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(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. goldenglobes.JPGThe 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.

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