BREAKING NEWS: STRIKE OVER

Excellent news tonight from the WGA. The 3-month old strike is officially over. More from TVGuide.com:

The Strike Is Over: Welcome Back, TV!
At times during the past three months, we never thought we'd say it, but ... the WGA strike is officially over. According to the WGA websites, members voted by 92.5 percent to lift the strike order that was enacted November 5.

Following WGA leadership's approval of a tentative deal on Sunday, the guild members on Tuesday voted to lift the strike order, which has been in effect (and playing serious havoc with our TV viewing) for three months. Members on both coasts voted in person or by proxy, and the "polls" closed just an hour, at 6 pm/PT. Yes, the vote to end the strike was expected, given the positive feedback after meetings on the deal over the weekend, but still, it feels so good. The writers will be revving up their typing fingers and plot points to get back to work on Wednesday.

And thanks to TVGuide's Mike Ausiello, here's a look at what you can expect from some PTR faves now that production is set to resume:
Bones
Four pre-strike episodes left. Unclear whether additional episodes will be produced for this season

Chuck
No new episodes until fall.

The Closer
Expected to kick off its fourth season this summer.

Cold Case
Expected to shoot 4 to 9 new episodes to air in March/April/May.

Friday Night Lights
No new episodes expected for this season. Future TBD.

Heroes
No new episodes expected until fall.

Law & Order: SVU
Expected to shoot an indeterminate number of episodes to air in spring

Lost
Six pre-strike episodes remain. Five additional episodes could air this season.

Medium
Six pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot additional episodes for this season.

Men in Trees
Eleven pre-strike episodes remain, the first of which airs Feb. 27. No additional episodes expected this season.

Scrubs
Four pre-strike episodes remain. Four additional episodes will likely be shot; unclear whether they'll air on NBC or go straight to DVD.

For a more complete list, visit Ausiello's blog at TVGuide.com

BREAKING NEWS: Tentative Agreement Reached

The 3-month old Writers Strike may be coming to an end after a tentative agreement between the WGA and the AMPTP was reached late yesterday. Today, the WGA is meeting to discuss the deal and decide how to proceed. WGA (West) President Patric Verrone and WGA (East) President Michael Winship sent a letter to the membership outlining their take on the tentative deal. "It is an agreement that protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery," they wrote. They also acknowledged the tremendous support from many different groups during the difficult 3-month ordeal. "We earned the backing of other unions and their members worldwide, the respect of elected leaders and politicians throughout the nation, and the overwhelming support of fans and the general public. Our thanks to all of them, and to the staffs at both Guilds who have worked so long and patiently to help us all."

You can read their full statement over at United Hollywood. An outline of the terms of the tentative agreement can be found HERE. And be sure to stay tuned as this story continues to develop this weekend and into next week. Fingers crossed, hopes high that everyone is back at work on our favorite shows as early as this coming week.

More Writers Adopted

Three more writers have been successfully adopted over at Adopt a Writer. They are:

Nina Bargiel (Lizzie McGuire)
Sam Kass (Seinfeld, Arli$$)
Eric Estrin (Miami Vice, Murder She Wrote)

Click on over to the Adopt a Writer site to find out what they're striking for (you won't believe Sam Kass's heartbreaking story) and what they're lives are like while they work to iron out a fair deal.

ADOPT A WRITER: Kate Purdy

Author's Note: Pass the Remote is one of many blogs participating in Adopt A Writer - a project organized by TV bloggers in support of the WGA, in association with Fans4Writers and United Hollywood. For more, visit the project's official site.

Kate Purdy didn't always want to be a writer. "In elementary school I wanted to be a teacher. In junior high I wanted to be an astronaut. In high school I wanted to be [the] first lady president. It wasn't until college that I realized I wanted to tell stories," she explains. And telling stories is what she was doing for CBS's top-20 hit Cold Case. That is, until this past November when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the big studios (known collectively as the AMPTP) hit an impasse on the issue of fair compensation for new media.

Suddenly, Purdy's world went from sitting around a writer's table and collaborating on the next episode of the hit crime drama to collaborating with her fellow writers on the picket lines where she serves as a Strike Captain and regular contributor at United Hollywood. With the strike closely approaching its third month, Purdy says she might be dividing her time even further.

"I've started looking for part-time work," she admits. Something that many other writers may be doing as well, but their choices are restricted. "We dedicate several hours a day to picketing or other strike activities, so our options for jobs are mostly limited to part-time work," Purdy explains.

At issue: who should be compensated and how much when episodes of television shows stream on the web and get downloaded on sites such as iTunes. Under the current system, the writers get nothing. The WGA wants to change that by adding a 2.5 cents-on-the-dollar residual into the Guild's new contract with the AMPTP. In other words, for every dollar the big studios make on new media, the writers get 2.5 cents.

But what about shows such as Cold Case that aren't available online or on sites such as iTunes? For Purdy, it's about ensuring fair compensation for the future as well as the present. "Believe it or not, we're striking not only for workers in the industry today, but for future generations of workers," she says.

It was only this past fall that Purdy earned her full-fledged WGA membership around the same time that she was promoted from a researcher to a staff writer on Cold Case. "Researching for the show was a terrific experience, and allowed me to know the show in and out before being promoted," she explains.

