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Hollywood writers strike as talks fail (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)
Los Angeles Times ^ | November 5, 2007 | Richard Verrier and Claudia Eller

Posted on 11/05/2007 1:23:49 AM PST by abb

Hollywood's film and television writers went on strike early this morning after last-ditch efforts to negotiate a deal with the major studios failed Sunday.

Despite the aid of a federal mediator and back-channel talks between top writers and studio executives, the sides were ultimately too far apart to bridge the massive divide between them and avert the first writers strike in nearly two decades.

After three months of contentious negotiations, talks broke down Wednesday night when the writers' three-year contract expired. Although they made minimal headway on some issues Sunday, the parties could not come to terms on such key issues as how much writers are paid when their shows are sold online.

The question now is no longer whether or when they will strike, but how long a walkout will last and how much pain it will inflict.

Both sides are girding for what many believe will be a long and debilitating strike, potentially more disruptive than the 22-week walkout by writers in 1988, which cost the entertainment industry an estimated $500 million.

"Once it starts, it's going to get ugly," said one of the guild's strike captains Sunday.

snip

"It is unfortunate that they choose to take this irresponsible action," alliance President Nick Counter said.

The guild said that although the union had agreed to withdraw its proposal to double DVD pay, which had been a stumbling block in negotiations, producers refused to make concessions in other key areas. Among other things, producers refused to grant the union jurisdiction for most new-media writing, the guild said. They also insisted on a proposal that would allow them to reuse movies or TV shows on any platform for promotional purposes with no residual payment.

snip

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dbm; hollywood; strike; television; wga
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To: discostu

I am more amused than ever. I am sorry I picked on your sacred cow. Enjoy yourself. Have a good life. I hope someday you realize there is more to life than having your name put up in lights. I feel very bad for you if that is all you have.

In either case, Good day.


161 posted on 11/06/2007 2:09:41 PM PST by seemoAR
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To: seemoAR

Maybe you should pay attention to what people write. I already told you I work in software, my name will never be in lights and I’m OK with that. I just don’t see why any sane intelligent useful human being would be even mildly annoyed that somebody working on movies getting their credit. You’re the one with a sacred cow here, the sacred cow of your own misplaced superiority. But I don’t feel sorry for you about it, people that need to tear down others, especially people that need to tear down others and can’t read, deserve the lack of satisfaction they get out of life.


162 posted on 11/06/2007 2:17:13 PM PST by discostu (a mountain is something you don't want to %^&* with)
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To: bert

What reason would that be? Are you talking about the fact that Hollywood includes a large Jewish population, and that population traditionally includes many (though obviously not only) leftists? Note to Freeper watchers: I am in no way whatsoever saying that. I’m just asking if that is what bert is saying.


163 posted on 11/06/2007 9:04:23 PM PST by Nick5
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To: discostu

;0)


164 posted on 11/07/2007 5:01:33 AM PST by seemoAR
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To: peggybac

Absolutely agree.


165 posted on 11/07/2007 5:11:04 AM PST by Sue Perkick (And I hope that what I’ve done here today doesn’t force you to have a negative opinion of me….)
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To: abb; Grampa Dave; Liz
Michael Eisner 'fesses up to dinomedia's new media con.
But what I'm saying is that for today's writers to stop working for non-existent money is stupid. They are misguided. They should not have gone on strike. This is a stupid strike. The studios can't give them anything because there's nothing to give. But this is also the studios' fault -- they've been talking about how great this business is, and now they have to open their books and explain that there's no business. The only one making money is Apple.

166 posted on 11/07/2007 2:11:28 PM PST by Milhous (Gn 22:17 your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies)
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To: durasell
“In reality, it’s artisan type work. Highly specialized and only a few peple can do it.”

