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AMPTP’s Nick Counter Stays On Message

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Monday October 29, 2007 @ 1:06pm PDTTags: AMPTP, Guilds, TV, WGA, Writers, Writers Strike

A TV Week Q-&-A published today shows Nick Counter, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, is still breathing fire. He calls the WGA demands “so over-the-top and unreasonable”. Here’s what I found interesting:

TVWeek: How do things change for you once they have the power to call a strike at any time?
Counter: From a negotiating standpoint, we’ll continue to negotiate until we reach an agreement irrespective of whether they strike. I told them this morning: They can strike for six months or 12 months or 24 months; at some point we have to reach an agreement. There are no divorces in our industry. It’s just a question of when and how much damage is caused.

TVWeek: Networks and studios say there’s no online business model yet upon which to base a new media deal. But the WGA points to companies like NBC, telling investors that it is projecting increases based on online growth. Are the employers talking out of both sides of their mouth on this?
Counter: Not really. Your first statement is correct. The key leaders, executive producers of television shows, that are members of the guild, they understand. We actually have a mutual goal to develop a marketplace that’s viable, but nobody knows the contours of that industry.

TVWeek: But do statements to investors predicting growth contradict that?
Counter: No. At some point there clearly will be growth. There’s no question there’s an audience and potential market there; the question is how to develop the business models.

  1. Verrone Forsees ‘Threats’ And ‘Low-Ball 11th Hour Offer’ By AMPTP
  2. Federal Mediator Will Attend WGA Talks
  3. WGA/AMPTP Talks Still Going On
  4. Tricks & Treats At WGA Strike Talks Today (…All About The Chairs)
  5. Finke/LA Weekly: Strike Happy H’wood
  6. AMPTP To WGA: Just Show Up To Hear New Offer
  7. More WGA Strike News: SAG Emails & AMPTP Sends Cease-And Desist Letter
  8. WGAW Says Variety Scoop Has No Reality
  9. Hollywood Moguls Sounding Strike Happy And See New TV Season As Dead Already
  10. Strike Vote In For WGA: 90.3% Say “Yes”
  11. Results From WGA Strike Vote Delayed
  12. WGA Authorized To Strike … As Expected
  13. Wow, The WGA’s Paranoia Just Worsened
  14. SHOCKER: Is Writers Strike Now Averted?
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Instead Of CAA Partners Taking A Pay Cut

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Monday October 29, 2007 @ 12:52pm PDT

caa2.bmp… A rumor is making the rounds that CAA will fire up to 10 agents in the very near future supposedly because they’re “underperformers”. Or to trim down pre-strike?

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Jeff Zucker’s PR Machine Works Overtime

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Monday October 29, 2007 @ 11:17am PDTTags: Finance, Media, Moguls, Networks, Studios, TV

zucker2.jpgHow nice to know that, while a major Hollywood strike looms, Jeff Zucker has nothing better to do today than get his knob shined by CEO Pornster Ken Auletta over breakfast at an event sponsored by the Newhouse School … Read More »

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Screenwriters Videoed In Their Day Jobs

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Monday October 29, 2007 @ 10:34am PDTTags: Guilds, Humor, Video, Writers

strikeillust3smaller.jpgSince everyone needs humor now, here’s a very funny 1-minute video from WGA members Gregg Rossen and Brian Sawyer about what Hollywood screenwriters will be doing for day jobs post-strike. Featured are Paul Guay (Liar, Liar), Doug … Read More »

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STRIKE COUNTDOWN: WGAW’s Verrone Forsees ‘Rumors, Lies, Even Threats’ And ‘Low-Ball 11th Hour Offer’ By AMPTP

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Sunday October 28, 2007 @ 9:19pm PDTTags: AMPTP, Guilds, LA Times, WGA, Writers, Writers Strike

Tonight, WGA West President Patric Verrone issued to members this pre-strike email obtained by me. It paints an ugly picture of what lies ahead for the next three days until the guild’s contract expires. He warned members about “a climate of fear on both sides” and a producers’ strategy of “brinkmanship [that] will likely … Read More »

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Weekend Sickos Scream For #1 ‘Saw IV’

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Saturday October 27, 2007 @ 10:21am PDTTags: Actors, Box Office, Directors, Movies

sawiv_bigtheatricalposter.jpgSUNDAY AM: Given that the Hollywood writers strike is pending against the studios and networks and could come as soon as midnight on Halloween, weekend box office seems like an absurd after-thought. So do the gross receipts when the No. 1 … Read More »

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Federal Mediator Will Attend WGA Talks; Writers Focus On New Media & Internet

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Friday October 26, 2007 @ 6:12pm PDTTags: AMPTP, Guilds, WGA, Writers, Writers Strike

SATURDAY AM UPDATE: I’m told that a federal mediator is coming to the contract negotiations on Tuesday. The WGA says it’s at the suggestion of AMPTP, but the producers say the decision was mutual by both sides. A producers’ source explains: ”A federal mediator is assigned at the beginning of any major negotiation and has … Read More »

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WGA/AMPTP Talks Update: Still Going On

