The Strike

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by inteller

All I know is if Heroes goes in the toilet because of this I will be very pissed off.  They have enough shows to get through this season....but they have to start shooting next season too.

Heroes is a guaranteed return but they weren't able to do any mid-season rewrites which would've helped ratings.

well no actually the way the last chapter ended so abruptly makes me think something was really amiss.

You have this grand plot and you wrap it all up in one episode and kill off two major characters?  It seemed really sloppy to me.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by Moderator

Posted in the wrong thread, moved here.

Waterboy

Posted - 12/30/2007 :  21:22:52

Do you feel the same way about life insurance commissions? Agent receives part of every payment you make. The creatives are not paid much up front because every work is a gamble, so they take a smaller upfront with the promise of a percentage if it succeeds. Pretty common actually among that industry and others as well. The entertainment corporations are trying to get new revenues without cutting in their partners, yet they don't want to pay anymore upfront either. So who are the greedy ones?

I figure if they give writers a cut of the take, it will not only be a good idea in terms of retaining the writer, but if the writers owns a piece of the show, they will have a vested interest in turning in quality work. Of course, that is speaking in terms of an ideal situation, and it may not always work. I might also mention that it is an idea that may not translate well to other industries either.

As for greed, this can be manifested in many ways, and not just from the writer's interests. For instance, is anyone familiar with the accounting methods employed by some of the studios to hog the profits all to themselves? Take a movie like Forrest Gump. Had a budget of around $50 million, took in $679,693,974, and supposedly it lost money rather than turned a profit. And the list goes on with successful media that do well in layman's terms, but do poorly when applying certain creative accounting practices.

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

This just all sounds like a really bad recipe for more reality shows. [B)]

I can only hope that there will be no onslaught of reality shows. About the only ones I have ever followed was Big Brother and America's Top Model; the former because it was a window on the personality foibles of people that have their ambitions fixated on the grand prize, and the latter because I'd give my eye teeth to work on that show. Hey, how about reality shows dealing with the strike, now that would be pretty ironic!

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I understand all sides of it:

1. Studios - we put up tens of millions to make an episode (concept, writing, set, equipment actors, distribution, ad sales) or a movie and very often it does not pay off.   We take the financial risk and dutifully pay all others involved so that we might sometimes sow a reward for our efforts.  In return for doing a good job the writers get what everyone else who does a good job gets - continued employment and rising stock which might see a raise or better prospects.  To help encourage them to write better we gave them a small stake in their work, and now they want more.  If we give them more they will want STILL more.

2. Writers - If I do well the studio makes millions and millions off of my work for DECADES to come as I continue to slave away.  I just want a small cut.  Plus, it will further encourage me to do well.  Cheap studios just want to further pad their multi million dollar profits so they can pay executives and actors more millions.

3. Consumers - I'm tired of reality TV.  20% are amusing for the first season but most just suck.  I mean wasn't Bret Michaels already in love?
- - -

Personally, I don't fault either party.  My instinct is to cheer for the little guy, but I understand the studios perspective too.  So I'm neutral, I'll just read more.

This is actually my perspective in many ways. It is a business, and should be viewed and adressed as such. On the other hand, there is a vital component on the creative end as well. If both sides can consistently have their artistic and economic needs met satisfactorily, I think the product (in this case, entertainment media) will ultimately stand to gain in terms of quality and quantity.

quote:Originally posted by spoonbill


If good writers leave the trade to peruse more lucrative ambitions, studios will react accordingly to retain these writers.  

The people that lose, either way, are the consumers.  

I think, once again, that the entertainment field is a unique case where management and talent actually need each other, can't have one without the other; where the greed and ambitions of one side is tempered and offset by the other.

For the part of the studios, they want to make their paper and lots of it-that's business. The writers want to be paid more for their creative endeavors-also business. In the case of the writers, however, it is also a matter of being able to create, I think, and to do so prolifically and as a profession. Show business is one of the few places where art and commerce come together so beautifully.

You're right, the consumers do stand to lose. The shows I enjoy are affected by this, and perhaps soon the movies too, will also be affected.

Does anyone here watch 30 Rock? I thought it interesting when the star and creator, Tina Fey went on the picket line!

[inteller]

30 rock started out good....but the more I watched it the more I think it was crap.  I hope it goes away...Fey can stay on the picket line for all I care.

