I am thrilled to give you a report on how today's much-anticipated resumed contract talks went between the writers and the producers. And they went well, according to my sources. "It was very productive, very level-headed, and it seemed as though the producers came ready to bargain," an insider told me tonight. "Reasonableness ruled the day."
In fact, the AMPTP reps for the studios and networks showed up to the first day's negotiating session since the WGA strike began November 5th with what was described to me as "a very comprehensive proposal which laid out to all the entire roadmap to the deal. Over the course of the session, the producers addressed every single issue, and the writers listened and kept getting up to caucus."
According to my sources, both sides spent the session recapping where they'd left off negotiations back on November 4th, which was the last time the WGA and AMPTP faced off. "So they basically went through all the proposals on the table: what they'd already agreed upon, and where they needed to go from here," an insider explained to me. "Tomorrow, they really start advancing the ball forward."
There will continue to be a news blackout on the contract talks, meaning no end-of-day statements by either the AMPTP or WGA, "because no one wants to be the one to derail any progress." (My lips are sealed about the site of the meetings.) Both sides plan more negotiating sessions not just for Tuesday but also for at least Wednesday. "It's anyone's guess where this process goes," said a source. "Today, they spent time on old business. Tomorrow, they handle new business -- and that's where the rubber can really meet the road."
Not again…
How long are we going to have to wait this time for “urgent” news?
Comment by Nicole — November 26, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
This sounds like something positive is coming up. I just hope the writers didn’t back down on their demands.
Comment by mel — November 26, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
It’s not good.
Comment by fred — November 26, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
Nikki,
You have done such a great job covering this strike, I would not trust any other source for an update on today’s talks. When the good news comes, I know I’ll hear it from you first.
Comment by Alfie — November 26, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
THE SUSPENSE!!!
Comment by matt — November 26, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
Nikki! You can’t do “URGENT” and then follow it with “Coming…”
Not fair!!! Not fair!!!
Comment by George Glass — November 26, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Here we go… refresh…refresh…refresh
Comment by Klaatu — November 26, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
I am convinced she does this to us to see how many times we can hit refresh in an hour,LOL
Comment by Bunny — November 26, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
Just tell me it’s about Alicia Keyes!
Comment by Bob Freeze — November 26, 2007 @ 9:38 pm
You’re the only source to be trusted, Nikki! Please hurry!
Comment by e — November 26, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Oh no. Last time she posted one of these URGENT bulletins it was not good news.
Comment by JF — November 26, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Ok, no article to discuss. So let’s discuss Fred’s comment. What do you mean it’s not good? How do you know, Fred?
Comment by DTM — November 26, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
In the meantime, why not post your video from the rally last Tuesday…I\’m in it if you used me. Or did I miss it somehow?
Comment by Chuck P. — November 26, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
I’ll bet they argued over pen colors for most of the day and then ended up at an impasse.
Comment by Rory L. Aronsky — November 26, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
Hey, now that’s great news! This is how it should have been from the start, but I know it takes some time for ego to get out of the way first.
Good. Good. And let’s hope fairness rules the negotiations throughout.
Comment by Rory L. Aronsky — November 26, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
This is good news, indeed.
Comment by Susan Kitchens — November 26, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Nikki, though I am DYING to know what it is that you know… I cannot help but wonder (and worry) whether it is in the best interest of the finally resumed strike negotiations that we hear the inside scoop. Especially when such a big deal has been made about there not being any leaks to the press, I just hope that no silk boxers get into a bunch over this scoop.
Aside from that… thanks for keeping us so well informed!
Comment by Nrv Us Nelly — November 26, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Doesn’t sound very ungood to me! This echoes things I’ve heard from my own “inside sources.” Let’s hope “reasonableness” (reasonability? a tendency toward being reasonable? whatever…) continues to rule the day. Nay, the week!
