Writers refuse to break strike for Oscars

The union representing striking Hollywood writers has denied requests to allow their members to write for the Oscars and the Golden Globes.

The board of directors of the Writers Guild of America West rejected the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ request for an interim agreement for writing services, a person close to the guild said.

A call and an e-mail seeking comment from the academy were not immediately returned.

Meanwhile yesterday, the guild released a letter rejecting the request from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which awards the Golden Globes.

The letter said that granting a waiver “would not advance” the guild’s ongoing battle with studios to negotiate a new contract.

In a statement, the Globe organisation expressed measured unhappiness.

“The Golden Globe Awards, which has a long and friendly relationship with the Writers Guild of America, is obviously disappointed that the WGA denied its request for a waiver,” the group said.

However, it said it was “encouraged by the fact that the WGA has announced that it plans to negotiate agreements with independent production companies” and would attempt to reach a deal for the upcoming Globe ceremony.

A separate letter to the academy denied the use of clips from movies and past awards programmes that could be shown during the Oscars award show in February.

The producers of the two awards ceremonies had sought a waiver from the guild to allow writers to work on them.

Writers are in their seventh week of a costly strike.