DGA Cuts a Deal; WGA Strike to Be Resolved Next?

By Hadley

Variety has reported that the DGA (Directors Guild of America) has struck a three-year deal with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture of Motion Picture & Television Producers). The agreement will boost the residual rate of TV and film Internet downloads for Directors.

From Variety:

The DGA, which will send the pact to members for ratifications after its Jan. 26 board meeting, highlighted a trio of new-media gains:

Establishing DGA jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution on the Internet

Boosting the residuals formula for paid Internet downloads (electronic sell-through) by double the current rate

Establishing residual rates for ad-supported streaming and use of clips on the Internet

Call me crazy, but isn’t that deal essentially what the WGA wants?

This recent news has many of Hollywood’s finest talent chiming in with their two cents; big-budget husker Michael Bay also let his thoughts be known:

“We knew from early on that the writers strike could get ugly, and this has got to bring a little sanity to the situation,” Bay said. “I can’t do the movie without my writers, but I have been prepping. I’m not in the guild, but I’ve been writing every day. This strike (is) insane, and a director’s responsibility is to the 50 crew members who depend on you for their livelihoods. We’ve got battle plans ready for the possibility of an actors strike. Somehow, you’ve got to keep the ball rolling.”

While I (somewhat) applaud Bay’s stance as a blue-collar director, the idea of him scribing anything has me worried, as does his constant need to talk like he’s starring in a Michael Bay film. (Battle plans? This isn’t Pearl Harbor, bro.)

If this doesn’t get the WGA to strike a deal very soon, I don’t know what will (I’m talking about Bay penning a screenplay without writers’ assistance, of course).