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Janice Min and Richard Rushfield

Mar 26

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(Illustration by The Ankler/ Fiordaliso)

Before we get to it, some news! Sonny Bunch, Washington Post contributing columnist, culture editor of The Bulwark, and member of the Washington Area Film Critics Association is bringing his podcast, The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood, to The Ankler… more on that below…

But first! It’s starting to feel very real as the clock counts down to the May 1 expiration of the Writers Guild contract (35 days to go!).

As things get serious, we’ve examined the issues in depth — what’s on the line, and what happens if the worst comes to pass.

If you want to fully understand the long-simmering issues fomenting anger and action among writers, The Ankler is essential. In addition to our recent Squeeze series about how streaming economics have backfired for most producers, actors and writers, and our interview with an agency head standing with the WGA, this week our team dove even deeper into the conversation at hand:

The Writers' Bill of Rights Shafting writers is a tradition as old as the industry. But as the streaming world turns the basic tenets of creative work even more upside down, Richard presents his fundamentals to get things stable again
🎧 A Showdown Over Streaming Economics As WGA negotiations begin, can a sustainable business model start to exist? Richard, Sean McNulty and Elaine Low are joined by Sonny Bunch to talk it all through. Also on tap: whether the studios and streamers stick together in negotiations, Apple’s billion-dollar foray into theatrical and the crew’s thoughts on the new John Wick

Liz W. Garcia 🚀 @WomenScribes

This Writers Bill of Rights compiled by The Ankler from WGA writers is truly more than reasonable. Please share.

Ankler Rushfield @richardrushfield

As the countdown clicks down - 42 Days to Go - my suggestions for a Writers Bill of Rights to guide any negotiations now and forever. https://t.co/bniWji1fP9

Netflix's New Fight? Old Shows Streaming's Library Wars heat up as Entertainment Strategy Guy looks at the huge series (Seinfeld, anyone?) counting down to a platform exit

🎧 Martini Shot: What Happens in Episode Two? Rob Long on how to best answer TV execs' very predictable questions in a pitch (click here for the full transcript)

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Welcome to our newest podcast!

We’re thrilled Sonny Bunch’s The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood podcast is coming under The Ankler roof. Sonny’s podcast features interviews with executives, creators, technicians and crafts people across the entertainment business. Past guests include Shawn Ryan (The Night Agent, The Shield), Dean Devlin (Independence Day), uber-Hollywood marketing exec Kevin Goetz on the chaging nature of audiences, and film technician Tony Davis of Tessive on the science of high frame rates.

His podcasts will post every week on Saturday. Here is his first to appear as a co-prod on The Ankler: