, the AMPTP will be able to say they can deal with an entire group.
Comment by Chips Down — January 11, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
There is a crucial difference between the DGA and the WGA: directors are interpreters while writers are creators. Directors have no Constitutional claim of an equity position in their work, whereas writers do (read Article 1, Section 8). It has taken the media conglomerates decades to undercut the rights of creators (viz “work for hire” and retroactive assignment of copyright). This is why residuals and usage fees flow from the work of writers, and the DGA piggy-backs on their labors. Solidarity among the WGA, DGA and SAG are essential, but with writers it’s a right whereas with the others it’s a gift.
Comment by Nataloff — January 11, 2008 @ 3:33 pm
Klaatu wrote “A DGA strike will also kill any film production based on existing scripts as well as some reality shows.”
I agree. AMPTP must be shaking with fear at the possibility of another 5-minute DGA strike.
But I’ve heard rumors that the DGA will be tougher negotiators this time. They may walk out for an entire hour.
{shudder}
That hour will be lost forever. Will the industry recover?
Comment by Not Getting My Hopes Up — January 11, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
Dear “Almost Broke Feature Writer” — way to plan for a rainy day.
Comment by plenty of savings — January 11, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Anon 2:16 wrote: “The WGA talks broke down over the ridiculous jurisdictional issues the guild insisted on raising. Even if the DGA’s deal on new media is palatable to the WGA, the jurisdiction issues remain the stumbling block. Only when the WGA gives up on these will a deal be reached.”
Look, I don’t mind a paid shill, but since they’re getting paid, could they at least be a little less transparent?
Comment by where's a good shill when you need one? — January 11, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
This is a chance for everyone to save face, and I have a feeling they’ll take it. “They” being everybody, labor and management. The DGA and WGA will also be able to play Good Cop/Childish-Irrational Cop. (I kid, I kid)
Comment by Jenn M. — January 11, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
Uh, Mike, the reason that Young refused to begin early talks was the AMPTP insisted on the outright abolishment of residuals. It’s become pretty clear that the AMPTP never wanted a fair deal. They thought we’d fold, and if we didn’t then they could get the DGA to fold and use that as leverage against us. (As has been been explained over and over again by more articulate posters. Every thread is like Groundhog Day).
It’s hysterical (in a sad way) that trolls are still arguing that the WGA would have gotten a fair deal if only they’d said “please.” Go read the NBC CES report. They want their billion a year profit machine, and they’re not going to give it away because someone asks nicely.
Comment by WGAjim — January 11, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
Does anyone else find it odd that the head of the DGA negotiating committee is also the producer of the Academy Awards on ABC? Of course he wants a quick resolution so his awards show can go on. A horrible scenario for the WGA would be for the DGA to make a lousy deal which is very possible with this guy and then for the studios, public, et al. to blame the writers because they didn’t bend over for it. Frankly, the only hope I see is to bring Tom Hanks and George Clooney to the table and get them to pressure the studios to negotiate with us, too.
Comment by strikeveteran — January 11, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
HUMMMMM>>>>>
Fishy, it maybe good, but I smell fish. The DGA starting off with new media and the Internet is a tip of the hat to the WGA not a gotcha that the AMPTP wants it to be. SAG & the WGA are going to view this with a grain of salt. This is fast become the Hatfield vs. the McCoys and that kind of pitting the DGA against WGA & SAG is self defeating. You must and I repeat must bring in the WGA into the mix by having one of our board members or neg. committee members attend out of a courtesy to your sister union.
Gil Cates, ya feel me? Be the bigger man and save one seat for our guy. Okay?
I’m on my way to picket the Bill Maher show at 6pm til 8pm at CBS TV City on Beverly & Fairfax - if I’m lucky Bill will have the picket line catered.
Comment by I smell sumthin cooking — January 11, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
There are 134 comments on this board about the DGA and New Media. Everyone should remember the reason the AMPTP won’t sit back down with us. Because we refused to take jurisdiction over Reality and Animation off the table. They were willing to negotiate on New Media, but only when these issues were removed. So, perhaps we should look to the leadership and question the tactics we are using. If we had kept our eye on the ball and gone after what we really care about, we would be at that table right now. Everyone must realize this, it is a fact
Comment by John — January 11, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
WGAJim wrote:
“Uh, Mike, the reason that Young refused to begin early talks was the AMPTP insisted on the outright abolishment of residuals.”
David Young announced in November 2006 that negotiations would not begin, as previously agreed, in January 2007. The AMPTP floated its (yes, ridiculous) profit-based-residuals plan in, I believe, May of 2007. So, you are arguing that Young changed his mind about early talks because he had a crystal ball which could foresee the the plan the AMPTP would reveal six months into the future? Okay.
I’m plenty critical of the AMPTP, but this early move by Young still strikes me as a crucial error. Read more about it at: http://tinyurl.com/252dfo
Comment by Mike — January 11, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
Mike wrote: “Remember, AMPTP-WGA negotiations were originally slated to begin, by mutual consent, in Jamuary 2007. Until David Young changed his mind.”
That’s a load of bullshit, Mike. In July the AMPTP told the Guild that there would be no negotiations as long as the Internet was on the table. The Guld of course refused to take the Internet off the table, thus no negotiations.
Get your facts straight. Unless your a paid shill. The congrats on joining “Fib & Lie.”
Comment by suick fo the lies — January 11, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Here’s a chance for the DGA to look like heroes and to actually have leverage and wield it. Hopefully, they’ve done so already because it is very hard to imagine either the DGA or AMPTP would start to negotiate without knowing they could close. Neither side wants to look stupid, which they both will if this falls apart or it’s too weak for the WGA and, more importantly, for SAG.
The AMPTP will look unreasonable. And the DGA will be caught with their pants down as they direct no one in nothing.
Comment by tf — January 11, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
WGAJim; most of that $1 billion in digital revenue is from sources having nothing to do with scripted entertainment: Ivillage ($200 million right there, I think) MSNBC, sports (inc. pre-sales from Olympics which will be huge since they’re streaming the whole thing), NBCSports.com, MLBstats.com, the hugely profitable web extensions of the morning news shows, etc. Not to mention their big prime time reality hits. Maybe a tenth of it (I’m guessing here, but it’s a somewhat-informed guess) is from scripted shows. Just something to keep in mind.
