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The AMPTP just made this announcement. Talks begin tomorrow and I’m told this news reflects significant “progress.” Indeed, DGA President Michael Apted told members in a letter today “We would not enter negotiations with the AMPTP unless we were within shouting distance of an agreement on our two most important issues: jurisdiction for our members to work in new media and appropriate compensation for the reuse of our work on the Internet and other new media platforms.” But Apted also noted: “There are still hurdles to jump.”
As a top insider in the negotiations just emailed me, “The process is fully functioning, and both sides are engaged with a keen eye on what’s good for everyone (other guild members, community, etc).”It’s common knowledge that the Directors Guild, whose contract expires in June, doesn’t start formal negotiations until most of the big issues are ironed out ahead of time in months of early pre-sessions. 
And that’s what happened over the past two weeks, including a secret meeting between News Corp No. 2 Peter Chernin and Walt Disney President Bob Iger about Internet issues with reps for the Directors Guild, including negotiations committee chair Gil Cates and executive director Jay Roth. (See my previous, EXCLUSIVE: DGA Met With Moguls Today.) Even hardliners among the moguls like Warner Bros boss Barry Meyer are widely known to be “very eager” to get a DGA deal quickly in order to lord it over the striking WGA. The big question still remains whether the deal which the DGA can reach with the studios and networks will be acceptable to the Writers Guild so the current scribe strike can end and possibly prevent a Screen Actors Guild come June:
LOS ANGELES – The Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers agreed today to enter into formal contract
negotiations. Negotiations are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Saturday, January 12, 2008, and will be held at AMPTP headquarters in Encino, CA. The DGA and the AMPTP have agreed that neither organization will comment to the press regarding negotiations until negotiations have concluded.
Here is DGA President Michael Apted’s letter about it to members:
I am writing to inform you that with the unanimous agreement of the Negotiations Committee and the recommendation of Negotiations Chairman Gil Cates, I have authorized the start of formal negotiations with the AMPTP and we will begin our first negotiations session tomorrow.
As I have stated before, we would not enter negotiations with the AMPTP unless we were within shouting distance of an agreement on our two most important issues: jurisdiction for our members to work in new media and appropriate compensation for the reuse of our work on the Internet and other new media platforms.
We’ve spent the last few months discussing these and related issues with the studios and we’ve been doing intensive research on these points for the past year and a half. Now we believe it is time to move forward with the goal to hammer out an agreement. I am very mindful of how many members are unemployed and believe that our reaching a deal will bring the industry closer to getting back to work.
There are still hurdles to jump. However, we would not be going forward unless we believed we could make a good deal.
As is our practice, once we enter negotiations tomorrow, there will be a total news blackout on the talks. As soon as there is anything definitive to report we will be in touch with the membership.
Sincerely,
Michael Apted
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Best case scenario: DGA and AMPTP make a deal. WGA figures “close enough” and signs on. We all go back to work.
Worst case scenario: DGA and AMPTP make a deal. WGA figures “close enough” and tries to sign on. AMPTP says “No. Screw you. We’re assholes, remember?”
Probable scenario: DGA and AMPTP make a deal. WGA leaders say “not good enough!” 78% of WGA members immediately go Fi-Core.
Jake Hollywood: “I could care less what the DGA does at this point. I don’t want to extend my hate mail much further, but my attitude is after the way the AMPTP has “negotiated” with us, I don’t give a flying fuck what contract the DGA signs, if it isn’t EXACTLY what the WGA wants (which is only slightly different from what I want), I hope we stay out until the deal is perfect.”
And the AMPTP are the bratty and childish ones? Once your tantrum about how the bullies have treated you is done, feel free to join us over here in the real world. Better yet, use your strike time to read some kind of business or negotiation book. You’re not getting every single thing you want…that’s not how negotiating works. If the WGA’s first offer is the minimum they could take, they’re terrible negotiators and have done you a disservice. If you’re staying out until that deal happens, you’re never going to work again.
We must remember that Amptp ALWAYS intended on negotiating with the DGA first. I think they’ve played it badly and put the DGA in a stronger position than they planned, but will get to the figure they’ve always had in mind for DVD and internet pretty quickly. If DGA takes it, great – they’re right on plan, having undermined a number of our other issues, AND having had the strike allow them to clean a little house.
It’ll be interesting to see how DGA handles this. We’ve put them in a damn strong position, not that Amptp will ever admit that. Who can say exactly when, but Amptp WILL strike a deal with DGA. If it comes quick we almost certainly won’t like it, but Amptp knows that pushing close to June with have them bent over next to a tub of KYgel. So just a little stubborness from DGA should reap rewards.
Hang tough, brothers. Anyone who thinks writers are a bunch of punks doesn’t know what it takes to become a writer! DGA has a hell of an oportunity paved with the thickness of our skin.
