Pencils Up Wednesday?
SO IT LOOKS like it's over. United Hollywood has been posting reports from WGA membership meetings in NY and L.A. yesterday, and it seems that the majority of the membership finds the terms of the new agreement acceptable, if not perfect.
There are other sites where you can get details of the deal if you're so inclined. There is money for internet-related ad supported streaming, but only after a 17 day window. Boo. And there is a percentage of gross in the third year of the contract rather than a flat fee. (You see, I'm starting to glaze over here myself. Enough.)
WGA members will vote within the next two days on whether to lift the strike. If it passes, which now seems likely, writers could go back to work as early as Wednesday. That means a back "mini-season" for shuttered shows. It means Jon Stewart hosting the Oscars with Writers. It means everybody goes back to work.
It's said, because it's true, that no one ever wins a strike. But inevitably once the picket lines come down, there will be posmortems and thoughts on what this strike really has wrought for Hollywood. It's hard to crystal ball -- but there are some significant things of notes.
- I think organizations like fans4writers.com are incredibly significant. Forging a more direct connection between the fans of television and scripted enteratinment and the people who create them serves the creative community well.
- Pandora's Box is open. The weary inevitability the screwing of writers has always garnered has lifted. Writers who've started to explore their options when it comes to internet vehicles -- options that don't include the AMPTP companies, and that DO include retaining copyright and ownership; none of that will cease now. Very quietly, something has changed -- and I expect a lot of the "big names" in entertainment you start hearing about in the next few years won't necessarily have a Disney, Sony, New Corp or Viacom attached.
- The Guild DID NOT splinter. They tried their best. But they didn't splinter. And in three years, they'll be back for that 17 day window, and that DVD formula, and maybe reality and animation (in reality's case, the California Labor Board might just get there first.) For all the demonizing of the Guild leadership, they managed to preside over the first contract in more than 25 years that didn't have appeasement, or come from a weak place. They hung tough in the internet age. They should be celebrated for that.
- The Establishment is Tainted. I've been mulling subscribing to Variety for a while now. I'm not mulling anymore. Fuck'em. I can't imagine why any creative would ever subscribe to the industry rag. Because it's their industry rag. Not ours. They've made that more than clear. Nikki Finke and United Hollywood are probably the biggest gainers.
- Jon Stewart, Conan, and Colbert do need their writers. Please, God, no more unscripted feuds. Pay-ha-HEY-ha-HAY-N-Full...
In the days ahead on this blog, time permitting, there'll be a further rundown on the writers' submission to the CRTC hearings, what I learned about Culture this weekend, as well as maybe a book review.
Fire up those PVR's. TV's coming back.
And oh yeah, congrats to the writing staff of The Wire, 30 Rock, Mad Men and all the other winners of the 2008 Writers Guild Awards.
1 rumbles:
I know this is not really related but have you noticed that CTV has basically thrown out timeshifting in the past couple weeks or so? Tonight, for instance, Eli Stone was on at the exact same time on the Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina and Edmonton affiliates (only the BC affiliates had it on later). I was gonna check it out but didn't bother since I'm peeved at CTV now because they've made it more difficult for me to record shows now on my DVR. They did the same thing with Mayerthorpe the other night too. As a serious timeshifter I am seriously annoyed. I hope this isn't permanant or if it is I sure hope the other nets dom't copycat.
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