All Sides Agree: The Writer's Strike Will Be A Long One

If you were under the impression that the writer's strike was going to be quickly resolved, you might want to rethink that position. Word from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the Writers Guild of America, and nearly every other industry observer after a full week of work stoppage already is that this strike is going to be a long one.

Before talks broke down late at night on Sunday, November 4th, both sides had contended that they were making some progress. But now it seems that no one is even expecting negotiations to begin anytime soon.

AMPTP President Nick Counter said:

"In 1988, they were out for five months, and we anticipate that they will be out at least that long."

WGA West President Patric Verrone also said:

"We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to get a contract. If that includes picketing 14 studio sites a day plus an unknown number of location shoots every day, we will do that as long as we can."

The sense of doom and gloom might be the only thing that the two sides agree on right now. In fact, neither side even agrees on who actually walked out of the talks before the strike began.

Counter isn't expecting any talks to begin anytime soon either. "I don’t see anything happening until the first of the year," he said. Many members of the WGA also agreed with that statement.

So the only way, at this point, that any progress might be made is through backchannels, using showrunners and studio or network executives to quietly exchange ideas and proposals.

In the meantime, get ready for an increase in re-runs and reality TV shows on the television.