Comments on: The Line To Break Mogul Ranks Is Here... http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/ Fri, 16 May 2008 03:29:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: InsideMan http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-16815 InsideMan Sun, 16 Dec 2007 06:54:14 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-16815 Trying to negotiate with Counter is a waste of time. He does not have the power to make a deal, all he can do is say no. It's time to get Dr. No out of the room and let the CEOs do the bargaining. Trying to negotiate with Counter is a waste of time. He does not have the power to make a deal, all he can do is say no. It’s time to get Dr. No out of the room and let the CEOs do the bargaining.

]]> By: Sherilyn http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13544 Sherilyn Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:17:17 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13544 >>And what’s wrong with ML funneling money to MGM. All the major funders are funding all the major studios. Am I missing something here?<< Nothing wrong with it per se. But it does show who's got whose hands in whose pockets. Wall Street is just as corrupt and riddled with liars and scumbags as Hollywood. Hollywood tells the creatives and the press that they're losing money left and right (boo hoo) while telling Wall Street that they're making mucho bucks (yay). You don't think Wall Street knows what's going on and is happily going along with this? So expecting Wall Street to come riding in and saving the day ain't gonna happen. Wall Street makes money off the studios. Hello! >>And what’s wrong with ML funneling money to MGM. All the major funders are funding all the major studios. Am I missing something here?<<

Nothing wrong with it per se. But it does show who’s got whose hands in whose pockets.

Wall Street is just as corrupt and riddled with liars and scumbags as Hollywood.

Hollywood tells the creatives and the press that they’re losing money left and right (boo hoo) while telling Wall Street that they’re making mucho bucks (yay).

You don’t think Wall Street knows what’s going on and is happily going along with this?

So expecting Wall Street to come riding in and saving the day ain’t gonna happen.

Wall Street makes money off the studios. Hello!

]]> By: Klaatu http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13502 Klaatu Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:41:00 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13502 The WGA is a labor union. It's just called a "guild" because we like fancy words. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters are not actually brothers. They, too, are a union. Sorry, "Anonymous," but not all good speeches include the ol' "Webster's Dictionary defines __________ as...". The WGA is a labor union. It’s just called a “guild” because we like fancy words.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters are not actually brothers. They, too, are a union.

Sorry, “Anonymous,” but not all good speeches include the ol’ “Webster’s Dictionary defines __________ as…”.

]]> By: Propagandist http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13497 Propagandist Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:34:29 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13497 I get a kick out of watching all my fellow writers despair that the AMPTP "has more money than the writers and can hold out forever" and whining that "the AMPTP are professional negotiators, we're just mere writers" and on and on. Think about this, though: if Sumner Redstone is such a genius, why did he overpay for Blockbuster Video in the days when anyone could clearly see the slump it was heading for? He lost $2 Billion or so on that deal. Some "negotiating wizard" he is. Look at the lame deal he allowed Paramount to strike with Tom Cruise: Cruise put up NONE of the money to make films like Mission Impossible III, yet received, in essence, 1/3 of the first dollar grosses. How is THAT the sign of an omnipotent media overlord negotiator? Piss-poor deals like this can be found all through the Hollywood system. Time-Warner allowing itself to be swallowed by stock-bubble-monster AOL? Har. How many billions in shareholder value did that deal disintegrate? Sony pictures hiring Guber/Peters to run their studio into the ground? The examples go on and on and on. Even today... David Geffen has been quoted in the trades as saying he left $1 Billion on the table when he sold Dreamworks Pictures to Paramount. A BILLION DOLLARS!? Remember, Geffen is widely considered the best negotiator in the business. So let's stop all this sobbing and self-deprecating about how poorly we lowly writers negotiate, shall we? Our opponents have proven themselves utterly retarded time and time again... there's no reason to fear any of them. I mean, look at NBC -- they're about to repeat ABC's colossal blunder of running nothing but "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" 5 nights a week. Does anyone really think "American Gladiators" will be one tenth as successful as "The Office"? If so, you're in the wrong business. Calm down, writers. No union has EVER had more money than the Owners... and yet unions have been successful for a very long time in squeezing Management. Stand strong, keep picketing, and we'll see an end to this strike come February at the latest. I get a kick out of watching all my fellow writers despair that the AMPTP “has more money than the writers and can hold out forever” and whining that “the AMPTP are professional negotiators, we’re just mere writers” and on and on. Think about this, though: if Sumner Redstone is such a genius, why did he overpay for Blockbuster Video in the days when anyone could clearly see the slump it was heading for? He lost $2 Billion or so on that deal. Some “negotiating wizard” he is. Look at the lame deal he allowed Paramount to strike with Tom Cruise: Cruise put up NONE of the money to make films like Mission Impossible III, yet received, in essence, 1/3 of the first dollar grosses. How is THAT the sign of an omnipotent media overlord negotiator?

