Fools Gold

Last Friday I mentioned talk of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association pulling the Golden Globes telecast due to concerns that many A-List SAG actors would not cross a WGA picket line to attend the event.

Later in the afternoon an announcement was made by SAG President Alan Rosenberg:

"After considerable outreach to Golden Globe actor nominees and their representatives over the past several weeks, there appears to be unanimous agreement that these actors will not cross WGA picket lines to appear on the Golden Globe Awards as acceptors or presenters. We applaud our members for this remarkable show of solidarity for striking Writers Guild of America writers.

We have also been asked about our position regarding network talk shows. We urge our members to appear on the two programs that have independent agreements with the WGA, late Night with David Letterman and Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. However, actors who are asked to appear on the struck network talk shows will have to cross WGA picket lines, creating the same situation that has led to the consensus among actors to skip the golden Globes.

As I have said since this strke began on November 5th, we must stand united with our brothers and sisters at the WGA."

Shortly after that the a letter sent to NBC President Jeff Zucker, from a coalition of some the most powerful publicists in the business, was released. It read:

Dear Jeff,

We represent a majority of the actors, writers and directors nominated for a 2008 Golden Globe Award, as well as many of those invited to appear as presenters on the January 13, 2008 broadcast. After much discussion with our clients, we have concluded the vast majority of the talent we represent are not comfortable crossing a picket line.

Our clients are extremely grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and would love the opportunity to be recognized for their work, but will only do so in the event NBC/Dick Clark Productions reaches an interim agreement with the WGA for the Golden Globes.

Respectfully,

42 WestBWR Public Relations
Bragman, Nyman, Cafarelli
IDImage Management Public Relations
Patricola Lust Public Relations
PMK/HBH
Rogers & Cowan
Nancy Seltzer & Associates, Inc.
Stan Rosenfield & Associates
True Public Relations
Wolf, Kasteler and Associates

It appeared at this point that the HFPA's hands were tied and they would have to scrap the planned televised gala event and go with a smaller non-televised announcement ceremony (something that would not be picketed by the WGA). NBC took a hard stance, stating it would not allow a non-televised to proceed due to contractual obligations.

Many of the Hollywood elite began to try and talk Jeff Zucker down from the ledge at this point because if NBC went forward with blocking a non-televised event it would have essentially canceled the awards altogether. No one wanted that. So, after much pleading and negotiating they came to the following arrangement, which was announced yesterday:

RECIPIENTS OF “THE 65th ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS”
TO BE ANNOUNCED AT BEVERLY HILTON PRESS CONFERENCE ON JANUARY 13th HOLLYWOOD, CA, January 7, 2008 – The Hollywood Foreign Press Association today announced that the recipients of Golden Globe Awards in 25 categories will be revealed during an hour-long HFPA press conference at The Beverly Hilton to be covered live by NBC News beginning at 6:00 pm PST on January 13. “The 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards” NBC telecast and champagne dinner in The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom is officially cancelled.

“We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007’s outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television,” said Jorge Camara, President of The Hollywood Foreign Press Association. “We take some comfort, however, in knowing that this year’s Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originally scheduled.”

The WGA has reportedly signed off on this arrangement and there will be no picket lines at the scaled down event.

In other strike related news...

Tom Cruise's United Artists has struck a side deal with the WGA, similar to the one made with Letterman's Worldwide Pants. The deal would allow UA to continue to work on projects during the strike.

LOS ANGELES – January 7, 2008: The Writers Guild of America and legendary United Artists Films have reached a mutually beneficial independent agreement. While the details are not being disclosed in this announcement, the comprehensive agreement addresses the issues important to writers, including New Media.

As a result of this agreement, Writers Guild members will be able to work with United Artists while the strike against other companies continues.

The agreement is unique to United Artists Films and does not involve Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), a shareholder of United Artists Entertainment.

“United Artists has lived up to its name. UA and the Writers Guild came together and negotiated seriously. The end result is that we have a deal that will put people back to work,” said Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West.