So now the producers don't want to be associated with the Alliance Of Motion Picture & Television Producers. Let me explain... Since the start of the contract talks with the Writers Guild Of America, AMPTP has referred to itself as "producers". Its website claims it reps "350 motion picture and television producers (member companies include studios, broadcast networks, certain cable networks and independent producers)." But the organization has yet to tell me how many of those 350 come under the umbrella of the Big Media corporations like News Corp, Time Warner, GE, Viacom, Sony, MGM, Time Warner. Well, today, I received this email from the Producers Guild Of America (PGA) attempting to distance itself from the AMPTP:
"First, allow me to say how we appreciate your 'front lines' coverage of the WGA strike. You have a unique perspective on this ongoing drama, and we thank you for sharing it. However, on behalf of the Producers Guild, I must take issue with one of your editorial choices. Not infrequently, you write of the WGA as being in negotiations with the “producers.” As you and I both know, producers are independent entrepreneurs or (in the case of line producers and other members of the producing team) crew members whose job is to get their projects made and distributed.
Definitively, the writers are neither negotiating with nor striking the producers. The WGA’s battle is with the studios and networks—the Alliance—not with producers. It’s true, the last 'P' in AMPTP stands for 'producers'. But that designation is a vestige of a time long past, when producers and studios were effectively synonymous.
Today, producers are just like any other group of workers in this town: trying their hardest to land their next job and realize their creative and professional goals. As you have noted yourself in your writing on the strike, this struggle has been fraught with misinformation and obfuscation. I urge you, please don’t add to that problem by mis-indentifying the very parties at the negotiating table. It’s the writers vs. the studios, and the WGA against the Alliance. Thanks again for your coverage of the strike, and for your attention to our concerns.
Sincerely,
Vance Van Petten, Executive Director of the PGA"
So it's official: From now on, I'll refer to the AMPTP as "The Alliance", or "the owners", or "studios and networks" or perhaps just the umbrella "Big Media"...
Or simply “the studios”. Solid turnout at 6am this morning… and a good time on the Raleigh line.
Comment by BJS — November 12, 2007 @ 11:05 am
The Alliance would probably work too.
Or at least Producers with a big “p”.
But talk about hard working people with no protection and nothing close to residuals in the industry, producers are the victims of Big Media’s greed even more than writers.
Comment by Jimmy — November 12, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Big Media
Greedy Writers
Pontius Producers
Comment by Bouncing Castle — November 12, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Thank you for printing Vince Van Petten’s letter. As an independent producer who– as is the case with most of us– doesn’t see any money until a movie gets greenlit, this strike is painful and costly to everyone making a living in the film business: caterers, producers, assistants, writers, studios. “Producers” are partners with Writers by trade, and have to make our deals with the same “Big Media” they do– and at the same time we are grateful when we actually convince the studios to finance our films and let’s face it, all of our dreams.
The WGA and the AMPTP have a marriage that does not allow for divorce, EVER. This has to be worked out sooner or later and it should have never been allowed to get as acrimonious as it has. Along with most of my producer associates, I support the WGA seeking fair compensation, absolutely. And we also realize that the studios are the entities that take the financial risks before they can see the upside. But for everyone’s sake, PLEASE– WGA and AMPTP just get back to the negotiating table already! It’s irresponsible and arrogant to let this go on longer than it has to.
Comment by getnegotiatingalready — November 12, 2007 @ 11:25 am
The PGA letter sounds right to me. I’ve worked as a WGAE writer, and as an independent director and producer, and I’ve had to fight for payment in every capacity.
Comment by WGAE member — November 12, 2007 @ 11:25 am
Keep calling them Producers, Nikki!… AMPT-Producers. So now we have to be PC about the strike? Are you kidding me?!! What is missing from Mr. Van Patten’s weak, groveling, pity-us letter is he forgot to take a stand. Oops. D’Oh. Typical producer. Waffle, waffle, waffle. Play both sides - keep everybody happy so I can pocket my cash. So, where DOES the PGA stand? Are you guys for the writers, the ones that allow you to “realize your creative” goals? OR are you siding with the people you grovel to on a daily basis… the AMPT-Producers. Until the PGA throws their STRONG support behind the WGA, then we can and will call them whatever we want…
PGA. Whose side are you on?!
Comment by dante writer — November 12, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Fair enough.
Do you think the Big Media companies are noticing, yet?
That they are being stepped away from, by everyone?
That even those with a tenuous link to their name, want it clear where the real lines are drawn?
I had to explain to a layman (someone totally non-industry) what this was about, and the issue of exec compensation came up. They asked if these execs we’re worth what they’re paid.
I said that in a lot of cases, they really WERE. But it’s the overall judgment of the companies we’re questioning, when they don’t want to pay us fractionally MORE for work that is well-done and successful, but could justify giving a nine-figure platinum parachute to someone like Ovitz, for less than two years of being bad at his job.
Comment by James — November 12, 2007 @ 11:36 am
How about “The Alliance”? It’s got a nice, evil and ominous ring to it.
Comment by RSF — November 12, 2007 @ 11:53 am
Vance is absolutely right. We WGA-ers on the picket line realize the distinction, but it’s confusing the public. This is a strike against the media cartel. It’s a strike against the corporate chieftains who claim they can’t afford to pay residuals, but then bilk their shareholders by paying themselves obscene annual salaries (like Peter Chernin’s $62.5 million last year.)
Producers should get organized. The PGA deserves health, pension and residuals just as much as we in the WGA do.
Comment by Striking Writer — November 12, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Off subject, but has Vance Van Petten ever met Vince Van Patten?
Comment by anotherWGAmember — November 12, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
“Alliance” works just as well. Has kind of “Empire” or “Axis” feel to it.
Comment by Hammer God — November 12, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
More appropriate names are “The Empire”, “The Dark Side” and “The Sith”.
Long live the Rebellion!
Comment by Fussy Protocol Droid — November 12, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Wow…this letter is the PGA’s contribution to the debate and its resolution?
Thank you Vance for proving the PGA’s continued irrelevance.
Comment by Ken — November 12, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Lets remember who owns the rights (copy rights) ? Writers , if the WGA was a real collective that protected the value of it’s content this would not be a strike . The WGA is being sued for it’s inability to release funds from already earned content . Fuck this all or nothing strike , Redstone knows writers are the the real value he said it, so did Rubert and Less Moon said it like he was new to the business. Pay or play
? If they can create without creative pros than let them and don’t budge? if you need to pay the bills as a writer and sell out for less than the basic fair market value than you are never going to be much more than a pawn . The content is the only thing you control so pretend it’s pussy and don’t give it up . I only want to help but you act like a a whore and that’ s what you get treated like . Please let any exec write and rewrite for a week and see how much they need the thing you can’t fake , TALENT. I am someone who has no respect for the WGA the way it is set up but I love talent and I know you have to pay for quality , so don’t give more than they offer. I will expand when it’s time but I know what the numbers are and the game is based on fear and weakness so if you bow to the powers that hire you it means you bend over for the talent you claim to have . Don’t be a whore if you don’t get a decent Pimp.
Nobody that cares about the little shit.
Comment by Lwis — November 13, 2007 @ 2:46 am
I personally think that they should be referred to as:
Studios of Corporate American Broadcasting Syndicate
Or S.C.A.B.S for short.
Comment by Hugo Fuchs — November 20, 2007 @ 7:37 am