I guess Tyler Perry really is The Man.

Los Angeles – The Writers Guild of America, West is taking on the fight for justice of writers who were fired when they tried to get a union contract with Tyler Perry’s production company, House of Payne, LLC. The Guild today filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that House of Payne unlawfully fired four writers in retaliation for their union activity. The charge also alleges that the company bargained in bad faith with the Guild, which is seeking to negotiate a contract covering the writers on Perry’s cable television series House of Payne and Meet the Browns.

The four writers, Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson, and Lamont Ferrell, as well as supporters from the Writers Guild and the community, will be picketing during Saturday’s opening of Perry’s new studio and they’re asking invited guests to respect their picket line. Together, these writers have written over one hundred episodes of House of Payne. Since April of this year they have been involved in a union organizing campaign with the Writers Guild of America, West so that their work on that show and the upcoming Meet the Browns would be covered by a Guild contract. Despite the enormous success of House of Payne, Perry has refused to agree to a contract that would give the writers health care, pensions, and residuals. On Tuesday of this week he fired the writers, after warning them some weeks ago that they should “be careful about pushing the WGA deal or you could be replaced.”

“We’re asking all those who had planned to attend the opening of Tyler Perry’s new studio not to cross our picket line,” said writer Christopher Moore. “It’s very disheartening considering that this is a studio run by African Americans. What Tyler Perry is essentially saying to us is that ‘you’re black and there’s not a lot of opportunities for you so you’ll take what I give you’ – whether it’s fair or not.”

“I feel like I was slapped in the face, like we were used” said writer and WGAW member Teri Brown-Jackson. “We were good enough to create over a hundred episodes, but now when it comes to reaping the benefits of the show being syndicated and having other spin-offs from it, he decides to let us go unless we accept a horrible offer.”

“Disrespected, betrayed, saddened…it’s hard to describe,” said writer and WGAW member Lamont Ferrell. “The actors and a majority of the production crew on the show were working under union contracts and they received the pay and benefits that you need to survive on in this business. But after all those episodes and success when it came time for us to get a fair contract, we’re told on a conference call ‘sorry, you’re fired.’”

The show’s head writer, Kellie Griffin, added, “A lot of people who fought for civil rights and social justice never really saw what eventually came out of their work. While I’d like to see something positive come out of this for us, if this fight helps future black writers get what they deserve, that’s a good thing.”

The writers and their supporters will be picketing at the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios on Saturday, October 4, starting at 4 pm, and on Sunday, October 5, starting at 9 am.
----

In other news, Tyler is hoping to get Denzel and Angela Bassett to star in the Obama-based romance that he's writing.

"Perry told reporters about the Obamas, "They just inspired this amazing story. It’s a love story with a little political twist... It’s called For the Love of You and it’s about his love for his woman. It’s going to be amazing."

Of course, strikes aren't uncommon - it's just the new studio opening at about the same time as the strike that makes it interesting (Disney actually had "The Reluctant Dragon", basically a live action mockumentary/tour of its new facility with cartoon interludes, set for release when the strike hit. Picketers boycotted the premiere.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_animators%27_strike

________________________________________________________________________
"I want to be done playing this lady Nov. 5..." - Tina Fey

http://www.tylerperry.com/_Messages/

he's fucking terrilbe

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/one-of-tyler-perrys-actresses-confronts-him/

Today, SAG National Board member and TV actress Anne-Marie Johnson made this statement public on the Writers Guild website: "As a unionist and 11-year National Board member of the Screen Actors Guild, I was extremely disappointed to hear about the current situation facing the four fired House Of Payne writers. As an actor who occasionally appears on Mr. Perry's show, I am conflicted and angry. I realize that speaking publicly in support of the writers will jeopardize my recurring role, but Mr. Perry's firing of writers, for negotiating for fair WGA coverage, including health insurance, does not speak well for a man who claims to believe in family, pride in one's race and artistic equality. It's time he steps up to do the right thing."

something is unsavory about seeing a black guy who went from being homeless to a potential billionaire being UNWILLING to give his employees basic shit like health care.

i can't fool with his movies until he gets right on this.

Creflo Perry obviously really cares about the me$$age.

