tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post2739805380569645157..comments2023-08-28T01:47:52.421-07:00Comments on United Hollywood: Friday's Announcement: Guild Will Bargain Individually with CompaniesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-53569513005054736552007-12-18T20:12:00.000-08:002007-12-18T20:12:00.000-08:00Watcher, Jimmy, Jerad, et al,So, now that you've b...Watcher, Jimmy, Jerad, et al,<BR/><BR/>So, now that you've been to the WGA assembly (probably not) and/or read the <A HREF="http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/daves-only-focus-is-returning-with-writers/" REL="nofollow">news</A> (anyone can do), no comments?<BR/><BR/>After all of your baseless "You're an AMPTP troll" bullshit, not even an apology for your clueless and uninformed remarks?<BR/><BR/>The fact that you were wrong because you didn't even know WTF you were talking about hasn't humbled you?<BR/><BR/>Oh, well.<BR/><BR/>Students and WGA wannabes, the support is appreciated. Your clueless uninformed remarks are NOT.Haroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16366457475764057418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-76835557269475964832007-12-17T20:36:00.000-08:002007-12-17T20:36:00.000-08:00Is this an all troll board or are there actual hum...Is this an all troll board or are there actual humans commenting here as well? So tired of reading through the negative blather to get to some actual content...<BR/><BR/>And I'm sure someone has already answered this - but Letterman's writers are not getting paid, everyone else on the show is. That is common knowlege. Way to stir up an old non-story.hollarbackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759689530670606301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-11669594469466007272007-12-17T11:03:00.000-08:002007-12-17T11:03:00.000-08:00Intigued, the WGA, in negotiating with WWP, it is ...Intigued, the WGA, in negotiating with WWP, it is not negotiating with David Letterman personally. Letterman being a 30 year member may make him and his company more sympathetic to the cause, but WWP is still not a WGA member. It's an AMPTP member. In Hollywood many people are hyphenates and many production companies are owned by WGA members. It's why showrunners in TV had to decide what they were first writers or producers. Most decided writers and didn't cross the picket line.Carrie Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541011952386351550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-13487926166602214312007-12-17T08:29:00.000-08:002007-12-17T08:29:00.000-08:00I haven't read every comment here, but anyone who ...I haven't read every comment here, but anyone who perceives this as caving is missing the point. The power of a union is in its unity and its ability to negotiate for what it wants. The WGA wants writers to get a fair deal; if they begin to achieve this in smaller doses with individual companies (like Letterman's), then that is the beginning of the larger win for all. <BR/><BR/>They are not going to get this fair deal by continuing to give credibility to the collective power of the conglomerates. Collusion is the delusion - the spell cast, needing to be broken. When the WGA recognizes that it can negotiate with each studio independently, the market will shift in its favor. That's power - and power wielded for the good. <BR/><BR/>I posted excerpts from Elisberg's article in a recent blog (<A HREF="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=211147168" REL="nofollow">speechless but rambling</A>) out of wild enthusiasm for the common sense he illuminated. I hope it builds from here! This isn't just a matter of the writers' income and future rights; it's a matter of how we perceive the power of mega-congloms in an evolving world economy, and how we check that power with conscious response. Go scribes!<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.myspace.com/zaadzjoybroker" REL="nofollow">Laurie Perez</A>Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17042530787288875977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-57597392079907532062007-12-17T06:39:00.000-08:002007-12-17T06:39:00.000-08:00I previously stated my perspective on this latest ...I previously stated my perspective on this latest development. However, after reading many of the comments here, one thing stood out to me. Dave Letterman is a member of the WGA. So the WGA is reaching an "interim agreement" with the WGA in essence. I'm still digesting how this plays into the big picture, but I just thought I would mention it.intriguedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379391258154722609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-25958416663015312272007-12-17T01:28:00.000-08:002007-12-17T01:28:00.000-08:00Dave, you're pretty when you're angry. Sorry the ...Dave, you're pretty when you're angry. Sorry the truth hurts.<BR/><BR/>I do want to compliment your group on one thing, though. A few days ago another writer and I criticized the level of astroturfing here, which had gone downhill lately, and said it needed to be more than vitriol. Put a little confusion in, a little fake sympathy, that sort of thing. Make it better. And you guys have taken our notes to heart. <BR/><BR/>Except for your last, unfortunately. "Just a straw horse to get the writers back to work." I don't even know what that's supposed to say. The Guild cleverly made a deal with WWP to "start getting the writers back to work"? The Guild leaders were sitting around saying, hmm, how can we get everyone back to work? Because when you're striking, the first thing you want to do is have your people working instead of picketing. Strike means "work" in your alien tongue. <BR/><BR/>"We could just ask them all to return to work tomorrow -- we have that power -- but it would be too easy."