(Keep refreshing for the latest news and updates…)
URGENT! The denials were announced tonight at the big WGA West membership meeting taking place right now at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association had requested a waiver for its NBC broadcast, but the WGA rejected it. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences had asked for a waiver to use clips from movies and past Academy Award shows which the WGA rejected. I’m told that once AMPAS asks to use WGA writers, that will be denied, too. For days already, emails have been circulating inside the major Hollywood talent agencies discussing what the actors and directors and even writers should do about attending since WGA picket lines will be erected outside the events. (See my previous, Golden Globes Screwed By Writers Strike?)
TUESDAY AM UPDATE: The following statement was released today by Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers spokesman Jesse Hiestand:
In the category of Worst Supporting Union, the nominee is the WGA. The union, which initiated this strike, continues day in and day out to make good on its commitment to, in the words of a leading WGA organizer, “wreak havoc,” even though those being hurt include WGA’s own working writers, the below-the-line workers and their families, the broader Los Angeles region – and now the creative artists who deserve to be honored for their work over the last year.”
PREVIOUS: At the start of the meeting, WGAW president Patric Verrone introduced chief negotiators John Bowman and Dave Young as well as SAG prez Alan Rosenberg to the crowd of striking scribes who gave all four men a standing ovation. The venue was 2/3s filled. “A lot of resolve at this meeting. It was a very good meeting,” one WGA attendee told me. “The maybe 12 dissenters who showed up were quickly shown where they stood by the resounding cheers and applause all through the meeting for the board and negotiating committee.”
7:29 PM: The WGA West and East just made this statement:
“The Writers Guild has notified the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and dick clark productions that their requests for an agreement to allow writers to prepare material for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards show have been denied.
The Guild has also denied a request from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a waiver in connection with the use of clips from motion pictures and past Academy Awards shows for use during the annual Academy Awards presentation.
In letters to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, WGAW President Patric M. Verrone described the Guild’s respect and admiration for both organizations, explaining that:
“Writers are engaged in a crucial struggle to achieve a collective bargaining agreement that will protect their compensation and intellectual property rights now and in the future. We must do everything we can to bring our negotiations to a swift and fair conclusion for the benefit of writers and all those who are being harmed by the companies’ failure to engage in serious negotiations.”
The signatories producing the Golden Globes and the Oscars are West Coast signatories. The WGAW’s Board of Directors concluded, reluctantly, that granting exceptions for the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards would not advance that goal.”
8:30 PM: The meet has concluded. Here’s other news from it:
No negotiations are scheduled.
The networks are going to start givebacks to advertisers.
On Wednesday at 7:30 AM, the Los Angeles City Council will hold a hearing about the writers strike’s economic impact and the AMPTP and WGA will both testify.
Starting in January, the WGA will commence STRIKETV.com, where clips of video material will be put up and advertiser support sought.
SAG prez Alan Rosenberg spoke and reiterated the actors’ support. ”We stand behind. We’re with you.”
Dave Young gave a long speech the subject of which was that the WGA is ready to negotiate and AMPTP is not.
John Bowman stressed that the AMPTP can make “a separate peace” with the DGA but if the deal isn’t acceptable to the WGA then the strike continues.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.



Good!
Fantastic!
Good to see some people aren’t making a mockery of this strike (like Letterman).
Guess I can look forward to not seeing Jon Stewart’s 10,000 writers piling up onstage to accept their award like clockwork.
Awesome news! Stay strong… I’m so glad the WGA is still strong, still fighting and UNITED!
Good
I’m in the auditorium right now. Patric just gave a shout out to Nikki.
Beautiful.
Yes! Good move. I love the Golden Globes and the Oscars, but this has a bigger scope.
Minimize reality TV viewing, if you still want quality shows with imaginative storylines.
P.S. Hey. Where is Joss Whedon on TV?
YEAH!
Put that in your Craptaculars and smoke ‘em, AMPTP!
WGA FO-EV-AH!
This is going to really start to affect the shareholders of the corporations. When the Oscars are canceled – and if the stars don’t come, they will be pretty hollow, it’s going to be very hard for the studios/networks to keep claiming “It’s all just part of the show, folks, all part of the show.”
Oh, and fuck Jay Leno.
Talk about leverage! Way to go WGA! Eat that AMPTP!
Good decision. Time to turn the pressure up…
Does this mean we won’t be seeing a clever song parody of There Will Be Blood?
Wow, I didn’t realize that the Oscars can’t even show *clips* without a waiver.
Was quite a meeting tonight. I enjoyed watching that first ‘no disrespect’ questioner and his handful of supporters get drowned out by the massive cheers supporting the board.
Keep it up people…
Keep it up! Make the miserable bastards at the networks realize that without you, they are nothing. Unless they adapt to the new media, their venue will be as outdated and antiquated as the stagecoach was when automobiles came to town. The new media should be an empowering medium for writers, not another way that they get boxed in. And while you’re at it, seriously consider putting the “DVD issue” back on the table. They failed to follow through in good-faith after you made a costly concession. It is only reasonable that this is back for negotiation. Unless the network powers-that-be truly realize, appreciate, and compensate the writers who create the content they monetize so well, the playing field will be unlevel. Don’t let them divide you — stay strong!
That’s playing rough. I wonder whether the threat of an Oscars boycott is enough to press ABC-Disney into a separate peace. That would be cool, because if ABC concedes we get Pushing Daisies back too. Seriously though, congratulations on the decision to play rough.
And advertiser givebacks? Wow! That hits them where it counts.
It was great to see, tonight, that the WGA is as unified as ever.
Isn’t Jon Stewart supposed to host the Oscars? Any word on whether he’s still going ahead with it?
I hate to say this, but the Oscars might actually be better without Bruce Vilanch’s unbearable banter.
I’m glad for this place. The comments at United Hollywood are a madhouse. Keep telling me this is good news guys. I believe it, but I need to hear from you all. Good luck!
The AMPTP walked away from the table TWICE. And when they were there, they didn’t negotiate in good faith.
If any actor crosses the picket line to help these jackals, they derve to have tomatoes thrown at them.
Kudos to the WGA! Hit them where it hurts every way and everywhere you can.
Hit em’ where it hurts guys!! This is great news. Stay strong WGA. Your fight is backed by Jedi warriors.
A lot of people expected there to be dissension and shouting matches, but the opposite was true: the Guild stands united and our negotiating team came off as level-headed and professional. It was a nice counter-balance to the lies and slander that the AMPTP’s professional fearmongers have been spreading. Bravo WGA! I’m proud to be a member and look forward to a time when the AMPTP cares more about the business than about their egos. Come on, Les, don’t take it from behind from Fox: sign a deal!
Sure, F Jay, but F Conan too. Don’t give him a free ride. Remember, Jay at least hit the pickets. Conan was MIA in New York.