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Talks resume today between the writers and the studios. The WGA’s chief priority is to “get a better proposal on the table”; the AMPTP seems most concern with stepping up their game on the PR front.
Viacom is starting to hedge on earlier indications that they’re all but ready to unload Dreamworks. At the UBS Global Media Week & Communications Conference, Viacom’s Philippe Dauman talked sweetly about Steven Spielberg, whilst potential Dreamworks buyer Jeff Zucker of NBC/Universal focused on how his own company “is on a great trajectory, and we feel great about that.” Great.
Anne Sweeney, co-chairman of Disney Media Network and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, has been named the most powerful woman in entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter. For her achievements, she gets to eat breakfast with John Travolta and Queen Latifah. Yay, girl power!
Paul Haggis and writing/producing partner Robert Morescu have filed yet another lawsuit against Crash producer Bob Yuri, claiming he still owes them “$4.7 million in adjusted gross receipts for the film.” This is at least the fourth lawsuit to have followed the film’s 2006 Best Picture win, and you’d think it all would have been preventable??????if anyone should know the ins and outs of inane misunderstandings, it’s the guys who wrote Crash.