Comments on: WGA Allowing Writers On Indie Awards

By: STevieD

STevieD — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:00:24 +0000

The Spirit Awards is put on by the non-profit Film Independent organization that helps young filmmakers. This show is their biggest fund raising event that pays for the whole year. Thanks to the WGA for granting this waiver and allowing the show to go on.

By: David G.

David G. — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:08:32 +0000

This is shameful. Either the guild grants interim contracts to anyone who asks, or to no one. This is crazy… picking and choosing will only lead to further bad blood. There’s time for the guild to rescind their decision. David G. WGA member

By: boo

boo — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:06:12 +0000

Didn’t WGA say that the Spirit Awards negotiated a interim agreement BEFORE the strike. So that proved the point…their are independent producers who thinks the WGA position is fair and reasonable.

And if the AMPTP or let say the big 8 wasn’t out trying to BUST the UNIONS this strike would have been over before it began.

This is UNION BUSTING 101 and not until the Big 8 start losing enoughn money until it hurts or until all the crappy reality shows crash…will this strike be over.

By: Mheister

Mheister — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:14:11 +0000

Aside from the difference in the economics of the awards shows - the Globes and Oscars are HUGE cash cows for the networks, SAG Awards and Spirit Awards less so - perhaps this also has to do with who actually runs these two awards shows.

SAG’s behind the WGA 100% in this action. Allowing scripting of the SAG Awards is just union love. The Spirit Awards is not run by a studio or major player in the AMPTP, so it’s not one of the dogs in this fight. I really think it’s that simple.

Okay, and it would also be totally cool if more people, knowing they’re not going to get their Oscar or Globe fix this year, tuned in to watch these two other awards shows.

Another more positive way to look at this is the WGA is trying their hardest to give the moviegoing and television-viewing public some awards show love this year while maintaining their firm stance with the AMPTP.

And BTW, the AMPTP can have their Oscars and Globes back tomorrow if they want. They know what to do. They just have to find the testicular fortitude to do it.

By: jay Stein

jay Stein — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:31:04 +0000

Sorry guys, but to think that the Spirit Awards are any different than the Globes or the Oscars is just plain naive–the Spirit nominees include studio films just like the other award shows. The WGA granted a waiver because it’s asinine to picket outside a tent in Santa Monica in hopes that the 35 television viewers will take notice that Patty Clarkson was a no-show.

By: ThisSucks

ThisSucks — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:22:27 +0000

So writers can work on Letterman if it reaches a deal, writers can work on the SAG and Indie Film awards shows. Soon, the picket lines will get weaker and weaker as more and more writers go back to work.
Seems like the WGA is dividing and NOT conquering…

By: transpobill

transpobill — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:46:22 +0000

Hey Piper - I did not mean gaining my respect (I’m just a low life BTL), I meant the respect of the ndustry and public. As Francine pointed out many so-called indie productions are actually a part of the big studio’s portfolios. And the TV watching public won’t see this as being nice to the little guys while depriving the big guys of profit, thay will miss their favorite award shows and be angry about it. It just seems to be a skewed tactic that will be interesting to watch unfold with the viewers which after all are the ultimate souce of profit and approval in the business. Yes I am in the business too.

By: Steve S

Steve S — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:45:35 +0000

Exactly, Piper. Hitting the networks on the bottom line is the whole point, and advertiser give-backs look even worse in financial reports than low-rated shows that weren’t really expected to be hits. Additionally, the networks generally don’t get to charge extra ad rates on shows that are unexpectedly popular (except on series shows, where they can raise the rates when advertisers renew), so if the SAG and Indie awards do unexpectedly well because they’re the only awards shows that aren’t affected by the strike, they don’t make extra.

By: Piper

Piper — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:42:49 +0000

Transpobill,

The choice by the WGA to exclude the Golden Globes and Oscars and allow waivers to the SAG and Spirit Award shows has nothing to do with gaining your respect. It is all about hurting the networks in their pocketbooks. The Golden Globes last year had over 20 million viewers and the Oscars more than 30 million. A 30 second commercial spot during the Oscars last year costs the advertisers 1.65 million dollars. The SAG and Spirit awards get nowhere near that many viewers and the cable channels the air them (TNT and IFP) don’t get that kind of cash for the commercials. If the lack of writers hurts the two “big” shows in any way as far as ratings, the advertisers will be calling for a refund.

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:12:22 +0000

Well, this is going to make the Golden Globe and Oscars people bitter.

By: Francine Fishpaw

Francine Fishpaw — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:02:49 +0000

So the WGA is cherry picking who it passes out waivers too.

Interesting.

If they are going to go this route, I’m okay with them doing this for indie producers because they’re outside of the system and thus aren’t filling the studio coffers.

However, how many indies in this day and age are truly independent of the studios (as opposed to being negative pick-ups or produced by the studio indie divisions)?

By: transpobill

transpobill — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:46:02 +0000

Pick ‘n choose your favors eh? Hardley a way to gain repect. Indie good, Globes bad….oh well, good luck with that.