Well, it's happened. We went from rampant optimism to another break down in the talks in a matter of mere weeks. There's sniping, there's rhetoric, but what you really need to know is this: no progress was made, and it looks like the rest of the TV season is probably going to go down the tubes.
The Directors Guild takes up talks with the AMPTP soon. Directors don't usually walk, so that may end up forcing WGA's hand. We'll see.
08 December 2007
04 December 2007
Don't Ask Me, I Just Work Here
Hollywood Reporter: Well, the AMPTP made its offer, and at the very least, the WGA didn't storm from the room. They're countering tomorrow, though no one seems to know the details. So, yeah: What do we know? Nothing. I'm no longer optimistic, I'm no longer pessimistic, I'm just confused.
Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald: It appears that Leno will be paying staffers' salaries after all. Yet another contradictory report from yet another source. Sigh.
So anyway, with news no longer flying so fast, I'm going to try to summon the energy to expand the M.O. of That's Not What She Said. I'll be working on a second "flashcap" forc Northern Attack soon, but with any luck I'll be able to post here with reviews of the "Veronica Mars" season 3 DVD box, and do the same for "The Wire" season 4 shortly thereafter. Whee!
Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald: It appears that Leno will be paying staffers' salaries after all. Yet another contradictory report from yet another source. Sigh.
So anyway, with news no longer flying so fast, I'm going to try to summon the energy to expand the M.O. of That's Not What She Said. I'll be working on a second "flashcap" forc Northern Attack soon, but with any luck I'll be able to post here with reviews of the "Veronica Mars" season 3 DVD box, and do the same for "The Wire" season 4 shortly thereafter. Whee!
03 December 2007
Merry-Go-Round
Talks begin again tomorrow, and as long as the sides are talking, that's always good. But reports are that almost nothing got accomplished last week, and both sides have been more engaged in PR than negotiation, as far as I can tell. The San Jose Mercury-News reports that the optimism of the last two weeks has almost completely disappeared. Meh.
Monstersandcritics.com: A short but interesting blurb indicates that the WGA may ditch negotiations with the AMPTP if they feel like they're still getting nowhere, and instead negotiate deals with individual production houses. Apparently, this has been done before, back in the 70s by cinematographers, and it worked. It would be a high-pressure tactic, for sure, but if it fails . . . ouch.
LA Times: Improvisation and the strike -- many actors are WGA members. If they ad-lib on the set, are they strikebreaking? Nobody seems to know for sure, and some, like Ben Stiller, are walking a tightrope while moving forward with shooting.
Monstersandcritics.com: A short but interesting blurb indicates that the WGA may ditch negotiations with the AMPTP if they feel like they're still getting nowhere, and instead negotiate deals with individual production houses. Apparently, this has been done before, back in the 70s by cinematographers, and it worked. It would be a high-pressure tactic, for sure, but if it fails . . . ouch.
LA Times: Improvisation and the strike -- many actors are WGA members. If they ad-lib on the set, are they strikebreaking? Nobody seems to know for sure, and some, like Ben Stiller, are walking a tightrope while moving forward with shooting.
01 December 2007
Let the Playhouse Burn
In a story in the Hollywood Reporter AMPTP mucka-mucks criticize WGAW president David Young, who, you'll recall, is new and already had a reputation for not being great at negotiation. Although nothing that comes from either side should be taken with anything less than a fistful of salt, sources are claiming that Young has "dug in [his] heels" too hard, refusing to negotiate from the AMPTP's initial offer, which was never intended to be final. WGA negotiators have rejected the idea that Young is too inexperienced to be involved in these kind of talks. Officially I have no opinion, but I wouldn't be shocked if Young isn't quite as skilled as you might want your chief negotiator to be.
Film legend Woody Allen has shot a "Speechless" video in support of striking writers, according to Deadline Hollywood Daily. I'm intrigued to see this one, because unlike the others I've seen, I expect it might have some artistic merit as well as propaganda value.
New York Times: As expected, non-writing staff for Conan and Leno have been laid off by NBC. Conan's production company will be paying staffers until they're re-hired, and Leno has promised a Christmas bonus, but has said nothing about salaries.
AP: ABC News has reached an agreement with its newswriters, who have been working without a contract for three years.
The really important news is that I'm still writing occasional recaps for Northern Attack, filling in gaps in back episodes. My recap of "The Alliance" should be up sometime today.
Film legend Woody Allen has shot a "Speechless" video in support of striking writers, according to Deadline Hollywood Daily. I'm intrigued to see this one, because unlike the others I've seen, I expect it might have some artistic merit as well as propaganda value.
New York Times: As expected, non-writing staff for Conan and Leno have been laid off by NBC. Conan's production company will be paying staffers until they're re-hired, and Leno has promised a Christmas bonus, but has said nothing about salaries.
AP: ABC News has reached an agreement with its newswriters, who have been working without a contract for three years.
The really important news is that I'm still writing occasional recaps for Northern Attack, filling in gaps in back episodes. My recap of "The Alliance" should be up sometime today.
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