We want to make a deal.
We need a partner to do that theAMPTP and well see starting next Monday what their response is.
DEADLINE:First off, let me ask you how David Young is doing?
Adobe
ELLEN STUTZMAN:Cant really say.
Hes on a medical leave and thats all the guild is saying at this time.
Hes not going to be involved in negotiations.
DEADLINE:Is the AMPTP asking for roll-backs?
STUTZMAN:Right now were not characterizing their proposals.
Were reviewing them and then well engage with them at the AMPTP next week.
STUTZMAN:We havent really seen a loss in health coverage over the period.
And thats because its not a large amount of money to qualify for a year of health coverage.
And if so, what kind of overall increase in minimums is the guild asking for?
And this effects feature writers; it effects comedy/variety writers; it effects television staff writers.
Too many of our writers are earning minimum.
And their profit goals are about profit growth; theyre all in profit.
But Wall Street demands profitgrowth.
STUTZMAN:The companies can afford our proposals.
KEYSER:We [writers] are not on their payroll every day like their executives are.
They hire us to do a given project.
But Netflix is profitable already.
We dont get to negotiate again until 2026.
Were not waiting until then.
They made $30 billion on average the last five years or so.
They can afford what were asking for.
DEADLINE:Its called new media, but new media has been around for over a decade.
Why has it taken so long to address the issues that have left so many writers falling behind?
GOODMAN:Well Dave, lets take a look at the history of streaming.
When we got that coverage in 2007-08, there were no streamers.
Hulu, the first one, went live the day the strike ended.
Netflix was a DVD club.
And we also improved our streaming residuals in that negotiation.
The business was changing, and as it changed, the guild fought to get protections.
As recently as four years ago, only 20% of our membership was working on streaming shows.
Now its close to 50%.
But we couldnt get minimums on subscription video on demand until therewassubscription video on demand.
That business had to be set up and then we needed to fight for it.
GOODMAN :The reason the DGA was able get new media in its contract wasbecausethe WGA was on strike.
Thats the only reason the companies gave that to the DGA.
Thats the only reason the DGA got it.
But the fact is, it wouldnt have happened if we hadnt gone on strike.
So its not ignoring it, its saying the truth of the situation.
I wouldnt use the word cahoots.
But thats just not true, and yet we see it reported all the time.
So thats where we are dubious of some of the trade press presentation of the state of the business.
Most of them are doing very, very well.
And that is never part of these articles that talk about the layoffs and the supposed contraction.
Thats where we take issue.
They shouldnt believe everything they read in the paper.
Which is why we communicate with them directly.
STUTZMAN:As you recall, we extended our contract because of the uncertainty.
KEYSER:To your earlier question, its been six years since weve negotiated outside of a pandemic.
So were going to take advantage of our once-every-three-years opportunity.
DEADLINE:Any final thoughts ahead of the negotiations?
What kind of feedback are you getting and what have you been telling members?
