The WGA (Writers Guild of America) contract has officially expired, and a deal with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers) has not yet been reached. Last night, the AMPTP declared that in order to move forward, the WGA needed to take their demands for increased DVD residuals off the table.
"The companies believe that movement is possible on other issues, but they cannot make any movement when confronted with your continuing efforts to increase the DVD formula, including the formula for electronic sell-through," said AMPTP President Nick Counter. "The magnitude of that proposal alone is blocking us from making any further progress. We cannot move further as long as that issue remains on the table."
The WGA fired back: "After three and a half months of bargaining, the AMPTP still has not responded to a single one of our important proposals. Every issue that matters to writers, including Internet reuse, original writing for new media, DVDs and jurisdiction, has been ignored. This is completely unacceptable."
According to Variety, writers typically recieve about four cents for every DVD sold. This has been the formula ever since 1985, when VHS was king. The guild wants to double that to about eight cents.
Negotiations are off for today, and when the AMPTP inquired about the possibility of resuming talks on Friday, they were told "We'll contact you."
As of now, the guild is NOT on strike. But, they are holding a members' meeting tonight, and guild members have been told to take any personal items in their offices home with them when they leave work today.
"The companies believe that movement is possible on other issues, but they cannot make any movement when confronted with your continuing efforts to increase the DVD formula, including the formula for electronic sell-through," said AMPTP President Nick Counter. "The magnitude of that proposal alone is blocking us from making any further progress. We cannot move further as long as that issue remains on the table."
The WGA fired back: "After three and a half months of bargaining, the AMPTP still has not responded to a single one of our important proposals. Every issue that matters to writers, including Internet reuse, original writing for new media, DVDs and jurisdiction, has been ignored. This is completely unacceptable."
According to Variety, writers typically recieve about four cents for every DVD sold. This has been the formula ever since 1985, when VHS was king. The guild wants to double that to about eight cents.
Negotiations are off for today, and when the AMPTP inquired about the possibility of resuming talks on Friday, they were told "We'll contact you."
As of now, the guild is NOT on strike. But, they are holding a members' meeting tonight, and guild members have been told to take any personal items in their offices home with them when they leave work today.
