UPDATE: Oops. The liberal website Daily Kos is reporting that Fabiani & Lehane is starting to lose union clients because it accepted the AMPTP gig fighting the striking Hollywood writers. The site confirmed that F&L was fired this morning by SEIU Local 99 in Los Angeles (made up of education workers who include teacher's aides, cafeteria workers and crossing guards) and this afternoon by Change to Win (a coalition of seven top unions including SEIU, Teamsters, and the Laborers). "Change to Win had a general consulting contract with Chris Lehane. That contract was terminated upon discovery of his role supporting the studios in the writers guild strike. As you know, Change to Win and its affiliates stand solidly behind the writers in their struggle for fairness, so we did not think twice about this decision," the organization told the Daily Kos. Meanwhile, I hear that the moguls are less than thrilled with F&L's performance for the AMPTP so far.
Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane, whose Fabiani & Lehane like to call themselves the Masters Of Disaster, have fingerprints all over the AMPTP's strike PR. I've learned that F&L was responsible for naming the studios' and networks' offer to the WGA that "New Economic Partnership". They also offered the suggestion that the CEOs stop calling the writers' side "negotiators" and start branding them "organizers" because it sounds more Commie. They wrote Friday's strongly worded and downright menacing press release to satusfy the moguls apparent craving for combat not conciliation. But, so far, that's it. An AMPTP insider insists F&L is only being paid a 1/3 what anyone thinks "but it's not necessarily money well spent."
Well they must be doing something since I actually heard an AMPTP representative speaking on NPR this morning, the first I’ve ever heard. What sucked though was that the WGA didn’t have a rep to counter (heh) anything this dude was saying. NPR apparently asked, but WGA couldn’t free up anyone to talk. The AMPTP guy was hilarious though — kept repeating that they were ready to negotiate on the “bread and butter issues” of DVD residuals and new media…as soon as we take the reality issue off the table. He claimed the AMPTP thought common ground could be reached on those issues, but our stubborness on reality is what halted the talks. The NPR host asked, reasonably, “Well why not negotiate the new media stuff FIRST, and then maybe the good will from that would cause the WGA t be more amenable on the Reality issue?” The AMPTP guy just hemmed and hawed, and then said, “well, that would be putting the cart before the horse.” Priceless.
Comment by weareroffancyscarf — December 11, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
it’s pathetically obvious a PR firm is behind NEP, “organizers,” and that prepared press release
it’s just like when the Republicans got that press firm to name the war on terror, and to call the estate tax a “death tax” so it would sound inhuman and get repealed
these ceo’s can’t do anything for themselves - yet even with all their lawyers and PR people, they’re still losing this conflict
any time you want a negotiation destroyed, bring in the lawyers - they are counter-productive parasites
Comment by SS — December 11, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Someone please tell Fabiani & Lehane that I am enjoying the nostalgic trip back to the 90s via bad word play.
The AMPTP might want to cut that check down to 1/6, because so far, this has been a pathetic display. Organizers? Seriously? New Economic Partnership? Really guys? Did you happen to notice that America turned on this shit about halfway through the Bush administration?
Also, know that we have only begun our delightful campaign of making sure you never work with another Democratic organization. I gave the 50,000+ kids who read my website their marching orders today. Good move, PR guys!
Comment by DA in LA — December 11, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
The thing I love about “New Economic Partnership” is that it basically acknowledges freely that the companies were screwing the writers in the past. “Yeah, we more or less had you buck naked over a barrel up to just a minute ago, but hey… in this NEW version, we’re PARTNERS! Doesn’t that sound great?”
Comment by Nick — December 11, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
What kind of PR firm forgets to claim all related domain names? There is no way AMPTP.com should even exist. You always claim the .org, .edu, and .com, and you claim every other permutation, including fuckamptp. That’s basic, basic stuff. Costs almost nothing. But that’s okay, AMPTP’s flubs only help the writers. PR people are supposed to be strong enough to stand up to clients who want to be “menacing.” Either you’re trying to persuade, or you’re wasting your money — which is what most PR clients end up doing.
