For weeks since the strike started, tipsters have kept telling me that Lost showrunner Carlton Cuse, one of the WGA negotiators, had gone back to work and is a major chink in the resolve of the all-important TV showrunners. I kept trying and trying to find out if this was true, and even the WGA was incredibly cryptic about his whereabouts. In fact it's nearly impossible to ascertain which TV showrunners are performing their producing duties, and which aren't. Now Carlton Cuse himself distributed this email today to clear up the confusion about where he stands vis a vis his show and the strike:
To my fellow WGA Members,
I want to clear up any misunderstanding about where I stand.
On November 16, I, regretably, was quoted by a Wall Street Journal reporter saying I was going to perform some of my non-writing, post-production duties on episodes of LOST to protect the show for the fans. However, I'm sure to the delight of the AMPTP, my statement became the story and gave the false impression that there was disunity among showrunners over the issues of this negotiation.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Every showrunner I know, whether producing or not producing, stands in full support of the goals of our guild.
For the past two months I have been working seven days a week on these negotiations alongside my fellow negotiating committee members.
As a committee we did everything we could to get both parties back to the bargaining table this last week. We were fully prepared to enter into the kinds of back-and-forth discussions that are necessary to reach any sort of labor deal. I sincerely hoped this return to the table would lead to real progress.
I was wrong.
In fact, given the events of last Thursday -- and where things currently stand -- I can no longer in good conscience continue to work on my show in any capacity.
What I will be doing is continuing my work as a member of the committee for as long as it takes, contributing in any way I can, to get us the fair and just deal that we must have.
It's going to be an arduous fight.
But make no mistake -- we are united, we are resolute...
And we are indeed ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
Yours,
Carlton Cuse
Well, that sounded portentously ominous.
Comment by Stefán — December 3, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Um, Carlton…
What were you doing doing post-production duties anyway?
Remember the WGA’s A-H hyphenate rules?
Nice to know while all of us were walking the line, you were going in to work editing your show.
So much for being in this together…
Comment by Dave — December 3, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
I for one will sleep much better tonight knowing that a month after the strike began one of our chief negotiators is ON BOARD 100%.
Wooohoooooo!!
Comment by Greta — December 4, 2007 @ 1:04 am
So he was working during the strike, but now he has stopped. Good to know.
As for showrunners still working, I’ve got a pretty good idea of at least one duo (WGA members) still at the helm. But in the past, Nikki said don’t name names in the comments, so I won’t.
Comment by LL — December 4, 2007 @ 2:49 am
My TiVo just cried a little.
Comment by tenpercenter — December 4, 2007 @ 4:28 am
Finished the last mix on the shot material.
Comment by Oh Yeagh — December 4, 2007 @ 6:42 am
What do you think actually happened? There wasn’t enough progress and he had to stop working because of his “concience?” Or he got everything he needed to done, and the staff is leaving for Christmas soon anyways? How transparent.
Comment by lol — December 4, 2007 @ 6:50 am
Look, if I were a showrunner I would have also lived up to my non-writing commitments. What bothers me about Cuse and some others who DID return to to finish work, is that such information was swept under the rug. Our guild made a huge deal about how the block of BIG showrunners were NOT going back to work AT ALL - ala Shaun Ryan. But when they did start going back to work, it was never talked about. Now that Cuse and others have COMPLETED their work, we get his email of solidarity. C’mon! Like I said, I don’t begrudge these guys for “saving their shows” - but once you do, don’t put out an email that suggests otherwise. Man, there is so much bullshit being put out there, it’s not just Big Media that is going to cause unrest in our guild - it’s our own leadership and board members.
Comment by moderatewriter — December 4, 2007 @ 7:47 am
Hey, Cuse, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t help the other side for weeks and then be one of us again. Pick a side.
Comment by whatever — December 4, 2007 @ 7:51 am
Stefan, no it didn’t. It sounded like a guy who f’d up admitting that he f’d up and saying he wouldn’t do it again.
Comment by Anon writer — December 4, 2007 @ 8:10 am
So it turns out the guy who created Nash Bridges isn’t so bright. Who’da thunk it?
Comment by WriterWhoHasn'tGoneIntoWork — December 4, 2007 @ 8:45 am
So was Carlton a scab or not? I found his answer as ambiguous as his show.
Comment by Lost fan — December 4, 2007 @ 8:57 am
Doesn’t Oprah somehow have the power to end this whole thing? Can someone make a call?
Comment by Pickiter — December 4, 2007 @ 9:11 am
Am I missing something? He doesn’t say anything like, “Since day 1 of the strike, I have not done one bit of work on LOST or any other show for the studios. I have not worked on a mix, casting, story, editing, etc. I have not done a thing to help any production for any studio.” He just says he’s in full support and working with the negotiating group. It’s kind of like the show LOST itself. There’s no real answer but lots of mystery. Hmm. Can’t wait for next week’s email. I wonder what’ll happen to Sawyer!
Huzzah!
-writer outside the gates
Comment by outside the gates — December 4, 2007 @ 9:15 am
“In fact, given the events of last Thursday — and where things currently stand — I can no longer in good conscience continue to work on my show in any capacity.”
Um… sorry about your conscience… how about the fact that you have a contract… and I thought the Show-runners said all Big Media needed to do was go back to the table and the Show-runners would return to work.
as my signature says… I’m confused! Although this will all be mute very soon as there won’t be anything LEFT to showrun as the scripts dry up!
Comment by Confused — December 4, 2007 @ 9:23 am
Cuse finds it “regretable” that he was quoted accurately for going back to work well before any other showrunner to “protect the show for the fans.” First of all, if he wanted to protect the show for the fans he’d write a show that wasn’t so friggin confusing. Secondly, how stupid does he think we are? The only thing he was protecting was his wallet. I think showrunners personally have more at stake in this strike than other writers. I have no issue if any of them decide to perform non-writing duties (especially in the face of threatened lawsuits). However, I do believe that a member of the negotiating committee should be held to a higer standard. Cuse breached that responsibility and only now that he’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar can he “no longer in good conscience” work on his show. Pathetic.
Comment by Bullshit Detector — December 4, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Show runners who completed non-struck work are just fulfilling their contracts, sometimes trying to save new shows. They may not be as brave or idealistic as those who didn’t do this, but nobody in the guild is on their case about it. Finishing one more episode of a network show won’t make the strike shorter at this point. At first it looked as if it would — if only it had! But trust me, seeing a show runner doing non-writing tasks absolutely does not indicate a split in the guild.
Comment by marjorie David — December 4, 2007 @ 9:50 am
After submitting my comment, I saw LL’s. Does LL mean that this duo is finishing off post on a show or writing? If you believe these people are writing, please tell somebody who they are and what evidence you have — there is a compliance committee at the guild. Go to WGA.org for the contact information. We’re all losing work and money and risking our futures for what we believe in. If someone really is scabbing, that person is undermining our negotiating position. If it’s true, it’s a career-ender. So there must be real evidence, not gossip. If these people aren’t doing struck work, they’re completely within their rights.
Comment by marjorie David — December 4, 2007 @ 9:59 am
I agree, fulfilling ones contract is not only not having it both ways but is indeed the right thing to do. How much more would it hurt the strike if Cuse didn’t finish his contract and then gave the AMPTP yet more ammunition? It’s better to do things above board. Once those duties, and those duties alone, are completed, it’s time to walk away. If the shows don’t have anything non-struck done while this is all going on it will only make more time to get up and going AND hurt the whole company (by which I mean the people on the shows, not the producers/studios) in total. Really perhaps there should be some sort of grace period for this kind of thing. Just a thought.
Comment by michael — December 4, 2007 @ 10:41 am
I expected that letter to answer one question and then present six more, like his show does.
/Big Lost fan
Comment by Ted Striker — December 4, 2007 @ 11:05 am
I think everyone needs to give Cuse a break. He is in a very difficult situation. He has his loyalty to the guild and fellow writers, but he has a contract as a producer, as well as loyalty to fans of the show to make sure it is done right. Those episodes were going to get aired NO MATTER WHAT. It is important that he made sure they got finished properly, so that they will be very good when they do air, and remind the networks just how important it is to find an end to the strike and get great shows like Lost back up and running again. If he just let them edit together crappy episodes, then it would be wrong to the fans, ruin his show, and show the networks that the show wasn’t that valuable anyway. Carlton Cuse is doing the right thing in a tough situation.
Comment by David — December 4, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Cuse’s comments and behavior goes back to the Polone principal. If you were a notorious douchebag before the strike, why would you not continue to act like one during?
Comment by merry j — December 4, 2007 @ 11:27 am
There’s nothing shady going on here. The work he did was for the sake of the show (which is arguably his artwork), and not for the network. Even if he ceased all post-production work on the episodes, the networks would have run episodes that were written and filmed anyway, and would have made the same advertising dollars from them. And remember, the strike is for the sake of money, not the sake of art.
It would be a different matter if he created new material after the strike started. He didn’t.
Comment by James — December 4, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Define Shady. Shady isn’t doing the work. Shady is doing the work and acting like you weren’t doing the work and only explaining yourself after you’re “caught.” Of course he was in a tough position. Maybe he did the right thing. But coming out with this email is just plain annoying. Bitch all you want about John Wells - I wish he’d come back.
Comment by whatever — December 4, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
He’s helping a show air better, meaning better viewership, meaning better ratings, meaning better revenue for the network, meaning a little bit longer before the hurt starts.
Comment by Randy — December 4, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
I agree with David … I think part of standing together is not turning on each other so quickly. I’m just a fan of Lost speaking here, but Mr. Cuse seems like a standup guy to me and doesn’t deserve comments like the Nash Bridges one (he created Brisco too, by the way). I totally support the writers on this, but it alienates people like me when you take shots at people I admire and respect.
Comment by Barry Miller — December 4, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Whatever, I agree. He shouldn’t have put out the e-mail, no reason for it.
Randy, your logic is faulty, the relationships between each of those steps are not as simple and direct as you imply, and as I said, the ad dollars come in before the episodes are aired, and once they’re aired, there aren’t any more episodes to get money for - until the strike is over.
And look at the flip side. If he really wanted to hurt the networks, he and the other writers could have written the show as sloppily as possible, and destroyed any potential ratings - along with the show. Is that the purpose here? I agree the money is important, but is the money more important than the work? The primary reason the networks are in this is for the money. But the primary reason the writers are writers in the first place is for the work.
Comment by James — December 4, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
He’s not better than Craig Mazin who’s been working during the strike (and had the audacity to sign that Pens Down advert in Variety!).
Comment by Francine Fishpaw — December 4, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
Oprah is the new Lew Wasserman.
Save us Oprah!
Comment by enough — December 4, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
I have known Carlton Cuse for twenty years. There is no more honorable or straightforward person in our business. He also does more to serve our guild’s interest on any given day than most of us his critics will do in a career. Give it a rest. There are real battles that need our full attention now.
Comment by Scott Kaufer — December 4, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
How many shows did you finish before you came to this honorable conclusion? All that were scripted maybe?
Thanks. Really. Thanks.
