Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

Seems kind of odd not to have a thread given that it's kind of a big thing and there's a bunch of TV fans around here.

* The Strike has been on since Nov 5th.

* It doesn't seem like an end is in sight. The networks are mostly re-arranging their schedule well into the new year in anticipation of a prolonged strike.

* Talk shows like the Daily Show or the network ones have gone into re-runs this week. Letterman, Conan, Stewart and Leno have all sided with the writers. Presumably, if they ever cross/the strike goes long they would return with more interview weighted episodes (Ellen returned the day after the strike and "out of respect" for her writers, didn't do a monologue).

* Arnold Schwarzenegger has made it a priority to resolve the strike (and while I do think almost everything about the guy is a joke, he has a pretty good track record in these kind of things).

* Speaking of the Daily Show, news came out this week that John Stewart is paying the writers of the DS as well as the Colbert Report (he's an exec prod of both) out of pocket for at least the first two weeks of the strike.

* Fox has shelved "24" until they are sure the show can run a repeat free season, has its been doing for a few seasons now.

* ABC's LOST has 8 of 16 episodes prepared for next season. Supposedly, it happens that the 8th ep ends in a cliffhanger, and ABC is going to run the 8 eps they have as planned.

* Sitcoms are fastest hit by the strike, because they write episodes very last minute and because the way a lot of them work requires writers on set.

* "The Office" is probably hardest hit because a lot of their cast are writers, who have penned eps of the series, including Steve Carrell and BJ Novak. They are refusing to work during the strike. "The Office" only has one episode left in the can.

* The issue at hand is how much/little writers get paid for DVD sales and online broadcasts; collectively called "new technology". More and more, the money made from TV shows is in season set DVD packages, and the broadcasting of episodes online, either through a site like itunes at a cost or through the networks website attached to ads.

* Writers want to get more of this new pie, while networks will hear nothing of it. The standard network line is something to the effect of "the profitability and sustainability of these new technologies is unquantifiable at this early stage so we can't restructure the pay scale at this time";

*however some people have been more harsh, from Entertainment Weekly:
"Currently, for every dollar spent on a DVD, writers receive about one-third of a penny. They would like, instead, to receive about two-thirds of a penny. The AMPTP's first response to this was to waste weeks by advocating a complete abolition of the residual system. Why, they argued, should writers get paid anything for their work after it's released? Studio chiefs who are smart enough to know better even hauled out a tired old maxim attributed to the late MCA titan Lew Wasserman — ''My plumber doesn't charge me every time I flush the toilet'" (this argument of proximity contradicts the standard understanding of compensation for written work used for fields like film, music, books, ...).

* Truthfully, it's hard to look at the facts and not side with the writers, however I do believe they've done a horrible job of getting the story out there. TV news coverage especially, while devoting a lot of time, has been hugely polarized to covering the strike and anecdotes about different TV celebs attached to, rather than the issue. If the writers can educate the public and more the fight to the PR arena, I think their chances of being satisfied go up huge.

* While the New Yorker article a few weeks back indicated "The Wire" has wrapped shooting for its final season, theres no official word I've found about it coming back or not.

*Some other OOT favs and how many eps they have left prepared:
- 30 Rock: 5
- Friday Night Lights: 9
- Heroes: 5
- The Office: 1 (half-hour)
- Prison Break: 6
- Pushing Daisies: 4
- Scrubs: 9

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

The Wire's finished and ready to go in January, so I really don't care too much about this strike.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

there's a thread in the lounge

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

[ QUOTE ]
there's a thread in the lounge

[/ QUOTE ]

Except that there are a lot more television threads in this forum than in the lounge and I'm sure there would be solid participation from OOT.

Significant events are often posted across different forums (Michael Vick, Dog, etc...)

Ultimately it's up to NT but I would think this thread would have good legs in OOT.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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Truthfully, it's hard to look at the facts and not side with the writers

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I agree. Technology has changed to allow the media to be disseminated in new fashions. I don't think it's unreasonable for the writers to request their fair share - it certainly isn't as if they are being unreasonable in their demands (imo).

