The Writer’s Strike: An insider’s view
In case you haven’t been watching the late-night rerurns for the last week, we’re in the middle of a TV writer’s strike. It’s come to my attention that many are not entirely clear on what the issue(s) is/are in this strike. This isn’t surprising; the last time the Guild that represents TV/Film writers struck was nearly 20 years ago. Also, there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding both sides. For instance many people believe that professional screenwriters make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Truthfully, there are a few in that league, but they’ve usually been at it for decades and have a few Seinfelds and X-Files-es under their belts. They’re the rainmakers, the hit-doctors. Most writers make within the range of what a plumber or mechanic might make, except their employment situations are far more transient and far less secure. When you factor in the necessity of living in 2 of the most expensive areas of the country (New York and Los Angeles), it can be pretty challenging to keep food on the table in such a profession. Similarly, we think of producers as being fat cats in $3,000 suits who rule their productions with iron, well-manicured fists. In reality, they are often significantly beholden to other interests: networks, sponsors and investors, who all exact their pound of flesh and sap a little more control away from the prod’s.
Royalties, residuals, format convergence…does anyone outside a 818 or 212 area code know what these are? In a Ration Reality Exclusive, a Hollywood professional involved with a major network production has graciously taken a minute to explain the situation for our readers with the insight only a true insider can have. He has asked that his name be withheld.
Yo, Soylent.
I’ll preface this by saying that I recognize that I’m not privy to enough hard facts about the strike to give my final, ultimate opinion on the issue. That having been said, I’ll give it a try. I guess I do know a little more about the subject than the average person, being this close to it (a post-production coordinator on a major network show). However, without knowing what has actually transpired between the Writers Guild and the Association of Producers behind closed doors, I can’t really say anything final. The fact is that the Internet and all future media is mutating and continuing to grow in different, weird directions every day/week/month/year. I just feel like the only real, concrete issue that could (and should) be addressed is ITunes downloads. Writers certainly should be getting a percentage of profits from ITunes video download sales. Above and beyond that, how can we really gauge where the Internet is going? Convergence (which can be defined as “that moment when Television and the Internet merge”) is inevitable but without knowing the nature of future “download” pricing structure, how can a hard contract be hammered out for twenty-odd years? My honest opinion is that the Producers and the Writers need to get their act together, hammer out a short-term (let’s say a five-year) contract that includes where we KNOW things are/are going. Then, in five years when THAT contract is up, be more civil/reasonable about the whole thing on BOTH sides of the fence and work out another fair contract. That way hard-working people don’t have to be out of jobs and millionaires can keep being millionaires. The way I understand it, the Writers actually took the whole “double DVD residuals” issue off the table last week, but the Producers did not come back with a counter-offer of any kind. Assuming that’s true, that makes the Producers assholes, in my opinion.
But, I guess the real tragedy to come out of all of this is that we may not get a complete season of “Two and a Half Men.” Fucking bullshit strike.Sincerely,
Dude Who Works On a Major Network Show
He also thoughtfully recommended this nugget o’ video knowledge:
When it’s all said and done, the digital frontier will not be ignored. When you don’t have a pension and you may go months without work, a piece of the electronic pie would make a big difference on one’s lifestyle and retirement. There’s plenty of room to negotiate on both sides. The sad thing is that a resolution to the strike may come too late for new series like Life (NBC), K-ville (FOX) and Pushing Daisies (ABC), which were only finding an audience before the walk-out. There probably aren’t enough complete episodes of these programs available for reruns. If any of these shows make it past the strike, do yourself a favor and watch one of these new series; they’re all quite enjoyable.
Also, for your approval:
Heroes of the Writer’s Strike
Alex Perez: Scab Writer
Resources: Writers Guild of America, West - Writers Guild of America, East
United Hollywood - Online Petition in Support of the WGA strike
I don’t really care about either side. I just want my shows back.
Cody
16 Nov 07 at 6:35 am
Well, there’s always It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. With that show, the producers are the writers, so they’re already getting paid!
