Changes

==Writers Guild and Communism==

==Writers Guild and Communism==

In the 1947, members of the Screen Writers Guild (the predecessor organization to the Writers Guild of America) refused to answer questions before the [[House Unamerican Activities Committee]] and were sentenced for [[Contempt of Congress]] to 1 year in prison.  In April 1997, the Writers Guild announced that they will restore credit on films to blacklisted writers despite the fact that many were members of the [[communist party]], and convicted criminals.

In the 1947, members of the Screen Writers Guild (the predecessor organization to the Writers Guild of America) refused to answer questions before the [[House Unamerican Activities Committee]] and were sentenced for [[Contempt of Congress]] to one year in prison.  In April 1997, the Writers Guild announced that it would restore credit on films to blacklisted writers despite the fact that many were members of the [[Communist Party]], and convicted criminals.

==2007 Writers' Strike==

==2007 Writers' Strike==

In November of 2007, the Writer's Guild of America broke off negotiations with Hollywood studios because the studios would not capitulate to demands for increased bonuses on DVD sales and internet distribution of film and TV, even though the profitability of these areas are uncertain and are high risk ventures for the studios. Despite the intervention of a federal mediator, the Writer's Guild has refused to negotiate further. On Monday, November 5, members of the Writers guild began a general strike which is estimated to be costing the Los Angeles economy over $80 million per day.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071103/ap_en_bu/hollywood_labor</ref> John Ridley, screenwriter of the film "Three Kings" has stated that the Writer's Guild is like a communist organization in its refusal to allow the free market to determine the compensation due an individual writer, or the rights of an individual writer to join the guild or not.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-ridley/hollywood-goes-to-war_b_70426.html</ref> Despite the fact that many Writers Guild members work in non-writing capacities on many shows (such as producers, actors, or show-runners) they have still refused to report for work shutting down the production of many shows including "The Office",<ref>http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34700</ref> T[[he Tonight Show]],<ref>http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/348222.html</ref> and [[24]].<ref>http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34729</ref> However, many TV personalities have supported the strike - [[The Office's]] Steve Carell (who is a former writer) has refused to cross the picket line<ref>http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2007/11/who-knew-steve-.html</ref> - and the ''Tonight Show's'' Jay Leno served donuts to those who went on strike (and also made a statement supporting them).<ref>http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2007/11/05/sot.leno.ktla.cnn?iref=videosearch</ref>

In November of 2007, the Writers Guild of America broke off negotiations with Hollywood studios because the studios would not capitulate to demands for increased bonuses on DVD sales and internet distribution of film and TV, even though the profitability of these areas are uncertain and are high risk ventures for the studios. Despite the intervention of a federal mediator, the Writers Guild has refused to negotiate further. On Monday November 5, members of the Writers Guild began a general strike which is estimated to be costing the Los Angeles economy over $80 million per day.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071103/ap_en_bu/hollywood_labor</ref> John Ridley, screenwriter of the film ''Three Kings'' has stated that the Writers Guild is like a communist organization in its refusal to allow the free market to determine the compensation due an individual writer, or the rights of an individual writer to join the guild or not.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-ridley/hollywood-goes-to-war_b_70426.html</ref> Despite the fact that many Writers Guild members work in non-writing capacities on many shows (such as producers, actors, or show-runners) they have still refused to report for work shutting down the production of many shows including "The Office",<ref>http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34700</ref> T[[he Tonight Show]],<ref>http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/348222.html</ref> and [[24]].<ref>http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34729</ref> However, many TV personalities have supported the strike - [[The Office's]] Steve Carell (who is a former writer) has refused to cross the picket line<ref>http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2007/11/who-knew-steve-.html</ref> - and the ''Tonight Show's'' Jay Leno served donuts to those who went on strike (and also made a statement supporting them).<ref>http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2007/11/05/sot.leno.ktla.cnn?iref=videosearch</ref>

==Writers Guild and Politics==

==Writers Guild and Politics==