Chris Rock

Creflo Media Closetman Perry doesnt want to hear that.

atlanta has quickly become the black showbiz mecca. he's building something.

i'm sure the folks he fired--the one's he gave their shot--will be able to find a staff job on a sitcom outside of atlanta...maybe even in hollywood...one that provides healthcare and the promise of at least 3 more seasons. i mean those gigs are a dime a dozen for black screenwriters *knowing smirk*

i bet the writers who stayed with tyler--after briefly siding with the now jobless, poor, poor souls whose work you guys shit on for the last two years--sure are glad they stayed with TP. they gettin checks and a new show called "meet the browns" on they resume. GOOD! more money for them and tyler.

if tyler's unfair, wait until it hits they ass they gotta go back to asking white folks for a gig. WONDERFUL!

<------ Boho Model Madness Presents: Pretty Eyes

http://www.rareformnyc.com
http://www.myspace.com/shinobishaw
http://www.myspace.com/djshinobishaw
http://www.last.fm/user/ShinoShaw

"Arm Leg Leg Arm How you doin?" (c) T510

That one, and the Sam Jackson shit. "Oh you're on SOMETHING."

Mech

this is just a little something on the side.

I can just not pay attention to his movies. And after seeing a couple of them, that just what I've been inclined to do for the past few years. And, as hacks go, he's a pretty boring one. His lack of talent as a filmaker/TV creator is suitably dull enough for me to ignore.

If this union-busting shit is true, then I find it far more offensive. I cna't go for that shit on any level in any form of employment. I don't go to Wal-Mart because of that shit, so the same principle applies to Tyler Perry.

i wonder how oprah feels about that
________________________________________
It's A Boy and his name is MILES KHALIL YOUNG

Deadline Hollywood Daily:

>EXCLUSIVE: Tyler Perry And WGA Settle

I've just learned that the Writers Guild Of America is going to call off its labor action against Tyler Perry Studios because the two sides have settled.

My sources say Tyler Perry's two television series, House Of Payne (airing on TBS) and the upcoming Meet The Browns (the small screen version of his big screen hit) will both become WGA-covered shows and the fired four writers will be reinstated. This follows WGA picketing outside his new production studio as well as considerable bad publicity for the entertainment mogul.

The writer/actor/director/producer/author/playwright has been persona non grata in most of Hollywood after the Writers Guild filed charges of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board on October 2, accusing Perry of firing more than half his writing staff on the TBS sitcom House Of Payne because of their union activity, and bargaining in bad faith with the Hollywood guild.

Dozens upon dozens of the biggest names in scripted television even went so far as to sign an open letter bashing him for his anti-WGA activity. And good thing Barack Obama declined Perry’s invitation to the grand opening of his Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta this month. Had he not, the Democrat endorsed by many labor unions would have been met by picket lines thrown up by the Writers Guild of America and supported by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (Perry is one of the Democratic presidential candidate’s staunchest supporters and prized campaigners and even forthcoming film biographer...)

What had gone on for the past six months inside Perry’s production company was kept secret by the WGA until the guild filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB, alleging that House of Payne unlawfully fired four writers in retaliation for their union activity. (A fifth writer quit in solidarity.) The charge also accused Perry’s company of bargaining in bad faith with the guild, which had been seeking to negotiate a contract covering the writers on Perry’s cable television series House of Payne and upcoming Meet the Browns. The four fired scribes, Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson, and Lamont Ferrell, are all African Americans and together have written over 100 episodes.

During the dispute, a lawyer for Perry tried to claim that the writers' firings had nothing to do with contract negotiations but were related solely to "the quality of their work". But firings came just as House Of Payne was being syndicated which is when the big money starts to roll in, and just when the writers were working on Perry's new comedy premiering in January on TBS.

Perry's lawyer admitted that one sticking point with the WGA had been residuals from repeats shown on broadcast TV stations. Those residuals are vital to the financial security of showbiz writers even though a pittance to the producers. Perry also refused to agree to a WGA contract giving the writers health care benefits or pensions. Perry fired the writers after warning them some weeks ago that they should “be careful about pushing the WGA deal or you could be replaced,” according to one of the axed scribes.

But because Perry owns 100% of his films and TV productions, he can as an indie forgo a guild agreement even though most producers become signatories in order to employ WGA-caliber writers. But this month the WGA told guild members that, "under Working Rule 8, members of the Writers Guild of America, West may not accept employment with any non-signatory entity, including Tyler Perry studios and all of its related entities. The guild intends to fully enforce this important policy."