Now that she knows the ins and outs, she says that one of her favorite things about Cold Case is its use of different time periods and the challenge of making the characters relevant today. "Delving into the past allows the character to move against obstacles that might not exist in the same way they do today. But, the central concept of a character moving against obstacles, in any time period, is universal."

One thing that Purdy is quick to point out, working as a television writer is not as glamorous as it has been portrayed in recent media reports. "I have a 10 year old car that I hope can make it a few more years. I watch a lot of TV. Every time it rains my bathroom floods. You know - glamorous."

The writers and the studios aren't the only ones affected by the strike. Crew members on many series have had to find other work in order to make ends meet. When the strike ends and production resumes, some or all of them may not be able to return. Purdy says that she empathizes with the dedicated folks who work behind the camera. "I hope that when the strike ends we'll be able to go back to working on Cold Case with our crew. We love our crew and hope they are available - if not - we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it."

Some shows were able to crank out a few extra episodes to carry their crews through a little longer, Cold Case however, was only able to produce 13. But Purdy insists it was just a matter of too little time on a show this intricate. "There are several approval steps to prepping a script for shooting - each of them is essential on a show like Cold Case where each word could and might be a clue. The puzzle aspect of the show does not allow for hurried writing - it's detrimental to the final product," she explains.

It's a process that she hopes she can get back to doing very soon, but both sides will have to reach a fair deal first. "The emotionally draining part is feeling like the media moguls are happy to see the town burn rather than give an inch. It's hard for us to not work, to not write scripts for the shows we love. We just want a fair deal and know that what we're asking for is reasonable," Purdy says.

One thing that has kept the writers going, according to Purdy, is all of the support from the fans. "The fans have been TREMENDOUS!!! We could not have done it without their continued support, organizing, and outreach! Thank you!!!"

PHOTO CREDITS: Adopt a Writer banner (Ramblings of a TV Whore), Cold Case courtesy CBS (screencap: RichE at Look Again), and writers picketing on the first day of the strike 11/5/07 (Hector Mata/Reuters)

Get to know Kate's story better through my complete Q&A with her:

How long have you been a member of the WGA? Did you always want to be a writer?
KP: I've been a full fledged member of the WGA for three months - the length of the strike. Before that I was an associate member for a year - meaning I was working my way into becoming a full member. So, three months.

No. In elementary school I wanted to be a teacher. In junior high I wanted to be an astronaut. In high school I wanted to be first lady president. It wasn't until college that I realized I wanted to tell stories.

You were promoted to staff writer this season on Cold Case. How did you get the job writing for a hit series?
KP: I was the researcher on Cold Case for two seasons before being promoted to staff. Researching for the show was a terrific experience, and allowed me to know the show in and out before being promoted.

You made your debut on Cold Case in the episode, coincidentally titled, "Debut" back in season 3 and you also wrote this season's "Devil Music." Do you enjoy writing about a different time in history?
KP: It's one of the greatest aspects about writing on the show for me. I love researching different periods in American history.

What sorts of challenges do you face when writing a story that takes place 40-50 years ago while still making it relevant today?
KP: Delving into the past allows the character to move against obstacles that might not exist in the same way they do today. But, the central concept of a character moving against obstacles, in any time period, is universal.

The challenge of writing a story that takes place 40-50 years ago is - as a writer - internalizing those obstacles so they feel real to you, your character, and hopefully the audience.


What are some of your favorite shows (from Cold Case) past and present?
KP: It's so hard to choose, but off the top of my head - some of my favorites are:
Sleepover, Best Friends, Saving Sammy, Static, Creatures of the Night, The Woods, The Goodbye Room, Dog Day Afternoons, A Dollar, A Dream, Offender, Mind Hunters, Thick as Thieves, Boy Crazy, Family 8108, The Letter, The Plan, and Factory Girls...

What is a typical day like for you when you are working on Cold Case?
KP: Typically, we meet in the writers' room all day at a big table, facing a giant white-board where we figure out the details of the episode together.

What is it like now with the ongoing strike?
KP: We strike. We picket. We volunteer at the guild.

In the San Antonio Express-News article from November, you mentioned that if the strike lingered into the New Year you would have to find a part-time job. Have you reached that point?
KP: I am quickly reaching that point. I've started looking for part-time work.

Explain to people who may not understand how difficult the strike is financially on the writers.
KP: We've been going without income since the strike began. We dedicate several hours a day to picketing or other strike activities, so our options for jobs are mostly limited to part-time work.

What is something you think people might be surprised by in terms of your lifestyle in Hollywood and your life as a working writer?
KP: I have a 10 year old car that I hope can make it a few more years. I watch a lot of TV. Every time it rains my bathroom floods. You know - glamorous.

How did you become a strike captain? Do you find it emotionally draining to stay upbeat for all of the writers fighting on the line beside you?
KP: The other writers on the line have been amazing - no need to keep their spirits up. The emotionally draining part is feeling like the media moguls are happy to see the town burn rather than give an inch. It's hard for us to not work, to not write scripts for the shows we love. We just want a fair deal and know that what we're asking for is reasonable.

For the critics out there, explain why the issues surrounding the strike are important to you even though you work for a show that isn't available on the Internet, pay-for-play formats such as iTunes, or DVD.
KP: Believe it or not, we're striking not only for workers in the industry today, but for future generations of workers.

