WGA takes animation and reality jurisdiction off the table !
By fred | January 23, 2008
In the words of Professor Farnsworth: “Good news everyone!”
After that the DGA signed a deal with the AMPTP, moguls have agreed to meet with WGA leaders for some informal meetings. And this had just began but there’s already some great news, in the form of another sign of good will from the WGA : After having taken the increase on DVD residuals off the table already back in October, they’re now taking off one of the things the AMPTP found objectionable : Animation and Reality jurisdiction.
This is some great news, not just because it shows the WGA really wants a fair deal regarding (mainly) the new media residuals, and are willing to actually negotiate, but because this was one of the main things the AMPTP objected to, and that I thought WGA should gave up. Now it’s the AMPTP turn to do the same, and if they do, if current “informal talks” do keep going and working as good as they seem to be, we could hope for positive official negotiations and, maybe, a resolution of the strike within weeks, hopefully.
Here’s the official statement from WGAW president Patric Verrone and WGAE president Michael Winship :
We have responded favorably to the invitation from the AMPTP to enter into informal talks that will help establish a reasonable basis for returning to negotiations. During this period we have agreed to a complete news blackout. We are grateful for this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with industry leaders that we hope will lead to a contract. We ask that all members exercise restraint in their public statements during this critical period.In order to make absolutely clear our commitment to bringing a speedy conclusion to negotiations we have decided to withdraw our proposals on reality and animation. Our organizing efforts to achieve Guild representation in these genres for writers will continue. You will hear more about this in the next two weeks.
On another issue, the Writers Guild, West Board of Directors has voted not to picket the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) face many of the same issues concerning compensation in new media that we do. In the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair contract, the WGAW Board felt that this gesture should be made on behalf our brothers and sisters in AFM and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).
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