Fri, 30 November 2007
Variety is reporting that despite rumors to the contrary, the WGA has "blasted" the studios' latest proposals, which the studios themselves describe as "groundbreaking." Currently, the negotiations are on "pause" while the WGA presents the offer to its members, but things definitely aren't looking good for a quick return to work. From the article: The WGA also released details of the moguls' new proposal, delivered after three days of glacially paced talks that yielded little more than a restatement of previous positions. The three key areas: * For streaming television episodes, the companies proposed a residual structure of a single fixed payment, based on 1.2% of producers' receipts after a six-week promo window, amounting about $250 for a year's reuse of an hour-long program. * For made-for-Internet material, they offered minimums starting at $800 for five minutes up to $1,300 for 15 minutes and granted jurisdiction on derivative material. * No change in the Internet download formula, currently paid at the DVD rate. If the sides do not make progress next week, it's most likely that the AMPTP would opt for launching negotiations with the Directors Guild of America. The DGA's contract expires June 30, and the directors have indicated they're ready to start talks even if the WGA hasn't made a deal -- a move that could undermine the WGA's leverage. Speculation has also emerged that the WGA could call off the strike and tell writers to return to work, leaving open the possibility that the strike could resume at any time. Meanwhile, the guild's continued to mount an active campaign of picketing and rallies to keep the public pressure on the companies to make a deal. I'm no economics expert, but $250 for a show to be streamed for a YEAR seems pretty lame to me-- I can understand why they'd be annoyed by this latest offer. If that last part is true about the writers returning to work, it certainly seems to weaken their position even further in my mind. We already know that actors/SAG members have supported the writers in this strike, so will the DIRECTOR'S "queer the deal," as it were? Will the actors walk in June as well? The mind boggles. It's clear the studios are making money. It's clear they can afford this. As an average TV viewer, the longer the strike lasts, the more I'll look for something ELSE to do with my time. Prolonging the strike seems to be to the advantage of no one.
Category:general
-- posted at: 10:32am EST
Comments[2]
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At the same time, I just saw an ad for \"Choir Master\" or \"Battle of the Choirs\" or whatever its called. I have nothing against choirs, but I wouldn\'t say that watching them compete is riveting TV. Do people like reality TV? Sure. Would the public stand for ALL reality TV (and game shows)?... I doubt that. It may take a little longer for people to realize that every reality show is exactly the same (just change the location and characters), but I think we will. What happens if we neglect the writers?... we end up with shows that all have the same script: friendship, backstabbing, drama, talking heads, vote-him-off.
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