Oscars threatened by Hollywood strike

Two of Hollywood’s most glamorous events are now caught up in the entertainment industry’s biggest dispute in two decades.

The Golden Globes awards next month and the Oscars in February have both been blacklisted by the Writers Guild of America, despite pleas by members to be allowed to produce work for them.

The guild’s decision raised the stakes in the already heated contract dispute between writers and studios. Talks aimed at ending the costly strike, now in its seventh week, broke down earlier this month.

Producers claimed the guild was trying to increase its power at the expense of members. Union leaders accused the alliance of “lies” aimed at sowing doubt and dissension in union ranks.

Now the guild is casting the strike shadow over the Oscars on February 24, the industry’s key showcase for its finest films and hottest actors. The Golden Globes on January 13 represent another important promotional vehicle.

The guild made a similar move before the 1988 Oscars when writers last walked out on studios. That strike lasted five months.

With the strike drawing support from the Screen Actors Guild, which faces its own contract negotiations next year, actors’ participation as Oscar guests and presenters might be affected – diminishing the star power that drives television viewing figures.

Jon Stewart, a writers guild member, was announced as host of this year’s Academy Awards, but he has honoured the strike: His “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central has been showing repeats since the walkout began.

Several Golden Globe nominees said last week that they hoped to attend the ceremony but might not if the strike remains unresolved.

The Globe organisation said it was dismayed at the union’s reaction.

“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,” it said.

The strike has shut down production on many TV series, had a growing effect on film production and laid off many industry workers. Networks have seen ratings slip as shows are replaced by repeats, jeopardising advertising revenues.

The guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are arguing over compensation for digital media products such as DVDs and on-line repeats.