A Wrap for the WGA Strike?

This weekend is looming large for those looking for signs of when the three-month writers strike will wind to a close.

The WGA West has set a membership meeting for 7:00 p.m. PST Saturday at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The WGA East will gather its troops at 2 p.m. EST Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manhattan for an update on contract negotiations.

WGA negotiating committee chair John Bowman on Tuesday gave members of the WGA West and East a heads-up that "informational meetings" are being planned for this weekend.

"While we have made important progress since the companies re-engaged us in serious talks, negotiations continue," Bowman said. "Regardless of what you hear or read, there are many significant points that have yet to be worked out.

Last night after the TAG executive board meeting, one of the board members and I stood around in the parking lot sorting out what we know and what we estimate will happen with the Writers Guild strike:

* The WGA Neg Comm is most or all the way to a deal. (Duh.)

* Strike fatigue for many has set in.

* The DGA agreement is the template, but the WGA's streaming/new media clause won't have the DGA caps (like 2% instead of $1200/yr.)

* The Neg Comm will sell the deal over the weekend, some won't like it, but the WGA membership will ratify it.

* AFTRA and the IATSE will make deals soon after the WGA contract is tied up with a bow.

Obviously we could be wrong.

Late this morning I stood on Alameda and talked to WGA picketers at the north Disney gate. I asked them about the meeting this weekend at the Shrine, they said "We hope the hors d'oeuvres are good and the bar is hosted."

They seemed more relaxed and upbeat than the last time I swung by. They also said they were ready to get back to work.

I hope they do. There's been plenty of damage to go around.