Comment by Anonymous — January 11, 2008 @ 4:46 pm
John - 2008 @ 4:32 pm wrote:
“Everyone should remember the reason the AMPTP won’t sit back down with us. Because we refused to take jurisdiction over Reality and Animation off the table. They were willing to negotiate on New Media, but only when these issues were removed.”
John, you conveniently neglected to mention that another one of their six demands (in addition to removing reality and animation jurisdiction) also gutted our New Media proposal. So the AMPTP was only willing to negotiate on New Media once we effectively took New Media off the table. So how did we drop the ball there?
But I’m not telling you anything you didn’t already know, am I? For every shill on this site, remember there’s a united guild member ready to call your bullshit.
Comment by Skull Leader — January 11, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
Sick of the lies:
Yes, that happeed in July 2007. Young changed the negotiation timetable in November 2006. Again, I question this tactic.
Comment by Mike — January 11, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
John wrote:
“Everyone should remember the reason the AMPTP won’t sit back down with us. Because we refused to take jurisdiction over Reality and Animation off the table. They were willing to negotiate on New Media, but only when these issues were removed.. If we had kept our eye on the ball and gone after what we really care about, we would be at that table right now. Everyone must realize this, it is a fact.”
John, this is NOT a fact, far from it. You have a short memory. The studios said the day before the strike that if we took DVDs off the table they’d negotiate on new media. We did and then they didn’t. Same thing here. We would have taken reality and animation away and they’d have still walked out, laughing all the way.
The only FACT here is that you’re a paid shill, employed to post nonsense on these boards. Nice way to make a living, loser.
Comment by Shill busters — January 11, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
The big problem is, we can’t really know what, in what passes for their heart-of-hearts the AMPTP is worried about the most. They obviously have financial projections we are not party to. Who knows, maybe jurisdiction IS important. It seems clear they expect to make billions off the web, in fact they apparently ARE making that already.
I believe we should take NOTHING off the table. Fuck em. Make them deal for everything. Perhaps we should tell them we’re going to INCREASE our demands daily until the sit down and bargain in good faith (with all the daily increases going to some charity).
And I wish like hell we could track down the little shill shits who clearly work for Big Media an pretend to be WGA members.
I’d like a few minutes alone with them.
I have an action scenario to pitch to them (if you know what I mean)
Comment by anotherWGAmember — January 11, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
Dear Shills, aka Chris, Chips Down, Mike, John etc. It’s six o’clock on Friday, go home already, you big turds. What a sad, pathetic life you have, getting paid to post fake statements on the Internet. Who would have thought when you were ten years old and telling everyone that you’d be a baseball player when you grew up that you’d instead have jobs as human vermin.
My suggestion to all of you is to head to the nearest Army recruitment center and ask to me sent to Tikrit.
Adios, assholes.
Comment by What lowlifes — January 11, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
TranspoBill, I’m sorry if <i<your feelings get hurt, but if the DA contract isn’t good for writers, we have to turn it down. We simply can’t go unpaid any longer for the redistribution of our work.
Pattern bargaining is no substitute for getting a good contract. I prepared for this day, and I’ll stay out as long as I have to.
Comment by Striking Writer — January 11, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
Soon-to-be-unemployed,
If you don’t think the DGA has a ton more leverage because we’re on strike, then you don’t understand the first thing about negotiations so who wants to hear your opinion on this anyway?
P.S. — It won’t be soon enough for me.
Comment by DGA enablers — January 11, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
Dear MayNotLast — why are you such a bitter and sad person? You are so filled with anger that you have to make a living posting someone else’s fantasy that the WGA membership will go fi-core. I was out on the line all week and we are just as united as at the start. I know a hundred writers and no one is talking about crossing. Maybe if the assholes you work for had made us an offer there would be something for us to divide over, but they haven’t. There’s almost zero dissent here. We all still feel the strike was necessary and we will stay out for as long as need be. Meanwhile, you still have to contend with your miserable childhood and the daddy who fucked you up the ass.
Comment by May Not Last My Ast — January 11, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
It is amazing how things have shifted in the WGA’s favor since the new year started.
Harvery Weinstein, a man who to many is more of a mogul than any of the no-names like Bob Iger, is now making a deal with the WGA. Much more than UA, which is only set up to do a few movies a year, the Weinstein deal is leading to fear at the studios that the agencies are now funneling all the top screenwriters’ scripts to the Weinsteins — and they are.
The Golden Globes, one of the few shows left on TV that can draw a mass audience of more than 20 millions viewers, was canceled. Make no mistake, this is NBC’s biggest show of the year — for them it was like having the Super Bowl get canceled.
Tom Hanks, one of the biggest A-listers there is, came out publicly in support of the writers, prompting George Clooney to quickly do the same. More will follow in the next week as it becomes clear to everyone that the expiration of the SAG contract is rapidly approaching.
Also, Hanks, a governor of the motion picture academy, made clear that while he wants the Oscars to take place, it is unlikely to take place if the AMPTP continues to pursue its current strategy. If you think there was hand-wringing at the Golden Globes’ demise, wait till they cancel the Oscars, which now seems likely.
Speaking of the Oscars, Jon Stewart is being excoriated in the press and on fan sites for sucking without writers. There is also some criticism about the use of what seems like obviously scripted material, and talk about how his former head writer has gone back in to work, but most of the talk has been about how the show “sucks,” and how damage is being done personally to Stewart and his reputation as a smart and funny comic. Even the Los Angeles Times, certainly no friend to the WGA, carried a piece this week by its television critic talking about how awful both TDS and Colbert are without their writers.
Ratings for all the non-Worldwide Pants talk shows have plummeted. Conan’s ratings are in a free fall, reportedly inducing infighting at NBC as major brand damage is inflicted on their hand-picked successor to the late-night billion dollar empire. Also, Letterman is beating Leno in the ratings for the first time in recent memory as Leno has been reduced to having no-name animal trainers as his lead guests. Further hurting Leno, his idea to be a guest on Kimmel’s show and vice-versa has led to public criticism by friends who are angry that he crossed the WGA picket line as a guest and that he flaunted the SAG boycott.
Also, there is open dissension within the DGA about Gil Cates’ conflict of interest due to his dual role as DGA leader and Oscars producer. There is fear that he will take a quick, substandard deal for his members –and thus the WGA, too — in time to save his Oscars show. This dual role of his, and its sustainability, is being questioned as never before.
Time is also on the WGA’s side as television production has all but shut down and more than half of film production has ground to a halt due to location picketing by the WGA and more importantly, script problems that are not solvable without the still resolute A-list writers.
