The number of shooting permits issued by New York City fell sharply in May from previous months, and from the year earlier amid a WGA strike and uncertainty over contracts for other guilds.
20.05.2023 - 01:03 / deadline.com
As the Writers Guild strike stretches into its fourth week, Michael Schur is feeling resolute.
Well known for co-creating such hit series as Parks and Recreation and The Good Place, Schur is a member of the WGA Negotiating Committee headed up by Chief Negotiator Ellen Stutzman and Co-Chairs David A. Goodman and Chris Keyser, which at the beginning of May led the writers’ walkout on film and TV production, as negotiations with the AMPTP over everything from guild minimums and residuals to AI broke down.
Schur came up under Greg Daniels on The Office after launching his career at SNL, having been given the opportunity to experience firsthand all the nuts and bolts that go into producing quality television, something that can’t be said for many aiming to rise through the ranks today.
Deadline caught up with the two-time Emmy winner outside Amazon Studios on Friday, where maybe 80 to 100 writers picketed, to discuss the “diabolical cost-cutting thirst” of the companies comprising today’s AMPTP, as well as inter-guild solidarity, the Screen Actors Guild’s “heartening” recent call for a strike authorization vote, “manufactured” narratives surrounding the strike, the willingness of showrunners who write alone to welcome others into their writers rooms and why a concession on AI alone will not be enough to end the strike.
DEADLINE: Where do you see things standing at the moment, as far as negotiations and the temperature amongst WGA members?
SCHUR: There’s been no discussions with the companies since the day we called the strike. We didn’t anticipate there would be; the ball’s entirely in their court. We can be in Sherman Oaks in half an hour if they want to talk to us, and they’re serious about making a deal. Currently
The number of shooting permits issued by New York City fell sharply in May from previous months, and from the year earlier amid a WGA strike and uncertainty over contracts for other guilds.
On-location production of scripted TV series has ground to a complete halt in Los Angeles due to the five-week-old Writers Guild strike, according to data compiled by FilmLA, the city and county film permit office.
The Tribeca Festival brings its unusual brand of film, music, TV, games, reunions and talks, audio and immersive storytelling to New York City this week, a blend that draws fans out in (hopefully) sunny summer weather and is the latest stop for the film community after a short post-Cannes break.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors formally threw its support behind the Writers Guild of America today, as the strike by more than 11,500 WGA members against the AMPTP continues.
Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Filming permit requests for TV and film projects in New York City were down 13% in April and 31.5% in May as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike raged on, Variety has confirmed. According to information obtained by Variety, 760 requested shooting permits were issued to 177 projects by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in 2022, and 801 permits were granted to 227 projects in May last year. Comparatively, only 662 shooting permits were issued to 187 projects this April and 549 permits to 181 projects in May. The writers strike began May 2, following the WGA’s inability to ink a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) before the previous agreement expired May 1. Between April and May, the filming permits requested for shoots in NYC fell 17%, while in 2022 they had increased just over 5% between the two months.
Norman Lear showed solidarity to the striking writers Tuesday by posting a sympathetic message on his Instagram page.
Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre have announced that they are moving their upcoming Hollywood Bowl shows to October in a show of solidarity with the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) and their ongoing strike.The shows, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Snoop’s Dre-produced debut album ‘Doggystyle’, were set to take place across two nights at the end of the month – on June 27 and 28.
A group of high-profile writers including Julie Plec and new Station 19 showrunner Zoanne Clack opened up about the WGA strike and the main issues surrounding the walkout at the ATX Television Festival.
Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International U.K. screenwriters are set to gather in London’s Leicester Square in support of the Writers Guild of America and its ongoing strike action. The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain is inviting members to join a major June 14 protest for the U.S. writers strike, which has passed its first month. The protest is part of the Global Day of Solidarity, which is organized by the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds and the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe, of which WGGB is a member. WGA members, as well as members of the Federation of Entertainment Unions, will be joining the protest, according to the WGGB.
Instagram. “We gotta move that date,” he said in the accompanying video.
EXCLUSIVE: The Motion Picture & Television Fund has seen a “significant spike” in requests for financial assistance from industry members impacted by the month-old Writers Guild strike.
1.5% of companies who asked shareholders to weigh in on executive compensation packages having rejected the pay proposals this year. The rejection comes just days after WGA West President Meredith Stiehm sent an open letter to Netflix and Comcast shareholders calling on them to reject the pay packages in the impending vote.“Netflix’s content pipeline has been blocked, with dozens of projects that were in development or ordered to series as of May 1st unable to move forward until WGA negotiations conclude,” Stiehm wrote in the letter to Netflix shareholders.
EXCLUSIVE: With the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike entering its second month in the U.S., writers and filmmakers around the world are taking note of how these issues play out in their own countries.
was one of the first such films to be brought to a standstill two weeks ago. The true-story drama “Unstoppable” features Jerome — Emmy winner for Ava DeVurnay’s acclaimed Netflix miniseries “When They See Us” — as Anthony Robles. Robles was a three-time All-American wrestler born with one leg who nonetheless won a national championship at Arizona State.
Serie A strike stars Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers are under Rangers’ watchful eye this summer, according to a report.
EXCLUSIVE: Half of the 46 projects currently in the California film incentives program have submitted “force majeure” requests seeking waivers to extend their mandated start-date requirements due to the ongoing Writers Guild strike, according to the California Film Commission, which administers the tax credits program. The number of approved film and TV projects seeking force majeure delays is expected to grow as the strike, now in its 25th day, grinds on.
LinkedIn livestream event promoting his new Netflix docuseries “Working: What We Do All Day,” the former president spoke of the importance of writers in the entertainment industry. “I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much of a glut of product and they’re looking at their bottom line and their experiencing shareholder pressure, etc, but the fact is, is that they wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for writers creating the stories that matter,” Obama said to host Ira Glass. “My hope is that as somebody who’s really supportive of the Writer’s Guild and as someone who just believes in storytelling and the craft of it,” Obama continued, “I’m hoping that they will be compensated and the importance of what they do will be reflected in whatever settlement’s arrived at. I’m very supportive of the writers and the strike and I’m hopeful that they get a fair share of the fruits of their labor.” Obama’s statements echo those of his former Vice President Joe Biden, who earlier this month said he hopes the WGA receives “a fair deal they deserve as soon as possible.”Now entering its 24th day, the strike has continued to halt production in Hollywood.
This year’s Honorary Palme d’or recipient Michael Douglas received a lengthy standing ovation as he cruised on stage in Buñuel theatre to chair a masterclass session where he broke down his career as an actor and producer.
Matt Reeves’ Max series The Penguin has become latest high-profile TV production to be disrupted by WGA-organized picketers.