Writers Guild Of America | The New York Observer

Writers' Strike Cost L.A. $2.5 Billion

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:09:04 -0500

Stormclouds are parting in Hollywood, as Spencer Morgan wrote in this week's Observer, but the 100-day WGA strike's cost is finally being revealed: $2.5 billion. Not so bad, when compared to previous estimates. The Associated Press reports that the figure includes wages lost by writers and other entertainment industry workers when the strike shut down production. Jack Kyser, chief economist of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., previously pegged the cost of the...

Gossip Girl Writers Return to 'Summer Camp'

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:17:51 -0500

What are those Gossip Girl writers doing now that they can finally return to work? Gossiping, of course! Now that the Writers Guild strike is finally over (rejoice!), and scribes are returning to their crummy offices and barely-there story lines, they're feeling "an emotion akin to what they remembered experiencing on their first day of high school," according to the New York Times' Brooks Barnes. On the Warner Brothers lot, Stephanie Savage and Josh...

Finito! Writers' Strike is Officially Over!

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:23:51 -0500

Hooray! Writers return to the grindstone today. Official letter from the WGA presidents after the jump.

To Our Fellow Members:

On Tuesday, members of the Writers Guilds East and West voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the restraining order that was invoked on November 5th. The strike is over.

Writing can resume immediately. If you were employed when the strike began, you should plan to report to...

Morning Memo: Anna Wintour is Knackered; Academy Twists Strikers' Knickers

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:28:25 -0500

Some fashion week models are wearing T-shirts backstage that tout Angelina Jolie's Global Action for Children to attract attention to the cause as they get their pre-show hair and makeup done. [WWD]

Amy Winehouse was denied a US visa to attend the Grammy Awards, but she may appear via satellite. [Us]

Also, Winehouse is moving into the guesthouse at Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's home outside London. [Page Six]

Fashion Week big shots Anna Wintour and Suzy Menkes...

Writers Strike Could End By Sunday

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:07:10 -0500

Sweet relief! The Writers Guild of America strike may be ending by sun-up Monday morning. Today, studio moguls and guild leaders are expected to finalize a three-year contract and send it for their writers' review on Saturday before more meetings. The guild board could approve the contract Sunday and encourage writers to return to work the next day, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Studio executives and TV producers have been preparing for that...

W.G.A. Strike (Almost) Over?

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:13:58 -0500

Several reports claim that an end to the four-month long Writers Guild of America strike is imminent. The New York Times reports that "a tentative agreement" may come "as early as [this] week." But W.G.A. members and leaders are telling striking writers that they might not want to lay down their picket signs just yet.

W.G.A. presidents Patric Verrone and Michael Winship tell it to 'em straight: "The facts: we are still in talks...

W.G.A. Leaders Get Tough on Talks

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:18:28 -0500

Oh, things are shaking up in the writers' talks! Studios and the Writers Guild of America seemed to be finally making progress in their closed-door negotiation sessions, but Phil Alden Robinson, writer and director of Field of Dreams and a member of the governing board of the Writers Guild of America West, has publicly called for a toughened bargaining position, according to today's New York Times. "I've been doing some hard thinking about the...

W.G.A. Will Write For Grammys

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:37:13 -0500

The Writers Guild of America showed mercy on Grammy Awards producers by approving an interim agreement that would allow striking scribes to write a script for the ceremony, which takes place on Feb. 10. Last week, the WGA announced that they would not picket the awards show, which would allow the stars to strut the red carpet in peace. Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America West, acknowledged the music unions...

W.G.A. Won't Picket Grammys

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:53 -0500

The Writers Guild of America decided not to picket the Grammy Awards telecast, organizers announced yesterday. “This really creates a comfortable environment for everybody to come,” said Neil Portnow, chief executive of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Though it is unclear whether writers guild members will be able to write for the Feb. 10 ceremony, Mr. Portnow said, “we’ve got time” until the program and added that, “with all due respect...

Directors Make Tentative Deal With Studios

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:10:00 -0500

As noted yesterday, the Directors Guild of America announced an agreement with studios on a new deal, turning the heat up on the striking writers to negotiate terms. The three-year DGA deal addressed some of the writers' key concerns, including advances in payment for programming on the Internet.

Variety reports:

Minutes after the DGA deal was announced, the moguls asked WGA leaders to start informal talks that could lead to the end of the strike...

Director's Deal Could Split Striking Writers

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:04:23 -0500

The Directors Guild of America is on the brink of an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which puts the pressure on striking TV and movie writers and the studios to settle their spat. DGA leaders are entering the sixth day of negotiations today to replace a contract that expires June 30. The writers' strike is in its 11th week.

Reuters reports:

Unable...

More TV Studios Slash Writer Deals

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:20:58 -0500

After ABC started cutting writer deals on Friday, Warner Bros. TV, CBS Paramount Network TV, Universal Media Studios and 20th Century Fox have fallen in line, slashing writers and producers from their rosters, according to Variety.

The WGA reacted strongly to the studios’ moves, saying the AMPTP members were "alienating the very creative force that has made entertainment one of the most successful businesses in the country."

While most major showrunners have been spared...

Globes Winners Announced at Bizarre Ceremony

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:20:07 -0500

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Atonement were the big winners at the 65th Annual Golden Globes awards. Period drama Atonement, the on-screen adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel, won best drama. Sweeney Todd took home the best comedy or musical award and its star, Johnny Depp, received the best actor in a musical or comedy Globe.

But there were no dithering acceptance speeches or cheesy one-liners presented by hosts. Because the...

Media Moguls Break Out Bratty Behavior for WGA Supporters

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:40:02 -0500

The studios have started bringing out the big guns, apparently. We're not just talking about hair and make-up this time. "What an incredible list of petty, mean-spirited and just spiteful behavior the Hollywood CEOs are compiling for themselves," writes Nikki Finke on Deadline Hollywood Daily. "I've been confirming episode after episode of the AMPTP's giant multimedia members retaliating in every way possible against anyone in Hollywood helping the WGA's side in this strike dragging...

ABC, S.A.G. Attendees Bicker Over Hair, Make-Up Costs

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:25:28 -0500

According to Variety, the latest front in Hollywood's labor war is over hair, makeup and limos. Insiders told the trade paper that ABC and ABC Studios will not pick up the tab for its talent attending the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 27, set to air on TNT and TBS. In less contentious times, it's industry tradition that networks and studios split the costs of getting talent ready for the red carpet at...