Comments on: More Sources Say More WGA Progress

By: John A

John A — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:51:30 +0000

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

By: TonyC

TonyC — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:53:55 +0000

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

By: cindy

cindy — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:16:01 +0000

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.

By: Abandoned and Disappointed

Abandoned and Disappointed — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:39:17 +0000

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.

By: Jared Wynn

Jared Wynn — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:29:15 +0000

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

By: aitchee

aitchee — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:34:29 +0000

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.’”

By: samwrigt23

samwrigt23 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:20:48 +0000

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

By: cindy

cindy — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:50:47 +0000

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.

By: David G.

David G. — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:55:42 +0000

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.

By: Micha

Micha — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:41:20 +0000

Keep my fingers crossed

By: Lackland

Lackland — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:26:38 +0000

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.

By: director222

director222 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:04:23 +0000

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.

By: victoria

victoria — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:45:50 +0000

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

By: Zack Stratis

Zack Stratis — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:37:20 +0000

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.

By: DGA Supporter

DGA Supporter — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:45:53 +0000

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.