This updates what I reported last night, DGA Negotiators Talk About Their Plans: "Because we want to give the WGA and the AMPTP more time to return to the negotiating table to conclude an agreement, the DGA will not schedule our negotiations to begin until after the New Year, and then, 
only if an appropriate basis for negotiations can be established. If that’s the case, then the DGA will commence formal talks in the hope that a fresh perspective and the additional pressure we can bring to bear will help force the AMPTP to settle the issues before us in a fair and reasonable manner. " The AMPTP responded that "This will still be an extremely difficult process. All of us need to get this right."
Here are this morning's DGA statements in their entirety:
Negotiations Announcement from DGA President Michael Apted and Negotiations Committee Chair Gil Cates (December 13, 2007)
Although the DGA has a long history of early negotiations, this year we held off starting our own formal talks with the AMPTP for two months out of respect for our sister guild. Instead, we watched the writers’ negotiations closely while preparing for our turn at bat. We are deeply disappointed by the breakdown of talks between the WGA and the AMPTP with no end to the strike in sight. Like everyone else in the industry, we had hoped that the two parties would be able to reach a fair and reasonable deal that adequately compensates talent for the work they create.
But now the situation is dire. The WGA-AMPTP impasse has cost the jobs of tens of thousands of entertainment-industry workers, including many of our own members, and more lose their jobs every day the strike continues. With so much at stake and no end to the standoff in sight, we can no longer abdicate our responsibility to our own members. Because we want to give the WGA and the AMPTP more time to return to the negotiating table to conclude an agreement, the DGA will not schedule our negotiations to begin until after the New Year, and then, only if an appropriate basis for negotiations can be established. If that’s the case, then the DGA will commence formal talks in the hope that a fresh perspective and the additional pressure we can bring to bear will help force the AMPTP to settle the issues before us in a fair and reasonable manner.
Negotiations Update From DGA President Michael Apted (December 13, 2007)
Dear Members,
As you know, the negotiations between the Writers Guild and the AMPTP once again broke down last week and the strike has continued. All along, it has been the sincere hope of the DGA that these talks would be successful and lead to a fair deal for talent. We are sorry this has not been the case.With the current work stoppage now in its sixth week, we know the situation has become grave—and is getting worse with each passing day. Already, a number of feature films have been cancelled or postponed, and we are now perilously close to losing both the 2007-2008 television season and the 2008 pilot season—a loss that would have a devastating effect not only on DGA members but on the industry as a whole.
The DGA has always believed that the most effective way to start the process of negotiating is to begin that process early. That belief—proven by experience—has guided us through the last 20 years of negotiations. This year has been different. Out of respect for the WGA, we held off for months in order to give the writers a chance to make a deal. We also refrained from commenting publicly about the nature of their proposals and the progress of their negotiations. At the same time, while we didn’t proceed with our negotiations, we did not stop our own preparations which began in earnest in 2006. During that time we put considerable DGA time and financial resources into hiring the best outside consultants and experts in new media, the future of technology, and business analysis. Over this time, they have made a number of presentations to the DGA Leadership and the National Board, all the while continuing to analyze and refine the data with DGA staff. Our 50-member Negotiations Committee has also continued to meet regularly with our staff and these outside consultants to discuss and refine our priorities and proposals.
In short, we have been waiting and watching for months. But now, with no end to the current impasse in sight, we find ourselves having to ask the hard question: is it now our turn to sit across from the AMPTP? We believe the answer to that question lies in one simple truth. We cannot abdicate our responsibility to all of you, the DGA membership. You expect us to fight for you. We promised you we would do just that. We believe that the preparation and determination DGA traditionally brings to the table, combined with our fresh perspective, is what is needed to get the job done. The issue is not between the DGA and the WGA. Those who want to make that the fight only strengthen our true adversaries. The real issue is how to ensure that we get the best and most equitable deal for DGA members. With this first and foremost in our minds, we have decided that the DGA must go forward with our own negotiations.