Piss-poor deals like this can be found all through the Hollywood system. Time-Warner allowing itself to be swallowed by stock-bubble-monster AOL? Har. How many billions in shareholder value did that deal disintegrate? Sony pictures hiring Guber/Peters to run their studio into the ground? The examples go on and on and on. Even today… David Geffen has been quoted in the trades as saying he left $1 Billion on the table when he sold Dreamworks Pictures to Paramount. A BILLION DOLLARS!? Remember, Geffen is widely considered the best negotiator in the business. So let’s stop all this sobbing and self-deprecating about how poorly we lowly writers negotiate, shall we? Our opponents have proven themselves utterly retarded time and time again… there’s no reason to fear any of them. I mean, look at NBC — they’re about to repeat ABC’s colossal blunder of running nothing but “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” 5 nights a week. Does anyone really think “American Gladiators” will be one tenth as successful as “The Office”? If so, you’re in the wrong business.

Calm down, writers. No union has EVER had more money than the Owners… and yet unions have been successful for a very long time in squeezing Management. Stand strong, keep picketing, and we’ll see an end to this strike come February at the latest.

]]> By: anonymous producer http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13486 anonymous producer Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:08:50 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13486 .........And what's wrong with ML funneling money to MGM. All the major funders are funding all the major studios. Am I missing something here? ………And what’s wrong with ML funneling money to MGM. All the major funders are funding all the major studios. Am I missing something here?

]]> By: Sherilyn http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13464 Sherilyn Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:20:05 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13464 Jenny, you're under the misguided impression that Wall Street is not as corrupt as Hollywood. Get with it, sister. They're two peas in a pod. Why do you think Merrill Lynch is funneling money to the likes of MGM? Jenny, you’re under the misguided impression that Wall Street is not as corrupt as Hollywood. Get with it, sister. They’re two peas in a pod. Why do you think Merrill Lynch is funneling money to the likes of MGM?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13436 Anonymous Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:35:04 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13436 Has anyone even focused on the difference of a guild and a labor union? A lot of people are being supportive of the WGA because they are big union supporters. Technically a guild is not a union. Guilds and unions have very different reasons for organizing. The WGA, DGA, and SAG just try to make themselves sound like unions when they want the support of unions. Just look up the definitions in a dictionary. Maybe this will open people's eyes. Has anyone even focused on the difference of a guild and a labor union? A lot of people are being supportive of the WGA because they are big union supporters. Technically a guild is not a union. Guilds and unions have very different reasons for organizing. The WGA, DGA, and SAG just try to make themselves sound like unions when they want the support of unions. Just look up the definitions in a dictionary. Maybe this will open people’s eyes.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13432 Jenny Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:15:59 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13432 Question for any corporate/securities lawyers: Why couldn't a shareholder (in Disney, News Corp, etc) sue the directors of the corporations that own these networks and studios for breach of fiduciary duty for failing to negotiate in good faith with the writers and because of that stand to lose hundreds of millions? It would seem like we now have some hard numbers about how much these corporations earned off of internet advertising this past year, they can no longer claim that it's too speculative or too early to negotiate. Plus, now that production has halted on most of the popular shows, the corps. won't even generate internet ad revenue because there's no new content to attract viewers there either. This strike seems like it will cost way more than has been projected simply because the studios refuse to negotiate in good faith. If I owned any stock in these corps, I'd be calling either my lawyer or my broker before it became worthless. Question for any corporate/securities lawyers:

Why couldn’t a shareholder (in Disney, News Corp, etc) sue the directors of the corporations that own these networks and studios for breach of fiduciary duty for failing to negotiate in good faith with the writers and because of that stand to lose hundreds of millions?

It would seem like we now have some hard numbers about how much these corporations earned off of internet advertising this past year, they can no longer claim that it’s too speculative or too early to negotiate.

Plus, now that production has halted on most of the popular shows, the corps. won’t even generate internet ad revenue because there’s no new content to attract viewers there either. This strike seems like it will cost way more than has been projected simply because the studios refuse to negotiate in good faith. If I owned any stock in these corps, I’d be calling either my lawyer or my broker before it became worthless.

]]> By: BLuto http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13423 BLuto Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:27:51 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13423 From the guild strike captain's meeting, $130 million thru 2025. Seriously. I couldn't make that up. From the guild strike captain’s meeting, $130 million thru 2025. Seriously. I couldn’t make that up.

]]> By: Monty Hall http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13421 Monty Hall Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:15:22 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13421 Welcome back to Let's Make A Deal! Our contestant today is Peter "Look How Much He's Earnin'" Chernin. Peter you see before you three doors. Are you excited? Oh Monty I'm very excited! This is thrilling! Which door should I choose? They're all so colorful. I can only imagine what's behind each one! [img]http://www.letsmakeadeal.com/images/85-Doors.jpg[/img] Well we're going to show you right now. Door number one! A NEW CAR! Door number two! A WASHER & DRYER! Door number three! A NEW COLOR TV! Wow! What great prizes! But what about a computer with internet broadband? Can I win one of those too? No you can't win one of those it's 1973 the internet hasn't been invented yet. Which prize do you want? Well I have a color TV at home. Our maid does our laundry. And I have a Rolls Royce so I don't need a 1973 AMC Pacer it's very ugly. I think I'll just wait around for the internet to be invented Monty that's what I really want to win! Welcome back to Let’s Make A Deal! Our contestant today is Peter “Look How Much He’s Earnin’” Chernin. Peter you see before you three doors. Are you excited?