At the same time, the WGA picketed outside the gala party at Tyler Perry Studios, a 60,000-square-foot production complex on 28 acres on the outskirts of Atlanta featuring a 300-seat screening room, three sound stages, and a theater. I and other media outlets publicized the names of those who crossed the picket line to attend, including many of them members of the Screen Actors Guild: Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett Jr, Holly Robinson Peete, Tracey Edmonds, music mogul L.A. Reid, singer John Legend, baseball legends Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. Also, Mary J. Blige, Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight who all performed.

Which is why it took courage for SAG National Board member Anne-Marie Johnson to say this on the WGA website: “I realize that speaking publicly in support of the writers will jeopardize my recurring role, but Mr. Perry's firing of writers, for negotiating for fair WGA coverage, including health insurance, does not speak well for a man who claims to believe in family, pride in one's race and artistic equality. It's time he steps up to do the right thing." I understand that after I wrote about Johnson's daring to criticize Perry, he called her within minutes of my posting and left a message on her voicemail assuring her she was not jeopardizing her job.

I'm glad to see this unfortunate matter settled.
______________________________________________________________________
<------ Yeah... not gonna happen.

**************************************

"I'm sick of followin' my dreams. I'm just gonna ask where they goin', and hook with them later." - Mitch Hedberg

"I don't think muthafuckas went to the moon either, but that's just me..." - Mos

Mech

Lots of noble decisions are the result of pressure. I've stopped being annoyed at him for this and go back to just ignoring his films.

Mech

Glad he changed his mind.

(Perry is one
>of the Democratic presidential candidate’s staunchest
>supporters and prized campaigners and even forthcoming film
>biographer...)

Mech

Will Tyler be playing BOTH Barack and Michelle?

Last I heard, the 4 writers who walked off will not be asked back, nor will they receive residuals on the 100 previous episodes that they wrote...

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/toldja-tyler-perry-studios-and-wga-settle-naacp-mediated/
________________________________________________________________________
<------ That's it, that's all.

To me it sounds like Perry used the NAACP as legal muscle in his scam to circumvent a WGA lawsuit over those writers.

As Perry's media "empire" grows he'll need more Black employees and writers. This is the kind of growth both the NAACP and WGA want to support.

The NAACP has a cause to fight for. The WGA has cause to drop the lawsuit. I feel like two benevolent organizations are banking on Perry's future benevolent credit.

Perry's Studio can found then fold 34th Street Films regardless of its contract with the WGA. Perry himself wouldn't lose any personal money.

Mech

PS - Is this a NAACP press release? So, the writers who started this thing get nothing?

And this press release came from the Guild... and the writers who attempted to unionize will get residuals for only 20 of the 120 scripts they wrote...
________________________________________________________________________
<------ That's it, that's all.

How do you know the WGA wrote the press release? I didn't see either in the article.

Also, I'd like to know if each writer gets residuals from a different block of 20 episodes or if it's one block for all of them.

Mech

>How do you know the WGA wrote the press release? I didn't
>see either in the article.

Because it's on the WGA website, and it's mentioned in the article that I linked in post 31.


>Also, I'd like to know if each writer gets residuals from a
>different block of 20 episodes or if it's one block for all of
>them.

What do you mean "a different block?" If a writer writes 1 of the 20 episodes, they get residuals for that episode. If they write more than one, then they get residuals for more than one episode. If all 4 writers wrote 5 episodes each, then they get residuals for those 5 episodes.

They will not, in any way, shape, or form, get residuals on that first 100.
________________________________________________________________________
<------ That's it, that's all.

Mech

And from what I understand, there are actually 26 episodes beyond that first 100; these writers only worked on 20 of those 26; they will get individual episode payments plus future residuals on those episodes.

And no, I don't know how much they will be paid.
________________________________________________________________________
<------ That's it, that's all.

Mech

Part of the dispute was that these 4 writers, who wrote most of the first 100 episodes, get residuals on those episodes.
________________________________________________________________________
<------ That's it, that's all.

"I and other media outlets publicized the names of those who crossed the picket line to attend, including many of them members of the Screen Actors Guild:
Will Smith
Oprah Winfrey
Sidney Poitier
Ruby Dee
Cicely Tyson
Louis Gossett Jr
Holly Robinson Peete
Tracey Edmonds
L.A. Reid
John Legend
Hank Aaron
Barry Bonds
Mary J. Blige
Patti Labelle
Gladys Knight

A damned shame. I bet the actors on this list wouldn't want anyone crossing the potentially upcoming SAG picket lines.

Mech