The DGA is pretty notorious for screwing over writers.
The Minearverse 5: Closer to the Earth, Further from the Ax
[NAFDA] "There will be an occasional happy, so that it might be crushed under the boot of the writer." From Zorro to Angel (including Wonderfalls, The Inside and Drive), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath.
It's not a guaranteed bad thing for writers, but it's unlikely good news. The GDA is more likely to give up ground on new media in favor of upfront payments -- but evidently a lot of the reason their bargaining got delayed was, again, over New Media, so who knows? They've been pretty tight-lipped.
Until we see the deal, I won't know if it helps us or hurts us.
But, given the amazing new levels of posturing regarding a deal that hasn't even been announced yet, my gut instinct is that things will get worse before they get better.
If the writers can keep solidarity through June, then when the actors go on strike, management is suddenly going to be faced with an opponent with major bargaining power. The reason the writers went on strike so soon was because management was to keep the script stockpile from growing too big. So I guess that is the question: it is only January, can the writers hold out through June?
That's the Doomsday Scenario. And no one knows what the world is going to look like after that.
The fact is that this strike has not gone as "planned." Can writers hold out until July or August? (Which is what it would probably be if SAG does end up going on strike.) Some can. Others can't.
Much like 88, a lot of people will probably have to find something else to do with the rest of their lives.
I know Tamara was missing her Nikki Finke fix. But fear not.
Variety is attempting to fill her shoes.
The DGA have announced a deal, I'm told. Don't know if it's true.
Variety will never replace Nikki, but thanks, Kristen.
I find myself wondering how much studios make on new season DVD stuff each year. I also find myself wondering if they're going to reduce the price of this seasons DVDs, given the limited numbers of episodes available for a majority of shows. Take, say, Lost - season 3 was 22 episodes, now they're going to have 8 by the looks of it for season 4. I can't see them charging the same. That could really hurt the home entertainment departments, I'd imagine.
The lack of a story with just the headline and the "check back for more details" cracked me up.
And I seriously needed a laugh this week.