BUSINESS NOTES EARLY TALKS AIMED AT AVERTING STRIKE.The Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America is a term often referring to the joint efforts of the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, west. Jointly, the two guilds act as the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and has agreed to begin early contract negotiations this month in an effort to avert a summer strike that could cripple movie and television production, sources said Wednesday. The talks, set to begin Jan. 22, will take place nearly three months before the guild's current contract expires. The negotiating session between the WGA WGA Windows Genuine Advantage (Microsoft) WGA Writers Guild of America (union for screenwriters) WGA Wise Giving Alliance (Better Business Bureau) WGA wheat germ agglutinin and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, a coalition representing major studios and networks, is scheduled to last two weeks. If a deal is not reached during the negotiations, the guild will halt talks until several weeks before its contract expires May 1, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a WGA source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The guild had no official comment on the planned negotiations. A writers' strike could coincide with other potential walkouts following the June 30 expiration of contracts for the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. - Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. December sales post modest gains December showed only modest gains for retailers nationally as well as Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , according to TeleCheck Services, Inc. Compared with December 1999, stores showed a 2.7 percent increase in sales in Los Angeles, the check-acceptance company reported Wednesday. This is directly in line with national figures, which also showed a 2.7 percent increase. Last year's December was considerably more prosperous, showing a 5.8 percent increase over 1998. TeleCheck suggested the slight gain was influenced by a slowing national economy, heavy discount sales that cut into profits and severe weather in other parts of the country. - Daily News SEC investigating Stan Lee Media Stan Lee Media (SLM) was an Internet-based creation, production and marketing company that created branded super hero franchises for applications in all media. Its 165 man animation production studio was based in Los Angeles, California from 1998- 2001. ENCINO - Stan Lee Media Inc. has received notice of an informal inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission, seeking details regarding securities trading in the company's stock by certain individuals and entities. In addition, during its internal investigation, the company has discovered evidence of possible misuse of company funds by some former members of the company's management team. The company has terminated its consulting agreement with Paraversal Inc., the consulting company through which Stan Lee Media retained the services of Peter F. Paul Peter F. Paul (born September 2, 1948[1]) has been a lawyer, and entrepreneur, former partner of Spider-Man creator Stan Lee in Stan Lee Media, and convicted felon. In 2000, he became central to a campaign fund-raising scandal involving Senator Hillary Clinton. , and the employment agreement with Stephen Gordon, the former executive vice president/Operations of Stan Lee Media. - Daily News Mulligan mul·li·gan n. A golf shot not tallied against the score, granted in informal play after a poor shot especially from the tee. [Probably from the name Mulligan.] Noun 1. to lead News Corp. unit NEW YORK New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of - News Corp. named Brian Mulligan, the former chief financial officer of Seagram Co., as chairman of its Fox Television unit, the company announced Wednesday. Mulligan replaces Chase Carey, who was named to head up News Corp.'s satellite broadcasting subsidiary, Sky Global Networks, in June. Mulligan will report to Peter Chernin, News Corp.'s president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . Mulligan left Seagram in December after the company merged with Vivendi SA, the French media and utilities conglomerate. As head of Fox TV, Mulligan will oversee the company's broadcast stations, the business side of the Fox network, and cable properties such as Fox News Channel. Sandy Grushow will continue to head up the creative side of the Fox network as well as the Fox television studios. - Associated Press |
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