Remember the DGA guild is the least expensive guild who have rolled over time and time again for what is in their best interest and not what wil benefit the whole community.
The most expensive guild is SAG, then WGA…it would be interesting to see what is going to happened. I don’t think the AMPTP is going to roll over for SAG and since AFTRA and some moderates in SAG are doing a back run…it will be very interesting to see what is going to come out of the DGA negotiations.
Danzig -
I was so annoyed by those posting things like I’ll stay out ’til hell freezes over just because I’m pissed off – as if lives, families and businesses aren’t at stake – then I read your post and it was all funny again.
Thanks.
Well if SAG strikes in June (depending on how long that could last) and if the WGA strike doesn’t end soon, won’t the studios have to start pushing back the release of some films from this year to next year?
Hey Steve,
You wrote, “How many talks have the WGA shown up to since they pissed off the AMPTP”
I understand you venting your anger, but at least be accurate about it. The WGA has wanted to negotiate since the AMPTP walked out.
”
by refusing to budge on their stupid Reality and Animaiton inclusion demand…Zero.”
”
Stupid to you. Not to reality and animation writers. I created a reality show where my writing was reworded in the contract as “artistic contribution”. The reality show ran for several seasons, had story editors who WROTE before and after the filming of every episode. Ask any reality writer if the want to be in the WGA, and they’ll tell you — hell, yeah. But the writers who tried to unionize, were fired.
As for animation, do you that Lion King was animation. And so was Beowolf. So non of those writers were covered by the union. None of those writers got residuals. When you write an animated film, you get a percentage of the profit of a film… which as every body knows, never happens. That’s why they’re called monkey points. So yeah, animation writers want to be covered by the WGA too.
“WGA doesnt care about its membership.”
The WGA is made of writers and the writers as a whole voted for the strike… so how do you figure that the writers in the WGA don’t care about the member writers in the WGA?
“Its only trying to secure the next strike. ”
Wow. That’s the most unusual reason I ever heard. Can you explain that, please. Because I don’t get the logic at all. And I’m in the WGA and voted for the strike.
Thanks.
A therapist once told me that people will usually tell you exactly what they are about. Someone who says, “I’m kind of cheap,” usually is. The AMPTP began their negotiations with the WGA by asking for a rollback of all residuals. They weren’t kidding.
I am hopeful that the DGA legacy will be that they created a fair deal and ended the campaign of the AMPTP to end residuals for all time once the internet is the primary medium of distribution for filmed entertainment.
Good friends of mine who are DGA members are not proud to have to admit that it was the DGA (under Gil Cates) who was primarily responsible for giving away home video back in the 80′s, and they would like the legacy of DGA give-aways to the AMPTP to end right here, right now.
The eyes of the town are on the DGA. I say go DGA go.
tentoes, not sure you’re right about the “AMPTP always intending to negotiate with the DGA first.” Remember, AMPTP-WGA negotiations were originally slated to begin, by mutual consent, in Jamuary 2007. Until David Young changed his mind.
Jake Hollywood- If you’re going to stay out until you get exactly what you want, you’re going to be out forever, no other option. The AMPTP are the assholes who won’t come back to the table. But negotations in their own right imply that both sides will make sacrivices. Don’t make your side look like the moguls. You’re the ones being reasonable. Keep that up.
I’m very pleased about this. I’ve said before, either it works and that can only work for the better, or it doesn’t and it doesn’t mean anything anyway. The DGA’s been smart. If they continue being smart, they might just save this town. And if the AMPTP gets a way out, so be it. The big guys will always have the edge; it’s just a sad fact of life. But the guilds and the fans will know we shook them up. This is proof of that. Good luck, all.
Unbelievable comments!!
“I hope the DA takes a deal that isn’t to our liking. It’s time to end pattern bargaining once and for all.”
Comment by Striking Writer
“I don’t give a flying fuck what contract the DGA signs, if it isn’t EXACTLY what the WGA wants (which is only slightly different from what I want), I hope we stay out until the deal is perfect.”
Comment by Jake Hollywood
Yeah we’ll see how far you want to go if the internet offer looks good. I say go and get it DGA and FUCK YOU to those who would prolong the mess of a strike due to your feelings being hurt.
BTL 399
If Gil Cates screws us, he doesn’t get his Oscars. It’s that simple.
“DGA has a hell of an oportunity (sc) paved with the thickness of our skin.”
That’s like Bush saying, “You know the real reason I invaded Iraq is so I could disarm Libya. Mission Accomplished!” The WGA doesn’t get to pat itself on the back if the DGA has successful negotiations. The WGA went on strike because it thought that was the best way to secure a deal before the DGA began negotiating and they were forced into the DGA’s pattern. Don’t try to re-write history. You’re on strike remember?
Remember, AMPTP-WGA negotiations were originally slated to begin, by mutual consent, in Jamuary 2007. Until David Young changed his mind.
Is this true?
