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More significantly, any [[residual]], [[health insurance]], [[pension]], and other gains made by the writers guild are also likely to be demanded by other unions. This is a practice known as [[pattern bargaining]]. Since the AMPTP is aware that the WGA contract will become a model for agreements with other unions, WGA negotiations are usually the most contentious and therefore more likely to result in a strike.
More significantly, any [[residual]], [[health insurance]], [[pension]], and other gains made by the writers guild are also likely to be demanded by other unions. This is a practice known as [[pattern bargaining]]. Since the AMPTP is aware that the WGA contract will become a model for agreements with other unions, WGA negotiations are usually the most contentious and therefore more likely to result in a strike.


On July of 2008, the contracts of two additional entertainment industry labor unions&mdash;the [[Screen Actors Guild]] (SAG) and [[Directors Guild of America]] (DGA)&mdash;are set to expire. If all three unions cannot reach an agreement with the AMPTP, they are expected to support each other in a collective negotiation that would effectively bring the Hollywood film industry to a standstill.<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2449161.ece Film studios braced for strike by Hollywood writers and actors]</ref><ref name=strikezone>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117969465.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1&query=strike Hollywood in strike zone]</ref><ref>[http://www.dailycardinal.com/article/320 The downside of Hollywood strikes]</ref><ref>[http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/news/2007/09/strike Strike Over 'New Media Pie' Could Cripple Hollywood]</ref>
On July of 2008, the contracts of two additional entertainment industry labor unions&mdash;the [[Screen Actors Guild]] (SAG) and [[Directors Guild of America]] (DGA)&mdash;are set to expire. If all three unions cannot reach an agreement with the AMPTP, they are expected to support each other in a collective negotiation that could potentially bring the Hollywood film industry to a standstill.<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2449161.ece Film studios braced for strike by Hollywood writers and actors]</ref><ref name=strikezone>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117969465.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1&query=strike Hollywood in strike zone]</ref><ref>[http://www.dailycardinal.com/article/320 The downside of Hollywood strikes]</ref><ref>[http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/news/2007/09/strike Strike Over 'New Media Pie' Could Cripple Hollywood]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 17:42, 12 November 2007

Striking writers and supporters raise signs at a WGAw rally in Los Angeles
Writer-actor Jeff Garlin (foreground, right) and others at a WGAw rally outside the Fox Studios in Los Angeles

The 2007 Writers Guild of America strike is a strike by both the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America, west (WGAW) that started on November 5, 2007.[1] The WGAE and WGAw are two labor unions that represent film, television and radio writers working in the United States.

The strike is against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), a trade organization that represents the interests of American film and television producers. Over 12,000 writers are affected by the strike.[2]

The strike is expected to be prolonged. The Writers Guild has indicated their industrial action would be a "marathon." AMPTP negotiator Nick Counter has indicated that negotiations would not resume as long as strike action continues, stating, "We're not going to negotiate with a gun to our heads—that's just stupid."[3]

The last such strike was the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike; it lasted 22 weeks, costing the American entertainment industry an estimated 500 million dollars.[4]

Reasons for the strike

Every three years, the Writers Guilds negotiate a new basic contract with the AMPTP by which its members are employed. This contract is called the Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA).[5] In the 2007 negotiations over the MBA, an impasse was reached, and the WGA membership voted to give its board authorization to call a strike, which it did on Friday, November 2 with the strike beginning the subsequent Monday, November 5, 2007.

Among the many proposals from both sides regarding the new contract, there are several key issues of contention including DVD residuals, union jurisdiction over animation and reality programs, and perhaps most importantly, "new media".

DVD residuals

Background

In 1985, the Writer's Guild went on strike over the home video market, which was then small and primarily consisted of distribution via video tape. At that time, the entertainment companies argued that home video was an "unproven" market, with an expensive delivery channel (manufacturing VHS and Betamax tapes, and to a much smaller extent, Laserdisc). Movies were selling in the range of between $40-$100 per tape, and the writer's guild accepted a formula in which a writer would receive a small (.3%) percentage of the first million of reportable gross (and .36% after) of each tape sold as a residual.

Over the years, as manufacturing costs for video tapes came down dramatically and the home video market exploded, writers realized that agreeing to this formula may have been a mistake. Debuting in 1997, DVDs replaced the more expensive VHS tapes slowly until they became the dominant format around 2001 and eventually became less expensive to produce, market and purchase, but the previous VHS home video residual formula continued to apply.