Comment by DA in LA — December 4, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
As a writer who does not have a huge hit show on the air, or even a luke-warm show on the bubble, but who does have a pilot script I might be asked to perform “producing duties” on, I am grateful that Carlton Cuse issued this statement. I am not personally comfortable performing any work for a struck company while I’m on strike, and I did not look forward to my agent, lawyer, studio and network all saying, “But Carlton Cuse did it. He’s quoted in the paper saying it’s okay.” While I’ll stand by my beliefs no matter what anyone else does, having high profile members like Mr. Cuse say that performing producing duties is a matter of personal choice left me hanging out there on my own as the “difficult” writer taking an unreasonable stand. This is what solidarity is all about - not letting the companies single us out and pit us against each other. Don’t we all deal with this same problem on the issue of free rewrites? If a few writers do them, we all have to do them (at least those of us who are not so high-profile that we’ll work no matter what.) Carlton Cuse owed the membership an explanation of where he stands, and the letter he wrote helps many of us maintain our own strong stand as the strike continues. It is not too little, too late for me. I thank him for his letter.
Comment by Not Carlton Cuse — December 4, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
I’m glad that Mr. Cuse completed his NON-writing duties. This was, in my opinion, the best choice for all involved - fans, LOST employees/staff, etc. If the strike is, God forbid, still unresolved in Feb/08, then an exceptional performance by LOST might remind the networks and fans of what they are missing. I totally support the writers and believe their goals/terms are quite reasonable. Inside LOST joke: hopefully the moguls will be soon be saying “We’ve got to go back!” (to settle the strike).
Comment by LostFan108 — December 4, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
If he was 100% on board, why does he need to write a special letter saying so… It’s obvious he wasn’t fully supporting the strike before. This stinks…
Comment by dante writer — December 4, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
James,
If ratings are not what they’re expected to be then future concessions are made (if not sooner than later).
If content quality is not maintained then future airings will have less viewers meaning more concessions.
The suggestion that the networks are only out for money vs. the writers who are only out to expess themselves through their work is beyond simple.
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Give the guy a rest.
His decision was certainly tough but testifies of a willingness to give good episodes to watch. As far as I can see, Cuse did not violate the rules of the strike, and just did some post-prod work on the episodes that were already shot. No writing involved. I don’t see what’s so shocking in that. Actually, I don’t understand why some are so harsh. It’s not like he actually wrote scripts! To me it looks like he just wanted to give good episodes to the fans.
I guess he must have been pretty pissed by those who accused him of being a traitor and he decided to set the record straight by email. I understand this move can be seen as awkward, but it’s still better than radio silence.
So, really, shame on him for respecting his always demanding fans. ^^
Comment by Caroline — December 4, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
I have a show I walked off of when the strike began, because I believed that the harder the strike hit, the shorter it would be. I have worried about that show every day since the strike began, but I have not done a single bit of work on it as a writer or a producer. Of course I understand Cuse’s concern for his show. Every showrunner with a show in production feels/felt the same way. HOWEVER, the thing I don’t understand is how, as a member of the small committee of negotiators who voted unanimously to endorse the strike, Cuse can continue working, GETTING PAID, while the members of his Guild are completely unemployed based on HIS RECOMMENDATION. What’s that all about?
Comment by rellow showrunner — December 4, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
“Every showrunner I know, whether producing or not producing…” seems to imply that Cuse has company — that the amount of showrunners who are or aren’t producing is more or less equal, when in fact, Cuse is one of the only showrunners to do post. The Guild and the showrunners decided the best way to make the strike short was by everyone refusing to do post. And Cuse is on the Negotiating Committee?? Stunning. And everyone who wants to cut him some slack because he did it “for the fans”… well, every showrunner would have loved to have finished their shows for the fans. We don’t love our shows any less. Unfortunately, there was a mandate to put maximum pressure on the Companies. Not everyone agreed with the strategy, but it was unanimous that we had to be unified. “I can no longer in good conscience continue to work on my show in any capacity.” So now that you’re out of shows to post you’re putting it all on the line? Thanks. And how was it getting paid during November? My fellow showrunners and I wouldn’t know — we got letters threatening us with breach instead.
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
The only way Cuse can redeem himself, in my mind, is by donating his salary collected during the strike to the Writer’s Guild Strike Fund. Want to please your “fans”? Fine. But don’t ask the rest of us to give up our salaries and then you collect yours. Give it back to the guild. Period.
