Writers Strike

[pjam]

Oops, there goes another. TV shows are dropping like flies now...

Fox hits snooze: "24" postponed as part of strike sked
Jack will be back-- but when is now an open question.

Fox has pushed back the planned January debut of "24," citing uncertainty over the strike as a reason. Net wants to make sure viewers see the action unfold without interruption.

"Family Guy" now too.. it's spreading to animation (not covered by WGA). Seth McFarlane has confirmed only one show left to run...

 

[jungle jom]

Thanks for the Info Pjam!

 

[Darth Caedus]

Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. SNL has writers? It hasn't been funny in years!

I haven't watched that show in years

 

[Jmlsuperman]

Wow, that YOUTUBE video on WHY WE FIGHT was really somethin'. I work in the industry as a Still photographer. I am greatly affected, no shows shooting, no shows to shoot. My photos are used on DVD box art to help market DVD's, the photo you see when you go to iTunes or AMAZON to download your favorite show was taken by a still photographer. I get ZERO residuals, nada, nothing. But the work that I created is used to sell the studio's product. Calendars, mugs, magnets, shirts, posters, etc. use my images, yet still no money after the fact. As much as I'd like it, I have been doing just fine without it. Where are my 4 cents? Writers are employees of the Studio or Production, they are paid to sit in a room surronded by a very large dry erase board and map out the show. Once again, they work for the studio, the checks are from the studio. Does a construction worker get paid a percentage of a buildings revenue once it's built. NO! Grips, electritions, hair and make-up, PA's, none of them get money after the job is done. The writers hopefully will get this resolved soon, because if they don't, I know a lot of Local 399 and Local 80 brothers and sisters who will not take to kindly to a long work stopage. Also, from what I hear, the WGA has already taken the DVD thing off the table. So it's up to the negotiators to get a deal locked in place. If I can't work, I can't buy SIDESHOW and that pisses me off.

 

[IronFingaz]

You got my full suport, P I'm an aspiring writer (and director) and i have alot of respect and admiration for all writers (and hopefully, someday, colleagues) who keeps making entertaining and classic shows like Heroes, Lost, Prison Break and Sopranos and ofcourse all the movie script writers. So you deserve more then you'r getting

 

[Darth Madden]

On top of it, if they tried doing something like that, it would be a pretty bad slap in the face to their team of writers, and guys like Leno and Conan know how critical those folks are. They certainly wouldn't do something that disrespectful to them.

I guess I can understand it in that way but its still funny how much they rely on someone else for all their "talent."

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

Some news writers, believe it or not, are represented by AFTRA, which covers broadcasters (radio and TV news anchors and reporters) and actors in some television (all of daytime soaps, some cable and network shows too, even some commercials). And ad copywriters do not belong to the Writers Guild -- it doesn't have anything to do with commercials.

Leno, Letterman, et al are writers, so they're on strike as writers, but not as producers, performers, or whatever else they may do. So Leno the writer must not write anything, but Leno the performer would still be obligated to show up for work. Except that Leno the producer wisely said, "it's reruns now, boys and girls -- I don't go on without a script." Several series actors have already hit the picket lines to support WGA. Julia Louis Dreyfuss was photographed out there. The ER cast was supposed to be out there too.

Twenty years ago, the last time this happened, the president of the Directors Guild commented several times that people who work in quarter-million dollar offices really shouldn't try to kill the residuals of working men and women. The studios have been keeping that eighty percent for so long they really think it's theirs.

The 75 year thing is author's copyright, not residuals. Lon Chaney's family never got a dime -- he died a year before the Screen Actors Guild was formed, and residuals for actors didn't start until 1960 (and were not retroactive). Any movie made before 1960 does not pay residuals, at least not to actors.

Incidentally, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were instrumental in forming SAG, and Karloff served on its first board of directors.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Thanks for the info Gruff. As always you are always the man with the info.

I hope everything works out in the end and they give up that extra percentage. The writers deserve it.

 

[pjam]

You got my full suport, P I'm an aspiring writer (and director) and i have alot of respect and admiration for all writers (and hopefully, someday, colleagues) who keeps making entertaining and classic shows like Heroes, Lost, Prison Break and Sopranos and ofcourse all the movie script writers. So you deserve more then you'r getting

Thanks IF, unfortunately the AMPTP wanted this all along, they never addressed the core issues, EVER. WGA didn't ask for much, just what is fair, pennies really in the grand scheme of things to balance things out. Writers are the creators of content, they don't service content, they provide it and that's the difference here.

AMPTP caused this. And now everyone in this town knows it. Don't blame the Writers for being forced to defend their rights, blame the Moguls for usurping them.

Joss Whedon has been on the front lines, read his blog on his web site, he can explain this much better than I can.

 

[DarkArtist81]

AMPTP caused this. And now everyone in this town knows it. Don't blame the Writers for being forced to defend their rights, blame the Moguls for usurping them.

Well said!

 

[pjam]

Well said!

It's what we do... or try to do.

Thanks Bro, from one Artist to another.

 

[gdb]

Thanks for posting that link, pjam! I'm going to show it to my girlfriend's family. I've been trying to explain to them (anti-union the lot of them) exactly why we have to strike and they just look at me as if they want to say, "well there's always two sides to every story."

Keep up the good work, bro!

 

[piccolodaimaoh]

Please give the writers what they want, they deserve it and everyone knows that. The television industry needs this revolution and I need my shows like the Simpsons, Heroes, Boondocks and Real Time with Bill Marher.

Please give the writers what they want so I can go back to watching the shows I love.

 

[KitFisto]

I am a pretty "anti-union" guy, but I always try to see both sides to any story.

 

[pjam]

I'm definitely not a Union type but without it, we wouldn't see jack sheet.

Thanks again for your support Guys. And gdb, skool 'em Bro, it's fairly simple to understand...

For anyone interested here is the YT WGA Strike site...

https://www.youtube.com/wgaamerica

 

[foolkiller]

The was well put together and explained. I had no idea what is was all about but now I do and I support you 100%.

 

[pjam]

Looks like the Governator is getting involved.


https://www.politico.com/news/stories/1107/6774.html


Although most of my Writer friends don't trust his partiality to Corporate interests based on his track record. But, if he can get both sides back to the table, no one will be complaining.

 

[McHavyck]

Sorry, if this has already been posted, but here is an online petition for the writers to get their due. Please sign it!

https://www.petitiononline.com/WGA/petition.html

 

[panzerwerk]

well i work props , were working today , but there only pick up shots for a movie that was done pretty much before the strike , i hope the writers get what they want so everyone can get back to feeding their familys .

 

[Andy Bergholtz]

Anyone know how this will affect the Oscars this spring? Is the writing for that event already finished, or does that kind of programming not fit in the same category for some reason? Regardless, I'm anxious to see how John Stewart addresses it, I can imagine he'll work in a few clever jabs.