Step ahead in American writers strike case? by Zuzana Zelenakova

The big Writers Guild of America strike started on November 5, 2007. About 12,000 writers joined. It was announced after unsuccessful negotiations about new contract between the Guild and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represent production companies and studios. The previous contract expired on October 31. The Guild argued that profits from airings or purchases of their programs are the necessary part of their income, upon which writers have to rely during the periods of unemployment common in this profession. WGA also requested doubling of DVD sales residuals, or profits. But this request was later removed. The day Academy Awards nominations were announced both sides gave joint statement about informal talks. Academy Awards ceremony could be thus saved from the fate that has befallen the Golden Globes. The Guild also announced that it will not picket Grammys. The contract talks from the beginning of December broke down after the companies demanded from the Guild to remove several issues, including the equalization of reality and animation shows. However, on Tuesday union executives accepted the request in goodwill gesture in order to conclude the whole thing as soon as possible. Now the main contract issue being discussed is the compensation for movie and TV projects distributed over the Internet. Meanwhile a provisional deal was made between WGA and several individual production companies. It provides compensation of 2 percent on downloaded films and 2.5 percent on TV shows. WGA is in further negotiations with other independent producers now to achieve the same deal.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_en_mo/hollywood_labor;_ylt=AkDRP5k2BN3gJ.INsbVg6lVxFb8C

by Zuzana Zelenakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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