This press release was just issued by the WGA, moments after the announcement was made in the general meeting (which at the time of this posting is still continuing).
Members will conduct black-tie pickets at the various awards shows; any nominee who wins an award but chooses not to cross the picket line will have the choice to accept that award on the line, with their acceptance broadcast live on the Internet.
SAG President Alan Rosenberg is present at the meeting, and applauded the announcement.
WRITERS GUILD DECIDES ON GOLDEN GLOBES AND ACADEMY AWARDS SHOW WAIVERS
LOS ANGELES – The Writers Guild has notified the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and dick clark productions that their requests for an agreement to allow writers to prepare material for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards show have been denied.
The Guild has also denied a request from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a waiver in connection with the use of clips from motion pictures and past Academy Awards shows for use during the annual Academy Awards presentation.
In letters to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, WGAW President Patric M. Verrone described the Guild’s respect and admiration for both organizations, explaining that:
“Writers are engaged in a crucial struggle to achieve a collective bargaining agreement that will protect their compensation and intellectual property rights now and in the future. We must do everything we can to bring our negotiations to a swift and fair conclusion for the benefit of writers and all those who are being harmed by the companies’ failure to engage in serious negotiations.”
The signatories producing the Golden Globes and the Oscars are West Coast signatories. The WGAW’s Board of Directors concluded, reluctantly, that granting exceptions for the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards would not advance that goal.
12/17/2007
The WGA Won't Grant Waivers to Awards Shows
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82 comments:
Gil Cates will appreciate this. Good work WGA.
Had to be done. There always has to be something behind the words.
Stand firm WGA, the public has your back.
Since they got burned on the Letterman deal, I guess they have to show the members something.
You bastards!!!!!
Take away sitcoms is one thing, but to have the nerve to not only reject waivers but to actually picket at award shows is sickening! I understand the AMPTP is a bunch of heartless pricks, but if you do this, you are no better than them.
I won't lie. I used to support you guys. I wanted you to get a fair deal. But not anymore. You completely lost my support. You are apparently just as selfish and self-serving as the brainless drones at AMPTP. It's really too much for your worthless lazy asses to make a few ecxeptions for the award shows people tried desperately to win for years? You don't deserve a fair contract you bunch of slimeballing douchewads!
I hope every actor in the whole goddamn town crosses your stupid picket line. I don't want the AMPTP to "win," but now I just hope you all kill eachother.
Hoping you all go bankrupt and resort to eating dead rats from the bottom of the garbage can,
Ozz.
Rat own!!
Ozz, yer a fool.
Oh Ozz, Why not picket at the self congrat fest? Wonder what will win...likely not any studio product.
After all, a lot of Academy voters are WGA members.
ozz:
I'm not even going to go into detail as to how every sentence of your post is idiotic, but I will say that if you're an AMPTP shill, they should ask for their money back.
The WGA may start killing each other. I heard the showrunners were none to happy with the Letterman waiver. Interesting to see which SAG members cross the picket lines to participate in these late nite shows.
black tie picket? better dry-clean the suit my mom bought me from sears a few years ago...
I just feel sorry for the people who will be winning possibly a once in a lifetime award for them, who have no stake in what the AMPTP or WGA does, but yet they lose their moment of glory. Seems sad that WGA won't allow these folks to have their time, these are only one-time shows. How can these not be ok but its ok for Letterman and his writers to come back and work every night? Makes no sense to me...
How come the SAG awards get a waiver? Seems like the WGA plays favorites, SAG and Letterman.
WHATT??? YOU WRITERS ARE SUCH STUPID WHINERS! I just found out about this Golden globe/Oscar business and I AM ROYALLY PISSED! This is an unbelievably selfish move on the part of the WGA and you should all be ASHMED! 75% of the shit you write isnt even that good anyway! You're FUCKING UP HOLLYWOOD you cowards!
how is it when two sides are fighting people blame just one side for the negative consequences?
If they have no stake in the WGA deal, they will be at the ceremony -- unless, of course, they happen to understand and support what the writers are fighting for, in which case they made their choice themselves.
As for the writers, I'm sure the nominated writers care much more about the decades of residuals they're fighting for than the moment of glory that few people will remember (unless they make an ass of themselves).
