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Writers' Block

Started by K Schwartz; Last updated by D Lim | View history

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Writers' Block

"Once it starts, it's going to get ugly." -LAT writer

The first Hollywood writers strike since 1988 was expected to be long, expensive and debilitating from the get-go...and a few months into it, that seems to be the case. Writers are demanding a bigger share of DVD and new-media profits.

Stories

Stories 21 - 40 of 98

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February 2008
- Writers Reach 'Tentative Deal' With Producers
  
  Wall Street Journal | Feb 9, 08 10:57 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Writers Guild of America has reached a "tentative deal” for a new 3-year contract with producers, the Wall Street Journal reports. While it's not perfect, "the time has come to accept this contract and settle the strike," the guild wrote in an overnight note to members. Writers will debate the deal today before a likely vote by their negotiating committee tomorrow. They could be back to work by Monday. More »
- Writers, Studios Prepare for Life Post-Strike
  
  Los Angeles Times | Feb 8, 08 10:15 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - With negotiations wrapping up and striking screenwriters anticipating returning to work as soon as Monday, Hollywood execs are cautiously sussing out studios' post-strike prospects. "Everyone is motivated to get back to work as quickly as possible," one exec tells the LA Times —but he adds that returning shows will be subject to “industrial Darwinism.” More »
- Striking Writers Will Discuss New Deal
  
  Variety | Feb 6, 08 6:50 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Leaders of the striking writers union will meet members Saturday on both coasts to brief them on a tentative contract that could settle their 3-month-old dispute, Variety reports. If, after the meetings in Los Angeles and New York, it appears the rank-and-file will accept it, the union can start the ratification process and may even allow members to return to work Monday. More »
- Vanity Fair Cancels Its Oscar Party
  
  Variety | Feb 6, 08 2:33 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Vanity Fair is canceling its annual Oscar party in solidarity with Hollywood's striking writers, and others affected by the walkout, reports Variety . Even though it appears the strike may be settled by Academy Awards night, a spokeswoman for the magazine said "it didn't seem like the appropriate time to throw a big party." The cancellation comes as the Academy president insists that the Oscars will go on Feb. 24, strike or no strike. More »
- Short of Jokes, 3 Comics 'Brawl'
  
  Radar | Feb 5, 08 5:20 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - A trio of writerless comics nearly tussled on TV last night in an apparent effort to boost tepid ratings, Radar Online reports. Stephen Colbert started it on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," where he grumbled about Conan O'Brien; Conan then walked in and threatened both with a brawl. The source of their faux ire? Which one had "made" Mike Huckabee. More »
- Scribes, Studios Close to Accord
  
  New York Times | Feb 2, 08 7:13 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Hollywood writers and studios made a breakthrough in contract talks yesterday and may forge an agreement to end the 4-month-old writers strike next week, the New York Times reports. The sides agreed on tricky issues regarding Internet compensation, but still need to work out details and let the guild's 10,000 members vote on the agreement. More »
January 2008
- Leno's Secret: He's Beloved Boy Prince of Mediocrity
  
  New York | Jan 31, 08 11:41 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Despite a dearth of guests willing to cross Writers Guild picket lines and near-scab status himself, late-night host Jay Leno has still managed to trounce rival David Letterman in ratings. Not that either is that funny, but Letterman at least returned with "a fetching gray beard, and the moral high ground"—so why couldn't he steal the show? asks New York 's Sam Anderson. More »
- Strike Takes Toll on TV Ratings
  
  Variety | Jan 30, 08 2:54 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The major television networks got a good look yesterday at the toll the 3-month-old writers strike has taken on ratings, Variety reports. Comparing last week to the same period in 2007, the top five networks lost an average 21% of viewers in the 18-49 age group. Fox topped ratings on the strength of American Idol, but was still off 15%. More »
- Strike-Idled Screenwriters Get Creative
  
  Los Angeles Times | Jan 28, 08 4:42 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The 12-week-old writers guild strike has brought film and TV production to a grinding halt but has fostered a boom in another area, the LA Times reports: print fiction. "Writers who have ideas but never had the time are turning to their book projects," says the VP of a talent agency. Recent weeks have seen a surge in book pitches. More »
- Oscars Will Be Aired, Even Without Stars
  
  Los Angeles Times | Jan 19, 08 6:35 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - ABC is determined to make the Academy Awards happen, with or without striking writers and boycotting actors, the LA Times reports. “I don’t want to say, ‘Read my lips,’ but it’s not going to be canceled,” said producer Gilbert Cates, fresh from chairing successful Directors Guild negotiations with producers. “There are enough clips in 80 years of Oscar history to make a very entertaining show.” More »
- GE Q4 Profit Climbs 15%; Stock Rebounds
  
  Bloomberg | Jan 18, 08 1:41 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - GE profits rose 15% in the fourth quarter as overseas demand for jet engines and power turbines more than offset the weakness in the US economy, the company reported today. “They've really been a beneficiary of the whole global growth story,” an analyst told Bloomberg. GE stock was up 3.4% at midday; earlier, it rose 5.3%, its biggest gain in almost 5 years, erasing yesterday's 3.9% drop. More »
- Directors Guild Cuts Deal With Producers
  
  Wall Street Journal | Jan 17, 08 4:46 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Directors Guild of America has cut a deal with the major Hollywood studios, the Wall Street Journal reports, ratcheting up pressure on the striking Writers Guild either to accept a similar contract or risk alienating its members. The DGA ironed out a 3-year agreement to compensate members for work presented over the Internet—a prime sticking point for writers. More »
- Night the Music Died: Strike Whamming Grammys
  
  Variety | Jan 15, 08 5:33 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Writers Guild of America has asked members of the Screen Actors Guild to refrain from crossing their picket line at the Feb. 10 Grammy Awards, the second major awards show likely to be hurt by the union's strike. Stars are expected to avoid the presentations if they proceed as planned. Grammy nominees Bruce Springsteen, the Beastie Boys, Joni Mitchell, John Mellencamp and Steve Earle have not yet crossed picket lines, reports Variety . More »
- 'Idol' Charges Record Ad Rates
  
  Bloomberg | Jan 14, 08 3:25 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - "American Idol"—TV's undisputed ratings champ with its biggest competitors sidelined by the writers strike—is setting records for ad prices. "It's the biggest thing in a landscape where there aren't as many big things as there used to be,'' an ad buyer tells Bloomberg. The price of a 30-second spot bought now rather than in advance tops $900,000. More »
- Atonement, Sweeney Win Deflated Globes
  
  People | Jan 14, 08 3:33 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - A Golden Globes ceremony scaled down by the writers strike to a press conference in a mostly empty ballroom yesterd