Add to that the stock prices of the major entertainment companies, which are now falling much more rapidly than the stock market as a whole, and it is becoming clear to Wall Street and others that the AMPTP is pursuing a failed strategy. In fact, specualtion on Wall Street is that it isn’t so much a strategy at all, but rather an integral failure in the AMPTP structure, where each mogul has veto power over any possible action. The feeling is that this so-called “one man, one veto” has made it practically impossible for any forward progress to be made by the AMPTP, and that the org is failing in its first major test since its founding in the 1980’s.
Media analysts had predicted that the strike would not begin to inflict economic pain on the studios until ‘08 and that has proven to be true, but now the strike has reached the point on the curve where the brunt of the damage has shifted. Within the next two months almost all remaning film production will come to a halt as no studio will begin principal shooting knowing the actors will walk out in June. More importantly for their bottom line, the next month will see the loss of pilot season. Studio spokesmen and consultants are tripping over themselves to say how this doesn’t worry them and how it provides a long-desired opportunity to move to a year-round development schedule. But unlinke restaurant dining, when you advertise on television you pay first, or “up front.” That means come May, most of the studios will lose that huge injection of cash that Wall Street counts on for the congloms to make their 2nd quarter numbers. Even more harmful for the studios, most of that advertising money will not be deposited in a CD to earn 3 percent until the strike ends — it will be spent in other media, mostly Internet.
Despite all this, there is no reason for writers to rejoice. Although studios are starting to squirm, this strike will change TV forever and it will be years before that money is recouped through Internet, even with a “fair” deal. So while this all may seem to be good news, it only is up to a point.
Comment by Boutiquer — January 11, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
You guys forget that the Reality and Animation writers belong to the IA. You try to get them the guild will find itself in Federal court. It’s called raiding. So you fight the good fight and you might find your guild broke and broken.
Comment by IA guy — January 11, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
Force majeure ax falls at ABC Studios Nearly two dozen writer deals terminated.
Okay, call me naive, but how is this strike thus far benefiting writers? And no, I’m not a shill. I’m an innocent bystander. Okay, actually, I’m a novelist. But still. Just pointing things out.
Thus far, the studios have taken so much advantage of the strike — Force majeures all around! — it’s starting to seem that the WGA played right into the AMPTP’s hand.
Does everyone realize that if the WGA hadn’t actually struck, the studios wouldn’t have the green light to lay off and cut and ax???
Who loses from these cuts? The writers, of course. Sad.
It’s appalling what the studios are doing; and yet, they have license issued by the very people who claim to be against the “companies.”
Come on, people! This strike does not have a winner, does it?
Then all these WGA people claim the AMPTP “won’t talk to us,” etc. Well, perhaps you shouldn’t have struck. Now look what’s happening.
Makes me angry. Companies always get their way in this world. WGA should have said, “You know what . . . you want us to strike, don’t you? We’re not going to. But if you continue to blow us off, we will.”
Comment by Depressing — January 11, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
Yay! I hope the DGA settles soon with the AMPTP and makes those bad, bad writers look really, really stupid. (If the AMPTP needs to make us look stupid to get a fair deal, give the babies their bottles.)
Comment by Yay! — January 11, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
John, that’s bs. The AMPTP CLAIMED they’d be willing to negotiate over New Media if we took reality and animation off the table, but there’s no indication that’s true and no reason to trust them. They also claimed there were ready to make a deal on New Media if we took DVDs off the table. We did, they didn’t. If they have a deal to offer, nothing’s stopping them from announcing it publicly or going back to the negtiating table.
Comment by For real — January 11, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
“John”,
You claim that reality and animation are the only reason “we” aren’t negotiating with the studios right now.
But, as you know, they presented us with six ultimata, not two.
One of these was a demand to withdraw our request for jurisdiction on the internet. This is precisely the issue that the DGA wrote that it was adamant about in a letter to its members yesterday. Both the DGA and WGA know that without jurisdiction over the internet, all future programming delivered via internet will not be covered, and the Guilds will effectively be phased out. This is the studios’ true agenda. All three guilds are determined to resist this ultimatum.
Another of their demands was for calculations to be based on “producer’s gross” and not “distributor’s gross”. “Producer’s gross” is commonly known as “monkey points”.
And finally, we insisted on “fair market value”, so the companies couldn’t shaft us through self-dealing.
These three items are actually more important to us — and to the studios — than reality and animation. They are central to what this negotiation is really about, which is why the studios (and their message-board trolls) aren’t talking about them.
But then, you already know that, don’t you?
Comment by Dave — January 11, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
John opined: [AMPTP] were willing to negotiate on New Media, but only when these issues were removed.”
Really? Then how come when the WGA removed DVD’s off the table to get movement on New Media, did the AMPTP still break off negotiations?
Then John added: So, perhaps we should look to the leadership and question the tactics we are using.
Uhm, questioning the WGA “organizers”. Now where is your mantra coming from? Sounds familiar.
Then John added more: If we had kept our eye on the ball and gone after what we really care about, we would be at that table right now. Everyone must realize this, it is a fact
Nope, it’s not a fact. But it is propaganda the AMPTP wants people to believe. Sorry if I am cynical about your view point, but now that it’s out the the AMPTP has busy bodies typing as “writers” on websites like DHD, and your view matches the AMPTP’s PR so closely, its hard to perceive you as a writer. Maybe you are. In which case I’m sorry.
Comment by responding to a Dear John letter — January 11, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
Blame, blame, blame, blame, what a bunch of babies,
The worst thing about the DGA bringing this all to and end is we will have to resume contact with the me, me, me.
There is no difference between the AMPTP and the WGA.
Comment by BTL — January 11, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
John — it’s sad when stupid people say things like, ‘it’s a fact’.
The AMPTP never let us counter at all to their ‘demanding’ that reality and animation come off the table. They were told a counter offer is forthcoming, then they stormed out like four-year-olds.
Oh, and, is that your idea of a negotiation? You believe if we had just taken the things off the table the AMPTP demanded be removed then we could get a fair deal on the things that matter?
Stupid. And sad.
Comment by WGA Ed — January 11, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
@ suick fo the lies (nice spelling, btw)
Internet was always on the table, and the AMPTP didn’t have taking that off the table as a pre-condition to starting early negotiations (not really sure where that came from).
Don’t get me wrong, I think what the union is asking for (with the exception of reality jurisdiction, and sympathy strike protection, and being paid on distributors gross) is more than fair when it comes to the numbers. However, the not starting talks until September had nothing to do with the AMPTPs demands. It was the WGA thinking they could get a better deal while working under a deadline.
