Vera Farmiga to star in ‘The Corps’ (Wt) – Photo Courtesy of David Needleman
Netflix has given a series order to The Corps (the working title), based on Greg Cope White’s The Pink Marine memoir. Described as a comedic drama, the 10-episode season has Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why), Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel), Max Parker (Vampire Academy), and Liam Oh (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s The Notebook) on board in starring roles.
Andy Parker (Tales of the City) is writing and will executive produce and serve as showrunner. Television icon Norman Lear, Brent Miller, Rachel Davidson, and Scott Hornbacher are also executive producing, with Peter Hoar (The Last of Us) attached to direct and executive produce the first episode. Greg Cope White is writing and producing.
Miles Heizer stars in ‘The Corps’
Netflix released the following description of The Corps along with the cast and characters:
Set in 1990, The Corps (Wt) is about Cameron,...
Netflix has given a series order to The Corps (the working title), based on Greg Cope White’s The Pink Marine memoir. Described as a comedic drama, the 10-episode season has Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why), Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel), Max Parker (Vampire Academy), and Liam Oh (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s The Notebook) on board in starring roles.
Andy Parker (Tales of the City) is writing and will executive produce and serve as showrunner. Television icon Norman Lear, Brent Miller, Rachel Davidson, and Scott Hornbacher are also executive producing, with Peter Hoar (The Last of Us) attached to direct and executive produce the first episode. Greg Cope White is writing and producing.
Miles Heizer stars in ‘The Corps’
Netflix released the following description of The Corps along with the cast and characters:
Set in 1990, The Corps (Wt) is about Cameron,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Netflix has ordered a dramedy series inspired by the memoir “The Pink Marine” written by Greg Cope White, Variety has learned.
Currently titled “The Corps,” Netflix has given the show a 10 episode order. The official logline states, “Set in 1990, ‘The Corps’ is about Cameron, a bullied, gay high school student who joins the Marine Corps with his straight best friend, Ray — a dangerous move when being gay in the military meant jail time or worse. As these two friends plunge into Marine Corps boot camp, where the landmines are both literal and metaphorical, they join a platoon of young men on a harrowing journey of transformation.”
Miles Heizer will star as Cameron Cope. The character is described as “a charming underdog — a gay, bullied teenager living in a chaotic home with his narcissistic mom — he impulsively joins the Marines with his straight best friend in hopes that he’ll finally...
Currently titled “The Corps,” Netflix has given the show a 10 episode order. The official logline states, “Set in 1990, ‘The Corps’ is about Cameron, a bullied, gay high school student who joins the Marine Corps with his straight best friend, Ray — a dangerous move when being gay in the military meant jail time or worse. As these two friends plunge into Marine Corps boot camp, where the landmines are both literal and metaphorical, they join a platoon of young men on a harrowing journey of transformation.”
Miles Heizer will star as Cameron Cope. The character is described as “a charming underdog — a gay, bullied teenager living in a chaotic home with his narcissistic mom — he impulsively joins the Marines with his straight best friend in hopes that he’ll finally...
- 5/1/2023
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
John Legend took the stage at the Emmy Awards on Monday to honor the stars who left us during the past year. The “In Memoriam” segment was one of the highlights of the night, with the Egot winner performing his new song “Pieces.”
Hollywood & Media Deaths 2022: A Photo Gallery
Anthony Anderson presented Legend and the segment, saying, “It never feels like the right time to say goodbye to a loved one, a friend or a cherished icon.”
He added. “To quote Shakespeare, ‘All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players, they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.’ As we acknowledge the legends within our industry will pass on, we celebrate all that they created and shared with the world. May they rest in peace and power.”
Emmy Red Carpet Photos: Best Looks Of 2022
During Legend’s performance,...
Hollywood & Media Deaths 2022: A Photo Gallery
Anthony Anderson presented Legend and the segment, saying, “It never feels like the right time to say goodbye to a loved one, a friend or a cherished icon.”
He added. “To quote Shakespeare, ‘All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players, they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.’ As we acknowledge the legends within our industry will pass on, we celebrate all that they created and shared with the world. May they rest in peace and power.”
Emmy Red Carpet Photos: Best Looks Of 2022
During Legend’s performance,...
- 9/13/2022
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with WGA West statements: John Bowman, an Emmy-winning SNL writer, Martin series -cocreator and producer who also led the WGA’s negotiating committee during the 2007-08 strike, has died. His son Johnny Bowman said his father died suddenly on New Year’s Eve at home in California.
