WGA Strike Thread

[dutch]

So it looks like the Writers Guild of America organization's strike is inevitable. This is horrible news for me. Since I live in Australia, our television really sucks the big one. I have to download the newest shows hot off the internets because it takes months for them to get here, even if they do at all. So on to the point. Writers want more money from TV Networks and Motion Picture companies. The last strike lasted 22 weeks. With the lack of good movies and TV shows out there, I think this news is terrible.

Many would argue that the strike is unfounded. This is because of the sheer number of poorly written shows & movies that plague networks and cinemas. Remember the blaming of Halo 3 for some crappy movies.

Others would say that the strike is necessary. Movies, even if they fail miserably, still make a large profit. Television Networks rely on advertisement revenue, advertisers pay for your 'attention', and can still make profit from a flop. As a writer and journalist myself I can sympathize with the creative minds having their ideas pilfered for little profit. Unless shows or movies are mega-successes they return mediocre revenue.

My opinion falls somewhere in between the middle of these arguments. What are your guys opinions on the matter?

[mittop]

I am not affiliated with Hollywood in any other way other than enjoying its products (at least some of the time), so much like IANAL over at Groklaw (http://www.groklaw.net), IANASWOHTP (I am not a screen writer or hollywood type person).

That being said, I think about this way. I am sure at the point where shows are being filmed and written and generally created, the different parties have enormous respect for one another. But, at the higher levels of management, I imagine that managers see writers to be another commodity to be squeezed for every ounce of profit and productivity.

The work of screen writers (and actors, and directors) is moving into a new world of media, where no precedents for compensation really seem to exist. Management wants to keep all of that new market for themselves, and that seems wrong to me. Residuals exist for "old" styles of media for important reasons. Why shouldn't they be expanded to the new. The "new" is coming at the expense of the "old", so if we are going to keep writers (and actors, and directors, and everyone else) solvent and productive, then I imagine they need to be compensated in a way that accounts for this "new" media.

IMHO.

[az0madman]

So, I was reading the Digg comments on the Office getting shutdown. I was okay with the Office since, while it's a good show, I won't miss it.

But then, I heard that Pushing Daisies and Lost have fallen victim to the strike. :( I've officially lost my will to watch television.

I'm a bit disappointed in the strike, though I haven't really watched much television other than the couple that I've liked or been recommended to. I don't really agree with why they're striking (more money for DVD releases or something), but I'm sure there's more to it if so many writers are taking a stand to it.

I just hope it gets resolved sooner then later. Last thing we need is a slew of reality TV to take its place when reality TV just started to die down.

[darthender]

It's wierd because, as of like 3 years ago, and for as long as I can remember before that, I couldn't tell you a show here where I even gave a crap about the right.

Now there's, like, a half-dozen series at least where the writing is pivotal.

Maybe that's why they chose now to go on strike. They know that for the first time in a long time, they're pivotal to the success of alot of shows. And are using the opportunity to better their situation.

[wizmaster]

It's wierd because, as of like 3 years ago, and for as long as I can remember before that, I couldn't tell you a show here where I even gave a crap about the right.

Now there's, like, a half-dozen series at least where the writing is pivotal.

Maybe that's why they chose now to go on strike. They know that for the first time in a long time, they're pivotal to the success of alot of shows. And are using the opportunity to better their situation.

Those dastardly bastards! I don't watch many shows now (or much TV for that matter) but the one(s) I enjoy need good writing (Pushing Daisies, Daily Show, Colbert Show, etc.). I hope this gets resolved before the shows start to suffer (although this could be the boon IPTV needs so all these IPTV shows should take advantage of this).

[famousblueraincoat]

let's jsut keep in mind that these are the people that provide you with essentially every aspect of your enjoyment when being entertained through this media.
i think it's really important to support them in their interest, because the overall system of television, the corporate hierarchal structure is a shitty one. like the music industry, and the proprietary software industry. it's more of a greater issue with intellectual property and copyright as a whole. regardless, the writers aren't getting their share.

the quality of writing is somewhat irrelevant if you ask me. i stopped watching TV quite a while ago, save for a few shows, but the writers guild is the absolute backbone of the industry any way you look at it. quality is more an internal matter, and has nothing to do with the issue at hand... they're still the ones who should be benefiting more from these sales, any way you look at it.

[heyseuss]

[QUOTE]So it looks like the Writers Guild of America organization's strike is inevitable. This is horrible news for me. Since I live in Australia, our television really sucks the big one. I have to download the newest shows hot off the internets because it takes months for them to get here, even if they do at all.


That's not true anymore dude. Not the part about you living in Aus, but the fact is, new shows are being delivered within roughly a week now. Your new eps. are also our new eps. It's not like it used to be.

Movies, even if they fail miserably, still make a large profit.

Oh hell to the motherhumping NO. A cheap movie being made for 10-25million (the average being 60-90million), will easily have 2, to 3 times that spent on it for advertising. A big studio will offer almost no support to the filming of a cheap little indie film, buy it cheap, and then spend 45million on local promotion, and a further 25million in foreign market. It's almost never profitable on a 'failure's'. Even movies that are making so called bank, (spidermans, titanics, etc), that cost 200million to make, easily had 300million spent on american advertising and probbly another 150million spent on advertising in the foreign market. The way they make the money is the combination of, being cheap and saving money on indies and flops, and making big with corporate tie-ins on blockbusters. Spiderman probbly made as much getting his face printed on Kraft cheese bags as at the boxoffice.

These days man, "profiting" in making movies is called, "breaking even".


Television Networks rely on advertisement revenue, advertisers pay for your 'attention', and can still make profit from a flop. As a writer and journalist myself I can sympathize with the creative minds having their ideas pilfered for little profit. Unless shows or movies are mega-successes they return mediocre revenue.

That's true, but that's the good point you almost made without realising it. TV writers don't get residuals from advertising. A flop might sell 9 $50'000 ad spots per 22 mins, but the writer who damaged his liver to produce the show, won't see any of it, COVERSELY nor will the writer who produced a show that sells 9 $750'000 spots per 22mins.


What are your guys opinions on the matter?

You can gain some more insight on the topic by checking out one of the other 3 threads on the topic too. Personally, I don't really care, but that's just because I don't watch tv. I think now would be a good time to persue a writing career though.


Speaking of Kraft - can you send me some Vegemite please ?

[gonzooo]

But then, I heard that Pushing Daisies and Lost have fallen victim to the strike.

"Lost" had writers? ;)

[rabidbadger]

me too, me too. Must have vegemite!

[zombierin]

I fully support the strike.

If anyone needs clarification on the reasons the writers are on strike this is a good little video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk

Also check out www.unitedhollywood.com for updates and video blogs.
Be sure to check out the video "The Office is Closed" if you're a fan of the show.

[rabidbadger]

awesome vid! I'm on board! Go writers, and other creative and behind the scenes folk!