The cable Creator David Simon has become one of the many writers/producers whose overall agreements have been suspended because of the strike.
Simon announced via Twitter Monday that HBO just suspended their deal “after writing television for them for 25 years.” Next to The cablecontinued Simon Generation Kill, Treme, The Deuce, The Plot Against America, Show Me A Hero And We own this city.
The language in the letters suspending the entire deal varies slightly — from “suspended engagement” (NBCUniversal) to “suspended services” (Warner Bros., Disney, CBS Studios), as all showrunners state that the compensation they’re receiving in the received under their term contracts, was suspended effective May 2 when the WGA went on strike following the expiry of the Guild’s contract with the studios as the two sides were unable to reach a new agreement.
Some, like Disney and NBCUniversal, don’t go into detail, while others, like WBTV and CBS Studios, specify areas that will be affected, including overhead/executive salaries and business expense increases, access to office space, etc. Disney notes that everyone is paying is suspended “except as provided in the Agreement”.
The suspension of overall contracts comes as major television studios also informed writers/producers last week that they are expected to continue providing producing services during the WGA strike. At a meeting on Saturday, showrunner shot backand said that “there is no non-scriptural aspect” in what they do.
Like many of his union colleagues, Simon went on picket Monday.