At present, the home video market is the major source of revenue from the movie studios. In April of 2004, the New York Times reported the companies made $4.8 billion in home video sales vs. $1.78 billion at the box office.[6]

Current proposals

WGA west President and Futurama writer Patric Verrone speaks at a strike rally in Los Angeles

WGA members claim that a writer's residuals, or profits made from subsequent airings or purchases of a program, are a necessary part of a writer's income that is typically relied upon during periods of unemployment that are common in the writing industry. The WGA has requested a doubling of the residual rate for DVD sales, which would result in a residual of approximately eight cents (up from four cents) per DVD sold.[7]

In negotiations, the AMPTP has refused to consider changing the formula. Their rationale has been that DVD sales are necessary to offset rising production and marketing costs.[8] They have further insisted that the current DVD formula be applied to residuals in new media (see below).

The WGA has said via press release that the DVD proposal was completely removed by the WGA from the table on November 4, 2007, the final night before the strike began. However, WGA President Patric M. Verrone later wrote that the membership exhibited "significant disappointment and even anger" when they learned of this, and as the removal was contingent on further concessions by the AMPTP (which did not happen), "all bets are off" on the withdrawal of the DVD proposal.

New media

One critical issue for the negotiations is that of "new media", which includes Internet downloads, IPTV, streaming, smart phone programming, straight-to-Internet content, and other "on-demand" online distribution methods, along with video on demand on cable and satellite television.[9]

Background

Currently, the WGA has no arrangement with the companies regarding the use of content online, and two models of Internet distribution are currently being negotiated. The first is "digital sell-through" (also known as "Internet sales"). In digital sell-through, the consumer purchases a copy of the program and downloads it to a local storage device for subsequent viewing at their convenience. Examples include movies and television shows purchased through the iTunes Store and Amazon Unbox. In the second model, "streaming video", the consumer watches a program in real time as it is transmitted to their computer but is usually not saved. Current examples of this model include advertising-supported television programs streamed free to the audience, such as those available at NBC.com and thedailyshow.com.

In either case, the program may be viewed directly on a computer or it may be viewed on a traditional television via media distribution devices (e.g. Tivo). The convenience of both these technologies lowers the barriers to entry into the digital distribution marketplace making it more accessible to mainstream consumers.

There is a consensus that new media will likely eventually supplant both DVD in the home video market and television in the broadcasting market as the primary means for distribution. As in the mid-1980s, the companies have argued that new media represents an unproven and untested market and have asked for additional time for study. However, feeling resentment from the 20-year-old home video deal and unwilling to make similar concessions in a so-called "new market" yet again, WGA members have been adamant that whatever deal they make for New Media, it cannot resemble the DVD formula.

This was articulated by a self-described "skeptic", writer Howard Gould, at a meeting of the full WGA membership the night before the strike date was announced. He said, to a standing ovation:

Soon, when computers and your TV are connected, that's how we're all going to watch. Okay? Those residuals are going to go from what they are towards zero if we don't make a stand now. ... This is such a big issue that if they see us roll over on this without making a stand- three years from now, they're gonna be back for something else. ... I might have been the most moderate one up here when we started, but I sat there in the room the first day and they read us those thirty-two pages of rollbacks. And what they wanted us to hear was that "if you don't give us what [we] want on the important thing, we're gonna come after you for all those other things." But what I heard was, if we give them that thing, they'll still come after us for those other things. And in three years, it'll be "we want to revamp the whole residual system," and in another three years, it'll be "y'know what, we don't really want to fund the health fund the way we've been." And then it will be pension. And then it'll be credit determination. And there just is that time when everybody has to see- this is one where we just gotta stand our ground."[10]

Current proposals

The WGA has proposed that writers receive 2.5% of distributor's gross for new media sales and distribution.

The companies have thus far refused to address this proposal, and have instead proposed that Internet sales follow the same formula as DVD sales. With regard to streaming, the companies have proposed that so-called "promotional" streaming—including the streaming of a program in its entirety and even for profit via advertising or other means—not pay any residuals to the writer or writers whatsoever.

Both of these proposals have been rejected by the WGA and are cited as evidence that the studios "(want) to shut down rather than reaching a fair deal." [11]

Strike logistics

WGA members gathered at Nov. 9, 2007 rally at Fox Plaza in Century City, Los Angeles, California.