[pmcalk]

All I can say is that my life has not been the same without John Stewart.  Lately, I have had to resort to watching the real news to figure out what is going on in the world--what a drag.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

All I can say is that my life has not been the same without John Stewart.  Lately, I have had to resort to watching the real news to figure out what is going on in the world--what a drag.

So where do you get your news these days?

quote:Originally posted by inteller

30 rock started out good....but the more I watched it the more I think it was crap.  I hope it goes away...Fey can stay on the picket line for all I care.

I actaually like Tina Fey now on episodic TV than I ever did on SNL, believe it or not-and this coming from me, a true SNL devotee!

[pmcalk]

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

All I can say is that my life has not been the same without John Stewart.  Lately, I have had to resort to watching the real news to figure out what is going on in the world--what a drag.

So where do you get your news these days?

Fox--it's almost like a fake news station.  []

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

All I can say is that my life has not been the same without John Stewart.  Lately, I have had to resort to watching the real news to figure out what is going on in the world--what a drag.

So where do you get your news these days?

Fox--it's almost like a fake news station.  []

Is that Fox News Channel or is that Fox 23?

[FOTD]

The strike is a conspiracy to keep Americans from laughing out the GOP....

[okieinla]

I think the writer's demands are valid as well. Instead of sitting in front of the television set, more and more people are sitting in front of & downloading shows from their desktops, laptops and cellphones!

For myself, I'm concerned about the trickle down effect of this strike. I know of one small post production company that's closed it's doors & laid off employees b/c there aren't any new shows to cut/edit.
I'm socking some extra $ away just in case!

Speaking of reality shows... I went to a little rally last month because I heard Tenacious D (Jack Black) was going to perform and since it was just a few doors down, I walked over. It was a Reality Writer's rally! "It's ALL Written" were the picket signs.
http://weblogs.variety.com/wga_strike_blog/2007/12/tenacious-d-to.html

I thought this was a pretty good explanation .. from writers point of view.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk

And something the silly side.. again writers point of view.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKtKteRTA-8

[Steve]

There was an article in today's Tulsa World about this very subject.  Seems that back in the day, the old writer's contracts specified a residual of 4 cents per video cassette (or DVD) sold; now they are asking for 8 cents.  Seems like a pretty reasonable demand to me.

I don't blame the writers one bit for wanting a fair share piece of the pie.  I hope they are successful.  The recent TV barage of reruns and worthless "reality shows" only emphasizes how important they are.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

There was an article in today's Tulsa World about this very subject.  Seems that back in the day, the old writer's contracts specified a residual of 4 cents per video cassette (or DVD) sold; now they are asking for 8 cents.  Seems like a pretty reasonable demand to me.

I don't blame the writers one bit for wanting a fair share piece of the pie.  I hope they are successful.  The recent TV barage of reruns and worthless "reality shows" only emphasizes how important they are.

But today, "American Gladiators" came back...

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by Steve

There was an article in today's Tulsa World about this very subject.  Seems that back in the day, the old writer's contracts specified a residual of 4 cents per video cassette (or DVD) sold; now they are asking for 8 cents.  Seems like a pretty reasonable demand to me.

I don't blame the writers one bit for wanting a fair share piece of the pie.  I hope they are successful.  The recent TV barage of reruns and worthless "reality shows" only emphasizes how important they are.

But today, "American Gladiators" came back...

OOOHHH, I can hardly wait!  Next will probably be "That's Incredible, 2008," and they will dig up John Davidson to host, Botox, hair plugs and all.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

OOOHHH, I can hardly wait!  Next will probably be "That's Incredible, 2008," and they will dig up John Davidson to host, Botox, hair plugs and all.

Can I get an amen?

[okieinla]

LOL then ewww!

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by Steve

There was an article in today's Tulsa World about this very subject.  Seems that back in the day, the old writer's contracts specified a residual of 4 cents per video cassette (or DVD) sold; now they are asking for 8 cents.  Seems like a pretty reasonable demand to me.

I don't blame the writers one bit for wanting a fair share piece of the pie.  I hope they are successful.  The recent TV barage of reruns and worthless "reality shows" only emphasizes how important they are.

But today, "American Gladiators" came back...

OOOHHH, I can hardly wait!  Next will probably be "That's Incredible, 2008," and they will dig up John Davidson to host, Botox, hair plugs and all.

John Davidson? Now that's going back a way isn't it?