YOU PEOPLE are putting your own SELFISH needs ahead of everyone alse. You think I could SUPPORT this kind of RECKLESS behavior?! You lost yourself a supporter. Rot in hell!
"how is it when two sides are fighting people blame just one side for the negative consequences?"
They're paid to do that. Like British humor, you learn to appreciate and laugh at it after a while.
"YOU PEOPLE are putting your own SELFISH needs ahead of everyone alse. You think I could SUPPORT this kind of RECKLESS behavior?! You lost yourself a supporter. Rot in hell!"
The writers don't need "supporters" like you.
"'how is it when two sides are fighting people blame just one side for the negative consequences?'
They're paid to do that. Like British humor, you learn to appreciate and laugh at it after a while."
i want to be paid for that, too.
boo writers!!! the other side is way better and does not eat babies!!! not that i'm saying the writers do. but they do.
where do i get my check?
I don't think you can blame the AMPTP for this one. Even if you feel the labor dispute is completely their fault, the fact is that the WGA is the one who denied the waiver request. I really don't get how this will help negotiations or even put pressure on the studios, this just seems like a vindictive move that will produce only more anger towards WGA. This was a bad decision both on a personal and on a guild leadership level. This could have been a real PR boost for WGA too, because it won't really help the studios financially and WGA would come off as looking like the good guys. Plus, there would be all kinds of favorable comments all throughout the show for the writers, and the fans would rally. My guess is that the AMPTP will spin this very effectively to the public as "WGA took away your Oscars show for no reason" and many will buy it because there is no logical reason to prevent these shows from continuing.
While I think people like ozz and josh overreacted about this, they do have a point. A lot of people are being very negatively affected by this just so you can make more money. I have to say, at times, it comes off as a bit self-serving. Now, I think writers deserve to be paid, obviously. But I think you should have granted those waivers.
43 days on strike and this is all you've got to show for it? Now you've pissed off Gil Cates and the DGA. I hope SAG stays away from the awards shows and the late nite shows.
"Everyone loses their night of glory so you can pad your bank accounts."
I probably shouldn't even address you directly. Still:
For those who don't cross the line, there will be a live webcast of them making their acceptance speech. This is arguably a better "night of glory" since it will reach an international audience, not just the audience that has an ABC affiliate.
Did you really think this through?
Look at how the AMPTP can spin this. When the 30 million people tune in to watch the oscars, and when the 3-4 people tune in to watch the golden globes, they will be wondering why they suck more than usual this year.The networks will respond: well we wanted to make as good a show as possible. It's those stinkin' writers who are picketing and ruining everyone's fun!
Now the WGA looks like the bad guys! Congratulations!
It's called l-e-v-e-r-a-g-e...way to go, WGA!
It's a couple of damn awards shows people. They are a farce anyway. Good Job WGA!
Jeez! No award shows> Ok. I could live with that. But think about this for a sec.
This whole mentality of "if we're going down, Im taking as many people down with me as possible" is very similar to the mentality of another group of people.
Suicide bombers.
(think about it)
THE WGA IS A BUNCH OF NAZIS!
PATRIC VERRONE=HITLER
Pat just lost the argument.
Godwin's law. Look it up.
Would waivers to two shows honoring the achievements of the past year's entertainment REALLY undermine what the guild is trying to do??
Honestly, wouldn't more good than harm come from allowing writers to work on these two telecasts?
-------
Also announced was the formation of StrikeTV.com, which is going to put writer-produced material on the internet and will seek advertising.
I would be very interested to know whether the content created for StrikeTV.com will use union talent and crew.
I certainly hope so.
Wow. Just when I think WGA leaders are as dumb as they come, they do something even more ass-backwards than than before.
You trolls need to go post at amptp.org. Your bosses will appreciate the hit's.
Wow, I missed the party. Who'd have thought this is what would bring out the whiners?
Overall, I think this is a good thing. It *is* levearage. Everything lost to the strike is leverage and therefore worth it. More importantly, aside from a few nominations, the Golden Globe votes suck this year. The Office and Ugly Betty snubbed? I saw let them suck.
But people do make points. You have to be careful how this looks to people. If the strike could just end. . .but that's probably hoping for too much.
One thing. eska said
"how is it when two sides are fighting people blame just one side for the negative consequences?"