<BR/><BR/>"I know! We'll make agreements with every single show on TV, and every production company making a movie! We'll do it one by one!"<BR/><BR/>Thank you for that explanation; it's all clear now. As a member of your audience, I'm sorry to say that among the gentlemen of the turf, you are the weakest link.Watcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16772050522705439940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-37778507039291262892007-12-17T00:53:00.000-08:002007-12-17T00:53:00.000-08:00Also if WGA gets interim agreements in place with ...Also if WGA gets interim agreements in place with fair and reasonable terms it makes it that harder for AMPTP to keep them out of the MBA. The writers will see that a fair contract is possible and should strengthen writers' resolve.Carrie Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541011952386351550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-88773354691366247942007-12-17T00:30:00.000-08:002007-12-17T00:30:00.000-08:00Let's play with the idea that this is an interim a...Let's play with the idea that this is an interim agreement. Let's say this agreement gives the WGA everything they are asking for right now with a clause that says the deal will eventually conform to whatever the final MBA is.<BR/><BR/>Having independent production companies signing on to the current WGA proposals shows that the Guild is making deals that everyone can work under while the AMPTP continues to stonewall. This weakens the AMPTP's claims that they are negotiating in good faith and shows that their overall bargaining position is unreasonable. Plus if enough companies sign, the WGA deal gathers momentum and becomes the defacto pattern. If you're in business, you're in business with this deal and back in production and making money.<BR/><BR/>LOL -- that I am an AMPTP troll. Wow. I thought the whole idea of "divide and conquer" is to position the WGA into an advantageous negotiating posture that will effect a good contract and a short strike for everyone involved.Frustrated Bystanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06897828604516458791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-29501480275422317462007-12-17T00:26:00.000-08:002007-12-17T00:26:00.000-08:00To those who think the Letterman development is ba...To those who think the Letterman development is bad news for the WGA - and I believe there are people who legitimately think that, without being trolls - let me see if I have this straight...<BR/><BR/>David Letterman <I>could</I> have kept his show on the air from day one. He <I>could</I> have ignored the strike completely, and kept right on working. Other talk show hosts did. He didn't.<BR/><BR/>Instead, he's stayed off the air all this time, not just with his own show, but all the other shows his company produces.<BR/><BR/>And during that time, he's paid the salaries of his non-striking workers out of his own pocket, not to mention paying the lease on the Ed Sullivan theater and all the other ancillary costs that come from being his own producer. The total must be running into the millions by now.<BR/><BR/>And he never had to do any of those things. He could have gone back on the air anytime he wanted, and <I>he never needed a WGA interim agreement to do that</I>. <BR/><BR/>He's also a writer himself, and a 30-year member of the WGA, if that counts for anything.<BR/><BR/>Now he's jumped the AMPTP fence - the first of the hundreds of AMPTP member companies to publicly do so - and is making a separate agreement with the WGA, one that will take Worldwide Pants off the list of struck companies and allow union writers to return to work there. <BR/><BR/>His writers, who've been striking this entire time, find this acceptable. The WGA finds this acceptable. Meanwhile, CBS felt compelled to issue a press release reiterating that it "remains unified with the AMPTP" (as opposed to something like: yay, Dave's really stuck it to the writers, victory is ours).<BR/><BR/>Won't it also help demonstrate to the disgruntled non-WGA workers who insist on blaming the WGA for their woes that they could be back at work too, if more companies did what Dave has done? <BR/><BR/>And finally - anyone who watches Letterman knows he's always been merciless in his mocking of CBS. (He did the same when he was on NBC.) I can't predict the future, but I <I>suspect</I> he may have a thing or two to say about the strike when he gets his airtime back. <BR/><BR/>And if he does, he'll be saying it to a national audience. And helping him write that material will be a roomful of union writers who'll have just walked past their less-fortunate union brethren outside, the same ones they've been marching in solidarity with for six weeks. <BR/><BR/>Again, I can't predict the future... but I'm gonna be watching Dave's first broadcast with <I>great</I> anticipation of what he might have to say.<BR/><BR/>My question is... how is any of this <I>good</I> news for the AMPTP??Trey Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16727912029745901005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-13930637251023553662007-12-16T23:49:00.000-08:002007-12-16T23:49:00.000-08:00And as one that was on the verge of being able to ...And as one that was on the verge of being able to join when the strike hit I agree... well worth it.<BR/><BR/>Sorry if my comments have been a bit pointed, but this is something that needs to be done. We can't divide now, we need to be able to do this in a unified manner to support those that will follow us as those that went before did for us.