Anyone here concerned about the looming WGA strike?
11-07-07 | 08:11 PM
#301
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From: Southside Virginia
Originally Posted by lordwow
The disparity between upper level (Executive Producers) and mid-range producers is one of the largest in any field. I would say an EP makes upwards of $200k, while a mid-range producer makes about $40-$50k.
Part of the problem here is that those figures are based on a full year's work, and the industry doesn't work like that.
Part of the problem here is that those figures are based on a full year's work, and the industry doesn't work like that.
On top of this, look at what we're arguing here. That the studios should be able to keep the profits of a yet-to-be-discovered technology at the time of the last contract. Imagine the record industry saying to musicians "We're not going to give you any of the money from your sales online/through iTunes"
I am not arguing that Executive Producers, Lead Writers, and Star Actors are dying here, but the fact of the matter is that there seems to be a notion among those outside the industry that a majority of the people are well off and making huge money.
11-07-07 | 08:12 PM
#302
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Looking at the revised strike schedule for FOX, I think they officially want to kill "New Amsterdam" premiering it on Friday's at 9pm. Also Canterbury's Law is as good as cancelled once it premieres in April.
I do like the return of Hell's Kitchen in April, but it's going to suck that we probably won't have another edition mid-summer.
I think the Sarah Connor Chronicles might do alright in the Monday at 9pm timeslot. Have they completed their 13 episode order though?
And of course we'll probably see 5-7M stupid Nielsen viewers watching House repeats.
I do like the return of Hell's Kitchen in April, but it's going to suck that we probably won't have another edition mid-summer.
I think the Sarah Connor Chronicles might do alright in the Monday at 9pm timeslot. Have they completed their 13 episode order though?
And of course we'll probably see 5-7M stupid Nielsen viewers watching House repeats.
11-07-07 | 08:15 PM
#303
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From: Southside Virginia
Originally Posted by DJariya
I think any writer who is on strike can create scripts on their own time. They just can't officially submit them to the showrunner and studio until it's resolved. However, if they are going to spend 20 hours a week picketing, when are they going to have time to write Episode 11 of "The Office" or "30 Rock"
11-07-07 | 08:20 PM
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From: Boston, MA
Originally Posted by Jimmy James
That's also what makes all these numbers I hear being thrown about very suspect, both on the high and low end. It seems there is a lot of self-reporting and little in the way of an actual study of what these people make, backed by more than a seat of the pants estimate.
Understand I'm not taking a position. Both sides are legally entitled to do what they will. I don't hold a grudge against the writers for wanting more. I don't really blame the other side for balking. I think it's in the interest of both sides to get this settled, and I might eventually decide to back one side or the other if it seems somebody is being unreasonable. We're not nearly at that point yet, though. I have my doubts that it will ever get there. A six month strike is nothing in the context of long strikes.
11-07-07 | 08:23 PM
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From: Southside Virginia
Originally Posted by Lokimok
If the strike lasts long enough, maybe one of the major networks will run the first season in desperation - like what happened to Monk a few years ago.
L&O:CI (this latest season that was first run USA)
Burn Notice
Psych
Monk
They might also think quite a bit about running BG.
11-07-07 | 08:29 PM
#306
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From: Southside Virginia
Originally Posted by lordwow
From what I've heard from my contacts, the WGA is expecting to strike for 10 months. That's purely a friend of a friend type stuff though, though it makes sense they'd go until the beginning of next season. I am FAR more concerned with the DGA and SAG possibly striking over the same issues when their contracts end about 6 months from now.
If they really decide to face the WGA, DGA, and SAG at once, I have a feeling it's going to be more than 10 months. I think it could go double that easily if you get three unions involved, all jockeying for a piece of the pie. That could easily turn into a real mess. That's why I imagine we're in for either a quick resolution or a resolution with just enough time to set up similar types of contracts for the other unions.
11-07-07 | 09:12 PM
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From: Boston, MA
Here's a post from one of the crew on the Office discussing what happened yesterday:
It became official today.
After a 7am call time with a 9am crew call, after standing around for 7 hours at our location waiting for the studio to make a decision once it was realized that Steve Carell would, once again, not be crossing the picket line of the Writer's Guild picketers, our producer called the entire crew into the set of Michael's condo and announced that The Office is officially shutting down.