There is the concern that the strike has broken up the staff on some shows because the crewmembers have had to take other jobs, and therefore, won't be able to return when production resumes. What sort of impact does that have on you guys?
KP: I hope that when the strike ends we'll be able to go back to working on Cold Case with our crew. We love our crew and hope they are available - if not - we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

Some other shows had stocked up on episodes to carry their crew through the holiday season, but Cold Case seemed to stick with its typical schedule. Was it just a matter of time running out before there was an opportunity to get more episodes completed prior to the strike?
KP: We ran out of time and did not want to push through scripts that weren't finished. There are several approval steps to prepping a script for shooting - each of them is essential on a show like Cold Case where each word could and might be a clue. The puzzle aspect of the show does not allow for hurried writing - it's detrimental to the final product.

How has the ongoing support from the fans via the Internet, on the picket lines, and the Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign affected the striking writers? What else can fans do to help?
KP: The fans have been TREMENDOUS!!! We could not have done it without their continued support, organizing, and outreach! Thank you!!!

Anything else you want to talk about that I missed?
KP: I think that covers quite a bit. Thanks for having me!


You can read more writers' stories at the Adopt a Writer official site.

AMPTP and WGA to Meet Again

Some encouraging news on the ongoing writers strike from United Hollywood:

UH has learned that as of yesterday, the WGA began an informal dialogue with one of the conglom bosses. The conversations were cordial and respectful on both sides. This is the way that the DGA talks began -- with informal consultations at a high level between leaders on both sides. It is not negotiation, it's the precursor to negotiation, but the good news is that what Patric Verrone, David Young and John Bowman said at the captain's meeting yesterday appears to be very true: we are finally at a moment where the companies are ready to start seriously bargaining. A letter was sent to membership last night, asking everyone to be patient and calm as we move forward. As frustrating as it is to wait, it's the best way to get the best deal possible.

Full story at UH.

Now's the time to cross those fingers, dig out those lucky charms, and say your prayers to the TV gods because we need a fair resolution ASAP!

No Show for 'Globes'

By LillyKat / PTR Staff Writer

Roll up that red carpet, folks.

It's a no go for the Globes show.

Due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards telecast has been officially cancelled after a significant show of support by both movie and television talent who vowed not to cross strike picket lines to appear on the show.

In a statement last week, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) said its members would honor the WGA picket lines, and the WGA had vowed to picket the ceremony if the Hollywood Foregin Press Association (HFPA) chose to go ahead with the show.

Instead, all of this year's winners in all 25 categories will be revealed during an hour-long HFPA press conference at The Beverly Hilton to be covered live by NBC News beginning at 6:00 pm PST on January 13th.

Sources: Bloomberg.com; HFPA/GoldenGlobes.org; United Hollywood

Bare 'Bones' Until May Sweeps

Call it "The Strike Effect" or whatever you will, but Fox's Bones is the latest victim in the ongoing Writer's Strike. From TV Guide's Mike Ausiello:

A reliable source at Fox confirms reports that the final three pre-strike episodes of Bones are being held until May sweeps. Sucky, right? Wait, there's more. The show is relocating to Mondays at 8 pm, where it will be followed by original installments of the Julianna Margulies courtroom drama Canterbury's Law. The Bones/CLAW combo kicks off on April 28. (This season, May sweeps runs from April 24 to May 21. Call it Mapril sweeps.) The decision to hold Bones until May is the clearest sign yet that Fox is bracing for a long strike.

But with that depressing news out of the way, here's a little silver lining to cheer you up: Those three pre-strike Bones eppys are being joined by a fourth never-before-seen installment. Per my source, the infamous school-shooting-themed outing that was pulled last season in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre has been "tweaked slightly" and is scheduled to see the light of day in May.

Looks likes it's "Good news, VERY bad news" for us. I am psyched to finally see that pulled episode from last season, but bummed to wait until the end of April for new installments of this delightful show. Further evidence that we need this strike to reach a fair end, so please click on the link on the right side of this blog and purchase pencils for the Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign. Be a part of the movement for a speedy and fair resolution for all (including you, the fans).

WGA Rejects Waivers for Globes, Oscars Telecasts

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

From United Hollywood

LOS ANGELES – The Writers Guild has notified the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and dick clark productions that their requests for an agreement to allow writers to prepare material for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards show have been denied.

The Guild has also denied a request from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a waiver in connection with the use of clips from motion pictures and past Academy Awards shows for use during the annual Academy Awards presentation.

In letters to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, WGAW President Patric M. Verrone described the Guild’s respect and admiration for both organizations, explaining that:

“Writers are engaged in a crucial struggle to achieve a collective bargaining agreement that will protect their compensation and intellectual property rights now and in the future. We must do everything we can to bring our negotiations to a swift and fair conclusion for the benefit of writers and all those who are being harmed by the companies’ failure to engage in serious negotiations.”

The signatories producing the Golden Globes and the Oscars are West Coast signatories. The WGAW’s Board of Directors concluded, reluctantly, that granting exceptions for the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards would not advance that goal.

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So folks, unless we have a strike settlement before either awards telecast (Globes in January; Oscars in February), the networks are going to have to get pretty creative on how they broadcast either ceremony. This would also need to include figuring out how to deal with the very real possibility that many of the top talents nominated for these awards will boycott both shows as a sign of solidarity with striking writers.