The current WGA contracts with AMPTP both expired on October 31, 2007.[12] Talks broke down the night of the 31st over the new-media issue. During a meeting on November 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which was attended by 3,000 WGAw members, the general membership was informed that the negotiating committee had formally recommended a strike. The board said it would announce the date of the strike the following morning.[13] On November 2, the WGAE and WGAw announced that the strike would begin at 12:01 AM on November 5th.[14][15]

On November 4th, in a last-ditch conciliation to try to avoid the strike, the WGA temporarily withdrew its DVD proposal, but the Companies still insisted on a lack of residual for new media.[16] Talks subsequently broke down, with both sides accusing the other of walking out.[17]

Thus, on November 5th, nearly 3,000 WGAw members, plus additional SAG and Teamsters members, picketed or refused to cross the picket lines at fourteen targeted studios in Los Angeles.[18] Additionally, many more Writer's Guild of America East picketers marched in locations in New York including Rockefeller Center. Picketing is scheduled to continue throughout the strike period.

On Friday, November 9th, following four days of targeted picketing, a massive rally was held outside the Fox studios in Los Angeles, drawing an estimated 4,000 WGAw members and supporters, including a sizable number of SAG members.[19] Speakers included WGA West president Patric M. Verrone, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, and producer Norman Lear. The rally was opened with a two-song performance by Zack de la Rocha and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine.[20]

Strategies and tactics

AMPTP

In anticipation of the strike, production companies accelerated production of films and television episodes in an effort to stockpile enough material to continue regular film releases and TV schedules during the strike period.[21][22] A list of 300 high-priority film projects reportedly circulated around talent agencies in accordance with this effort.[23]

Following the refusal of many showrunner writer-producers to cross the picket line in the first week of the strike, the companies sent breach-of-contract letters and have suspended many of them without pay to encourage them to return to work.[24]

There is also speculation the companies are seeking out other sources of writing services, including in the U.K.[25]

From a public relations standpoint, the AMPTP is characterizing the strike as being a squabble over money between rich parties.[citation needed]

WGA

WGA members gathered at Nov. 9 strike rally in Century City.

The strike itself is a tactic used to deprive the media companies of writing services. There was wide expectation that the strike, if it occurred, would be scheduled for the summer of 2008 to coincide with the expiration of the actors' union contracts. However, a decision was made by the WGA leadership to start the strike earlier than expected so that it could better interfere with the current television season and give the AMPTP less time to stockpile scripts and otherwise prepare for a summer strike.[citation needed]

Other tactics used by the WGA include assigning picketers to location shoots in an attempt to shut down production and setting up picket links in front of studio gates to encourage Teamsters, particularly truck drivers, not to cross the line.[26]

For its second week of picketing, the WGA has reduced their studio strike list from fourteen to ten, shifted picketing hours to earlier in the day, and has scheduled a series of daily strike themes ranging from "Bring-A-Star-To-Picket-With-You" (also called "Cast Day") to "Bring-Your-Kids" special events.[27][28]

The WGA's public relations effort has consisted in part as an direct appeal to the public to understand the issues behind the strike. The Internet is playing a large role in this effort.[29][30]

Effect on television

Further information: [[:2007-08 United States network television schedule]]

The Oprah Winfrey Show uses non-union writers, and thus will be unaffected by the strike.[31]

Late night comedy shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Last Call with Carson Daly, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report and Saturday Night Live began airing reruns immediately.[2] However, The Tonight Show may resume new episodes beginning November 19, but using guest hosts to fill in for Jay Leno, who refused to cross the picket lines.[32]

Mid-season shows, such as 24, Dirt and The Riches, began production after most other TV shows, so they have completed fewer episodes to date. As a result, there will be fewer episodes to air for each of these shows. FOX has announced that the upcoming 24 Season 7 has been postponed indefinitely and will not air a single episode until the strike ends, due to the show's long-standing practice of airing non-stop full seasons. ABC will have to make a decision regarding whether to air Lost as a non-stop full season after the strike is resolved, or air the current eight episodes that are already finished while putting the rest of the unfinished season on an indefinite hiatus.

For shows without full-season pickups such as Moonlight and Cane, production on the first batch of shows has been completed.

Production for Heroes: Origins has been postponed as a result of the strike.[33][34][35]

Though seven scripts are in for ABC series Cashmere Mafia, the network has delayed the show's premiere date from the original late November premiere.[36]

Scrubs may not be able to air a series finale as only 12 of its 18 order episodes have been written.[37] Creator Bill Lawrence has stated he will either release the final on DVD, as he said in an interview, or will post what would have happened in episodes 13 through 18 on the internet.[38]

NBC is considering airing the original British version of The Office in place of the American version.[39]

The strike does not affect reality shows such as American Idol, whose episodes are unscripted, or news programs, whose writers belong to a different guild.[40]. However, CBS News and CBS's locally owned and operated station news operations are currently subject to a different strike action by WGA which may be authorized November 15, as CBS News writers under WGA have been without a contract with the network since April 2005.[41]

Similarly, game shows such as Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and The Price Is Right are not affected because they are unscripted. This will also affect the start of 2008 revivals of Password (CBS) and American Gladiators (NBC), as they may move up the shows in order to compensate for fewer scripted shows. The CBS midseason Power of 10 may also pick up additional episodes, and The Price Is Right may tape extra primetime episodes.

