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• Writers Guild Votes Against Golden Globe and Oscar Participation

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Our fears have come true. The Golden Globes and the Academy Awards – facets of American culture – may not happen this year.

At a general meeting yesterday, The Writers Guild of America rejected the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and dick clark productions’ requests to allow writers to participate in and prepare material for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Without writers participation, not only will their be no writers for the shows, but the use of clips from motion pictures and past award shows will not be permitted. The absence of award shows may appear to only further the lack of recognition writers receive for their work, but this loss allows for a much larger bargaining gain. As the Guild’s President, Patric Verrone stated:

“Writers are engaged in a crucial struggle to achieve a collective bargaining agreement that will protect their compensation and intellectual property rights now and in the future. We must do everything we can to bring our negotiations to a swift and fair conclusion for the benefit of writers and all those who are being harmed by the companies’ failure to engage in serious negotiations.”

To emphasize the Guild’s earnestness, member will picket, dressed in black-tie, at most film awards shows. If a nominated writer happens to win an award, writers will accept their awards from the picket line, allowing their acceptance to be broadcast only on the Internet.

Will these protests influence a response from production companies? Hopefully – both for the sake of the American public and the writers themselves.

These writers are not making vast sums of money for their work. They are not the celebrities with huge jets and villas in Spain. Although some writers may do well for themselves, ultimately, by refusing them royalties for their intellectual property on the internet, the production companies are acting hypocritically. With lawsuits being taken out on YouTube and other media outlets for copyright violations, you would think the production companies would understand the writers’ position.

We can only hope the production companies act justly in their response to the WGA’s refusal to participate in these award shows. Because let’s be honest – no one wants to base their television schedule around episodes of Tila Tequila.