WGA Strike May Ruin Golden Globes and Oscars

Posted on Dec 18 2007 - 1:17pm by Angela | 4 comments

Expect ratings for the 2008 Golden Globe Awards to plummet this year, especially considering the WGA has denied the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's request to allow comedy scribes to prepare material for the big event.

What does that mean?

WGA Strike: Photo Credit: WENNIt means there will be no scripts from writers for the opening act (or any part of the event) leaving participants with no choice but to improvise.

And the Golden Globes aren't the only ones being affected by the strike - the Oscars may be doomed as well.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were also denied their request to use clips from movies and past Oscar shows during next year's awards show.

That, in turn, means the Oscars won't be showing clips of the movies being nominated. B-O-R-I-N-G.

WGA President Patric M. Verrone released this statement in regards to the requests:

"Writers are engaged in a crucial struggle to achieve a collective bargaining agreement that will protect their compensation and intellectual property rights now and in the future.

"We must do everything we can to bring our negotiations to a swift and fair conclusion for the benefit of writers and all those who are being harmed by the company's failure to engage in serious negotiations."

Will you still watch?

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Comments

Anonymous (not verified)

Your facts are right, but the headline is misleading. I'm a striking writer, and we're certainly not setting out to "ruin" anyone's viewing experience or to derail those very ceremonies at which we are among the people getting awards. In fact, we sincerely hope that negotiations will be completed in time for the shows to go on as usual. But the studio moguls have walked away from negotiations twice now, leaving us sitting at the table. We're simply trying to get them to see it's in all our interests (especially given the crew members losing their jobs), to come back to the negotiations! They never even presented us with a complete proposal before they left -- come back! Talk to us!

Angela

I'm sorry if you feel the headline is misleading. It was not my intention to imply that you have ruined the show, but simply to state that without the writer's contribution, the show will not be the same as previous years and will likely not be viewed by as many people.

I completely support the writers strike and want to see an agreement reached as soon as possible as well.

Greg Patrick (not verified)

Since when did WGA have copyrights to movies or shows? It is the networks or studios that have the copyrights. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can go ahead and show clips with network or studio permission. Does the WGA realize that it could hurt non profits that depended on donations from the HFPA? The Golden Global is a world award show not just the U.S. They should of allowed a wavier. I would suggest the HFPA move the show to another country, where the WGA does not have any jurisdiction. I am not blaming the writers. I just think those would decided not to allow the waivers were wrong.

Michael B. (not verified)

I think the 'waiver' sought by the Academy would in essence exempt them from paying any residuals for the broadcast of clips. Residuals must be paid for every re-broadcast, except if there is a waiver. Why would the WGA agree to waive residuals during a strike? The Academy could just pay for the clips.