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Friday October 26, 2007 @ 5:16pm PDTTags: AMPTP, Guilds, WGA, Writers, Writers Strike

I’m told both sides have been meeting all day and it’s still going on even at this late hour. That has to mean actual negotiations are taking place. I’m told this is a good sign. I’ll let you know what’s happened in today’s session as soon as I hear. Could sanity prevail? Or … Read More »

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Now Dick Parsons Can Ruin NYC As Mayor

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Friday October 26, 2007 @ 4:03pm PDTTags: Big Media, Moguls, Politics

twtop.jpgC’mon, he should have been thrown out of Time Warner with Gerry Levin years ago. After all, Teflon Dick was just as culpable for that abysmal AOL deal. So it’s a day late and a dollar short if he … Read More »

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Hey, Barbara & Diane: You’re Obsolete. Owen Tells All Post-Meltdown To MySpace

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Friday October 26, 2007 @ 2:56pm PDTTags: Actors, Internet, Media, Networks, New Media, Studios

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In a savvy bit of News Corp synergy, The Darjeeling Limited‘s star Owen Wilson tonight at midnight airs his first interview since his September suicide attempt on MySpace.com. owenmyspace.JPGThis was the result of … Read More »

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Blu-ray/HD DVD: Which Hollywood Studio Is Accused Of ‘Big Ass, Fat, Stupid Lie’?

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Friday October 26, 2007 @ 10:43am PDTTags: Blu-ray, DVDs, Finance, Movies, Studios

transformers-dvd.jpgHere’s yet another gory round in that ongoing HD vs Blu-ray extreme death match between heavyweight Hollywood studios to see which DVD format is left standing at the end:

UPDATE: Two rival Blu-ray studios which prefer to remain nameless tell me … Read More »

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Tricks & Treats At WGA Strike Talks Today (…And, Yes, I Know All About The Chairs)

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 25, 2007 @ 4:06pm PDTTags: AMPTP, Finance, Ratings, WGA, Writers Strike

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2ND UPDATE/New Info Throughout: Sources are telling me that today’s negotiating session between the writers and producers can be summed up in two words: “Not pretty.”

Just as I’ve told you for days and days and days what would happen, the … Read More »

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Rose McGowan Wasn’t The Reel Story…

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 25, 2007 @ 3:56pm PDTTags: Actors, Directors, Media, Studios

robertandrose.jpgI’m surprised no one has set the record straight yet about why Universal passed on Robert Rodriguez’s Barbarella remake since there’s been so much bullshit reporting about it. “He’s getting a bum rap here,” one Uni exec told me … Read More »

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Will FCC Investigate Rupert’s WSJ Buy?

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 25, 2007 @ 1:56pm PDTTags: Big Media, Finance, Media, Moguls

michaelcopps.jpgI just heard that FCC commissioner Michael Copps is demanding an inquiry into News Corp.’s purchase of The Wall Street Journal. In a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin today, the Democrat expressed worry that a single company will be in control … Read More »

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Maria Shriver Has Quit TV News Biz … Because Of Anna Nicole Smith Sideshow

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 25, 2007 @ 1:42pm PDTTags: Celebrity, Journalism, Media, Networks, TV

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Ah-nold’s newscaster wife Maria Shriver who used to do a ton of celebrity stories for NBC News and Dateline cites the media circus over the death of Anna Nicole Smith as the reason why she won’t resume her TV … Read More »

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A Preview Of Tonight’s Leno Monologue (…That Is, If He Weren’t On Vacation)

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 25, 2007 @ 12:51pm PDTTags: Disasters, Hollywood, Late Night TV, Politics

Headline: “VP Cheney Nods Off During Meeting on California Wildfires”. Video here. I’m told that, unfortunately, Jay and Dave and Conan are all in re-runs this week (because they always take the week before a Sweeps Month off.)

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Celebrity Fawning At Its So Fatuous Best

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 25, 2007 @ 10:15am PDTTags: Actors, Blogs, Celebrity, Journalism, Magazines, Media, P.R.

jolie_esquire07_1b.jpgAttention Hollywood flacks: here’s a nightmare for you… There’s an ongoing discussion by journalists over what qualifies as “The Worst Celebrity Profile Ever Written”. Slate‘s Ron Rosenbaum started it off in June by nominating Tom Junod’s summer piece on Angelina … Read More »

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More Hollywood Heat From The Fires…

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday October 25, 2007 @ 2:52am PDTTags: Actors, Agents, Celebrity, Disasters, Geffen, Hollywood, Moguls

In addition to my own postings about DreamWorks moguls David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg in Malibu during the fires here and here and here, I’ve just combed other news stories and culled this showbiz-related coverage:

kiefersutherland.jpgPerhaps the hardest-hit entertainment … Read More »

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Finke/LA Weekly: Strike Happy H’wood

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Wednesday October 24, 2007 @ 10:50pm PDTTags: Guilds, Hollywood, LA Weekly, Moguls, WGA, Writers, Writers Strike

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In my latest lalogo.gif column, Strike Happy, I pulled together much of my reporting about the strategy and snarking behind the scenes at the WGA and AMPTP. It begins:

“As the strike deadline draws near,

… Read More »

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