Latest in Writers Strike

The looming writers strike in the U.S. could be an "interesting opportunity" for producers working outside the country in an era of globalized content, CAA's head of Global TV Ted Miller told a panel at the MIA Market in Rome on Thursday. "I think there’s likely going to be a writers strike," he…

While pre-Oscar limousines squeezed in and out of the Peninsula and a political crowd rallied at UTA, an industry power player (who will remain nameless), was fretting over lunch about another problem on Friday: Will the coming months bring a Hollywood writers strike? And, more precisely, which companies will be most…

Should creatives demand bigger paydays from stingy studios? It was about this time 10 years ago that an angry buzz began to build. It was contract renegotiation time for writers and directors, a normally boring ritual, but the mood was suddenly different. While Hollywood's majors were recording record profits, writers…

Email and phone messages already are pouring in about what they’re criticizing as this disaster of a tentative agreement (see WGA West notice to members below). It was reached at 3:30 PM today by the Writers Guild of America negotiators with the Alliance of Motion Picture And Television Producers. It took little more…

TUESDAY 12:30AM UPDATE: I’ve learned that both Jay Leno and the Guild investigating panel asked WGAw President Patric Verrone among others to make the final report public, including full transcripts of the hearing. But Verrone et al refused. So why was the Guild’s excuse “confidentiality” since Leno willingly waived…

UPDATES WGAw Prez Candidate John Wells Writes Rebuttal To Verrone/Bowman UPDATES Message From Verrone & Bowman Disputing Wells’ Campaign Claims The following joint John Wells-John Bowman statement was read by John Wells and John Bowman last week at the Writers Guild while I was otherwise engaged: John Wells: One of…

There’s yet another success story to come out of the writers strike as more Hollywood talent tries to get out from under the studio and network system. But it’s been a long time coming. Finally, Reveille last Thursday has signed a deal with Machinima.com, an entertainment network for the gaming generation. It’s to…

Bill Scheft, who still answers his phone “Late Show Strike Captain,” has been a writer for David Letterman since 1991. His latest novel, Everything Hurts, will be published next month by Simon & Schuster. First of all, I am not thrilled following all the thoughtful “One Year Later” contributors with their facts…

Carl Eastlake has been a TV showrunner and had staff positions on a dozen series and long-form productions. He is currently working on a pilot script assignment and has a studio feature assignment. During the WGA strike, he helped coordinate Guild members who volunteered to assist the press office. Reading the press…

Ellen Stutzman, WGAW Research Director, wrote this for the WGA website. It has been a year since the strike was settled, the contract ratified and writers returned to work, and in that time the world of New Media has continued to spin forward. Hulu's rapid ascent into the top ranks of online video sites has…

Marjorie David is a seasoned television writer and executive producer (Wildfire), and co-executive producer (Life, Dark Angel, Chicago Hope). She volunteered to serve as a Contract Captain for the WGA’s Contract 2007 Campaign. She is a member of the working board of the League Of Hollywood Women Writers. The most…

Ashley Gable is co-executive producer of The Mentalist and has been supervising producer on Crossing Jordan, and co-producer on The Division. A former attorney, and a working writer for 10+ years, she was a picket coordinator at Fox during the WGA strike. Last year, she ran for the WGA’s board of directors. The…