Please let’s not have revisionist history here. The AMPTP are a-holes, however the WGA has not been completely the pillar of all things righteous during the negotiating period either.
Comment by Secret Agent Man — January 11, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
Jake Hollywood, are you an AMPTP shill? Every post of yours is saturated with such repulsive hatred it looks like it’s designed to turn people off writers and off the pro-writer sites you post on.
Comment by Take a pill — January 11, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
While DGA head Jay Roth is extremely smart and good at his job, the true power of the DGA is that they can shut down production. They hold at least 4 unions postions on a set - Director, 1st asst, 2nd asst, and UPM.
Most of their membership is “below the line” - so residuals mean nothing to them.
The DGA has been able to elevate the status of Director to a God-like position. “Film By” - “My Vision”, whatever… In short, the studios are in love with directors and cut great backend deals with them on films - so the general contracts mean nothing. They’ll get a sweet deal regardless.
Studios spend millions on hiring different writers for a single picture. And someone always gets snubbed leading to a nasty credit arbitration - which alinates writers and causes resentment for the guild.
Does the DGA really care about writers? I know first-hand they do not. But maybe somewhere in their hearts they DO as many members are members of both guilds.
Will they feel guilty about the 80s mistake and do a deal that helps both DGA and WGA? I hope so…
Comment by OJ — January 11, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
So many of these posts are about how this will make the AMPTP look. Look to who? This is all about $$ and stock prices. Until the studios or networks can’t project to hit their forecasts this will end.
Comment by Realist — January 11, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
John wrote:
“There are 134 comments on this board about the DGA and New Media. Everyone should remember the reason the AMPTP won’t sit back down with us. Because we refused to take jurisdiction over Reality and Animation off the table. They were willing to negotiate on New Media, but only when these issues were removed. So, perhaps we should look to the leadership and question the tactics we are using. If we had kept our eye on the ball and gone after what we really care about, we would be at that table right now. Everyone must realize this, it is a fact”
Uh, you are a writer? Really? Because you are so misinformed that it is shocking. Actually, you’re kind of a moron.
For your sake I can only hope you are a shill.
Comment by DA in LA — January 11, 2008 @ 7:22 pm
If the DGA can pull this off and settle for acceptible residual levels, it will take away most of the argument that what the WGA settles for will affect all unions in the industry. Support for prolonging the strike will then be VERY hard for the WGA as the rest of us will not stand to be kept out of work any longer for hurt feelings.
BTL 399
Comment by transpobill — January 11, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
Long time ago (2 months) the DGA was crowing how like the “Loooonnnnngggg Ranger” they were going to safe the day and put the town to work because the were the mighty, mighty negotiators. While the WGA was unruly, tantumn inducing 3 years whose position on new media was based in fantasy.
Now after a few weeks on the picket lines…what do you see. NBC, Microsoft, Apple, Fox all talking about making a 1 BILLION $$$$$ off of HULA and other new media deals, including medadata profits.
All I have to say is that I HOPE and PRAY that the DGA has taken their heads out of the AMPTP ASSES and fight for a deal the WHOLE ARTIST COMMUNITY can stomach (okay can accept).
Comment by boo — January 11, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
John 4:32-”Because we refused to take jurisdiction over Reality and Animation off the table. They were willing to negotiate on New Media, but only when these issues were removed. So, perhaps we should look to the leadership and question the tactics we are using. If we had kept our eye on the ball and gone after what we really care about, we would be at that table right now. Everyone must realize this, it is a fact.”
Right. Just like they said they’d do us right if we took the DVD issue off the table? Come. On. They aimed to BuFu us from day one, Dude. Calling off negotiations, until points are removed, is not negotiating. That’s called walking away.
WGA striking was the right move. No, things did not go exactly like we wanted. Then again, things have not gone the way AMPTP wanted either. Let’s remember, these cats came out of the gate with roll backs, and it went to hell from there.
A month ago, there was no money to be made with the Interweb. This week, NBC is planning on pulling down ONE BILLION frogskins this year with it. In. One. Year. So, either they lied to us then, or they’re lying to everyone else now. They never intended to negotiate in good faith. They have not lost yet anything even close to what they stand to gain by killing residuals for the Net. Remember that people. There are pension funds at stake here, too. That’s a shitload of money. For just one year. What’s that going to grow to over the next twenty?
Now, the DGA is in a good position. WGA didn’t have a master plan for that, but it’s how things turned out. Someone said we went to War, well they’re right. And I can tell you, as someone who has been in two, the first thing that goes out the window is every well laid plan you had. You roll with it, adapt, and change tactics.
But, if you think the Writers are willing to stand their ground firmly over residuals, how much more so do you think SAG will? They stand to make or lose an even kabatrillion more than we do. And they, unlike Writers, are powerful. All work would cease instantly if they walked. And, I believe they would.
So, there it is. Thems the facts. And, in between is the DGA. A lot of innocent folks have been caught in the crossfire here. And I want them back to work, as much as I want me back to work. AMPTP knows the situation, and DGA knows the situation.
Everybody can win here, or everybody can lose. And, DGA has that burden. Let’s give them a chance. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
WGA Bros, remember that we want a fair rate. Not the moon. Just fair. SAG Bros, thanks for sticking with us. DGA Bros, we’re all counting on you. BTL Bros, I hate that you’ve been caught in this. AMPTP Shills, get bent.
Comment by D Dragon — January 11, 2008 @ 8:41 pm
Singles Day, Take Your Kids to Picket Day, a “solidarity” film festival, picketing Freemantle, David Young’s piss-poor leadership, obsessing over late-night, endless sophomoric postings on internet blogs, etc., etc.
ENOUGH!
It’s finally time for Adult Swim — all you kids get out of the pool now and let the grown-ups take over. Thank God.
Comment by Max — January 11, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
John @ 4:32 — Your facts are anything but. Reality and animation were only 2 of the 6 items the AMPTP insisted be removed when they delivered their walk out ultimatum. The sympathy strike item was #3. The other two were related to new media compensation.
(Oh, and DVD residuals. Er, wait — that was the one they insisted was the big roadblock in November.)
And according to Ms. Finke, a group of showrunners tried to backchannel a deal that would have sidestepped the animation/reality McGuffin altogether. And the AMPTP didn’t budge. If I recall, they stormed off muttering something about the number of chairs in the room.
