Writers' Strike Ending?

Photo of Matthew Sheffield.
By Matthew Sheffield | February 3, 2008 - 16:05 ET

Will the Writers Guild of America strike end soon? Possibly:

Informal talks between representatives of Hollywood’s striking writers and production companies have eliminated the major roadblocks to a new contract, which could lead to a tentative agreement as early as next week, according to people who were briefed on the situation but requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak.

A deal would end a crippling writers strike that is now entering its fourth month.

The agreement may come without renewed formal negotiations between the television and movie writers and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, though both sides still need to agree on specific language of key provisions.

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If that process goes smoothly, an agreement may be presented to the governing boards of the striking Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East by the end of next week, the people said.

The breakthrough occurred Friday after two weeks of closed-door discussions between the sides. Even if approved by leaders of the guilds, a deal would require ratification by a majority of the more than 10,000 active guild members.

Writers walked out on Nov. 5 after failing to reach a new contract with producers in months of difficult bargaining. Talks resumed briefly in December, but quickly broke off again. The latest round of talks came more than two weeks ago in the wake of a tentative contract agreement between producers and the Directors Guild of America.

That deal confronted many of the same issues that have troubled writers — including difficult questions related to pay for digital distribution of shows and movies — and paved the way for Friday’s movement toward a deal.

A final sticking point had been compensation for ad-supported television programs that are streamed over the Internet after their initial broadcast. Companies were seeking a period during which they could stream such shows without paying a residual, and wanted to peg payments for a year of streaming at the $1,200 level established in the directors’ contract. Writers were seeking 1.2 percent of the distributors’ revenue from such streams, to ensure they would participate in any revenue gold mine discovered on the Web. How that issue was finally resolved in the informal talks remained unclear.

—Matthew Sheffield is Editor of NewsBusters.

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Don't believe the hype!

Don't believe the hype! They're just talking now to ensure that they get a special dispensation to hold the Academy Awards, after which, talks will mysteriously "fall apart". 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz crickets

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

crickets . . .

Great

Now they can produce a whole bunch of brand new crap I'll never watch...

DVD collections

I find myself watching the half hour long commercials for the boxed sets of DVDs from old programs: Carson, Dean Martin roasts, Carol Burnett. Those are infinitely better than the stuff they're writing for today.

Who cares????

Writer's strike?  What writer's strike?  Gee, I hadn't noticed............

I for one will be glad the

I for one will be glad the strike is over. I need new episodes of 30 Rock, The Office, and LOST. All this reality show garbage is killing me. Thank goodness there have been new episodes of Psyche and Friday Night Lights.

Don't you just hate

that they call it "reality" TV. It's so phoney.

I ran into a reality TV star a few weeks ago and he told me it's all fake. And this was not sour grapes, either since he is involved in a spin off show from the one he was on.

Of course it's fake.

Of course it's fake. Sorry, but anyone who doesn't see that has grapes for brains. The people are chosen for the way they will play against each other, and then manipulated on a daily basis.

But hey, some folks love it anyway....like this guy:

It's still real to me, dammit!

 

Contestants

are also constantly told to punch up their behavior and get angrier at people.

Reality TV

Is just another oxymoron.

"Reality" TV

Definitely a misnomer, but there are some I enjoy.

But wow is it getting old right now.

Millionaires quarreling over Billions

I was really hoping this would go on and bust that union forever..........and because I was hoping Jack Bauer would fade from memory as Sutherland and Air America broad are sure to team up this season to esentially destroy that series.
I have seen enough of the bit players nabbing roles on other series to know they see the writing on the wall.

Some shows though like Pushing Up Daisies I felt bad for as it was doing so well and had a postive message that the strike may have killed it...........Jericho might though get it's life back into it, but then the old mom from that show is starring in what looks like a hit on ABC in Eli Stone.

I would have more sympathy if House reruns were not better than what is on or will be coming. Writers no longer know how to write or create.
There should be an effervenscent flow of words to soothe the mind and entice the flow of dreams in that ocean of thought that dreams are possible and they do come true in the fruition of a keyboard bard telling the tales we never knew.

We now return you to sex, profanity, let us all be sodomites writing of the WGA, the biggest communist group since SAG.

 

*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS

writers strike

I can't wait Matt. I am a tv holic.

"Suck it"

Pop Tech

All good things must come to an end

I said it when it started and now that it might come to an end I still believe it: I don't see how the Hollywood writers' strike was a bad thing!

No new shows to watch

No new shows to watch sucks. I need my Lost, Smallville, Ghost Whisperer, 24, Prison Break , Friday Night Lights and Heroes. The only so called reality show I watch is American Idol.

"Suck it"

Pop Tech

Who cares?

Thats about all I can come up with.

However, I have noticed alot of sniveling reporting of how awwwwful this strike is for "everyone". Makes me want to hurl.

Personally I was hoping for another year

It's been nice having a break from the bash America, promote immorality as a virtue crowd. Once I heard they were planning to sterilize 24 and turn it into something where Jack Bauer holds teach ins and candlelight vigils for Global Warming, I lost the only dog I had in the race.

That's bad news....

I was hoping it would go on forever although I didn't realize it was still going until a friend told me she missed her shows since the writer's strike. I told her books are good and there are these places called libraries, bookstores and online sites like Amazon where she can get a few.