Deal Made No Strike

Almost an hour after the contract officially expired at 1:00am on Tuesday morning...both sides agree on a tentative agreement.  96.3% of all members in the WGA (Writers Guild of America) voted to authorize a strike if they do not get their desired wage increase.  That was the bargaining chip that was needed.

The strike would have stopped TV production all together. The guild, which represents the screenwriters behind most studio films and television, considered striking as its contract renewal with the studios (represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) approached its May 1 deadline. The strike could  have had a big impact on the production of CBS All Access Star Trek: Discovery.
In the previous wage arrangement writers were paid per episode. ‘The Flash’ which airs on the CW will offer 23 shows this season. Doctor Who which streams on multiple services such as itunes and Google Play, will consist of 12 episodes. As more and more viewers and writers move to a streaming type of entertainment, the traditional TV pay schedule of writers being paid per episode no longer worked for the writers. Less episodes offered in a streaming format means less money to the writer..
A memo sent Sunday by strike captains stated “Be ready to strike Tuesday May 2. If you’ve left anything great in your office on a studio lot, consider packing it up on Monday – just in case.” “INVOICE STUDIOS BEFORE TUESDAY MAY 2 FOR MONEY THEY OWE YOU!
Tuesday means “pencils down” as well as “Avids off.” This year, strike rules will mean: no editing, no production, no shooting – no A-H duties.”
The studios knew the writers were ready to strike and were able to reach an agreement.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ghostbusters Stay Puft: An Interview with the Man in the Suit

Image
Within the Ghostbusters franchise, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is likely one of the most recognizable characters. Most hardcore fans recall vividly the image of the giant, marshmallow man lumbering through the streets of New York. In the original Ghostbusters movie, released in 1984, the Stay Puft Man is the physical incarnation of the evil deity Gozer. In the movie, the voice of Gozer announces to the Ghostbusters that she will embody the next thing they think of and destroy the city in that form. Ray Stantz (brilliantly played by Dan Aykroyd), attempts to lessen the damage to the city by thinking of the most harmless creature he can think of: The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Stantz is dismayed when the “harmless” creature he thought of turns out to be a 100 ft terror who stomps through the packed streets causing the inhabitants to flee. The Ghostbusters attempt to stop him with their proton packs, which sets the Stay Puft Man on fire, but he continues his reign of terror with no a
Read more

New teaser for Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Image
The new teaser for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, from George Lucas production house Lucas Films dropped on April 14. This will be the eighth Star Wars movie  from Lucas Films.  The opening moment shows Rey gasping for breath.  From that moment the trailers that actress Daisy Ridley returns as a Jedi in training. Actor Mark Hamill returns as Luke Skywalker to train Rey in the Jedi ways. During the trailer, in reply to Luke’s question “what do you see?” Rey says three words “light, darkness, balance.” From the Observer’s teaser analysis, “‘ Darkness ’ Rey continues, over a shot of the smashed, smoking remains of Darth Vader’s helmet.” The trailer gives a little view into Rey’s training, there is a far away view of someone wielding a lightsaber. As dramatic music from John Williams plays, the viewer hears the voice of Luke Skywalker saying ”breathe, just breathe” and in another part of the trailer he says “I only know one truth, it’s time for the Jedi to end.” In a different clip the teas
Read more