Isn't that just what the WGA is doing? I'm not saying it's wrong. The AMPTP has no case to be made. But the point still stands...
Once again, we have reasonably upset people such as Ozz an eska and it seems that its really beyond some of these writers and organizers to understand that not everyone is or even should be happy and supportive of your cause and the manner in which you're going about things. And, you STILL keep dodging the fact that this whole thing IS about getting MORE money. Writers are paid well, stop denying that, please. It may not be as well you all would like, but it's not like you're slaves and you're maltreated. There are very few people on this earth that make what they think they are worth and fewer still who can afford to just get up and walk away from their jobs for an undetermined period of time. And now you do this, and anyone who dares act like this is anything more than just the WGA playing a dick size contest with the AMPTP is deluded. You complain about the AMPTP being unwavering in its determination to screw you over and claim the AMPTP is the reason that the city, BTL labor, the viewing public, and the industry as a whole suffering right now, but the AMPTP didn't throw a fit and just stop working one day, you did. Yet, you place the blame at their feet. You started a fire and now you're telling people its the fire departments fault that their homes are lost because they didn't stop the spread of the fire. I want to support you and be on your side, but I can't. I support people who understand that sometimes it sucks, but the work has to be done and those who struggle through and don't walk away from their jobs, but who keep fighting for something better while doing their work. I support people with a work ethic and people who care more about the quality of their work than swimming in the glamour of the industry they work in. I applaud those late night writers and people who are returning to work to support their families and pay their bills, because IMHO, its far more important to attend to your responsibilities and develop a new strategy than potentially ruin your life and the lives of those who depend on you over getting MORE money.
I still believe that a compromise may still be reached between the WGA and the AMPTP in the next few months.
But I also believe, quite seriously, that if things break down completely; if, 6 months from now, this strike is still bitterly ongoing; if a real fissure occurs both within and outside of the WGA;
Then we may look back at this rally, at this day when the WGA symbolically turned its back on celebrations of our talents and livelihoods;
And we will remember it as the day when it all went wrong, when the Writers went too far.
You may accuse me of overreacting, or of being a troll or astroturfer (or whatever the kneejerk phrase is today), but I really can't believe that the Guild took this action -- that you didn't see the underlying symbolism in what you were doing.
It's a slap in the face. Not to the AMPTP -- they don't care. But to working Hollywood.
chuckt and all the other AMPTP interns - when your bosses tell you to raise the emotions behind your posts, they didn't mean to completely throw out the notion of making your astroturfing seem organic and real. You guys seem to be sabatoging yourselves by making your astroturfing seem SO blatant. Are you guys screaming to get fired by your AMPTP bosses?
SAG, I hope you guys FULLY commit your actors and actresses to not cross the picket line at the award shows. The statement will be HUGE. Those of you blaming the WGA for this - you guys know you have only your bosses at the AMPTP to blame.
GO WGA!
GO SAG!
The person who should be ashamed is Josh. FYI Josh, this is the proper spelling of "ashamed" and "isn't" isn't spelled "isnt." It is hard to take you seriously, Josh, when you'll illiterate.
Wow, so for the first time in 20 years we won't have these hapless people on stage spewing totally lame, unfunny and uninteresting pap - I wonder if they will actually be good this year!
Keep it up WGA! - Don't agree to anything until after the oscars!
Would somebody give Josh a dictionary or teach him to use spell check! Each entry is more pathetic than the next. Not only are his opinions moronic, he can't even spell them.
And, you STILL keep dodging the fact that this whole thing IS about getting MORE money.
Actually, it's about getting the SAME amount of money that they've received in the past, and avoiding a LOSS of income.
Writers are paid well, stop denying that, please.
No one's denying that. The problem is that the studios are trying to change that by destroying the residuals formula, which is essential to the working-class writer's livelihood.
It may not be as well you all would like, but it's not like you're slaves and you're maltreated.
Unless you're writing reality, animation, or web-based content.
You complain about the AMPTP being unwavering in its determination to screw you over and claim the AMPTP is the reason that the city, BTL labor, the viewing public, and the industry as a whole suffering right now, but the AMPTP didn't throw a fit and just stop working one day, you did.
