Strike Watch: Writers Guild East Commences Strike

Late Sunday evening the pessimistic wait to see if a strike would really happen was ended as the WGA, East posted notice on their web site that the job action was on:

Important new update posted November 5, 2007.

As of 12:01 AM November 5th, the WGA strike is on in the Eastern time zone. WGAE members should report for picketing at Rockefeller Plaza starting at 9:00 AM today. At 12:30 AM EST, talks between the AMPTP and the WGA ended.

The action drew a barbed response from the AMPTP (as pointed out in a blog comment recently, summing this group up as "producers" can be misleading, since it's really studios and networks wielding the power):

November 4, 2007 End of Day Statement from AMPTP President Nick Counter:

Notwithstanding the fact that negotiations were ongoing, the WGA decided to
start their strike in New York. When we asked if they would "stop the clock"
for the purpose of delaying the strike to allow negotiations to continue, they
refused.

We made an attempt at meeting them in a number of their key areas including
Internet streaming and jurisdiction in New Media. Ultimately, the guild was
unwilling to compromise on most of their major demands.

It is unfortunate that they choose to take this irresponsible action.

Near that notice on their web site, the WGA displayed an ad running in Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, created by a large group of influential showrunners (even pro-strike 30 Rock fans may have winced to see Tina Fey's name conspicuously near the top); other signees included Desperate Housewives' Marc Cherry, The Wire's David Simon, and E.R.'s John Wells--the latter was said to be involving himself in the last-minute negotiations, which sessions apparently created little consensus.

The WGA's western branch sent its a have an announcement out
near midnight:

CONTRACT 2007 NEGOTIATIONS STATEMENT
LOS ANGELES - The WGA Negotiating Committee, on behalf of the Writers of Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), has issued the following statement regarding Contract 2007 negotiations:

Early today, the WGA completely withdrew its DVD proposal, which the Companies said was a stumbling block. Yet, the Companies still insisted on the following:

* No jurisdiction for most of new media writing.
* No economic proposal for the part of new media writing where they do propose to give coverage.
* Internet downloads at the DVD rate.
* No residual for streaming video of theatrical product.
* A "promotional" proposal that allows them to reuse even complete movies or TV shows on any platform with no residual. This proposal alone destroys residuals.
* A "window" of free reuse on the Internet that makes a mockery of any residual.

The AMPTP made no response to any of the other proposals that the WGA has made since July. The AMPTP proposed that today's meeting be "off the record," meaning no press statements, but they have reneged on that.

Meanwhile, the recently established writers' web site UnitedHollywood listed practical information for the red tee-shirt-wearing guild rank and file on picketing, which was expected at a series of major Hollywood studios and production facilities.

My colleague Jeff Bercovici today broke the story that Jon Stewart would be taking care of his (and The Colbert Report's) writers by paying their salaries out of his production company's pocket for two weeks during the strike. As Jeff hunted up furher confirmation of the details--against some contrary information from Stewart's publicist--a lively discussion erupted in the Comments below his post as to Stewart's motives and strike politics in this case.

(Left to right, WGA, West President Patric Verrone, WGA, East President Michael Winship and Negotiating Committee Chair John Bowman minutes after this past Friday's announcement of a Monday strike call. Photo by David McNew, Getty Images)