In order to give the WGA and the AMPTP one last chance to get back to the table, we will not schedule our negotiations to begin until after the New Year, and then only if an appropriate basis for negotiations can be established. If it can, then the DGA will commence formal talks with the AMPTP in the hope that our bargaining strength and fresh perspective can help achieve a good and fair outcome for all concerned.
Sincerely,
Michael Apted
DGA President
Not long after, the AMPTP issued the following statement:
We look forward to talking with the Directors Guild of America in an atmosphere of professionalism and respect. But no one should be under any illusions: this will still be an extremely difficult process. All of us - producers, directors, writers and everyone working in the entertainment business - need to get this right, because in the rapidly evolving new media marketplace, there is little margin for error. We must work in partnership to create a modern
economic system that fairly shares the benefits of progress while providing opportunity for the kind of innovation and flexibility we all need to succeed.
Does anyone know what this means: “and then, only if an appropriate basis for negotiations can be established.” ?
Comment by Anonymous — December 13, 2007 @ 10:19 am
HUGE seems to be the operative word here.
Very well executed DGA.
Very professional.
pb
Comment by pb — December 13, 2007 @ 10:21 am
WOW, GOD is a member of the WGA.
PHEW!!!!! Thank you DGA for not acting like a Rouge Agent. This is the best Holiday gift! Wow, if we all stick together everyone can win!
Peace!
PS
I take it the DGA got schooled after that horrible letter they sent out yesterday which basically was a big FU to everyone.
Comment by Audio Verite — December 13, 2007 @ 10:21 am
Excellent…enter our good cop.
Comment by strikingwriter — December 13, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Why is this being reported everywhere else as ‘DGA wants to talk to studios’? It strikes me as mildly sympathetic to the WGA. More Variety and Hollywood Reporter bias?
Comment by Four Cent — December 13, 2007 @ 10:25 am
I can already feel the knife sliding in…
Comment by Dave — December 13, 2007 @ 10:25 am
The AMPTP… bringing guilds together for the first time.
What a surprising smackdown.
Comment by Chris — December 13, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Well, that sounds reasonable. And I hope they can get things moving, because right now it looks like the chances of AMPTP coming around by the new year are the same as those of Hell freezing over. Maybe if advertisers really do respond to viewers and if the DGA can get a good deal, we’ll see an end to this in a reasonable period of time. If the DGA can’t get a good deal, the WGA will just have to keep on the lines. But if a long strike can be avoided…come on, DGA, you can save us. Don’t screw this up.
Comment by Caitlin — December 13, 2007 @ 10:34 am
DGA said: “We are deeply disappointed by the breakdown of talks between the WGA and the AMPTP with no end to the strike in sight. Like everyone else in the industry, we had hoped that the two parties would be able to reach a fair and reasonable deal that adequately compensates talent for the work they create.”
Um… how is that to happen when the AMPTP walked out on the WGA???? This statement makes it seem that we are just as coupable. And they act like the “impasse” is our fault. We are at the table - waiting.
Frustrated Writer
Comment by Strike Grrrrl — December 13, 2007 @ 10:42 am
It is kind of funny to see how Variety interpreted the DGA letter. Read Dave McNary for a good laugh on how to spin spin spin!
Comment by hwd07 — December 13, 2007 @ 11:01 am
I am very happy the DGA is actually not going to start the negotiations. The wording of the announcement is very exciting. It implies that they’re not ready to go down as well.
This is very good news.
Of course, they could start in early January but that’s a good sign that they’re not jumping straight in as per their previous negotiations.
Comment by skyfleur — December 13, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Sounds like the DGA is being more than fair to WGA. I hope WGA management takes advantage and gets back to the table asap. The point of this whole mess isn’t the mess, anyway, it’s a new contract. Enough already, get a deal and get on with it.
Comment by James — December 13, 2007 @ 11:21 am
This is good news for the WGA — the DGA is pushing back their negotiations until January and leaving the door open to pushing them back even further.
In any event, as long as the writers are out, the DGA has little leverage. By June, when their contract expires, if the writers are still out, there will be no scripts to direct. So a threat of a strike by the DGA would have little impact. The DGA might as well wait until the WGA settles.
Comment by eestshowrunner — December 13, 2007 @ 11:31 am
ROCK ON.
