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The Writers' Strike and You!
Okay, I kinda need to air my troubles with the Writers' Guild of America, lest I explode into many small pieces. I was going to be a filmmaker by trade, but ... you'll see.
In November, the Writers' Guild of America, the (almost-mandatory) union for film and television writers, went on strike. They are requesting that they be properly compensated with residual payments for sales and viewings of televisions shows and movies on the Internet. I can't really make it simpler than that. Negotiations are at an impasse as of this posting, so nobody's talking. This means that many of our favorite TV shows have either had their seasons shortened or (in the case of my favorite show, 24) removed from the lineup altogether, only to be replaced with reality TV. There hasn't been much of an effect on film yet, but as studios run out of films rushed to the finish pre-strike, you'll see more and more mediocre or downright bad films out, that the studios would have possibly never have released otherwise. As of this morning, the Golden Globes have been canceled in favor of a press conference, because a)there's nobody to write the lame awards-show jokes and b)the actors plannned on showing their support for the writers by not showing up anyway. Yes, this all isn't good. Of course, in that grand universal scheme of things, the world isn't going to stop turning because of a lack of good TV and movies. In my case, though, it doesn't make me any less angry. I studied hard in college to be on a film crew. I graduated last month. However, there's no work and nobody working because of the strike. Right now it looks like I'm going to end up in an office somewhere, making 1/2 of what I'd make per hour. So thank you, Writers' Guild of America. I'm unemployed because of your greed and impatience. If you've got any questions, feel free to ask. Mods, if you feel this thread should be placed elsewhere or locked, feel free to do so. |
I have to admit that this is getting really bad all the late shows are just horrible. They're not even worth watching anymore! But I do think that the writers have a right to take this strike, it was totally unfair the way they were being treated and I'm glad that they finally are taking a stand.
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Oh yeah, I cringed at the Daily Show when it came back. Don't even get me started on how terrible Leno is without writers, lol.
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At first when all this happened I nodded in agreement that yes writers don't get paid enough for their work so I was hoping it'd be done in a couple weeks when they got the money or pay they wanted...that didn't happen. :roll:
I'm pissed off as well because right now I think the WGA are just enjoying their vacations too much and have decided not to come back to work. Oh yes, they're still getting paid so why should they care? Apparently they don't care about the other people with no jobs and haven't been able to work because of the WGAs' greed. Think about the stage crew and camera staff that now don't have a job and don't get paid just because the writers have decided to act like 3 year olds and not speak to anyone. I think it's Jay Leno and Larry King that are paying their staff OUT OF POCKET so their crews can make a living and the show can continue. I'm really sorry that this has put you at a great inconvenience. I wish they'd all grow up and settle this so things can get back to normal and hard working staff can feed their families and pay bills again. |
I haven't watched any of the talk shows since the strike, except for one episode of Colbert. He seemed to be fairing pretty well on his own, he just talked to two guests instead of just one. I don't like Jon Stewart's writers anyway, so I can imagine that without them, he must be even worse. XD So I haven't watched that.
And it really sucks that it's putting everyone else out of a job. I know what that's like first hand. My dad works at a car dealership (not a car salesman, a parts salesman) and every two years or so, the mechanics get their undies in a bunch and decide that they're going to strike just to get an extra twenty five cents per hour. Now, they get paid on strike. But if any of the other guys [I.E. My dad] go into work, the mechanics will be so pissed at them that they'll hold a grudge and make work a living hell for them when the strike is over. So they're forced to stop working too. And they DON'T get paid. So we'll have months of just NO income because of the greedy mechanics. >.< [/rant] So yes, I know what this is like... And I'm sorry it's put you out of a job. D: |
I'm Canadian, so the strike doesn't affect me terribly, but I do miss watching House every Tuesday. @[email protected] Oh well, I'd rather have no shoes than see my favorite shoes get butchered.
On the bright side now I watch The Hour and CBC in general more. :3 |
I rarely watch TV anymore, thus it does not affect me. I have been writing, drawing and working for entertaiment. The best part of writing and drawing is that I can see what I want to see and not the crap that made me want to stop watching TV in the first place.
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The writers strike doesn't really affect me except in the sense that I want to become a screen writer. Though, by the time that I get to that stage, the writers strike would be long over.
One of my friends who was recently in a script writing class, was saying that the directors are going to have their strike, then the actors will have theirs. I don't know if that will happen, but with the writers striking, it is quite possible. |
Well, with the Golden Globes thing, you can certainly tell that the WGA and the major acting unions are unified on this issue, although I'm none too certain on the directors as of yet. I haven't talked to my only director friend since the day the strike began, come to think of it. But that's just coincidence.
I think it hurt the networks' and studios' case the most when NBC announced that it expected online revenues to total over 1 billion dollars this year. Everybody's going to want a slice of that pie. I don't watch TV either (Warcraft addiction for the win!), but it hurts me in the fact that I haven't been able to find work. Grr. |
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the last writer's strike, last 21 weeks? (1988?) I read this somewhere, so. And it's only been 9 weeks so far for this year's strike? |
I'm not quite sure how long the last one was ...
I think the directors are also going into negotiations this week; I heard something about it on National Public Radio this morning but I was half-asleep. |
My favorite show, The Office, was one of the first to be shut down. I was furiously disappointed, but my life went on, I guess. I miss it soo~ much, though. I miss it so much, I just reminded myself of Kelly Kapoor.
