December 2007
205 posts
THE HUFFINGTON POST has a way the AMPTP can save... →
Robert J. Elisberg is very funny. And he makes a lot of sense.
A convincing letter on UNITED HOLLYWOOD argues... →
As you can tell, I go back and forth on this, but I’m beginning to see the Guild’s rationale.
Variety story reports: The AMPTP and the WGA don't... →
Not much left to say, it seems, but the AMPTP keeps saying it.
LA Times: How about if the Oscars go reality? →
Pretty funny article, which mysteriously is dated next week. Must be something about the newspaper business I don’t understand.
Opinions on the Letterman deal
From an EP: The decision to give Letterman the deal was a long a difficult one. But in the end I believe it’s much more important to show the world (and the AMPTP) that our deal is a good deal for everyone and that there are business people out there ready to take it. I know that the other late-night writers (particularly Jay’s) were consulted and have agreed that making this deal...
Nikki Finke: The deal with Dave is going to cause... →
I’ve had the same concerns she quotes others as having: will certain people feel like it’s not fair that some Guild members are going back to work while others aren’t? She seems to have heard mostly from Feature writers, but I don’t think the frustration will be limited to them alone. I wish I was sure this was a good idea… but I’m not. I wish I thought this...
WGA closes deal with Letterman
To Our Fellow Members, We are writing to let you know that have reached a contract with David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants production company that puts his show and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson back on the air with Guild writers. This agreement is a positive step forward in our effort to reach an industry-wide contract. While we know that these deals put only a small number of...
Why We Write - Number 4: Carol Mendelsohn
Number 4Today’s piece is written by Carol Mendelsohn, Member of the Negotiating Committee, Showrunner and Executive Producer of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and co-creator and Executive Producer of CSI: Miami and CSI: New York. Once, a long time ago in Upstate New York, far above Cayuga’s waters, on a cold winter’s night in a rundown cockroach infested dump that passed for a house in...
A great piece in The Huntington Post schools Alec... →
Yeah, the largest and most successful Baldwin brother has been getting a little crazy lately. Robert J. Elisberg puts him in his place.
VARIETY: DGA and AMPTP blowing each other January... →
It would be a surprise if the upcoming negotiations between the Directors and the AMPTP amounted to anything other than a formality. That’s the way it’s always been in the past. Some say things will be different this time, that the Directors have bigger issues, are concerned with new media just like us. I’d be surprised if they took more than a couple of days to shake hands....
Yeah: no news except there's going to be a... →
This is the doldrums. We knew this would be a slow time - that’s why we began Why We Write. We need the new year, and some negotiating action. And, frankly, I like the Oscars, so if we could have it wrapped up by then…
Newsflash: Find somewhere else to see $8000... →
What will we do? Looks like this is the first season I won’t have to try and explain to my kids what’s going on with women wearing really strange, really expensive clothes on TV. And it also looks like there’s nothing else related to the strike that we’re going to hear about until the new year. At least.
Wall Street: Accepting the deal we want wouldn't... →
This from United Hollywood. The explanation: it’s not about the money, it’s about setting a precedent for their other upcoming negotiations. No shit.
The WGA finally has an outside PR team →
Late, but hopefully not TOO late. I met Kam when we were at the Guild last week - seems like an okay guy. I’m hoping to see some proactive tactics ASAP. YouTube videos are starting to wear a little thin…
VARIETY: Strike hasn't hurt the congloms →
They’re big and diversified and people like reality, so what’s to worry about? Plus they’re not making the kind of money they used to, viewers are declining… every concept they can think of to make our strike seem both ill-informed and doomed. The article actually paints the strike as a boon to the networks, mentioning for the thousandth time how they’ll get to clean...
"Les Simpson"
Yes, that’s what THE SIMPSONS is called over here. I bet my kids that we’d find them on TV within two hours of getting into our apartment. We only have 12 channels. I won.
“The Nikki Finke article initially depressed me, but I have evolved to a more or...”
– Bruce Miller
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Why We Write - Number 3: Howard Gordon
Number 3Today’s piece is written by Howard Gordon, Executive Producer of “24”. I remember being in a writers’ room a few years ago, and someone - a brilliant and famous writer whose name I’ll keep to myself for now - rhapsodized about the exquisite ecstasy of the writing process. “Don’t you love it when you get lost inside the story, and the characters start speaking for themselves, and you...
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So what's on TV in France?
American movies. And American TV shows. HEROES. FRIENDS. I’m sure if I stay awake long enough: EUREKA. What are THESE networks going to air when there aren’t any more episodes of our shows? Our strike will probably be a boon to their own, French programming. And if people decide they like it, shit, there go our foreign residuals. Crap.