Thank you, DGA!
Comment by Brett N — December 13, 2007 @ 11:35 am
The DGA also realizes this strike is giving them a lot of leverage. They don’t want to be the ones who give away the internet, and the WGA strike has put them in a FAR stronger bargaining position than they’d otherwise have been in.
The longer the WGA strike holds, the stronger the DGA’s hand. They can use that leverage to get all the guilds the protection we all need on the internet.
Comment by Anonymous — December 13, 2007 @ 11:38 am
I don’t understand how this is great news for the WGA. The DGA is saying they’ll wait until “after the new year” to begin negotiating.
Uh . . . seeing that Hwood shuts down for 2 weeks during the holidays, doesn’t that mean there’s only a week and a half of December business left? In my opinion, a week is plenty for the WGA and AMPTP to get back to the tables.
Realistically, though, let’s face it . . . fat chance. So come New Year, DGA will work on a deal.
Not trying to be the grinch here, but how is this such great news?
Comment by Really? — December 13, 2007 @ 11:45 am
The DGA rocks. Proud to be a part of it. What’s even more interesting is that we do our research before talking. The 3rd party study on the internet distribution is what will seal a deal. That is what the WGA should of offered in the first place. A third party study on the streaming biz, ’cause without this info who can seriuously talk about prospective future revenue.
Good luck to us all.
Comment by kathy obrien — December 13, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
eestshowrunner that is ridiculous.
There are a lot of product that DGA directors can direct in June in the feature world. The problem is if the DGA waits until the WGA/AMPTP start negotiating again, it’ll be SAG turn at bat before long.
The best thing that could happen to the people who are out of work, or are threatened to be out of work after the holiday would be for the DGA to get back to the table, and at least get a framework for Internet residuals in place.
DGA stands to gain nothing by waiting for the WGA to settle, and to think that it does is extremely myopic.
Look, I think the AMPTP has negotiated with the writers in bad faith, and I think it partially has to do with David Young being at the table trying to make the WGA into AFL/CIO West. It is possible the DGA will put together enough of the pieces to give the WGA something to jump off from.
However, there is no way that the AMPTP is going to reward striking with a better deal than it gives the DGA. The WGA may be structured differently, and an open door will be granted to allow the WGA leadership to save a little face. But, most of you need to realize the THREAT of a strike was the biggest piece of ammunition the WGA has.
Again, this is why writers have agents, there is an art to negotiating with people you don’t like and/or respect, and this is where Verrone, et al have gone wrong. They have fought disrespect with disrespect, and that will not allow you to succeed when the deep pockets hold most of the cards.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a WGA deal gets done without Verrone and/or Young at the table.
I’m not saying this is right, or that the AMPTP has acted like adults (far from it), however, a settlement will happen if someone else (in this case the DGA shows the way.
Remember how the strike ended in 1988. Those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it.
Comment by Agentatanotheragency — December 13, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
“Fresh perspective.”
In DGA speak, do you think that might mean “undercutting?”
Comment by Fun Joel — December 13, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
1)
Funny, agentatanotheragency explaining why writers need agents. Ask the barber if you need a haircut.
2)And Kathy Obrien, yes it’s good that the DGA has done its research. What is unfathomable is why they refused to share their research with SAG and the WGA. No wonder so many writers and actors fear the DGA will not cut a strong deal. They all too often have thrown in with the AMPTP at everyone else’s expense. And yes, they have the same .3 per cent deal on dvds as everyone else.
3) Not one writer, on either coast, is happy with the deal on the table, and the illusion of a new economic partnership. No matter how much spin Craig (Tokyo Rose) Mazin gets, the writers are still united.
Today, in a sleet sstorm, the largest picket yet in New York. We are holding the line.
WGA East on the line
Comment by Anonymous — December 13, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
Agentatanotheragency…this is the version of the script we should consider final.
