WGA and Studios Will Talk Again
Here’s something to be thankful for! Shortly after Thanksgiving, they’re going to give talking to try to settle the strikes another go. I hope they are successful.
You know, the part of the strike that deals with writers writing for free - that is the first thing everyone tells beginning freelancers. Don’t write for free. You can get paid credits with a bit of looking around. So, I can see why the writers are objecting to writing free webisodes. I hope they can get things sorted out and resume production of Medium. According to PRInside:
Tags: dont-write-for-free, Medium, WGA Strike 2007Studio bosses have agreed to resume talks with Hollywood screenwriters in a bid to end the current strikes.
Members of the Writers Guild of America have been staging walkouts since 5 November (07) after talks between the union and studio representatives failed to resolve a dispute over royalties.
The strike has crippled U.S. TV forcing daily talk shows off the air and disrupting the production of prime time favourites including Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.
However, a deal could be forthcoming if the planned contracts talks on 26 November (07) - the first since the walkouts began - are successful. But writers insist they will stay on the picket lines until a settlement is reached.
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POSTED IN: WGA Strike 2007
10 opinions for WGA and Studios Will Talk Again
Betty
Nov 17, 2007 at 3:25 pm
This is GREAT news! Nothing can be settled as long as they are not talking at all, so at least this is a step in the right direction.
For those who don’t object, I say we all need to say a prayer for these negotiations to be fruitful and for the people involved to have the wisdom they need to make the right decisions and the fairest decisions for all involved. Prayer DOES work!
Of course I want my Medium and other favorites back, but I also cannot stand to see so many people going without a paycheck, especially at the holidays.
Hip, hip, hooray for more talks! Yea!
Dawn
Nov 17, 2007 at 6:42 pm
YiPPPEEEE!!! It ain’t over, but that’s a start. I REALLY hope that these talks are beneficial and that a resolution can be reached quickly. I read yesterday that studios were starting to suspend actors from their shows, per a clause in their contract, but I haven’t heard of CBS Paramount doing that yet. Let’s just hope that these talks are successful so that no more people are laid off and those who are can get back to work quickly.
Katelyn, just FYI, I don’t know if you saw this or not, but I found some new pics of Patricia at another charity event this past Thursday night. It was called the Road to the Cure, and was sponsored by Cedars Sinai. I’m not sure that it was benefitting, but I’m guessing it was breast cancer awareness and research, as that is a subject that is near to Patricia’s heart. Just thought you’d like to know. The only pics I’ve seen are at Getty Images and there’s only a couple of them, but they’re beautiful.
Dawn
Nov 17, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Katelyn, help!! I think I’m stuck in the spam filter again.
Dawn
Nov 24, 2007 at 11:57 am
Hey, Katelyn, I don’t know if this means anything or not, but I heard that Patricia is visiting Thomas on the set of his movie in New Mexico this weekend. I don’t know if they’ve shut down filming because they’ve run out of scripts, or if this is just a holiday break. Hopefully, it’s just for the holidays.
Katelyn
Nov 24, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Dawn,
Sounds like she has time on her hands, anyway. I’m impatiently waiting for her silent movie in support of WGA to come out. Some of the ones already out are fantastic.
Dawn
Nov 24, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Yeah, I’ve been anxiously waiting for that one to come out too. Some of those have been great. My favorite one so far has been the one with Holly Hunter. That was too funny.
Have you seen the latest update on DHD about the fires in Malibu? Seems those people just can’t catch a break. I’m still praying for them. At least we know that Patricia and her family are safe.
Katelyn
Nov 24, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Yes, I just saw the update about the fires. It is so hard to have something like that happen two times in a row. My town has a part that floods constantly.
Rachel
Nov 25, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Talks resume tomorrow, but even if, and that’s a huge IF, anything gets resolved, it will still be months before anyone goes back to work. Once an agreement has been reached, members of the guild have to vote on it, and if that vote doesn’t go through, we’re back to square one. Should it get voted through, it doesn’t necessarily mean everything goes back to the way things were before the strike; there’s still some fallout to deal with. I certainly have my fingers crossed and have hopes of resolution, but just know it doesn’t happen quickly or very effectively and probably not too fairly, either. I know everyone here has high hopes for Medium and all of their favorite shows, but I’m letting you know that the process is lengthy and full of twists. It sucks. But it’s Hollywood reality (so to speak). I agree with Betty for everyone to pray; sure couldn’t hurt, even for the ones who don’t believe in anything but the All Mighty Dollar. I’m getting cynical and bitter I know, but looking for work in this market has been a bitch.
I just think it’ll take a few more tries at the negotiating table before a contract is agreed to, let alone signed.
Betty
Nov 26, 2007 at 11:48 am
Rachel, it sounds as if you work in this industry. Good luck to you.
I do know from having been married to someone who was part of the CWA (Communications Workers of America) that if talks are fruitful, the workers can agree to go back to work while talks are ongoing - they can also go back to work pending a vote to approve the contract once an agreement is reached. These are all tentative, but it is possible. Votes usually happen pretty quickly - it shouldn’t be too drawn out.
Praying for wisdom here is the key - the people who are having the talks and making the decisions need to have guidance and wisdom to work out a deal that all can live with. There has to be some way to assure a fair and equitable way to divy up the proceeds from these endeavors.
Rachel
Nov 26, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Thanks for the encouragement Betty, but I don’t share your sentiment that this will not be drawn out; writers can’t just pick up where they left off, mainly because whatever project they were a part of may now not even exist. Several around town have already been cancelled/stopped, with many on the chopping block waiting their turn. Yes, I work in the wardrobe/costume end of the industry. Having spent Thanksgiving with a bunch of writers, both guild members and not, I know for sure they aren’t budging, and certainly the producers and studios feel the writers already get enough. Doesn’t mean we can’t keep our fingers crossed and say our prayers, but the reality is still grim. All writers I know that are presently working have it toughest as they wait on a daily basis to see whether or not they will continue to work; non-guild members can still work if they have it and take whatever they get their hands on. The same goes for costume designers; I know of a few who are taking WHATEVER job comes their way, things they would usually turn their noses up at. Most of these folks send their kids to private school, so work is work, regardless of what it is and even where it is. We’re talking Oscar winning designers, too. We all gotta do what we gotta to survive.
All I’m saying is; this isn’t going to be resolved quickly. Just not the way things happen here.
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