Interesting piece in THE HUFFINGTON POST about... →
Hadn’t really thought about it. Remember when DATELINE NBC was on five nights a week? I don’t, because I can’t stand those kind of shows, but a lot of people watched them. Now they don’t even have the chance. Celebrities dancing and mother/daughter/dog beauty pageants are where the money is. Maybe America deserves our fucking strike.
Alec Baldwin's in a pissy mood →
His latest in THE HUFFINGTON POST is all over the place, from the cogent to the WTF? He’s right: those calling the shots against us in this strike don’t live in LA or even work in our industry, per se. Not sure, however, that that’s an argument to “Get rid of Verrone.”
Merry Christmas from Paris, by the way. I’m here with my family, hoping that this first opportunity for a vacation in three years doesn’t turn permanent. I can’t believe that what Nikki Finke thinks is true is really going to happen: I can’t believe that the AMPTP would be willing to throw two seasons away. I can’t, and I won’t. Because if I do, I’ll...
It's the Pilot writers' turn to give it a shot...
Dear (studio/network exec), ‘Tis the season. Pilot season. We, the pilot writers, feel the loss of our ongoing creative partnership, and in the spirit of the holidays, we wanted to offer our help in getting the ’08-’09 crop of television shows back on track. We’re willing to write silent night after silent night to make up for lost time if your company will only finalize a fair deal with the...
Here's some happy news: Nikki Finke says we're... →
I was aware of the Katzenberg agenda last week while it was taking place. The report is that those who attended the meeting - dubbing themselves “The Loyal Opposition” - now realize that they were had. Is this Psy-Ops on the part of the AMPTP/Lehane, or is it reality? I can’t believe the AMPTP is foolish enough to give up NEXT year’s TV season. Do you buy it? If so, TV...
Carson Daly: Do you feel sorry for him? →
Click on the link. Look at that face. He’s so cute! How could he be the first guy to go back on the air during the strike?
Message to writers from the WGAE
Dear Fellow Members of the Writers Guild, East:I write this to you two nights before Christmas. It’s tough as hell to be on strike during the holiday season. Not only are we staging outdoor pickets and other events in the throes of winter’s cold, we’re without work and paychecks at a moment when gift giving and good times are very much on the minds of everyone around us, especially our friends and...
Why We Write - Number 2: Steve Levitan
Number 2 Today’s piece is written by Steve Levitan, creator of “Just Shoot Me” and co-creator of “Back To You” I swear to God this is true. A couple of years ago I had lunch with a network president who asked me the following question: “If I offered you a billion dollars, but you could never write again, would you take it?” tried to keep a straight face and...
“Several times over the last few months I have read the entries in...”
– A Canadian friend. Dude seems to understand it pretty well, doesn’t he?
And I've spent all day...
… working on the WHY WE WRITE site. And packing. Next WHY WE WRITE tomorrow: I’ll post and link to the new site. It’s nice over there - you can leave comments. But don’t forget about MY SECOND STRIKE!
WHY WE WRITE has its own site!
That’s right: our WHY WE WRITE campaign has a new home right here. The Guild was kind enough to help get it out there, but we need an active site where people can see all the submissions archived, and where comments can be left to foster an open dialogue. It’s a WordPress blog, like many you’ve seen before, but this one’s… special. Please visit it, and, just as...
OMG: Three great movies in a row!
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL has completed the hat trick, along with ONCE and JUNO. I don’t think I’ve EVER seen three good movies in a row. I’m blown away.
NY Times: The strike is the Christmas Grinch →
Fair quotes from writers, the typical from the AMPTP. At least the article isn’t continuing to promulgate the rumor that we all make more than $200,000.
Andrew Baron: 8 reasons why the TV studios will... →
This goes on for a while, but stick with it. And get a faster DSL connection. I’m thinking T1.
A good summary refutation of the AMPTP's claims →
My buddy Ethan Reiff’s blog. Check it out.
Second awesome movie of the week: ONCE. Brilliant. I wish I could write a movie like that.
They're picketing in Baltimore →
I actually was notified about this as the result of WHY WE WRITE.
By Greg Garcia, Creator and Executive Producer of My Name Is Earl. I hate writing. I hate it. Sitting down to write a script is torture. In fact, the only good thing that’s come out of this strike is that it’s given me an actual legitimate excuse not to write. Usually I have to spend most of my mornings trying to come up with reasons to be lazy. But these days, I simply...
Strike settled! →
Yet another conflict other than ours is resolved. How hard can it be to wrap this up?
