GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS FOR SCRIPT WRITERS

Despite the increase in the number of unscripted reality shows on the major broadcast networks and cable channels, television writers saw their income grow in 2010, the Writers Guild of America reported on Friday. Total earnings rose 2.9 percent to a new record of $532.1 million, the guild said, while residuals increased by 12.8 percent […]

DIVERSITY STALLS IN TV WRITERS’ ROOMS

Despite Hollywood’s frequent boasts that it is encouraging diversity in the writers’ rooms at TV production companies and networks, little progress has in fact taken place in recent years, and in many cases, appears to have fallen backwards, according to a study released Thursday by the Writers Guild of America. The study, “Hollywood Writers Report: […]

UP FRONT AT THE UPFRONTS

It is that time of year when the networks unveil their plans for the coming season to advertisers in hopes that they’ll be impressed enough with many to buy a schedule of commercials in them in advance (or “upfront”). NBC, the lowest rated network, was first out of the gate and is likely to be […]

WGA MEMBERS OK PACT WITH PRODUCERS

Two years after their rancorous strike — primarily over Internet residuals — virtually shut down the movie and TV industry for 100 days, the membership of the Writers Guild of America overwhelmingly voted in favor of a new contract in which the issue of Internet residuals was all but ignored. The WGA said that 90.7 […]

GUILDS IN A LATHER OVER SOAP CANCELLATIONS

The Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Writers Guild of America (WGA), and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) reacted with shock and dismay Thursday to ABC’s announcement that it will be shutting down the long-running soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live. In a statement, the DGA said, […]

WGA RULES OUT AWARDS FOR SOME TOP FILMS

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is being stricter than other industry unions that hand out annual awards by insisting that scripts submitted for its annual awards presentations be produced under WGA jurisdiction. Daily Variety observed today (Wednesday) that the guild’s stance makes several critically praised screenplays ineligible for WGA nominations, which are due to […]

COMCAST REJECTS WRITERS’ VOTE ON UNIONIZING

Comcast has rejected a secret-ballot vote by writers working on Comcast’s E!, Style, and G4 cable network shows that overwhelmingly favored union representation by the Writers Guild of America. Balloting was overseen by Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, a Comcast spokesperson described the vote as “a […]

HOLLYWOOD FACING ANOTHER STRIKE

Negotiations between the Teamsters Union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached an impasse, which could result in another crippling strike as early as August 1, according to entertainment attorney Jonathan Handel, writing in today’s (Monday) Hollywood Reporter. A strike by the Teamsters would not only involve some 4,000 drivers, location […]