Film & TV Writers' Strike close to an end?

[Preach]

I'm hearing all kinds of things. Today. There's always been the possibility of it ending "any day now" for a couple of weeks, but today there have been some almost bold predictions. Apparently, the writers' union and the amptp had a loooong talk yesterday and towards the end only a few issues remained. The main issue, "royalties" from online views of episodes, has been decided on and agreed on by both sides.

This could mean that Lost will see a full season afterall

 

[Farzin]

We shall see but I hope it'll end as soon as possible.

 

[_carmi]

yeah regarding this, if it ends, do we get the remaining of the tv shows' seasons or not? that's the big season. i wouldn't mind to get the remaining of gossip girl, smallville, etc.

 

[Preach]

up to the different tv stations i suppose.

 

[_carmi]

ahh right.

 

[Devious]

well certain shows, like Heroes, showed a truncated season, so they would not be able to finish the season since you already saw the ending (i don't watch Heroes, but this is what i read). but depending on how soon the strike ends, and how fast the companies can get back into production, we should see some show's seasons completed.

 

[Rahim]

yay new episodes of the office, reaper and two and a half men!!~!

 

[Devious]

to be honest, i care less about the writers going back to work and more about the makeup people, set and costume designers, and other assorted movie and TV behind-the-scenes people who have been forced out of work by the strike. writers, for the most part, can afford to go on strike and not be hurting too badly, but these people can't eat if productions are shut down.

yay new episodes of the office, reaper and two and a half men!!~!

not necessarily. it's not like if the strike ended tomorrow, they can just whip up new episodes of shows and have them on in a week or 2. my guess is that for most shows, their seasons are over regardless if the strike ends or not, cuz there just won't be enough time to make new episodes before May. they also have to make room for all the new reality shows they've developed during the strike, those won't all be scrapped either.

 

[Rahim]

to be honest, i care less about the writers going back to work and more about the makeup people, set and costume designers, and other assorted movie and TV behind-the-scenes people who have been forced out of work by the strike. writers, for the most part, can afford to go on strike and not be hurting too badly, but these people can't eat if productions are shut down.

not necessarily. it's not like if the strike ended tomorrow, they can just whip up new episodes of shows and have them on in a week or 2. my guess is that for most shows, their seasons are over regardless if the strike ends or not, cuz there just won't be enough time to make new episodes before May. they also have to make room for all the new reality shows they've developed during the strike, those won't all be scrapped either.

im sure they did a few extra episodes before the strike started...so who knows..they might just play those....

 

[Devious]

well if they have stopped airing new episodes of these shows (i don't watch much TV anymore so i don't know) then i doubt they have any more made, or else they would have aired them by now.

 

[Preach]

if the strike ends, some of the shows will probably resume filming.

lost is in a zone where it's a big question mark whether they'll actually resume filming (the actors are still "on guard" on hawaii) or not. heroes, for example, had shot an alternate episode ending prior to the strike, in case there would be a strike.

 

[Rahim]

well if they have stopped airing new episodes of these shows (i don't watch much TV anymore so i don't know) then i doubt they have any more made, or else they would have aired them by now.

they could be saving them for a finale to make a bigger impact on the show....its possible....

 

[_carmi]

strike is not ended yet. but its gonna be voted on saturday and it's 99% sure that its ending on saturday.

 

[Preach]

^^
news were a little misleading. the board voted on saturday on whether the language of the agreement was acceptable and if they were okay with it, but the members of the guild didn't start voting until monday or tuesday.

doesn't matter anymore though. it's over:



STRIKE OVER: Hollywood Back To Work!

Here's the official WGA announcement to striking writers:

On Tuesday, members of the Writers Guilds East and West voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the restraining order that was invoked on November 5th. The strike is over.
Writing can resume immediately. If you were employed when the strike began, you should plan to report to work on Wednesday. If you're not employed at an office or other work site, call or e-mail your employer that you are resuming work. If you have been told not to report to work or resume your services, we recommend that you still notify your employer in writing of your availability to do so. Questions concerning return-to-work issues should be directed to the WGAW legal department at 323.782.4521 or the WGAE’s assistant executive director Ann Toback at 212-767-7823.

The decision to begin this strike was not taken lightly and was only made after no other reasonable alternative was possible. We are profoundly aware of the economic loss these fourteen weeks have created not only for our members but so many other colleagues who work in the television and motion picture industries. Nonetheless, with the establishment of the WGA jurisdiction over new media and residual formulas based on distributor’s gross revenue (among other gains) we are confident that the results are a significant achievement not only for ourselves but the entire creative community, now and in the future.

We hope to build upon the extraordinary energy, ingenuity, and solidarity that were generated by your hard work during the strike.

Over the next weeks and months, we will be in touch with you to discuss and develop ways we can use our unprecedented unity to make our two guilds stronger and more effective than ever.

Now that the strike has ended, there remains the vote to ratify the new contract. Ballots and information on the new deal, both pro and con, will be mailed to you shortly. You will be able to return those ballots via mail or at a membership meeting to be held Monday, February 25th, 2008, at times and locations to be determined.

Thank you for making it possible. As ever, we are all in this together.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
Michael Winship
President, WGAE