For how long? That's really up to the producers and studio, I guess. I feel the writers have a valid claim. They want residuals for all content written and produced for "new media" (i.e. internet, itunes,cell phones, etc.) and they absolutely should fight for it because all media will be streamed this way in the future. Truth be told, the writers picketing right now aren't gonna gain anything. They're losing so much money by not working right now that any residuals they garner from this new media will never cover it. But that's not really the point...
So, it sucks for us little people, but I'm not all that annoyed. I fully support the WGA, and the writers of The Office specifically. I wish them luck in their quest.
As for me, it's back to the unemplyment line and the dayplayer world. Personally, I'm kinda excited. As long as I can keep busy, I'll be aok and I can meet new people, catch up with old friends and still pay my rent every month.
Until this whole thing blows over anyhow.
That is all.
Thanks for the support and if you need a dayplayer, you best call me. I'm pretty awesome.
-Dan
After a 7am call time with a 9am crew call, after standing around for 7 hours at our location waiting for the studio to make a decision once it was realized that Steve Carell would, once again, not be crossing the picket line of the Writer's Guild picketers, our producer called the entire crew into the set of Michael's condo and announced that The Office is officially shutting down.
For how long? That's really up to the producers and studio, I guess. I feel the writers have a valid claim. They want residuals for all content written and produced for "new media" (i.e. internet, itunes,cell phones, etc.) and they absolutely should fight for it because all media will be streamed this way in the future. Truth be told, the writers picketing right now aren't gonna gain anything. They're losing so much money by not working right now that any residuals they garner from this new media will never cover it. But that's not really the point...
So, it sucks for us little people, but I'm not all that annoyed. I fully support the WGA, and the writers of The Office specifically. I wish them luck in their quest.
As for me, it's back to the unemplyment line and the dayplayer world. Personally, I'm kinda excited. As long as I can keep busy, I'll be aok and I can meet new people, catch up with old friends and still pay my rent every month.
Until this whole thing blows over anyhow.
That is all.
Thanks for the support and if you need a dayplayer, you best call me. I'm pretty awesome.
-Dan
11-07-07 | 09:36 PM
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From: Southside Virginia
Originally Posted by Al Padrino
Fuck.
This coupled with the prospect of more reality TV in wake of the strike makes me want to give my TV set away.
This coupled with the prospect of more reality TV in wake of the strike makes me want to give my TV set away.
I make this point not to be a smartass but to make the point that those who want to support the writers should probably go that route instead of watching the reality stuff. Of course, those who support the studios/networks/producers/whatever should watch the reality stuff. Vote with your feet, as it were.
11-07-07 | 09:44 PM
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From: Sacramento, CA
Originally Posted by Jimmy James
not dealing with a blue collar union situation like for instance the west coast grocery store workers from a couple of years back.
and that brings me back around to the WGA strike.. Before the strike I did not really get what the big deal was to be honest. Now after seeing some of the info online etc it does sound like they are getting screwed.. I thought they wanted a flat sort of fee for "new media", but now I see it's more along the lines of a % of what is already being made, a really, really small %.
Outside of the econ impact to my state, I still don't really care about losing this tv season to be honest but at least now I sort of side with them. Something very rare for me as far as union issues go.
I also think it's great how the blog listing in the vids posted a few messages above is so well written.. almost like professional writers are doing it or something. :P
11-08-07 | 05:19 AM
#313
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What the hell are the networks going to do about Pilot season if this nonsense keeps up going into 2008? Pilots need to be written and shot between January and April for the May up fronts for the advertisers. This is millions of dollars of ad revenue that's going down the toilet if there are no pilots ready to present. I seriously doubt all the networks want to present a full slate of Fall Games Shows and Reality TV for Fall 2008.
Plus, when you think about it, besides Idol, Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen, Survivor and The Amazing Race, there isn't alot of Reality TV that's broken the Top 20 in the Nielsen ratings. The networks need scripted programming and this impasse has got to end sooner than later.
