Could a splinter group of writers end the strike?

A splinter group of 30-plus writer/producers and second-tier showrunners hoping to influence how and when the ongoing writers’ strike ends met with some members of the Writers Guild of America’s negotiating committee earlier this week, according to one knowledgeable source. The group was trying to convince the committee to seriously consider whatever deal the Directors Guild of America gets from the Alliance of Motion Pictures & Television Producers before shooting it down. If writers adopt most of the proposals agreed upon between the DGA and conglomerates (a deal between the two sides could be announced any day now), it would effectively end the protracted dispute. However, WGA West president Patric Verrone could also opt to reject the DGA’s deal and encourage the WGA membership to continue fighting. The writer/producers in the splinter group are trying to avoid the latter scenario, says the source, and are even threatening to demonstrate their frustration with the guild by going “financial core,” a status that allows them remain in the union and continue working, while forfeiting their right to vote and participate in union activities. A handful of scribes have already gone fi-core since the strike began Nov. 5, though they largely work on daytime dramas.

One high-powered agent who represents many writers whose deals were
dropped by the major studios this last week predicts “a civil war” if
the WGA does not act swiftly after the DGA reaches an agreement. A WGA
spokesman issued this response today: “The WGA will closely consider
any deal the DGA reaches with the conglomerates.”

The splinter group isn’t alone in its hope that the WGA
patiently consider whatever deal the DGA achieves from its talks with
the AMPTP. Craig Mazin (Scary Movie 3) of Theartfulwriter.com, a
popular site for striking writers, posted this recently on his website:
“The first thing we all have to do is take a good long look at whatever
the DGA deal is. And now when I say “we” I mean WE. You, me, Patric
Verrone… everyone. If a deal comes out this week, and we have people
sending signed letters to our union demanding that we accept it… and
if we have union leaders firing RPGs off in the press about how it’s a
cave and a sellout… then we might as well just stop pretending we’re
in the business of collectively bargaining for employees, strap on some
lycra tights and convert ourselves into an Extreme Fighting league.”