Difference between revisions of "Writer's Guild of America"
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==Writer's Guild and Communism== | ==Writer's Guild and Communism== | ||
| − | In the 1947, members of the Writer's Guild refused to answer questions before the [[House Unamerican Activities Committee]] and were sentenced for [[Contempt of Congress]] to 1 year in prison. In April of 1997, the Writer's 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 Writer's Guild (the predecessor organization to the Writer's 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 of 1997, the Writer's 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. |
==2007 Writer's Strike== | ==2007 Writer's Strike== | ||
Revision as of 04:28, November 9, 2007
The Writer's Guild of America is a union to which all screenwriters for Television and Film are required to pay dues. Writers are not given the option to decline union membership, and must join or face being blacklisted.
Writer's Guild and Communism
In the 1947, members of the Screen Writer's Guild (the predecessor organization to the Writer's 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 of 1997, the Writer's 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.
2007 Writer's 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 Los Angeles' economy over $80 million per day.[1] John Ridley, screenwriter of the film "Three Kings" has stated that the Writer's Guild is like a communist organization in it's 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.[2] Despite the fact that many Writer's 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",[3] "The Tonight Show",[4] and "24".[5] 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[6] - and the Tonight Show's Jay Leno served donuts to those who went on strike (and also made a statement supporting them).[7]
Writer's Guild and Politics
Like most unions, the Writer's Guild is overwhelmingly liberal. Recently, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards have all issued statements supporting the Writer's strike.
References
- ↑ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071103/ap_en_bu/hollywood_labor
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-ridley/hollywood-goes-to-war_b_70426.html
- ↑ http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34700
- ↑ http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/348222.html
- ↑ http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34729
- ↑ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2007/11/who-knew-steve-.html
- ↑ http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2007/11/05/sot.leno.ktla.cnn?iref=videosearch