After the AMPTP refused to negotiate in good faith to prevent the work stoppage or to pay the writers a fair wage.
Yet, you place the blame at their feet.
That's because it's their fault. That's how it works.
You started a fire and now you're telling people its the fire departments fault that their homes are lost because they didn't stop the spread of the fire.
What a terrible analogy. It's wrong in too many ways to address.
The writers didn't "start" anything. They wanted a fair wage. The AMPTP refused to give it to them.
You don't want to work for nothing, do you? Neither do they.
What would you do if your boss asked you to work for nothing? You'd quit, surely?
I want to support you and be on your side,
I believe that like I believe in Santa Claus.
I support people who understand that sometimes it sucks, but the work has to be done and those who struggle through and don't walk away from their jobs, but who keep fighting for something better while doing their work.
The AMPTP is losing millions of dollars a DAY because of this strike -- and they won't even SIT AT THE TABLE and try to hammer out a deal. What makes you think that, if their businesses were doing just fine, they'd have ANY interest in negotiating with the writers?
You wouldn't work without a contract, neither will the writers. The writers' contract expired, the AMPTP was unwilling to work to forge a new one. And here we are.
I applaud those late night writers and people who are returning to work to support their families and pay their bills,
I applaud all the writers who understand that this strike is about being able to pay their bills for years to come.
because IMHO, its far more important to attend to your responsibilities and develop a new strategy than potentially ruin your life and the lives of those who depend on you over getting MORE money.
But as said above, it's not about getting MORE money, it's about not LOSING the income that they have.
We're on strike, people! That means no business as usual. Nobody who is serious about this strike should give a damn about two award shoes! The WGA has taken a principled and necessary stand. If people get pissed off it's too bad. This isn't a popularity contest -- it's a labor battle. We are fighting for OUR future. Members iwho actually have careers in this business have a stake in this strike. People like Josh have a different agenda. They want to divide us. They are most likely AMPTP plants or losers or both.
Okay, for all of you who are no longer willing to support the WGA because of an awards show, makes me doubt your support in the first place.
In case you have forgotten, we are ON STRIKE! The WGA can not, and should not, suply product to any company that we are on strike against. Period.
If an actor feels they could have walked the red carpet and shouted their support for us to the press, well, they can do that any day of the week, and they don't have to wear monkey suits to do it. It will mean more to us, if they don't go and explain why they aren't. That will get press.
As far as Letterman goes, well, there is no deal yet.
To be fair bonnie, it is something of a popularity sense in the sense that the public can add pressure on whoever it feels is to blame and support the side it wants to. That's why you have to be careful about this. It's a a labor battle, but it's affecting everyone. Many people just want to see an end to this. Still, I think this is another move to try and push the AMPTP to wake up and come to the table and end this damn thing faster. No objections to that.
And dorkman, I agree with most of your post, but with so much saying how the writers don't make as much as everyone things they do, it's hard to say that's not "denying being paid well" on some level. Of course, they aren't paid as much as people think, but set that aside for this point. The writers are right, but they did choose to go on strike, no matter how much that choice was the only one they had. I hope they at least acknowledge that. I think the attititude sometimes implying that the WGA was "FORCED BEYOND THEIR WILL" to do this is a lot of what's upsetting some BTL-ers. The others, of course, are shills. I'm not saying you should take the blame,- this is the studios fault- I'm just saying something around the lines of "We felt we had to take this action, and the numbers prove we're right, but we're sorry for the harm the strike has caused" could do a lot of good to bring about peace. If I've missed such a post, I take this back and appologize.
Good luck, WGA. You're getting somewhere, even if it took longer than I'd have liked. Just make sure you play the cards right once you've laid them down.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that the WGA reverses their decision and either grants a waiver or simply cancels their planned picket line at the Oscars.
Bonnie and People Please,
You are right to deny waivers to productions which do not support your cause, or to deny waivers to productions where a waiver would cause more harm than good (say, a delay in negotiations).
In the case of the Golden Globes and Oscars, however, the Guild has made a massive mistake. Here's why:
By denying these shows a waiver, you will have actually piqued interest in the show. MORE PEOPLE WILL TUNE IN to find out what happens -- will it be a train wreck, etc. The ratings will be up this year over last, and the networks will benefit.