Stay tuned for more As The Strike World Turns.

Pencils Delivered

Last week, United Hollywood made its first delivery of pencils to the media moguls behind NBC, Disney, and Universal in their successful Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign. According to a report posted at United Hollywood, the pencils were turned down at all three locations (the turned away pencils are being donated to help children and schools that need them). Jeffrey Berman wrote the following about the event from December 11th on the UH site:

Ron [Moore] told the guard we were here to deliver the pencils to [NBC Executive] Jeff Zucker and the guard turned us away. I used their company phone and called Zucker's office and asked his secretary if at the very least Mr. Zucker could come down and address us. She promptly hung up on me.

We then rolled the pencils over to Disney and asked for Bob Iger. The guard told us they weren't accepting deliveries at the main gate. So Ron asks which gate they would accept them, and the guard calmly responds, "We're not accepting deliveries at any gate."

At Universal they wouldn't even let me near the front gate. A policeman told me he had already spoken to the main office and they didn't want our delivery.

Click over to United Hollywood for the full report. You can also check out more photos from the event HERE. All photos are courtesy of United Hollywood. Most importantly, don't forget to click the box on the right of this blog and make your donation to Pencils2Media moguls. We need to encourage a fair end to this strike as soon as possible.

Fans Can Make the Call

From Fans For the WGA:

CALL BLITZ
On Monday the WGA and AMPTP will recommence negotiations. The FFWGA wishes them Godspeed. However, our support cannot waver. I must stress: we will not stop campaigning on the writers’ behalf until the contract is signed, sealed, delivered, and serenaded by Stevie Wonder.

That is why on Monday and Tuesday, during normal business hours (9AM to 5PM) we are asking EVERY ONE of our members to call one or all of the following numbers:

1.818.560.1000
Anne Sweeney, ABC, ABC Family, Disney

1.310.369.1000
Kevin Reilly, Fox

1.818.954.6000
Bruce Rosenblum, Warner Bros.

1.212.258.6000
Phillipe Dauman, Viacom

1.818.777.1000
Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal

1.212.975.4321
1.212.975.4545 (This is a direct line)
Les Moonves, CBS

Click over to the Call Blitz page for a sample script of what to say and more. Today's the last day of the blitz, so make your call(s) count! And don't forget to click the link on the right of this blog to send Pencils2MediaMoguls! We need to encourage a speedy and fair end to this strike as soon as possible.

'Case' Star Speaks Out For Her Crew

Cold Case star Kathryn Morris weighed in on the effects of the ongoing writers strike on the hit crima drama's crew members. In a brief interview with the syndicated Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith, she explains why she's standing behind the people behind-the-scenes:

Kathryn Morris: "Cold Case" Bitter Strike Realities Setting In

Publish Post"Cold Case" star Kathryn Morris reveals that the Hollywood writers' strike has made things "very emotional on our set. Writers on a lot of other shows on the Warner Bros. lot tried to pump out a few extra scripts to help the crews get through the holidays. Our writers chose not to do that. It hurt the crew, hurt their feelings," she says. "The electricians, the grips, the costumers, hair and makeup people — all who do not have the luxury of receiving residuals and get paid week to week — are going to have to find work to feed their families. Some of these people will not be coming back to 'Cold Case' at all. This is bound to break up our crew," she goes on heatedly. "This is a crew that just put in over 100 episodes, that puts in 80-hour work weeks and does double episodes to make air dates. We've worked together closely for five years, and we're a tight family. Now, some of them will probably have to find work outside of TV or films." Morris stresses, "As much as I respect and understand what the writers are doing, catching up with the technology, to see this crew getting split up is painful." They'll be working until Friday (Nov. 16), she tells us, and then the set will be shuttered. As for Morris herself, she relates that she'll still have some post-production recording and other work ahead on the series, and then she'll possibly take on another movie assignment. She notes, "There's been more feature activity — films that have locked scripts. I'm going to be available because of the break. Even when we do go back, it's going to take awhile to get some scripts together."


Sobering words. And a HUGELY respectable stance from Kathryn. Even more reason why we need both sides to find a fair resolution ASAP.

Send Pencils2MediaMoguls

The great folks at United Hollywood have come up with a great way to support the writers with their latest campaign:

Pencils2MediaMoguls

Spread the word! One buck sends a box of 12 pencils to a mogul. We're pooling everyone's money to buy the pencils from a "green" manufacturer who uses wood from sustainable forests.

If the moguls refuse to accept our truckloads of pencils, we'll donate them to schools and non-profits that deal with children's literacy.

Hopefully, we will indeed have truckloads to deliver. But only if we all spread the word.


So, first click over to United Hollywood to send your pencils and then spread the word to everyone you know. I sent my pencils and it was quick and easy and done through PayPal.

AMPTP Sets New Date for Talks with the WGA

Promising news via United Hollywood:


November 16, 2007

CONTRACT 2007 NEGOTIATIONS STATEMENT

LOS ANGELES – The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have issued the following statement today:

Leaders from the WGA and the AMPTP have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26. No other details or press statements will be issued.

For more information about the Writers Guild of America, West, please visit www.wga.org. For more information about the Writers Guild of America, East, please visit: www.wgaeast.org.

