Hollywood Writers' Strike

[smiley21]

I saw on the news yesterday that the strike is costing Hollywood $80 million A DAY! Also, the broadway writers are joining them. Wow.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by smiley21

Also, the broadway writers are joining them.

That's interesting. I wonder if it's mainly for moral support. I can't imagine that there's a constant demand for fresh Broadway scripts like their Hollywood counterparts. But, I'm pretty far removed from the Broadway scene, so I have no idea how much new material there needs to be.

I hope the writers' strike ends soon, but it doesn't look promising.

[SWTXBelle]

Word from my friend who works on Law & Order - the scuttlebutt is that the producers aren't interested in bringing the strike to a close because the actors and directors' agreements are coming up for renewal soon, and if they settle the writers' strike it will set a precedent. So they are more than willing to just sit tight. This really is awful for everyone who works on these shows and will be without a paycheck when production closes down - not to mention the audiences of these shows. They are predicting 6 - 10 months for the strike (course they are just guessing).

[mu_agd]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

That's interesting. I wonder if it's mainly for moral support. I can't imagine that there's a constant demand for fresh Broadway scripts like their Hollywood counterparts. But, I'm pretty far removed from the Broadway scene, so I have no idea how much new material there needs to be.

The stagehands for Broadway all went on strike last week because their union couldn't reach an agreement with the producers.

[SydneyK]

^^^ Yeah, I knew about that. Smiley21, however, said that the Broadway writers were also going on strike.

IMO, and again, I'm not familiar with Broadway's particulars, it's easier to deal without writers (on Broadway) than stagehands. Without writers, they can simply not put new shows out there... but if they don't have the labor to help with production, then they're outta luck.

That's why I wondered whether the Broadway writers' strike was mostly for moral support for the Hollywood writers.

[MysticCat]

^^^ I'm guessing that smiley21 got Broadway writers and the Broadway stagehands confused. I can't find any news anywhere about Broadway writers being on strike, and like you, I can't imagine what that would accomplish.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Word from my friend who works on Law & Order - the scuttlebutt is that the producers aren't interested in bringing the strike to a close because the actors and directors' agreements are coming up for renewal soon, and if they settle the writers' strike it will set a precedent. So they are more than willing to just sit tight. This really is awful for everyone who works on these shows and will be without a paycheck when production closes down - not to mention the audiences of these shows. They are predicting 6 - 10 months for the strike (course they are just guessing).

Yeah, the blog from Jenna Fischer mentioned the actors contract is up in 2008 and they want the same residuals so it is in everyone's best interest to get them.. except the crews.

[honeychile]

I haven't read enough of the particulars of this strike to make an informed opinion, but I do like what one comedian said, "Don't you think that the striking writers' picket signs should be blank?"

There are a LOT of writers in Hollywoodland who don't make one-tenth of what they're truly worth. Unfortunately, there are dozens of BAD writers for each of the good ones. My feeling (again, not knowledge) is that many of those against this strike are reacting to those silly writers who demean any intelligence by pandering to the laugh machines, and are not reacting to the writers of quality material.

[nikki1920]

Give the writers their 4 cents and bring back the shows!
If my Thursday night line up screws up, I will not be a happy camper.

[Munchkin03]

All I have to say is that they better not mess with my Gossip Girl or I Love New York...at least not until Ball season is over!

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by honeychile

There are a LOT of writers in Hollywoodland who don't make one-tenth of what they're truly worth. Unfortunately, there are dozens of BAD writers for each of the good ones. My feeling (again, not knowledge) is that many of those against this strike are reacting to those silly writers who demean any intelligence by pandering to the laugh machines, and are not reacting to the writers of quality material.

Wait - so in a job that is only market-regulated in terms of salary (the union handles residuals, etc), you're really going to claim that the "bad" writers are holding back the good from profiting off their own works?

This really seems completely ignorant of how a market works - and either way, they're asking for a cut of the sales of their own products, regardless of your perception of quality. Somebody has to buy it to get paid - this really obviates any "quality" arguments completely.

[AGDee]

My logic is this.. if they aren't good writers then they probably wouldn't sell many DVDs of the show anyway, so they wouldn't get much money. This would reward the great writers (like the ones on Grey's Anatomy).

Oops and that's what KSig RC just said...

ETA: What I'm missing already are the Grey's writers' blogs. No new comments from readers either since they are screened by the writers before being posted.

[nikki1920]

hijack
OMG YES!!! I need my blog from last week!!

/hijack

[ASUADPi]

I definately feel that the writers should be more compensated for the DVD sales, since hello that is how the shows are released.

But someone said earlier in the thread that writers "make a show", that can go both ways. I think writers can break a show. Take CSI for example. The show has been tanking in the writers for the past 2-3 seasons. I don't think it has anything to do with the actors, they are just acting with the scripts given to them. I truly believe that it has been the writing. The episodes have been beyond stupid and the long term storylines (i.e. Grissom and Sara together) are just out of the blue and just plain dumb. Where you sitting there scratching your head saying WTF?

It probably doesn't help that Grey's Anatomy is in the same time slot, but honestly if the writing was superb and the episodes were awesome, people would still be watching. But there not, the shows gone completely downhill. IMPO.


Anyways, my point is writers can also break a show. And that a studio's main goal is to have viewers and to make money. If they see a show tanking in the ratings, I'm sure they will take a step back and think "WTF is going on?"

[smiley21]

As far as the Broadway stuff goes, I was just repeating what I heard on CNN...so who knows how credible that is.