Watch a clip of Bowman addressing WGA picketers in November 2007 below.
A three-time Emmy nominee, Bowman is known for writing on In Living Color, co-creating the ’90 sitcom Martin and writing for Saturday Night Live. He won a writing Emmy for the latter in 1989, shared with Mike Myers, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Al Franken, Conan O’Brien, Bob Odenkirk, Lorne Michaels, Phil Hartman and others.
Two years later in 1990, Bowman became one of the first white writers on the groundbreaking Fox sketch-comedy show In Living Color, created by Wayans.
Exec producer Bowman and Martin Lawrence created Martin, which aired for five season on Fox from...
Watch a clip of Bowman addressing WGA picketers in November 2007 below.
A three-time Emmy nominee, Bowman is known for writing on In Living Color, co-creating the ’90 sitcom Martin and writing for Saturday Night Live. He won a writing Emmy for the latter in 1989, shared with Mike Myers, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Al Franken, Conan O’Brien, Bob Odenkirk, Lorne Michaels, Phil Hartman and others.
Two years later in 1990, Bowman became one of the first white writers on the groundbreaking Fox sketch-comedy show In Living Color, created by Wayans.
Exec producer Bowman and Martin Lawrence created Martin, which aired for five season on Fox from...
- 1/4/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
John F. Bowman, the co-creator of Fox comedy “Martin” and a writer for such series as “Saturday Night Live” and “In Living Color,” died Dec. 28 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 64.
John Bowman was respected for his versatility as a writer on shows ranging from edgy sketch comedies to “Murphy Brown,” “The Hughleys” and “Cedric the Entertainer Presents,” and for his work with the Writers Guild of America.
Bowman was a WGA West board member, and he served as head of the WGA’s negotiating committee during the 2007-2008 writers strike. He was a key player in reaching the settlement that ended the 100-day work stoppage.
“John Bowman’s strong and thoughtful leadership of the 2007 WGA Negotiating Committee made him a vocal champion for the membership throughout the talks and the strike that we eventually won,” said Meredith Stiehm, president of the Writers Guild of America West.
John Bowman was respected for his versatility as a writer on shows ranging from edgy sketch comedies to “Murphy Brown,” “The Hughleys” and “Cedric the Entertainer Presents,” and for his work with the Writers Guild of America.
Bowman was a WGA West board member, and he served as head of the WGA’s negotiating committee during the 2007-2008 writers strike. He was a key player in reaching the settlement that ended the 100-day work stoppage.
“John Bowman’s strong and thoughtful leadership of the 2007 WGA Negotiating Committee made him a vocal champion for the membership throughout the talks and the strike that we eventually won,” said Meredith Stiehm, president of the Writers Guild of America West.
- 12/31/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
The Writers Guild of America, West and Writers Guild of America, East today named the members of the negotiating committee who will soon sit down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers. With such heavy-hitting scribes as recently re-elected board members Billy Ray and David S. Goyer as well as Damon Lindelof among the group, the committee will serve under Wgaw Exec Director and Chief Negotiator David Young to hammer out a new contract. While the 29-member committee has been set, a date has yet to be announced for the negotiations with AMPTP to actually start. The guilds’ current contract expires May 1. The Directors Guild of America set its own contract talks with the AMPTP to begin early this month on November 4, over six months before their agreement runs out on June 30, 2014. Here are the members who’ll serve on the WGA negotiating committee: Chip Johannessen, Co-Chair Billy Ray,...
- 11/13/2013
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
Chris Keyser Is New WGA West President Hollywood will be strike-free for at least another 2 years. The Writers Guild of America, West, just announced its 2011 Officers and Board of Directors after a surprisingly not-even-close election that turned a bit nasty towards the end. Newcomer Chris Keyser as President will continue outgoing John Wells’ moderate leadership of the once hardline Writers Guild West. The rejection of 2007-2008 strike leader Patric Verrone by a 60%-to-40% margin demonstrates that he’s still too polarizing a figure – even though the 100-day labor action yielded New Media payments from the Big Media studios and networks but also lost deals, big-time resentment, and public hostility from the other non-striking Hollywood unions. However, the most recent round of WGA negotiations with the AMPTP lasted only 2 weeks and generated little in the way of pay increases or New Media increases despite promises to that effect. Negotiating committee co-chairs...
