The End: Hollywood's writer strike over
Hollywood screenwriters can get back to work Wednesday after voting to end their three-month strike, bringing to a close the US entertainment industry's most damaging dispute in 20 years.
Writers Guild of America (WGA) West leader Patric Verrone said members had voted overwhelmingly to end the strike, with 92.5 percent in favor following balloting conducted Tuesday in Los Angeles and New York.
"The strike is over. Our membership has voted and writers can go back to work," Verrone said.
The vote had been seen as a formality after WGA members voiced widespread support for a new contract presented to them by union leaders at the weekend. A second vote to ratify the new three-year contract will be held on February 25.
Writers downed tools on November 5, a move that sent shockwaves through the industry, forcing the postponement or cancellation of several television shows and movies, and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
Previous contract talks between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) collapsed over the issue of payment for content broadcast free or bought over the Internet.
However a breakthrough in negotiations saw the WGA reach a tentative agreement with producers and a proposed new deal received enthusiastic backing after it was proposed to writers on Saturday.
The new deal establishes a scale of royalty payments for writers whose work is sold over the Internet or streamed for free. Previously writers received nothing for online sales.
Industry analysts say the deal is important because traditional DVD and home video rental markets will eventually be rendered obsolete as technology allowing for Internet content to be seen on television becomes more widespread.
"This was not a strike we wanted, but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the Internet," Verrone said.
"Rather than being shut out of the future of content creation and delivery, writers will lead the way as TV migrates to the Internet and platforms for new media are developed. Those advances now give us a foothold in the digital age."
A joint statement from the chiefs of eight major studios -- including NBC Universal, CBS, Warner Bros, and Disney -- welcomed the end of the strike.
"This is a day of relief and optimism for everyone in the entertainment industry," the statement said.
"The strike has been extraordinarily difficult for all of us, but the hardest hit of all have been the many thousands of businesses, workers and families that are economically dependent on our industry."
The writers strike has been one of the longest and most damaging in the entertainment industry's history, with losses estimated at two billion dollars, according to the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC).
According to LAEDC figures, the strike cost an estimated 733 million dollars in lost film and television production spending.
But the LAEDC said an estimated 1.3 billion was lost by companies such as caterers, hoteliers and limousine rental firms that rely heavily on the entertainment industry for business.
"There have been very significant losses for companies that rely on seasonal work. They have lost 14 weeks worth of business," said Jason Squire, a lecturer at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts and editor of "The Movie Business."
"That is a dreadful and damaging impact for smaller companies."
The strike has also severely disrupted Hollywood's awards season, leading to the cancellation of the Golden Globes awards after actors vowed to boycott the event, and casting a shadow over preparations for the February 24 Oscars.
Oscars organizers expressed delight that the Oscars will now go ahead unhindered.
"I am ecstatic that the 80th Academy Awards presentation can now proceed full steam ahead with talented writers working on the show, a fantastic array of presenters and performers and most importantly, the ability for all of our honored nominees to attend without hesitation or discomfort," said Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
so this means
more LOST! (yay!) more Prison Break (yay!) more Heroes(yay!)
hence more time-wasted-by-not-studying-because-watching-all-these-series!
pretty fair trade i say hahaha
and i have unfortunate news:
Football player Ronaldo's season over: report
Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his right knee during AC Milan's 1-1 draw at home to Livorno on Wednesday and faces nine months on the sidelines, according to Gazetta dello Sport.
AC Milan confirmed the extent of Ronaldo's injury on their website, which he suffered just minutes after entering the fray as a second-half substitute and was taken to hospital.
Gazetta claimed the former three-time world player of the year's career could be over as well.
"It's an injury that could end the career of 'Il Fenomeno'," it said on its website.
"The recovery time is dramatic: from nine months to a year."
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to call time on Ronaldo's career, though.
"We're all very sorry and worried about what happened to Ronaldo, I don't want to say it's the end of his career because only time can decide whether it is or not," he said.
"From our part all we can do is stand by him and let him recover. Our players all left the stadium in a hurry to go to the hospital to check on his condition, I think that's the right way to stand by a player who's suffering."
Ronaldo was taken to hospital from where Milan's Brazilian scout Leonardo, said the striker had all but confirmed those worst fears.
"Ronaldo said it was exactly the same thing as last time," said Leonardo, referring to the time when Ronaldo ruptured the tendon in his right knee in November 1999.
Ronaldo fell awkwardly just three minutes after replacing Alberto Gilardino in the second half on Wednesday.
He was challenging for a ball in the air with Jose Vidigal, although the move resulted in a penalty to Milan which Andrea Pirlo converted to level the scores.
"I heard a horrible sound, like a bang, it was a strange sound," said Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia, who was close by when Ronaldo fell to the ground.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said later he thought the problem was serious.
"Ronnie has a problem with the tendon in his left knee, it's not the one he has already had operated on but it's a serious problem."
The last time Ronaldo suffered the same injury he managed to make his comeback in April 2000 but lasted only seven minutes before reinjuring his knee.
It was 20 months before he made a proper comeback for the 2002 World Cup, during which he finished as top scorer as he guided Brazil to a record fifth triumph.
However Ronaldo is now 31 and his contract at Milan runs out at the end of the season.
He has also been battling an expanding waistline and fitness problems for years and it is doubtful whether or not, having won everything there is to win in football - except the Champions League - he will have the motivation to make a comeback after his 32nd birthday.
aih one of the greatest EVER players
injured. AGAIN.
damn kesian lah. was really rooting for him man
he'll come back for sure
come on Il Phenomeno! in the immortal words of Adam Sandler : "you can do it!"
peace
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