Hollywood Writers Go On Strike

[free4440273]

"As a work stoppage becomes reality, Hollywood would be wise to listen to Jeff Zucker.

"A strike will happen at everyone's peril," the NBC Universal chief told a breakfast of industry insiders last week. It's a sentiment shared by many in the Hollywood community. "
http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2007/11/05/hollywood-wga-update-biz-media-cx_lr_1105strike.html

 

[plucap]

I'm not 100% about my facts... but aren't these guys making enough money as it is?

 

[thegunner]

I bet many of them are more well off than much of the USA. Stop whining and think about other people in this world.

Give them a substantial amount of the star of the show's money. After all, they are all writing the material that comes out of the mouths of these celebs.

 

[dick van cock]

Judging by the quality of their scripts... they have been on strike for at least 25 years already. :crash:

 

[AFA]

Judging by the quality of their scripts... they have been on strike for at least 25 years already. :crash:

:thumbsup:


This is great. :jester:

This Hollywood writers strike cracks me up by Steve Jobs

http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/2007/11/this-writers-strike-cracks-me-up.html

 

[ChefChiTown]

I'm not sure how I feel about the writers going on strike. On one hand, I understand what they're upset about. They feel like they are the ones creating a product and aren't getting compensated enough for their work. They spend hours and hours perfecting scripts and monologues but don't earn enough recognition. I somewhat agree with this.

On the other hand, they don't realize that it's the actors, actresses and TV hosts that are selling their product. You can have the greatest product in the world, but if no one can sell it, then no one is going to buy it. This, in turn, would mean that no one would be making any money at all. It's people like Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Hugh Laurie and Eva Longoria who are selling their respected shows, not the writers.

I think they just need to realize, for lack of a better phrase, "their place" in the industry. Hell, I'm a chef and I work harder and longer hours than the waiters, waitresses, hosts, hostesses and busboys...but guess what? They all make more money than I do. They all get to show up at 4:30pm and they're all done working by 11:30pm. I show up at 8am in the morning to start prep work for the day and I don't get to stop working until almost 1am, when the kitchen is done being cleaned. Yeah, I feel like I deserve a lot more than what I earn and it sucks a whole hell of a lot, but it's how the industry I'm in works...and I know my place and I deal with it. I think these writers need to do the same.

 

[free4440273]

I'm not 100% about my facts... but aren't these guys making enough money as it is?

I digress from the thread I started but Greed is back in vogue.

 

[KungFuDude]

I hope this doesn't affect Stephen Colbert's campaign for the presidency. I love that guy.

 

[coolbeers]

it seems to me like there isnt any need for writers, almost every show on nowadays is a fucking reality show

 

[dave_rhino]

Oh boo hoo! No movies?!

Now maybe the world will pay attention to real problems...




(This also gives a chance to those low budget independant film makers to shine, which is good seeing as most of them can make something better than those over-paid hollywood blockbuster cunts)

 

[Christmas_Ape]

I'm just glad that SpongeBob SquarePants: Atlantis SquarePantis is already in the can.

 

[free4440273]

it seems to me like there isnt any need for writers, almost every show on nowadays is a fucking reality show

^or the Google Random Generator:1orglaugh

 

[AFA]

These guys for the most part are no talent, no imagination fools following scripts from the past, or copying yet another Britcom because they haven't had an original idea in years. I haven't watched commercial TV in 30 years and if they all fell off the edge of the Earth with their mindless laughtrack machines, I would never even notice.

Their ideas of drama, (God forbid comedy), or portraying the way people actually live and think are so unrealistic, I don't know how they can pump out this bunk, year after year after year.

 

[ChefChiTown]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/b...em&ex=1194411600&en=6d7c91a218d16997&ei=5087

Among the Writers Guild’s 12,000 members are television writer-producers like Shonda Rhimes, the creator of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice,” who take home up to $5 million a year. On the other extreme are junior writers who — if they work at all — make $50,000 or less. About 48 percent of West Coast members are unemployed, according to guild statistics. (No such statistics exist for East Coast members.)

Under the previous contract, which expired Wednesday night, the six major studios must pay a minimum of $106,000 for an original screenplay, while networks must pay at least $20,956 for a teleplay for a prime-time comedy and $30,823 for a prime-time drama.

Many working writers earn much more. The writer of a major studio release can expect a paycheck of at least $1 million, according to union members, while “name” screenwriters might earn in the $4 million range per picture. The average working writer in Hollywood takes home about $200,000 a year, according to the studios and networks, which are represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

With money coming in like that, going on strike because they want more money sounds pretty greedy to me.