- 9/17/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
Chris Keyser Is New WGA West President Hollywood will be strike-free for at least another 2 years. The Writers Guild of America, West, just announced its 2011 Officers and Board of Directors after a surprisingly not-even-close election that turned a bit nasty towards the end. Newcomer Chris Keyser as President will continue outgoing John Wells’ moderate leadership of the once hardline Writers Guild West. The rejection of 2007-2008 strike leader Patric Verrone by a 60%-to-40% margin demonstrates that he’s still too polarizing a figure – even though the 100-day labor action yielded New Media payments from the Big Media studios and networks but also lost deals, big-time resentment, and public hostility from the other non-striking Hollywood unions. However, the most recent round of WGA negotiations with the AMPTP lasted only 2 weeks and generated little in the way of pay increases or New Media increases despite promises to that effect. Negotiating committee co-chairs...
- 9/17/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline TV
Below is a composite Q&A that's the truth your Hollywood Guild leaders are saying in private and not telling you to your faces at a time when nearly all writers, actors, and directors are hanging by their fingernails to maintain their livelihoods under the studio and network rollbacks. Today the WGA membership voted to ratify their new TV/Theatrical Contract reached last month with the AMPTP. I was shocked and appalled by the lack of public dissemination of info by the Guild to its members during the process. But this kind of secrecy has marked all of the Hollywood Guilds dealings with its memberships on these contract negotiations and ratification votes. That's to cover up the fact that neither SAG nor the DGA nor the WGA bothered to bargain hard for pay increases or barely at all for New Media increases despite promises to that effect during the last contract go-rounds.
- 4/27/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
According to a joint statement from the Writers Guilds of America West and East and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, issued today, negotiations on on a new Theatrical/TV contract begin on Thursday, March 3rd. The Guilds and the AMPTP claim they will not be commenting further at this time. President John Wells, Executive Director David Young, Negotiating Committee Co-Chairs John Bowman and Billy Ray, and others will go up against the AMPTP's Carol Lombardini. I'll have an analysis before then.
- 3/2/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
The WGA Pod is Mia.
Or, to put that in English, there’s still no word from the WGA on its "Pattern of Demands." That document, a proposed outline of the guild’s negotiating priorities, was sent to members Dec. 22 for an up or down vote, with a return date of Jan. 24.
December holiday presents have long since been unwrapped, consumed, discarded or regifted -- and Jan. 24 has come and gone -- but the WGA has not announced the results of the vote as yet. A WGA West spokesman had no explanation for the delay and no comment on when results might be available.
Also unknown is when negotiations will start. The current contract expires May 1. SAG, AFTRA and the DGA have already negotiated and ratified their new agreements, which take effect when their agreements expire June 30.
The WGA's wide-ranging Pattern of Demands does not contain specific proposals, dollars or...
Or, to put that in English, there’s still no word from the WGA on its "Pattern of Demands." That document, a proposed outline of the guild’s negotiating priorities, was sent to members Dec. 22 for an up or down vote, with a return date of Jan. 24.
December holiday presents have long since been unwrapped, consumed, discarded or regifted -- and Jan. 24 has come and gone -- but the WGA has not announced the results of the vote as yet. A WGA West spokesman had no explanation for the delay and no comment on when results might be available.
Also unknown is when negotiations will start. The current contract expires May 1. SAG, AFTRA and the DGA have already negotiated and ratified their new agreements, which take effect when their agreements expire June 30.
The WGA's wide-ranging Pattern of Demands does not contain specific proposals, dollars or...
The WGA West just issued its first Contract Bulletin about the upcoming TV/Theatrical contract about to be negotiated with the AMPTP. Issues discussed include New Media and Pension & Health: Wgaw Member Meetings to Discuss Negotiations for the 2011 Contract Please join President John Wells, Executive Director David Young, Negotiating Committee Co-Chairs John Bowman and Billy Ray, and members of the Wgaw Board to discuss plans for the upcoming negotiations and potential priorities for contract demands. Members will have the chance to give input and pose questions to Guild leaders. Los Angeles area members can choose from three meeting opportunities: Tuesday, November 9, 7:00 p.m. at the Sportsmen’s Lodge 4234 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City Tuesday, November 16, 7:00 p.m. at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica Thursday, Dec 2, 7:00 p.m. at the Writers Guild Theater 135 South Doheny Dr., Beverly Hills --- Challenges for the Guild...
