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
"..the people still left at my work"...hm. Now there's a writerly phrase. Although I rather like "the ones that.." Perhaps you meant "the ones WHO.." We get it now. Not enough talent to be a writer. Tough luck.
Posted by: Writer who will not renew my Variety subscription | February 02, 2008 at 05:07 PM
I'm sure it takes far more talent to be a 3D Visual Effects artist, thank you.
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Maybe you have a smart comment about the ones WHO are laid off because of your strike.
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Honey, without writers you would have nothing to effect.
Posted by: Writer who will not renew my Variety subscription | February 02, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Oh, and ps -- I was laid off too.
Posted by: Writer who will not renew my Variety subscription | February 02, 2008 at 05:19 PM
You fit the MO of a writer exactly when you question my talent compared to yours. Exactly what I was talking about. How typical?
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 05:19 PM
You sound very young. I appreciate your loyalty. I did not question your talent. I simply stated a fact. Without writers, you would have nothing to effect. That is a fact. I get the feeling you perhaps work for the company but are not yet fully an artist.
Posted by: Writer who etc | February 02, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Oh My! Do you mean they stopped writing commercials, animation films, promos, etc? I'm in trouble now. It will be very interesting to see how fast the tv shows suddenly have a whole rest of the season of new scripts ready for production once this is over.
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Well, you would be wrong on all points again because I have been a visual effects artist for television and film since 93. So there!
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 05:37 PM
C'mon now, are you really Caitlin?
Posted by: k3d | February 02, 2008 at 05:41 PM