I could be wrong, but not as wrong as your alleged facts.
Comment by Kickerpants — January 11, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
“A month ago, there was no money to be made with the Interweb. This week, NBC is planning on pulling down ONE BILLION frogskins this year with it. In. One. Year. So, either they lied to us then, or they’re lying to everyone else now.”
This is such a misinterpretation. That $1 billion comes from all of NBC U’s online assets. Including, IVillage (about $200 million). MSNBC.com (200-300 million), all the NBC Sports streaming plus NBCsports.com, plus MLBstats.com, plus some other sports sites NBC owns. Some small fraction of that $1 billion is from streaming / downloads. And since most of NBC’s popular shows are reality at this point, a smaller fraction of that fraction is the amount of revenue that’s relevant to the negotiations. I don’t know what that fraction is, but I would be shocked if it’s much more than 10-15% percent of the total $1 billion (which also includes pre-sales on the massive amounts of Olympic streaming NBC is planning, not to mention probably a couple online divisions I completely forgot about.)
I don’t mean to sound like a ninny about this, but since a lot of words are written on this site about the AMPTP distorting facts, it seems important for us not to completely distort them as well.
Comment by Mike — January 11, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
Gavin Polone, would you please post already? We haven’t heard your take on things in awhile.
Comment by L.D. — January 11, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
Lets see now the DGA and the AMPTP are going to the table. I think a few things can happen here.
1 DGA and AMPTP sign a contract and the WGA and SAG both agree its a good one and take it everyone goes back to work!
2 DGA and AMPTP sign a contract and the WGA likes it but wont take off the table that all writers on shows must be WGA so no deal for WGA as they wont take it off the table (oh ya that is called Organizing something WGA does not know how or want to do) SAG takes the deal but because of the WGA no one goes back to work
3 DGA and AMPTP sign a contract that everyone want likes and agrees too and WGA takes there lame shit off the table and everyone goes back to work.
But as we all can see the DGA and AMPTP most likely will get a contract out of this and SAG everyone hopes will take it but the WGA says it good and wants to take it but wont take there lame ass shit off the table and wont or and Organizing the writers on reality show (They think the AMPTP should do it) and the town is still out of work because of the WGA like now.
Lets hope that everyone can get along and get what they want and put this town back to work soon!
Comment by mitch — January 11, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
Mike 9:15– “I don’t know what that fraction is, but I would be shocked if it’s much more than 10-15% percent of the total $1 billion (which also includes pre-sales on the massive amounts of Olympic streaming NBC is planning, not to mention probably a couple online divisions I completely forgot about.”
You’re right, we should not distort facts. (BTW streaming sports for a few hundred million should speak volumes) Let us say that only 1/10th of the Billion is streaming TV and such. That’s 100 million this year, isn’t it?
Which, according to my math, is 100 million more than they wanted us to believe they’d make. So, yes, let’s not distort facts. But let us not ignore screaming, glowing orange truth either. Writers, Actors, Directors, and BTL Pensions deserve their fair sliver. Period.
Again, there was never any good faith bargaining. A billion, or a hundred million. We got offered less than the price of the monitor I am staring at per show. If freakin’ iVillage rakes in a couple hundred mill, I think we can all say with certainty that TV and movies will, in the not too distant future, generate a hell of a lot more than that.
No matter how you slice it, it’s a truck load of money that will do nothing but grow.
Comment by D Dragon — January 11, 2008 @ 10:59 pm
Dear “IA Guy” — you are no more in the IA than Queen Elizabeth is. Plus, you write: “You guys forget that the Reality and Animation writers belong to the IA.” Wrong! The Simpsons writers are WGA, not IA. The Dancing with the Stars writers are WGA, not IA. The Family Guy writers are WGA, the King of the HIll writers are WGA, and on and on and on.
That has been my problem with the paid shills all along — I don’t mind paid shills, I just wish they were professionals instead of the amateurs on this blog who don’t know the biz at all.
Comment by No Way IA — January 11, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
You guys forget that the Reality and Animation writers belong to the IA. You try to get them the guild will find itself in Federal court. It’s called raiding. So you fight the good fight and you might find your guild broke and broken.
Comment by IA guy — January 11, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
Because heaven forbid those guys should have a say in what union they’re in. That’s just crazy talk.
Comment by Oh Please — January 11, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
Secret Agent Man,
It’s not so just because you say it’s so. Go back and look at the trades, or try this newfangled thing called the Internet. The AMPTP put down two proposals: number one was a three-year “study” to figure out the Internet, and the other was: if you don’t like number one, then residuals for writers ever again. That’s the fact, jack (ass).
Comment by Suick fo the lies — January 11, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
Max wrote: “It’s finally time for Adult Swim — all you kids get out of the pool now and let the grown-ups take over. Thank God.”
Really Max? Thank God for Gil Cates? The guy who created the DVD formula that screwed directors, writers and actors out of billions of dollars for the last 25 years? Thank God for that, Max? If that’s what the adults do, bring on the babies.
Comment by DGA is not MY savior — January 11, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
Wow Mike, you sure know a lot about NBC’s internet revenue, down to the PENNY!!! Is your last name Zucker by any chance? Is that really you, Jeff, you bald retarded midget?
Comment by "Mike" Verrone — January 11, 2008 @ 11:26 pm
Mitch, do you really work in this business? Jesus, I knew people in entertainment were stupid but I thought they could at least read and write.
Comment by At least he spelled "Mitch" correctly — January 11, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
“Some small fraction of that $1 billion is from streaming / downloads. And since most of NBC’s popular shows are reality at this point, a smaller fraction of that fraction is the amount of revenue that’s relevant to the negotiations. I don’t know what that fraction is, but I would be shocked if it’s much more than 10-15% percent of the total $1 billion (which also includes pre-sales on the massive amounts of Olympic streaming NBC is planning, not to mention probably a couple online divisions I completely forgot about.)”
I would be surprised if more than 2% of the total $1 billion is from advertising sales against online repeats of scripted shows, and sales of shows through iTunes. $15M from iTunes over the life of the relationship, and maybe $5M in revenue from the ads on the online pages. It’s going to get larger, but that’s what re-negotiating contracts is for, right? You’re not signing a 40 year deal…
Comment by Internet Guy — January 11, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
You have to assume that Gil Cates’s priority has to be saving his Oscars show. Seems like his membership is about to get screwed as a result, and that they have a pretty strong conflict of interest complaint to file with the NLRB when that happens.