Plus, when you think about it, besides Idol, Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen, Survivor and The Amazing Race, there isn't alot of Reality TV that's broken the Top 20 in the Nielsen ratings. The networks need scripted programming and this impasse has got to end sooner than later.
11-08-07 | 07:38 AM
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Is there a running list of no kidding shows effected by this (i.e., finished or shortened seasons)?
11-08-07 | 07:44 AM
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From: Boston, MA
Originally Posted by Ranger
If only one or two studios give in, will the writers still strike until the other studios give in?
11-08-07 | 07:46 AM
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From: Boston, MA
Originally Posted by DJariya
What the hell are the networks going to do about Pilot season if this nonsense keeps up going into 2008? Pilots need to be written and shot between January and April for the May up fronts for the advertisers. This is millions of dollars of ad revenue that's going down the toilet if there are no pilots ready to present. I seriously doubt all the networks want to present a full slate of Fall Games Shows and Reality TV for Fall 2008.
Plus, when you think about it, besides Idol, Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen, Survivor and The Amazing Race, there isn't alot of Reality TV that's broken the Top 20 in the Nielsen ratings. The networks need scripted programming and this impasse has got to end sooner than later.
Plus, when you think about it, besides Idol, Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen, Survivor and The Amazing Race, there isn't alot of Reality TV that's broken the Top 20 in the Nielsen ratings. The networks need scripted programming and this impasse has got to end sooner than later.
Why do you think we see so many? Unlike a scripted show, reality TV shows are paid in advance by the production company finding advertisers, not NBC or any network handing the production company money.
The scary thing in Hollywood is that if Survivor gets 1/4 the viewers that Grey's Anatomy does, it still makes a larger profit for the network because they didn't front any money for Survivor. Scripted shows are rarely profitable in their initial runs, the money comes during syndication.
11-08-07 | 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by orangecrush18
I think the real question here is: how will this affect Steve Colbert's run for the presidency? Will his corporate money dry up?
11-08-07 | 10:11 AM
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From: Formerly known as "orangecrush18" - still legal though
Originally Posted by Tracer Bullet
It's already over. He decided not to register for the Republican primary, and he was rejected from the Democratic primary. Where have you been?
11-08-07 | 10:16 AM
#320
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Originally Posted by Seantn
Just saw something very interesting -- The writers of "The Office" wrote 10 original "webisodes" for The Office last year. Their actors acted in them. They were put on NBC.com, and NBC sold ads for them (meaning that they were making money off of these webisodes). They even won an EMMY for one of them.
But it's the internet, so the writers/cast/etc... weren't compensated for any of them.
But it's the internet, so the writers/cast/etc... weren't compensated for any of them.
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Office. But they sure come off as whiney in that clip.
11-08-07 | 10:23 AM
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From: Boston, MA
Originally Posted by lotsofdvds
So then why did they do them? Did they raise those concerns then? Were they under contract to do them?
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Office. But they sure come off as whiney in that clip.
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Office. But they sure come off as whiney in that clip.
11-08-07 | 11:43 AM
#322
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Part of me feels upset that I won't get full seasons of my shows, but another part of me feels relieved about all the free time I will now have to do other things around the house. Catch up on DVDs, sleep, etc.
So, will TV be nothing but reality shows, or do those require writers too?
So, will TV be nothing but reality shows, or do those require writers too?
11-08-07 | 11:45 AM
#323
Originally Posted by lordwow
I agree here, I love the Office writers, but why on Earth would you do something for no compensation?
11-08-07 | 11:50 AM
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From: Muncie, IN [Member formerly known as abrg923]
Originally Posted by DVD Josh
What are they supposed to talk about?
- Parties didn't meet today
- Further apart than they were the day before
- People out of jobs
- Your favorite shows fucked
- Public doesn't seem to give a shit
Everyday? Seems kind of pointless.
- Parties didn't meet today
- Further apart than they were the day before
- People out of jobs
- Your favorite shows fucked
- Public doesn't seem to give a shit
Everyday? Seems kind of pointless.
11-08-07 | 11:56 AM
#325
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Originally Posted by abrg923
Which is precisely what's bullshit...like I've said, they should be meeting every single fucking day while this is going on trying to knock this down. It's ridiculous, and self-serving.