Furthermore, the producers will be writing the presentation speeches now. I have no doubt that there will be support for the writers during the show, but this will be much less support than you would have if your own membership was writing the witty barbs...
Finally, the denial of the request was obviously a symbolic act of defiance. But, as I mention in my post above, the overriding symbolism is that you don't care about the rest of Hollywood. I know this is not your true intent, but sometimes hints of inner feelings are what seep through our actions.
Imagine if you will, the outpouring of goodwill you would have received from the community if you had granted these two waivers under the auspices of common interest.
Not only is that chance gone, but you have basically trampled on the notion that it should have mattered in the first place.
The writers are doing this for everyone. It is not just for themselves that they strike. I'm SAG & AFTRA and totally support them. If they sink, ALL entertainment industry employees will suffer. People outside the industry may not understand this. The producers busted the SEG and some of those people lost everything, pension and insurance.
The writers are doing this for everyone. It is not just for themselves that they strike. I'm SAG & AFTRA and totally support them. If they sink, ALL entertainment industry employees will suffer. People outside the industry may not understand this. The producers busted the SEG and some of those people lost everything, pension and insurance.
Dorkman writes:
"Actually, it's about getting the SAME amount of money that they've received in the past, and avoiding a LOSS of income."
If that's true, why does the negotiating committee refuse to even discuss the idea of crediting new media residuals against broadcast residuals, or vice-versa? That would ensure residual replacement if shows are no longer rerun on broadcast, but prevent the studios from having to pay both if they co-exist. But the WGA has refused to even put this on the table.
Wow, now that's some damn fine commentary from the top of the peanut gallery (can't imagine why so many were deleted).
Of course an action like this (denial of waiver) is not only appropriate, but required. Where does one stop if shows, production companies and individuals are granted waivers? The purpose of a strike is to hurt the other side, if possible, and create heightened public awareness of the unfairness and/or inequity of management/ownership policy. That means, for those of you not familiar with labor-management process, that certain television shows don't broadcast if the people who write them are on strike. Like, say, when auto workers are on strike, cars don't get made; even the car you may have just ordered from the factory. Bottom line: management is a bitch.
I not only think that Letterman, Leno, et al, should not be granted waivers but that WGA should begin the process of getting copyrights back into the hands of writers, where ownership rightfully belongs (not during this strike, perhaps, but something to secure when dealing with an internet or New Media company). Four cents for a DVD? It should be at least a dollar. 2.5% of New Media? How about a floor of 5%? At least.
Back to point: God only knows what the Golden Globes mean, anyway, and although I like watching the Academy Awards (I haven't been asked to appear yet, but someday one of those ushers will surely quit or die), if it has to fall under the axe, what better opportunity to inform the public of WGA grievances?
And please, don't flatter previous comments by attributing them to AMPTP flackery. AMPTP may be three cans short of a six-pack, but they ain't that dumb. Soon, American Idol will be along to soothe the savage nitwit, and the pinheads will have something to keep them occupied (until hog-calling season rolls around).
It's not enough to stick the knife in, sometimes you have to twist it, too. Nice twist, WGA. Give it another crank, for me.
Everyone wins!
If someone organizes an Oscar and/or Golden Globes party for nominees and other Hollywood elite who feel uncomfortable crossing picket lines, give it an A-List comic host (Ferrell, Stiller, Colbert, etc.), and stream interviews and speeches live online, it would take about two seconds to get the entire event (webcast included) underwritten by advertisers looking to place their products in, on, and around a celebrity crowd. With a little grassroots promotion, it would probably draw millions of viewers, ALLOW THE NOMINEES TO HAVE THEIR DESERVED MOMENT IN THE SUN, and thrust the strike into a national spotlight. Seems like a win-win situation for everyone. Well, almost everyone...
Oh my GOD you're not granting a WAIVER? How SELFISH is THAT? My RIGHT to SEE PEOPLE IN PRETTY DRESSES far outweighs your STUPID EFFORTS to ACHIEVE FAIR COMPENSATION for the writers -- and ultimately, actors -- who help CREATE the STUFF the awards CELEBRATES. What about my AWARDS PARTY? Now I'll have to CANCEL IT!!!!!!
