Caffeinated Clint
Official word comes in Tuesday
As a screenwriter/producer myself I can’t tell you how much this strike has hurt – Imagine having your nipples zapped by a Bond villain and you near get the picture. Films that were set-up – or near set-up – before the strike hit, and others that were filming but in need of a re-write or re-shoot when the hammer came down, were affected considerably by the stop workage. I’m as happy as an ant floating in a bowl of sugar that it has all come to an end!
The first indication that we might be on the home stretch of the writer’s strike came last week for me when I heard from a “Heroes” cast member – who we’d just signed to star in a film; more on the film soon – that the producers were looking at possibly rounding up all the players on Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, that actor wouldn’t be available – he’s on the movie – but that’s beside the point, the fact that the “Heroes” cast were getting back together this week meant something was definitely cooking.
The WGA has finalized its tentative agreement with the majors and has presented details of the pact to members in meetings in Los Angeles and New York, according to Variety. Though all the WGA members need to accept the terms…. it’s apparently looking very good….. cheers were even heard from the meeting rooms.
Showrunners return to work today – Monday – and on Wednesday the writers return to their desks.
If approved, the deal will run through May 1, 2011.
Leaders of the WGA made the announcement of the finalized deal early Saturday after spending much of Friday meeting with lawyers over the contract language. WGA West president Patric Verrone and WGA East prexy Michael Winship sent a message to members that stressed the gains made in the new-media sector.
�It is an agreement that protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery,� they said. �It creates formulas for revenue-based residuals in new media, provides access to deals and financial data to help us evaluate and enforce those formulas, and establishes the principle that, �When they get paid, we get paid.� �
Verrone and Winship said in the message that the time has come to end the strike and cited the �enormous personal toll on our members and countless others.�
�As such, we believe that continuing to strike now will not bring sufficient gains to outweigh the potential risks and that the time has come to accept this contract and settle the strike,� they said. �Much has been achieved, and while this agreement is neither perfect nor perhaps all that we deserve for the countless hours of hard work and sacrifice, our strike has been a success.�
The resolution of the strike will enable TV networks to salvage the remaining TV season – Matthew Fox told Collider that if the strike finishes, they’re going to be able to do a couple more episodes of “Lost” this season, rather than leaving it at 8 – and pilot season along with permitting scribes to begin working again on film scripts. The end to the strike would also permit the Academy Awards telecast on Feb. 24 to proceed without disruption.
WGA West president Patric Verrone confirmed at a Sunday news conference at WGA West headquarters that scribes who also have producing responsibilities on their shows will be allowed to return to work on Monday.
Verrone said that the WGA’s leadership opted to take the issue of ending the strike to the members because of their heavy involvement in supporting the job action. “They were the public face of the struggle on a daily basis,” he added.
Citing gains in new media, Verrone proclaimed that the deal’s the best that the WGA’s negotiated in the last 30 years and that the strike was the most successful work stoppage in the United States during the 21st Century. He also praised a trio of moguls – News Corp. president Peter Chernin, Disney topper Robert Iger and CBS honcho Leslie Moonves – for their efforts in hammering out a deal.
Industry sources also report that the WGA contract reached with the majors is expected to include a provision that will allow scribes who were force majeured from ongoing series to return to their old jobs. Insiders cautioned, however, that some issues regarding that deal point are still being worked out by guild and studio lawyers. The contract does not address those who were force majeured from overall deals and other contracts if they were not working on a series that will resume production.
For those wondering when their favourite TV shows will return, Michael Ausiello has done the hard yards for us…
24
Expected to return this fall or January ’09.
30 Rock
Expected to shoot 5 to 10 new episodes to air in April/May.
Bionic Woman
No new episodes expected. Ever.
Bones
Four pre-strike episodes left. Unclear whether additional episodes will be produced for this season.
Brothers & Sisters
Expected to shoot 4 or 5 new episodes to air in April/May.
Chuck
No new episodes until fall.
Cold Case
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.
Criminal Minds
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.
CSI
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.
CSI: Miami
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.
CSI: NY
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.
Desperate Housewives
Expected to shoot 4 or 5 new episodes to air in April/May.
Dirty Sexy Money
No new episodes planned until fall; three remaining pre-strike episodes will undergo some tweaking and kick off fall run.
Friday Night Lights
No new episodes expected for this season. Future TBD. READ MORE
Gossip Girl
Expected to shoot up to 9 new episodes to air in April/May/June.
Grey’s Anatomy
Expected to shoot 4 or 5 new episodes to air in April/May
Heroes
TBD.
Lost
Six pre-strike episodes remain. Six additional episodes could air this season.
So where are we now? Well, the strike is as good as finished…. but the final word won’t come in until Tuesday.
