Comments on: WGA And United Artists Sign Interim Deal – Why Don’t They All Do This?

By: Meiran

Meiran — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:05:44 +0000

Actually, a lot of you have hit on why I can’t support the WGA during this strike.

I grew up in a small town with a large UAW presence. About half the town worked at the truck plant. I’ve seen strikes, I’ve seen negotiations, and the WGA isn’t acting in any way I’ve ever seen a union behave, and I certainly don’t think they’re getting good results. They’re actions do not suggest they have the lower tiers of their membership in mind, but that the leaders have some other agenda.

By: JoJo

JoJo — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:49:16 +0000

This deal is utterly meaningless since UA has nothing remotely close to production. They’re not interested in buying many spec scripts or in having a large development slate, so this interim deal will have no impact.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:09:32 +0000

Tarmac – Immature indeed. They play the card that LA’s economy rest of the shoulders of the AMPTP but last time I check the WGA was also a part in this strike. The so called IMAGE WAR of November and December for the publics’ (non-hollywood) opinion is so FALSE!

Kristina – Too True!

By: Kristina

Kristina — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:59:35 +0000

Tom hypnotised them with his Scientology voodoo. I can just imagine the WGA strapped to chairs and watching some whacked-out brainwash video, Zoolander style. “RELAX!”

By: Tarmac

Tarmac — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:59:49 +0000

Ugh. I think it’s a knee jerk reaction to hate the producers and say “stick it to the man” etc.

But seriously…f*** the WGA. They’re being so damn…IMMATURE!

By: Nec

Nec — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:48:38 +0000

There are rumblings that Lionsgate, The Weinsteins, Lucas Films are also about to sign interim deals with the WGA. Looks to me that the smaller studios are ready to cut deals as the losses for them in the short term would far outweigh anything they will gain by giving writers a bad deal. On the other hand the big 5 studios who control the AMPTP are in it for the long haul

By: Darren J Seeley

Darren J Seeley — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:45:54 +0000

I think this is the best entertainment news I have heard thus far in the New Year.

I don’t know how Crusise/Wagner’s revamped UA will fare in 2008. But if the strike continues, they might just be one of the few studios that will have a decent lineup for 2009. But…the questions are what were the conditions of the deal, and what example(s) can it show other studios and/or producers to follow?

By: Phil Gee

Phil Gee — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:55:19 +0000

I just find the (supposed) attitude of WGA heads utterly disgraceful. I found this when i was reading Bond 22 news yesterday from here (http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/bond_22_preprod_diary18.php3):

“In a report on the current writers strike in the USA, Deadline Hollywood has revealed pay details on the script Paul Haggis turned in for Bond 22. According to the site, “Paul Haggis walking the picket line during the morning shift at Sony, the studio that’s paying him $4+ million (rumoured near $5 mil) for the new Bond script. Then again, screenwriters were told to picket their primary place of employment … or else.”

OR ELSE? Look, i don’t know for sure and admit it could be distortion by the media but i know damn well that i would not support and have no respect for a union that dealt with me in that way.

By: Melbye

Melbye — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:37:46 +0000

Doesn’t deals like this undermine the AMPTP, since they are made outside the Producers authority

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:04:43 +0000

I just don;t understand how striking wirters are allowed to work! THisw has underminded the Union. WGA should not even exist is they are going to pick and choose who can and cannot work. When a Union goes on strike NO UNION MEMBER can work. Or is this just because they are Hollywood and dont live in the real world