This is especially true for shows that are so writer driven (30 Rock, The Office). A monkey could write According to Jim - it doesn't matter since people who like the show are probably John Belushi fans (I guess). The Office doesn't go anywhere without their writers.

Edit: Since film writers are compensated better than their television colleagues, I wonder if they are willing to stand firm or if their could be a rift between the two groups.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

[ QUOTE ]
there's a thread in the lounge

[/ QUOTE ]

Plenty of people never set foot in the lounge and would never see that thread. In the case of topics like this which aren't directly under the heading of a particular forum, I think it's fine for multiple "community" forums to have similar threads.

Anyways, I'm going to miss The Office and Lost most. I really, really hope this gets resolved in a couple months. And I hope when it is resolved, they come up with a sensible plan to actually air the remaining material from these seasons. Maybe have the programs run new eps in the summer? I don't know.

Also, as far as the 8th ep. of Lost ending in a cliff-hanger, I'm pretty sure the same can be said for EVERY ep. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

I can't believe how stubborn both parties are being on this.

At first I thought the strike would be a joke because there are so many people who want to write that I figured the networks would just find writers outside of the WGA.

Now I understand the WGA kind of works like the mafia, and any writer who works outside of the WGA gets blackballed.

I think somethings gotta give and the power is in the writer's hands right now. It just sucks because the consumers will end up paying for the writer's higher wages.

And I'm sure the price won't reflect just the extra 1/3 of a penny the writer's want but an extra something else for the executives.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/11/c...iter_talks.php

this guy sounds like a retard heh

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

[ QUOTE ]
The standard network line is something to the effect of "the profitability and sustainability of these new technologies is unquantifiable at this early stage so we can't restructure the pay scale at this time";

[/ QUOTE ]

What a load of complete crap. Yeah I'm sure networks can't quantify the assload of money they've made on TV->DVD sales.

I'm normally vehemently anti-union but based on the information I'm aware of I'm with the writers on this one.

Perhaps this is apples and oranges, but I liken Alexander to the writers and Jerry/NBC to the networks.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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The Wire's finished and ready to go in January, so I really don't care too much about this strike.

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good enough for me as well

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...ike-side_N.htm
Most important thing about this article, Frank TV will only have 4 episodes.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

Dexter?!?!?!?!? Do they have the last 6 episodes prepared?

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

what they are talking about with "new media" is online showing of shows. i TOTALLY agree on writers deserving more from dvd sales, but from online media it is bs. you know why writers aren't getting paid for profits from online media? its because there are none, as a whole the television industry is down about 100 million in online media. now, in the future this will be changed but right now demanding money from online media is like demanding milk from a starving cow, if you keep milking it the cow will die.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

My understanding is that they're trying to keep themselves from getting hosed in the future on the online stuff like they did with dvds.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

Wow, I can't believe they don't get paid for DVDs.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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Wow, I can't believe they don't get paid for DVDs.

[/ QUOTE ]
They do. They want more, in addition to other things.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/11/c...iter_talks.php

this guy sounds like a retard heh

[/ QUOTE ]

Just wow.

Wow.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

The problem with the internet is the writer's don't get paid anything unless they are powerful enough that they can include it in their given script/tv deal etc.

This isn't a huge problem now...but in like 2-4 years when tons of TV shows/Indep films etc are sold or streamed online writers are going to be seriously [censored], esp the middle class writer who essentially survive on their residuals.

The AMPTP wants to do s tudy for 3-4 years and then discuss the internet after that. The WGA says [censored] that..we make a deal now...if you don't sell anything on the net then we don't get paid...but if you do then we got a piece like we would normally with TV/Film.

The AMPTP also started things off badly by saying we don't want to pay you residuals...on anything. Oh and we aren't going to let you put your name on any promotional material...posters etc unless we decide its ok.

Also the DVD rate was agreed upon like 10-20 years ago(i believe it is actually the home video rate) when it was in its infancy stage and the studios offered that by saying in 3 years once we get a handle on this new market we will renegotiate on the % to something fairer if there is a market there. those years went by..home video exploded then DVD and the WGA said ok there is a huge market time to follow up and renegotiate and the AMPTP said [censored] you.