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Cuse is a WGA member, and went back to work to perform non-writing duties. Fine.
Carson Daly is a NON-WGA member, and went back to work to perform non-writing duties. And you all crucified him.
I don’t get it. Where are the picketers attempting to block Cuse from working — and perhaps “almost getting hit” by his SUV in the process?
Comment by Greasy — December 4, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
The day that Cuse donates the salary he earned during the strike to the strike fund is the same day you will read “George W. Bush” and “valedictorian” in the same sentence.
Comment by Brisco County, Sr. — December 4, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Do you remember that recorded phone call we all got from Cuse pre-strike? He forget to mention the part where he intended to work during this strike.
Cuse is a duplicitous prick who should be removed from the negotiating committee and be reported to the WGA for breaching our A-H rules.
I don’t know how the guy sleeps at night knowing people who barely carve our a living as writers walked every day while he was working on LOST. And his excuse — to protect the fans of LOST?!? Puh-lease. Every showrunner in hollywood could have said and done the same thing.
This is about integrity. And sorry to tell you, Carlton… but you don’t have any.
Comment by Dave — December 5, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Any showrunners who are on the negotiating committee and who returned to work during the strike - who got paid while the rest of us did not, should at least have the decency to resign from the negotiating committee - or be removed by a vote - or removed by Verone. If our leadership wants this guild to remain unified it can’t throw the rank and file under the bus, while looking the other way as others not only profit from the strike, but aid the very companies we are striking against.
Comment by moderatewriter — December 5, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
I heard that part of what inspired Cuse’s e-mail was the terrific email being forwarded around by Tim Lea — a writer and producer on the Riches, used to be on CSI: NY, etc — that’s all about union negotiation tactics and how last week’s events were part of the usual strategy for union-busting negotiators. At one point in the e-mail, Lea makes reference to management using rumors to reduce morale, and as an example makes mention of “Carlton Cuse has gone back to work! All the showrunners are breaking down!” as an example of panic. I think Lea’s mention of Cuse as the textbook example must not have sat well when this no doubt was forwarded to Cuse four thousand times — no one wants to be the poster child for showrunners crossing the line.
Comment by Anonymous — December 6, 2007 @ 8:58 am
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Carlton a long time.
If I were a member of the guild, I would certainly want him representing me in the negotiation process, irrespective of the post production issue.
Reading through the posts here, I’m left with the feeling that negotiating is what hard-liners don’t want — indeed, they would rather inflict pain on the production companies causing them to capitulate. There’s palpable anger in the comments above.
Taking such a firm position will only result in the company’s taking an equally firm position. If a long strike is what you want, then that’s what you’re going to get. Each side will further commit themselves to their positions, and the negotiation process will be dramatically prolonged (google “positional bargaining”).
Both sides stand to loose too much — television viewership could be irreparably harmed if no solution is quickly found. Consumers will simply go elsewhere — they have more choices now.
Most of this dispute, as I understand it, surrounds Internet as content delivery system. Writers are quite rightly looking for an equitable royalty arrangement. Seems reasonable enough, however, accounting is not. For example, how do you properly account for a udp multicast stream when you have no knowledge of downstream routers? Difficult if not impossible to do. Unicast is too bandwidth hungry and irrational. Consumers hate DRM (and it is technically unfeasible). And of course, once a stream has been transmitted (no matter how), it can be captured and posted to the net within minutes.
So where’s the solution? From my perspective, it’s going to very, very difficult to find. The parties to this dispute are trying to solve incredibly complex issues, more complex than they realize. Any decisions reached here will have worldwide impact.
The real issue is that the revenue model — just look at the music industry to know what your destiny is. Each side stands the risk of loosing a lot, so it’s advisable to get back to the table and work it out now.
With Carlton’s character, values, and intelligence, he is an important member of the team. I’d want him on my side, that’s for sure.
Comment by sven — December 7, 2007 @ 8:39 am