Were such a site to be created and scribes stepped forth with shocking-but-true tales of executive-level idiocy, Baldwin posits, "The strike will end in a week."
Now It's the Producers Pondering the Writers' Proposal As talks resumed Tuesday, the Writers Guild of America was expected to deliver its "counteroffer" to the New Economic Partnership that was proposed last week by the AMPTP, but swiftly dismissed by the scribes. Based on a statement issued late today by the AMPTP, that appears to be exactly what happened: "We will spend the evening studying what the WGA had to say today," says the group, "and we look forward to returning to the bargaining table tomorrow."
Sources tell Variety that Tuesday's talks were "encouraging and more productive" than previous sessions, with the writers detailing a tiered usage plan tied to Web streaming. Still, the $100 million question is whether the two sides can sort through a $100 million discrepancy over the AMPTP's original proposal. The producers claim writers would see a $130 million increase in compensation over three years, while the WGA argues it would closer to $32 million more.
TCA: The Show May Not Go On TV Guide was among the media outlets who received the following letter from a representative of the TCA (Television Critics Association). Twice annually (winter and summer), TCA organizes a conference (week-long in winter, two-weeks in summer) in which networks present upcoming television shows to media from throughout the country.
Because of the strike, there has been a lot of speculation on whether TCA will be held this January. NBC has already pulled out of TCA.
Hello TV Writers:
I wanted to pass along our latest news regarding the pending January TCA.
As you've likely heard, the status of January's TCA Tour is in considerable question due to the ongoing WGA strike, and many of you have contacted me to inquire about the status of cable network participation on the Tour.
Here's the latest: Based on feedback from both cable and broadcast networks, TCA has determined that the event cannot go on if the strike has not been settled by December 14. TCA has advised its members that should the strike continue as of next Friday, the January Tour will be cancelled.
CTAM, on behalf of cable, will support TCA's decision. We therefore ask your continued patience, and would advise against making any unrefundable travel plans until we have the definitive word at the end of next week.
Thanks very much — as always.
Sincerely,
Eric, for CTAM
Talks Day #5: "Questions & Haggling"
I've been able to glean a little from Tuesday's resumed WGA-AMPTP talks. Both sides sounded very matter-of-fact about today's negotiations focusing on the writers' counter-offer. (See my The Operative Word Tuesday Is "Haggle" from last night for background.) Now that the news blackout has been lifted, the AMPTP issued this public end-of-day statement: "We will spend the evening studying what the WGA had to say today, and we look forward to returning to the bargaining table tomorrow." Earlier in the day, WGA Negotiating Committee Chair John F. Bowman, on behalf of the Writers Guild of America, issued a message to members about the contract negotiations and presented a report-&-analysis.
Tonight, a WGA source says a "small group" talked about the WGA's counter-offer which Bowman had characterized as "a serious, reasonable, and affordable attempt to bridge the gap between us." Noted the WGA source, "Questions were exchanged. There was some haggling. This will continue tomorrow." Said another WGA insider, "Our negotiators have been played so often. But it's not bad. They're at least engaged." And a third party familiar with the talks emailed me, "The tone of 'haggle' is it. I'm encouraged today."
WGA Releases Analysis Of AMPTP Offer
The Writers Guild Of America just sent this email to members:
December 4, 2007
Fellow Guild Members:Rumors, half-truths, and misinformation about what is actually happening at the bargaining table fly across the internet, are posted on blogs, passed across picket lines like a game of telephone, and appear in stories and advertisements in the trade papers.
So, to clarify exactly where we are, we have prepared a report and analysis, which you can read in its entirety [here].
In the meantime, here’s a brief summary:
The latest WGA proposal would cost the companies $151 million over three years. It is reasonable, serious, and easily affordable. For instance, it would cost Sony only $1.68 million per year. Paramount and CBS would each pay only $4.66 million per year. MGM would pay only $320,000 per year.
The AMPTP claims its proposal would give us $130 million over three years. Our analysis – and again, please visit the website to see for yourself – tells us their offer is worth only $32 million. But if you factor in the companies’ regressive proposal on “promotional use” (streaming TV shows and feature films in their entirety for free) writers could potentially lose $100 million in income over the course of this contract.
So while we don’t see how their proposal adds up to anywhere near $130 million, we greet their public willingness to make such an offer with real interest. If the AMPTP is serious about this figure, the WGA is confident we are closer to a deal than anyone has suggested, and we are hopeful that the companies will respond positively to our proposal, which is a serious, reasonable, and affordable attempt to bridge the gap between us.
Sincerely,
John F. Bowman
Chair, WGA Negotiating Committee
Carlton Cuse Not 'Lost' In Strike Confusion
For weeks since the strike started, tipsters have kept telling me that Lost showrunner Carlton Cuse, one of the WGA negotiators, had gone back to work and is a major chink in the resolve of the all-important TV showrunners. I kept trying and trying to find out if this was true, and even the WGA was incredibly cryptic about his whereabouts. In fact it's nearly impossible to ascertain which TV showrunners are performing their producing duties, and which aren't. Now Carlton Cuse himself distributed this email today to clear up the confusion about where he stands vis a vis his show and the strike:
To my fellow WGA Members,
I want to clear up any misunderstanding about where I stand.
On November 16, I, regretably, was quoted by a Wall Street Journal reporter saying I was going to perform some of my non-writing, post-production duties on episodes of LOST to protect the show for the fans. However, I'm sure to the delight of the AMPTP, my statement became the story and gave the false impression that there was disunity among showrunners over the issues of this negotiation.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Every showrunner I know, whether producing or not producing, stands in full support of the goals of our guild.
For the past two months I have been working seven days a week on these negotiations alongside my fellow negotiating committee members.
As a committee we did everything we could to get both parties back to the bargaining table this last week. We were fully prepared to enter into the kinds of back-and-forth discussions that are necessary to reach any sort of labor deal. I sincerely hoped this return to the table would lead to real progress.
I was wrong.
In fact, given the events of last Thursday -- and where things currently stand -- I can no longer in good conscience continue to work on my show in any capacity.
What I will be doing is continuing my work as a member of the committee for as long as it takes, contributing in any way I can, to get us the fair and just deal that we must have.
It's going to be an arduous fight.
But make no mistake -- we are united, we are resolute...
And we are indeed ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
Yours,
Carlton Cuse
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