Comment by Kip Russell — November 26, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
So basically they’re back to the orignal line of scrimmage, and now they have to start advancing the ball..I just hope they’re more successful than the Steelers and the Dolphins were tonight…
Comment by DW — November 26, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Interesting…
Comment by Interesting — November 26, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
So… Fred, just casual doom-mongering, huh?
Back in the land of reality, great news about people coming to the table ready to talk! I have great hopes that between the moderate studio folks and the writers keeping up the pressure, they can bring this puppy home before Christmas.
Nikki, keep up the great work. I know you know that you’re the only voice giving it to us straight. It’s much appreciated!
Comment by woot — November 26, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
Wait a second. If this settles, am I no longer going to be able to blame other people for the failure of my career? Shit!
Comment by Sammy Glick — November 26, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
Variety says: “Before talks broke off on Nov. 4, the AMPTP conceded it would pay writers for use of streaming video but only after a 45-day window for promotional use — prompting subsequent ridicule by guild leaders, who said the promo window should be only three days long.”
More Variety nonsense?? Why would WGA agree to 3-day free window? Makes no sense, right?
Comment by Anon writer — November 26, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
Sammy, there’s ALWAYS someone else to blame. Your ex-wife. Your drycleaner. That squinchy old dude behind the counter at the liquor store where you buy your single-malt and your lottery tickets…
Comment by Kip Russell — November 26, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
I am glad both sides are being cordial. But I am wary of any comprehensive proposal laid out entirely by the Big Media side. WGA leaders, please be vigilant for the loopholes in their plans. Please take your time in evaluating their proposals. I think the corporations probably spent the last ten days (leading up to these talks) looking for new and fresh ways to dick the creatives over.
Never forget: these are the same people who have screwed writers over in countless different positions in the past.
Comment by Speechless — November 26, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
“There will continue to be a news blackout on the contract talks, meaning no end-of-day statements by either the AMPTP or WGA, “because no one wants to be the one to derail any progress,” and to that end my lips are sealed about the site of the meetings.’
Would you call what these posts are “leaks” or sort of sanctioned news? Would suck if DLH derails anything over a scoop.
Comment by reakworldperson — November 26, 2007 @ 10:46 pm
Baby steps…
But in the right direction.
Come to poppa… bring it home…
pb
Comment by pb — November 26, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
I will vote against any offer that includes any sort of so-called promotional window. I don’t care if it’s six weeks or three days, a “promotion” window is really just a “PURE PROFIT” window for the conglomerates.
The rule should be fair and consistent: If the studio/network is paid, all the guilds should be paid.
Big Media paid = WGA, DGA, SAG, IATSE paid.
Comment by JS — November 26, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
Wait! It can’t be anywhere near resolved yet — I have another clever video to put up on YouTube!
Comment by concerned — November 26, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
The sooner this gets resolved, the sooner I can go back to being an out of work sitcom writer.
Comment by One Time Sitcom Writer — November 26, 2007 @ 11:42 pm
My big fear: That any deal made would prohibit videos like the “Speechless” and other Youtube shorts to be produced for the (Internet) screen by non-signatories.
There better be some provisions to ensure that the Internets remain free for creative expression for personal/political narrative use.
Comment by A Writer — November 26, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
Well, at least they’re talking. This whole thing is such a pathetic slap in the face to Writers in the grand scheme of things in the first place. This is about fairness and respect for Writers and we haven’t seen much of it in 20 years. I hope John Wells is kept out of the room after hosing us on DVD resids. Of course DVD sales grew 75% after that shit deal he made.
I’m not trying to be pessimistic here but we are asking for diddly squat and these guys are being dicks, 220 mil over three years and they didn’t even want to talk to us for months, 220 Mil or 70 mil/year is the amount of 1 Golden Parachute for one Exec.