Comment by Baranca — December 11, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
Hey, if the AMPTP wants to spend its money on the Bill Buckners of PR — the guys who steered Al Gore, Gray Davis and Wes Clark to their respective demise — more power to them.
Comment by K. — December 11, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Speaking of public relations, marketing and free advertising… THE LOSS OF LENO, LETTERMAN, KIMMEL and STEWART MUST BE BRUTAL FOR THESE NEW RELEASES. I didn’t see Nicole Kidman or Daniel Craig pushing “Golden Compass.” I won’t be seeing Nic Cage promoting “National Treasure: Book of Secrets.” How many hundreds of thousands, or rather, millions of dollars in opening weekend tickets do these talk shows sell? Something to think about when people insist the strike isn’t touching feature divisions.
Comment by Tom — December 11, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
I think one big reason that F&L was hired was specifically to remove the Clintons as outspoken allies of the writers.
Comment by Anonymous — December 11, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
If, in addition to negotiating a better contract for current WGA members, the WGA is also attempting to organize currently non-represented groups (animation & reality writers) to obtain WGA representation, then why is the word “organizers” inappropriate or sinister? That’s what unions do. They organize workers to make collective demands of management.
Comment by justlearning — December 11, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
Just called Hilary’s NY office and sent them an email. She lost my vote. Well she never had it.
Comment by Demokraut — December 11, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Let me get this straight. While Hillary says “I support the Writers Guild’s pursuit of a fair contract that pays them for their work in all mediums”, her advisers are working for the AMPTP?
With the end of critical late night comics, she hopes the strike ends quickly. By election day 2008.
Comment by with friends like this, who ends enemies? — December 11, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Awwwwwwwww, did Fabiani and Lehane lose some of their union contracts because they’re helping the slimy AMPTP? Awwwwwwww….don’t break my heart like that, Nikki. I’m so upset I’m going to go eat a sandwich.
Comment by galveston — December 11, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Hey “justlearning” — are you “just learning” your new day job as an AMPTP shill? You’re doing great! Keep up the good work! Hey, are they offering you health & pension? Didn’t think so.
Comment by abby — December 11, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
The AMPTP is really made up of a bunch of out of touch old timers. Of course they didn’t register the various domain names because they DONT understand the internet.
Comment by JimCo — December 11, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
in all fairness, none of the other democratic candidates are doing anything to actively support wga, other than paying lip service, so stop grinding exclusively on Hillary (her association with this slimy pr firm pre-dates this strike - and ALL the pols have slimy pr firms/advisers)
Comment by fromtheinside — December 11, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
I’m tired of studio sympathizers and the ignorant and uniformed taking pot shots at the WGA and its members. I’m tired of the AMPTP’s bullying tactics and flat-out resistance to negotiate in good faith with the guild. I’m tired of their name-calling and ready to turn the mirror on them. People need to know the kind of malicious bastards we’re dealing with.
Below is a quote from a current network executive. When you read it, you will probably laugh and think it can’t possibly be true. But it is. It was overheard this weekend at a holiday party event. The executive is Dawn Tarnofsky at the CW. When she was asked about her thoughts about the writers and the ongoing strike, her response was:
“I really don’t care. My kids are going to have presents for Christmas, theirs aren’t.”
This is stuff you won’t see in the newspaper, the trades or on TV. Why would you? The people we’re striking against own all of these outlets. (I bet the North Koreans don’t read a lot of negative stuff about Kim Jong-il either.)
But the internet is a wonderful vehicle show the level of heartlessness and ineptitude of the people who are in charge in Hollywood. I hope this quote infuriates you as it did me. And I’d like to think that if network and studio executives were to start seeing their own words and actions held up to public scrutiny, they will realize that it’s better to return to the negotiation table than to monitor the internet’s message boards to see if their callousness, incompetence or stupidity will be showcased next. That’s your cue. Share your stories, strike-related or not. Let’s get them back to the negotiating table!
