Award Central News

WGA leaders obviously have a lot on their plate this week, but Ganis on Wednesday said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences needs to know ASAP "as a matter of logistics. We have nominees and potential presenters who live all over the globe. I'm nervous. We're getting down to the final moments; we need to make plans."

Guild reps have told reporters several times that they don't intend to grant the Academy a waiver, but have never given a definitive yes or no to the org itself.

"We've asked several times for a waiver or a one-day truce to move ahead," Ganis said, with the latest request delivered Monday afternoon. WGA reps told the Academy that they could expect an answer sometime next week. Ganis said he is sympathetic to the guild's sensitivities at this time -- but next week is too late for a show that involves not only travel arrangements for dozens of people, but complicated plans for a stage show, TV production, etc.

Logic would dictate that since the guild gave waivers to such kudocasts as the Image Awards and the upcoming Grammys, then Oscar would be given the OK. But nothing's been firmed.

Ganis is hopeful, because all 13 nominated screenwriters attended Monday's nominees luncheon at the BevHilton, as did James L. Brooks and Frank Pierson, who are governors of the Acad's writers branch. All the scripters were "thrilled at being there," Ganis said.

The Acad honcho reminds that nearly every member of the Academy belongs to a guild -- or several. (Ganis himself is a guild member, as a producer and former publicist). The org, he said, "has no beef whatsoever with the writers. We have a history of celebrating great writers and of constant cooperation with the guild."

"We're preparing for two shows," he reminded. The office of Gil Cates, who's producing the kudocast, has two boards -- one for Show A and one for Show B. "Both those boards are filling up with plans, but we want to do Show A."

"I'm reaching out in a measured way," he said. "We're feeling great that (WGA-AMPTP) negotiations seem to have reached the stage where they're concluding. I'm a filmmaker and I want everybody back working."