<BR/><BR/>Apologies again for being harsh, but I do believe we need to be united for the sake of all writers, regardless of who gets to go back to work sooner, to create the best real world we can for those that follow.<BR/><BR/>JeradAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-85427882802628113322007-12-16T23:23:00.000-08:002007-12-16T23:23:00.000-08:00Harold, I'm not sure what to make of your last co...Harold, I'm not sure what to make of your last comment, but if you are a member of WGA and on strike, all I can say is hang in there. As someone who works without a union behind them, I can say the fight is worth it.Carrie Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541011952386351550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-68332999149163042062007-12-16T23:16:00.000-08:002007-12-16T23:16:00.000-08:00Carrie,In regards to your comment:"So, now you can...Carrie,<BR/><BR/>In regards to your comment:<BR/><BR/>"So, now you can hurl insults at me because I'm just a reality writer, and that's fine."<BR/><BR/>I'm definitely wrong on one account. I wrote:<BR/><BR/>"No wonder that some of these comments don't reflect reality."<BR/><BR/>That's obviously not true.<BR/><BR/>I'm just tired and pessimistic and disappointed and a fan of conjunctions. That is all.Haroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16366457475764057418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-18149529210491366462007-12-16T23:08:00.000-08:002007-12-16T23:08:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Carrie Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541011952386351550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-55239752691981051222007-12-16T22:59:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:59:00.000-08:00Watcher, if you got a nickel for every time you wr...Watcher, if you got a nickel for every time you write "troll" or "astroturfer", you wouldn't need the strike to end. Not that anyone believes you are a working writer anyway.<BR/><BR/>I believe the deal with Letterman will be an interim contract/agreement that may have what WGA is asking for, but will revert to the final agreement that the AMPTP signs when the strike ends (most likely not as good a deal). So, basically a clever way to look like the WGA's requests are being honored, but in fact just a straw horse to start getting the writers back to work.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06823579560401396607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-45944458456147435412007-12-16T22:50:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:50:00.000-08:00I agree about the reality writers, what was said e...I agree about the reality writers, what was said earlier. If the reality writers want to be in the WGA they should go on strike. Like the family guy strike that got them in WGA. Shouldn't that be one of the lessons from Iraq, the people you save will never be satisfied with their hero unless they save themselves as well? lol, sort of a gross metaphor but I think it still applies.Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04645667864789271717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-23131475837912503682007-12-16T22:48:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:48:00.000-08:00I think negotiating with WWP is a devious and clev...I think negotiating with WWP is a devious and clever move. Start negotiating with prodcos that have shows in the same time slots as huge prodcos. So Letterman gets back on the air and gets money and start stealing the Leno audience. What more could piss off the AMPTP? The strike works both ways. WGA doesn't want scabs to start working for old money agreements, and the AMPTP doesn't want scabs paying WGA satisfactory money. If WGA can get scabs in the AMPTP, then more power to the WGA.Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04645667864789271717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-65166591815926457802007-12-16T22:44:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:44:00.000-08:00Well, I have a PS, because Harold did post another...Well, I have a PS, because Harold did post another question. I am out of school. I am an associate caucus member of the WGA through the reality organizing committee. I was part of the ROC during the America's Next Top Model strike. So, now you can hurl insults at me because I'm just a reality writer, and that's fine. I'm a reality writer that proudly supports the WGA in their efforts to win this strike wishing that reality television was better organized at this time so we were out there with you.Carrie Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541011952386351550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-52253476485675262032007-12-16T22:37:00.001-08:002007-12-16T22:37:00.001-08:00Actually my comment says the WGA would NOT pursue ...Actually my comment says the WGA would NOT pursue a strategy without considering the consequence, and as an added bonus says WGA would not pursue a risky strategy without thinking their was something worthwhile to be gained. <BR/><BR/>And in fact the negotiating committee did not take DVD off the table with the promise of nothing. They were promised fair negotiations on the other issues. AMPTP backed out without handing anything over. Lesson learned. You can't take anything off the table with AMPTP without a solid proposal first. WGA took a risk. Strikes are all about risks. <BR/><BR/>The difference is when I post what I THINK is going on, I post it as an opinion, not as a cold hard fact. And when you challenge one of my posts, I'll actually answer it, instead of deflecting by pointing out another one of your comments. <BR/><BR/>With that said, unless you have anything of substance to add, I'm now bowing out of my discussion with you. <BR/><BR/>CarrieCarrie Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541011952386351550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-77004888858523340382007-12-16T22:37:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:37:00.000-08:00So, harold I'll take from your post that you have ...So, harold I'll take from your post that you have no evidence that the WWP agreement is a postponment of current agreements. <BR/><BR/>It is also quite apparent that the only possible result of your contentiousness would be to create dissent in the WGA ranks.