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There's little more to say about Wednesday's talks other than that, unfortunately. "This is not heading in the right direction," a mogul quoted his labor exec as saying to him yesterday. Another source told me, "It's stalemated. Nothing's getting achieved."
I'm not sure people are aware that CAA partner Bryan Lourd all week has been at the hotel where the talks are being held. He's working both sides in a form of "footstep diplomacy" (as opposed to Henry Kissinger's old "shuttle diplomacy"). An insider told me, "He keeps asking what everybody needs. This is what Lew Wasserman used to do during these things. Wasserman would say, 'I want to know what you each need. I don't want to know what you want. Go in the other room and tell me what you need.' "
As I've reported previously, Lourd was designated as the Hollywood agencies' point person to assist these resumed negotiations, which I should stress do not have a stop date on them at the moment and will probably continue well past Thursday. Said an insider: "There's no arbitrary end to this. Everyone only leaves if Bryan gives up and goes home." (And shame on journalist Alex Ben Block for writing a piece on Lourd containing nothing new yet not crediting me for all my scoops about Lourd's and all the agents' role.)
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What a fucking nightmare. These people all need to be ground into chum and thrown into Shamu’s tank at Sea World.
But our pickets and rallies have been so awesome! Our videos are so funny! Why aren’t the studios rolling over in fear of our solidarity?
Hey Nikki. Could you follow up with your sources and ask them why nothing is being achieved? Have the conglomerates made their promised new offer yet three days into resumed negotiations? If not, why not? What are they waiting for? Why do they keep saying it’s coming tomorrow… and then… nothing? And have you followed up with your sources who were telling you over the weekend that a deal was already done? Wha’ happened? Thanks!
Pretty much what many thought. NO progress. And AMPTP put out that BS that we walked when “progress” towards a settlement was being made back in Early Nov.
Well, what “progress” exactly were they talking about?
None, why is why we walked. Okay dickheads, stick to your plan. Make incrementally better offers over time until you have to capitulate to some fair settlement. In JUNE, earliest, if that’s what you want. If that is your strategy, dickheads.
I can’t believe this is actually happening, that the AMPTP wouldn’t bargain in good faith and treat us this way over pennies on the dollar. They expect us to break, and this time we won’t. I said all along this is about fairness and respect and that is exactly what it IS about, with that we wouldn’t be in this situation. They don’t respect Writers and they DON”T want to bargain fairly. There is over 50 years of history behind this. Nothing has changed…
My God, THEY get 1100 cents profit on One DVD, we get 4 cents. The Content Creators get 4 cents, after being told back in 1999 they would “see how things go” and then provide some reasonable solution if sales grow. Well, DVD sales grew 75% in the next few years. Did they ever make good on their promise? NO. Is it happening now? No.
Who is to think that they will treat us any differently when it comes to HV/New Media. Anyone believe they will? Fool me once…
My God, to pick a fight with Writers over pennies instead of putting energy into harnessing the digital future is typical of a myopic, petty mindset.
Again, I say we walk. We walk until it costs them 3 times, 5 times more money than it would have if they just dealt with us fairly in the first place. In three years we will be back at this again and they have to get the message now, TODAY, that they are dealing with a different adversary. They should be dealing with us as partners, unfortuantely, we have become their adversaries because they have made us into adversaries.
This is a pitiful shame on corporate greed, it must be dealt with and dealt with in no uncertain terms.
Keep your pants on Guys, and thanks Bryan, your efforts are noble and appreciated.
Sorry about the rant gang, It’s just that I’m sick of this AMPTP BS strategy. THEY are stalling, not us.
We may need ONE OF THEM to kick the crap out of them. Some hard core Former Wall Street Type or Fortune 500 CEO “Gun for Hire” with serious connections to the Digital Platform future Companies to “google” their asses into making a fair deal before the fear of losing it all settles into their little cold, calculating, feverish beancounting brains.
some other game’s afoot. i’m taking the cue, and looking for a new line of work. see ya.
– from a writer on a prime-time network show
Not surprising. Google, what are you doing?
I hope the WGA continues to put together strong protests outside the studio doors.
This sounds like a total studio PR attempt and I think they are waiting for the WGA to blink or walk away first. I’m glad the leaders on the WGA side are stronger than in past years. See you all on the strike line…
- writer
Come on, Lourd! Get us somewhere! This is rediculous. Regardless of whether this is a AMPTP ploy or not, this makes both sides look bad. Once again: hardball, people. Playing chicken doesn’t count.
That’s it – I’m heading over to the Safari Inn to get these negotiations moving.
Bryan is the wrong guy for this job. His southern charm is nice but he doesn’t have the stature that Wasserman did. Katzenberg is the one who should be doing this diplomacy. But he doesn’t want to. He’s really the only person who could force both sides to come to an agreement faster. He’s writer friendly but he’s also a tough savvy mogul. Draft Jeffrey and a deal will be done much quicker.
PJ-
Hope it makes you feel better – I enjoyed your rant! No apology necessary.
>>They should be dealing with us as partners<<
Really? Are you planning to invest some of your money and share the losses on the 80% of shows that fail? Nope, didn’t think so. You apparently don’t understand the definition of the word partner. Please look it up.
Hey Kyle,
Apparently, the AMPTP also doesn’t understand what “partner” means, because they’ve been talking about a “New Economic Partnership” with the WGA, so maybe you should let them know what it means, too.
And since residuals on TV episodes are actually deferred payments, when a show bombs and never gets rerun, writers never see those deferred payments — so, yes — we do share the losses.