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WriterAction.com is where about 400 members of the Writers Guild go for their daily fix of of dish, dirt and grousing, behind a firewall open only to other guild members. A story in Friday's Times by Rachel Abramowitz focuses on the members' anonymous and scathing critiques of Hollywood executives, a section of the site that was taken down temporarily when she began asking questions. There is even a standardized form for evaluating the talents of producers and other execs.
One Hollywood exec is described as a "nightmare" who engages in "endless lying." Other movie bigwigs are labeled "obnoxious," "gutless" and "afraid to express any opinion for which she might be held accountable." It gets even nastier: One producer is accused of abusing female staffers, and of another, it is said: "instead of putting money on the screen, he puts it into his pocket."...For some, it is quickly becoming required reading in a town that loves to gossip.
"I love it," said comedy writer Matt Prager ("South Park"). "Because it's anonymous, people tell the truth, the truth as far as they know it. There's something gratifying — Hollywood is not a town famous for its accountability. It's nice to have action meet consequences."
Three leaders of the site were elected to the WGA board this week.