Soap operas such as All My Children, As the World Turns, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, One Life to Live, and The Young and the Restless have scripts written through January 2008. Guiding Light, along with the DirecTV-exclusive Passions (formerly aired on NBC, now on The 101) have an additional month of scripts, so they should air new episodes until February 2008.[42][43]

Effect on shows

TV Show Status
Show Network Episodes/scripts
All My Children ABC Scripts completed through January 2008.
Big Shots ABC 13 episodes have been completed.[44]
Boston Legal ABC 15 episodes have been completed.[44]
Brothers & Sisters ABC 12 episodes have been completed.[44]
Cashmere Mafia ABC 7 episodes have been completed. Originally scheduled to begin November 27, the premiere has been delayed as a result of the strike.[44]
Cavemen ABC 12 episodes have been completed.[44]
Carpoolers ABC All 13 episodes have been completed.[44]
Desperate Housewives ABC 10 episodes have been completed.[45]
Dirty Sexy Money ABC 11 episodes have been completed.[45]
Eli Stone ABC All 13 episodes that were ordered have been completed.[44]
General Hospital ABC Scripts completed through January 2008.
Grey's Anatomy ABC 11 episodes have been completed. [44]
Lost ABC 8 scripts have been completed, likely to premiere Monday, Feb. 4, 2008 at 8:00 PM.[46][47]
Men in Trees ABC 19 episodes have been written (5 leftover from Season 1 and 14 from the current season).[44]
Notes From the Underbelly ABC 5 episodes (from the first season) have been shot, it is unknown how many second season episodes have been completed.[45]
One Life to Live ABC Scripts completed through January 2008.
Private Practice ABC 10-11 episodes have been completed.[44]
Pushing Daisies ABC The final draft of the ninth episode was turned in by creator Bryan Fuller before midnight on November 4, 2007. As of November 9, 2007, the eighth episode is filming.[48]
Samantha Who? ABC 12 episodes have been completed.[45]
Ugly Betty ABC 13 episodes have been completed.[45]
The View ABC Is currently continuing, with a statement by the network that "contingency plans have been made in the event of a strike." [49]
Women's Murder Club ABC 10 episodes have been completed.[45]
As the World Turns CBS Scripts completed through January 2008.
The Big Bang Theory CBS 8 or 9 episodes have been completed.[44] Production stopped.[50]
Big Brother CBS Could be moved from the summer to between January and March (sources vary) to replace other shows. [51][52] Currently unknown if new season would be the ninth, or a special Celebrity Big Brother season, but there is talk of casting calls being scheduled by the network.[53][54][55] If Big Brother does start its run in the winter, it would not affect the summer edition.
The Bold and the Beautiful CBS Scripts completed through January 2008.
Cane CBS All 13 episodes have been completed.[56]
Cold Case CBS 12 episodes have been completed.[45]
Criminal Minds CBS 12 episodes have been completed. [56]
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS 11 or 12 episodes have been completed.[45]
CSI: Miami CBS 13 episodes have been completed.[45]
CSI: New York CBS 14 episodes have been completed.[45]
Ghost Whisperer CBS At least 9 episodes have been completed.[45]
Guiding Light CBS Scripts completed through February 2008.
How I Met Your Mother CBS 11 episodes have been completed.[57]
Jericho CBS All 7 episodes have been completed.[56]
The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS Immediate reruns began on November 5, 2007.[58]
Late Show With David Letterman CBS Immediate reruns began on November 5, 2007.[58]
Moonlight CBS 11 episodes have been completed.[56]
NCIS CBS 13 episodes have been completed.[45]
Numb3rs CBS 12 episodes have been completed.[56]
The New Adventures of Old Christine CBS 8 or 9 episodes are completed.[59] Production stopped.[60]
Rules of Engagement CBS 9 or 10 episodes have been completed.[61] Production stopped.[62]
Shark CBS 11 episodes have been completed.[45]
Two and a Half Men CBS 11 episodes have been completed.[63] Production stopped.[64]
The Young and the Restless CBS Scripts completed through January 2008.
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Comedy Central Reruns began on November 5, 2007.[58]
The Colbert Report Comedy Central Reruns began on November 5, 2007.[58]
South Park Comedy Central Unaffected by the strike because its writers are not guild members.[65]
Aliens in America CW 17 episodes will be completed. Still in production.[44]
Everybody Hates Chris CW All 22 episodes of season completed,[66] done with production for season.[67]
Gossip Girl CW 13 episodes have been completed.[45]
Girlfriends CW 10 episodes will be completed. Still in production.[44]
The Game CW 10 episodes will be completed. Still in production.[44]
