WGA leaders and top studio brass had a lengthy meeting on Friday that was described as having gone "OK," in spite of rumors that rising frustration on the part of the CEOs threatened to derail the informal talks that began two weeks ago.
Insiders close to the situation said the face-to-face between News Corp. prexy Peter Chernin and Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger and WGA officials including negotiating committee chief John Bowman was not confrontational. It was not immediately clear if the sides would meet again on Saturday but some communication was expected to continue during the weekend.
Neither side would comment on the status of talks on Friday evening in accordance with the news blackout both camps have agreed to for the duration of the informal talks.
Top studio CEOs are said to be frustrated with the lack of substantive progress in the talks, which were designed to lay the groundwork for the resumption of formal bargaining between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and WGA. Chernin and Iger began the informal talks with WGA toppers on Jan. 22, on the heels of the AMPTP sealing a deal with the Directors Guild of America that the AMPTP aims to use as a template for a WGA pact. A big stumbling block for the WGA is said to be the terms agreed to by the DGA for web streaming of TV shows and movies.
The AMPTP and WGA last met in a formal session on Dec. 7. WGA has been on strike since Nov. 5.
-- Cynthia Littleton
Well, Nikkie Finke's been told the Friday meeting went much better than 'OK'...and WHO is spreading the 'rumor' of discouragement from the CEO side..?? VARIETY, in fact, which plants little news items like that only to make the WGA look unreasonable and at fault. Truly, I've come to resent this publication. No more $300 yearly subscriptions for me. I'll give the money to the strike fund instead.
Posted by: Writer who won't renew my Variety subscription | February 02, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Cancel me as well. I have had enough of this BS Cynthia Littleton.
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 08:23 AM
I should also point out that the Hollywood Reporter, on the same day the article in Variety appeared with all its dire warnings, reported the opposite, which was that their sources said progress is being made and that a settlement announcement may come by the middle of next week. Not that I believe the HR is any more reliable, in general, but it just goes to show you how anti-WGA Variety has positioned itself.
Posted by: Writer who won't renew my Variety subscription | February 02, 2008 at 09:32 AM
What do you think you are going to gain by staying on strike?
Respect - Gone
Strong Union? - Gone
More jobs? - Gone, no pilot season, no overall deals.
Health Insurance? - Gone for some 250
Fair Deal? - even if you get everything you ask for; you have already lost more than you will ever gain in 20 years.
Doing this for the future? If the WGA keeps this pace it has the possibility of breaking it's own union when moderates go fi-core. You may think this isn't a possibility but it is.
Instead of calling me a shill, which I am not, why not address these issues.
Posted by: justasking | February 02, 2008 at 09:43 AM
If anybody could email me a copy of an interim agreement, I would be most grateful as the WGA apprised me of their not being a generic one available.
Thanks in advance.
mm@nicejewishfelon.com
Posted by: Michael | February 02, 2008 at 11:45 AM
When you've actually made a point instead of merely stating subjective opinion, I think any writer would be happy to engage you, "justasking." As an illustration of subjective opinion, here is my response to your post:
Respect - Lots
Strong Union? - Never been stronger
More Jobs? - Scripted programming and overalls will explode back when strike is over. You might not think this is a possibility, but it is.
Health Insurance -- Strike will insure it remains well-funded
Fair Deal - If we get everything we're asking for, we won't lose billions like in home video "deal"
Doing this for the future? Yup. The next generation of writers will benefit from our fight, as we have from the struggles of past WGA members.
Instead of proclaiming your opinion as fact, why don't you back it up before asking for an argument?
Posted by: Just answering | February 02, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Nope!
Respect - not from me and many if not all of my fellow workers
Strong Union - Sure, whatever. Verrone, "As I was telling my 7 year old just this morning....." what a joke.
More Jobs - We'll see... or much less #1 (Should we be using all this capitalization?)
Health Insurance - we all have insurance
Fair deal - Your all a bunch of whining crybabies that think you're entitled to something more than the rest of us. And I've heard you all say in many, many post how much more important the writer is than any other job in the industry. Flawed thinking. Get over yourselves.
Doing this for the future - Yes, good excuse for your greed.
BTL that doesn't agree with any of you at all
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Something just tells me I'll get some bitchy reply from someone named Caitlin or something like that.
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 03:41 PM
New York Times and Finkke both reporting that the major roadblocks are out of the way as of yesterday, and a settlement is coming. Variety is, as usual, completely out of the loop.
Check out Nikke's Deadline Hollywood Daily blog or go to the New York Times on line (she links to it also).
Ps k3d -- it kills me when, in a David and Goliath scenario, anyone would root for Goliath. You are sorely underinformed. And for the record, no mother would name her Russian Jewish daughter Caitlin.
Posted by: Writer who will not renew my Variety subscription | February 02, 2008 at 03:59 PM
I'm rooting for a done deal so none of the people still left at my work (the ones that don't agree with you) get laid off this week. Believe me, I am DEFINITELY NOT under-informed. Underinformed is not a word. Morons
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 04:44 PM