So now Harvey Weinstein will be in the same enviable position as United Artists executive VP of production Jeff Kleeman who I'm told has scripts "pouring" into his office after UA just competed its side deal. As Harvey told me just now, "I did it because it gives me a competitive edge." I reported last Sunday that The Weinstein Co was negotiating a side deal with the striking Writers Guild similar to the one that UA made. Today Harvey Weinstein confirmed that he would formally announce an agreement as soon as tomorrow. (See my previous, Rumors Upon Rumors Of WGA Side Deals.)
Harvey right now is in Los Angeles doing a media blitz via back-to-back breakfasts with the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times and other reporters. Sure the Big Media CEOs are saying he needs to do a WGA side deal to shore up his financially struggling production company. But Harvey tells me, "We are currently a making a shitload of money. All our movies are making money off their videos and DVDs. My flights of fancy are turning out to be oil gushers."
Still, it's hilariously ironic about Weinstein, who's made screenwriters' lives miserable throughout his career with his iron-fisted management style, now befriending the striking scribes. Weinstein told me he's working with the WGA to "try and be a good citizen" because every crack in the producers' armor can be considered a victory for the WGA and a defeat for the Big media companies who refuse to meet with the WGA negotiators. "This is not the right thing."
Meanwhile, Harvey told the reporters that one project that will immediately benefit from the independent deal is Nine, a planned film from Chicago director Rob Marshall, while Anthony Minghella, who has worked with Weinstein on The English Patient and Cold Mountain, is expected to begin working on revisions of a script written by Michael Tolkin.
Aw, let up a bit. It may not be noble and he might not really be a man for the little guy, but it’s still a point for our side. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Comment by Caitlin — January 10, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
ANd then there were 2. the floodgate will open sopon, so god bless Harvey.
Comment by Tod — January 10, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
No fan of Harvey’s - I love that you called it both ways Nikki. Thanks for making me laugh, I love it.
Comment by Troy — January 10, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
Nikki — come on… Now you’re dissing companies that side with the writers? Hero or not, the Weinsteins are doing the right thing!
Let’s keep the interims rolling!
Comment by Way to go! — January 10, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
If Harvey Weinstein is doing what the WGA wants, why antagonize him? Let him crow a little. (Otherwise, that’s just another disincentive for producers to break with the AMPTP — knowing that they’ll be ridiculed and called weaklings by people who claim to be on the WGA’s side.)
Comment by Stuart Creque — January 10, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Comment by Seth Striker — January 10, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
Said it before, and I’ll say it again: manna from heaven.
Every studio that negotiates is more momentum and leverage for the writers.
Comment by D.B. — January 10, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
Hey, listen, let him brag (and if the DGA makes an acceptable deal, let them call it “A Contract By…”). If it means an end to the strike and a fair contract, anyone can say anything he wants!
Comment by another hyphenate — January 10, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
I disagree that the interim agreements are a crack in the Producers armor.
The side deals, to me, are a crack in the solidarity of the WGA, if the Guild wanted to continue this reign of terror they’d not do side deals and let more people be laid off.
Comment by tired of the strike — January 10, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Well, Harvey does have a competitve advantage. He’ll be making deals when his Competitors can’t. If I’m not mistaken (and someone correct me) TWC will be the second Company to provide Product for MGM to distribute, the other obviously is UA. So, in effect, MGM is now firing on 2 cylinders while other Studios are idling.
I wouldn’t call it a chink in the AMPTP armor quite yet, but it seems Harry will be giving his blessing to this deal as well, and that now allows MGM to not only provide a revenue stream for themselves but also it does so under a WGA MBA Agreement. Whatever the final deal is with AMPTP, to me it seems MGM is now closer to operating as a WGA MBA Studio Entity.
Will there be more Production Companies who distribute product through MGM making interim deals with WGA? Who knows, but it seems their door is open.
And maybe Sony, a more moderate company, may jump in the pool with WGA, maybe not. It is really up to their Overseas Honchos as they will make that call. After all, they run the Parent company, not guns for hire here as some have claimed.
Time will tell, one thing for sure, WGA members are sticking together and every day that passes more and more data about New Media Revenues is spilling in. For example NBC said today it will generate 1 Billion, with a B, in revenues from New Media in 2008, and that kind of announcement keeps us United even more.
Comment by PJ - Writer — January 10, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
These side deals are great. Whoever has made a side deal is going to get the cream of the crop scripts to choose from and wipe it up at the box office and other media. The other studios can sit around and piss off their shareholders while UA and Weinstein start making great product and leaving the rest in the dust. I am not for the WGA or the AMPTP….I just work under the line and want to keep my house and keep my children fed. I just hope that this forces the others to see that they had better make a deal or they will lose in the long run…..we will all lose in the long run…hell I might even move to New Zealand to work.
Rob W
Comment by Rob Williams — January 10, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
Harvey I love you! What all writers need from time to time is some tough love but in your heart of heart you only want to make great pictures. Bob the Monster man too. Keep being tough on writers and directors and sorry about Keenan Ivory Wayans he can be a bit gruff at times but he really does bite - kinda like you. Give him another chance. I don’t like Keenan at all for personal seasons, but he can make more good comedies for you as he did with Scary Movie. (245 million dollars
CJ
Comment by Black writer with forgiveness in his heart — January 10, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
I don’t know how good or bad the Weinsteins are, but I’m happy to see that it’s not just the writers and actors wanting to get back to work. The Weinsteins got a raw deal when they had their parents company (Miramax) ripped from under them in their “devorce” from Disney. Besides the fact that they are putting people back to work, I like seeing the Weinsteins giving a good jab back at the big guys. Rock on Harvey.
Steve
Comment by Steve — January 11, 2008 @ 11:05 am
Harvey is my hero! He’s no saint for sure, but at least he actually cares about film. He also actually has relationships with creative talent in Hollywood, unlike some of these corporate heads who couldn’t care less if they burn the whole town to the ground. And there’s nothing wrong with making a decision that’s the right thing to do just because it happens to also help your company make money. That’s what these other studios should be worried about– it seems they’re making decisions that aren’t even in their best financial interests.
Comment by Camrobed — January 11, 2008 @ 1:18 pm