DGA Late Scripts Campaign Yields Results; At Mid-Season, DGA Study of Episodic TV Reveals Timelier Scripts.

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2003

The Directors Guild of America announced today that late script delivery in episodic television -- a problem that harms every aspect of dramatic production -- is beginning to show signs of improvement. At the mid-season mark, according to the results of the DGA's script delivery tracking program, studios appear to be taking the matter seriously by delivering timelier scripts.

Last year the DGA began an industry-wide campaign to stop the proliferation of late scripts in episodic television, first by uncovering the severity of the issue and then by putting pressure on showrunners, networks and studios to do something about it. Thus far this season, the Guild's efforts seem to be meeting with success.

At mid-season, CBS has a perfect record, with all 30 of its one-hour episodic TV scripts delivered on time. Fox is performing near-perfectly, with 52 out of 57 (92%) on-time scripts thus far. These studios have also shown the greatest improvement over last season's script tracking results, with CBS performing approximately 32% better and Fox at about 53% better than last season. Universal has delivered 40 out of 41 scripts on time, a 27% improvement over last season; Sony has been timely 27 out of 28 times, a 23% improvement; and Warner Bros. has delivered 65 out of 96 scripts on time, approximately 25% better than last season. (DGA script tracking for the 2002-2003 season began September 30, 2002.)

"Scripts can come in on time when studios, networks and showrunners take the deadline seriously," said Rod Holcomb, chair of the DGA's Single-Camera Television Creative Rights Committee. "A number of networks and studios are setting an example that others should follow. And while the Guild recognizes that timely scripts increase creative quality, one thing everyone agrees upon is this: It's impossible to have on-budget seasons without on-time scripts."

During the last round of negotiations, The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) agreed to work with the DGA to help solve the late scripts dilemma. In June of this year, the DGA and eight of its director members met with top studio and network executives to forge an even deeper commitment. Among those attending the meeting were DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg and CBS' Leslie Moonves as representatives of the AMPTP and director Steven Soderbergh, chairman of DGA's Creative Rights Committee.

"We appreciate the efforts of our writers and producers in addressing this issue in such a collaborative manner," said CBS Chairman and CEO Moonves. "We all have the same goal -- to create an environment in which writers, directors, actors and everyone involved in a production can put forth their best work."

In spring 2002, the Guild sent questionnaires to 500 of its members who had directed in the single-camera genre during the past two television seasons. Of the 199 respondents, 80% said they had received at least one tardy script and estimated that half of the scripts they had directed arrived late. The DGA then began tracking script delivery in the last quarter of 2002 -- and that data proved the directors' earlier estimate to be on the mark. Nearly half of the scripts (49%) in one-hour television were delivered late; and 20% of these late scripts were late by as many as 7 to 15 days.

"The change in script delivery performance is promising," said DGA President Michael Apted. "I hope that the results will remain strong through the second half of the season. But if this is any indication of what's to come, we may see a change in the culture and practices in episodic television. And that would be a tremendously positive thing for us all."