Oh Monty I’m very excited! This is thrilling! Which door should I choose? They’re all so colorful. I can only imagine what’s behind each one!

[img]http://www.letsmakeadeal.com/images/85-Doors.jpg[/img]

Well we’re going to show you right now. Door number one! A NEW CAR! Door number two! A WASHER & DRYER! Door number three! A NEW COLOR TV!

Wow! What great prizes! But what about a computer with internet broadband? Can I win one of those too?

No you can’t win one of those it’s 1973 the internet hasn’t been invented yet. Which prize do you want?

Well I have a color TV at home. Our maid does our laundry. And I have a Rolls Royce so I don’t need a 1973 AMC Pacer it’s very ugly. I think I’ll just wait around for the internet to be invented Monty that’s what I really want to win!

]]> By: another Hyphenate http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13417 another Hyphenate Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:05:58 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13417 KK -- it's $130 million with NO TIME SPECIFIED. At the percentage rate suggested by the AMPTP, that would mean from now until 2017. Great offer, huh? KK — it’s $130 million with NO TIME SPECIFIED. At the percentage rate suggested by the AMPTP, that would mean from now until 2017. Great offer, huh?

]]> By: Wondering http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13416 Wondering Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:04:46 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13416 Question: If a deal is struck with NBC for example and the others decide to wait it out won't you be dividing the union yourself? NBC writers will go back to work and possibly leave the others to walk the picket lines for weeks or months without a deal...... How will the writers who have shows on, for example, CBS( which is being a "hardliner"), feel about walking in circles everyday while the NBC writers go back to work? What if the other studios decide, like the WGA, that this is "about the future of their business" and feel that it is worth throwing away part of this season to get the deal they want for the next 20 plus years. I know this is how the autoworkers operate but ....come on, its not like they put tires on for Ford while pitching a design concept to GM while creating a new type of headlight at home to sell to Toyota. Most have a job and do it for 20 years for the same company. Seems like you would give a new meaning to "Solidarity". Perhaps someone can explain the thoughts behind different contracts? Not in the business but wondering how this will work....... Question:

If a deal is struck with NBC for example and the others decide to wait it out won’t you be dividing the union yourself?

NBC writers will go back to work and possibly leave the others to walk the picket lines for weeks or months without a deal…… How will the writers who have shows on, for example, CBS( which is being a “hardliner”), feel about walking in circles everyday while the NBC writers go back to work?

What if the other studios decide, like the WGA, that this is “about the future of their business” and feel that it is worth throwing away part of this season to get the deal they want for the next 20 plus years.

I know this is how the autoworkers operate but ….come on, its not like they put tires on for Ford while pitching a design concept to GM while creating a new type of headlight at home to sell to Toyota. Most have a job and do it for 20 years for the same company.

Seems like you would give a new meaning to “Solidarity”.

Perhaps someone can explain the thoughts behind different contracts?

Not in the business but wondering how this will work…….

]]> By: Sammy Glick http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13393 Sammy Glick Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:34:13 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13393 Fire Nick Counter! He said he wasn't going to break the media blackout! Stay strong! Waaaaaah! We're all in this together. Fire Nick Counter! He said he wasn’t going to break the media blackout! Stay strong! Waaaaaah!

We’re all in this together.

]]> By: Max http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13389 Max Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:18:51 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13389 Of all the CEOs mentioned in the above post, which has the most seniority in their job? Nick Counter. He's been president of the AMPTP since 1982. Just saying. Of all the CEOs mentioned in the above post, which has the most seniority in their job?

Nick Counter. He’s been president of the AMPTP since 1982.

Just saying.

]]> By: Futurist http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13388 Futurist Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:17:31 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/the-mogul-line-to-break-ranks-forms-here/#comment-13388 Honestly, if the moguls wanted a deal this thing could end tomorrow at almost no cost to them. WGA already blinked on DVD rate, so if they agree to split the difference on where both parties now stand on Internet, I bet the guild would take it. What would this cost the amptp? Pretty much nothing for the next ten years. And ten years from now... well, Sumner's probably dead, Murdoch is, maybe, ten years older, maybe the whole film and tv business is in the toilet like the music business anyway. Most of the people running things now are long gone. You get the point. Honestly, if the moguls wanted a deal this thing could end tomorrow at almost no cost to them. WGA already blinked on DVD rate, so if they agree to split the difference on where both parties now stand on Internet, I bet the guild would take it. What would this cost the amptp? Pretty much nothing for the next ten years. And ten years from now… well, Sumner’s probably dead, Murdoch is, maybe, ten years older, maybe the whole film and tv business is in the toilet like the music business anyway. Most of the people running things now are long gone. You get the point.

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