You'll also see in the article I posted that "about 48 percent of West Coast members are unemployed, according to guild statistics". If 48% of the members are unemployed, that will bring down the average salary quite a bit. But, the average salary is still about $200,000 so just imagine how much more than that the working writers are making already. People who make that kind of salary and complain about it really need to take a step back and remember what life was like before they had that kind of money. They would probably be tickled pink if they were making $200,000/year. Now that they're making it, they just want more? Come on. Sounds like greed to me.

 

[AFA]

I agree. I maybe shouldn't have come off so strong, but I am bored to death by US TV programming. I'd rather spend my time learning something new, in science, nature, news, history, or travel.

Admittedly I am not an advocate of Hollywood, TV, movies, or music. :dunno:

 

[ChefChiTown]

Maybe.

All I know is, people don't go on strike unless (a) their contributions are worth more than they are being paid or (b) they're being screwed over some other way. So whatever's going on, there are two sides to every story. And there are a hell of a lot more of them threatening strike than there are employers (bosses of major networks) on the other side of the fence. That many people disgruntled enough to go on strikes? I'm sure there's a hell of a lot more to it than greed. It would make no sense otherwise. If these writers already had it so good, there would be no strike.

Remember when you quote those statistics, what are those articles trying to get you to think? And who has more influence over the media... Hollywood writers, 48% of which are unemployed... or media moguls. That one's easy. So mainstream media and such statistics are going to be skewed to make us general public persons think that these horrible greedy writers want more money from the poor giving philanthropical media moguls.

I'd be willing to bet one of my paychecks that it's the exact opposite, or a lot more two-sided than it seems from those articles and "facts".

You're right...there are 2 sides to every story and I acknowledge that in my first post in this thread.

I just think it's sad that these people write for a living and, assuming it's what they love to do, they're still bitching about how much money they are/aren't making.

I love what I do and I don't go to work just to get a big hefty paycheck. In all reality, I earn a pretty small, lightweight paycheck. As a chef, I work 80+ hours/week which is more than twice what everyone else works in the restaurant. I have suffered countless burns and cuts, both of which have left pretty ugly scars on my body. I have no spare time to utilize for "fun". It's hard to keep in touch with my family, friends and loved ones. I do all of this...for less than minimum wage and no benefits. Waiters/waitresses (not to discount the work they do) make up to $130/NIGHT at work. I make nothing close to that and I put in more than all of them combined. I don't complain because that's just how life is.

These writers need to realize that they're never going to earn a "celebrity" paycheck. They write for TV/movies, which is a pretty cool business to be involved in. No matter how cool it is, it's still a business and there's still a corporate ladder involved when it comes to making money. Writers, unfortunately, aren't very high up on that ladder...they just need to deal with it.

Now, if there are issues other than money that are causing them to strike, then more power to them. If this is all about money, which it seems to me that it is, then they're being childish and should find a new job. As someone once told me:

"A job is something you do to earn a paycheck. A career is something you do because you love it."

 

[darkwarrior3007]

I'm all for the strike. As someone who tried to get into the industry as a writer (still trying) if I write something and it sells then I want to be paid. Yes, they are being paid but they earn about .03 cents for every DVD sold. They just want a better cut. Everyone else who works on these movies, shows etc... earn way more. Also, with new ways that movies/shows are being distributed they are not being paid for that but the studios are. They deserve to be paid, period. Yes, it's the actors who say the lines, and it's the studios that distribute the product but it's the writers who create the lines the actors say and the product that the studios distribute. It's a partnership. The writers deserve their cut.

 

[bodie54]

You'll also see in the article I posted that "about 48 percent of West Coast members are unemployed, according to guild statistics". If 48% of the members are unemployed, that will bring down the average salary quite a bit. But, the average salary is still about $200,000 so just imagine how much more than that the working writers are making already.

Hiya Chef. Check the repost below and you'll notice the article stated the average salary of working writers was 200K. Unemployed writer's weren't factored into that average.

The average working writer in Hollywood takes home about $200,000 a year, according to the studios and networks, which are represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

 

[ChefChiTown]

Hiya Chef. Check the repost below and you'll notice the article stated the average salary of working writers was 200K. Unemployed writer's weren't factored into that average.

Thanks for the correction. I overlooked that.

$200,000 is still A LOT of money.

 

[D-rock]

I just hope porn writers don't go on strike. What would the industry do then? :1orglaugh