Comment by Worried DGA — January 11, 2008 @ 11:44 pm
Comment by Mike — “This is such a misinterpretation. That $1 billion comes from all of NBC U’s online assets. Including, IVillage (about $200 million). MSNBC.com (200-300 million), all the NBC Sports streaming plus NBCsports.com, plus MLBstats.com, plus some other sports sites NBC owns. Some small fraction of that $1 billion is from streaming / downloads.”
Thanks Mike for bringing some sanity to what’s actually happening. I might mention that the 1 Billion mentioned is also followed by the word ‘revenue’, it isn’t followed by the word ‘profit’ as so many seem to think it means. You’re right folks just read into it what they want to, as long as it seems to support thier own conclusions, the facts be damned.
Comment by Chips Down — January 12, 2008 @ 2:30 am
Reading the shill postings followed by the writer smackdowns is pretty funny– so thanks for the laugh.
Comment by Camrobed — January 12, 2008 @ 5:56 am
To Mitch –
The WGA has already said reality and animation won’t be a dealbreaker, so don’t stress about that. Re SAG, they’re not lapdogs, in fact they may strike over DVD resids which the WGA took off the table in order to jumpstart negotiations (on the false promise the AMPTP would make a genuine new media offer). The AMPTP’s plan has clearly been to negotiate first with the DGA, a union that frontloads their compensation at the expense of resids. The WGA and SAG can’t afford to gut this deferred compensation. It would destroy our pension and health (as well as those of other unions like IA whose formulas are based on our deal — we’re fighting for everybody). We all hope the DGA does the right thing for it’s members and negotiates a deal in their longterm interests. That would serve the WGA and SAG, and the unions dependent on our success. If the DGA takes the easy path, we’re prepared to take the harder one in order to ensure this doesn’t happen again in 2010.
Comment by writer — January 12, 2008 @ 6:51 am
How wonderfully fair-minded of you, Mitch, characterizing the writers’ demands as being so much “lame shit” but offering no qualitative judgements at all about the producers’ behavior.
Consider, Mitch: They got up, and walked away from the table. They did this a month ago, making any further negotiations impossible (the first rule of negotiating being, you need to have someone to negotiate with).
They have refused to talk to us, Mitch. How exactly do you feel about that?
Comment by filmkassik — January 12, 2008 @ 7:24 am
Dave,
I remember when I thought the internet was best for porn, and then you come on here and actually are smart enough to know that ultimata is the plural of ultimatum and I get all excited that someone smart is here.
This strike has got to end so I can get back to real porn.
The purpose of the shills here (other than to justify Fabio and Labia’s outrageous monthly retainer) seems murky to me. They write poorly reworded versions of the talking points (writers have turned this into a circus with their little youtube videos, the writers are pinko organizers who only care about increasing the size of their union, writers love striking, writers are children, writers didn’t go to prom etc. etc.)
Who does Fabio and Labia think is being influenced by the shilly typing?
It just seems so sad to me…
Comment by WGA WRiter with Business Sense — January 12, 2008 @ 9:48 am
History shows that DGA is not the WGA’s ally when it comes to pattern bargaining. The DGA and AMPTP have more similar interests and generally agree to a deal fairly quickly. These deals have often undermined the wishes of the writers and left them out to dry. Let’s hope this time around will be different. The DGA is in a position where they can do good for everyone involved and get this town back to working.
By the way Mike, you are misinformed (surprise, surprise). AMPTP proposed an early negotiations, but knew the WGA was not ready to start as early as Jan. ‘07. Their “proposal” was one of their many tactics to make the WGA look bad by saying “Look we are ready to negotiate… the WGA is not…” It was merely a PR tactic. They had no interest in truly negotiating at that time, just as they have no interest in truly negotiating at this time.
Comment by indano — January 12, 2008 @ 10:52 am
I certainly hope mitch is not writer. Thats be are some horrible sentences.
Comment by sean — January 12, 2008 @ 11:29 am
Freaking Shills. ARGH! This battle for Internet Residuals and changing the face of compensation just makes me mad. Take a look at http://www.hulu.com. That is the new “syndication” and “re-run” market for FOX and NBC. Anyone who is net savvy can see the trends with advertising and the shift to the online market.
The Shills forget there is a RATIFICATION PROCESS wherein they will see whether it’s the “leadership” that is stubborn or the membership. Fi-Core my ass. The Showrunners know they are responsible to their bosses (the Studios) AND their writing staffs (the poor up-and-comers who need these residuals to stay in the game). What Showrunner do you know is going to hang dry his/her staff in the name of “Fi-Core?” You think this “Fi-Core” scenario is going to play? –> What the Studios wish the plebe writers would freak out and settle for: “Okay gals and guys, your fearless Showrunner leader has gone Fi-Core, we’re going to hire you all back. Yes! You want to work too. So join us on the ride to Fi-Core. Yes. Everyone can work right away, NOW, but this is it. What you make now is all you’re going to make. Come on back and write for us with your MBA rates, while I give your fearless leader a 14kt Gold Plated Parachute rate. And when your plebe gig is done in a year or five years, you will have nothing to rely on that period in between jobs. Sounds good? Come on back! Work now, starve later.”
By the way, I think the writers should stick DVD back on the table, since it’ll be 2-5 years before we see video-on-demand streaming onto our TV sets.
Comment by Frustrated Bystander — January 12, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
Plenty of Savings: Wow. You’re one lucky person. Some of us make a really nice living, but are single parents, have to take care of our elderly fathers and our ex-spouses. We can’t all have it as good as you clearly do. Have a little sympathy —
I bet you drive an automatic Porsche. Fool.
Comment by no savings — January 12, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
Mitch @ 10.11pm
“lame ass shit”?…Are you really a writer? If so, you definitely aren’t one who reads. I think there have been several fine messages on this thread that show that what the WGA has put on the table is not lame…or shit.
Comment by WGASpouse — January 12, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Hopefully the DGA now has enough leverage to get a deal from AMPTP that the WGA and SAG will also be satisfied with. Good luck DGA!
Comment by Mindy — January 12, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
Depressing novelist: yes, the companies can streamline a bit, force majeur some development deals, fire a secretary or two. Same as if you burn your house down on a cold day, you’ll be warm for at least a little while. Doesn’t make it a smart move.
