The Strike Is Over!!!
- Thread starter JOE BLO
- Start date
moonlitnite
Well-known member
Great news Joe! It's only been 10 minutes since your post but here's what I've found so far:
WGA STRIKE UPDATE: BACK TO WORK BY MIDWEEK?
Sunday meetings could lead to end of strike
By Ben Grossman -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/9/2008 9:55:00 AM
After WGA membership meetings on both coasts Saturday didn’t derail the positive momentum, the main question regarding the end of the writers strike now appears to be “when” as opposed to “if” as the writers could be back to work as soon as the middle of this week.
The WGA Negotiating Committee is scheduled to meet Sunday to decide whether or not to send the tentative agreement to the WGA East council and the WGA West board.
The WGA East council and the WGA West board are expected to also meet later on Sunday and then could send the deal to a membership vote. One possibility is to expedite a 48-hour membership vote and if that tally ends in favor of the tentative deal, it could send writers back to work by midweek.
At that point the television industry would quickly ramp up both in terms of getting many current shows back on the air this season as soon as possible, as well as kicking into gear a shortened and frenzied development season for next fall.
Industry executives were already laying the groundwork for that rapid re-start prior to the weekend.
The news comes on the heels of WGA membership meetings Saturday in which guild membership outlined the tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that was finalized early Saturday morning.
WGA East chief Michael Winship led his organization’s meeting in New York City Saturday afternoon, a three-hour confab of about 500 members. Saturday night in Los Angeles it was the WGA West’s turn, with president Patric
Verrone leading a meeting with attendance estimated between 2,000-3,000 members.
News of the tentative deal spread overnight Friday night/Saturday morning via a letter to membership from Verrone and Winship in which guild leadership wrote, “We have a tentative deal. It is an agreement that protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery.”
Terms of the deal can be read here
The WGA and AMPTP are still officially in a media blackout, so neither side is commenting on the record.
WGA STRIKE UPDATE: BACK TO WORK BY MIDWEEK?
Sunday meetings could lead to end of strike
By Ben Grossman -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/9/2008 9:55:00 AM
After WGA membership meetings on both coasts Saturday didn’t derail the positive momentum, the main question regarding the end of the writers strike now appears to be “when” as opposed to “if” as the writers could be back to work as soon as the middle of this week.
The WGA Negotiating Committee is scheduled to meet Sunday to decide whether or not to send the tentative agreement to the WGA East council and the WGA West board.
The WGA East council and the WGA West board are expected to also meet later on Sunday and then could send the deal to a membership vote. One possibility is to expedite a 48-hour membership vote and if that tally ends in favor of the tentative deal, it could send writers back to work by midweek.
At that point the television industry would quickly ramp up both in terms of getting many current shows back on the air this season as soon as possible, as well as kicking into gear a shortened and frenzied development season for next fall.
Industry executives were already laying the groundwork for that rapid re-start prior to the weekend.
The news comes on the heels of WGA membership meetings Saturday in which guild membership outlined the tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that was finalized early Saturday morning.
WGA East chief Michael Winship led his organization’s meeting in New York City Saturday afternoon, a three-hour confab of about 500 members. Saturday night in Los Angeles it was the WGA West’s turn, with president Patric
Verrone leading a meeting with attendance estimated between 2,000-3,000 members.
News of the tentative deal spread overnight Friday night/Saturday morning via a letter to membership from Verrone and Winship in which guild leadership wrote, “We have a tentative deal. It is an agreement that protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery.”
Terms of the deal can be read here
The WGA and AMPTP are still officially in a media blackout, so neither side is commenting on the record.
JOE BLO
Well-known member
I personally feel that this deal is a very good one. Not perfect, but very good. The studios began this process by refusing to negotiate and by presenting MASSIVE rollbacks in pay and other issues. Things it took our Guild decades to get. But because of our strike, they not only failed to get their rollbacks, we forced the companies to offer things that they swore they would never budge on. Jurisdiction over new media, minimums in new media, separated rights in new media, residuals based on distributor's gross, an unprecedented agreement for more open books and transparency in accounting.
Basically, they tried to bust our union and they failed. Because of this deal, our health and pensions will remain in tact for many years to come. They also tried to completely shut our union out of new media, as well as the future, and they failed.
Our strike and commitment made all of this possible. It made it possible for the DGA to get a much improved deal, and our leadership was able to make substantial improvements on their deal. Now, because of our sacrifice, SAG will be at a great starting point in their negotiations. People often say "nobody wins in a strike". Well, this time they are wrong. Considering that the studios set out to destroy our union, once and for all, I think it's fair to say that we won...big time.
I hope everyone will now turn their attention, support and energy to the Screen Actors Guild, as they attempt to negotiate with the studios in the coming months.
Basically, they tried to bust our union and they failed. Because of this deal, our health and pensions will remain in tact for many years to come. They also tried to completely shut our union out of new media, as well as the future, and they failed.
Our strike and commitment made all of this possible. It made it possible for the DGA to get a much improved deal, and our leadership was able to make substantial improvements on their deal. Now, because of our sacrifice, SAG will be at a great starting point in their negotiations. People often say "nobody wins in a strike". Well, this time they are wrong. Considering that the studios set out to destroy our union, once and for all, I think it's fair to say that we won...big time.
