Writers' Strike Negotiations Break Down
After two weeks of negotiations at the bargaining table between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the two sides have been unable to come to terms.
This strike is starting to impact other production workers in the entertainment industry as well, who simply don’t have enough resources to tide them over if the strike lasts for several months. On Sunday morning, December 9, many set decorators, hair and makeup artists, prop specialists, and others marched through Hollywood in an effort to end the 5-week-old strike.
The Writers Guild of America remains firm in it’s stance: They understandably want fair compensation for their work sold on DVD’s and the Internet. The Internet is the wave of the future and writers want their fair share of compensation for their creative work.
According to soapcentral.com, several soap opera writers have informed the WGA that they plan to return to work and may take what is called a financial core, which means that writers can work and collect benefits, but will no longer have a stake in voting as a member of the WGA.
At this point, DAYS has enough episodes written to last until the end of January 2008. It is unknown for certain if after that time production will shut down or if DAYS will bring in non-union scribes to write for the show. Like many others, I am hoping that the strike will end by that time and that the WGA and the AMPTP will be able to come to terms. On the other hand, it would be rather interesting to see what would happen if by chance other scribes were brought in after January to write for DAYS. Many of you may recall that during the last strike back in 1988, which lasted more than 22 weeks, Steve and Kayla's wedding ceremony took place aboard a yacht. This episode was one of the highest ranked episodes in the history of DAYS. However, the last strike nearly twenty years ago cost the entertainment industry more than $500 million.
For more information on the Writers' Strike of 2007, you can visit the Writers Guild of American East website or the Writers Guild of America West. In the meantime, I'll keep you informed of the latest updates concering the strike.
Comments
I think if they would bring in new writers, the store lines may go somewhere other then the same old stories over and over just using different people. Use some relife stories for a change and make it interesting. We know whats going to happen so there is no surprise. Get rid of Lucas and let Sammie fall in love with the person that was by her side when no one else did including Lucas
Ienjoy happy endings, so I am hopeing that the strike will soon be over but if not, nothing last forever and days of our lives has been on the air for over 40 years, maybe it is time “to ride off into the sunset” and go off the air. Before that happens and days departs the sene, there are a few things that need to be explaned, such as,1. Why has Stephano always been so “interested” in Marlena? 2. Is John rilly dead? 3. Are Santo and Callen rilly dead? and what about Stephano’s mom where is she? 4. Who is Benjie’s mom where is she, How did Stephano get Benjie and E.J.? Where is Susan?