As we inch ever so close to the finish line...WGA to hold 48-hour vote
Writers Guild of America members gave a resounding thumbs-up to the guild’s new contract agreement at membership meetings held Saturday in Gotham and L.A., clearing the path for the three-month-old writers strike to end by midweek.
Cynthia Littleton on Variety's Strike Blog Scribe Vibe:
It was a long night of waiting outside of the Shrine Auditorium tonight and tackling unsuspecting guild members as they walked out for their opinions, their thoughts and their perceptions of the deal. No exaggeration, the vibe was uniformly pro-guild, pro-guild leadership and pro-deal. (And pro-green).
Observing the make and model of the cars of WGA members as they pulled into the Shrine lot, it was impossible not to notice the preponderance of Priuses._
"The strike was absolutely worth it -- look what we've acheived!?! -- but it's time to go back to work" was a common refrain heard members as they walked into and out of the meeting. We know the leadership got standing o's more than once, and the applause-o-meter was running on high, and that they got high marks for candidly assessing the pros and cons of the deal in light of the realpolitik of the industry today -- not at as it was 20 years ago, and not as it may (or may not) be in 20 more years, or even 10.
One guy you can always count on for a colorful comment that has some real substance to it as well is Matt Selman (pictured) of "The Simpsons."
In the feel-good, we-done-good moment immediately following the meeting, as small groups of scribes stood around outside the lobby of the Shrine, Selman took the long view of what they'd achieved with the Great Walkout of '07-08.
"People have crapped on this union as being about rich people trying to get richer," Selman said.
"A lot of rich people, and medium-successful writers, of which I would count myself, gave up a huge amount of money so that writers who haven't even been born yet can make a decent wage."
11:12 AM PST-BREAKING NEWS>>>>
WGA PRESS CONFERENCE AT NOON
WGA leaders have called a press conference for noon today at WGA West headquarters to discuss the tentative contract proposal reached with the majors and the status of the three-month-old writers strike. Members of the WGA West board and WGA East council are meeting today to finalize plans for the membership vote that is widely expected to end the strike, and the separate vote of membership to formally ratify the new three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Skedded to speak at the press conference are WGA West prexy Patric Verrone, WGA West exec director David Young, WGA’s negotiations committee chairman John Bowman. WGA East prexy Michael Winship will also be included via telephone.
Showrunners back to work Monday
For the first time in more than three months, TV showrunners are heading back to the office on Monday. Scribes who also have producing responsibilities on their shows will be allowed to return to work on Monday while the WGA conducts a membership vote on Monday and Tuesday on whether to formally lift the strike
Stay Tuned...
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