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The WGA West just issued this surprising news release:
Los Angeles – The Writers Guild of America, West is taking on the fight for justice of writers who were fired when they tried to get a union contract with Tyler Perry’s production company, House of Payne, LLC. The Guild today filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that House of Payne unlawfully fired four writers in retaliation for their union activity. The charge also alleges that the company bargained in bad faith with the Guild, which is seeking to negotiate a contract covering the writers on Perry’s cable television series House of Payne and Meet the Browns.
The four writers, Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson, and Lamont Ferrell, as well as supporters from the Writers Guild and the community, will be picketing during Saturday’s opening of Perry’s new studio and they’re asking invited guests to respect their picket line. Together, these writers have written over one hundred episodes of House of Payne. Since April of this year they have been involved in a union organizing campaign with the Writers Guild of America, West so that their work on that show and the upcoming Meet the Browns would be covered by a Guild contract. Despite the enormous success of House of Payne, Perry has refused to agree to a contract that would give the writers health care, pensions, and residuals. On Tuesday of this week he fired the writers, after warning them some weeks ago that they should “be careful about pushing the WGA deal or you could be replaced.”
“We’re asking all those who had planned to attend the opening of Tyler Perry’s new studio not to cross our picket line,” said writer Christopher Moore. “It’s very disheartening considering that this is a studio run by African Americans. What Tyler Perry is essentially saying to us is that ‘you’re black and there’s not a lot of opportunities for you so you’ll take what I give you’ – whether it’s fair or not.”
“I feel like I was slapped in the face, like we were used” said writer and WGAW member Teri Brown-Jackson. “We were good enough to create over a hundred episodes, but now when it comes to reaping the benefits of the show being syndicated and having other spin-offs from it, he decides to let us go unless we accept a horrible offer.”
“Disrespected, betrayed, saddened…it’s hard to describe,” said writer and WGAW member Lamont Ferrell. “The actors and a majority of the production crew on the show were working under union contracts and they received the pay and benefits that you need to survive on in this business. But after all those episodes and success when it came time for us to get a fair contract, we’re told on a conference call ‘sorry, you’re fired.’”
The show’s head writer, Kellie Griffin, added, “A lot of people who fought for civil rights and social justice never really saw what eventually came out of their work. While I’d like to see something positive come out of this for us, if this fight helps future black writers get what they deserve, that’s a good thing.”
The writers and their supporters will be picketing at the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios on Saturday, October 4, starting at 4 pm, and on Sunday, October 5, starting at 9 am.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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I am an agent who can attest to the truth of this article. About a year ago a writer called and said she needed an agent to look at her deal for the “House of Payne”. (She’s not one of the folks listed here however) I was horrified to see the terms of the agreement. It was clearly a non-union contract that was disturbingly unfair. I tried explaining why the deal was so bad but when it was clear she did not care to listen I told her that I couldn’t help her. I can’t believe it’s taken the WGA this long to go after them.
How easily we jump on the band wagon!
It seems to me that the 4 of you do not understand the art of patience. Instead of attempting to knock Mr. Perry down, (as you think he has so deliberatly done to the four of you); maybe you should have waited until after he has gotten things established with this new facility, let the smoke settle, and then go in and sit down and handle this matter like true professionals, which you claim that you are. Once you openly display your frustrations with people that have nothing to do with the situaiton you cause discourse and confusion that never should have existed among people.
Now even if you get what you are asking for. After demonstrating in this manner it will be difficult for you to have any type of genuine cohesiveness with anyone that you are working with. Sometimes it’s better to let your pride get hurt and do things that are outside of the box to resolve disagreements. The four of you are acting out of hurt pride and not good judgement. There is a better way for you to get what you are asking for. A way that does not include tarnishing another man’s reputation and asking others to agree with you. We as blacks have to learn how to get our points across without all of this follishness.
