The NY Times had an article on Nov 12 which reported that Roger Smith (identified as a former film exec) had spent six months on a study which found that the studios really were losing money on some films where they had give away participation points or first dollar gross to the biggest stars and directors. They were handing those deals out to the big names pretty freely for a while (don’t know if they have wised up yet).

The inference was that AMPTP members had made REALLY bad deals in the past with some major stars/directors, and they couldn’t/wouldn’t get out of them easily. Instead, they figured they would make it up by taking from the little people (too spineless to tell Spielberg or Tom Hanks to get lost?). Hence no increases on DVDs, no actual $$ for internet, or even, the dreaded suggestion of rollbacks.

That sounds pretty plausible to me, and if true it means the WGA really should be directing some of its ire towards the biggest players in town. (It is also true that just because the AMPTP are starstruck wussies, there is no reason the WGA/SAG/DGA rank and file should have to pay for their boneheaded business mistakes in perpetuity.)

BTW, my main reason for posting this is that I just don’t understand why anyone who says something which might be uncomfortable or unpleasant for the WGA has to be completely flamed and insulted. None of this is so clearcut that we can’t all benefit from an exchange of ideas and information, but I see less and less of that in the comments as the weeks progress; instead there is more and more pointless vitriol.

(Married to a long term WGA member since before the 1988 strike, so please don’t bother sending me hate mail.)

More importantly, this strike is bringing into focus the long standing problem of journalistic bias in today’s media. The bias extends beyond Variety (to which we ceased subscribing long ago.)

The problem with news reporting circles back to the same problem in the film/tv biz. News is in the hands of a few Big Conglomerates who self-servingly filter info.

The current strike is spotlighting this issue, but it’s been going on for a long time and it’s on all issues, not just entertainment industry issues. The problem has only grown worse in the past 7+ years (code for Bush.)

Don’t rely on any major news outlet for the real story on anything. Fair.org, Factcheck.org, etc help keep stories straight.

And, of course, Nikki Finke.

They’ve fooled NO ONE in the industry and long after this strike is over, when the studios and networks have forgotten how Variety bent over and took it in the integrity kiester, writers will have not forgotten.

I encourage EVERYONE to cancel their Variety subscriptions. Why subscribe to a trade that doesn’t report news accurately anyway? Let’s make an effort to get those whores run out of the business for good.

But then I figured — if this is the coverage that the AMPTP needs to start negotiations again, fine.

Only the Studios would believe such a rickety, hastily- constructed story anyway…

I think most everyone knows Joe Adalian is a kiss ass to those in power and sorry Joe but your articles are usually slanted towards studios and companies. Dave McNary is somewhat better but hasn’t been during the strike. They’re not subjective. Cynthia Littleton doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as these two writers or in the same breath as Variety. She is objective, smart, great, well respected (unlike the latter who are simply used) and should be back at the HR.

Nikki, it takes balls to do what you do, and I can honestly say you’re a real journalist the likes of which we haven’t seen for a long while in this business. Sure coffee cups have been thrown against walls when people have read what you’ve wrote, but it’s been the truth. May the coffee cups continue to fly.

I’ve seen it, you’ve seen it, verbatim press releases from the studios reprinted by Variety with a few “unknown sources” thrown in. They have a batphone directly connected to every studio press department.

Their screeds will be remembered and are not being tolerated at all. Too bad for them they cast their lot with what will be the losing side…even ad buyers are 90% in favor of the writers…read this per Media Life magazine:

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Television_44/Latest_strike_score_Writers_3_bosses_1.asp

Thanks Nikki for your exhaustive coverage