Is the strike nearing an end?

By Mike

November 18, 2007 in Features, Television

The best news I’ve heard since this WGA strike started came today when Deadline Hollywood reported that negotiations between the WGA and AMTPT (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) could be started up again after Thanksgiving.

The guy at Deadline Hollywood picked up some rumors about the chances of the two parties returning to negotiations and followed up with a WGA source to find out if they were true.

A statement issued from the WGA said:

“Leaders from the WGA and the AMPTP have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26. No other details or press statements will be issued.”

Deadline Hollywood said:

Shortly after tonight’s announcement, WGA president Patric Verrone emailed WGA members calling the breakthrough “a direct result of the hours you have spent on the picket lines, the days you’ve spent educating friends and colleagues, the boundless energy you’ve put into engaging with not only the Hollywood talent community, but people all over the country and the world.”

He also claimed “a powerful strike means a short strike…”

In the meantime, Deadline Hollywood also wrote about how Universal Media Studios have enacted a “Force majeure” for the actors of the shows Battlestar Galactica, 30 Rock, Bionic Woman and The Office.

The whole thing is complicated, but it kind of shows how the networks are bullies and can decide to not pay their actors if something big happens, like a strike, yet also not allow them to work anywhere else.

Things are getting nasty, so hopefully the talks starting on the 26th could end it all.

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