The Daily Show came back as A Daily Show, and on the first day I was very disappointed in it. I kept watching and gave it the benefit of the doubt, and it is watchable in my opinion. It's not nearly as funny as it used to be, but I still laugh. Colbert, on the other hand, seems hardly affected by his lack of a writing staff. ._.; However, I'm on the writers' side. I think it makes perfect sense for them to be paid for the DVDs and the internet sales of the shows they write. I mean, sure, they get paid enough, but it's the principle, I guess. |
I want to slap someone. Seriously, it's ridiculous. They need to just give in and do whatever it takes to get some writers back.
@Bubblegum: I know, I've hardly noticed a difference with Stephen. I would have expected Jon to still be just as good though, because I've seen him do standup before and he is hilarious. Oh, and about the Office, I know. ;-; I miss it so bad. When it ended, I just like... stopped watching tv for awhile. |
I don't really know enough about the situation to judge, but my guess is that everyone must be losing metric fucktons of money on this thing. Like, it has to be costing them more to let the writers keep striking than it would to give them the pay, you know? Maybe not in the long run. Like I said, I don't really know what's going on.
However! My personal annoyance-- I don't really watch TV. There is exactly one show that I actually make an effort to watch every week: Desperate Housewives. Not only do I think it's a great show, it was the perfect excuse for my girlfriend and I to get together on an otherwise banned night ("It's a school night, blah blah boo~~"). xP So I miss it like hell! I'm so sorry that you got put out of a job like that. D: I want to go into film, too, but I think this should be far over before I eve get near that stage of my life xD; But that's really unfair for you, and everyone else whose living is a(e?)ffected by this. |
TV.
I don't watch TV very much. I used to pretty much not watch it at all, but my mom watches certain shows and because they were always on, I ended starting to watch them too. A little bit last spring, and then this fall with the new seasons I really started getting into some of them. One of them was a new show that just started at the beginning of the season, and now it hasn't been on in weeks, and it's frustrating. Because I never know when it's going to be on, so I feel like I must check the TV every week in case it comes back and I miss an episode. @[email protected] But I'm at the point where I figure it's probably not coming back.
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At first I was really disappointed about this. However, I discovered this year that the majority of everything that I watch on the television were Reality Shows. lol. (As long as Big Brother and Survivor live, then I will be fine.) The Late night shows seem to be getting dull though. I guess it's time that we actually give these people more credit rather than the ending of the movie. They are probably the second most important thing in a movie/show after the actors. There goes The Office.
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i totally agree. i watched late night tv for the first time, last night. it was terrible. the jokes were corny, pointless, and doesn't make any sense. some shows have absolutely no character whatsoever. even with the writers' they sucked. but at least they had character with the writers. last night they were playing some kind of game throwing stupid stuff off the roof. the uncle was stupid and they actually had people stopping to play and they threw stuff like tic tacs, shakes, and diapers off. i didn't get it until you said it effected all tv shows. i love house, too. it's a shame but necessary.
you gotta stand in order to sit. |
Late night television has always been terrible regardless of whether the writers were there or not.
The strike doesn't really effect me as much as I thought it would, because my favorite show is still being put out (though with large breaks in between new episodes). I know that it has to come to an end eventually, and until then I guess I'm one of the few people who's fine with reality television. I have a few shows that I really like that are reality television that can last me. I'm just hoping that the strike will be over soon. It is unfair to the writers that they aren't getting paid what they should, and they have every right to strike. But it's hurting a lot of people for them to be on strike as long as they have been. Countless people have lost jobs and had families to support. I mean, the only people who weren't truly effected by the strike in Hollywood were the actors who made bank already. |
The writers are what makes the show possible and I never understood why the heads are acting like complete morons. Give them the money and end it! It happens every ten years and it is annoying. If I was a writer I would be just thrilled to be writing but I guess as you get older and become more involved in the industry, it becomes a living and the money is needed.
I just can't believe it lasted this long! |
Well, the writers want compensation for reruns. I can't say that I blame them, considering how much money the actors/actresses make out of the deal. The writers are what make it happen. They should have the right to be compensated for the shows they help created just like an actor or actress would.
I do understand where you're coming from as far as earning less, but I'm sure that'll change. Once the strike is over you can pursue that job you wanted. It shouldn't be more than a few more months, maybe less. At least you're not living in Michigan. I've been jobless for over a year now. The economy here is so terrible that you have to fight thousands of people for just one job. I'd count yourself lucky that you're not living here where you can't even land a job. |
Somehow I think shows like Late Night, A Daily Show, and The Colbert Report are somehow funnier without writers.
Conan is now allowed to do all the things he has been wanting to do for along time. If it dosen't jive with the higher ups he has the "I don't have writers and thats why I stink." excuse to use. John Stewart is funny unscripted. And its nice to see Colbert be more of the non character version of himself. And if the writers felt they were being paid less than they should I don't see why they shouldn't gone on strke. Though I do admit it sucks for the people who are now out of jobs like the camera crew and such because of the strike. Hopefully it will all be resolved soon. Plus don't get me started on the recent flodding of reality series.... |
At first I was all for the Writers' Rights but after all this time and because of the fact that they are not even trying to come to an agreement. I am not bothered by the strike that much because I watch little tv but I think it is time they figure out a way to settle this. The strike is hurting more than it is helping. There are so many people that got hurt by this that are not even writers.
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I totally agree with ya Ziggy. The writers are now being selfish instead of righteous and need to actually TALK to frickin someone so all this bullshit can end. Although I think negotiations have reopened but that may've been from the lack of sleep I've had recently. |
...ugh, when will it end so it can finally shut up!! I don't watch much that requires constant scriptmaking, so is it only the writers for talk shows, cause that's all I'm hearing about that's being effect. I haven't seen any other shows other than the talk shows, House, Office, a lot of shows that either I've only heard, or just don't plain care for. Do writers not see that they are making people LOSE their jobs because of their stupidity.
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