Jan 5, 2008 - Despite a hopeful statement issued by Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Jorge Camara on January 2nd, actors up for Golden Globes will not be crossing the Writers Guild picket line in order to attend the awards show. The Screen Actors Guild is standing firmly behind the WGA and has asked its members to refrain from attending the Golden Globes.
While Camara's statement made it sound as though a deal with the striking writers was in the works, WGA representatives have never claimed the two sides are close to an agreement. President Camara's statement said, in part, "I am happy to announce that on Saturday morning, December 29, 2007, our attorneys began discussions with the Writers Guild of America to enter into an interim agreement similar to that entered into by the WGA and Worldwide Pants, which permits writers guild members to go back to work writing for The Late Show with David Letterman. We feel that the Late Show with David Letterman agreement is very reasonable, and hope and expect the WGA will agree to the same terms and ultimately permit the Golden Globe Awards to be broadcast as scheduled, without picket lines, on Sunday, January 13."
Barring a last minute reprieve, WGA members will be out in force in front of the Golden Globes event in Hollywood on January 13th. Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg issued a press release today firming up his Guild's stance on the Golden Globes. "After considerable outreach to Golden Globe actor nominees and their representatives over the past several weeks, there appears to be unanimous agreement that these actors will not cross WGA picket lines to appear on the Golden Globe Awards as acceptors or presenters," said Rosenberg. "We applaud our members for this remarkable show of solidarity for striking Writers Guild of America writers."
“We have also been asked about our position regarding network talk shows. We urge our members to appear on the two programs that have independent agreements with the WGA, The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. However, actors who are asked to appear on the struck network talk shows will have to cross WGA picket lines, creating the same situation that has led to the consensus among actors to skip the Golden Globes."
Rosenberg concluded his statement by saying, "As I have said since this strike began on November 5th, we must stand united with our brothers and sisters at the WGA."
HFPA President Camara issued a responded to Rosenberg's statement. "The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has been placed in an extremely difficult position with the ongoing Writers Guild strike," said Camara in press release issued the afternoon of January 4th. "We are making every effort to work out a solution that will permit the Golden Globes to take place with the creative community present to participate. We hope to announce a resolution to this unfortunate predicament on Monday [January 5th]."
Updated Jan 7, 2008 - The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has decided to cancel the Golden Globes ceremony. The HFPA will be holding a press conference to announce the winners at 6pm PST on January 13th in lieu of a televised awards show.
"We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007’s outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television," said HFPA President Camara in a statement to the press. "We take some comfort, however, in knowing that this year’s Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originally scheduled."
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