Pencils Up?

Do I get to eat now?
Today (around 3 a.m. this morning actually) members of the Writers Guild of America received official word via email that our negotiating committee has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP (studios and big producers) to settle our three-month long strike.

I've only done a cursory review of the deal memo and I'm no expert in these things, but it looks like it's a deal, while below what we were asking, is still much more than any of us expected. There are aspects to it I don't like, but still it seems to be a good framework for future increases and coverages for all the new media that is surely coming down the pipeline.

Big meeting tonight down in Los Angeles so the committee and WGA leadership can give us the scoop on why they think we should take the deal and from the email sent this morning, they want us to take it.

What does this mean? We get to go back to work and Louie the Pug gets to eat again. Seriously, this could end up being a really, REALLY great week for shyonelung and especially for all the writers who stayed resolute on the picket lines and who gave up so much to make this happen.

Not to jump the gun or anything but even if this deal isn't palatable to everyone, I've got a feeling we're ready to end this thing. I think we got a lot more our efforts and we proved we could shut down this town and maybe even in the process got a little more respect. Maybe now people in and out of Hollywood realize that there wouldn't be a Hollywood without us.

Let me take a moment to imagine this strike is truly over and thank all the people and companies and friends, members of SAG and below-the-line workers and the celebs who came out on our side and supported us through these last grueling, uncertain three months.

Check out www.unitedhollywood.com for updates better than I could give you.