US entertainment industry takes beating with writers’ strike
- Television, Entertainment (general), Writers Guild of America, Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, Writers' Strike -
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
AMERICA, together with the entire world, is holding its breath as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) continues to hold a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The cause of the strike was a disagreement concerning writers’ residuals or royalties in DVD sales and new media profits. According to WGA, writers are entitled to residuals or profits made by major networks with DVD and online sales, since it is a major source of income of writers during times of unemployment. Hence, the WGA has proposed a doubling of the residual rate received by writers, or equivalent to eight cents per DVD sold. This was promptly rejected by the AMPTP, and the impasse that followed resulted in a massive strike that is coming close to paralyzing Hollywood.
Below is the official statement issued by both WGA East president Michael Winship and WGA West president Patrick Verrone.
