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By the time you read these words, the striking members of the WGA will have already taken their positions at the entrances of every studio lot in the city, hoping that the inspiring sight of scores of red-shirted, spindly armed picketers (unless some Teamsters decided to join the first-day mix and add some muscle to the walkout) toting eye-catching signs will inspire at least a view of their peers to turn their cars around and head home in solidarity. We begin, as has been our custom, with a round-up of strikes news, leading off with the dueling™ WGA and AMPTP statements explaining why yesterday's last-minute talks ended in not-unexpected failure:

· At yesterday's marathon Oh, Shit, This Strike Thing Is Really Going To Happen Tomorrow, Isn't It? meeting, the Guild withdrew the DVD proposal the Companies called a "stumbling block" to reaching an agreement, but the studios are still making a variety of demands that would effectively establish the internet as their residual-free happy place, where they wouldn't have to pay to stream video of theatrical product, can reuse movies and TV shows for "promotional" purposes, and have a window of free online reuse of content that "makes a mockery of any residual." [WGA.org]

· The Companies blame their exit from yesterday's bargaining session on the Guild's refusal to put off the strike while they were still in last-second negotiations, a situation so frustrating that AMPTP president J. Nicholas Counter III was moved to issue this haiku in lieu of his usual statement: "Writers, so greedy/decided to strike, even though/talks were ongoing." [AMPTP.org]
· If you're looking to collect your own red t-shirt and picket sign as souvenirs of Writers Strike 2007, here's a list of the locations where the writers will be gathered for eight hours a day until the strike ends. [WGA.org]
· Whereas Hollywood was once a place full of love and warmth, the strike has hardened the hearts of studio executives now forced to make dispassionate decisions based solely on efficiency and profitability: "It has become about cold, hard business, where everyone is going to look at all their commitments and eliminate the ones that aren't necessary. Everyone will be reshuffling their businesses to make them run more efficiently, and it is going to happen fast and hard. That goes for studios and talent agencies." [Variety]
· The United Hollywood blog warns its fellow writers to be mentally prepared for the psychological warfare to come, advising them not to believe the inevitable whispers that studio execs have pledged to hand each picketer a Hefty bag full of hundred dollar bills if they'll return to work: "Expect to hear rumors that get your hopes up, only to be dashed when the truth comes out. It's an emotional roller coaster ride intended to demoralize the troops - understand that it is merely strategy. Move on - full steam ahead." [United Hollywood]
· Conflicted TV showrunners struggle with the reality of having to cross picket lines to perform their non-writing duties. One proffered solution: doing their editing from home, eliminating the need to drive on to the picketed lots. [THR]
· Network and studio execs would like writers to know that if they don't come to their senses and drop this silly strike business, they may have no choice but to scrap most of pilot season. [Variety]