Life is Wild CW 12 episodes have been completed.[44]
One Tree Hill CW 12 episodes have been completed. Expected to premiere midseason.[44]
Reaper CW 13 episodes have been completed.[44]
Smallville CW 15 scripts written, studio expected to produce all.[68]
Supernatural CW 10-12 episodes have been completed.[45]
24 FOX Eight episodes of 24 will be completed[69]; premiere has been delayed until such a time that the Day 7 season can air continuously with no or few interruptions. [45]
Back to You FOX 9 episodes have been completed.[45] Production stopped.[70], The show is currently on hiatus, but will return on March 12, 2008. [71] airing encore episodes.
Bones FOX 12 episodes have been completed. Will begin airing repeats January 4th, 2008, when it also moves to Friday.[72]
Family Guy FOX Show creator and voice actor Seth MacFarlane claims the November 11th episode is the last episode produced under his watch and there are no more new episodes ready. [73] The network claims that there are enough episodes for the remainder of November.
House FOX 12 episodes have been completed.[45]
K-Ville FOX 10 episodes have been completed.[56] Production shut down.[74]
New Amsterdam FOX All 7 episodes have been completed.[45]
Prison Break FOX 13 episodes have been completed. [45] Episode airing November 12, 2007 is changed to fall finale. Will return January 14, 2008.[75] The status of the upcoming spin-off, Prison Break: Cherry Hill, is unknown.
The Return of Jezebel James FOX All 7 episodes have been completed. [45]
The Simpsons FOX 22 of this season's 23 episodes will be completed. [76]
'Til Death FOX 12 episodes have been completed. [45] Production stopped.[77] The show will go on hiatus on November 28, but will return on March 7, 2008.[78] airing encore episodes.
Dirt FX 13 episodes have been ordered, unknown how many have been written.
Nip/Tuck FX 14 of the 22 episodes have been written which means the last 8 episodes will be affected.
Rescue Me FX No episodes have been written due to the fact that the show was renewed for 22 episodes the day after the strike began.
The Riches FX 13 episodes have been ordered, unknown how many have been written.
The Shield FX All 13 episodes of season seven will be completed.[79]
Real Time with Bill Maher HBO Reruns began on November 9, 2007.[80]
30 Rock NBC 9 episodes have been completed. The 10th is being filmed. though it may be off schedule due to main writer and star Tina Fey balancing the strike action with production of the program.[44][81]
Bionic Woman NBC 9 episodes have been completed. [45]
Chuck NBC 13 episodes have been completed. [45]
Days of our Lives NBC Scripts completed through January 2008.
ER NBC At least 9 episodes have been completed. [45]
Friday Night Lights NBC 15 episodes will be completed.[66]
Heroes NBC At least 11 episodes will be completed. It is yet unknown whether or not more than 11 episodes will be completed. [82]
Heroes: Origins NBC Production postponed. [83]
Journeyman NBC 13 episodes have been completed. [45]
Las Vegas NBC At least 10 episodes have been completed. [45]
Late Night With Conan O'Brien NBC Immediate reruns began on November 5, 2007.[58]
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit NBC 14 episodes have been completed. [45]
Life NBC At least 9 episodes have been completed. [45]
Medium NBC 9 episodes have been completed. [56]
My Name is Earl NBC 13 episodes have been completed. [56]
The Office NBC Production stopped, last new episode scheduled to air November 15, 2007.[84] One unproduced script.[85]
Scrubs NBC 12 out of 18 episodes have been completed.[44] Series finale episode could possibly not be produced or broadcast;[86] were this to happen, series creator Bill Lawrence will try to release a straight-to-DVD final episode. [87]
Saturday Night Live NBC Immediate reruns began November 10, 2007.[58]
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC Immediate reruns began on November 5, 2007[58]; new episodes may return with guest hosts on November 19, 2007.[32]
Battlestar Galactica SciFi 10 out of 20 episodes have been completed.[88]
Doctor Who SciFi Not affected; a BBC/CBC co-production without American union involvement, and episodes are delayed from original British airing.
10 Items or Less TBS 8 episodes are to be produced, unknown how many are written.
The Bill Engvall Show TBS 10 episodes are to be produced, unknown how many are written.
Frank TV TBS There will only be 4 episodes produced instead of 8.[89]
My Boys TBS 8 episodes are to be produced, unknown how many are written.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent USA/NBC 11 of 22 episodes completed. [44]
Monk USA All 16 episodes of the current season will be produced. [44]
Psych USA All 16 episodes of the current season will be produced. [44]

