Ron Howard joins striking writers in New York
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Director Ron Howard joined some 130 striking film and TV writers Thursday in a four-hour rally outside Viacom's Times Square offices Thursday.
Howard said it was "imperative" for the Hollywood unions to share meaningfully in DVD and download revenue, the issue at the core of the walkout.
"The problem is even though it's hard to define what the downloading really means, on a fundamental level, it's going to start eroding the market for television residuals," said Howard.
"Both television residuals and DVD sales are things that creative union members really depend upon in order to sustain careers. The backbone of the industry -- not the elite and not the fringe members -- but the real backbone members need it," said Howard.
The Writers Guild of America, of which Howard is a member, went out on strike on November 5 after failing to agree on terms for a new labor pact with the studios. No resolution to the impasse is in sight.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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