Notice how many people just jumped all over a man that they barely know all because of what you are saying. A wise person waits to hear the whole matter… Yes waits and never judges before that time. Be the “Bigger Man (Person)” if that is more your speed. If what you are saying is true then yes there is room for disappointment. However; rethink the way that the four of you are trying to handle the situation. There is more to this than meets the eye.
Christians on more that just Sunday.
db: “…how? There have only been 40 something episodes of that show. Do they have the next three seasons written and scripted already?”
Wrong:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Tyler_Perry%27s_House_of_Payne_episodes
To the writers affected by these tactics,
Thank you for your support of independent media. Based solely on the articles I read here on DHD, my sense is that the faith and spirit of your previous business dealings with Tyler Perry’s production company is not being honored. If my understanding of the situation is correct, my fear is that these events reflect negatively on all independent producers and on independent media at large. Certainly, there are plenty of independent producers who, in the wake of success, have taken undue advantage of talent’s willingness to work on a budget.
Without more information, I can’t comment on the specific situation you’re facing. I will say that especially in the wake of the strike and the blooming complications between SAG and the AMPTP, there are many of us out here working to bring our industry into a future of financial and creative solidarity and liberty.
Again, thank you for taking a chance with independent production. My prayers are with you for a fair deal, and I hope all independent producers take this opportunity to renew their commitment to their content, their talent, and to a Hollywood that inspires and nurtures our global creativity and culture.
Remember, we live and work in the single greatest creative community in the world. To those who think that priviledge comes without ethical and creative responsibilities, I implore: Consider the long-term consequences. Shape up or ship out.
Sometimes it seems like our entire industry has lost track of the line between deserving and feeling entitled. If you ask me, entitlement is at the root of our nation’s current financial crisis. Deserving is what will get us out of it – and I’ll tell you, we deserve good, healthy, creative business relationships just as much as we deserve the huge mounts of wealth our work produces.
News like this saddens me the most – we are the theater folk and the carnies, guys. In college, we wouldn’t have thought twice about helping a friend out with production for free, or on the other hand dipping into a paycheck to make sure our friends made some beer money for their work. From people whose lives are focused exclusively on numbers, this kind of behavior strikes me as easier to excuse… but dammit! Most of us were raised in a damn theater one way or another, and we God damn well know better!
Remember, please: We are priviledged just to be here. That’s not to say that we don’t deserve success and wealth. It’s just to say that the show comes first, and secondly, we need to be taking care of our own.
Nikki, sometimes your posts really do get my dander up!
So, Obama’s best friend hates unions. Say “Nope” to the man from “Hope”.
@ DB
Yes, TPS generally has all the scripts ready before the series season even starts.
I personally feel that you all should learn the whole story and not just go on what the media says. You all are acting like a bunch of “turn-coats” I mean you have supported what Tyler has done this long and you know that he means no harm to his own people, and I don’t think that he will be that quick to forget where he comes from. From my understanding these people have been writing for years and they know the ins and outs of the business and they are the ones who took these positions knowing that they were not backed by the union. We have to remember that Tyler has a business to run and he can not do that on principles of friendship. So before you are so quick to change your opinion about Tyler why don’t you get the full story before expressing your uneducated thoughts.
“It was clearly a non-union contract that was disturbingly unfair.”
Then if she signed it anyways, it’s her own dumb fault and she shouldn’t have the nerve to start whining about being underpaid. And again, these writers need to prove that they were fired specifically because they were trying to get WGA benefits. If all the writers were asking for it and only four of them were fired, then just maybe they were even crappier writers than are generally employed on that awful show.
The two stories put together are an interesting blend of Hollywood politics. IMHO Perry has a right to work non-union. He has built up his business, owns the company, and he may hire non-union and even forbid people to engage in union activities or proselytizing on site. But what he can’t do is to forbid them to participate in union meetings or activities off site because they enjoy a first amendment freedom of association. While a contract might have some sort of confidentiality clause (or a morals clause) it can’t prevent them from meeting with or associating with other industry people, union or not.