Response

Actors

Family Guy creator and actor Seth MacFarlane speaking at a WGAw rally in Los Angeles on November 9, 2007

The Screen Actor's Guild contract with the AMPTP contains a "no strike" clause, meaning that working members of the acting union are not supposed to walk off their set in support of another union's strike. However, many actors have expressed their support for the writer's strike, with some marching with writers and even refusing to cross the WGA's picket line.

Actors picketing

Actors expressing support for picketers

Ellen DeGeneres stated that she supports the writers' strike, but crossed the picket line.[121] Her show continues production as normal with the exception of her monologue being omitted. The WGAE issued a statement condemning DeGeneres, stating that she was "not welcome in NY"[122] A statement defending DeGeneres was subsequently issued by AFTRA, which was then responded to by the WGAE.[123][124]

Writer-producers

Many television writer-producers, also known as "hyphenates" (or "show-runners", if they are in charge of the day-to-day production of a television show) who are WGA members found themselves contractually obligated to continue their production duties while simultaneously barred from performing writing duties during the strike. In a show of solidarity with the writers, approximately 120 show-runners marched in Burbank on November 7, 2007 and many have decided to honor the picket lines entirely, refusing to perform even their production duties during the strike.[125]

Producers

As a result of the strike, the companies have halted production on several television programs and have fired writers assistants, production assistants, and other lower-level staffers from numerous programs. Writer-producer Seth MacFarlane has called on other showrunners, if they have the means, to continue paying their writer assistants' salaries.

Politicians

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he is negotiating with both sides of the dispute "because it has a tremendous economic impact on our state."[126]

Senators and 2008 Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards each issued statements of support for the WGA.[127]

Civil rights leader and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson has marched with the writers and spoke at a WGA rally on November 9, 2007.

Former executives

Former Walt Disney Corporation CEO Michael Eisner has applied the terms "insanity" and "too stupid" to the writers strike. "For a writer to give up today's money for a nonexistent piece of the future — they should do it in three years, shouldn't be doing it now — they are misguided they should not have gone on the strike. I've seen stupid strikes, I've seen less stupid strikes, and this strike is just a stupid strike."[128]

Other unions

Statements of support have been made by other guilds around the world. According to a statement by WGA president Patric M. Verrone, "Aside from SAG and the Teamsters, other unions are lining up to support us including Local 1877 SEIU, HERE Local 11, the ILWU, the National Writers Union (a UAW local), UHW-SEIU, and our sister Guilds in Canada, Australia, Great Britain,[129] and New Zealand."[130]

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, which represents most of the "below the line" motion picture employees (over 50,000 members), has not joined the strike, citing a "no strike" provision in their contracts.[131]

Possible industry-wide strike

More significantly, any residual, health insurance, pension, and other gains made by the writers guild are also likely to be demanded by other unions. This is a practice known as pattern bargaining. Since the AMPTP is aware that the WGA contract will become a model for agreements with other unions, WGA negotiations are usually the most contentious and therefore more likely to result in a strike.

On July of 2008, the contracts of two additional entertainment industry labor unions—the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Directors Guild of America (DGA)—are set to expire. If all three unions cannot reach an agreement with the AMPTP, they are expected to support each other in a collective negotiation that could potentially bring the Hollywood film industry to a standstill.[132][21][133][134]

