The Writers' Strike

[Bon]

Discuss.

Now, I won't be like Funk and end this introductory post at one word because what impact would this post have on the rest of this topic if Bonanza didn't give an opinion of his own?!

*Ahem* Now, in my honest opinion, the writer's strike, which I have heard has not been untilized in nearly 20 years, is Hollywood's wake-up call that the "brains" behind incredulous dialog and witty one-liners should get the praise that they truly deserve, as well as a bigger cut from monetary DVD sales. If I myself were a writer writing for one of these shows, I would proudly wave my picket sign along the rest. However, my dear Pavilionites, this writer strike comes with a major flaw, or flaws: money and the future of Network programming.

If many of these writers continue this strike for several more weeks, many of them will be pressured to return to work (mainly for the purpose of relieving bills and other debts) and will ultimately fail in supporting their cause. The second flaw is Network response:

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/...id=fd-hot1-txt

This is merely one example, of course. Can network programming thrive merely on network-produced episodes and consistent reruns without the possible chance of something "fresh?" I leave the rest of the discussion to you.

[gray]

Re: The Writers' Strike

if this means no more caveman, reality, home decorating, comedians turned sitcom stars, procedural cop, a good 1 season premise that drags on for three seasons, or dramas set in a hospital t.v. shows, i'm all for shooting them now, while they're organized and easy to find.

[Blackberry]

Re: The Writers' Strike

Maybe they should hire scabs writers, they may give us better stuff.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: The Writers' Strike

I didn't know what the strike was about until I read an interview iwth Ron Moore on IGN. I support them not letting the producers continue to screw them over. Also, it's not just the writers, the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America will likely join in if this isn't resolved by the summer when their current union contracts expire.

if this means no more caveman, reality, home decorating

If anything it'll mean more reality TV since they can make those without depending on writers.

[Wavelength]

Re: The Writers' Strike

I categorically don't like the idea of unions or strikes. They weren't good when GM workers demanded more and more (despite the fact that their jobs could increasingly be done by cheap robots), and they weren't good when the air traffic controllers risked the country's safety in order to get their demands met.

Without the networks and shows, the writers wouldn't be able to make anything. I feel that in general, management should have most, if not all, of the power--it makes everyone better off as a whole, even if it does so a bit unfairly. For a multitude of reasons, I'd like to see an ultimatum where any writer than remains on strike is blacklisted from network TV.

Furthermore, since the writers are getting paid regardless of whether they create a show that's a classic or a clunker, I don't see where they get off demanding a large part of DVD sales and the like. You know, most of the stuff they produce really isn't that good anyway.

All that being said, I'm actually reveling in this strike. 90% of what I watch is either reality TV, sports, or anime--and to top it off, the other 10% is all nonfiction (Discovery Channel, Food Network, National Geographic and the like). It doesn't hurt me one bit, and the shows that I like will probably see a small ratings boost while this is going on. Viva la strike!

[Denmo]

Re: The Writers' Strike

Jon Stewart from the Daily Show offered his salary to help the shows writers when they went on strike.

[Alex]

Re: The Writers' Strike

I think it's great that the writers are asking for compensation for media sales. I'm not a fan of production companies reaping the profit of material that was created by artists. I hope they work a deal.

But I'm also hoping this **** blows up into something big.

[The Ice Cream Man]

Re: The Writers' Strike

if this means no more caveman, reality, home decorating, comedians turned sitcom stars, procedural cop, a good 1 season premise that drags on for three seasons, or dramas set in a hospital t.v. shows, i'm all for shooting them now, while they're organized and easy to find.

That's the producers and networks faults, not the writers.

[highwind]

Re: The Writers' Strike

Jon Stewart from the Daily Show offered his salary to help the shows writers when they went on strike.

apparently thats just a rumor. but david letterman actually did.


either way, DO NOT cry for the the executives or the studios. they make plenty of money. give the writers a cut of the dvd sales for goddsakes they wrote the show.

[Kefka Jr.]

Re: The Writers' Strike

Goooo, writers.

[Shard]

Re: The Writers' Strike

One of the reasons a lot of eyes are on this strike is because the actors' and directors' contracts are due to expire next year and it's widely acknowledged what the writers get will serve as a template for the other two contracts.

I categorically don't like the idea of unions or strikes. They weren't good when GM workers demanded more and more (despite the fact that their jobs could increasingly be done by cheap robots), and they weren't good when the air traffic controllers risked the country's safety in order to get their demands met.

As if these two instances are representative of unions in general. GM workers were comparing their wages and benefits to similar workers in Europe, where comparably, they were grossly underpaid. Fortunately for US auto-manufacturers, the bad press of moving jobs from the US hasn't made as big of an impact on their sales as flat out being out-competed by companies offering more desirable products. So US autoworkers were screwed by other market forces that had nothing to do with their demands for parity. (Hi Michigan.)

Let's not forget there are two sides to every negotiation. Unions know strikes are their most powerful weapon, but it's also the one of last resort.

Without the networks and shows, the writers wouldn't be able to make anything. I feel that in general, management should have most, if not all, of the power--it makes everyone better off as a whole, even if it does so a bit unfairly.

