More Sources Say More WGA Progress

COMMENTS (36)

• Details, please.

  Comment by writer — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:03pm PST  Reply to this post

• Nikki, can you possibly clarify if this an AMPTP source…or a WGA source?

  There are strategic reasons the AMPTP might want to leak rumors of progress to put pressure on the WGA and get the hopes of the membership up that a fair deal is possible. This is what they did before. “A deal is in place”, remember?

  I don’t see any reason why a WGA source would give false hope.

  If you can, please let us know which side your source is from.

  Comment by Jimmy — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:05pm PST  Reply to this post

• I hope these negotiations aren’t just a ploy by the AMPTP to get a waiver for the Oscars.

  The WGA should hold the cancellation above Oscar like the Sword of Damocles until a solid deal is signed, sealed, and delivered.

  Comment by Furious D — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:05pm PST  Reply to this post

• We’ll see. Be patient. Avoid rumors. Stay strong.

  Comment by reelbusy — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:19pm PST  Reply to this post

• yipee! Well on that news I’m going back to work!

  Comment by ted striker — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:21pm PST  Reply to this post

• I appreciate the simple update Nikki. We can find out all the details after it is over, but at least we can have hope for now.

  Comment by Jordan — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:23pm PST  Reply to this post

• I hope you’re right. My heart wants more info than that but my mind says, no. I’ve always thought optimism is better than pessimism. Worst case scenario is that my hopes are dashed and I lose the house anyway but at least I had that moment of hope. I vote for hope.

  Comment by freelance worker bee — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:25pm PST  Reply to this post

• “More Sources Say More WGA Progress.”

  Are those AMPTP sources, WGA sources, or both?

  Comment by WriterBob — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:33pm PST  Reply to this post

• Maybe the AMPTP has figured out that nobody goes to the movies or watches television to see a list of producer credits. Maybe somebody tipped them that it’s a compelling story and interesting performances that audiences want to see. Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

  Comment by Working Actor Who's not Working — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:34pm PST  Reply to this post

• patience, persistence in pressing the AMPTP, and perseverance.

  Comment by mheister — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:57pm PST  Reply to this post

• by whom are you told that? it’s a pretty vague substantiation to a very bold statement.

  Comment by curious — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 2:58pm PST  Reply to this post

• again??? what does this mean?? more sources?? when do these sources say they expect a deal to be done??

  Comment by belowthelineguy — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 3:01pm PST  Reply to this post

• Good to hear

  Comment by Big Ed — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 3:10pm PST  Reply to this post

• About time everyone started being more reasonable. This strike makes no sense anymore. At all. And those who are paying the price are the poor people who work in crews and need their jobs to maintain their families. With the general economic situation there is, and serious risks of recession, I think people should be a little more responsible and suck it up and find an agreement already.

  Comment by Anonymous — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 3:21pm PST  Reply to this post

• Nikki, just a suggestion, when you source a quote anonymously, why not (like most major news organizations) at least say which side of the issue the source is from? I’d love to know if the person saying “things are looking very good” is a WGA or AMPTP rep, and I’m sure other readers would as well.

  Comment by Mike — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 3:23pm PST  Reply to this post

• *gasp* Positive news? Quick, hide it before people tear it down!

  Comment by BD — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 3:26pm PST  Reply to this post

• In the immortal words of George W. Bush:

  “There’s an old saying in Tennessee. I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee, that says, ‘Fool me once… um… shame on… um… shame on you… If fooled, you can’t get fooled again.’”

  Comment by George Glass — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 3:53pm PST  Reply to this post

• Short and sweet. Hope it’s true. Good luck, WGA.

  Comment by Caitlin — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 5:00pm PST  Reply to this post

• Hey there
  this is good news but i wouldn’t be surprised if the talks break up, yet again.

  It has happened before and i wouldnt be surprised, however, i have a theory on what is happening and if the talkS dont end up in a deal….
  just remember
  I TOLD YOU SO!

  Comment by Saleem — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 5:14pm PST  Reply to this post

• “In a reminder that SAG’s upcoming negotiations with the majors are likely to be contentious and complicated, SAG president Alan Rosenberg and SAG national exec director Doug Allen have told SAG members that he’s not particularly impressed with the DGA’s tentative deal with the AMPTP.

  Rosenberg and Allen echoed previous prounouncements that the DGA deal would not automatically be the model for a new SAG deal. That’s also what

  WGA

  leaders were saying before they launched informal contract talks with moguls a week ago.”

  This pretty much echoes what I and other Writers have said from the start here.

  That any DGA deal would NOT serve as a precedent or a template for pattern bargaining, it will only serve as a metric for the deal we must negotiate for ourselves.

  And we got slammed for saying it…

  Well, it hasn’t changed.

  Phil Alden Robinson has chimed in as well at UH…

  And the SAG letter sent by Alan and Doug to its Members today further details this.

  Stay strong…

  Comment by PJ - Writer — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 5:22pm PST  Reply to this post

• We’ve been told this twice before, and the AMPTP ended up walking out both times at the end. I just hope that it doesn’t end that way this time.

  Comment by Anonymous — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 5:23pm PST  Reply to this post

• REGARDLESS OF REALITY…the AMPTP is going to spread rumors that the strike is almost over.

  DGA is about to vote on their contract!!!

  If the WGA strike seems like it’s going to end soon, then the average DGA voter is going to think, “Well, it’s a crappy contract that has no meaningful jurisdiction on the internet and laughable internet residuals…but the strike is gonna end soon so we should just take it because I want to get back to work.”

  If the strike does NOT look like it’s going to end soon…then there is less of an incentive for a DGA voter to:

  a) vote to accept a crappy contract when they’ll still be out of work anyway

  b) sit on the sidelines while the WGA and SAG negotiate are far better contract

  So, regardless of reality (and I DO hope it’s a good reality), the AMPTP would spread Strike-Is-Gonna-End-Soon rumors anyway. But, hey, maybe they’re negotiating in good faith. But if they weren’t…we’d never know.

  And with their track record…well, I’m not being negative to assume the worst. I’m just being a realist.

  WGA, SAG, and the DGA…we are ALL in this together.

  Comment by DGA Supporter — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 7:45pm PST  Reply to this post

• Dear Nikki, I love your site and have great respect for your work. Therefore I feel compelled to share with you how painful it is to read “things are looking good.” Who is your source? How can we trust you if you can’t trust us? We don’t know what is really happening. The latest news from SAG is the DGA deal looks bad (see united hollywood today). The WGA has already given up on Animation and Reality – the congloms are pushing us to hurry up for the Oscars. I can tell you the real news: everyone I know on the picket line is in this for the long haul. We haven’t been out there day after day to get swept up in some fantasy win. Please wait till you have hard facts to share.

  Comment by Zack Stratis — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 8:37pm PST  Reply to this post

• You have been strangely quiet Nikke. What’s up? Letter to SAG members from Alan Rosenberg and Doug Allen, and blog from Phil Alden Robinson both on UnitedHollywood.com make me think something is up. Come on, you must know more than you’re telling.

  We count on you Nikke….

  Victoria

  Comment by victoria — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 8:45pm PST  Reply to this post

• I read the DGA deal on streaming as being 3%, with the $1,200 figure being an example. Why doesn’t SAG ask for the deal points?? Since the networks are including the streaming in the price they sell for show advertising, that is what needs to be changed.

  Comment by director222 — Tuesday January 29, 2008 @ 9:04pm PST  Reply to this post