See also

Template:Organized labour portal

References

  1. ^ Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes. (2007-11-02). "Writers Say Strike to Start Monday". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b Vince Horiuchi (2007-11-04). "Writers strike to hit TV first - and hard". The Salt Lake Tribune. Cite error: The named reference "slt-110407" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ Hibberd, James (2007-11-05). "AMPTP's Chief Negotiator: Writer Talks Over for 'Quite a While'". TVWeek. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  4. ^ "Hollywood writers go on strike over new-media pay". Agence France Press. 2007-11-04.
  5. ^ 2004 2004 Writers Guild of America-Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement, Writers Guild of America, 2004, retrieved 2007-11-09 {{citation}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. ^ "Studios Rush To Cash In On DVD Boom; Swelling Demand for Disks Alters Hollywood's Arithmetic". The New York Times. 2004-04-20. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  7. ^ WGA Contract 2007 Proposals (PDF), Writers Guild of America, retrieved 2007-11-09
  8. ^ Richard Verrier (2007-10-20). "Writers Guild votes overwhelmingly to authorize a strike". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  9. ^ Leopold, Tony (2007-11-08). "Changing media landscape takes center stage in strike". CNN. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  10. ^ Howard Gould (2007-11-06). Hear Howard Gould talk about what the strike is about. Youtube.
  11. ^ "TV Writers Say Strike Set For Monday". CBS News. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  12. ^ Cieply, Michael (2007-08-31). "To Strike or Not? Hollywood's Next Drama". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  13. ^ Fernandez, Maria Elena (2007-11-01). "A line in the sand". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  14. ^ McNary, Dave (2007-11-02). "Writers call for strike: Union producers to resume talks Sunday". Variety. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Presidents' (sic) announce WGA strike (embedded video). Writers Guild of America.
  16. ^ "Contract 2007 Negotiations Statement". Writers of Guild of America, West. 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  17. ^ Finke, Nikki. "Deals, Lies & Backchannelling: Why This Is A Bigger Mess Now Than Ever Before" (blog). Deadline Hollywood Daily. LA Weekly. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
  18. ^ Finke, Nikki (2007-11-05). "On The Line, Part II: Strike News Day One" (blog). Deadline Hollywood Daily. LA Weekly. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  19. ^ Dave McNary (2007-11-09). "Writers stage big rally". Variety.
  20. ^ UnitedHollywood provides rally footage via Youtube (video)
  21. ^ a b Hollywood in strike zone
  22. ^ "Studios brace for life without scribes". Variety. Retrieved 2007-11-09. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Unknown parameter |Last= ignored (|last= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Havens, Edward (2007-09-13). "List of Pre-Strike Films Getting Made" (blog). Utah Street Networks.
  24. ^ Nikki Finke on the showrunner suspensions
  25. ^ Variety reports on U.K. writers possibly being used durng the strike
  26. ^ Nikki Finke reports partial success in slowing down production for Hotel For Dogs
  27. ^ Nikki Fink reports on scheduled "Bring-A-Star-To-Picket-With-You event
  28. ^ UnitedHollywood discusses week 2 strike strategies
  29. ^ UnitedHollywood provides rally footage via Youtube (video)
  30. ^ UnitedHollywood Appeals directly to the public via Youtube (video)
  31. ^ http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/11/09/3084281.htm
  32. ^ a b Deadline Hollywood Daily: "Tonight Show Returns With Guest Hosts After Leno's Nonwriting Staff Laid Off", 11/9/2007
  33. ^ "NBC benches 'Singing Bee', 'Heroes: Origins'; ABC extends 'Murder Club'". The Futon Critic. 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-10-31. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ Wallenstein, Andrew (2007-11-01). "False start for NBC's 'Heroes: Origins'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  35. ^ Adalian, Josef (2007-10-31). "NBC holds 'Heroes' spinoff". Variety.
  36. ^ "'Cashmere Mafia' debut is delayed". Los Angeles Times. 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2007-11-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Richmond, Ray (2007-11-05). "'Scrubs' diagnosis unclear". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  38. ^ WGA America Youtube
  39. ^ Hollywood Writers May Strike over New Media
  40. ^ CNN (2007-11-05). "Get ready for reruns: Writers hit the picket lines". CNN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-05. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Gold, Matea (2007-11-05). "Union leaders expect CBS News writers to back strike". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-11-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  42. ^ Writers' Strike Won't Scrub Soaps Until at Least January
  43. ^ Writer strike Threatens Soaps
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v LA Times staff (2007-11-05). "The TV Grid". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "WGA Strike-What Programming is Available?". Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  46. ^ "DarkUFO".
  47. ^ Grossman, Ben (2007-11-07). "STRIKE COVERAGE: ABC to Air Partial Season of Lost". Broadcasting & Cable.