I'd love to see that backed up with any sort of evidence. Because they had that once, it prompted the formation of United Artists by the Silent Era and Silver Screen Stars. You had talent locked into long-term contracts with big corporations who rarely shared actors, writers, etc. with each other. If you left one studio you got blacklisted and never performed again for any sort of audience. Additionally, most talent was paid bare bones...like current boxers. A rare few made a lot of money, but most retired without any sort of savings and nothing to fall back on.

For a multitude of reasons, I'd like to see an ultimatum where any writer than remains on strike is blacklisted from network TV.

Furthermore, since the writers are getting paid regardless of whether they create a show that's a classic or a clunker, I don't see where they get off demanding a large part of DVD sales and the like. You know, most of the stuff they produce really isn't that good anyway.

Right, because all writers are equal in terms of talent. Any one of them could churn out Seinfeld or Lost, but they're just lazy so we get Cavemen. Jesus Hamilton Christ. If a network can squeeze out decades of profit from its writers, why shouldn't they get a piece of what they helped to create? Writing is an unstable field. You may turn out a quality script and it doesn't get picked up. You may churn out crap and it runs for eight years. Either way, you're banking on future sales, not value at the time of production.

All that being said, I'm actually reveling in this strike. 90% of what I watch is either reality TV, sports, or anime--and to top it off, the other 10% is all nonfiction (Discovery Channel, Food Network, National Geographic and the like). It doesn't hurt me one bit, and the shows that I like will probably see a small ratings boost while this is going on. Viva la strike!

So it doesn't affect you, but now's a good time to air your unsubstantiated political biases towards labor and management.

[Chad]

Re: The Writers' Strike

I categorically don't like the idea of unions or strikes. They weren't good when GM workers demanded more and more (despite the fact that their jobs could increasingly be done by cheap robots), and they weren't good when the air traffic controllers risked the country's safety in order to get their demands met.

Without the networks and shows, the writers wouldn't be able to make anything. I feel that in general, management should have most, if not all, of the power--it makes everyone better off as a whole, even if it does so a bit unfairly. For a multitude of reasons, I'd like to see an ultimatum where any writer than remains on strike is blacklisted from network TV.

Furthermore, since the writers are getting paid regardless of whether they create a show that's a classic or a clunker, I don't see where they get off demanding a large part of DVD sales and the like. You know, most of the stuff they produce really isn't that good anyway.

All that being said, I'm actually reveling in this strike. 90% of what I watch is either reality TV, sports, or anime--and to top it off, the other 10% is all nonfiction (Discovery Channel, Food Network, National Geographic and the like). It doesn't hurt me one bit, and the shows that I like will probably see a small ratings boost while this is going on. Viva la strike!

What Shard said. In edition, specifically to the classic or clunker line, aren't DVD sales the best way to pay writers based on talent / what sells? If it's a classic, they're going to get paid more. If it's a clunker, they're not going to push many DVDs are they?

And if Cavemen is the epitome of the "crap" these writers are turning out, I'd say we're doing damn well. Also, you admit to liking reality TV.

[Kire]

Re: The Writers' Strike

To me, this comes down to a "distribution of wealth" question...and there's really nothing else the writers can do to be fairly compensated. The tops of companies will bring in WAY more than they should be when left unchecked, while the ones who do the work get the same wage despite being responsible for the profits.

I can see arguments for both sides, so this is an interesting quandry. I'm for the writers, though...if more money is being made through other mediums, they should see some of that coin.

[highwind]

Re: The Writers' Strike

I categorically don't like the idea of unions or strikes. They weren't good when GM workers demanded more and more (despite the fact that their jobs could increasingly be done by cheap robots), and they weren't good when the air traffic controllers risked the country's safety in order to get their demands met.

Without the networks and shows, the writers wouldn't be able to make anything. I feel that in general, management should have most, if not all, of the power--it makes everyone better off as a whole, even if it does so a bit unfairly. For a multitude of reasons, I'd like to see an ultimatum where any writer than remains on strike is blacklisted from network TV.

Furthermore, since the writers are getting paid regardless of whether they create a show that's a classic or a clunker, I don't see where they get off demanding a large part of DVD sales and the like. You know, most of the stuff they produce really isn't that good anyway.

All that being said, I'm actually reveling in this strike. 90% of what I watch is either reality TV, sports, or anime--and to top it off, the other 10% is all nonfiction (Discovery Channel, Food Network, National Geographic and the like). It doesn't hurt me one bit, and the shows that I like will probably see a small ratings boost while this is going on. Viva la strike!

this is probably the most selfish and short-sighted opinion i've seen in a long time. congratulations!

oh, does your father own a studio or something?

[tjoris9]

Re: The Writers' Strike

I generally don't watch much TV, but I do like to watch some of the shows in the internet, and it's my understanding that this isn't about DVD royalties so much as royalties from internet viewing.

Considering they only run one commercial per break and you don't have to set up a recording, I would imagine internet viewing is really popular (Maybe even more popular than DVD sales), and it makes sense that they'd want a cut of that.

Plus I heard that some networks and media companies are actually creating services for on demand viewing of quite a few TV shows over the internet.

If nothing else, we can all vote with our remotes and either change the channel or turn the TV off.