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Writer's Guild votes for a strike

Discussion in 'Archive: SF&F: Films and Television' started by Juliet316, Oct 19, 2007.

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  1. Juliet316

    Juliet316 Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Apr 27, 2005
    I know this isn't necessarily Sci - Fi but since nearly all Sci - Fi TV and potential movie projects will be affected, I thought it might be okay to post this.

    From MSNBC.com:

    Hollywood writers vote to authorize strike
    Guild's contract expires Oct. 31; union, studios at odds over residuals
    BREAKING NEWS
    MSNBC News Services
    Updated: 10:49 p.m. ET Oct. 19, 2007
    LOS ANGELES - The Writers Guild of America voted overwhelmingly Friday to authorize a strike, the union announced.

    Union members have been in contentious negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and have threatened to walk out when their contract expires Oct. 31.

    Members of the union's East and West Coast guilds cast 5,507 votes with 90.3 percent voting to authorize a strike, the union said in a statement.


    "Writers do not want to strike, but they are resolute and prepared to take strong, united action to defend our interests," said Patric M. Verrone, president of the union's western guild. "What we must have is a contract that gives us the ability to keep up with the financial success of this ever-expanding global industry."

    Hollywood studios said Tuesday they would take a divisive demand involving residual payments off the table in talks with writers in hopes of avoiding a costly strike.

    The studios said they would no longer demand that companies recoup their entire investment in films and shows before sharing any of the revenue with writers in the form of residuals.

    ?We do this because we have concluded that we will be unable to reach an agreement with you if we continue to pursue a recoupment initiative,? J. Nicholas Counter, president of the alliance, said in a statement.

    The guild praised the move but said the studios? remaining demands ?would gut our contract and will never be acceptable to writers.?

    ?By maintaining our resolve, we will come out of these negotiations with a good contract that not only benefits writers, but the entire entertainment industry and the communities that depend on it,? the guild said.

    Both sides acknowledge they have made almost no progress since starting talks in July.

    Producers reiterated that they will not increase residual payments to writers from sales of DVDs or other sources.

    They also said they expected their peace offering on residuals to be met with a similar move by writers.

    ?We expect you to modify your positions in a manner and magnitude that signals to us and the larger community your willingness to reach an agreement with us,? Counter said.

    The main issue dividing producers and writers, as well as actors, whose contract expires next June, is revenue derived from DVDs and new distribution avenues such as the Internet and cell phones.

    Studios have said the added revenue makes up for losses suffered as consumers shift from watching films in theaters and shows on TV to viewing entertainment on the Web.

     
  2. Jedimarine

    Jedimarine Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    Feb 13, 2001
    And let the quality entertainment in.

    Seriously...is there anything more useless then a "Writer's Guild"...it's a union of hacks who have united to hide that truth from the world.

    The reality is the studios can open up to new ideas and stories, and the guild will freakout...this strike will break before Christmas.

    A union kind of needs a "skill" they can hold out...and that's the missing piece here.
     
  3. Ghost

    Ghost Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Oct 13, 2003
    Every movie seems to have been either a sequel or a remake or a copy for the last couple years, why do they need these guys? Maybe they'll get a pay raise once they actaully start thinking of some ORIGINAL stories...
     
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