Media & Entertainment Law

Weinstein Does Interim Deal With Writers Guild

Posted on January 10, 2008
As I suggested might happen, The Weinstein Company has reached an interim deal with the WGA, reports the New York Times.The deal is similar to the one signed by the Guild and United Artists last week, and would be superseded by the agreement ultimately reached with the major studios - whenever that happens.

Oscars Endangered

Posted on January 10, 2008
Over at Media Life Magazine, Kevin Downey has an excellent analysis of the prospects for the Oscars. His conclusion: cancel your parties this year.

On the Internet, Everyone Knows You're a Hyphenate

Posted on January 07, 2008
Idle hands are the devil's playthings, and writer's hands are no exception. That's why some of them have occupied their time on the Internet, creating short films about the strike, and, in some cases, seeking deals to make Internet content for pay. If this trickle becomes a flood, it could herald a sea change for the industry, as Thom Taylor argues in an LA Times Op-Ed...

Jay?s Probably Not Okay

Posted on January 07, 2008
Jay Leno?s writing his own monologues, even though he?s a WGA member. The WGA says that that violates the strike rules. NBC, Jay?s network, says the strike rules as applied contradict the Guild agreement with the studios and networks, and that the rules are therefore invalid...

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

Writers Strike: Will the WGA do a Deal with Lionsgate or TWC?

Posted on January 03, 2008
A friend asked an interesting question: Will Lionsgate make an interim deal with the WGA, a la David Letterman?s Worldwide Pants? The Letterman deal, signed just days ago, was reportedly on the terms the Guild has been demanding ? and that the major studios rejected as economically unreasonable...

HRH-Tube

Posted on December 27, 2007
In a first for the British monarchy - and perhaps kings and queens everywhere - Queen Elizabeth II has posted her 2007 Christmas Message on YouTube. The religious tone may not be for everyone, but that fact that this tradition-bound establishment now has its own channel on YouTube is quite something...

The Guilds Will Survive

Posted on December 20, 2007
Kevin Morris and Glenn C. Altschuler have an Op-Ed piece in today's Los Angeles Times in which they predict the demise of the Hollywood guilds, or at least, of the WGA and SAG. Their scenario is that massive numbers of primarily high-earning writers and actors - screen writers, television show runners, movie stars and celebs - go financial core, weakening the guilds beyond recognition...

WGA Strike: A More Optimistic Scenario

Posted on December 19, 2007
Here's a more optimistic scenario than my recent prediction. It's all speculation, but maybe this is a pathway to a solution:1. The DGA does a deal on new media residuals that's close to what the WGA wants (due in part to pressure from the WGA, as well as, of course, due to its own hard work, leverage and research), but not quite what the WGA is looking for...

International Outsourcing to Evade the Strike

Posted on December 19, 2007
NBC is planning to run shows produced overseas, written by non-WGA writers, reports the Wall Street Journal. This is in addition to NBC's and CBS's plans to re-cut, then rerun, shows from their sister cable networks.This makes it all the more important that the WGA hold firm on its little-discussed "Industry Standards" proposal...

Holiday Wishes

Posted on December 19, 2007
On a personal note, I want to send my thoughts and best wishes to everyone affected by the strike - writers, actors, directors, below-the-line workers, and suppliers and service providers within and outside the industry, as well as those executives who'd prefer to be working with the writers rather than in opposition to them...

NLRB to be Slow as Molasses

Posted on December 19, 2007
The NLRB review of the WGA charges filed against the AMPTP is likely to involve special review by the agency's Washington office, says the Hollywood Reporter. This will make the process even slower than normal, increasing the likelihood (as I previously blogged) that the agency review will come long after the DGA has concluded a deal.

Strike $ Impact

Posted on December 19, 2007
LA County economist Jack Kyser told the City Council this morning that the strike has cost the local economy $220 million to date, reports Variety's strike blog. Steve MacDonald, head of Film LA (film permitting organization), told the council the strike is costing $135 million in lost production spending and has cost about 10,000 jobs, the blog reports...

Corporate Tool

Posted on December 19, 2007
No, not the AMPTP. (Well, not just the AMPTP.) This time, I'm talking about Kevin Martin, the preppy-boy chairman of the FCC. At his initiative, and on an a 3-2 vote (and apparently without public hearings), the FCC just relaxed newspaper-TV cross-ownership rules, reports the LA Times...

Feedback, Please

Posted on December 19, 2007
It'd be great to get feedback on the blog - is it useful, how does it compare to other media coverage and blogs you're reading etc. You can email me at jhandel@att.net, or post a comment on this article.

Extensive Interview

Posted on December 19, 2007
I'm the subject of an extensive interview today in Media Life, where I offered thoughts on the anticipated length of the WGA strike, roadblocks to negotiation, and the viewpoint of other unions.

Wedge Issue in the Hollywood Strike: New Media Residuals

Posted on December 18, 2007
The directors guild (DGA) and writers guild (WGA) are meeting soon to discuss new media. That's a hopeful sign, but does it mean the WGA leadership is likely to support the new media deal that the DGA and studios ultimately agree to? Maybe not, for several reasons...

WGA Strike: How to Restart the Talks, And Why

Posted on December 17, 2007
There may still be time ? a small window at best ? to negotiate a solution to the WGA strike before the DGA does its deal. How might this be done, what?s the deal the WGA and AMPTP should do, and what will happen if the DGA does negotiate a deal first? Read on; but first, some background...

Memo to DGA - Please Propose a Tri-Guild New Media Adjustment Committee

Posted on December 15, 2007
Since the WGA negotiations have devolved into nuclear winter, it looks like the next move will be talks between the studios and the DGA. Here's a suggestion/request for the directors: please include, in your proposal to the studios, a tri-guild New Media Adjustment Committee...

DD CGI CO TO IPO

Posted on December 12, 2007
Digital Domain, a major visual effects company (CGI, Computer Generated Imagery aka Computer Graphics Imagery), has filed for an IPO, reports socalTECH.com. They're looking to raise $100M.

"Don't Touch My Body (of Work)!" Vivid Tells PornoTube

Posted on December 11, 2007
Vivid Video, a major adult video producer, is suing PornoTube, a YouTube knockoff, reports the LA Times. The suit alleges that Vivid's copyrighted content is available on PornoTube. Suit is conceptually similar to the Viacom suit against YouTube and Google...

Vudu Works Its Magic, Releases HD Movies Day-and-Date With HD DVD and Blu-ray

Posted on December 11, 2007
For the first time, a movie will be available (legally) in electronic form on the same day it's released on physical media, the LA Times/AP reports.The movie is The Bourne Ultimatum, and it will be available this Tuesday in high-def on the Vudu box - a hybrid download/streaming device - the same day as the DVD is released...

Too Funny - AMPTP.com

Posted on December 10, 2007
If you want to visit the AMPTP website, go to AMPTP.org. But if you want to see a hilarious and sharp-tongued parody site, visit AMPTP.com, at least until the lawyers make them take it down (it may amount to cybersquatting). The first sentence on the home page sets the tone:We are heartbroken to report that despite our best efforts, including sending them a muffin basket, making them a mix CD, and standing outside their window with a boombox blasting Peter Gabriel songs, our talks with the WGA have broken down...

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.