Watching KVille

The negotiations resumed on Monday, but so far no word on what’s going on. In a NY Times blurb, some writers are expressing optimism, but cautiously.

“Writers I spoke with today are pretty optimistic that there will be a new contract within a week or two,” Lori Kirkland Baker, the co-executive producer of “Desperate Housewives” and a strike captain, said in an e-mail interview on Tuesday. “I’m hearing that there’s a loose deal on the table and it just needs fine-tuning. Of course, the devil is in the details, so we shall see.”

Tina Fey, the creator of “30 Rock,” is also sounding upbeat.

In a video interview with The Huffington Post at Tuesday’s strike rally, she said: “I’m really hoping that this can all be resolved in the next week or so. I’d like my crew to be working again, I’d like to get them back to work. There’s no reason why they can’t be.”

Guild members are using the resumption of negotiations to keep up the pressure. Writing at UnitedHollywood.com,
a popular site for writers, John Aboud said the previous actions of the studios have given him no reason for optimism.

“I’ll feel enthusiastic when there’s a joint announcement about a deal, and not a moment sooner,” he wrote.

Today there are rallies in NY and LA, as well as around the world by International Affilation of Writer’s Guilds in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico, according to the Broadcast Newsroom, in what the groups are calling the International Day of Solidarity.

Other unions are also getting involved. The SEIU (Service Employees International Union) have come up with some billboards.

Forgive my cynicism, but I am sure that janitors are really concerned about writers making more money.

WGA, writers strike, Los Angeles, New York, Tina Fey, Desperate Housewives, SEIU, International Affiliation of Writers Guilds, UK, Mexico, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, unions, billboards, solidarity