With a US population of over 300 million and a world population of 6.5 billion, there are many more than 10,000 people who could do just as good a job. Anyone who ever was a stand up comic could take the place of a TV writer. I have friends in the business who tell me there are many out of work actors, writers, directors and producers who could do this kind of work. Just like there are many good performers who will not get there chance to show what they can do. Most of these folks have the job they have because they had a mentor who knew someone with influence as well as being talented. I am not standing with management at all but let's be realistic about this. Every once and a while I watch an old movie on TCM. This experience serves me well. It is a constant reminder as to how bad the writing is on today's state of the art TV soaps, sitcoms and movies. When they are not making remakes, they are making sequels to remakes.

167 posted on 11/08/2007 8:25:47 AM PST by wmileo (Reagan Democrat for life)
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To: wmileo

The arts has very little to do with the ability to do the job, and everything to do with the desire to do the job. I’ve seen amazing artwork on the walls of mid-level executives who are weekend painters. They just don’t want to take the necessary risks required by the art world. I can’t blame them — their home, family, car, kids’ futures etc. are more important than the art. The poet, Wallace Stevens, of course, was the exception: An insurance lawyer who wrote and published brilliant poems “on the side.”
That eliminates about 99% of the people capable of doing the work.

Of the other 1% — which is still a large number of folks —many of them just don’t know the process of getting to the work. I’ve know a bunch of comics who were brilliant writers, but they spend their best creative years in a daze of one club date after another — basically a decade or more of club dates in a haze of alcohol and waitresses. At the end of the run, they’re standing in an empty parking lot late at night, alone, thinking, “Wha, wha happened?”

As for the rest, it’s like any other job. Yeah, a mentor helps, but so does offering a “comfort level” to prospective employers — does the guy look right, sound right, present themselves right?


168 posted on 11/08/2007 8:43:25 AM PST by durasell (!)
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To: wmileo

It is a constant reminder as to how bad the writing is on today’s state of the art TV soaps, sitcoms and movies. When they are not making remakes, they are making sequels to remakes


The writing is usually bad for the same reason Red Lobster or Olive Garden is bad — they have to appeal to the greatest number of people to get eyeballs on the screen. And, there’s too much money involved to take a risk on the unproven.


169 posted on 11/08/2007 8:47:17 AM PST by durasell (!)
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To: durasell
"The writing is usually bad for the same reason Red Lobster or Olive Garden is bad — they have to appeal to the greatest number of people to get eyeballs on the screen. And, there’s too much money involved to take a risk on the unproven." Before I say anything, I appreciate your responses. So if there are no risk takers in a business based on risk as well as art, I will continue to have low expectations of today's excuse for entertainment.

To be honest, the only movie I wanted to see was Elizabeth: the Golden Age but I let the critics' mix review talk me out of it. Shame on me to expect something else of interest to come along when I know better. The current offering of movies are so bad, I was considering trying a Red Lobster or Olive Garden in the area instead of going to the movies and then come home to a rental ( but what to rent?).

I will continue to watch TCM and my own collection of Movies.

170 posted on 11/08/2007 9:30:04 AM PST by wmileo (Reagan Democrat for life)
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To: wmileo

There are very few movies that can bring me into the theater these days — which is a shame, because the actual theaters have gotten much better here in NYC.

The last movie that I really enjoyed was The Aviator — not to everyone’s taste, but I found it fascinating. However, I did miss 3:10 to Yuma, which everyone said was terrific.


171 posted on 11/08/2007 9:35:00 AM PST by durasell (!)
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To: durasell

I liked the Aviator also. See Bella if you get the chance. You won’t forget the characters in it.


172 posted on 11/08/2007 1:56:00 PM PST by Greg F (Duncan Hunter is a good man.)
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To: Greg F

I’ll try. It takes a lot to get me into a theater these days.


173 posted on 11/08/2007 1:57:31 PM PST by durasell (!)
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To: Greg F

137 user ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. 97% favorable. Avg. 9.5 out of 10.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58321

Producer of the movie also produced Braveheart, We Were Soldiers, and Passion of the Christ.

I enjoyed the movie.


174 posted on 11/08/2007 2:22:48 PM PST by Greg F (Duncan Hunter is a good man.)
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