California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met Monday with leaders of the Writers Guild of America and planned to talk to studio executives Tuesday in an effort to kick-start talks in the screenwriters strike.
"The governor is very interested in getting this strike ended as quickly as possible," said Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor.
Barry Julien, left, and Mike Brumm, writers for The Colbert Report, walk the picket line in New York on Friday.
(Andy Kropa/Associated Press)
As the strike by U.S. film and television scriptwriters moves into its second week, no further talks have been set between the union and the producers.
But the battle is on for public opinion, with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers arguing it paid a "record-breaking" amount last year to the union for digital downloads.
Hollywood producers took full-page ads in trade papers Variety and Hollywood Reporter on Monday, saying writers are already well compensated for digital rights.
The ad accuses the writers of walking away from a deal on compensation for streaming films and TV programs that was on the table when the strike was called.
The ad campaign follows a survey in the Los Angeles area last week that suggested 69 per cent of residents supported the writers in their struggle.
Barry Julien, a senior writer with The Colbert Report, said the producers aren't hurting in the same way as those on the strike line. The big studios still have the upper hand, he told CBC cultural affairs show Q.
"Unfortunately, the people we're up against own the media so we're having a bit of a hard time getting our side of it out," he said.
The support of celebrities such as Steve Carell of The Office, Tina Fey of 30 Rock and film actor Tim Robbins has been important in focusing public attention on the strike, Julien said.
"I think it's pretty huge, because when they show up, the cameras show up, and obviously that brings attention to our side of things and they bring a certain credibility."
The actors could benefit from any deal on electronic compensation the union can hammer out, as their contract expires next spring.
But actors are back at work, including some, such as Ellen DeGeneres, who initially refused to cross picket lines. DeGeneres is taping her daytime chat show again, but without the monologue.
"As far as I know, no one is holding it against actors who are going to work," Julien said. "Actors would be breaking a contract and would be subject to legal action if they didn't go to work."
Actors, crew laid off
New York-based writers are picketing Tuesday on Wall Street and plan to picket Disney stores on Wednesday, he said.
The economic effects of the strike are already being felt, with actors and crew members on shows such as The Office and The Colbert Report being laid off.
Strikers are also facing mortgage payments and school fees without a source of income.
"We have some of the best jobs in the business," Julien said. "I know that I do, and I would love to be doing it right now, so there's kind of low-grade depression and stress that comes with it. None of us really want to be out there."
The U.S. networks have TV shows until the end of November, then there is usually a hiatus through December. They're not likely to start hurting until January, Julien said.
The Writers Guild of Canada has sent an advisory to its own members about the strike, said Denis McGrath, a TV writer in Canada for TV shows including Rent-a-Goalie and the upcoming Across the River to Motor City.
"Basically, if you live in the U.S., you're on strike. If you live in Canada, you can work for Canadian producers. You can't work for American producers," he said.
McGrath said he would not work for Canadian series that might be called into production in Canada to fill the holes in U.S. network programming.
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