The WGA has announced that they will not be offering waivers to allow the Golden Globes or Oscar awards shows to use WGA writers to write jokes and commentary for the shows.
The Writers Guild has notified the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and dick clark productions that their requests for an agreement to allow writers to prepare material for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards show have been denied.
The Guild has also denied a request from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a waiver in connection with the use of clips from motion pictures and past Academy Awards shows for use during the annual Academy Awards presentation.
In letters to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, WGAW President Patric M. Verrone described the Guild's respect and admiration for both organizations, explaining that:
"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."
These awards shows will be very boring without any jokes written by writers. There is also the possibility that striking writers will picket outside the award shows. Hollywood Todayreports that many of the big stars may also stay home and support the striking writers.
