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Even sick, I felt compelled to follow up on tips about the negotiations. A “very productive day,” I’m told, so good that one of my sources now says he’s “very optimistic” about a settlement soon. No, this isn’t a hoax, or Lucy pulling away the football, or any other conspiracy theory. Truly, progress is being made by the WGA leadership with the CEOs. Starting to sound like there’s an end to this strike and a real Academy Awards is possible. Talks continue tomorrow. (And in answer to your emails, yes, I also think that site spoofing DHD is very funny. I totally agree that it’s been ridiculous how much I’ve been ill lately. Thanks for all the get-well wishes.)
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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But will the writers be left holding the bag again. How ridiculous if all this time they did not get a decent agreement. I mean, when was the last time the AMPT went on strike, it just doesn’t happen. If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage. And the only way that happens is with hard work and a lot of talent and passion. Producers should rethink how they treat writers in a medium they just love to work in.
Glad you can see the funny side of that spoof, Nikki. Get well soon. Look forward to reading more posts when you’re ready!
yeah, and what about all of us who had our pilot deals cancelled. we will never make that money back. the union sucks, the studios are fucking evil
Holding the bag in what way? As a “below the line” worker who has not a a paycheck in months, I have to ask: “what exactly are the writers looking for?” Why is it after all this time there is no agreement? The so called BTL workers have taken concession after concession to keep work in LA, to ensure their members keep working. There are no residuals for us. If we don’t work. we don’t get paid. Period, full stop, end of sentence. If you want to work in a medium that values “talent and passion” write a play. If you can’t make a living as a writer, get a day job, and let the rest of us get back to work.
Here’s to our negotiating committee hanging tough and making sure we make money if they make money. No freebies. We don’t want to back here in three years, even if that means we have to keep picketing a while longer. A sliding scale is the best option for all and would keep this town working.
To all those who want to throw in the towel, I say get out of this industry. Everyone knows it’s a crap shoot. One day you’re working, the next you’re not. When I create something everyone enjoys, I want to be paid. Not once, but as long as others are making money off of my idea. If your agent is pushing you to accept the DGA deal, ask your agent to take 2 cents on the dollar instead of 10 percent!
Nikki, while I appreciate the update, please allow yourself a break – a real break. We can survive a few days without you (hard as it may be). Get well soon!
Hey, Silver Fox – knock it off. Why assume such negativity. YOU and YOUR ATTITUDE are directly responsible for this being the mess it is. No matter how much you hate it, this is a business not the commissioning of great art.
Nikki,
could you maybe hire an assistant?
Silver Fox – you know – i’ve made 25 years worth of deals with producers. some good. some lousy. to be more than honest – i’m sick to death of this hardline rhetoric. i want you guys to get what your asking for. i do. but guess who’s gonna get the better deal? it ain’t gonna be you. it never will until you’re on the other side. either you’re in the ten percent of the elite WGA that can hold out forever and not give a shit about anyone else. or you’re comfortable enough to go several more months.
but personally – i mean personally. this shit is killing me. so you go ahead and strut your stuff, while i call you up and ask you for a personal loan. cause that’s how bad it is for a LOT of us.
you wanted to be treated well? in THIS business? good luck.
Still has to be the right settlement before I’ll vote for it.
Get well soon, Nikki.
But can you clarify if these are AMPTP sources, WGA sources, or both?
Thanks Nikki,
I think we all ahve to think positively and will it to work out. I’m tired of feeling negative. It takes far too much wasted energy.
Be good to yourself and get healthy.
Thanks for the update, Nikki. I’ve been sitting on pins and needles all week and I’m glad to hear things are going well so far. Here’s to hoping a fair deal can be reached soon, and that you feel better even sooner!
As before, be willing to quote where you’re hearing it from or shut your yap. This is getting silly already. Speculation without open sourcing is just setting everyone up for later.
Glad if it’s true, but still certain that in the end, it will not be a fair deal but more of an inevitable settlement. Meaning we’ll have settled. For the deal they finally decided to give us.
I only wish I didn’t have to work for these people anymore, because no matter how misguided my union has been at times during the strike, the companies have shown themselves to be insulting, greedy bastards.
But of course I will work for them again. Grrrrrr.
omg, that spoof site, i was rolling on the MF GROUND, lol…
hope ya feel better, nikki…
“ha ha” to that spoof website about you, your still reporting more then that guy even when your sick! Other entertainment reporters should be taking lessons from you!
Get well soon, nikki.
These talks will only be productive if whatever it is they’re talking about results in the members of the WGA voting for it.
Really want to be optimistic, but not feeling it.
That “spoof” website is utterly hilarious – and so dang accurate it might as well take over for the REAL site ; )
Well, now that the House of Representatives is involved…..they will be wanting to see the books of both sides and I’m sure that they are going to pull every stop out to get this resolved…..can anyone say IRS? Can anyone see how many laor laws have been broken? Can anyone see how many fraudulent disability and unemployment scams have gone on? Oh yeah, Uncle Sam is going to start coming down really hard on both sides!
rHob
Not to worry Silver. The WGA membership has made it clear to their negotiators that they will kick a bad deal to the curb faster than Jeremy Piven the morning after that night before.
But will the writers be left holding the bag again.
If it’s not a good deal- the right deal, we vote no. Oscars go down in flames. And we wait for June.
Simple.
My hopes aren’t up. These rumors are coming from the AMPTP and can’t be trusted.
Let’s just see a good deal, please.
It’s meaningless. Until Verrone, Young or Bowman tell us themselves there’s progress or, better yet, a deal we are as on strike as we were November 5th. Fight on!
And remember, the picket coordinators just met with the LAPD about the logistics in picketing at the Oscars. That plan is still be much on track. Fair deal or no Oscars.
The AMPTP needs to understand that making movies takes more than just millions of dollars. Like Silver Fox said, it needs imaginative and hardworking people to create the stories that end up on the screen.
They need to see that it’s a collaborative industry, and not an adversarial one.
Hope you feel better soon.
Hopefully both sides can keep their dicks in their pants this time and quit the theatrics so this strike will be over and people can get back to work and paying their bills.