If the AMPTP has some “strategy” in place whereby they only agree to some lame ass formula like 1.25% for HV now in order to get the WGA to try to cave I say walk out and make them suffer. If there is ANY hint whatsoever that there is some calculated plan to wait til Spring to offer 1.75 - 2% then maybe, maybe offer 2.25% late Spring bumping to the SAG Expiration, walk.
We should have never been forced into this position. Pay us our piddly 2.5% or pay a larger price later.
Tomorrow we get to the substantive bargaining points. Don’t cave Pat, Dave and John, don’t agree to anything that isn’t fair and for godsakes keep your pants on this time.
Comment by PJ - Writer — November 26, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
From the lips of my friends. A deal is done. Terms have been set at lower level meets and they look good for upper level reviews in the next few days. The problem is has been solved up to this point and now if the producers can stomach what pre-negotiation sessions inked out all will be good by Dec 15th with a return to work Immediate by Jan 1st.
Comment by Big daddy Al BDA — November 27, 2007 @ 12:10 am
Imagine what could happen if our major television showrunners and talent banded together and started their own internet network right now?
I’m sure we could find a hedgfund– not to mention the support of the Guilds. It could stream in advertiser-sponsored “chapters” and everyone could share fairly in the fruits of their labors ushering in a new artist-driven Golden Age of mainstream entertainment.
YouTube didn’t exist three years ago. The revolution is upon us and the establishment arrogantly blind to how easily it could be overthrown. When you really consider it– piracy is the least of their worries. If they were smart, they’d bend over backwards to make us happy and send the lemmings back to work– lest this idea (and I’m sure there’s many more like them) catches on.
I don’t know about you all, but I think a little anarchy sounds like fun.
Comment by K. — November 27, 2007 @ 12:45 am
Of course it sounds like fun when you’re not the one footing the bill.
Comment by brick — November 27, 2007 @ 1:09 am
I wonder if they talked at all about the crew people who have now fallen behind on their income by thousands and thousands of dollars and cancelled the “simple” things like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the homes they live in? It’s easy for the actors to be so supportive to the writers when they keep getting paychecks for magazine shoots, tv appearances, and Gap commercial ads, not to mention all the reruns on tv…
Comment by Set Elec — November 27, 2007 @ 2:02 am
Hope this doesn’t happen but the writers are going to get a bad deal
Did they put dvd resids back on the table?
Comment by WORKINGWRITER — November 27, 2007 @ 3:39 am
Alright then. In these economic times, I hope both sides realize how important this is to the country.
Comment by pearson jones — November 27, 2007 @ 4:57 am
why is it that disneyland and univerisal studios do not have strike lines in front of the park entrances,why are the strike lines not at every gate at the studios and not at 24 hours? shut everything down now, nothing in or out? call out your leadership.
Comment by philip — November 27, 2007 @ 8:40 am
I disagree, though obviously a six-week promotional window is too long. There already *is* a residual-free window in non-new media: for movies, it’s called theatrical exhibition, and for television it’s called first-run broadcast. These uses are covered by our (writers’) upfront payment. The one thing that both sides of this agree on is that new media is going to become the primary market for a lot of content (especially TV), so it seems to me fair and economically sensible for the studios and networks to have some sort of window for internet exhibition before it’s considered ‘reuse’ rather than simply ‘use.’
Comment by Mikd — November 27, 2007 @ 9:05 am
I’ve spoken to a couple of showrunners about what 12:45am posted. The problem is most showrunners are exclusive in thier contracts for material generated for the Internet. If they were to do as you propose they would be sued 7 ways to Sunday.
Comment by agent guy — November 27, 2007 @ 9:33 am
I hope this means that this will all be over soon. I want to go back to work.
Comment by Jenny — November 27, 2007 @ 9:44 am
Sorry, but I will be the buzzkill here: Is this all just spin? I am not naming sources either, but I heard there was no progress yesterday - just rehashing for PR’s sake. It’s all a dog and pony show now.
Comment by bron — November 27, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Sorry, Bron…I like Nikki’s sources better than yours.
