More Sources Say More WGA Progress

"Things are looking very good," I'm told.

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36 Comments »

  1. Details, please.

    Comment by writer — January 29, 2008 @ 2:03 pm

  2. Nikki, can you possibly clarify if this an AMPTP source…or a WGA source?

    There are strategic reasons the AMPTP might want to leak rumors of progress to put pressure on the WGA and get the hopes of the membership up that a fair deal is possible. This is what they did before. “A deal is in place”, remember?

    I don’t see any reason why a WGA source would give false hope.

    If you can, please let us know which side your source is from.

    Comment by Jimmy — January 29, 2008 @ 2:05 pm

  3. I hope these negotiations aren’t just a ploy by the AMPTP to get a waiver for the Oscars.

    The WGA should hold the cancellation above Oscar like the Sword of Damocles until a solid deal is signed, sealed, and delivered.

    Comment by Furious D — January 29, 2008 @ 2:05 pm

  4. We’ll see. Be patient. Avoid rumors. Stay strong.

    Comment by reelbusy — January 29, 2008 @ 2:19 pm

  5. yipee! Well on that news I’m going back to work!

    Comment by ted striker — January 29, 2008 @ 2:21 pm

  6. I appreciate the simple update Nikki. We can find out all the details after it is over, but at least we can have hope for now.

    Comment by Jordan — January 29, 2008 @ 2:23 pm

  7. I hope you’re right. My heart wants more info than that but my mind says, no. I’ve always thought optimism is better than pessimism. Worst case scenario is that my hopes are dashed and I lose the house anyway but at least I had that moment of hope. I vote for hope.

    Comment by freelance worker bee — January 29, 2008 @ 2:25 pm

  8. “More Sources Say More WGA Progress.”

    Are those AMPTP sources, WGA sources, or both?

    Comment by WriterBob — January 29, 2008 @ 2:33 pm

  9. Maybe the AMPTP has figured out that nobody goes to the movies or watches television to see a list of producer credits. Maybe somebody tipped them that it’s a compelling story and interesting performances that audiences want to see. Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

    Comment by Working Actor Who's not Working — January 29, 2008 @ 2:34 pm

  10. patience, persistence in pressing the AMPTP, and perseverance.

    Comment by mheister — January 29, 2008 @ 2:57 pm

  11. by whom are you told that? it’s a pretty vague substantiation to a very bold statement.

    Comment by curious — January 29, 2008 @ 2:58 pm

  12. again??? what does this mean?? more sources?? when do these sources say they expect a deal to be done??

    Comment by belowthelineguy — January 29, 2008 @ 3:01 pm

  13. Good to hear

    Comment by Big Ed — January 29, 2008 @ 3:10 pm

  14. About time everyone started being more reasonable. This strike makes no sense anymore. At all. And those who are paying the price are the poor people who work in crews and need their jobs to maintain their families. With the general economic situation there is, and serious risks of recession, I think people should be a little more responsible and suck it up and find an agreement already.

    Comment by Anonymous — January 29, 2008 @ 3:21 pm

  15. Nikki, just a suggestion, when you source a quote anonymously, why not (like most major news organizations) at least say which side of the issue the source is from? I’d love to know if the person saying “things are looking very good” is a WGA or AMPTP rep, and I’m sure other readers would as well.

    Comment by Mike — January 29, 2008 @ 3:23 pm

  16. *gasp* Positive news? Quick, hide it before people tear it down!

    Comment by BD — January 29, 2008 @ 3:26 pm

  17. In the immortal words of George W. Bush:

    “There’s an old saying in Tennessee. I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee, that says, ‘Fool me once… um… shame on… um… shame on you… If fooled, you can’t get fooled again.’”

    Comment by George Glass — January 29, 2008 @ 3:53 pm

  18. Short and sweet. Hope it’s true. Good luck, WGA.

    Comment by Caitlin — January 29, 2008 @ 5:00 pm

  19. Hey there
    this is good news but i wouldn’t be surprised if the talks break up, yet again.

    It has happened before and i wouldnt be surprised, however, i have a theory on what is happening and if the talkS dont end up in a deal….
    just remember
    I TOLD YOU SO!

    Comment by Saleem — January 29, 2008 @ 5:14 pm

  20. “In a reminder that SAG’s upcoming negotiations with the majors are likely to be contentious and complicated, SAG president Alan Rosenberg and SAG national exec director Doug Allen have told SAG members that he’s not particularly impressed with the DGA’s tentative deal with the AMPTP.

    Rosenberg and Allen echoed previous prounouncements that the DGA deal would not automatically be the model for a new SAG deal. That’s also what

    WGA

    leaders were saying before they launched informal contract talks with moguls a week ago.”

    This pretty much echoes what I and other Writers have said from the start here.

    That any DGA deal would NOT serve as a precedent or a template for pattern bargaining, it will only serve as a metric for the deal we must negotiate for ourselves.

    And we got slammed for saying it…

    Well, it hasn’t changed.

    Phil Alden Robinson has chimed in as well at UH…

    And the SAG letter sent by Alan and Doug to its Members today further details this.

    Stay strong…

    Comment by PJ - Writer — January 29, 2008 @ 5:22 pm

  21. We’ve been told this twice before, and the AMPTP ended up walking out both times at the end. I just hope that it doesn’t end that way this time.

    Comment by Anonymous — January 29, 2008 @ 5:23 pm

  22. REGARDLESS OF REALITY…the AMPTP is going to spread rumors that the strike is almost over.

    DGA is about to vote on their contract!!!

    If the WGA strike seems like it’s going to end soon, then the average DGA voter is going to think, “Well, it’s a crappy contract that has no meaningful jurisdiction on the internet and laughable internet residuals…but the strike is gonna end soon so we should just take it because I want to get back to work.”