- 10/26/2010
- by Nikki Finke
- Deadline Hollywood
Hollywood labor negotiations are notoriously fractious and fragile. Distractions and roadblocks can pop up with little provocation or warning, and with a lot of explosive recrimination.
But the big surprise this bargaining season could be the very lack of drama. For several political and economic reasons, the dealmaking this time out could be the least combative in many years.
To take just one major sign: A source close to the SAG-aftra negotiations indicated that the DVD-residuals issue, a perennial battleground and bargaining chip in every negotiation cycle during the past 20 years, didn't even make it into the guilds' joint package of bargaining proposals approved last weekend. This despite resistance from board members in several camps.
On the heels of national board elections at SAG and the WGA, formal negotiations will begin Sept. 27 between SAG and AFTRA, bargaining jointly, and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers for a new TV/theatrical basic agreement.
But the big surprise this bargaining season could be the very lack of drama. For several political and economic reasons, the dealmaking this time out could be the least combative in many years.
To take just one major sign: A source close to the SAG-aftra negotiations indicated that the DVD-residuals issue, a perennial battleground and bargaining chip in every negotiation cycle during the past 20 years, didn't even make it into the guilds' joint package of bargaining proposals approved last weekend. This despite resistance from board members in several camps.
On the heels of national board elections at SAG and the WGA, formal negotiations will begin Sept. 27 between SAG and AFTRA, bargaining jointly, and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers for a new TV/theatrical basic agreement.
- 9/20/2010
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Los Angeles – The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East have announced that television writer and executive producer John Bowman and screenwriter Billy Ray have been named co-chairs of the Contract 2011 Negotiating Committee. Bowman chaired the Negotiating Committee in 2007 during the Guilds’ last round of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Both co-chairs are currently members of the Wgaw Board of Directors.
- 7/28/2010
- by Nikki Finke
- Deadline Hollywood
John Bowman and Billy Ray will co-chair the Writers Guild of America's negotiating committee during deal talks for a new film and TV contract, the union said Wednesday.
The WGA's current contract expires May 1, 2011, two months before similar contracts expire for SAG, AFTRA and the DGA on June 30. Performers unions SAG and AFTRA jointly begin preliminary bargaining sessions with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers in late September.
Ray, a screenwriter, and Bowman, a television writer, are members of the WGA West board of directors, and the latter chaired the bargaining sessions in 2007 that led to a four-month strike by scribes.
Ray's appointment to the lead negotiating team points to the complicated politics of inter-union relationships during bargaining season. Since Ray is also a director ("Breach," "Shattered Glass"), his inclusion could provide a strategic bridge with the directors guild, which often jumps in front of the writers to hammer...
The WGA's current contract expires May 1, 2011, two months before similar contracts expire for SAG, AFTRA and the DGA on June 30. Performers unions SAG and AFTRA jointly begin preliminary bargaining sessions with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers in late September.
Ray, a screenwriter, and Bowman, a television writer, are members of the WGA West board of directors, and the latter chaired the bargaining sessions in 2007 that led to a four-month strike by scribes.
Ray's appointment to the lead negotiating team points to the complicated politics of inter-union relationships during bargaining season. Since Ray is also a director ("Breach," "Shattered Glass"), his inclusion could provide a strategic bridge with the directors guild, which often jumps in front of the writers to hammer...
- 7/28/2010
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Scribes have elected eight new board members to the WGA West, the guild announced Tuesday.
Topping the list of winners was "Army Wives" writer Katherine Fugate, who received 647 votes. Also elected were John Bowman (629 votes), Howard Michael Gould (619 votes), David A. Goodman (552 votes), Karen Harris (544 votes), Mark Gunn (525 votes), Aaron Mendelsohn (498 votes) and Kathy Kiernan (463 votes). Bowman, Goodman, Gunn, Mendelsohn and Kiernan are incumbents.
A total of 1,235 ballots were cast. Indie firm Pacific Election Services counted the votes.
"Thanks to all the candidates and voters who participated in this election and congratulations to the returning and new members of the board," Wgaw president Patric Verrone said. "It will be the responsibility of this board to help enforce the terms of our new contract and to continue to strengthen our guild by organizing unrepresented writers and working closely with our sister unions and guilds."...