The Obama connection is interesting because Obama enjoys a lot of union support (though G_d knows why – public teachers unions love him even while he shuns the public schools to send his kids to $20k private schools). And alone, it wouldn’t have much traction, but when cumulatively added to the Rev. Wright association, the Bill Ayers association, the Tony Reszko association, the Odinga cabal, it does make you wonder what sort of associates he will cultivate when he no longer needs the vote of the American people.
**** WGA is asking everyone, fans, writers, friends of writers to write Tyler Perry and let him know how you feel.
GO UNION!!!
http://www.tylerperry.com/_MessageBoard/
#Chris Jackson wrote: Last year I called Tyler Perry’s office directly (I was John Singelton’s partner, who created CRASH and has a deal at Universal Pictures..
Dude: Neither you, or john singleton created CRASH. I’m in a position to know. Stop lying, you delusional idiot.
Comment by VOguy — October 3, 2008 @ 7:46 am
Please feel free to call my CRASH lawyer at (310) 300-8441, his name is Mr. Krintzman, maybe you can be enlightened by the truth instead of writing insults and libelist remarks.
That’s horrible and he should be ashamed. Or maybe this public outcry will force him into being shamed. Either way…
Perry’s bufoonish films and plays are a disgrace to African Americans. I personally boycott him after seeing only one.
He is guilty of the very behavior that Barrack Obama said had to cease in order for blacks to achieve.
While black filmmakers struggle to advance story-telling and change stereotypical images, Perry continues to show why the effort never seems to get very far. He has set back black entertainment 20 years with his “lack of quality as culture” crap.
While Hollywood transforms into the “big movie” business, minority films have been ignored. The dearth of black film and TV shows has left Perry and Lions Gate free the empty their adult diaper of product for a hungry audience.
Perry can now add tyrant to his other accomplishments of buffoon, hack and drag queen.
Comment by Cinefile X — October 2, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
YAY!!!!!!!!!
Brilliant assessment.
With his most recent abortion, “The Family That Preys”, Perry is now officially an equal opportunity
hackmeister.
Poor Kathy Bates.
You can just picture her Oscar melting…
It’s not fair to sing a song that belongs to someone else and make millions and then say it was your total creation and vision. Songwriters suffer the same injustices that Guild writers suffer when dealing with greedy and selfish producers. Knowing how difficult it is to make it by using your gifts these days Tyler should understand the pain and frustration these writers feel. Everyone has to eat. The king needs others to legitemize his throne. Martin Luther king legacy would not be anything if it was’nt for the people who supported him. The thousands who marched with him and believed in his vision. You are nothing with out your soilders.
idiots. they signed non union contracts and now want them to go with the wga. it seems that is a choice thing. and if they don’t want to hire people under a wga contract, they don’t have to.
nevawulhavmadit wrote:
“It seems to me that the 4 of you do not understand the art of patience. Instead of attempting to knock Mr. Perry down, (as you think he has so deliberatly done to the four of you); maybe you should have waited until after he has gotten things established with this new facility, let the smoke settle, and then go in and sit down and handle this matter like true professionals,”
The WGA has been patient. The Guild has been negotiating with Mr. Perry’s company for months and months. At every turn, when a deal was reached, Mr. Perry’s attorney would take the deal to Mr. Perry and he would knock it down, insisting on even more concessions. Finally Mr. Perry broke off negotiations, fired the four WGA writers (not the other writers), and came back to the Guild with an even more lowball offer.
The art of patience has gotten the writers dick. Now it’s time to try the art of firm persuasion.
(And as an aside: When will people realize that “making nice” to wealthy conglomerates (and mini-congloms like Mr. Perry) is merely an invitation to be abused?)
