Comments on: WGA Strike Costing $80 Million Per Day and 33,000 Jobs

By: {ph[oe]nix}

{ph[oe]nix} — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:18:58 +0000

I do think it’s awful that the writers strike is affecting people who can ill afford to strike. Say for example assistants and other staff.

It’s one thing to strike when you’re a sucessfull writer like Joss Whedon, it’s quite another to be forced out of a job that pays sod all becuase production has to halt on your TV show.

I support the writers, although I think some of their demands are a little excessive. But I can’t help feeling sorry for the people further down the pecking order.

By: DarkKinger

DarkKinger — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:24:41 +0000

It is hard knowing this strike is hurting T.V. and movies. But for both sides, no attempt to talk has each day wasting 80 MILLION FUCKIN’ DOLLARS & 33,000 JOBS~?!

Holy shit, a deal needs to be done now. I don’t think we can afford to go a whole year with this.

By: Koko

Koko — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 21:16:04 +0000

Definately not a fan of only being able to read half the article without clicking on ‘more’.

It was fine how it was.

By: Henrik

Henrik — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:00:40 +0000

If this leads to less american studio movies being made and more foreign movies or independent movies both fictional and documentary being released in theatres and gaining the attention that the studio stuff normally receives, I hope they stay on strike for a year or two.

By: John

John — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:24:40 +0000

Hey Peter,

According to the federal mediator, there were HEAVY last minute talks going on, and both sides started to make some concessions… but the WGA EAST refused to delay their strike by 3 hours (so that their deadline would match up with the WGA WEST deadline) so the talks could continue. So at 9pm PST (3 hours before the WGA WEST deadline) and while talks were in progress, the WGA EAST started the strike which ended the talks.

By: Peter Sciretta

Peter Sciretta — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:16:28 +0000

John,

The way I understand it, the last time the writers and producers met, the writers tried all they could to make a deal so that their wold be no strike. They even offered to take the DVD royalties off the table, something most writers were angry about, yet the studios won’t budge on the internet deal. the WGA gave up more than 50% of the stuff they are fighting for to try to avoid a stike, but the studios walked away from the talks….

By: John

John — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:14:55 +0000

Hey Alfie,

That’s not true:

“A federal mediator who recently joined talks between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers convened a hasty last bargaining session Sunday amid speculation the AMPTP would deliver a new proposal to the guild. But despite that marathon session lasting well into Sunday night, when the parties emerged from the Sofitel hotel in West Hollywood it was clear the talks had broken down again.

One flashpoint involved the WGA East’s refusal to halt the start of its strike after East Coast clocks struck midnight. Negotiations were still in session at the time, and the WGA West wasn’t scheduled to strike for another three hours.

“Notwithstanding the fact that negotiations were ongoing, the WGA decided to start their strike in New York,” AMPTP president Nick Counter said. “When we asked if they would ‘stop the clock’ for the purpose of delaying the strike to allow negotiations to continue, they refused.

“We made an attempt at meeting them in a number of their key areas including Internet streaming and jurisdiction in new media,” Counter said. “Ultimately, the guild was unwilling to compromise on most of their major demands. It is unfortunate that they choose to take this irresponsible action.”

By: alfie

alfie — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:35:55 +0000

the producers walked away from the talks john.

By: John

John — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:15:44 +0000

Darren,

I don’t support the writers strike. I don’t take a side in this issue.

And if you actually read my post, I was chastising both sides for not even sitting down and TRYING to negotiate a settlement. I was very clear on this.

By: Darren J Seeley

Darren J Seeley — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:11:29 +0000

Well, it’s just the way it reads to me, John. A few days ago, your WGA strike post resulted in many int’l friends thinking you were against the writers, where they chimed in, bashing the writers on the picket line…

And

If you say the two sides should not have caved in…then…you chastise both for the industry loss. Which is it? Can’t have it both ways.