| Michael Winship, the president of the Writer's Guild | | | | run them for fairer wages and several other |
| of America East, and Patric M. Verrone, the | | | | demands were met, and some late night hosts |
| president of the Writer's Guild of America West | | | | even paid their writers with money out of their |
| announced in a letter to all involved with the strike | | | | own pocket. |
| of the past three months that has crippled much | | | | This helped boost morale in the Writer's Guild of |
| of the entertainment industry that the WGA had | | | | America and the strike pressed on more |
| indeed reached a deal with the AMPTP on the | | | | determined than ever. The strike progressed and |
| basis of if they get paid, we get paid. | | | | more and more deals were made, but some |
| The strike has been going on since November 5, | | | | were not made fast enough, and the major |
| 2007 over the royalties that were to be made | | | | award ceremony The Golden Globe Awards was |
| from DVD sales, internet downloads, and film | | | | televised by simply a reading of what won what |
| revenue. Specifically, the guild wanted an increase | | | | award with no speeches, actors, writers, |
| in the percentage they make off of these | | | | photographers, or anything one would associate |
| projects as a means to compensate for the | | | | with the award ceremony. |
| period of unemployment they must often face | | | | Many pondered what would happen for the |
| between jobs. | | | | Academy Awards, and it is perhaps that worry |
| The strike began and hopes were very quickly | | | | that led to the resolution that finally came on |
| raised that the strike could be ended swiftly. | | | | February 9. |
| However, this was not the case and the strike | | | | The following is an excerpt from the WGA letter |
| went on stronger than before. The strike | | | | detailing the minimum royalties. Minimum rates |
| continued and crippled the production of many | | | | generally increase 3.5% each year. The |
| popular television shows such as NBC's Heroes, | | | | exceptions are: network prime time rates and |
| CBS's CSI series, and several others. The strike | | | | daytime serial script fees increase 3.0% each |
| even managed to halt production on almost every | | | | period; program fees and the upset price increase |
| late night talk show. The strike did, however, | | | | once by 3% in the second year; and clip fees |
| benefit game shows and reality television which | | | | increase once by 5% in the third year. Every |
| usually require no writers at all. | | | | other revision requested by the WGA has been |
| In early January the late night talk shows returned | | | | met. More details are soon to follow. |
| with an agreement between the companies that | | | | |