And for transpobill, you throw around the notion of an “acceptible (sic) deal,” but you don’t say anything about what constitutes a deal worth accepting. Is it $250 dollars for full year’s reuse on the internet? Maybe $500? $237.36? I mean, Bill, if you’ve got a suggestion, make it. But if all you can say is that they directors should make an acceptible deal to make the writers look spoiled or greedy — what does that deal look like?
We’re not asking for that much in the first place, bro.
Comment by JimBob — January 12, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Hey, Mitch. Is calling our negotiating position “lame ass shit” your idea of how “everyone can get along?”
Comment by JimBob — January 12, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
The AMPTP is not going to just rollover. Remember, this is all about $. Univeral said they expect 1 bil in new media revenue this year. So that’s 4 bil next year. 10 bil in three years. After that we’re up to the highs of the peak DVD years. They’re not going to just hand the DGA a good deal. The DGA is going to have to fight for it. Will they? Wish they would, but they haven’t in the past so don’t expect miricles. Expect the DGA to settle below WGA standards. But… if the numbers go higher by the second and third year of the contract and get closer to what the WGA wants, then it’s possible. Otherwise… well, you know…
Comment by Ed Wood — January 12, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
mitch:
I would think, if you are a writer, that you would know how to spell and punctuate.
Comment by Sigh!high — January 12, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
DA in LA. come on. Moron? You have to call a person that?
Can people stop doing that? It helps zero and definitely hurts.
Comment by Louis CK — January 12, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
Indiano: then why did the WGA initially agree to the Jan 07 start date before chainging its mind? You can look up the coverage in the LAT and THR and Variety if you want. I know, no source is completely trustworthy, but those articles are pretty interesting and don’t support your point of view.
Comment by Mike — January 12, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
I realize that imagination is a prerequisite for writing, but I didn’t realize delusion and paranoia were part of the package.
So many of you spend your time complaining about paid shills as though the AMPTP needs to put ideas into someone’s head and pay them to post points that disagree with your party line. I seriously doubt that anyone here is a paid shill for the AMPTP, just some people who are trying to be more objective about the whole process.
It’s sad to see so many who never question thier union leadership and believe whole-heartedly with every bit of information they are fed. I can’t imagine living a life where I don’t question things I am being told especially when they effect my livelihood. It seems some people are quite willing to allow others to do the thinking for them. So much for that imagination I thought writers had.
Sure the AMPTP is passionate about how it does business, but that’s exactly what they are doing, business. Most of what the AMPTP is doing right now comes straight out of the business playbook, it’s about the bottom line, like it or not. It doesn’t have to be fair, doesn’t have to be emotional, it’s business stupid! The AMPTP is faceless, no matter how much some of you want to paint a picture of David and Goliath for this strike.
The sooner some of you wake up to this reality the better, you aren’t up against some monster, you are up against a business model. The only power you have against this model is withrdrawing your services and that needs to be total withdrawl. It is here that the WGA is floundering, the basic principle of solidarity is lost on the WGA leadership. As soon as they ventured into side contracts and agreements they took a giant step backwards. They have given in to the business model, allowing some work to proceed, production is no longer at a standstill.
Not only that, but by doing so they have caused some fracturing of the solidarity that is key to the labour movement. Writers that are out on the line are questioning the rational of having some of thier brothers and sisters back in thier offices and working against thier interests.
But hey, some of you are all worried about shills and conspiracies that you can’t see what is really happening. The AMPTP doesn’t need to bust the WGA, it’s doing a pretty good job of busting itself by breaking away from it’s very foundation of solidarity.
I fear that the WGA is now going to be stuck accepting far less than they had hoped for and at a far greater cost than it should have been. I doubt there will be any movement on animation or reality union coverage, and seriously doubt that sympathy strikes will be a part of any future collective agreement. The WGA should have stuck with the most important issues of reasonable compensation for residuals.
No doubt I will endure another round of being called an AMPTP shill, a moron, an idiot, and whatever else some of you can throw out. But in time you’ll reflect on this and see that what I am saying isn’t that far from the truth. Good luck with the mudslinging, I gather it makes you feel good to have a target for your angst. But it isn’t doing anything to advance your cause.
Comment by Chips Down — January 13, 2008 @ 3:13 am
Hey JimBob - By acceptable I mean that if the DGA comes up with a residual plan that works for the rest of the industry’s residual fundend pension and health plans then the WGA will have a VERY hard time defending
Jurisdiction and sympathy strike clause and prolonging the strike to get them.
You all tout the “strong public and industry support” here, but I don’t know who you are getting that info from - WGA shills?. I hear just the opposite everyday from my fellow Teamsters who want to get back to work, and regular people who love their TV shows and movies.
Then I read the post here from supposed WGA members who say that they will strike on no matter what the DGA comes up with until they get EVERYTHING they want. Probably non member trolls just stirring the pot or WGA shills.
Comment by TranspoBill — January 13, 2008 @ 9:59 am
Chips Down — your Business Model view of things breaks down when you don’t take into account that the members of the AMPTP are competitors. That’s why side deals work, when Weinstein is making movies and Paramount isn’t, that puts business model pressure on Paramount to look at what the WGA wants as a simple cost of doing business instead of the End of the World.
Comment by JimBob — January 13, 2008 @ 11:02 am
>> It’s going to get larger, but that’s what re-negotiating contracts is for, right? You’re not signing a 40 year deal…>>
Sure. Look at how well that approach has worked for DVD participation.
They said there wasn’t any money in prerecorded video, but they’d study it and renegotiate later, and no matter how much profits have gone up and costs have gone down, the only way they’re willing to renegotiate is down.
The deal signed this time will affect the deal 40 years later. And if there’s truly no money in streaming scripted entertainment onto the internet, the AMPTP should be willing to give 50%, since it’s a big share of nothing. The fact that they don’t want to share tells you they think it’s something worth hogging…and will only get moreso.
kdb
Comment by Kurt Busiek — January 13, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
Chips Down wrote: “I fear that the WGA is now going to be stuck accepting far less than they had hoped for”
You “fear” it? Oh, now you’re on our side? That’s a good one. Look, Chips, the risk of some divisiveness in solidarity caused by making some side deals was debated long and hard within the Guild before deciding to proceed this way. And you know what, even though I didn’t agree with these moves at the time, now I see they were the right step to take.
Look at what has happened in late night. Leno’s and Conan’s ratings have plummeted. How is NBC going to position Conan to take over the Tonight Show when no one is watching his program? He is reportedly livid and pressuring NBC to settle, and they don’t want to anger the guy that they’re betting a billion dollar franchise on. Stewart and Colbert’s shows are being pilloried by critics and fan sites since they went back, showing America the importance of writers.