Topping the list of winners was "Army Wives" writer Katherine Fugate, who received 647 votes. Also elected were John Bowman (629 votes), Howard Michael Gould (619 votes), David A. Goodman (552 votes), Karen Harris (544 votes), Mark Gunn (525 votes), Aaron Mendelsohn (498 votes) and Kathy Kiernan (463 votes). Bowman, Goodman, Gunn, Mendelsohn and Kiernan are incumbents.
A total of 1,235 ballots were cast. Indie firm Pacific Election Services counted the votes.
"Thanks to all the candidates and voters who participated in this election and congratulations to the returning and new members of the board," Wgaw president Patric Verrone said. "It will be the responsibility of this board to help enforce the terms of our new contract and to continue to strengthen our guild by organizing unrepresented writers and working closely with our sister unions and guilds."...
- 9/23/2008
- by By Leslie Simmons
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This weekend is looming large for those looking for signs of when the three-month writers strike will wind to a close.
The WGA West has set a membership meeting for 7:00 p.m. PST Saturday at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The WGA East will gather its troops at 2 p.m. EST Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manhattan for an update on contract negotiations.
WGA negotiating committee chair John Bowman on Tuesday gave members of the WGA West and East a heads-up that "informational meetings" are being planned for this weekend.
"While we have made important progress since the companies re-engaged us in serious talks, negotiations continue," Bowman said. "Regardless of what you hear or read, there are many significant points that have yet to be worked out."
"In order to keep members abreast of the latest developments, informational meetings are being planned by both guilds for this weekend," he said. "Neither the negotiating committee, nor the West board or the East council will take action on the contract until after the membership meetings."
WGA Awards winners are being announced Saturday night, with the WGAW doing so by news release and the WGAE holding a members-only cocktail reception for nominees. Throw in membership meetings on both coasts and possible board and council meetings, and it's likely that the industry will have a good sense come Monday morning of when the striking writers might put down their picket signs.
But for now, it remains business as usual, with strike activities continuing in Los Angeles and New York.
"As the talks proceed, never forget that during this period it is critical for us to remain on the picket lines united and strong," Bowman said.
The WGA West has set a membership meeting for 7:00 p.m. PST Saturday at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The WGA East will gather its troops at 2 p.m. EST Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manhattan for an update on contract negotiations.
WGA negotiating committee chair John Bowman on Tuesday gave members of the WGA West and East a heads-up that "informational meetings" are being planned for this weekend.
"While we have made important progress since the companies re-engaged us in serious talks, negotiations continue," Bowman said. "Regardless of what you hear or read, there are many significant points that have yet to be worked out."
"In order to keep members abreast of the latest developments, informational meetings are being planned by both guilds for this weekend," he said. "Neither the negotiating committee, nor the West board or the East council will take action on the contract until after the membership meetings."
WGA Awards winners are being announced Saturday night, with the WGAW doing so by news release and the WGAE holding a members-only cocktail reception for nominees. Throw in membership meetings on both coasts and possible board and council meetings, and it's likely that the industry will have a good sense come Monday morning of when the striking writers might put down their picket signs.
But for now, it remains business as usual, with strike activities continuing in Los Angeles and New York.
"As the talks proceed, never forget that during this period it is critical for us to remain on the picket lines united and strong," Bowman said.
The talks resumed and picketing continued.
That much was certain Monday as the WGA strike against studios and networks entered its fourth week. But bargaining session No. 18 took on a double-secret tone, with the parties meeting in an undisclosed location and continuing a recent press blackout.
The simple fact that the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers were talking again seemed to spur optimism that a settlement to the months-long contract impasse might be in the offing, and it appeared additionally auspicious that the parties scheduled three consecutive days of negotiations for the first time. Previously, they had scheduled only one session at a time, and at least one veteran negotiator suggested the three-day move signaled significant negotiating traction.
Others suggested the move was simply aimed at developing traction.
"The three days was to keep people talking," a key industryite said. "They didn't want people to just get pissed off and walk away. They wanted to make sure they would keep talking."
On Monday, talks went to about 6 p.m. before breaking off until 10 Tuesday morning.
The WGA and the AMPTP launched their contract talks July 16, holding on-and-off bargaining sessions until the strike began Nov. 5. Monday's session was announced Nov. 16, following back-channel discussions about how to get negotiations back on track.
Once talks resumed, rumors quickly spread of an imminent deal. Well-placed sources scotched such talk as premature, but prominent writer-producers continued to figure in speculation over how a deal might be sealed.
