Thanks to Hollywood directors and their ability to reach a tentative agreement with producers striking Writers Guild of America members could soon be headed back to the bargaining table to negotiate their own deal.
Last Friday the Directors Guild reached a tentative contract agreement with producers. The directors’ deal is similar to what the writers are seeking, involving pay for movie and TV content that is purchased over the Internet.
So what’s the deal with the writers?
According to news reports, top executives from eight major companies, including Fox, Paramount Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, CBS Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros., MGM and NBC Universal asked the Writers Guild to resume informal talks, much like the ones that preceded the directors’ agreement. Yet, no meeting dates have been set in stone.
If no deal is made in the next few weeks the Academy Awards will likely go the way of the Golden Globes. You’ll recall the Globes’ lavish ceremony was canceled last weekend, when the WGA neglected to strike a deal with show producers. The Oscars are scheduled to air in late February and a couple of weeks prior the Grammy Awards are slated to be given out on CBS.
According to The Recording Academy, producers of the Grammy Awards have requested an interim agreement that would allow striking Hollywood writers to work on next month’s telecast. A WGA insider told reporters a deal is “is unlikely to be granted.” Still The Recording Academy said it remained hopeful they would be given a positive response.
On a brighter note one award show that does not have to worry about writers is the NAACP Image Awards. Late last week the guild said it would allow its members to work on the show and would not picket the February 14th show at the Shrine Auditorium. The awards are presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and honor those who promote diversity in the arts. The annual ceremony is scheduled to be broadcast live on Fox.
Do you think an agreement between writers and producers will come in time to save the Academy Award show?
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