<BR/><BR/>Unless you have some argument other than your oft used "you're still in school" discussion there's really nothing more to be said to you.<BR/><BR/>Good night.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-45728099736292139132007-12-16T22:31:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:31:00.000-08:00Carrie wrote "Harold, are you on the negotiating c...Carrie wrote "Harold, are you on the negotiating committee?"<BR/><BR/>Carrie and Jerad,<BR/><BR/>Are you even out of school? Are you even in the WGA?<BR/><BR/>Because I don't know how else you could possibly know what I'm talking about. What I'm beginning to realize is that few actual WGA members post comments here. No wonder that some of these comments don't reflect reality.Haroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16366457475764057418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-69721845031718627222007-12-16T22:26:00.001-08:002007-12-16T22:26:00.001-08:00"My best guess is that the WGA wouldn't go with th..."My best guess is that the WGA wouldn't go with this strategy unless back channel communications were indicating a big fish could be reeled in."<BR/><BR/>Carrie,<BR/><BR/>Are you suggesting that the same group of negotiators that gave up DVDs with NO PROMISE OF ANYTHING, would pursue a strategy without considering its consequences?Haroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16366457475764057418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-2731226869796324102007-12-16T22:26:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:26:00.000-08:00Sorry, all I'm hearing from you is still speculati...Sorry, all I'm hearing from you is still speculation and psychic predictions. come tomorrow or the day after I may be wrong, but to say that interim agreement = no progress is patently false without the details of the agreement.<BR/><BR/>I understand that you may be frustrated about this if you are in fact a writer; but to claim that there is no progress made when the agreement hasn't even been announced yet is presumptuous on your part and only serves the amptp's goals even in the best of circumstances.<BR/><BR/>As I've said before we'll know in the near future what terms were agreed to between the WGA and WWP. In the meantime all your blathering aobut it is nothing more than contentious posturing on the part of the amptp; whether you're on their payroll or not.<BR/><BR/>thank you and good day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-54624202401097922712007-12-16T22:23:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:23:00.000-08:00Harold, are you on the negotiating committee? Bec...Harold, are you on the negotiating committee? Because I don't know how else you could possibly know what interim agreement the WGA might make.Carrie Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541011952386351550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-23313892093672962932007-12-16T22:22:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:22:00.000-08:00This is ridiculous. Frustrated Bystander is clear...This is ridiculous. Frustrated Bystander is clearly an AMPTP troll.<BR/><BR/>Your encouragement of waivers without contracts is revealing. Why not all of us go back to work then, AMPTP hack?<BR/><BR/>You will not break this strike. One of your spies at the assembly will report that back to you tomorrow.Haroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16366457475764057418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-58494761422642093052007-12-16T22:16:00.000-08:002007-12-16T22:16:00.000-08:00Jerad,The basics of any Worldwide Pants "interim a...Jerad,<BR/><BR/>The basics of any Worldwide Pants "interim agreement" will say that the Late Show gets a strike waiver for the duration of the strike. In exchange, the provisions of whatever agreement is eventually made (yeah, with the AMPTP) will be retroactive to the date of the waiver.<BR/><BR/>That's all the Late Show "interim agreement" is going to be. There will be no separate contract.<BR/><BR/>Other shows (and I'm predicting the family owned soaps will be first) will follow. If this keeps happening, you will have plenty of people working under the old terms that aren't even striking anymore for the new ones, but will be covered by them. Doesn't that sound familiar? Financial core, anyone?<BR/><BR/>This is not the same as individual negotiations to break the AMPTP. Individual waivers WITHOUT CONTRACTS break the WGA. For the most part, I think it's possible that WGA didn't have a choice. Support is falling from the showrunners too. It's not catastrophic by any means, but it is weakening.<BR/><BR/>For God's sake, listen to the showrunners tomorrow. Screw the ones that want to get back to work now, but listen to the issues that the others think are important. There has to be a focus on their biggest issues to keep them in the strike.<BR/><BR/>Is there a place that I can bet money that the Late Show will not sign a 3-year (or even 1-year) deal with WGA? Easy money.Haroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16366457475764057418noreply@blogger.com