George Clooney in feud with writers union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0239381220080404

Fri Apr 4, 2008 3:34am EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - George Clooney has quietly withdrawn from the Writers Guild of America after the union rejected his request for a writing credit on his new film "Leatherheads," Daily Variety reported in its Friday edition.

Clooney opted to become a "financial core status" nonmember last fall, which means that he is still covered by the basic contract, the trade paper said.

But he loses his voting rights, and cannot run for office or attend membership meetings, according to the WGA's constitution. He must continue to pay his dues, but gets a break on "non-germane" WGA activities, such as political and lobbying efforts. His decision is also irrevocable.

Clooney, 46, directed, produced and stars in "Leatherheads," a screwball period football comedy that opens across North America on Friday via General Electric Co's Universal Pictures. Despite mixed reviews, it is expected to be the top draw at the weekend box office.

He had sought to receive a writing credit alongside Duncan Brantley and Rick Reilly, claiming that he personally gave the duo's languishing 17-year old project a major overhaul.

Clooney, who received an Oscar nomination two years ago for co-writing "Good Night, and Good Luck," told Daily Variety that he felt he had written all but two of the scenes for "Leatherheads." His request for credit was voted down 2-1 at an arbitration hearing.

FULL story at link.

[ananda]

1. I don't understand..

.. what all this means for Clooney and the WGA.

It sounds as though Clooney has a viable lawsuit..
but I cannot for the life of me figure out why
it's panning out the way it is.

[rosesaylavee]

2. The union has done itself no favors with this ruling.

Clooney is a class act and they lost a valuable, supportive voice with this move.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Did any of the members provide support for Clooney's cause?

Were the other two writers in support or against his writer status?

What is the criteria that the board used and did they follow the member rules? Was the 3 member board biased?

[rosesaylavee]

4. Good questions

If a journalist had written that report instead we would probably have known. The thrust was more about him leaving the fold than the why. It's about selling the news, not reporting the news.