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) represent writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, and new media industries in both entertainment and news. The unions conduct numerous programs, seminars, and events throughout the world on issues of interest to, and on behalf of, writers.
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Let's hope that the network and studio execs are willing to make a fair deal with the writers. BUT, there is something you can do to facilitate this. Thanks to the fan-run site, Bring TV Back, you can print off and send a letter to the appropriate heads. The site provides this template:

If you are a fan of a specific show (or shows), PERSONALIZE the following template:

Dear (CEO):

As a loyal viewer of many of your TV shows, I'm disappointed that you, along with the rest of the AMPTP, have broken off negotiations with the Writer's Guild. In refusing to negotiate residuals for new media, especially streaming media, you are alienating those who enjoy your product.

I consume my entertainment via new media -- I watch streaming video and download shows. As a viewer, I want to know that the writers who crafted my favorite TV shows and movies are getting a fair residual, no matter what screen I use.

Please respect your audience and respect your writers by returning to the bargaining table and negotiate new media residuals fairly.

Sincerely,

YOU

Not sure where/who to send it? Bring TV Back has taken care of that as well:

MAKE THE STUDIOS AND NETWORKS LISTEN:

ABC network/ABC Family/Lifetime/Disney Channel/A&E/ABC Studios
Robert Iger
CEO of The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

CORPORATE PHONE: (818) 560-1000
CORPORATE FAX: (818)560-2500

FOX network/FX/MY Network TV/Fox Television Studios
Peter Chernin
CEO of Fox Entertainment Group
10201 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035

CORPORATE PHONE: (310) 369-1000

CW network/Warner Bros. Television
Barry Meyer
Chairman, Warner Bros. Entertainment
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522

CORPORATE PHONE: (818) 954-6000

NBC network/USA/Sci Fi/A&E/Universal Media Studios
Jeff Zucker
CEO of NBC/Universal
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

CORPORATE PHONE: (212) 664-4444

CBS network/CW network/Showtime/CBS Paramount Television
Leslie Moonves
CEO of CBS Entertainment Network
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

CORPORATE PHONE: (323) 575-2345

Sony Pictures Television
Michael Lynton
Chairman/CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment
10202 West Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

CORPORATE PHONE: (310) 244-4000
CORPORATE FAX: (310) 244-2626

Comedy Central/MTV
Philippe Dauman
President/CEO of Viacom
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

CORPORATE PHONE: (800) 459-2539


Write those letters and let these bigwigs know that you support the writers. It could make a big difference come November 26th.

PTR Commentary: The WGA Strike – Rewriting for Change

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Writing is rewriting.

Long ago, long ago in a writing galaxy far, far away, I learned this very simple mantra from my first creative writing teacher. She was the first one to give me permission to throw out entire passages I thought were the bees-knees when, in actual fact, they did absolutely nothing for the development of my overall story.

So, I learned to go back.

To strengthen.

To tighten.

To refine.

To improve.

You should always go back.

Any good writer will tell you this.

It’s always better for the story.

So it should come as no surprise, then, the “story” of the strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which has brought the television industry to a screeching halt (with the film industry not far behind), has been weighing heavily on my mind since the first picketers hit the sidewalks on November 5th.

The WGA wants a rewrite.

The studios think the same story that has existed for the past 20 years is just fine.

Strike, anyone?

It’s disturbing to me the hardball tactics that are being employed by the studios and networks. But alas, the historian in me knows better (think Rockefeller’s Standard Oil monopoly at the turn of the 20th century). Historically, no matter the industry, the big guys generally do not like it when the little guys start asking for their fair share of the pie. And the big guys generally do not give it up easily.

Then again, dictators never see their downfall coming, do they?

The two biggest sticking points of discussion:

1) Residuals paid on the sale of DVDs: The WGA would like to up this to a whopping 8 cents per DVD (up from 4 cents).

After 20 years, can I ask how this is seen as an unreasonable request? Can you imagine if the rest of us were still being paid at a 1988 pay rate for our work (you know, when VHS and Betamax were still slogging it out, and big hair, big bangs and jeans with a waist line that hit you about mid-stomach were in)? How can the studios expect the writers to think this is still a commensurate compensation rate after two decades of astronomical sales growth from the home video (now DVD) market?

2) Payment for shows, movies, etc., made available via the new Internet media environment (think online downloadable material from places like iTunes and Amazon.com Unbox): The WGA would like this to become equal to the television residual rate paid to studios when a piece of work is sold to be rebroadcast (2.5 cents for every dollar the studios earn). Currently, writers get nothing.

Contrary to all the naysayers who take potshots at the writers for “suddenly” complaining about their contract, here’s a new flash: common sense tells us new media was obviously not the big deal it is now when the last contract got negotiated; and, writers have been trying to get back the 80% pay cut they agreed to take in 1988, which at the time was done to help the studios grow the then VHS business with the understanding they would get the pay cut back after the business took off.

I’d say after 20 years of waiting, and with the introduction of an entirely new medium by which people get to watch their work, it really is time for a rewrite.

The new Internet media issue is raising the biggest (and arguably loudest) concern. The studios and networks keep using the same ol’ story of the medium being “too new / don’t know how to handle that / really is just a promotional thing” so as to get themselves out of having to share a piece of the online pie.

Problem is, when half the audience now gets its entertainment delivered via an online media source, that argument becomes completely bogus.