Comment by glad not to work in entertainment — December 13, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
“My understanding is that the DGA’s hired gun, uber-attorney Kenny Ziffren, has put together a New Media proposal that has significant and what the agents are telling me, potentially positive consequences for the other guilds.” –Nikki Finke
A calm, rational and strategically sound move by the DGA to begin their negotiations. This should come as no surprise as they have Ken Ziffren, a professional dealmaker, crafting their proposals and guiding their strategy…kinda makes you wonder what it would be like if the WGA had hired one of those, doesn’t it?
Comment by Pete Aronson — December 13, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Jeez, how gullible are some of you people? and the DGA, how gullible are YOU? I sincerely hope you’re not sincere about hoping the wga and producers get back to the table? c’mon, they just LEFT the table and accomplished NOTHING when they were at said table.
There will be no WGA-AMPTP talks in the forseeable future, which probably takes us through January with no talks. When two sides are accomplishing NADA at the table it’s not a good thing to force these people into a room together. That’s common sense. There needs to be a cooling off period, and that period must be several months long. I think the DGA is doing a grave disservice to its membership.
Comment by Danny Boy — December 13, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Like I said weeks ago (long BEFORE everyone was jumping up and down about returning to the negotiating table with the AMPTP), the DGA will negotiate with the AMPTP around the end of January. Right on schedule.
Comment by ChuckT — December 13, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Nice headline Reuters:
“Hollywood directors hold talks due to writers strike”
Then the first line of the article:
“Hollywood directors said on Thursday they would delay opening contract talks with major film studios until at least January to give striking screenwriters time to restart their own stalled negotiations.”
Ah, so you mean “hold” as in “hold off”. Good job mainstream media.
Comment by Klaatu — December 13, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
Why internet jurisdiction is important
Viacom Kicks ‘Jackass’ to the Net
By Nat Worden
12/13/2007 12:45 PM EST
A new Jackass is flouting Hollywood’s conventions.
The third installment of the Jackass movies, spin-offs from the former MTV show starring Johnny Knoxville and his band of hooligans, will bypass movie theaters altogether and go straight to the Internet.
Jackass 2.5, a combination of unreleased footage from Jackass Number Two and new content, was announced Thursday as a joint venture between Viacom’s Paramount Pictures and MTV Networks.
The fresh dose of gross-out stunts will be available for fans free of charge at Blockbuster.jackassworld.com from Dec. 19 through Dec. 31. After Christmas, DVDs of the film will be available for purchase on the site and at major retailers, and it will be available for rent at Blockbuster stores and on the company’s Web site.
The film will also be available for download at Apple’s iTunes, Amazon and other online destinations for a price.
“We are very excited to be able to deliver Jackass 2.5, the first feature-length movie from a major studio which will debut free on the Internet,” said Thomas Lesinski, president of Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment, in a statement. “The Jackass movie is the first of several features that we plan on distributing online and as the digital world evolves, Paramount will continue to turn digital distribution of content on its head.”
Comment by Venice — December 13, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
Hmm, seems to me the DGA is playing both sides of the fence at the moment. There’s like 10 more days left until the town closes down so are they really waiting?
I think this just gives them a “Well, we tried,” excuse. An “appropriate basis for negotiations,” concerns me. I hate to be a downer but when the DGA is handed a shitty proposal, they’ll take it and then they’ll turn to us and say that their 50 member team who did the research for the last year told us that this is an “appropriate basis for negotiations.”
When we tell them it sucks and we continue to strike we’ll look like the unreasonable “organizers” by all.
Someone tell me I’m wrong.
Comment by I'm-wrong-right? — December 13, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Agentatanotheragency:
I have heard plenty of people, including Gavin Polone, say that the WGA’s maximum leverage lay in the threat of a strike. I have not, however, heard any of them say how they could have done more with that leverage. It certainly seems to me like the writers did as much as they could to threaten the strike as a means of improving the offer the AMPTP was offering. And all the AMPTP did was repeat their tactic of responding to good faith with bad faith. Why didn’t the threat of the strike work? Because the Companies were legitimately unafraid of what a strike would do to them? Or because they legitimately thought the strike would never happen? It’s got to be one of the two, or a combination thereof. By striking, the WGA proved them wrong on one of those points, and the longer the strike goes, the more it will prove them wrong on the other point. For better or worse, there will be tangible financial records of the revenue that the strike costs the Companies, and that information will be in the shareholders’ hands the next time a contract comes up and the CEOs want to play cowboy.