Comment by Let'sgetbacktowork — November 27, 2007 @ 10:59 am
“Of course it sounds like fun when you’re not the one footing the bill.”
I’d love to be able to invest in something like that. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. Let me know if some real talent tries to put something together to try and compete with the networks, I’d love to put some of my dollars behind it.
Comment by mike — November 27, 2007 @ 11:04 am
to agent guy
yes, but contracts expire
moreover, there are talented showrunners and non-showrunners not currently under contract
either way, writer-entrepreneurs doing direct financing/distrib is the future
Comment by agent/partner — November 27, 2007 @ 11:21 am
I find it interesting that no one mentions Lionel Chetwynd, the
writer who campaigned against holding out for video rights in
the 88 strike. This man all but broke the WGA, threatening to
start his own union. He was the blow-hard that convinced
many writers that “there was no future in tv shows on video.”
He was a tool of the producers — and curiously found himself
with some choice directing jobs (from where?) after his
destructive behavior. Where is Chetwynd now? And why isn’t
he out there picketing with a sign saying — FORGIVE ME.
Comment by Gary — November 27, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Yep, seems like they just set the table yesterday. The proof will be in the pudding.
I would caution anyone who is reading into this as a “done deal” to wait for Pat’s comments on the WGA site.
Comment by PJ - Writer — November 27, 2007 @ 11:32 am
yeah i definitely help that they would just pay the writers more. it is sad.
anyway sounds like it went pretty good!
Comment by Mel — November 27, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
So, they had a lovely Champagne brunch during an extended 4-hour lunch on the back of an early-morning 5 hour golf around -
and nothing happened.
Right?
Comment by Krinkle — November 27, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
A continued THANKS to the Teamster and SAG and DGA members who have supported the strike!
And for those who have to work but are supporting in spirit, or ideally working slooooooooooooooowly, a big thanks as well!
The AMPTP wouldn’t be back at the negotiating table without your support. Please know it continues to be most appreciated.
Comment by WGA Writer — November 27, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Some good news? There is a ray of hope that all are put from agreement? And we fans (above all those of “Las Vegas”) will succeed to continue to see ours serial preferred without that they come block to you?
Comment by Grace (from Italy) — November 27, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
There will be no full settlement made until the Studios have cleaned out all their unwanted overall deals and until they know they can settle on a number that they can comfortably offer the other guilds. There is still plenty of reality programming, pre-empted/cancelled programming that can be put back on the air, a slew of holiday programming, and repeats to milk. Sure it will look promising, but there is not going to be a miracle happening any time soon. I’m sorry, but it just isn’t that easy. Don’t throw out your signs anytime soon. And remember, most of the major networks and studios are small parts of giant conglomerates. GE makes more money on lightbulbs, Sony on Playstations, etc., etc. Movie scripts have been stockpiled. Either the writers are going to have to make some major concessions on their demands and pretend to be okay with it, or wait for the other guild contracts to come up so you can get some real leverage. Gavin Palone, like him or hate him, had plenty of cogent observations.
Comment by Felicia — November 27, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
I just read the LA Weekly clickhru to “Strike Happy.” It had a some info I didn’t know. I recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read it. I think it also brings back into focus what the actual situation is.
Another threat, by the way, is outsourcing to other countries (UK). I have heard of 2 additional shows that have been ordered since the strike started. There are also discussions taking place of buying already produced UK series and airing them as is. no adaption necessary! This could be a big boon for the BBC.
Comment by Felicia — November 27, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
The promotional window idea is not bad at all. 45 days is just too long.
But the promotional aspect must be for all concerned. That means no money for anyone - including studios. And don’t plaster ads all over it either… that would be cheating!
Peter
Comment by Peter Too — November 29, 2007 @ 1:52 am
We hope soon of having good news. We fans of “Las Vegas” wait for.
Comment by Patrizia — November 29, 2007 @ 3:49 am