Comments on: Writers strike updates: The apocalypse deepens

By: Eric D. Snider

Eric D. Snider — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:24:44 +0000

Oh, and to answer Mytzgud’s question (hi Dan!): If the strike continues for a long time, it could mean the return of the truly independent film, made with no help from studios whatsoever. Obviously anyone who wants to make a movie and has the resources can do it, whether anyone involved belongs to a union or not. Sundance and other festivals are full of movies fitting that description. No one considers them scabs because they’re working outside the studio system altogether. You’re only a scab if a studio hires you to do something.

By: Eric D. Snider

Eric D. Snider — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:16:18 +0000

More accurately, this is a Writers Guild of America strike. News shows, reality shows, game shows, and sports shows all use writers to one degree or another, but those writers don’t have to be WGA members (and in most cases aren’t). Entertainment programs, on the other hand MUST use WGA members.

By: Turkey

Turkey — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:10:34 +0000

Samantha, I was under the impression that this is a Hollywood Writers strike only and news shows don’t use hollywood writers (one is for fact, the other for fiction I guess).

By: Phil Cardenas

Phil Cardenas — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:38:24 +0000

It is interesting to note that this snowball effect hits every worker involved. I have a friend in Los Angeles who is an EDITOR for “Lost” and I suppose he is going to have a difficult time keeping up with the bills as well.
One advantage of the strike of course is not seeing “Grey’s Anatomy”. I had “first and last time” moment watching it. Gosh I have a level of HATE for that show that knows no bounds. Most. Negative. Cynical. Show. Ever. Just my 2¢…

By: Sahuarita

Sahuarita — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:44:38 +0000

The thing a lot of people don’t realize about the strike is that the residuals are a very essential part of a writer’s salary. For example, I work in sales (not quite the same thing, but…) I receive a salary for showing up to work. However, that salary is WAY, WAY less than any salary I would actually be willing to work for, given my skills, education, and contribution for the company.

If my commission payout suddenly dropped (or, say, I didn’t get a higher commission scale after my sales vastly increased when I started using the internet to get sales), I would be upset. It would be essentially a pay cut. Just because I’m using a different method to get customers doesn’t mean they shouldn’t pay me for it.

Writers rely on residuals from reruns. The TV show “Lost” no longer shows reruns! At all. All new viewers are expected to either buy the DVD or get on-line and catch up. So the writers who had been expecting that residual as part of their negotiated salary are suddenly given a very severe CUT in pay.

This is getting a little rant-ish, so I think I’ll quit when I’m ahead. Needless to say, I’m firmly on the side of the writers, and look forward to the day when this is all resolved and I can watch me some high-quality TV again.

By: Cincinnatus

Cincinnatus — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:25:31 +0000

If they are salaried, then not getting paid to write extra things like webisodes is part of the deal. When my employer asks me to do extra work or stay longer hours, I can’t ask for more money. If they want money for these extra sales, then they should retain royalty rights.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:41:53 +0000

OK, forgive the stupid question- but don’t news shows have writers? I don’t think there’s ever been an anchor who could hold their own without a teleprompter. What’s happening with them?

By: Slash

Slash — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:09:13 +0000

“At any rate, I for one don’t find this a bad thing. It is more encouraging that changes will happen, but not the kind the Writers Club is looking for.”

While I disagree with everything you posted, this in particular is wildly wrong.

It may appear that scabbing gives an opportunity to new writers, but in fact they get screwed worse than anyone else. TV production companies can get desperate enough to hire scabs, but the second the strike is over they will be summarily canned. And because they worked as scabs, they will never be considered by show producers for writing jobs ever again.

This happened during the last strike, and a lot of naive writers got hurt by it.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:58:10 +0000

“We understand that Joe Schmo the writer isn’t coming to work this week. But that doesn’t mean Joe Schmo the producer can’t come in and do non-writing work.”

Do writer-producers get two different salaries? If not then this kind of assumption seems wildly optimistic. C’mon Hollywood, how could you not see that one coming?

By: Mytzgud

Mytzgud — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:56:06 +0000

I’m wondering how this will affect independent films. Since some writers of these films are not members of the WGA would they be considered Scabs?