About the Book:

HARD TO FIND BOOK, only a very limited number of copies are still available.

It was a Hollywood meltdown... An Industry at War in the Internet Age

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike in 2007. The big issue in contract talks between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major studios, TV networks and independent producers: a share of digital revenues for TV programs streaming in what was then the emerging digital realm on the Internet, content known as "new media" – projects distributed or rerun over the internet, on iPods or cellphones. The writers hit the streets with picket signs and the strike was settled one hundred turbulent days later – but then the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) spiralled out of control, unwilling to accept the same terms but unable to muster its own strike vote. As the housing bubble burst and the US national economy collapsed, idled writers and actors sacrificed millions of dollars in film and TV wages in order to pursue pennies in new media. All told, the turmoil lasted about two years.

But why? Analyzing events as they unfolded is a recognized expert, Jonathan Handel, a Los Angeles entertainment attorney and journalist. In Hollywood on Strike!, he lays bare the contracts, economics and politics swirling behind the paradox of entertainment industry labour relations. He is a uniquely qualified guide: a former associate counsel at the WGA, his law practice focuses on new media and entertainment. He was described as "one of the most-quoted sources on the strike."

The 2007-2009 contracts, so hard fought, brought scant months of labour peace: re-negotiations began in 2010, and recur every three years. That makes Hollywood on Strike! essential reading for anyone who wants to understand Hollywood in the streaming age. The book includes 80 pages of reference materials: abbreviations and glossary, graphic timeline, index, and more. Also included is a "Highlights" list of selected sections for readers who wish to focus on milestone events and analysis – including Handel's unique perspective on why Hollywood strikes occur and what can be done to end the cycles of labour unrest.

What people say:

"Jonathan brings the insights of an insider – and the instincts of a reporter – to the complex world of Hollywood labor." — Los Angeles Times

"Hollywood's most sensible legal eagle. Jonathan Handel was one of the most reliable, fair-minded and quotable sources during the Writers Guild of America strike." — Kansas City Star

"I'm going to read this book cover to cover." — Ken Howard, Former President of Screen Actors Guild and first President of SAG-AFTRA

"Labor relations in the entertainment industry are complex and incredibly nuanced. Handel's appreciation of the dynamics and his understanding of the issues are commendable." — Roberta Reardon, Former President of American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)

"Handel chronicles the WGA strike and SAG negotiations with an attorney's eye for detail and a blogger's distinctive point of view." — Carol Lombardini, President of Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP)

About the Author:

Jonathan Handel is a Los Angeles-based attorney specializing in the areas of entertainment, new media, technology, and intellectual property transactions. He has lectured and taught courses on entertainment unions and guilds at Southwestern Law School, and as an adjunct professor at USC and UCLA Law Schools. He has covered entertainment labour and various other business matters as a Contributing Editor for The Hollywood Reporter and his writing also appears in several other outlets. As a commentator, his views have appeared in the media hundreds of times in the United States and abroad.