Writers Guild of America Strike

From Super-wiki
Revision as of 10:15, 30 January 2008 by Missyjack (talk | contribs) (→‎Links)
Jump to: navigation, search

On November 5, 2007, writers for film and TV Shows, including “Supernatural”, began a strike after the breakdown of negotiations between the union and AMPTP - the association representing more than 350 production companies and studios which employ them.

The main issues in dispute concerned payment (“residuals”) to writers arising from the distribution of film and TV in new media areas including DVD and the Internet. Playbill

This short video provides an easy to understand explanation of what the WGA is asking for.


  • As the strike began Supernatural has 10-12 episodes completed; roughly five scripts that are ready to shoot. La Times
File:WGA-Strike-Icon.jpg
  • On November 15th it was announced that formal talks would resume on 26th November
  • Trade publications state that fans view the strike as "as a bunch of rich people fighting over billions of dollars. They just want their shows to stay on; they don't care who gets what." Source
  • A new campaign,Pencils2MediaMoguls, was commenced to demonstrate that fans support for the writers. Inspired by the Jericho peanut campaign it involves sending boxes of pencils en masse to the studio and network bosses. (Fans of the show Jericho sent 20 tons of nuts to CBS as show of support for the show when it was cancelled, resulting in it belong renewed for a limited season]
  • On November 19th, media reports that Supernatural will be shutting down December, 5th. (Source)
  • After resuming negotiations on 26th November, negotiations again broke down on December 7. Source
  • December 29, the WGA have announced that they have made a deal with Worldwide Pants, the production company owned by Letterman, which produces both his and Craig Ferguson's shows. The deal includes the rights/residuals pertaining to new media that the WGA have been after, and which the AMPTP have refused to consider. This follows the WGA announcing it was willing to deal with individual production companies. Some see it as breaking the collective effect of everyone being on strike, and that it's unfair that some writers will return to getting paid while most don't. Others see that it demonstrates that the conditions being sought are affordable, although a show like Letterman is probably affected less by new media (such as internet DLs or streaming) than scripted TV.
  • December 31 fans4writers.com organise skywriters to print messages of support for writers in the sky above the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena.
  • At the beginning of January, 2008 AMPTP still had not agreed to resume negotiations.
  • January 4. Variety announces upcoming network programming revised due to the strike. Supernatural has four episodes remaining to air (3.09-3.12), which will recommence on January 31st. After that the following has been reported for the CW schedule:
On Thursdays, "Smallville" will continue at 8 p.m., while a handful of remaining original "Reaper" segs will run at 9 p.m. starting Feb. 28.
"We're giving 'Reaper' a few Thursday airings, which means for the first time a real compatible lead-in for the show, from 'Smallville,'" Kahl said.
Not in the mix: "Supernatural," which goes on hiatus, but will return at some point; and family drama "Life is Wild," which isn't expected to return. On the reality side, "Crowned" ends its run at the start of February; other shows, including "Farmer Takes a Wife," are still waiting in the wings.
  • Variety announces the WGA and film studio United Artists are to make a deal allowing film writers to return to work.
  • Eric Kripke in an interview with tv.com talks about the effect of the strike on the Supernatural team.

See also:

  • You can sign an online petition to support the writers here.
  • January 2008: Sweet Charity runs "A Very Special Sweet Charity" - fans auction their writing, vidding, art and craft talents and raise over $19,000 to support of those affected by the writer's strike.
  • 23 January, 2008: The WGA and AMPTP reneter negotiations, under a media blackout.

Links

Retrieved from "http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/index.php?title=Writers_Guild_of_America_Strike&oldid=12895"