Writer’s Strike Not Doing Well: Producers Playing Games

[Me.]

Talks Day #7: AMPTP "Stalling Tactics"; Are The Moguls About To Quit The Talks?

: EXCLUSIVE: I wish I had better news about the AMPTP-WGA contract negotiations, but I don't. To sum up, they suck. I took extra time reporting tonight, and some very surprising developments came to light. talks-day-7.JPGFor instance, Peter Chernin is privately telling Hollywood that the producers plan to quit the talks any day now. That they have no intention of coming back with another streaming proposal "until we are close". And that they'll only give a better electronic sell-through formula "at the last minute" when a contract with the writers is virtually signed.” cont…

“But the truth is this: the Hollywood moguls have not delivered on their promises. And Chernin's statements make clear they never had any intention of doing so right now. Days are passing, and the AMPTP still hasn't come back with a counter/counter-offer to the WGA's counter-offer to the AMPTP's offer on streaming. Days are passing, and the AMPTP still hasn't come back with the 2nd half of its New Media proposal presumably containing ESTs. Days are passing, and the AMPTP and WGA are still paralyzed on Internet issues, which is why they moved way down their list to the subject of Reality TV jurisdiction. Sure that angered the CEOs who own a network -- and I think it was a giant mistake by the writers' negotiating team to get off New Media and onto that. But it came up because of the AMPTP's stalling tactics, and the two sides had to jawbone about something. Cont…

“nd I now predict the CEOs will make a big public show of deciding to open talks with the Directors Guild right away and thus try to screw the striking writers. (That's already begun -- today's Los Angeles Times virtually announces it in roundabout fashion by noting that 300 director-writers today begged their DGA to hold off...)

And I predict the AMPTP won't return to negotiations with the writers until February at the earliest after declaring force majeure. Please, oh please, prove me wrong.”

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/exclusive-talks-day-7-stalling-tactics-what-they-could-mean/

[havocmom]

1. So long as millions love to watch those 'reality' shows that exploit, and make fun of guy next door

why would the producers wanna pay writers royalties on webcasts? Hell, they can keep cutting costs by just showing more people embarrassing themselves in return for their 15 Minutes.

Writers? America doesn't seem to appreciate them much.

[IndianaJones]

4. love the reality shows. nt.

[annabanana]

5. Fewer and fewer eyeballs are going to the big screen...

because the choices are crappier and crappier...

I hope the writers can get the word out to fans what we can do to help (besides send pencils)

[LeftCoast]

2. Producers probably figure the strike is hurting the writers more

The Producers have much deeper pockets. They can probably wait as long as need be.

[wtmusic]

7. That sums up the game on both sides

Though the producers have deeper pockets, they're losing a lot more money.

I'd love to see a producer break ranks and meet the writers' demands. That would do more than anything -- provide an alternate source for entertainment.

[Me.]

9. I've Heard

That ABC, with a good season, wants to get their shows back on the air and may be considering doing exactly that. NBC's Zucker also wants the strike ended. Moonves and Restone are hardliners even though the WSJ have reported that they have the most to lose. But maybe that's what they're counting on, cause after a certain amount of time they can break contracts and dump their shows which aren't doing well.

[LeftCoast]

10. I'm definitely on the Writer's side

I really hope they can hold out long enough.

[aquart]

3. The producers have plans into the New Year.

There wasn't a prayer in hell they would settle before then. They're going for attrition. They know they'll make their mortgage payments. The rest of Hollywood will be homeless. Blame the writers. That's why there was so much advance notice...to give people as much time as possible to get ready.

This strike was never going to be short.

Since the directors know this settlement will affect theirs, why in hell would they ... never mind. I'll wait and see.

It ain't like the directors can go back to work without the writers.

[SoCalDem]

8. From Thanksgiving to New Years is always a crappy time for Tv anyway

so there is no real hurry for them to end the strike. They usually do re-runs and pre-empts all during December anyway.. It's too bad the writers could not have waited until January to start their strike..

It does not affect me, since I only watch a couple of shows on regular tv anyway..

Big Shots..Journeyman..Desperate Housewives.. and Cold Case..

[Annces]

6. I watched 30 Rock and it seemed really bad

I wonder if it was my imagination or because of no writers.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. It was probably written before the strike