Question: How long will David Young last in the WGA? Rather, how long should he last?
Don’t know where some of you get the idea that this will break down like it did between the WGA and AMPTP. The DGA entered into preliminary talks with the AMPTP, they wouldn’t be entering into formal negotiations unless there was common ground.
So I doubt that the DGA has the same issues that are distasteful to the AMPTP that the WGA had. It would be a real kicker to the WGA if the DGA manages to get a deal, just like WGA saying they can sign deals with minor studios, the AMPTP will be able to say they can deal with an entire group.
There is a crucial difference between the DGA and the WGA: directors are interpreters while writers are creators. Directors have no Constitutional claim of an equity position in their work, whereas writers do (read Article 1, Section 8). It has taken the media conglomerates decades to undercut the rights of creators (viz “work for hire” and retroactive assignment of copyright). This is why residuals and usage fees flow from the work of writers, and the DGA piggy-backs on their labors. Solidarity among the WGA, DGA and SAG are essential, but with writers it’s a right whereas with the others it’s a gift.
Klaatu wrote “A DGA strike will also kill any film production based on existing scripts as well as some reality shows.”
I agree. AMPTP must be shaking with fear at the possibility of another 5-minute DGA strike.
But I’ve heard rumors that the DGA will be tougher negotiators this time. They may walk out for an entire hour.
{shudder}
That hour will be lost forever. Will the industry recover?
Dear “Almost Broke Feature Writer” — way to plan for a rainy day.
Anon 2:16 wrote: “The WGA talks broke down over the ridiculous jurisdictional issues the guild insisted on raising. Even if the DGA’s deal on new media is palatable to the WGA, the jurisdiction issues remain the stumbling block. Only when the WGA gives up on these will a deal be reached.”
Look, I don’t mind a paid shill, but since they’re getting paid, could they at least be a little less transparent?
This is a chance for everyone to save face, and I have a feeling they’ll take it. “They” being everybody, labor and management. The DGA and WGA will also be able to play Good Cop/Childish-Irrational Cop. (I kid, I kid)
Uh, Mike, the reason that Young refused to begin early talks was the AMPTP insisted on the outright abolishment of residuals. It’s become pretty clear that the AMPTP never wanted a fair deal. They thought we’d fold, and if we didn’t then they could get the DGA to fold and use that as leverage against us. (As has been been explained over and over again by more articulate posters. Every thread is like Groundhog Day).
It’s hysterical (in a sad way) that trolls are still arguing that the WGA would have gotten a fair deal if only they’d said “please.” Go read the NBC CES report. They want their billion a year profit machine, and they’re not going to give it away because someone asks nicely.
Does anyone else find it odd that the head of the DGA negotiating committee is also the producer of the Academy Awards on ABC? Of course he wants a quick resolution so his awards show can go on. A horrible scenario for the WGA would be for the DGA to make a lousy deal which is very possible with this guy and then for the studios, public, et al. to blame the writers because they didn’t bend over for it. Frankly, the only hope I see is to bring Tom Hanks and George Clooney to the table and get them to pressure the studios to negotiate with us, too.
HUMMMMM>>>>>
Fishy, it maybe good, but I smell fish. The DGA starting off with new media and the Internet is a tip of the hat to the WGA not a gotcha that the AMPTP wants it to be. SAG & the WGA are going to view this with a grain of salt. This is fast become the Hatfield vs. the McCoys and that kind of pitting the DGA against WGA & SAG is self defeating. You must and I repeat must bring in the WGA into the mix by having one of our board members or neg. committee members attend out of a courtesy to your sister union.
Gil Cates, ya feel me? Be the bigger man and save one seat for our guy. Okay?
I’m on my way to picket the Bill Maher show at 6pm til 8pm at CBS TV City on Beverly & Fairfax – if I’m lucky Bill will have the picket line catered.
There are 134 comments on this board about the DGA and New Media. Everyone should remember the reason the AMPTP won’t sit back down with us. Because we refused to take jurisdiction over Reality and Animation off the table. They were willing to negotiate on New Media, but only when these issues were removed. So, perhaps we should look to the leadership and question the tactics we are using. If we had kept our eye on the ball and gone after what we really care about, we would be at that table right now. Everyone must realize this, it is a fact
WGAJim wrote:
“Uh, Mike, the reason that Young refused to begin early talks was the AMPTP insisted on the outright abolishment of residuals.”
David Young announced in November 2006 that negotiations would not begin, as previously agreed, in January 2007. The AMPTP floated its (yes, ridiculous) profit-based-residuals plan in, I believe, May of 2007. So, you are arguing that Young changed his mind about early talks because he had a crystal ball which could foresee the the plan the AMPTP would reveal six months into the future? Okay.
I’m plenty critical of the AMPTP, but this early move by Young still strikes me as a crucial error. Read more about it at: http://tinyurl.com/252dfo