That being said the strike will go to May/June. That is the only way the WGA can get any leverage due to the possibility of a combo WGA/SAG strike which would shut everything down.
Also in the meantime the DGA will agree to a deal and both the studios and writers will have a basic idea of what they can get because they will never get a better deal than the DGA.

The WGA massively [censored] up because at the last minute the AMPTP started to actually negotiate...had they extended the deadline the WGA would have gotten a better deal than what they will get post strike(unless a combo WGA/SAG strike happens). Once the strike started the WGA lost all leverage.

The studios don't really care that much about the strike. The TV season so far was in the shitter..they can throw up reality which is much cheaper...their movies are set up until Xmas 08. After 8 weeks they can start cutting deals with producers/writers/directors/ just about anyone they don't want anymore. (only exception is those who have strike clauses in their deals-JJ Abrams etc). And eventually the WGA will cave once people run out of $$ and they will be forced to accept a [censored] deal.

Win/Win for studios. except the nightmare scenario of SAG/WGA joining forces and holding out as long as possible till studios have to give them a good deal.

Lots of people are already being fired/laid off...it will get worse and worse as time goes on.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

So this would be a bad time to move to la to be a waiter?

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

Yep...restaurants get killed cuz the first thing to go in a strike is expense accounts

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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The studios don't really care that much about the strike. The TV season so far was in the shitter..they can throw up reality which is much cheaper...

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I'll give them some credit for not being retarded, may not smart but not retarded. Sure reality TV might do nightly ratings to keep companies paying for ad time, but what about all the money being lost on talk shows? all the money being lost on potential DVD sales/syndication this season would yield? and the fact that reality tv may be nice, but networks need their huge scripted series to anchor their line up.

I wouldn't doubt that they aren't losing much sleep over this, but this is hurting them and they know it.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

[ QUOTE ]
TVWeek: The WGA said they dropped their demands for DVD residuals. How big of a concession was that?
Mr. Counter: None at all, because we would never have agreed to it—$56 million earned last year just for writers alone. And that’s not counting their profit participation.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know anything about this issue but he seems to be saying that is a lot of money. $56 million a year sounds like an absolutely minuscule slice of the pie in this industry.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

Thanks CDS, you're officially forgiven for spoiling King of Kong. I've been wondering what all the issues are here. Man corporations are so [censored] stupid sometimes. I really think it's only a matter of time before we're all serfs in this country with large conglomerates playing the role of brutal totalitarian dictator. /tangent psycho rant

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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[ QUOTE ]

The studios don't really care that much about the strike. The TV season so far was in the shitter..they can throw up reality which is much cheaper...

[/ QUOTE ]
I'll give them some credit for not being retarded, may not smart but not retarded. Sure reality TV might do nightly ratings to keep companies paying for ad time, but what about all the money being lost on talk shows? all the money being lost on potential DVD sales/syndication this season would yield? and the fact that reality tv may be nice, but networks need their huge scripted series to anchor their line up.

I wouldn't doubt that they aren't losing much sleep over this, but this is hurting them and they know it.

[/ QUOTE ]

But not hurting them as much as caving and giving a good deal to the writers...which in turn will cause the DGA to ask for a even better deal and SAG to do likewise.

Also all the studio heads knew before the strike exactly how much they would lose due to the strike yet didn't soften in their negotiations

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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Wow, I can't believe they don't get paid for DVDs.

[/ QUOTE ]
They do. They want more, in addition to other things.

[/ QUOTE ]Ah, thanks for clearing that up.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

they get 4 cents per DVD sold. They want 8 cents

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
TVWeek: The WGA said they dropped their demands for DVD residuals. How big of a concession was that?
Mr. Counter: None at all, because we would never have agreed to it—$56 million earned last year just for writers alone. And that’s not counting their profit participation.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know anything about this issue but he seems to be saying that is a lot of money. $56 million a year sounds like an absolutely minuscule slice of the pie in this industry.

