Variety: WGA Strike Claims 2 More Films

jdepp.jpgThe trade reported tonight that Warner Bros called off a February production start on  Shantaram, the Mira Nair-directed adaptation of the Gregory David Roberts novel that was to star Johnny Depp. Eric Roth had been doing the rewrite. The Weinstein Co, meanwhile, postponed Nine, the Rob Marshall-directed musical that was slated to start production in March with Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren and Marion Cotillard starring. In both cases, the scripts weren't ready. After Michael Tolkin wrote the screenplay for Nine, TWC engaged Anthony Minghella to do a polish, "but he was able to put in only three days of work before the writers guild went out," Variety reported. Catherine Zeta-Jones dropped out of the movie.

  1. Oliver Stone's Pic Another Strike Casualty
  2. Strike Pushing Big Studio Movies Back To 2009 Because Screenwriters Unavailable
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10 Comments »

  1. Is this accurate?

    1) I.A.T.S.E., IBT Local 399, Studio Utility Employees Local 724, IBEW Local 40, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 78, and the Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 755… ALL RECEIVE RESIDUALS.
    2) These residual payments go directly into their PENSION AND HEALTH FUND.
    3) RESIDUALS earned working on shows CONSTITUTE 55% OF THEIR P & H.
    4) If there are funding surpluses from residuals, retirees receive a 13th and a 14th check in that year, instead of the normal twelve.

    The bargaining parties agree that if any other Union or Guild negotiates as part of its collective bargaining agreement with the AMPTP residuals on product for iPods or similar devices, the Producers will meet with the IATSE to negotiate an appropriate residual formula.

    Comment by iatse mem — November 19, 2007 @ 9:16 pm

  2. I thought stockpiling assured seamless feature production for months! Not Oscar bait and tentpoles being derailed and delayed!!

    Sweet Gavin Polone, oh clement, oh loving, explain this all away!

    Comment by Norm A. Rae — November 19, 2007 @ 9:20 pm

  3. Iatse mem - yup. That’s why the writers have been saying that they are doing this for everyone. The WGA’s contract just came up first, so they are taking the beating. Whatever happens in this negotiation will set the pace for the rest of the guilds when their turn comes up.

    Comment by cashpoor — November 19, 2007 @ 11:30 pm

  4. Good. Every film that gets taken down is another bit of leverage. And I second Norm- hey, Gavin, how long do you think you can keep your attitude up?

    Comment by Caitlin — November 20, 2007 @ 4:48 am

  5. I guess the big difference would be that those “residuals” would be spread out over 50000 instead of one. That they are paid into a fund most of us will never realize because we need 60000 hours to retire. Then we get peanuts when we do. So don’t try to make it a “we’re doing it for you guys” issue. Unless of course you are willing to change your residual structure to only go to your P&H for your entire guild. Wait we still have 4x the members.

    Comment by iatse — November 20, 2007 @ 7:16 am

  6. I LOVE the phrase “the script wasn’t ready”!!! In whose eyes? Is “script readiness” the same as when a cake is done? Methinks not. Unfortunately, most scripts are way overcooked by the time they go into production, having long passed the “ready” mark on the thermometer.

    Comment by writer — November 20, 2007 @ 10:32 am

  7. you’ve got it backwards, Iatse. IATSE residuals go into the P&H fund rather than directly to you because that’s what your union negotiated for you.

    As you say, there are far more IATSE members than WGA. And there are far more IATSE workers on a film set than WGA workers.

    So think it through - if IATSE residuals went to the invididuals in the same way that WGA residuals do, that would mean hundreds more checks to cut per project, and a much higher bookkeeping workload to keep track of it all.

    And again as you say, the residuals wouldn’t be nearly as much if spread that thin anyway. So I don’t find it surprising that IATSE would have negotiated a pooled residual P&H plan instead.

    It’s also up to your union to determine who qualifies for those P&H benefits.

    So if you’re dissatisfied with the arrangement, then your beef is with IATSE, not WGA.

    Meanwhile, if the WGA wins this battle, then IATSE and all the other unions will have a precedent to demand a similar raise when their contracts are up for renewal.

    So yes, I do believe what the WGA is doing is for all our benefit. Even yours.

    Comment by SAG_worker — November 20, 2007 @ 11:35 am

  8. Wow, iatse, relax. Sorry you’re unhappy with the current IATSE contract, but is another union really the best target for your anger and frustration?

    No one’s making it a “we’re doing it for you guys” issue, but the fact is, if the WGA is able to achiever its goals it will benefit all of the other unions, including yours. A strike can accomplish more than one thing for one union.

    I see a lot of hostility on this board from IATSE members. Where is the union solidarity? I understand people are afraid of losing their jobs, I really do, but as a union member you ought to understand better than anyone who is responsible for this strike - greedy corporations. And there’s nothing they love more than to see the unions sniping at each other.

    The Big Media companies, under the banner of the AMPTP, are standing in unison against unions in general, and the WGA specifically. It’d be nice if the unions could unite, at least in principle, to stand up to this unified front of greed. I realize most of other union members are, and I give many, many heartfelt thanks to all of the IATSE, SAG, DGA, and Teamster members who are standing united with the WGA!

    Live better, work union!

    Comment by Don't Believe the Hype — November 20, 2007 @ 2:54 pm

  9. Funny that the script for the Johnny Depp movie “wasn’t ready” yet a cast and crew had been hired based on said script.

    Kind of reminds me of those script wanted ads where the producer has a cast and crew and financing but no script.

    Comment by Non WGA Writer — November 20, 2007 @ 3:33 pm

  10. IATSE Guy,

    As a member of Teamsters Local 399 Locations, I share the same Basic Crafts agreement Benefit Package with you. I’d say 55% of our funding is VERY IMPORTANT to all of us. I may never see much or even any retirement either; but what about the excellent HEALTH plan most Americans do not have, yet WE DO; and for our families as well?

    I went to the rally yesterday and encouraged as many Location Managers as I could reach to go. IATSE really needs to join us all on the picket lines if they continue through the negotitations. We all need the let the AMPTP know that treating any of us badly is now going to affect how ALL of us treat them.

    The reason your contract has been loosing ground and mine has never gotten on solid ground is that the unions have NOT supported each other in this town properly for decades. We can no longer go it alone and expect to maintain a decent standard of living in this industry.

    You can put your support behind the CORPORATE GREEDY or you can put your support behind the folks we all work with and ourselves.

    Whether you do something, like walk a picket line or nothing like don’t take a side: you are taking one. Silence is not golden here and the old divide and conquer plan of the AMPTP has worked too well.

    Let’s create a NEW Plan: UNITED WE STAND.

    399 Locations Lady walking the line with the WGA for all of us!

    Comment by Anonymous — November 21, 2007 @ 1:56 pm

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