Soylent Angli-ape
16 Nov 07 at 7:22 am
Thanks Soy for doing this story…alot of people on the internet seem like they really dont give a shit. case in point-comment #1…
i for one am feeling like i will die if my shows go away! Give the writers what they want! They DESERVE to be able to put food on their tables for writing all the shows we care about and get so much joy from! To say that you dont care about either side is basically like siding with the big wigs-who cant be bothered to share their wealth with the people who GAVE them their wealth…but i digress…
great blog-thanks!
P.S. it REALLY IS always sunny in philadelphia!
Stona Lisa
16 Nov 07 at 3:32 pm
I come from a coal mining family, so any workers union is close to my heart. It’s weird tho…
When I think of a strike, I think of miners fighting for safety. They went on strike because too many of them were dieing in the mines. While the writers likely deserve everything they’re fighting for, I dunno, it just seems weird to me to strike over royalties.
Stona: It’s never sunny in Philly. I love how the opening credits are all nighttime scenes.
bagel of everything
16 Nov 07 at 9:19 pm
Stona Lisa: You misunderstand me. When I say I don’t care, I don’t care. That’s not siding with the producers, nor is it siding with the screenwriters. I don’t care what the end-result is so long as I get my TV shows back. Apathy doesn’t take sides.
Cody
16 Nov 07 at 10:26 pm
Cody: To quote a great philosopher of our generation: “Even if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”
And an even greater philosopher, “What is the difference between apathy and ignorance? I don’t know, and I don’t care” (free mp3 download here. Track 3. It’s a song of early 90’s awesome.)
bagel of everything
16 Nov 07 at 11:13 pm
@ Cody: That’s what we all want, really.
@ Stona: Thanks. I really just wanted to give everyone a bit of perspective on this issue. Glad you liked it.
@ Bagel: World Entertainment War is really cool, but Rush is transcendental.
Soylent Ape
17 Nov 07 at 8:59 am
Well, every cloud has a silver lining, though unfortunately it’s only been postponed.
azahar
19 Nov 07 at 4:31 am
@ azahar: A silver lining, indeed. Now, if only they could hold out long enough to interrupt Oceans 14 or the next inevitable Charlie’s Angels movie.
Soylent Ape
19 Nov 07 at 7:10 am
Soy, I know you’d totally fellate Neil Pert, but face it: Rush is dead.
bagel of everything
20 Nov 07 at 7:37 am
If you were one of the 25,000 people who saw Rush at Blockbuster Pavilion in Charlotte, NC on June 20, you probably wouldn’t have said they were dead.
Soylent Ape
25 Nov 07 at 9:43 pm
But I wasn’t, Soy. And that makes them dead. That’s how reality works.
bagel of everything
26 Nov 07 at 9:40 am
@ Bagel: Ever seen the Aqua Teens Movie? “The Drum Solo of Liife? Neil Peart = Life! Simple equation; learn it! Therefore, I postulate: Rush cannot be dead.
Speaking of Rush, I just found out our good friend Nathan Fielder is from Toronto. Once a year was shot there, as well. This post has Hogtown all over it!
Soylent Ape
26 Nov 07 at 7:24 pm
The strike is over! The strike is over!
OMG I love you, TV!
The Bagel of Everything
22 Feb 08 at 3:46 pm
I watched Hawaii 5-0 twice this month
micky2
22 Feb 08 at 4:53 pm
@ Mickey: How is Jack Lord these days? Give my best to Magnum, won’t you?
Soylent Ape
22 Feb 08 at 7:23 pm
I used to work at a place up on diamond head called the Bistro.
At the time it was ” the place to be”
Tom would always sit in my station only because I wouldnt bug the fuck out of him.
The first encounter we had was when his entourage kept handing me his drink and telling me to bring it to him. About the third time he told me I didnt have to follow him around with his drink. I told him that his buddies had too much time on their hands and it was their fault. He said to just ignore them. I said thanks, can I buy this drink for you for setting me free ? He said sure. Can I sit at one of your tables?
And he never left. Hes a pretty mellow guy. Not your typical hollywood shmuck.
Jim Neighbors is a chicken hunter.
Burt reynolds and Loni Anderson were sweet.
Never met Jack.
All this was about 25 years ago.
micky2
22 Feb 08 at 8:13 pm