Rushfield: The Next 100 Days Nightmare
Negotiations were almost done at this point last time. Today, we couldn't be further apart
This week, the Writers Strike rolled past its 90-day mark, on track to handily break the 100-day barrier of 2007-08, while the SAG-AFTRA walkout, in its infancy, is still only yet learning to walk.
How long will it last? No end in sight remains the operative depressing estimate. Many thousands, likely tens of thousands out of work, sidelined.
Around this time in the last rodeo, negotiations between AMPTP and the WGA were well underway. The WGA, using a divide-and-conquer strategy, already had made side deals with Marvel, Lionsgate, Spyglass, Worldwide Pants, United Artists, Weinstein (eww) and MRC. By day 90, reports surfaced of negotiations and progress being made with the AMPTP. By day 96, WGA members were notified that a tentative agreement had been reached. After 48 hours of membership voting, a deal was reached on Feb. 12, 2008.
Today is our day 91.
So… not great, guys.
The last couple of weeks have seen a particular swirl of rumors…