Plain and simple.

This is 2007.

New media is going to be (if not already) the way people get their entertainment going forward. The people who create the stuff we download have a right to be paid for that work each and every time we go to get a copy of it. How is this any different from when authors of books get paid for every copy they sell and/or songwriters get paid every time their song is performed or published?

I also take issue with people who think this strike is about a handful of rich writers just wanting to get richer.

That is even more of a bogus argument.

This strike is not about writers in the Paul Haggis tax bracket – those who get paid upwards of $250K a week to write the next Crash or revise the latest Jerry Bruckheimer magic carpet ride.

Yes, I’ll give credence to the argument that some folks can make a really good living if they are fortunate enough to a) find steady work in the business, or b) garner grand success that entitles them to be paid a hefty sum of money, or c) have some spectacular financial advisor, or d) all of the above.

However, that must be weighed equally against the hard reality that nearly half (48%) of WGA members are unemployed at any given time, there is no job security for writers after XYZ show or 123 film is done, and there are thousands of non-Paul-Haggis scribes who grind it out week in, week out for a modest mid-level income of the five figure variety (not six).

This strike is about folks like Kate Purdy: a staff writer on a quality television show who is trying to make a living doing something she loves whilst asking to get paid fairly in the process – both during her run on Cold Case and long after she’s moved on to something else but of which we still get to enjoy.

Side note irony: Cold Case isn’t even available on DVD nor as a legal download alternative given the costly obstacle in obtaining digital distribution rights for – yes, you guessed it – the music featured on the show.

Hmmm, so let me get this straight once again: the songwriters of the music featured on a television show are getting paid for multiple copies of their work to be republished and/or distributed digitally, but the actual writers of that same television show aren't and/or are stuck with a half-baked deal from 1988?

Wow, that seems fair.

Not.

And yet Kate, like so many other writers, is willing to make a stand – without the luxury of a huge salary, huge residuals or huge payouts to cushion the blow – to re-write their own story to get a fair deal for their work now and in the future.

There is no fuzzy math, here.

Studios continue not to want to pay for what a writer sits and toils over.

For what a writer writes and re-writes until he or she thinks they can’t write anymore.

For what a writer thinks is for sure the biggest waste of time only to find out people love the end result.

For what keeps a writer up at night until he or she discovers the perfect line for the perfect moment that brings the entire story together.

Why is it that everyone but the writers seems to forget that nearly every story you fall in love with on the tube or every movie one sits down to watch for the 45th time started with a writer staring at a blank page to create the story that is just about to be told?

Wouldn’t you want to get paid for that if you were entitled?

No matter when or where someone saw it?

It’s unfortunate the studios remain unwilling to negotiate on this issue.

For the writers who live off those residuals, and for the guilds to fund the pension and health plans to take care of their members, it really is that important.

That critical.

And it’s something worth making a stand for.

The sooner the studios accept this, the sooner everyone can get back to the negotiating table.

With all that said, it must be duly noted that while I support the strike and what the writers are trying to do, I understand whole-heartedly the effects the strike is having on the Below-The-Line workers. That is, writers aren’t the only ones out of work. This affects every single person who works on any show (or film) that cannot report to work and collect a regular paycheck if production is shut down.

Grips. Techs. PAs. Make-up. Caterers. Foreman. Drivers. Set builders. Costumers. Assistants.

And since there are folks both above and below the line that exist paycheck-to-paycheck, the power and impact of this strike cuts both ways. It is not going to get easier, and it will continue to hurt a lot of folks until a resolution can be made.

That said, historically, there comes a time when a generation of folks makes a stand for change – especially when it is fundamentally the right thing to do and of which its effects will echo into future generations.

"Real change requires sacrifice, discipline, courage."

Character: Chelsea Cellini
Movie: Role of a Lifetime
Writer: Tony Alda

I believe this may be one of those times.

And at the end of the day, I do not care what fabulous director is hired, what genius actors sign on, how many CGI artists play with the greenscreen, how many animators doodle up Nemo, or how many stuntmen are sent flying off buildings, there has to be a script for any of this to even be conceived.

And someone, somewhere, wrote it down.

So let’s go back and rewrite this one for the better, folks.

The real ending to this story does truly depend on it.

(Grateful acknowledgements: United Hollywood, Fans4Writers.com and Lexigeek.com).

TV Blogs Go Dark in Solidarity with the Writers Guild of America

On November 13th, this blog and the blogs listed below will be on strike for the day in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America. As fellow writers and as TV fans, we are coming together to express our strong support for the writers and their goals. We believe that when a writer's work makes money for a company, that writer deserves to be paid. Many writers depend on residuals for a stable income, and that income shouldn't be based on an outdated formula which ignores the existence of new media and all but a tiny percentage of DVD sales. The talented writers responsible for so much of what we love about television should and must be paid fairly and equitably, and we will stand with them until they reach that goal. For everyone's sake, and for the sake of television, we hope both sides can come to an agreement quickly.

To further that goal, we are calling on our readers to sign this petition and to contact the following television networks, voicing support for the writers and for a return to the negotiating table:

FOX
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 369-1000

CBS
7800 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 575-2345

ABC
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
(818) 460-7777

NBC / Universal
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City , CA 91608
(818) 777-1000

After the blackout, we intend to continue our campaign to support the WGA until the dispute has been resolved fairly. Since we will not be posting any new content tomorrow, we encourage our readers to visit United Hollywood instead for frequent updates about the strike.

