After last night’s explosive and rambunctious meeting from the highly agitated members of the Writers Guild of America it looks like Monday, November 5, 2007 is the day the 12000 members of the Guild will take to the street corners with their picket signs.
While there are approximately 12000 writers in the WGA, the actual membership is comprised of around 3000 additional support staffing and most attended last night’s final meeting in which the leadership called for the strike to take place.
The Guild’s leadership wouldn’t disclose to the press what actual day the strike would commence but the odds-on-favorite is Monday.
On the other side of the aisle Nick Counter, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers said, “Due to overriding business reasons, no further progress can be made because of the WGA’s continuing efforts to substantially increase the DVD formula. We are ready to meet at any time and remain committed to reaching a fair and reasonable deal that keeps the industry working, but the DVD issue is a roadblock to these negotiations.”
A spokesperson for the WGA indicated that as long as the current 20+ year DVD formula used by the AMPTP is in force then there is nothing for the Guild’s membership to negotiate with.
Both parties have locked-horns on this DVD issue with little to no progress of untangling the bloody mess and unless a last minute Federal deal can be hammered out the strike on Monday is inevitable.
Looks like now’s the time to start checking out all those old TV shows you’ve been putting off watching.
I’m sorry, I’ve only recently heard about the WGA strike, but can someone tell me what exactly is the issue with the DVDs they’re having?
When your favorite shows are canceled, friends, remember that it was the studios who said “FU” to the people actually doing the work.
Melvin:
The old 1985 DVD formula states that payment is made based on 20% of wholesale revenues with writers getting about 4¢ for each disc sold. The WGA is wanting its members to receive double the old rate saying that the old standard hasn’t been adjusted for changes in the market for the last 22 years allowing studios and networks to grow very fat off the backs of product creators.
Ohhh. Thank-you very much, Sam.
The writers also want (and don’t currently get) a cut of the revenues from the Internet download market, which didn’t exist when their last contract was put together. Considering what a HUGE contribution writers make to the entertainment industry, I think their demands are more than justified.