    If the strike does NOT look like it’s going to end soon…then there is less of an incentive for a DGA voter to:

    a) vote to accept a crappy contract when they’ll still be out of work anyway

    b) sit on the sidelines while the WGA and SAG negotiate are far better contract

    So, regardless of reality (and I DO hope it’s a good reality), the AMPTP would spread Strike-Is-Gonna-End-Soon rumors anyway. But, hey, maybe they’re negotiating in good faith. But if they weren’t…we’d never know.

    And with their track record…well, I’m not being negative to assume the worst. I’m just being a realist.

    WGA, SAG, and the DGA…we are ALL in this together.

    Comment by DGA Supporter — January 29, 2008 @ 7:45 pm

  23. Dear Nikki, I love your site and have great respect for your work. Therefore I feel compelled to share with you how painful it is to read “things are looking good.” Who is your source? How can we trust you if you can’t trust us? We don’t know what is really happening. The latest news from SAG is the DGA deal looks bad (see united hollywood today). The WGA has already given up on Animation and Reality - the congloms are pushing us to hurry up for the Oscars. I can tell you the real news: everyone I know on the picket line is in this for the long haul. We haven’t been out there day after day to get swept up in some fantasy win. Please wait till you have hard facts to share.

    Comment by Zack Stratis — January 29, 2008 @ 8:37 pm

  24. You have been strangely quiet Nikke. What’s up? Letter to SAG members from Alan Rosenberg and Doug Allen, and blog from Phil Alden Robinson both on UnitedHollywood.com make me think something is up. Come on, you must know more than you’re telling.

    We count on you Nikke….

    Victoria

    Comment by victoria — January 29, 2008 @ 8:45 pm

  25. I read the DGA deal on streaming as being 3%, with the $1,200 figure being an example. Why doesn’t SAG ask for the deal points?? Since the networks are including the streaming in the price they sell for show advertising, that is what needs to be changed.

    Comment by director222 — January 29, 2008 @ 9:04 pm

  26. But see the letter SAG just sent to the membership. Isn’t it time for the DGA to show the town more than a press release if it really has a deal? It’s getting pretty peculiar - a huge publicity push to get the WGA to buy the DGA deal… and now there doesn’t even seem to be a proper deal memo behind the hype.

    Comment by Lackland — January 29, 2008 @ 9:26 pm

  27. Keep my fingers crossed

    Comment by Micha — January 29, 2008 @ 9:41 pm

  28. Interesting… But I hear increased contention is cropping up and that could muddy the waters… The tipping scales haven’t been reached yet. There’s still more work on two issues… So we’ll see. Hope you’re right and my connection is wrong… D.G. WGA.

    Comment by David G. — January 30, 2008 @ 4:55 am

  29. Nikki,
    Normally I am very pleased and feel well informed by your reporting. Unfortunately, to report that you’ve heard ‘Things are looking very good” is completely irresponsible. Especially considering that we (WGA) have been in this position before. It raises expectations and basically just starts rumors. If you can’t report with accuracey or name your source then I suggest you wait until you can. Otherwise you do more damage than good.

    Comment by cindy — January 30, 2008 @ 8:50 am

  30. I was wondering why some sites say that they are “close to a deal” when formal talks haven’t even started yet?

    Comment by samwrigt23 — January 30, 2008 @ 10:20 am

  31. Nothing will look good until everyone is back at work. Hope your source is actually at the negotiating table, because if not s/he knows nothing. Besides if the WGA waits for membership ratification, not only will pilot season be lost but the upfronts (good riddance) too.

    In the meantime, I don’t see this anywhere on your blog and think people should be aware of the DGA’s response to the endless internecine conflict now also being perpetuated by SAG vis a vis the WGA negotiations.

    From last night (Jan 29): “The following statement was released to the press tonight from DGA President Michael Apted:

    ‘In their letter to the SAG membership, SAG’s President and Executive Director say too little is known about the DGA/AMPTP deal for anyone to “assume” anything about it. Then why do they need to send any letter to their members? They are not in negotiations and have not scheduled any.
    Their letter has one purpose and one purpose only: to interfere with the informal talks currently underway between the WGA and the studios. Simply put, their assumptions and arguments are specious. The DGA deal is a great deal for our members.’”

    Comment by aitchee — January 30, 2008 @ 11:34 am

  32. Hi Nikke,

    Hope you get well soon. Your fans really do care. I talk to people every day who reference your blog, and if anyone asks me for news or updates on the strike, I send them here.

    –Jared

    Comment by Jared Wynn — January 30, 2008 @ 12:29 pm

  33. Nikki - your daily in-depth writing on the strike has almost completely disappeared since your return from rest/vacation.

    Have you gone on strike? Have you been paid off by the studios? What happened to all the fantastic inside stories? The facts no one else is reporting? You may be back, but your incredible Writers Strike reporting seems to still be, sadly, on strike!!!

    Writers are depending on you! Your column has started to look no different than the LA Times, Variety and The HR when it comes to strike coverage. I can read about Berg or Peli-jerko anywhere.

    Comment by Abandoned and Disappointed — January 30, 2008 @ 4:39 pm

  34. It is irresponsible of you to write things like “Things are looking very good,” I’m told. Especially considering that we have been in this position before. All you’re doing is raising expectations and adding to the rumor mill. If you can’t name a reliable source or elaborate on your headline, you are doing more harm than good.

    Comment by cindy — January 31, 2008 @ 9:16 am

  35. Don’t get excited about this. We’ve been down this primrose path before…

    Comment by TonyC — January 31, 2008 @ 1:53 pm

  36. Any news yet? I’m hearing all sorts of rumors, but no news! Somebody? Anybody?

    Comment by John A — February 1, 2008 @ 8:51 am

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