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Yeah, he's trying to make his greed sound good. It's obviously insane.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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After 8 weeks they can start cutting deals with producers/writers/directors/ just about anyone they don't want anymore. (only exception is those who have strike clauses in their deals-JJ Abrams etc).

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you go over what exactly entails a strike clause?

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

Any info on other tv shows?

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

just go to wikipeidia

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

[ QUOTE ]
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After 8 weeks they can start cutting deals with producers/writers/directors/ just about anyone they don't want anymore. (only exception is those who have strike clauses in their deals-JJ Abrams etc).

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you go over what exactly entails a strike clause?

[/ QUOTE ]


studios invoke force majeure and cancel deals with producers, writers, basically anyone they want to get rid of. High profile writers/directors/producers usually are smart and add a clause that says they can't be terminated this way.

you'll start seeing this 6-8 weeks after the strike began.
Same goes for agencies etc

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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you know why writers aren't getting paid for profits from online media? its because there are none, as a whole the television industry is down about 100 million in online media.

[/ QUOTE ]

Even if that's true, it doesn't matter.
This is akin to saying that if I write a show, it gets picked up for a 10 episode order and no one ends up watching (so the network loses money on the show) I shouldn't get paid.

These shows are being broadcast online with ads attached, the writers should be paid. If they were being broadcast on TV with ads attached and lost money the writers would still be paid, so why shouldn't they get paid if the episodes are being broadcast online and losing money?

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

fury,

if that is true, then just weigh the compensation heavily towards %s of profits. no profits, writers don't get much if anything. lots of profits, writers get their fair share.


as others have said, they don't expect it to be a big income draw now, they just don't want to wait until it is profitable to get the wheels and deals going.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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[ QUOTE ]
you know why writers aren't getting paid for profits from online media? its because there are none, as a whole the television industry is down about 100 million in online media.

[/ QUOTE ]

Even if that's true, it doesn't matter.
This is akin to saying that if I write a show, it gets picked up for a 10 episode order and no one ends up watching (so the network loses money on the show) I shouldn't get paid.

These shows are being broadcast online with ads attached, the writers should be paid. If they were being broadcast on TV with ads attached and lost money the writers would still be paid, so why shouldn't they get paid if the episodes are being broadcast online and losing money?

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't matter how much the studios are making/losing on internet stuff right now, what matters is that in the next 5-10 years online sales/streaming of television and movies will be worth billions.

The writers know the landscape is going to change drastically, and they don't want to be left out in the cold. And the studios know the landscape is changing, and they don't want to share the profits.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

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* ABC's LOST has 8 of 16 episodes prepared for next season. Supposedly, it happens that the 8th ep ends in a cliffhanger, and ABC is going to run the 8 eps they have as planned.


[/ QUOTE ]
Yaaaay we were waiting until Feb so we could get the whole season straight through. Plan = ruined

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
* ABC's LOST has 8 of 16 episodes prepared for next season. Supposedly, it happens that the 8th ep ends in a cliffhanger, and ABC is going to run the 8 eps they have as planned.


[/ QUOTE ]
Yaaaay we were waiting until Feb so we could get the whole season straight through. Plan = ruined

[/ QUOTE ]


ABC is leaning towards not airihng any episodes until after the strike

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

Entourage?

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

Dexter is good, they anticipated the strike and got all filming done.

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Entourage?

[/ QUOTE ]
People write this show?

Re: Official WGA Writers Strike thread.
 

This thread is completely civil, but on other sites you have discussions on this where idiots are saying things like "[censored] the greedy producers" or "stupid greedy writers, be happy you have a job". Here's the thing. 90% of the people who comment on this don't have a clue about basic economics, how unions work, etc. They'll side with whichever side based purely on whether they lean socialist or lean libertarian.

99% of the people who comment on this don't have a clue about the specific ins-and-outs and economics of show business. Sure 4 cents or 1/3rd a cent or whatever sounds like nothing, but 99% of us have no clue about what the profit margins are, what everyone else involved is being paid, the difficulty of producing and marketing a successful show/movie, who the strike is really hurting, etc.

Again, this thread is on the level, but the knee-jerk [censored] from high schoolers on other sites pisses me off.