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tv and movie writers on strike

furcalchick said:
i want this to be a very long strike. like a year to see what happens to the networks if they have nothing new in 2009...;)
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good greif I hope not. The networks will just put more reality tv crap on TV. It is already bad enough all it will do is make it worse. I honestly hate reality TV
 
LethalWolfe said:
I think it's a lot easier getting consistent work as an editor, DP, or make-up artist than it is as a writer.
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Not when none of the studios are shooting because the writers are going on strike.

To even assume that the writing strike isn't affecting the jobs of everyone else in the business is ridiculous. Here is a view on the writer's strike by one of the key grips on "The Office." The Office has 14 writers. Because those writers refused to work, 102 other people are now out of work. How is that fair to them?
 
Unfortunately, IMO, most writers can't afford to go on strike for a long time, which might undermine the whole thing because the networks CAN afford it. Sure they are losing money, but its not going to bankrupt them like it will many writers.

It is sad that it's putting more people out of work than just the writers, but I think the writers have the right to ask for more royalties, especially when the actors, producers, networks get so dammmmn much from Hollywood, Broadway and the networks.
 
DavidLeblond said:
To even assume that the writing strike isn't affecting the jobs of everyone else in the business is ridiculous.
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Then it's a good thing that nobody has said that. :rolleyes:

It's unfortunate, but the strike is a necessary evil. If you think they shouldn't have gone on strike, what alternative do you suggest that would get the result they want?
 
DavidLeblond said:
Not when none of the studios are shooting because the writers are going on strike.
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There's other work in LA besides scripted, union movies and TV shows.

To even assume that the writing strike isn't affecting the jobs of everyone else in the business is ridiculous.
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Who assumed anything like that (besides you of course)? I work as an editor in LA and have friends whose shows are going on hiatus until the strike ends. If the strike goes on long enough will it force people out of LA and/or into other industries? Yes. But this won't be the first, or last, time the industry tree has been shaken and the people barely hanging on get knocked off. 2001 was a horrible year in Hollywood and sent lots of people packing (including myself back to the midwest, flat broke w/mounting credit card debt). It's part of the risk of working in the entertainment industry.


Lethal
 
killerrobot said:
Unfortunately, IMO, most writers can't afford to go on strike for a long time, which might undermine the whole thing because the networks CAN afford it. Sure they are losing money, but its not going to bankrupt them like it will many writers.

It is sad that it's putting more people out of work than just the writers, but I think the writers have the right to ask for more royalties, especially when the actors, producers, networks get so dammmmn much from Hollywood, Broadway and the networks.
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Isn't the union paying them while they're on strike? I thought all unions did this?
 
http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN1424578920071115
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Strike or not, employees of the "Late Show With David Letterman" and the "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" will be paid through year's end.

Both are produced by Letterman's Worldwide Pants banner, which notified employees in New York and Los Angeles that they will be paid regardless of whether the shows return. It would make Worldwide Pants the first known company to guarantee its staff a paycheck during the writers strike.

It comes at a time when other shows like NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" have told employees to expect to be idled as the strike continues through its second week. There were rumors, since denied, that "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart had initially guaranteed a paycheck to his writers.

Unlike NBC, which owns "The Tonight Show," CBS does not own the "Late Show" or the "Late Late Show." The network pays a license fee to the production company, which it has stopped since there are no new shows.

It doesn't mean, however, that there will be no work on "Late Show." Decisions are being made week-to-week on whether the show will return to the air in some form.
 
looks like the wga is starting a worldwide movement

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117976133.html

Italian writers threaten to strike

Union says conditions are worse than U.S.

By NICK VIVARELLI

ROME — Prompted by their overseas WGA colleagues, Italy’s screenwriters are rattling sabers and threatening strike action over new media residuals.

TV scribe Andrea Purgatori, who is the screenwriters’ rep within Italian artistic copyright association SIAE, is sounding a call to action, lamenting a lack of royalties pertaining to Italian film and TV drama product sold for web and mobile phone use.

Purgatori said SIAE has taken legal action against mobile phone operators Telecom Italia, Vodafone, Wind and Hutchinson 3G, warning them to stop use of movies and TV dramas as content for their clients unless they are prepared to pay out specific royalty fees to writers.
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DavidLeblond said:
I'm finding it kinda hard to feel sorry for the writers.

