Golden Globes, Oscars… not this year!
By fred | December 19, 2007
There were concerns whether or not the Golden Globes (airing January 13) and the Oscars (February 24) would be able to actually happen or not, with the strike going on and all. The Hollywood Foreign Press (Golden Globes) and the AMPAS (Oscars) have both asked the WGA for wavers that would allow writers to work on the show, to prepare material and use clips from previous shows.
Obviously, the requests were denied by the WGA :
The Writers Guild has notified the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and dick clark productions that their requests for an agreement to allow writers to prepare material for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards show have been denied.
The Guild has also denied a request from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a waiver in connection with the use of clips from motion pictures and past Academy Awards shows for use during the annual Academy Awards presentation.
In letters to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, WGAW President Patric M. Verrone described the Guild’s respect and admiration for both organizations, explaining that:
“Writers are engaged in a crucial struggle to achieve a collective bargaining agreement that will protect their compensation and intellectual property rights now and in the future. We must do everything we can to bring our negotiations to a swift and fair conclusion for the benefit of writers and all those who are being harmed by the companies’ failure to engage in serious negotiations.”
The signatories producing the Golden Globes and the Oscars are West Coast signatories. The WGAW’s Board of Directors concluded, reluctantly, that granting exceptions for the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards would not advance that goal.”
No I don’t think this comes as a surprise to anyone, I mean when writers go on strike, they do for all shows, not all but those people really want to see, and definitely not those networks really need to make more money ! It only makes sense that they would not allow such wavers.
Which is also why it only makes sense for a DB like AMPTP spokesman Jesse Hiestand to send out such a statement :
In the category of Worst Supporting Union, the nominee is the WGA. The union, which initiated this strike, continues day in and day out to make good on its commitment to, in the words of a leading WGA organizer, “wreak havoc,” even though those being hurt include WGA’s own working writers, the below-the-line workers and their families, the broader Los Angeles region - and now the creative artists who deserve to be honored for their work over the last year.
Seriously people, I’m all for killing such morons. I freaking hate them.
Obviously WGA was going to deny the wavers, just like it only makes sense that they did decide to picket outside the theater were the ceremony will be held, which will without a doubt lead to actresses and actors not showing up, as they’ll refuse to cross picket lines.
However, due to security precautions, it’s possible that people could attend the ceremony and never actually see the pickets. Why ? Security. Anyone willing to get within a block of the Beverly Hilton needs a credential, and in the past protesters were relegated to an area a few blocks away. Quite possibly similar arrangements will be made this time, if only to not let writers appear on TV.
Still, we all know picket lines will be there, and so will every one else, starting with those refusing to cross them.
The Golden Globes May Not Be Televised… » I Watch TV!