Strike Day 10: Trade Roughage 11/14/07

By Karina Longworth posted 2 years ago

A twist in the strike saga: the AMPTP’s lead negotiator Nick Counter has accused the WGA of creating a blacklist by “using fear and intimidation to control its membership.” WGA reps were quick to refute that charge, but the writers maintain they will not break the picket line until the studios respond to their final offer on internet residuals. “This is our last chance to get residuals for work on the Internet. If we don’t do it now, they’ll never give it to us,” said writer/showrunner Jack Kenny. Meanwhile, SAG officer Valerie Harper hammered home the point that this is not a Hollywood issue, but a labor issue: “A lot of this is going on in our country — doing business cheaper and decimating the middle class,” Harper said. “In the future, this strike will be a historic moment for unions.”
Neil LaBute has been hired to write a remake of Truffaut’s La Femme d’a cote (AKA The Woman Next Door) for Taylor Hackford to direct at New Line. Because LaBute, whose last released film was a disastrous remake of The Wicker Man, technically cannot write the script until after the strike, it could be years before this project actually comes together. Also, Hackford has to finish that movie with his wife in the brothel.
Ira Levin, the author of the novels that inspired films like Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives, and one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Sliver, died on Monday at age 78.

Randall Bennett said 2 years ago
I’d be hesitant to call 200k+ per year “middle class.” I still agree with the writers, but I don’t think they’re you’re everyday average run-of-the-mill employee.
Christopher Sharpe said 2 years ago
I’d agree with you on the 200K+ not being middle class - however, I would wager the vast majority of WGA members don’t make close to that.

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