In solidarity-
CineManiac
Daemon’s TV
Ducky Does TV
Gabby Babble
Give Me My Remote
Glowy Box
I am a TV Junkie
Mikey Likes TVPass the Remote
The Pie Maker
Ramblings of a TV Whore
Seriously? OMG! WTF?
Silly Pipe Dreams
Tapeworthy
Televisionary
TiFaux
The Media Pundit
The TV Addict
Tube Talk
TV Series Finale
Watch with Intelligence

'Cold Case' Writer Talks about the Strike

(Cold Case cast courtesy cbs.com)

Cold Case staff writer and San Antonio native Kate Purdy spoke with her former local paper via telephone about the ongoing writer's strike. In the article, she sheds some light on the issues and what she'll do if the strike lasts into the New Year. Here's one writer's story from The San Antonio Press-News (thanks to Foxfire at Look Again for the heads up):

S.A. graduate on writers' picket lines

Jeanne Jakle
Express-News

Kate Purdy was thrilled to land a staff-writing job this year on a high-rated network show — CBS' "Cold Case" — only to end up months later out of work and on picket lines.

In a phone call from Hollywood on Wednesday, the Alamo Heights High School graduate, who's written or co-written three episodes for the crime drama so far, said she hopes the Writer's Guild of America strike ends as quickly as possible. That way, she can get back to her job — and needed paychecks.

For now, she's standing firm in support of the strike. In fact, she's a strike captain — in charge of organizing a group of 50 picketers each day.

"The huge impact of the Internet," Purdy said, is at the root of the strike. "We're asking for 2.5 cents on every dollar they make from revenues resulting from shows being downloaded on the Internet.

"The unfortunate thing is we can't even get the CEOs to negotiate or listen to any of our proposals. They seem to be hoping we'll cave without them having to give anything."

Purdy said a long strike promise to be tough on writers, particularly young and relatively low-salaried ones like herself. If it lasts into next year, she said she'll probably have to get a part-time job.

She thinks "Cold Case" viewers may notice a decline in quality, too. Episodes are written into January for the show, which regularly lands in the top 15 of weekly Nielsen ratings. But several haven't gone through the rewriting and editing process and won't without a writing staff onboard. "Cold Case" could be forced into reruns sometime in January.

On the flip side, news programs — such as late-night "Nightline" — may benefit from the lack of entertainment competition. With David Letterman and Jay Leno in repeats, ABC's news program is in the position of offering a live and topical alternative.

Veteran TV newsman Jim Lehrer — in San Antonio on Tuesday to help dedicate the new AT&T studio at KLRN — briefly discussed that possible consequence of the strike, saying it "would be nice" if more people turned to news shows in order to get something fresh to watch.
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Danny Pino who plays Det. Scotty Valens on the hit CBS show recently told the Press-Telegram of Long Beach, CA that he is in "awe" of the show's writers. "Our writers are pretty incredible," he told the paper. "They come up with so many imaginative ways to make an investigation interesting and at the very end, to deliver the emotional impact of an untimely death and how people have had to deal with - either their loved one dying, or being a person who killed a victim and having to hold it for so many years and finally being able to give that up."

Shows Shut Down as Strike Continues

From The AP (via USA Today):

Strikes halting production on 8 shows
By Gary Gentile, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The impact of a strike by television and film writers was becoming more evident as the walkout entered its third day. The latest casualty: The Office. Steve Carell has refused to cross the picket lines of striking writers, a producer said Wednesday. The last new episode will air next week, executive producer Greg Daniels confirmed.

Production on at least six sitcoms was halted because of the strike, and the hit ABC drama Desperate Housewives was scheduled to finish filming its latest episode Wednesday because it had run out of scripts. Filming on the 13th episode of the freshman ABC comedy Carpoolers was also set to finish Wednesday, ABC Studios spokeswoman Charissa Gilmore said. No new episodes have been ordered.

Production on more shows was likely to be halted, and networks were expected to announce plans for alternative programming in the coming days as the strike continues. Other shows were not immediately affected, including the talk show Ellen, which will continue production. Host Ellen DeGeneres told her studio audience at Tuesday's taping that she was obligated under her contract to continue the show, although she supported the striking writers.

"I want to say I love my writers," DeGeneres said. "In honor of them today, I'm not going to do a monologue. I support them and hope that they get everything they're asking for. And I hope it works out soon."

Sitcoms that will stop the cameras include Back to You, starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, which will not return from a planned hiatus, said Chris Alexander, a spokesman for 20th Century Fox Television. Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus said production also stopped on her CBS show, The New Adventures of Old Christine. In addition, Til Death, which airs on Fox, and Rules of Engagement,Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, all on CBS, will also end filming, according to people familiar with production of the shows who were not authorized to be quoted and requested anonymity.

Sitcoms are typically written the same week they are filmed, with jokes being sharpened by writers even on the day of production. The strike began Monday after last-minute negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to produce a deal on how much writers are paid when shows are offered on the Internet. Nick Counter, chief negotiator for the producers union, has said he expected a long standoff.

