Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1960)

WGA, NETWORKS NEGOTIATING Tv film contract with networks extended although writers strike ATFP, movies The contract between Writers Guild of America and the tv networks for their film producing divisions, which was to have expired Saturday (Jan. 30), has been extended for another week or until next Saturday (Feb. 6). The decision to continue negotiations for another week was made Thursday (Jan. 28) following a meeting of WGA and network negotiators at which enough progress toward a contract settlement was achieved to encourage both sides to continue talking. The groups were to meet again Friday (Jan. 29) and meetings also were scheduled throughout this week. This was the first sign of a peaceful settlement of any of the writers' negotiations with the various branches of film production. Since Jan. 16 WGA has been on strike against the Alliance of Television Film Producers and the Assn. of Motion Picture Producers (major producers of theatrical films) and since last fall against some 41 independent producers of theatrical pictures. A dozen or so independents have accepted new contracts from WGA, the major point being agreement to share proceeds from the sale of theatrical films to television with writers and members of other guilds and unions. The refusal of AMPP to accept this demand led to the WGA strike against the major studios. The major issues between WGA and the makers of tv films are demands that writers be given a share of the proceeds of sales for telecasting abroad and that domestic residual payments be extended beyond the present cutoff after the sixth run. Talks between ATFP and WGA are continuing, but if any progress toward an agreement has been made neither the guild nor the association has admitted it. Working Rights • The week opened with a charge by Richard W. Jencks, president of ATFP, that WGA strike bulletins "'misrepresent the legal rights of members and non-members alike." He argued: "An employe may have the most serious disputes or differences with a union, including differences as to the wisdom of a strike order or the proppriety of complying with it, but the union cannot thereafter deny to him his livelihood in his profession so long as he is willing to tender performance of the financial obligations relating to union membership. "In short, the law of the land is such that no union can establish a blacklist based on non-compliance with union strike orders," Mr. Jencks said. Commenting that "WGA has already retreated from a position taken in an early strike bulletin concerning socalled 'hyphenated writers' (WGA members who continue to perform services in the capacity of producer, associate producer, director, production assistant, story editor and the like)," Mr. Jencks averred that WGA had threatened to expel any "hyphenated writers" for performing incidental writing, despite the fact that it was traditionally a part of his non-WGA services. "The WGA's most recent strike bulletin, recognizing that the WGA's previous position went too far, now conceded that insofar as WGA members are employed in non-writer capacities they may continue to perform all services customary to those capacities," he said. 'Scabbing Self Taught' • Labelling Mr. Jencks' statement as "his little work of fiction entitled 'scabbing self taught'," WGA interpreted it as "an open solicitation for strikebreakers." WGA denied issuing any instructions to members that violated the law. On the theatrical motion picture front, WGA announced that Sol Lesser Productions has signed an agreement with the union and so was removed from its strike list. About a dozen independent movie makers have accepted the WGA terms, including a recognition of the right of members of WGA and other labor organizations to participate in any revenue received by a motion picture producer from the sale of post-'48 theatrical films to television. Screen Actors Guild, whose contract with the motion picture companies expired last night (Jan. 31) has extended it temporarily, with the right to cancel on 10 days' notice. The SAG board meanwhile decided to ask the membership for authorization to call a strike against movie producers refusing SAG demands for extra payments to writers when post-'48 pictures are sold to tv. SAG by-laws require that 75% of those voting vote in favor of a strike in order for the strike vote to be effective. It is estimated that a mail referendum of more than 14,000 SAG members in good standing will take about three weeks. There is no immediate crisis concerning actors employed in tv films as the SAG contracts in this field run through March 31. Even if a strike should be called against a motion picture company for theatrical pictures, SAG members would still be free to work for the company's tv film division or subsidiary in making tv programs or commercials. IATSE Interest • Meanwhile, IATSE has appointed a committee to protect its interests in any tv revenue from the sale of theatrical films. The basic contract of IATSE with the Assn. of Motion Picture Producers permits reopening on this subject if the producers agree to make such payments to any other labor organization. The committee is talking to SAG and WGA and to the independent producers who have the new WGA contract. Medical series taped A programming series of 12 hourlong medical documentaries, tentatively titled Medicine-1960 is being taped at KRON-TV San Francisco for syndication by Screen Gems, marking that company's first step into distribution of tv programs on tape rather than film. Series will be produced by Lawrence Williams whose Open Heart Surgery remote telecast from Stanford U. medical school in association with the San Francisco Medical Society, using the tape facilities of KRON-TV, won the 1958 Sylvania Award for the "best local public service program." JOHN A. AARON JESSE ZOUSMER A TO Z ENTERPRISES, INC. PLAZA 3-5800 21 EAST 52 STREET, NEW YORK SUITE 71 1 BROADCASTING, February 1, 1960 83