Current Events > Disney and others remind striking writer-producers they are obligated to work..

(+) Yeah! (+)

..and perform non-writing duties even if fined by the WGA for doing so:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/disney-demands-showrunners-work-during-writers-strike-wga-1235480879/

Studios Demand Showrunners Work During Writers Strike

Letters to striking writer-producers from studios including those owned by Warner Bros. and Disney state that they must perform non-writing duties and may be obligated to act against their guild's own mandates.

The letter from the legal department of ABC Signature, owned by Disney, reads: We want specifically to reiterate to you as a showrunner or other writer-producer that you are not excused from performing your duties as a showrunner and/or producer on your series as a result of the WGA strike. Your personal services agreement with [the] Studio requires that you perform your showrunner and/or producing duties even if the WGA attempts to fine you for performing such services during the strike, wrote Bob McPhail, the assistant chief counsel for the Disney-owned ABC Signature, in the letter sent to showrunners and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. Your duties as a showrunner and/or producer are not excused, suspended or terminated until and unless you are so notified in writing by the Studio.

The letter is dated May 3, which was the second day of the Writers Guild of Americas strike against members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios and streamers. Writers have hit the picket lines in Los Angeles and New York this week as they seek increased wage floors, viewership transparency from streamers, and protections against mini-rooms and the use of artificial intelligence.

A similar letter sent by Max (formerly HBO Max) on May 2 said to WGA members who also serve in producer capacities, HBO/HBO Max respects your membership in the WGA, and will not do anything to place you in jeopardy of violating WGA rules. However, we believe certain services, such as participating in the casting process and/or contributing to non-writing production and post-production work are clear examples of non-WGA required services that should continue to be rendered during this time.

The memo added, The WGA cannot prohibit you from rendering producing services pursuant to your personal services agreement as long as you are providing non-writing services.

The Disney letter (read it in full, below) features a Q&A informing showrunners that they are required to perform duties that are not in line with the guidance provided by the WGA to its around 11,500 striking members.

The memo specifically states that in showrunner and/or writer-producer roles, you may, along with other non-writing services, be required to perform services commonly referred to as a. thorough h. services as a producer, such as cutting for time, small changes to dialogue or narration made before or during production and changes in technical or stage directions. These are duties that, according to the WGAs contract, non-writers can perform on covered projects.

However, the WGA strike rules explicitly prohibit union members from performing these activities during the 2023 work stoppage. The Rules prohibit hyphenates (members who are employed in dual capacities) from performing any writing services, including the (a) through (h) functions, the rules state, which puts showrunners and writer-producers in a difficult position, caught between the dictates of their employers and their union...

..In a statement to THR on Friday, the WGA noted that (a) through (h) services are specifically defined in the Guild contract as writing services and that they are struck work that Guild members are prohibited from doing during a work stoppage. The guild added, It is shameful that Disney, which has grown its business on unionized labor, is resorting to familiar union-busting tactics.

The Max letter, in specifying that the company believes certain services during casting, production and postproduction are non-WGA required services, also potentially opens showrunners up to being caught between their guilds mandated ban on (a) through (h) functions and the companys expectations.

The Max letter further argues that showrunners should come to work, despite the guilds insistence that no members should cross a WGA picket line or enter the premises of a struck company for any purpose. The Max communication calls this dictate misleading, as the WGA cannot discipline writer-producers for performing non-writing services only: HBO/HBO Max expects you to continue to come to work to perform non-writing duties under your contract during a WGA Strike unless and until those services are formally suspended or terminated, it states.

Disney back to being the bad guy? Im still not rooting for DeSantis.

Sariana21 posted...

Disney back to being the bad guy?

did they ever stop?

https://twitter.com/discussingfilm/status/1654617281471627274

Lol no.

Sariana21 posted...

Disney back to being the bad guy? Im still not rooting for DeSantis.

The enemy of your enemy is really just an ally of convenience, not your actual friend.

Just gonna leave this picture from the 1941 Disney animation strike where the Looney Tunes team showed up in solidarity with them dressed as executioners (that's Chuck Jones in the front with the sign)

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/5/4/AABfkMAAD8hy.jpg

SMAL, we all know you don't give a shit about the writer's strike, you just see this as a chance to bitch about Disney. Ron isn't gonna fuck you, you can stop simping.

ScazarMeltex posted...

Lol no.

No what?

so those employees are in a tough position. No matter which side they take, they are fucked

SSJKirby posted...

did they ever stop?

Good question.

I guess nows a good a time as any for them to test out AI in writing storys.

That or look to foreigners to feel the void.