On the movie side, the other studio CEO’s are livid at Harry Sloan for not figuring out how to stop the UA deal and they’re panicking at Harvey Weinstein’s new ability to grab the hottest scripts in town, which he’s in the process of doing.
Furthermore, the return to work of a handful of Worldwide Pants writers did not lead to any widespread dissension or jealousy on the part of other writers, because we see now that it was an effective first step in breaking the monolithic unity of the studios chiefs.
Chips, maybe you know labour (sic) law but you don’t understand the entertainment business, that’s for sure. It’s your inability — willful or not — to see how the AMPTP dominoes are starting to fall that makes people think you’re a shill. But in your defense, it’s probably just ignorance.
Comment by giving Chips the benefit of the doubt — January 13, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Here are the most repeated Fib & Liar Troll Posts:
THE TOP 10 FABIANI AND LEHANE LIES on Deadline Hollywood or United Hollywood:
(1) “Verrone/Young are unreasonable, over-matched, egotists, incompetent, or my personal favorite . . .”Militants” (1/11-1/13 posters “mike”);
(2) “Any Scab — Ridley Daly, Ellen, Conan, Colbert and Stewart “reasonable” and/or “commendable” ;
(3) “Everyone thinks that the writers are stupid, unprepared, overpaid, lazy, worthless, commies, militants, weak, idiots, unnecessary hacks, rich egotists and especially useless –or no one cares at all about the WGA Strike “(completely not true, as my recent family gathering in middle America showed me);
(4) “The AMPTP is stronger, smarter, already won, no longer interested in writers, no longer interested in television, no longer interested in entertainment, making deals with writers in Bulgaria, Brazil, Iran, India, etc. (Please . . . .)”;
(5) “The WGA is ALWAYS Refusing to Return to the Bargaining Table (Never the AMPTP)” ;
(6) The WGA is splitting, the WGA is weak, the WGA is destroyed because ALL of the BEST Writers are Going “Fi-Core” (”Mike’s” latest rant);
(7) “Any 11th Grader using YouTube Could Do Better Work Than The WGA Member” ;
(8) Google/Microsoft/Yahoo/Apple are not interested in working with Hollywood, much less the writers ( That must explain Microsoft’s recent deals with Hollywood at CES))
(9) The WGA Strike will have NO EFFECT on Disney , GE or any other company with an entertainment division’s bottom line (Sure. That’s why Disney, TimeWarner, CBS and NewCorps Stock prices all recently hit a 52 Week Low of the Year. Ruby Red and “realists” latest rant. But see: http://www.thestreet.com/s/strike-may-rewrite-stocks-nsurance/10395254_2.html)
(10) The DGA is smarter, more professional, more organized, more prepared etc (I can’t wait to see the crap that you will print about them . . .)
It’s pretty obvious by now. If you see any of the above themes, you can presume that you have a FIB & LIAR TROLL posting.
From 1/11/08-1/13/08 (at this comment section) that would include the following FIB & LIAR TROLLS: BTL, Depressing, depressing novelist, mitch, plenty of savings (no WGA member would EVER post this shit or with this poster id),IA Guy, “John” and of course “Mike” (or should I say, Jeff Zucker), “unemplyed (sic) writer”, Ruby Red Lips, drago, “intrigued”, just wondering, just asking, realist, editor, staffer, . . . .
Needless to say, after this is posted, there will be a new host of posting names. And they will be posting assinine messages such as “This is Just Freedom of Speech” and encouraging Nikki not to review the submitted comments so that the paid Fib & Liar Trolls can control the message boards.
BTW, “Mike” was it really necessary to post your nasty comment in response to Nikki 1/13/08 post that she was sick? To post something as sick and mean as that shows that you Fib & Liar Hacks must be paid my the comment.
A WGA Supporter
Comment by Anonymous — January 13, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
DGA, nice posturing last week that negotiations were not going easily. Create the illusion that you’re having a hard time getting your thirty pieces of silver.
How many days before you sell out SAG and WGA? Two, three? Gil Cates gave away video, and now he’s going to give away the internet. The studios should name a building after him.
– Sick of the DGA
Comment by Anonymous — January 13, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
“Chips Down” that was one of the most level headed, honest posts EVER!!!
You only missed the point that the recent reality TV shows that replaced scripted shows (same time slot)did better in the ratings in the same time slot!= surce variety.com
How bad of a writer do you have to be to get beaten by reality TV?
Comment by postprod.LA — January 13, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
chipsdown, most of the folks posting here are writers or believe in the cause the writers are standing up for. Whenever someone like yourself comes along to take a big swing at the cause and the people, it’s hard for most to accept that you are for real because most of America who know about what the WGA is fighting for and how lame the AMPTP folks have been are siding with the WGA and supporting WGA members. Sure, we all wish this awful mess was behind us and we were all working (everyone working - folks in sound, lighting, wardrobe, transpo, etc.) But, until the AMPTP people come back to the table, we’re all just hanging out and supporting one another through this bad time.
If you want to bash the cause or the WGA members, there’s probably a board room where folks would enjoy your company. Consider going there.
Until then, you’ll always be seen here as a shill for the AMPTP.
Writer
Comment by outside the gates — January 13, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Have a great rest, NF. You deserve it!
Having said that… some of us are wondering if you’ve been asked to stand aside - or quit printing whispers - as the DGA gets closer to a deal with the Man.
?
Very curious. Timing, I mean.
Comment by Brando — January 14, 2008 @ 6:18 am
TranspoBill, you are wrong. Public opinion polls have shown public support of the WGA to be far above 50%, with support of the AMTP in single-digits. The public knows where the problem is here, and so does everyone else - including you, I think. But since you don’t want to give up your corporate bonus, you’ll probably just post again under a different name.
I am just some guy from Ohio, I have nothing to gain or to lose, and I support the WGA completely, like the vast majority of Americans.
Comment by A fan — January 15, 2008 @ 6:53 am
There’s nowhere else to write this, but rest up, Nikki!
If anyone deserves a well earned break it’s you. You’ve been amazing these last weeks (months?!) and it’s appreciated.
And we, of course, look forward to your return!
Comment by george glass — January 15, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Dear “Plenty of Savings”
The good thing about rainy days is they usually end with rainbows. Smiles…
Comment by Almost Broke — January 15, 2008 @ 11:13 pm