As a software developer, I don't get residuals for the code I write. Doesn't bother me.

I'm pretty sure all the key grips, camera operators, lighting operators, editors, costume departments, etc that this strike is putting out of work don't get residuals either. I'm pretty sure they don't get paid as much as the writers either. Can you have TV shows without camera operators? Hell if they went on strike the reality shows wouldn't even be produced!

Yeah I think the networks calling the web content "promotional" is pretty lame. But so is putting so many other people out of work just because you want a raise.
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I don't think it's fair to make direct comparisons between different industries with entirely different histories.

In Hollywoodland, there's what's called above-the-line people (actors, directors, producers, writers), and below-the-line personnel (camera operators, grips, electricians, extras, etc.). The "creative" above-the-line people take the risks, basically gambling on the success of a project by taking a lower up-front salary in exchange for the possibility of greater profits if a project is successful. The below-the-line "crafts" people get their full salary up front, giving up any claims to residuals in most cases.

And as far as it being "fair" to the below-the-line people affected by the strike -- why is this only the WGA's fault? Isn't the producers' alliance culpable in any way as well? They could make a deal next week, but both sides are holding out for what they want.

I would feel differently if entertainment were a "public service" type job, like running a subway (where the general public is affected in a material way), but it isn't. To most of us, it's just an annoyance.
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2007


CONTRACT 2007 NEGOTIATIONS STATEMENT


LOS ANGELES – The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have issued the following statement today:


Leaders from the WGA and the AMPTP have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26. No other details or press statements will be issued.


For more information about the Writers Guild of America, West, please visit www.wga.org. For more information about the Writers Guild of America, East, please visit: www.wgaeast.org.


The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) represent writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, and new media industries in both entertainment and news. The unions conduct numerous programs, seminars, and events throughout the world on issues of interest to, and on behalf of, writers.
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http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/11/amptp-promises-to-come-back-to-table.html
 
MacNut said:
Both are produced by Letterman's Worldwide Pants banner, which notified employees in New York and Los Angeles that they will be paid regardless of whether the shows return. It would make Worldwide Pants the first known company to guarantee its staff a paycheck during the writers strike.
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Hearing things like that makes you want to jump ship and head over to Worldwide pants...showing the employees commitment.

Hope they can come to an agreement very soon.


Bless
 
You can tell this strike is going long when they are showing Leno from 15 years ago.

How did he stay on the air this long, he sucked then.
 
MacNut said:
You can tell this strike is going long when they are showing Leno from 15 years ago.
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:eek: I'm guessing that's tonight's episode?

I'll be sure to watch just for the funny hairdo and guest artist.:p
 
CalBoy said:
:eek: I'm guessing that's tonight's episode?

I'll be sure to watch just for the funny hairdo and guest artist.:p
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Yeah, apparently "vintage" episodes are cool. I guess so, but I wish the TV I used to love would come back on. Believe me, though, if I had a ticked to California and some clean clothes (possibly paid vacation too) I would be right next to those writers. I am so glad that they are trying to make things right.

I guess that we usually have no control over what is on TV or in movies. We take advantage of what these great people do. We cannot have a society based off of re-runs and movies like "Pod People"(NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT). This society, I believe, came up with Hollywood because there were no kings nor queens in America. For the first time ever, nobody had anybody to look up to, no fashion icons, no way they had to act. It was only when Hollywood came that people thought that there was a ruler. Those acters and actresses have defined our culture. Yet, there are three names I would like to name Philip Kaufman, Sidney Howard, and Julius J. Epstein. All of these people have written 3 films that I think have re-defined what movies can do. Philip Kaufman: Indiana Jones:Raiders of the Lost Ark, Sidney Howard: Adapted the film Gone With the Wind, and Julius J. Epstein: Adapted the movie Casablanca. Name your movies but think of the stars that were born out of this. Think of what cinema would be without writers.

TV would be like YouTube on steroids, pumping out videos such as a crazy man dancing for an hour long episode, with commercials that all resembled jokes made from last year... Where would we be???