There are union abuses, but in general, unions protect workers, for history shows (and currently we are seeing this once again, people don’t care when their 401k is rising, they even defend big business and turn a blind eye to the things these corporations do that are illegal and immoral, but when their 401k drops, all of the sudden they “get religion” and are “morally outraged” complaining about these “crooks”. Hypocrites, I’ve *always* said that big business is filled with greedy, self-centered immoral thieves… but nobody cares or wants to do anything as long as they are also getting rich. These people are almost as bad as the corporate execs!), again, history shows that power corrupts. Unions protect their workers and enable them to get what they deserve. That’s a good thing. (If a union becomes corrupt, it should be cleaned up just like corporations are… well, better than corporations are! The previews I saw for house of Payne looked so stupid I vowed I’d NEVER watch that show… Bernie Mac is a GREAT example of a good “black” show, and that old, old show that
First of all we do not have the entire story. All of you making comment on what you THINK you know!!! Now in my profession, when you work on contract you are responsible with making your own contract with includes benefits if any. Most of the time you pay your own taxes and benefits from the rate you negotiated on the front end not the back. Now sometimes when you renegotiate you loose. This happens on soaps with actors and writers al the time. This is business. By the way how many black writers are in the writers union? There may be a reason why he hired tem from the jump. He wanted to hire black writers. Something to think about.
The writers should have been fired, I force myself to watch the show on a regular basis to support the greater cause effort (support our people) and don’t find the show to be remotely interesting nor and most importantly for a sit-com funny! I blame the writers for the terrible dialog and lousy punch lines and the actors for their uninspiring performances.
I applaud Tyler on his success with his plays and movies and the journey to get to that place, truly inspiring, but understand, like any product that continues to break the odd and bust the charts (His Movies), you market that success by selling the lunchboxes and action figure dolls and from my chair that’s all the House of Payne is, cashing in on the cash cow! The show sucks and its number one, only in America!
Tyler Perry’s 15 minutes are up. That guy is and always has been, a stone cold hack. Tell me why any of his work should see the light of day? Because he’s willing to wear a dress and act like a sassy grandmother?
What real man wears a dress onstage, when he writes, directs and produces the show? Especially when there are literally hundreds of actresses who would make that role really come to life.
Black people are starving for intelligent films and plays, but what do we get? We get Tyler Perry.
Taking a non-union job and then trying to organize is like getting married and thinking you can change your spouse! FORGET IT !! Its not like this is a company that has been around for years and you are just tired of dealing with it. You Took A Non Union Job 12 months ago!
The low down side of making a buck. I wonder if the studio is in Atlanta because some smart lawyer advised Big Bucks Perry that Georgia is a right to work state.Turn that fact over in your mind for a moment. He is no dummy. He makes films for the masses that don’t require thinking abeit e n t er tain ment. Keeping in mind that in Georgia Raw wrestling can fill an arena. He’s a mogul now and behaving like one. Some have risen with him and that’s great but know who your dealing with if your looking to ride the Perry train. True talent will always show and even better with a lawyer or good agent before a contract is signed.
Why doesn’t everyone just sit back and watch the truth come to light. No one should be verbally attacking Mr. Perry based on what is being voiced by others. Eventually the entire story will be told but it may be too late to right the wrongs that negative words have created. I don’t know Mr. Perry personally I’ve seen and enjoyed every movie and play he’s ever written and I try to watch “House of Payne” now that it is on UPN. I pray that all things work out for the best for everyone concerned.
I think you should all wait until you hear Tyler Perry’s side. Every fired worker is always disgruntled and won’t have anything good to say about the employer that fired him. And to all those who don’t like his movies, plays, etc. There are MILLION$ of dead presidents that do. Don’t talk about making better black films and they blacks are starved for something better. Who do you think the majority of movie goers that make him wealthy?, it’s blacks. So I guess they’re not that hungry. Tyler Perry didn’t need the 4 writers to be wealthy or famous, he already was. His movies before House of Payne had already made him very rich. You just can’t please all of the people all of the time, and when it comes to us, we can’t be pleased none of the time. Judging from the photos of the Grand Opening, EVERYBODY crossed the picket line (even Oprah). As the bible states,(paraphrased) “It is foolish to answer a matter before you hear it.”