I don't CARE if your EFFORTS are to make an IMPACT and thus help SHORTEN the SUFFERING of THIS ENTIRE INDUSTRY. I can NO LONGER SUPPORT YOU for this TRAVESTY OF EVIL.
If someone organizes an Oscar and/or Golden Globes party for nominees and other Hollywood elite who feel uncomfortable crossing picket lines, give it an A-List comic host (Ferrell, Stiller, Colbert, etc.), and stream interviews and speeches live online, it would take about two seconds to get the entire event (webcast included) underwritten by advertisers looking to place their products in, on, and around a celebrity crowd. With a little grassroots promotion, it would probably draw millions of viewers, ALLOW THE NOMINEES TO HAVE THEIR DESERVED MOMENT IN THE SUN, and thrust the strike into a national spotlight. Seems like a win-win situation for everyone. Well, almost everyone...
This is an outstanding idea.
All these trolls are making me feel warm and fuzzy inside. The guild's solidarity at tonight's meeting was inspirational even to this cynic. We're in this for the long haul, trolls, so astroturf away.
Hey, did you hear that sickening thud? I believe it was the sound of a Wall Street analyst downgrading your stock.
Seriously, you guys have gone mental tonight. When you blather about the Hollywood community being angry about the award shows, you're missing a very important point. WE'RE the Hollywood community. That's what screenwriters and actors are. And not so regretfully, no waiver for you.
Here's a tip for the AMPTP: if you're going to try to divide the guild, you'll need to dial up the plausibility. No one in the history of televised entertainment has felt passionate about the Golden Globes.
Well I was a staunch supporter of the WGA, but now... I mean to strike a struck company, that's inexcusable. I can't believe your temerity; putting up a picket line around a production produced by a struck company that's only trying to honor and advertise previous productions that may or may not have been produced by struck companies.
For shame! I would like it put on record that I am not in support of striking when a strike will have an impact! To strike a struck show is striking in my opinion, and I will have none of that.
I hope you all get lucrative internet deals and never feel the need to strike the golden globes again!
Oh my god! The WGA is sooooo selfish! How dare you not grant a waiver to the Oscars that generates tens of millions of dollars in ad revenue for the people who are trying to starve you into submission!
Are these trolls seriously trying to sell this "Irrate Oscar Fan" story here... right. I'm sure there are millions of normal average everyday Americans who were hanging out here in the UH comments section on a Monday night and have suddenly gone from rapid WGA supporters to dismayed WGA haters because we decided not to pay Nick Counter and Chris Lehane with Oscar Ad dollars.
GO TROLLS!!! Every dollar they pay you brings them one dollar closer to the negotiating table.
So, this is how AMPTP is going to swing public support? Complain about the Awards Shows not getting waivers? This is what's going to tick people off beyond reason against the WGA. If ABC or other AMPTP members are so concerned about their awards broadcast how about coming back to the negotiating table?
Seems to me the people to be upset with are the people who keep walking away. That's the AMPT. Of course, that is if anyone is really that horribly upset. Which I doubt, because
Hurray! I was so worried that the WGA would grant waivers for the awards season and I thought it would be a terrible idea! So, good job WGA!
I will confess to some personal sadness, as the Oscars are my Super-Bowl and I won't be watching it this year...the first I've missed in many a year!
I'll be sure to watch the WGA coverage tho! So make sure it's snappy!
Well done guys!
As for the Letterman Waiver, I think this could be a potential gold mine for you! If successful, it might FINALLY encourage others to break ranks and negotiate directly with the WGA and bypass the AMPTP!
So, again, applause!
Keep up the good work!
Roll on the floor laughing. People are actually crying because there won't be any writers writing the unfunny lines (most of the time) for the Globes and Oscars ?
The globes do not even have a good reputation because of the foreign "journalists" making the committee and people are crying over this ? Thank you guys for such funny comments, keep them coming. Not that it would be on par with what writers could write but still hilarious in its own way and a little pathetic too.
Man the people who try to troll this site really suck at it.
Maybe the AMPTP could peruse some popular message boards and actually hire some people who write troll messages that don't sound like some moron that hasn't learned how to properly use a computer or the interwebs.
That and whiny teenage know-it-alls. But that's pretty much 99% of the internet anyway.