Comment by Peter — December 11, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Wow, really? That’s unbelievable. That’s not even funny if it were a joke.
Comment by Paloma Pigeon — December 11, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
About time people learn the ramifications of their own actions.
It puzzles me that most people are so self-involved that they don’t even consider the reaction to their abhorent behavior.
Comment by Sherilyn — December 11, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Sure, I’d like to believe the “Dawn Tarnovsky” comment’s true, just so I could enjoy the feel of my blood starting to boil, but unfortunately this IS exactly what the internet is a “wonderful vehicle” for: spreading unsubstantiated gossip. I notice the poster says the quote “was overheard” - not that HE heard it. I don’t know this Tarnovsky from Tarkovsky - well, OK, I do know who Tarkovsky is, but still, this kind of thing, it just ain’t kosher.
Comment by Me Mike — December 11, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
While I don’t know Dawn Tarnofsky, I do know lots of other network execs and development people and they are all upset about the strike. They all want to work and feel bad for the writers. And they feel bad about having to cross the picket line each day, but don’t want to get fired from jobs they’ve worked years to get.
Now maybe the higher-ups are saying nastier things, but every exec I know is sympathetic to the WGA’s cause and would like to see wrtiters get a fair deal. Many of them even date or are married to writers, or are used to working with them day in and day out.
Let’s remember, the enemy is the heads of the studios, not everyone who works on the lot.
Comment by WGA Writer — December 11, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
Of course, Chris and Friends are only making 1/3 of what we think they’re making because the AMPTP now claims that press releases that are carried on the internet are only “promotional” and the AMPTP won’t pay for them until they figure out the mysteries of the internet - like how their website suddenly got so damn funny all of a sudden. Did Rupert do that?
But Chris does get 4 cents for every press release they write that is downloaded as a ringtone, so that helps a little.
Comment by Scott Kraft — December 11, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Bring back Brogliatti. These bozos are making a bigger mess.
Comment by asympathizertoall — December 11, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
Justlearning wrote:
“If, in addition to negotiating a better contract for current WGA members, the WGA is also attempting to organize currently non-represented groups (animation & reality writers) to obtain WGA representation, then why is the word “organizers” inappropriate or sinister? That’s what unions do.”
Justlearning, you are absolutely right. And in keeping with this logic, all WGA press releases from here on out will refer to Nick Counter and the studio chiefs as cunts.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Comment by The WGA — December 11, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
A close friend of mine worked with Dawn at Lifetime. The quote? Probably true.
Comment by 5-20-08 Victory — December 11, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
if writers think that network execs care about writers, you are too sensitive and naive. execs like writers who they ONLY currently work with. this is a “what have you done for me lately” business, so if you developed something with the exec(s) two season ago, you are an afterthought. that’s just the way it is, and i am fully aware of that - so should every writer.
as for Dawn Tarnofsky - she is in that HOW AND WHY category of network executives. First, she’s the PRESIDENT of a network. You would think she has power but has ZERO power because she has to fly EVERYTHING up the flagpole and have Les Moonves weigh in. The CW is a joke of a network and they will go under next year/year and a half. As a person, Dawn is more than capable of saying some stupid shit - and those that know her know this is true.
Fact about network/studio execs is that there are only a handful of quality execs. There are plently of hacks and poor quality writers in the guild, and the same applies for executives.
Comment by Written for all networks — December 12, 2007 @ 12:10 am
Dawn Tarnofsky also happily accepted scabbed scripts for the CW the first few weeks of the strike. Guess that’s what you do once you’ve run UPN into the ground and you’re close to doing the same at The New CW!
Comment by macy — December 12, 2007 @ 5:04 pm