Movie studios need to lighten up on their strangle hold. 8 cents for each dvd sold. That is about 1.6% of the DVD sells. I don't know I bet there are the skeptics who will hate this post and call it bad.... It always happens when I write in the current events section.... Why do I get up on my soapbox so much?..
 
http://uk.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUKN2752150520071127
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - NBC's after-hours star Carson Daly is poised to become the first U.S. late-night television talk show host to cross the picket lines of striking Hollywood writers.

"Last Call with Carson Daly," which immediately halted production at the outset of the screenwriters' strike three weeks ago, plans to resume taping Wednesday for new episodes that will begin airing next week, an NBC spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

No guest roster for the half-hour show, which airs daily at 1:35 a.m. Eastern time, was revealed, and it was not clear which night next week the program would return.

"He wanted to go back to support his staffers," the network spokeswoman said.
 
MacNut said:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUKN2752150520071127
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - NBC's after-hours star Carson Daly is poised to become the first U.S. late-night television talk show host to cross the picket lines of striking Hollywood writers.

"Last Call with Carson Daly," which immediately halted production at the outset of the screenwriters' strike three weeks ago, plans to resume taping Wednesday for new episodes that will begin airing next week, an NBC spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

No guest roster for the half-hour show, which airs daily at 1:35 a.m. Eastern time, was revealed, and it was not clear which night next week the program would return.

"He wanted to go back to support his staffers," the network spokeswoman said.
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People still care about Carson Daly?
 
Seriously, how much longer can this go on for? surely there must now be a huge loss of jobs because of this, although I support the writers, I'll freely admit they deserve much more royalties it seems stupid that this hasn't been sorted by now
 
Schtumple said:
Seriously, how much longer can this go on for? surely there must now be a huge loss of jobs because of this, although I support the writers, I'll freely admit they deserve much more royalties it seems stupid that this hasn't been sorted by now
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I think the last one last 13 weeks. We have not even hit what a month yet.

I think the studios are holding out that the public is going to get mad at the writers about not working and hope to remove steam from them. They studios will just say the reason their favorite shows are not on is because of the writers. This season of TV is already damaged.
 
Rodimus Prime said:
I think the last one last 13 weeks. We have not even hit what a month yet.

I think the studios are holding out that the public is going to get mad at the writers about not working and hope to remove steam from them. They studios will just say the reason their favorite shows are not on is because of the writers. This season of TV is already damaged.
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the last strike lasted 22 weeks and ruined tv that year. and at the rate negotiations are going, i would say that's a pretty safe bet right now for this one, perhaps longer.

and i'm with the writers all the way, they can strike as long as possible to get a fair deal. but then again, i don't watch too much current tv, and i think the corporations are being way too greedy with this deal.

but latest news is that the studios are trying to screw the writers with their latest deal to them and the actors union are requesting their members picket for an hour a day.
 
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/home-page-blog/writers-reject-latest-off-from-14291.aspx
It was there, presented to television fans in a polite message from the producers. In what could have been perceived as a possible end to the writers strike by an optimistic person, the producers offered a new proposal to the writers this week to resolve the strike. Apparently, this offer from the producers was more akin to a slap in the face than a valid strike ending proposal. The writers have been swift and vehement in their rejection of the proposal, saying that no deal is imminent and that the latest offer was “a massive rollback.”

Yesterday, it was clear that the producers had proposed a new deal to the writers, but there was nothing else known. It turns out that that the new offer contained very few signs of improvement. The producers offered the writers a single-payment fixed rate of $250 yearly for the internet streaming of old episodes. This is comically low, considering that on-air episodes cost around twenty grand for re-airings. Also, the producers did not budge on material writers make specifically for the internet, and continue to consider all such content promotional. Writers would receive zero of the ad revenue from such content in the proposed plan.

There were rumors flying around in some circles that the writers and producers basically had a deal done in principle and it was only a matter of paperwork and details. This does not appear to be the case. It looks as if absolutely no progress has been made between the two sides. I hope the writers stay strong during the strike and I think they will. The sheer greed of the studios in these matters is astonishing. The gall they have to consider online material purely promotional is incredible. The swiftness of the writers rejection today was a good sign, and something that should pique the producers' attention. The WGA is not backing down.
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And heres this for your reading pleasure.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20071130-9999-lz1c30coddon.html
 
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