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I’m told the informal writer-mogul meetings are going “in a positive direction” enough so that it’s beginning to look possible for the Academy Awards to proceed normally. Friday’s was an especially productive session, I’ve learned. “I feel optimistic. In my opinion, today was productive and collaborative and respectful. I thought it was a very good day,” an insider told me. The CEOs’ pointman Peter Chernin is leaving tonight to go out of town (“This is not his day job,” one source reminded…) but the talks will continue in his absence. I can tell you that since Tuesday the News Corp/Fox No. 2 has been telling insiders that the moguls have decided to let the WGA leadership (yes, even the guy they all hate — Dave Young, who was in today’s session) “declare a face-saving victory” in order to get a deal done. Yesterday Chernin, ensconced in the Fox commissary surrounded by some of his execs — including Tom Rothman, Peter Liguori, and Hutch Parker — was reassuring people, “Don’t worry. It’s done.” My info is that it’s far from done yet, but things are looking up to the point that one of my sources thinks this could get settled in time to hold a real Oscars. Sure, we’ve all been here before and seen talks break down after a few optimistic days. But now, according to my insiders, the moguls finally want a deal as much as the writers. Will the deal be good enough?
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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bitch bitch bitch me me me every day this strike goes on the more I starting to hate the writers . I’m 2 months from losing my home I’m not saying agree to a shity deal but be a lil postive .
and to that guy who said the deal better be 5 times better or he’s voting now that’s bullshit and greedy your scum.
And nikki thank you for your updates and news
Local 399 driver
I find it vaguely ironic how many folks have kept a close eye and run over here to read Nikki’s blog, then turned about and shouted “respect the blackout”.
*snort*
*sigh* Well, I personally am desperate for news like this, but people are right: it would probably be best to delete this and just not post anything. Keep things on good terms.
Why does positive news depress me?
Either they’re playing us all again. Or our leaders are being weak.
Can’t help but think this.
Get it done right guys cause I won’t vote for a crappy deal.
First of all, nobody said anything about a waiver. I think the assumption is that a deal will be in place. Secondly, reading the comments I am beginning to think the writers are as self serving as the producers. How long do you think the 60,000 + of us should be out of work to serve your purpose? When this is done you will be better off. As for us, we’re not going to get back our savings, lost homes or healthcare etc.
This strike has been a disaster for those of us who have no horse in the race, so stop whining. Cause frankly, for all your rah, rah, rah, your efforts have veered towards being amateurish to say the least. 200,00 pencils? Really? That must have sent chills down their backs.
We don’t have strike funds or any support and this strike has devastated our lives. Yet all you wunderkins can do is judge something before it’s even presented to you.
And 10 days to vote? Right, take your time. It’s becoming clear that it’s all about you and no one else matters. So tell all of us again why we should continue to support you…
Nikki – I hope you read the majority of these posts and realise that, while it’s no doubt exciting to feel so much at the hub of the gossip wheel, people really do want you to knock it off for the time being. The gut feeling of most working writers is that without the feverish rumour-mongering, provoking more feverish commenting from people who have got themselves far too worked up, this strike will probably get settled soon, and much more in our favour. Put the gasoline can down for another week, yeah?
Bitter, everyone?
A few things…
Nikki – honor the press blackout. Things were a little saner without your commentary and “inside” tips.
WGA folks – calm down. And read. And think before you type.
Nowhere in her report did Nikki mention a waiver for the Oscars. You’re jumping to conclusions. Her intimation was that a deal could be made. Put the emotion aside.
And, your leadership can call off the strike at any time – look it up. You authorized them to strike if they felt it necessary. If they make a tentative deal, the strike can be suspended BEFORE membership ratification.
Also, if you claim to be behind your leadership, and they negotiate a deal that isn’t “5 times the DGA deal” are you going to turn on them and reject it? That will tear your union, I mean guild, apart.
Get real, get sane, and grow up. Stop being suspicious and do what you’ve been saying all along – trust your leadership. Don’t turn on them if they don’t give you every thing you want – it’s a negotiation and it will mean compromise.
There has been enough sniping, posturing, blaming to fill 1000 scripts. The last few days have been refreshingly civil on all sides. Let’s keep it that way, make a good deal, and get back to work.
The thing is… the WGA leadership has made a monster. Most writers I talk to agree. We have sacrificed too much to take an okay deal. Face-saving deal doesn’t cut it. It’s like giving a diamond to someone who got their ring fingers cut off. It’s gonna take a little more than that.
…I agree that there’s probably propaganda here, in the same way that Hillary is saying Bill went overboard, while letting Bill go overboard.
But we’re all adults here and the deal will be the deal. And if the deal sucks, there will be no Oscar. I dont think Verrone and Young give a rats ass what they read online.
I think they’re doing what they think is best. And when they do put a deal up, I think it’ll be a deal that we WGA members can live with.
Yes, the Congloms are rushing to get something out there so the Oscars can happen. But I doubt the WGA leadership is taking their lead from Nikki, the LA Times, Variety, or anyone else.
So spin away, media conglomerates. Nobody gives a shit. The strike is the strike and the deal is the deal.
Everything else is noise.
But it isn’t going to
“One” of my sources thinks this “could” get settled in time to hold a real Oscars.