John Wells (ER) was believed to be among those still actively engaged in back-channel discussions. The unofficial talks are aimed at sorting through complex contract details that have eluded easy discussion over the bargaining table.
Such showrunners as Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives) remain part of the WGA negotiating committee. And John Bowman, who has been a writer-producer on series including Fox's Cedric the Entertainer Presents, continues as its chair.
But formal negotiations have been dominated by WGA West exec director David Young, and Bowman has figured little even in informal sidebar discussions, where off-the-record chats can yield negotiating breakthroughs.
That much was certain Monday as the WGA strike against studios and networks entered its fourth week. But bargaining session No. 18 took on a double-secret tone, with the parties meeting in an undisclosed location and continuing a recent press blackout.
The simple fact that the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers were talking again seemed to spur optimism that a settlement to the months-long contract impasse might be in the offing, and it appeared additionally auspicious that the parties scheduled three consecutive days of negotiations for the first time. Previously, they had scheduled only one session at a time, and at least one veteran negotiator suggested the three-day move signaled significant negotiating traction.
Others suggested the move was simply aimed at developing traction.
"The three days was to keep people talking," a key industryite said. "They didn't want people to just get pissed off and walk away. They wanted to make sure they would keep talking."
On Monday, talks went to about 6 p.m. before breaking off until 10 Tuesday morning.
The WGA and the AMPTP launched their contract talks July 16, holding on-and-off bargaining sessions until the strike began Nov. 5. Monday's session was announced Nov. 16, following back-channel discussions about how to get negotiations back on track.
Once talks resumed, rumors quickly spread of an imminent deal. Well-placed sources scotched such talk as premature, but prominent writer-producers continued to figure in speculation over how a deal might be sealed.
John Wells (ER) was believed to be among those still actively engaged in back-channel discussions. The unofficial talks are aimed at sorting through complex contract details that have eluded easy discussion over the bargaining table.
Such showrunners as Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives) remain part of the WGA negotiating committee. And John Bowman, who has been a writer-producer on series including Fox's Cedric the Entertainer Presents, continues as its chair.
But formal negotiations have been dominated by WGA West exec director David Young, and Bowman has figured little even in informal sidebar discussions, where off-the-record chats can yield negotiating breakthroughs.
- 11/27/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry, Dreamgirls hyphenate Bill Condon and 15 others were named Tuesday to a WGA negotiating committee charged with an all-important mandate: hammering out a new film and TV contract for movie writers and primetime scribes.
The committee, chaired by TV writer John Bowman (Saturday Night Live, In Living Color), is expected to hold its first talks with representatives of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers in July. The WGA's current minimum basic agreement, covering 12,000 WGA members, expires in October.
Trumpeting the appointments in a news release topped with a new Contract 2007 logo, guild officials touted the committee lineup as underscoring the seriousness of its intentions and soberness of its approach.
"The depth and breadth of this committee should show our membership, our sister unions and the industry at large our widespread commitment to making a fair and forward-thinking deal for writers," WGA West president Patric Verrone said.
"These writers and writers like them are responsible for many of our most respected and profitable films and television shows," WGA East president Chris Albers said. "Now they are banding together to fight for a fair and comprehensive contract for all writers."
One well-placed industry insider said the committee includes an encouraging number of "working writers (who) have a lot of stake." A committee packed with less accomplished scribes could have tilted it in a less productive direction, the source said.
The committee, chaired by TV writer John Bowman (Saturday Night Live, In Living Color), is expected to hold its first talks with representatives of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers in July. The WGA's current minimum basic agreement, covering 12,000 WGA members, expires in October.
Trumpeting the appointments in a news release topped with a new Contract 2007 logo, guild officials touted the committee lineup as underscoring the seriousness of its intentions and soberness of its approach.
"The depth and breadth of this committee should show our membership, our sister unions and the industry at large our widespread commitment to making a fair and forward-thinking deal for writers," WGA West president Patric Verrone said.
"These writers and writers like them are responsible for many of our most respected and profitable films and television shows," WGA East president Chris Albers said. "Now they are banding together to fight for a fair and comprehensive contract for all writers."
One well-placed industry insider said the committee includes an encouraging number of "working writers (who) have a lot of stake." A committee packed with less accomplished scribes could have tilted it in a less productive direction, the source said.
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