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Writers Guild strike officially over

February 13th, 2008 by Scott Marks

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Not surprisingly, Nikki Finke’s Daily Hollywood Deadline in the L. A. Weekly was the first to report news that the writer’s strike is officially over. Kudos to Ms. Finke for her exceptional coverage throughout the ordeal!

For once the Academy Awards came in handy. Were it not for the threat of Oscar breathing down execs’ necks, who knows how long the strike would have dragged on? Dismissing the Golden Globes is one thing. Are there any idiots in America that would go to a movie simply because it won a Globe? They’re spoilsports, anyway. Ms. Finke also reports that the Hollywood Foreign Press may take legal action against the WGA over the cancellation of the self-impressed gala.
As for the back-to-work writers, you have all had plenty of time on your hands, let’s hope that you spent some of it contemplating future of cinema. There will always be a schumck in the bunch who leaps at the chance of penning the sequel to Jumper or dialogue to punctuate canned laughter. Say no to sequels and remakes of perfectly fine movies. Lay off the thrill ride approach and get back to telling challenging and engaging stories.

Here is the official statement from the suits:

“This is a day of relief and optimism for everyone in the entertainment industry. We can now all get back to work, with the assurance that we have concluded two groundbreaking labor agreements - with our directors and our writers — that establish a partnership through which our business can grow and prosper in the new digital age. The strike has been extraordinarily difficult for all of us, but the hardest hit of all have been the many thousands of businesses, workers and families that are economically dependent on our industry. We hope now to focus our collective efforts on what this industry does best - writers, directors, actors, production crews, and entertainment companies working together to deliver great content to our worldwide audiences.”

Peter Chernin, Chairman and CEO, the Fox Group
Brad Grey, Chairman & CEO, Paramount Pictures Corp.
Robert A. Iger, President & CEO, The Walt Disney Company
Michael Lynton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Barry M. Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros.
Leslie Moonves, President & CEO, CBS Corp.
Harry Sloan, Chairman & CEO, MGM
Jeff Zucker, President & CEO, NBC Universal

And here is what the WGA had to say:

On Tuesday, members of the Writers Guilds East and West voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the restraining order that was invoked on November 5th. The strike is over.

Writing can resume immediately. If you were employed when the strike began, you should plan to report to work on Wednesday. If you’re not employed at an office or other work site, call or e-mail your employer that you are resuming work. If you have been told not to report to work or resume your services, we recommend that you still notify your employer in writing of your availability to do so. Questions concerning return-to-work issues should be directed to the WGAW legal department or the WGAE’s assistant executive director.

The decision to begin this strike was not taken lightly and was only made after no other reasonable alternative was possible. We are profoundly aware of the economic loss these fourteen weeks have created not only for our members but so many other colleagues who work in the television and motion picture industries. Nonetheless, with the establishment of the WGA jurisdiction over new media and residual formulas based on distributor’s gross revenue (among other gains) we are confident that the results are a significant achievement not only for ourselves but the entire creative community, now and in the future.

We hope to build upon the extraordinary energy, ingenuity, and solidarity that were generated by your hard work during the strike.

Over the next weeks and months, we will be in touch with you to discuss and develop ways we can use our unprecedented unity to make our two guilds stronger and more effective than ever.

Now that the strike has ended, there remains the vote to ratify the new contract. Ballots and information on the new deal, both pro and con, will be mailed to you shortly. You will be able to return those ballots via mail or at a membership meeting to be held Monday, February 25th, 2008, at times and locations to be determined.

Thank you for making it possible. As ever, we are all in this together.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW

Michael Winship
President, WGAE”

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