It looks like Mr. Clooney and the WGA are no longer sleeping in the same bed. we get wind of this domestic crisis thanks to the professionals at Variety:
Clooney went financial core last fall, after the WGA decided 2-1 in a credit arbitration vote that only Duncan Brantley and Rick Reilly deserved screen credit on the picture that Universal opens today. Clooney says he would have quit the WGA altogether if he could, but that would have prevented him from working on all WGA-covered productions. He says he wanted nothing more to do with the WGA but didn’t want to be hampered in his ability in writing scripts. By going fi-core, writers withhold the portion of dues spent by the WGA on non-contract activities — while still being able to write scripts. Fi-core writers pay dues that are 1.9% less than regular members; they also can’t vote on contracts or in any WGA election.
As for “Leatherheads,” Clooney took a languishing 17-year old project and got a greenlight after personally giving the script a major overhaul that transformed it into a screwball comedy. He says he felt he’d written all but two of the film’s scenes. While he agreed that Brantley and Reilly deserved first position credit for hatching the idea and characters, he was incensed enough by the WGA arbitration process to go financial core, which rendered him a dues-paying non-voting member.
The news piece goes on to state that Clooney did not divulge his feelings when the verdict was first given because the WGA was in the process of “gearing up for a strike”. From what I am reading, it certainly does look like Clooney was treated unfairly. He doesn’t want top billing, only acknowledgment of the fact that he re-wrote much of the film into a different animal. If someone adds anything to any screenplay, no matter how small, I would certainly deem it fair and appropriate to give them credit. On principle I agree with Clooney, and his action is an appropriate response to such a needless affront to his contributions.
I am not certain how on earth this ruling happened. Perhaps I am just ignorant to the rules and regulations of the WGA – but if you are going to vote against George (Mr. Hollywood) Clooney, you better be making an air tight case for your actions; and I just don’t see it. Clooney has now chosen to be a back bencher. If he wants to work, he has to be a part of the union; but it is clear that he would have preferred to leave altogether.
I am interested in knowing if any of our readers side with the WGA. If so, please share with us why you do and illuminate why you think Clooney is in the wrong. I would like to know both sides of this story, because from where I am sitting now – it looks like George got fucked over by the people that should’ve had his back.