Comment by Nick — December 13, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
eestshowrunner is right -there are scripts stockpiled…but are they really ready? There will be no polishes available. I think that what Agentatanotheragency really wants is to try to nurture a little discord about the WGA leadership. I doubt it will work, writers tend to be a clever bunch. Since they work in plotting and such as their job, I think that they can see through most of the “anti” crowds posturing.
It just means that the WGA leadership is doing their jobs…it’s a compliment really, these doubting thomas type posts
Comment by sidelined — December 13, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
kathy obrien,
Sorry, the WGA did do a 3rd party study on the internet distribution. Ours is just not as studio friendly as yours is rumored to be. The DGA has very different needs and the majority do not get residuals, so don’t expect a deal from you studio friendly Guild to have much of an effect on the strike We will keep fighting to get a fair deal.
Anonymous,
“and then, only if an appropriate basis for negotiations can be established.” ?
Means, “You’re not allowed to pull the same bullshit you are pulling on the WGA.”
And with all respect to “Agentatanotheragency”
You’re an agent, thanks for tooting your own horn. How incredibly unusual. Yes, agents can save everything, they are like the new Gods.
Comment by DA in LA — December 13, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
happy holidays at last! — anybody got any info on any upcoming WGA member meeting with the negs?…we can beat them up on the nonsense of reality, animation and sympathy strike demands so they can claim their version of force majeure and go back to the table to talk about hard cash…faces saved all around and we can get back to writing instead of the whoop-de-doo that so many underemployables seem to be enjoying…
Comment by skeptic — December 13, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Nick has a very valid point here.
“For better or worse, there will be tangible financial records of the revenue that the strike costs the Companies, and that information will be in the shareholders’ hands the next time a contract comes up and the CEOs want to play cowboy.”
These are public companies and as a result, their books are open to all stockholders and other investors, including Joe Blow. While this quarter might look fine on the surface, a good financial analyst will look much deeper into the numbers and their impact on the next quarter and the year itself.
pb
Comment by pb — December 13, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Attn. ChuckT:
Whatever you plan to say in the future, we agree with you. Mkay? Now go away.
Comment by upChuckT — December 13, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Dear Agent at Another Agency,
I’m glad you’re not MY agent, because you don’t get your facts straight.
You say David Young wants to make the WGA into the AFL-CIO West. FYI, the WGA East is part of the AFL-CIO but the WGA West is not, and has not shown any interest in affiliating, although hopefully after this strike they will, because it will give them greater leverage and more support from other unions in the future.
You should be on writers’ side in this pal, AS YOU ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO BE.
You also said: “But, most of you need to realize the THREAT of a strike was the biggest piece of ammunition the WGA has.”
Again, wrong. If the Guild had not walked out on November 5th, not only would we have looked weak, but we also would have convinced the AMPTP that we were afraid to actually play the strike card. Look, we threatened to strike, told them we were definitely going to walk that night without a deal, they tricked us, got DVD off the table, then did not offer anything. Then they used THE EXCUSE that the WGA East technically struck at midnight eastern time to walk away from the table. If they wanted to really reach a deal, they would have. They would have stayed there. It was the middle of the night in New York. No one was out picketing. Nothing happened except that the AMPTP did exactly what they planned to do all along which was walk at midnight and blame it on the WGA East. If you really think that if the East had waited, that the AMPTP would have stayed and reached a deal, then you must be a pretty crappy agent. (I suspect you are anyway.)
Has your agency found that naivete is something they look for in an agent? I really doubt that. I bet every agency is currently thinking, wow, who’s this idiot posting this stuff? And since most agents I’ve encountered are pretty damn smart, they must be thinking that you’re not even really an agent at all.
In fact, I think it’s pretty much clear at this point that the rest of the agents in town are right, and that “Agent at another agency” is a studio exec or a flak.
Comment by Writer with a REAL agent — December 13, 2007 @ 7:28 pm