Writer and director Tony Gilroy, who created last Andor for Disney+, the “chaos” sees the reshaping of the entertainment industry. The good kind.
“We are now completely free. I don’t think anything matters,” he said at a panel in New York hosted by the WGA. “I think what’s happening now is not just happening on the screen or on the page or in this room. I think it also happens in the business world where we’re all going to be at the meeting – you know, the strike and all that – I think right now it’s absolute and utter chaos. I think anything is possible. I don’t think there are rules. I find it so exciting that it doesn’t matter if you – two episodes, an episode and a half, five episodes, this, that, a play – it doesn’t matter! I don’t know there are rules.”
Gilroy’s casual reference to the possible writers’ strike was the only reference to labor negotiations during the 90-minute session at the SVA Theater. The theater is one of the places where the guild is holding general meetings this week before negotiations begin. No date was given for the talks, but the current WGA contract expires on May 1. While the main panel discussion was followed by a question-and-answer period, a WGA representative told Deadline that members of the press will be prohibited from attending the discussions. Question and answer (so they probably don’t ask strike questions).
In addition to Gilroy, the panel of judges included WGA Award nominee Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Fleishman is in trouble), Antonio Campos (The stairs), Madeleine George (Only dead in the building) and Daniel Goldfarb (Julia). The 75th edition of the awards will take place on March 5 in coordinated but separate ceremonies in New York and LA.
Goldfarb said the creative freedom that comes with creating episodic work has increased exponentially since the days when four broadcast networks dominated and cable television was on the rise. “Well, something doesn’t have to be comedy. It doesn’t have to be drama. It could be both. And then his can decide how it is sold. It can be 45 minutes, it doesn’t have to be an hour. It doesn’t have to be 23 minutes,” he said. “It’s wild to train your brain to think in the pattern you grew up with. … The no rules aspect is very liberating and exciting.”
Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk moderated the panel.
Source: Deadline
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
