Greek screenwriters support their striking colleagues in America

In November 16th, the Scriptwriters' Guild of Greece (establishing member of the Federation of Scriptwriters in Europe / FSE) send a letter of support to Patrick Verrone President of the Board of WGAW and Michael Winship President of the Board of the WGAE:


“Dear friends and colleagues,

The Scriptwriters' Guild of Greece is supporting your rightful fight against all interests that degrade job relationships. The significance of your strike is proved if we consider all the negative consequences of the profiteering policies against creators, which take place in the American as well as in the European audiovisual production, at the expense of the literary work.

From the other side of the Ocean, from Greece, we stand by your side and wish you quick vindication.”


In November 8th, Federation of Scriptwriters in Europe (FSE) released the following statement:

European screenwriters support their striking colleagues in America

The board of the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE) pledges support to colleagues in the Writers Guild of America who are now on strike.
FSE has called on all its members and all European writers to refuse to break the strike by filling in for US writers in dispute. FSE President Christina Kallas stated in a letter of support to Patrick Verrone of the WGAW and Michael Winship of the WGAE:

“The FSE will be distributing information about the strike to our twenty two member guilds in eighteen European countries and asking them to do everything they can to support the WGA strike….Your fight is our fight.”

On Wednesday 30 October the US Film studios and TV networks, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) rejected all talk of further negotiations leaving the two unions no other option but to recommend to their members to strike. The TV networks and film studios refused to consider any revision on the existing DVD deal, which pays the writer the peanuts sum of 4 cents on each $15 DVD, and would extend the same minimal terms to internet downloads and mobile phone viewing.
European screenwriters view the position of the AMPTP as unjust and totally unacceptable. The FSE board calls on all writers organisations but also other creators’ organisations to send messages of support to the American guilds and to ensure that none of their screenwriter members undermines the strike by sending in scripts or carrying out any kind of strikebreaking activity.


For further information please contact the FSE office in Brussels and check the websites of the Writers’ Guild of America West and Writers’ Guild of America East:

http://www.wga.org/
http://www.wgaeast.org/

See also: http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/

For letters of support:

Writers’ Guild of America West: dyoung@wga.org
Writers’ Guild of America East: pweinstock@wgaeast.org