I hope everyone will now turn their attention, support and energy to the Screen Actors Guild, as they attempt to negotiate with the studios in the coming months.
Justin Kuhn
Veteran
Oh right, SAG. So this doesn't necessarily mean the end of the reality TV boom.
Eh. I don't have cable.
Eh. I don't have cable.
Jason Adams
Section Moderator
Good news for all. Hats off to the WGA for their resolve. I think you guys will see that you did much of the heavy lifting for the SAG as well.
Talented artists get a fair deal and..HA HA we now get the more then 8 episodes of Lost.
Talented artists get a fair deal and..HA HA we now get the more then 8 episodes of Lost.
moonlitnite
Well-known member
I've heard the WGA also needed to use this contract as a "catch-up" based in not having a balanced negotiation session on a prior contract involving other media channels (can't remember if it was DVD or something else).
At any rate, with the Internet leading to disintermediation of traditional distrition channels, this contract was a biggie for the WGA.
Ten years from now, I doubt any of us will appreciate the macro forces of where the industry is heading. But when the likes of google buys YouTube for $1,650,000,000, something is going on...
At any rate, with the Internet leading to disintermediation of traditional distrition channels, this contract was a biggie for the WGA.
Ten years from now, I doubt any of us will appreciate the macro forces of where the industry is heading. But when the likes of google buys YouTube for $1,650,000,000, something is going on...
alex whitmer
Veteran
Google bought YouTube? When did this happen?
I also hear IMDB bought Without a Box.
What's going on??
All the big movie houses morphed into mega-conglomerates. Is that's what happening to the net venues as well?
Any long-term guesses?
a
www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
www.guerro.wordpress.com
I also hear IMDB bought Without a Box.
What's going on??
All the big movie houses morphed into mega-conglomerates. Is that's what happening to the net venues as well?
Any long-term guesses?
a
www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
www.guerro.wordpress.com
Wrathborne
Active member
glad to hear things worked out for the better for the writers.
Barry_Green
Moderator
If the strike is over, whatever will become of TV shows such as "Clash of the Choirs" and "Dance Wars: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann"?
moonlitnite
Well-known member
---------
Well, certainly social and user-generated media is becoming king. Of course, quality content will still prevail although viewers are increasing expecting more for less:
- streamlined distribution
- low-cost media
- quick delivery
- improved content delivery (less ads, ability to fast-forward, archiving, friendly DRM)
- viral intertia (ability to share with colleagues, family, friends)
Alex, if you missed the YouTube acquisition, perhaps you haven't been keeping up with what's happened with MySpace, FaceBook, and Yahoo. And google and Microsoft are making the move to consolidate advertising to leverage their portals, too; banner ads will soon generate $5B annually with another $10B for online ad sales.
New UGCs (User Generated Content websites) are popping up all the time. So until the market goes through and consolidation/acquision and segmentation/specialization, it's going to be a wild ride.
Blip TV
Break
DailyMotion
ExpoTV
Grapeflix
Grouper
iFilm
itsallinyourhands
Metacafe
Mefeedia
myvidrock
MySpace
MetaCafe
PutFile
Revver
SyncTV
Spike
Yahoo
YouAreTV
YouTube
VMIX
Veoh
Vimeo
And least we forget, NPG (Non-PC Game) sales sykrocked last year to $17B (growing 43%)!!!
So, where does that leave the movie industry? Last year box office sales in North America was basically flat (4% increase), grossing $10B last year. Yes, while DVD sales were $23B last year, for the first time since 1997 sales of DVDs is dropping (4% last year). So video downloads are making their inroads with the likes of Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, etc.
No wonder the WGA fought tough not to again miss the Internet wave as it previously did on incremental VHS and DVD sales (in prior contract negotations sessions).
Fun times - it will give us something to reminisce about with our grandchildren...
Happy Trails, Michael
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alex whitmer
Veteran
Ask an ye shall recieve! Great answer and info. Thank you.
''viewers are increasing expecting more for less''
And also willing to except less (quality) for free.
Who's michael?
www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
www.guerro.wordpress.com
''viewers are increasing expecting more for less''
And also willing to except less (quality) for free.
Who's michael?
www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
www.guerro.wordpress.com
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EJ Pennypacker
Well-known member
It's worth remembering that the strike is only over when the votes are collected released (Tue/Wed).
Of course tho it is looking 99% sure it is indeed over.
EJ
Of course tho it is looking 99% sure it is indeed over.
EJ
Barry_Green
Moderator
If nothing else, at least this strike should forever establish how important the writer is in the whole process again. I mean -- American Gladiators? Come on... 
Jason Adams
Section Moderator
Well said Mr Green...We should assemble a list of the stupid strike shows that emerged...we will forget them very soon.
Clash of the Choirs
Dance Wars
America Gladiators
Moment of Truth
moonlitnite
Well-known member
LOL - a former techie who moved through the ranks to corporate strategic planner, enjoying semi-retirement with too much time on his hands! OMG, and now he speaks in the third person...
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Barry_Green
Moderator
Okay, so we'll still have loads of garbage, but... "Battle of the Choirs?" I'd take any episode of "The West Wing" over any strike show, any day...
Zander
Well-known member
Moment of Truth is awful!!!! Deal or No Deal is pretty bad too.