  48. ^ Schneider, Peter Sanders, Rebecca Dana and Sam (2007-11-06). "As Writers Gamble for Digital Pie". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2007-11-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ Kaltenbach, Chris (2007-11-06). "Strike could speed ebb of network TV". The Baltimore Sun.
  50. ^ Production Stops On At Least 6 Sitcoms, Yahoo!, November 6, 2007
  51. ^ "New 'Big Brother' could air this winter". Entertainment Weekly.
  52. ^ "CBS readies early run of 'Big Brother'". Digital Spy.
  53. ^ "Could 'Big Brother' Be Back So Soon?". BuddyTV. 2007-11-07.
  54. ^ "CBS leans on 'Brother' during strike". Variety.com.
  55. ^ "Will the WGA strike bring an early winter Big Brother 9?". TVSquad.com.
  56. ^ a b c d e f g h "WGA Writers' Strike Roundup". Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  57. ^ The TV Grid, Los Angeles Times
  58. ^ a b c d e f g Gough, Paul J. and Kimberly Nordyke (2007-11-03). "Late night during strike: No laughing matter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  59. ^ The TV Grid, Los Angeles Times
  60. ^ Production Stops On At Least 6 Sitcoms, Yahoo!, November 6, 2007
  61. ^ The TV Grid, Los Angeles Times
  62. ^ Production Stops On At Least 6 Sitcoms, Yahoo!, November 6, 2007
  63. ^ The TV Grid, Los Angeles Times
  64. ^ Production Stops On At Least 6 Sitcoms, Yahoo!, November 6, 2007
  65. ^ "How the strike affects cable". USA Today. 2007-11-07.
  66. ^ a b McCollum, Charlie (2007-11-06). "Strike scrambles production". San Jose Mercury-News. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Cite error: The named reference "sjmnstrike" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  67. ^ Hibberd, James (2007-11-06). "Sitcom Strike Shutdown Rundown". TV Week. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  68. ^ TV Guide Staff (2007-11-06). "Smallville Ready to Fly with 15 Episodes". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  69. ^ Rizzo, Carita (2007-11-06). "Will the Clock Run Out Early for 24?". Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  70. ^ Production Stops At Least On 6 Sitcoms, Yahoo!, November 6, 2007
  71. ^ "FOX Postpones '24,' Sets 'American Idol' Premiere". Retrieved 2007-11-07.
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  77. ^ Production Stops On At Least 6 Sitcoms, Yahoo!, November 6, 2007
  78. ^ "FOX Postpones '24,' Sets 'American Idol' Premiere". Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  79. ^ Ryan, Shawn (2007-11-05). "Show Runner Explains Why He's on Strike". Nikki Finke's deadlinehollywooddaily.com. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  80. ^ "Writer Strike Kills '24'". New York Post. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  81. ^ Sassone, Bob (2007-11-05). "Tina Fey joins picket line". TV Squad. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  82. ^ "'Heroes' Creator Apologizes to Fans". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  83. ^ "False start for NBC's 'Heroes: Origins'". TV Guide. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  84. ^ "Carell Ducks 'The Office' for Strikers". Retrieved 2007-11-07.
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  86. ^ Richmond, Ray (2007-11-05). "'Scrubs' diagnosis unclear". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  87. ^ "'Scrubs' Returns for its Final Season". ET Online. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
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  89. ^ [4], USA Today
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  100. ^ Zeitchik, Steven (2007-11-06). "High-profile writers Rock picket line in N.Y." Hollywood Reporter.
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  102. ^ Defamer visits the Paramount picket line. Defamer. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
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  107. ^ Garry Marshall un-Happy Days. Youtube. 2007-11-08.
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  114. ^ "Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Wanda Sykes Walk The Picket Line" (blog). United Hollywood. 2007-11-06.
  115. ^ "Olivia Wilde, star of the Fox TV network series House M.D., walks a picket line along with members of the Writers Guild of America at one of the gates". Yahoo! News. 2007-11-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  116. ^ Associated Press (2007-11-09). "More celebs show solidarity at writers' picket lines". USA Today.
  117. ^ Baldwin, Alec (2007-11-07). "It's the Studio's Fault" (blog). The Huffington Post.
  118. ^ "Maybe controversy is his middle name" (blog). Show Tracker. Los Angeles Times. 2007-11-08.
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  127. ^ "The Latest Word — Negotiations Updates". Writers Guild of America. 2007-11-06.
  128. ^ Reuters (2007-11-06). "Ex-Disney boss calls writers strike 'too stupid'". MSNBC. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  129. ^ "Writers' Guild of GB: Support US strike". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
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  131. ^ "IATSE President Short Orders Members to Honor Their Contracts" (PDF) (Press release). International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. 2007-10-31.
  132. ^ Film studios braced for strike by Hollywood writers and actors
  133. ^ The downside of Hollywood strikes
  134. ^ Strike Over 'New Media Pie' Could Cripple Hollywood
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2007 Writers Guild of America strike.
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