WGA Strike: Your thoughts?

[Yok/0]

Is this still going on? I've heard a few shows that have a bunch of scripts already written are going to a more spread-out new episode structure - to wait the writers out perhaps?

Wow what a Bump, but I almost completely fergotten about that. So far I think their still going at it according to their youtube account. At this case they probably found some new script writers who are taking advantage of the situation.

[jasper-isis]

Network executives criticized the guild's vow to picket. "It feels like the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high school are trying to cancel the prom, but NBC wants to try and keep that prom alive," NBC entertainment chief Ben Silverman told radio host Ryan Seacrest on Monday.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/ne ... entnews-tv

Keeeeep talking, NBC exec. We see what you're trying to do here.

[Serv0]

Network executives criticized the guild's vow to picket. "It feels like the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high school are trying to cancel the prom, but NBC wants to try and keep that prom alive," NBC entertainment chief Ben Silverman told radio host Ryan Seacrest on Monday.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/ne ... entnews-tv

A prom needs nerds to hook up their lights and music.

[BasharOfTheAges]

So, I take it we're up for a lot more reality TV programming. Anyone think improv comedy shows (a la Whose Line) will be coming back?

[Beowulf]

What I think a lot of people who talk about this shit don't realize is that its a principle thing. 0% is still 0% whether or not they make 20k, 60k, or are fucking Oil trust fund children.

If you are in a creative position in the film industry, you have the possibility to make millions of dollars. Thats the world they are in. Why shouldn't they get a cut of internet distribution? To call the trend toward internet distribution of content the 'elephant in the room' would be the understatement of 2008. The industry knows where we are heading, and yet the suits want to play dumb and act appalled that people would ask for a single digit percentage cut of content THEY CREATED.

Who cares if a writer makes 60 grand a year? If they are good, they should be making hundreds of thousands, with sustaining royalties.

[Brad]

What I think a lot of people who talk about this shit don't realize is that its a principle thing. 0% is still 0% whether or not they make 20k, 60k, or are fucking Oil trust fund children.

If you are in a creative position in the film industry, you have the possibility to make millions of dollars. Thats the world they are in. Why shouldn't they get a cut of internet distribution? To call the trend toward internet distribution of content the 'elephant in the room' would be the understatement of 2008. The industry knows where we are heading, and yet the suits want to play dumb and act appalled that people would ask for a single digit percentage cut of content THEY CREATED.

Who cares if a writer makes 60 grand a year? If they are good, they should be making hundreds of thousands, with sustaining royalties.

x2

[jasper-isis]

I'm pretty certain that the vast majority of people would heartily support the writers if they knew the whole story. But the media's covered barely any of it, and now that people's favorite shows are running dry left and right, the networks are making sure to paint the writers as a bunch of lousy troublemakers.

[godix]

Who cares if a writer makes 60 grand a year? If they are good, they should be making hundreds of thousands, with sustaining royalties.

The thing that gets me though is they get 60 grand even if the show bombs. The WGA is basically saying that if the show is a success they want a cut of that but if the show bombs then someone else should eat the loss since the writers will still get paid. If they want a cut of success then they should accept some of the risk for failure. Especially since if the writers claim that success is their doing is correct then failure is also their doing.

I'm still basically for the writers here since the media companies actually are evil greedy little fuckers, but even so the writers are being greedy little fuckers as well.

[Beowulf]

Who cares if a writer makes 60 grand a year? If they are good, they should be making hundreds of thousands, with sustaining royalties.

The thing that gets me though is they get 60 grand even if the show bombs. The WGA is basically saying that if the show is a success they want a cut of that but if the show bombs then someone else should eat the loss since the writers will still get paid. If they want a cut of success then they should accept some of the risk for failure. Especially since if the writers claim that success is their doing is correct then failure is also their doing.

I'm still basically for the writers here since the media companies actually are evil greedy little fuckers, but even so the writers are being greedy little fuckers as well.

Writers enjoy that safe position because they don't stand to make HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS when a show is a success. They shouldn't stand to lose it either. Your explanation is the reason they are asking for a single digit percentage of the pie and not the >50% the network/studio takes.

[Kitsuner]

I'm pretty certain that the vast majority of people would heartily support the writers if they knew the whole story. But the media's covered barely any of it, and now that people's favorite shows are running dry left and right, the networks are making sure to paint the writers as a bunch of lousy troublemakers.

Of course the media hardly covers it. There isn't anyone to write the coverage!