Fearing Writers' Strike, Studios Stockpile Scripts

Posted on May 17, 2007

Television and movie studios are moving up shooting schedules and stockpiling scripts, worried that another writers' strike could be looming. Actors and directors also have contracts that are up for renewal next year, which could cause even bigger headaches.

J. Nicholas Counter, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, says, "It's simply sound business. Based upon the public statements of the Writers Guild, it's quite clear these are going to be very contentious negotiations. Their statements are bellicose, so we've got to prepare for the worst."

NBC's Las Vegas and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit are two shows accelerating production.

Steven Bochco, a television producer and writer behind shows including NYPD Blue and HIll Street Blues, says, "There's no question in my mind this is not simply about emerging technology, but the perception that the guilds pretty much got screwed in previous negotiations in what were then emerging technologies."

The WGA is very unhappy with the way the contracts ended up hurting writers and doesn't intend to get caught again in the "emerging technology" trap. There are so many issues that the guilds are fighting over: product placement in TV shows, payment of writers on reality TV shows and the ongoing residuals disputes. Strikes are bad for business, so let's hope that the negotiating goes well. But it's time for studios to realize that the phrase "emerging technology" does not translate into "don't pay the writers their fair share."