I think I’ll hold onto my yacht down payment money a little longer all the same.
The AMPTP have dragged their feet going back to the table with the WGA but now that the Oscars are in the fold they suddenly have the time to negotiate? After the writers, the below the line workers, hell – everybody – had to go through the holidays with no hope in sight? Bullshit. If a good deal is not in place, I hope the Oscars look like the Globes.
Brian- it’s obvious you’re an AMPTP shill, or, just terribly ill informed. if the former how much were you paid for your post? It’s not working. Actual WGA members like myself and my peers know that we’re laying the groundwork for the future. It was rushing to take a bad deal in ’88 that made the WGA accept such a terrible contract.
TV ratings are barely down. The media companies saved money during the strike. They’re not ready to make a deal.
Stay strong. if need be wait for the actors in June. Then we’ll get what we want.
the ceo’s want a deal – they bungled this whole affair like a bunch of hysterical incompetents
they have been looking for a “face saving” way out
I just want to say to anyone in that group of 30 “moderates” — you are a bunch of scumbags. Cowardly scumbags.
It’s one thing to voice your criticisms of Verrone and Young and ask for changes in the way things are being handled, it’s another to say that if those suggestions aren’t heeded you’re going to cross the line and go back to work.
I know you guys are too chicken shit to reveal your names to the rest of us, but I already know who a handful of you are and Verrone says he knows who all of you are, so it’s only a matter of time before your roster is leaked. What were you all thinking by commiting this career suicide. I hope you all never work again, you ooh-the-studios-can-hold-out forever pussies.
I don’t care about the Oscars. I don’t care what Peter Chernin has to say. I only care about our guild sticking together and demanding a fair deal. No flat fee shit like the DGA accepted and the poser John Wells is trying to shove down our throats. No free “promotional” airing of our work.
Hang together Guild Members. Do what the cast of “Friends” did and don’t give up!
Be suspicious of anyone posting on this site who claims to be a WGA member and is clearly spouting a fanatical and divisive stance. “Michael” for instance, who wants 5 times the DGA rate? There are some pretty sophisticated tactics being used by the AMPTP to paint those of us in the WGA as fanatics. I’d bet my next residual check that “Michael” has an office down the hall from Nick Counter Maybe “Michael” really is WGA, or maybe he’s an employee of the AMPTP trying to provoke reactions like that of “Brian.” Just take these comments with a grain of salt, folks.
There’s no way I can believe that the Guild will grant a waiver for the Oscars just because the talks are going well. Seriously. They’re smart people. They know that after the ceremony the rug will be pulled out from negotiations faster than the red carpet at the Golden Globes.
WTF? Media blackout means the parties aren’t supposed to talk to the press. Not that the press is supposed to keep their secrets if they do anyway. Nikki is a journalist and she’s doing what journalists do, her job. Respecting our right to know. The ones who aren’t respecting the media blackout are her sources, go yell at them instead.
I am DGA/WGA. I will vote against the weak DGA deal. The WGA is at its maximum point of leverage right now. We must use it to achieve the historic deal we all know this must be. I don’t want to go on strike again in three years or thirty years – the way to avoid that is by getting the deal right this time. Patience. Vigilance.
We’re worth it. We can get it.
Nikki, you’re the greatest, but this has happened before — everyone must remember that there’s no deal until the WGA announces a deal. Writers need to stay together, stay strong and STAY OUT ON THE PICKET LINES — they’re paying attention to the numbers — at one of the studios, a guard actually told a strike captain that he had to make a count for his boss!
I’m extremely skeptical of these reports and more than a little resentful of Chernin’s reported offer to let the WGA leaders “save face”. Verrone, Young and the rest of the guild leadership have been honorably pursuing an equitable contract for writers in an open and above-board manner. If anyone needs to save face, it’s Chernin who flat out lied about the quid pro quo for removing DVDs. But, come to think about it, if you had a face like Chernin’s, who the fuck would want to save it?
Watch. Wait. Be wary. They are playing with our heads.
Sounds to me like some writers here are nursing bitter wounds – and yes, with good reason – but an injured animal is still an angry animal…
Maybe it would be better to honor the blackout, rather than perpetuate such ill spirit. For the sake of EVERYONE’S sanity…
(And for your own health, Nikki – though you have been a welcome lifeline these past few months – Thank you!)
I agree on the blackout – it seems especially the atmpt is quite sensitive on rumors and easily feels betrayed (i’m not saying rightfully, though).
As long as there’s no final conclusions why not give both parties the space to deal with each other and then present it however is best. And then – if there’s news being twisted – uncover that.
Thanks!
While I appreciate being a person in the “know” with this update, I believe that this process would best be served with a true media blackout. I don’t blame you Nikki, I blame the morons willing to run to you with every gain or setback and make these issues available for public consumption.
Can’t we all let this thing take it’s own course, out of the public eye, until it creates a deal or crashes and burns? I just don’t think this process can stand up to constant media scrutiny. As many have already mentioned, let’s ALL respect the media blackout and shut the fuck up. Give it a chance people!! Talk = progress. No talk = jack shit. Don’t sabotage it now.
You know that adage, “Expect the best and prepare for the worst”? There’s a reason it isn’t “Expect the worst and prepare for the worst”.