Writer's Guild goes on Strike

Xalioniaf

Xalioniaf

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Just when I was starting to watch some regular shows again...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/05/writers.strike/index.html
Neat bits:
While studios have been hoarding scripts for months in anticipation of a strike, topical shows like "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" are expected to immediately go to reruns.
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A last-day effort to reach a new work agreement collapsed Sunday night despite a major concession by the writers as they dropped their demand for a doubling of how much they are paid for DVD sales. This had been considered the major stumbling block to a deal.
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Reality television has been another wake-up call for writers, since most do not require scripts. "American Idol" and other hit reality shows should not be affected by a prolonged strike.
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A chart to the left of the story:
How you'll be affected

- Immediately: Late-night talk shows, which depend on topical material, will go to reruns

- In about one month: Daytime soap operas will go to reruns

- By January-February: Current prime-time shows will likely run out of fresh episodes

- Reality shows unaffected; Fox, with fewer hours to program and powerhouse "American Idol" returning in January, in best shape if strike continues, according to The Hollywood Reporter

- ABC has stockpiled several new shows, could put them on in midseason if strike persists

- TV networks have stockpiled TV movies

- Movie studios in decent shape for now
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Thoughts?
 
This strike has been brewing for months, and I'm in favor of it. The studios have been screwing the writers hard, and I applaud them for standing up for themselves -- the vote to strike was around 90% of their membership.

An increase in reruns and reality shows will suck, but it'll be worth it when writers can actually afford to write the stuff we like.
 
Halifirien said:
This strike has been brewing for months, and I'm in favor of it. The studios have been screwing the writers hard, and I applaud them for standing up for themselves -- the vote to strike was around 90% of their membership.

An increase in reruns and reality shows will suck, but it'll be worth it when writers can actually afford to write the stuff we like.
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Agreed.

I'm curious to see how this all plays out.
 
Heroes: Origins is on hold pending the Writer's Strike. It sucks, but that's life.
 
Heh, I couldn't agree more with this. I graduated with a degree in Film, specializing in Screenwriting, so this does affect me slightly, even though I am barely into the business. Writers really do get the short end of stick if their script is adapted into some form of media. Hopefully this will change some things.

I'm hoping to get down to NYC this week and join them, even if it is just to introduce myself to a lot of writers at once lol And I must say, they probably have the best written picket signs ever...
 
Hopefully House wont be out of commission. That's the only good television show on air now anyways.
 
Strid said:
Hopefully House wont be out of commission. That's the only good television show on air now anyways.
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Unless their entire season is in the can already, they'll eventually run out of scripts and have to stop as well.
 
Does anyone else find it pathetic that the late night stand up shows (Jay Leno, Letterman etc) cant write their own material? Theyre just highly payed show boys that say what the writers want and cant even get their own material.


/sigh
 
exodusamphi said:
Does anyone else find it pathetic that the late night stand up shows (Jay Leno, Letterman etc) cant write their own material? Theyre just highly payed show boys that say what the writers want and cant even get their own material.


/sigh
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No, you're not the only one.
 
exodusamphi said:
Does anyone else find it pathetic that the late night stand up shows (Jay Leno, Letterman etc) cant write their own material? Theyre just highly payed show boys that say what the writers want and cant even get their own material.


/sigh
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It is a lot of work to write your own material and still have time to perform it as well on top of the rest of your time needed to do other things. The thing is you have to manage to keep it fresh, and with late shows like that it can't be 100% scripted, mainly because if you're bringing in guests or doing audience participation type things you have to make stuff up on the fly. And that's all on the "actor".
 
Shawn Ryan, the creator of The Shield, is one of the writers on the negotiating team. He weighs in on the strike (Full article) to other showrunners:

"Just so you all know what I am prepared to give up....

Tomorrow, we begin to film the Series Finale of The Shield. I think it's the best script our writing staff has ever written. This is the show that made me. This is the show that is my baby. If the strike goes on longer than two weeks, I won't be able to step on set for the final episode of the show. I won't have a writer on set, as I have had on every episode since the fourth episode. I won't be able to edit this final culminating episode. I won't go to the wrap party that Fox TV and FX are paying for.

You can't tell me that any episode of television is more important than this one is to me, and I am ready to forego all those things in order to strengthen my union.

...

I spent nearly 12 hours today in the Negotiation Room with the companies. I watched our side desperately try to make a deal. We gave up our request to increase revenue on DVD's, something that was very painful to give up, but something we felt we had to in order to get a deal made in new media, which is our future.

I watched as the company's representatives treated us horrendously, disrespectfully, and then walked out on us at 9:30 and then lied to the trades, claiming we had broken off negotiations.
I can't in good conscience fight these bastards with one hand, while operating an avid with the other. I am on strike and I am not working for them. PERIOD."
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I can't wait for the Shield to end. (So excited for the finale.)

That's dedication, I hope all the writers out there show the same drive.
 
good show for him. exceedingly sad he has to give up that part of his career, but that does show his devotion to his work and to be compensated for his worth (the collective worth of the writers).


fuck lawyers, man.
 
Lanien said:
Heh, I couldn't agree more with this. I graduated with a degree in Film, specializing in Screenwriting, so this does affect me slightly, even though I am barely into the business. Writers really do get the short end of stick if their script is adapted into some form of media. Hopefully this will change some things.

I'm hoping to get down to NYC this week and join them, even if it is just to introduce myself to a lot of writers at once lol And I must say, they probably have the best written picket signs ever...
Click to expand...

I believe if you are going down to the city some partying is in order.

PM ME BITCH
 
exodusamphi said:
Does anyone else find it pathetic that the late night stand up shows (Jay Leno, Letterman etc) cant write their own material? Theyre just highly payed show boys that say what the writers want and cant even get their own material.
Click to expand...

Thats how they all got their start. They wrote their own material as stand up comedians, and they were damn good at it. Its what got them off the ground to become these TV talk show hosts. Who you should be talking about are people like Carson Daily that rely ~100% on writers.

Svina said:
It is a lot of work to write your own material and still have time to perform it as well on top of the rest of your time needed to do other things. The thing is you have to manage to keep it fresh, and with late shows like that it can't be 100% scripted, mainly because if you're bringing in guests or doing audience participation type things you have to make stuff up on the fly. And that's all on the "actor".
Click to expand...

This is one reason. I'm sure Jay/Conan/Johnny help write alot of the stuff that actually goes on the show. They also has to go out and be friendly with the big starts, so they will want to come on his show. While it doesn't seem like work, its alot of travel time over the year, and they do the show live every night. That leaves the door open for improv that only the host can handle.
 
I agree with the writers, the only thing I may see as a problem is if having reality TV shows on all the time still keeps ratings up. That might jeopardize their jobs because why would you need writers if reality does just as well with no script?
 
I agree with the strike, but I somehow see the consumer getting the short end of the stick. Writers get $0.04 per DVD sold. Those are the rates writers got for the much more expensive production of VHS video nearly 20-25 years ago.

Now that it is cheaper to produce the video on disks... I don't see why some of the profit margin can't be sent to the writers. I should say: why writers can't get more money and leave the consumer out of it by leaving prices the same. We'll see what happens.
 
oh noes! Prison Break, Heroes, House, SMALLVILLE, Supernatural
*cry*
i hope they dont stay on strike for long, i cant live w/o smallville >:P
 
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