Writers said the next move was up to the studios. No new talks were scheduled. Pickets were expected to return Wednesday to locations in Los Angeles and New York. Striking writers at the Warner Bros. studios in Burbank were joined by several ER cast members Tuesday, including John Stamos, Maura Tierney and Mekhi Pfeiffer.

"We're all in this together, so we wanted to come out and support our team," said Stamos, adding that the cast was planning to raise money for crewmembers who might have trouble making car and mortgage payments if the strike goes on. ER executive producer and creator John Wells said the show has three more episodes with scripts in various stages: one ready to shoot, one in good shape, and one that will be reviewed to determine if it's ready to shoot as a rough draft or not. "The issues will effect everyone in the industry — the writers just happen to be first," he said.

In Toluca Lake, near the Warner Bros. studio, writers converged on a house serving as a location shoot for Desperate Housewives. "We write the story-a, Eva Longoria," about 30 strikers chanted, referring to a star of the hit ABC show. "It is a very serious business," said Larry Wilmore, a writer on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, explaining that protesters were marching "so we can get back to being funny."

The protesters were joined by actress Louis-Dreyfus. "I'm really here because I'm a union member," she said, explaining she belongs to the Screen Actors Guild and her husband is a member of the writers guild. "If we prevent them from working today, that's a small victory," she said.

Longoria left the house and handed out pizza to strikers. "We are done, and we'll be on the lines supporting you," she told them. "I have a whole crew that will have a terrible holiday season because there's no resolution," she said. "I care about people losing their homes, I care about my hair and makeup artists who can't make ends meet."

The strike immediately sent late-night comedy shows into reruns, but it was not expected to have an immediate impact on production of movies. Most studios have stockpiled dozens of movie scripts, and many TV shows have scripts or completed shows in hand to last until early next year. Writers have not gone on strike since 1988, when the walkout lasted 22 weeks and cost the industry more than $500 million.
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The LA Times has a great chart that shows how many episodes are left for many of your favorite shows. According to the site, PTR faves are faring pretty well:

MEN IN TREES - 19 out of 27 expected to be completed (some are left over from last season)
MY NAME IS EARL - 13 out of 13 completed
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - 15 out of 22 expected to be completed
SCRUBS - 12 out of 18 expected to be completed
PYSCH - A full second half of the season expected

You can click over to The LA Times to see how your faves are faring. Sadly, there's no word yet on Cold Case. For the latest news on the strike, visit TVGuide.com's Strike Watch Blog.

Writers on Strike

Members of the WGA hold signs in front of the Raleigh Studios during the first day of a strike in Hollywood, November 5, 2007. (PHOTO: Hector Mata/Reuters)

Well TV fans as you probably know, we are in the middle of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. It's time to cross our fingers, hold our breath, and send our pleas to the TV gods that both sides come to a swift, fair agreement before our favorite shows run out of episodes! Here's more on the strike from the AP (via Yahoo! News):

Strike sends late-night shows to reruns
By GARY GENTILE, AP Business Writer

LOS ANGELES - Late night comedy shows were the first casualties of the first strike by Hollywood writers against TV networks and movie studios in nearly two decades. "The Late Show With David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," went into reruns after writers on both coasts headed for the picket line.

The walkout became inevitable late Sunday after last-minute negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to produce a deal on such key issues as how much writers are paid when their shows are available on the Internet. No new negotiations were scheduled, although the writers guild negotiating committee did plan a meeting of its members.

Nick Counter, chief negotiator for the producers union, said he expected a long standoff. "We're hunkered down for a long one," he said. "From our standpoint, we made every good faith effort to negotiate a deal, and they went on strike. At some point, conversations will take place. But not now."

In Los Angeles, writers planned to picket 14 studio locations in four-hour shifts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day until a new deal is reached. Writers said the next move was up to the studios.

"My hope is that it won't be too long," said John Bowman, chief negotiator for the writers. "We have more reason to get together than not." Bowman said behind-the-scenes communication was occurring between the two sides with the hope of arranging more meetings.

Along with the shows hosted by Letterman and Leno, networks said other late-night shows bound for reruns included "The Daily Show," "Colbert Report," "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "Last Call with Carson Daly."

"Dancing With the Stars," one of the country's highest-rated prime-time shows, aired as planned on Monday night, with its hosts left to ad-lib. The strike will not immediately impact production of movies or prime-time TV programs. Most studios have stockpiled dozens of movie scripts, and TV shows have enough scripts or completed shows in hand to last until early next year. However, some producers were torn about trying to shoot those finished scripts.

Tim Kring, a producer and writer of the NBC hit "Heroes," said he had to revise the ending of the show's 11th episode on the chance that it might be the last one to air this season. "Fortunately we were able to hustle back," Kring said from a picket line in an effort to shut down the show. "The audience won't be left in a lurch."

While scripted shows suffer from the strike, reality shows could flourish because they don't use union writers, despite an aggressive attempt by the writers guild to organize the staffers on the programs. Viewers could also check out more entertainment on the Internet, ranging from user-generated fare on YouTube to professionally produced shows such as "Quarterlife."

Writers have not gone on strike since 1988, when the walkout lasted 22 weeks and cost the industry more than $500 million. The dispute has broad implications for the way Hollywood does business, since whatever deal is struck by writers will likely be used as a template for talks with actors and directors, whose contracts expire next June. Talks began in July and continued after the writers contract expired last Wednesday.