|
|
 |
| 03 January 2008 | Writers Guild Refuses Golden Globes Deal
And they'll picket it too |
|
Despite the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's previous statement, the Writers Guild of America has said that they will not be making a deal with the body to break strike for The Golden Globes. In fact, they'll be picketing the event. The official statement from the WGA said:
"Dick Clark Productions [who produce the Golden Globes] is a struck company. As previously announced, the Writers Guild will be picketing the Golden Globe Awards.
The WGA has great respect and admiration for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, but we are engaged in a crucial struggle that will protect our income and intellectual property rights for generations to come. We will continue to do everything in our power to bring industry negotiations to a fair conclusion. In the meantime, we are grateful for the ongoing support of the Hollywood talent community."
As a follow up, the Screen Actors Guild also released a statement encouraging members, i.e. all actors in Hollywood, not to attend events picketed by the WGA, in order to show their support. SAG president Alan Rosenberg said:
"Screen Actors Guild members will be happy to appear on projects using WGA writers, and we will continue to support the WGA in every way possible in its efforts to achieve a fair contract. Unless and until there is an agreement between the WGA and HFPA, we will advise our members of their rights with respect to not crossing WGA picket lines and/or not appearing on programs using non-union writers. Screen Actors Guild is holding a meeting with Golden Globe actor nominees later this week regarding these issues".
In short, that means that the Golden Globes probably won't happen as a televised event and that if it does, there'll be nobody there to pick up the awards. This will be particularly upsetting to the HFPA, who number under 100 people (seriously, their total number is something like 88) who crave celebrity like some crave heroin or chocolate cake. Seriously, if you knew who was voting for the second biggest awards show in the industry, you would stop taking any notice of them. Anyhoo, deep breaths. More seriously, this could have an impact on the Oscars, if a deal is not made before February 24. If the WGA choose to picket the Academy Awards as well, then Jon Stewart is going to be looking awful lonely on that stage and it could have serious repercussions for every industry from film to print to fashion to TV. It would not be good.
| | Olly Richards |
Have Your Say...
We want to know what you think? To have your say on this, and all of Empire's news stories, register here or login now.
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