Good luck WGA
AMPAS (i.e., the Oscars) is an AMPTP member. It deserves no waiver just like Letterman doesn't deserve one either.
If AMPAS wants to have the Oscars to run without any problems, it needs to drop its membership in the AMPTP and sign an independent three-year contract with the WGA.
No one that is writing boo-hoo shit about the Oscars is a WGA member. Most of the people that comment on this blog's postings are not WGA members. Most of them are clueless teenagers and students.
NO WAIVERS WITHOUT CONTRACTS!! "INTERIM AGREEMENTS" CAN KISS MY ASS!!
YES! Decisions like these are the very reasons why I support you 100 percent!
Stay strong! The general public's got your six.
I am in full support of the WGA.
I don't understand the argument that this is a bad idea and it will turn people away. I think most Americans, especially people of color, have realized for decades that the GG and Oscars are a self-congratulatory farce. And just because I like the pretty dresses, doesn't mean i don't recognize that.
btl guy I find it comical that someone who is constantly championing the BTL workers even cares about the Oscars happening. It's not like they give awards for best gaffer. (Yes, I know they give technical Oscars) Overall, the Oscars "broadcast" (and this is mainly what the strike is affecting) is about stars dressing pretty and the same people winning the same awards. I won't even go into Globes which should really be called the Greatest Gift Awards since all it takes to win is to "out-gift" the next studio. But I digress.
In the grand scheme of things, the WGA could gain so much more publicity and support with this decision. And I could see the strategic move of having Letterman go back on the air with these hard to digest decisions happening simultaneously. It gives the WGA a voice on network television to explain some of these decisions that the public might initially balk at.
Shanna,
Though I do not personally work in a position that is up for an award, many below-the-liners do (Sound, Make-up, Wardrobe, etc).
And that's not even the main point.
The point is that the Oscars telecast is a celebration of our industry.
It is important to note, though, that so far all the WGA has done is deny a re-use request, not a waiver request.
I think the "unnamed source" in the Nikki Finke article may have been merely floating the idea out there. Like Intrigued, I gotta believe the Guild backs off this one.
Shawn, the problem with you and your bretheren in the WGA is that you overstate your significance tremendously. The studios and producers don't care enough to plant shills. They are vacationing in their lavish getaway homes while laughing at the writers who are going to suffer because of this. So maybe you can remove your ego from your ass and realize that JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE DISAGREES WITH YOU DOESN'T MAKE THEM A SHILL. If you look at the rest of your life in such stark contrasts of black and white, it's no wonder you're sitting on the losing side of this equation.
sam said...
GO TROLLS!!! Every dollar they pay you brings them one dollar closer to the negotiating table.
Well at least we are making money.
You might as will kiss the strike “Goodbye”, once the Union allows “Any” writers to return via a separate agreement.
I.E… Allowing writers to work on the “Late Night Shows”
Once upon a time…
There was a strong “Carpenter’s Union”. They went on strike for an extra 75cents an hour.
They were on strike for a few weeks, when one contractor (producer) found out that he was going to be billed for not having his job finished on time.
So, he went to the Union and said, “I will pay Tuesday for a hamburger today.”
OK, he asked, “If you let my carpenters work today, “I will pay them the future per hour rate, after the Union settles the strike.”
The Union said, “That sounds fair”, and let the carpenters go back to work.
Now the other contractors (producers) heard of this, so they went to the Union and each made separate deals. Each saying, “I will pay Tuesday for a hamburger today.”
The Union agreed. What’s the harm letting a few workers go back to work?
Amazingly, the Union discovered, “Hey, where are the striking carpenters?!”
Well, “They’re out on the job sites.”
“How come?”
“We agreed to let one crew go back, now they’re all back to work.”
“But, we Never settled!”
“Precisely.”
Can we have the Troll awards instead? We could give out a "Trollie" award for best use of random emphasis caps, best/worst analogy that goes nowhere, and the "he/she's a NAZI" award? Aw c'mon.
I vote for Pat. Way TO go PAT!
BTL guy, It just means that the main awards show will resemble the tech awards show. Why should someone who is being treated unfairly by an industry aid in presenting and planning the big party to celebrate that same industry?
I think the overall symbolism is that being treated fairly is what matters, not the glitz and pretty dresses. The show will go on, but minus the writers contributions.
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