November 18, 2007
-
Writer’s Strike
NBC has fired “nearly the entire production staff” of “Saturday Night Live” because of the writer’s strike. Here is the link: Link
GunStarHero1988
-
not in the least
-
Actually, I am. I hope a fair compromise can be reached. Unfortunately, it’s eveyone for themselves in the entertainment business..
-
No, a good deal of their stuff was crap anyway. Time for new blood.
-
No, not one bit.
-
not particularly. I understand where they are coming from but still they make a lot of money.
-
Amysong, it’s everyone for themselves in all business.
-
it does seem like they’re being ripped off… i’d be mad too. it sounds like what they’re asking for is fair too. I don’t understand why they can’t give a little more, seriously, I’m sure there’s more than enough to go around…
and i actually watched the video… lol there’s only one other comment, let’s see how many more ppl post without watching first.
-
Absolutely sympathetic. These are not people who “make a lot of money,” these are middle-class sorts. These people, not the actors, are the ones who should be getting the big bucks, because a script makes or breaks a show/movie. But failing that, how about a little monetary compensation for the use of their intellectual and creative efforts?
Go look up what the corporations did to actors when Videocassettes were new. Go look up how the actors, writers, and makers of the older movies didn’t get money from the sales of VHS tapes because VHS was “new media” and the corporations “didn’t know if there would be money in it.” I believe Abbot and Costello never got a dime from the sale of their movies.
Get the writers a contract that compensates them for the use of their work in “new media.”
-
2.5? That sucks. Because let’s face it, the scripts are the reason the shows are good. Actors and directors can only go so far (at least to me). The writers should be paid more, and good for them for standing up. It sounds like fun!
-
absolutely. kinda sucks that everything’s going to reruns, though.
-
YES! I wrote a blog about it.. with some link and one link to the petition.. they are being treated unfairly and though I will miss my shows if this keeps going on - However, I think they should be paid for this new media. I dont mind giving then 4 more cents for dvd’s – but the problem is not that the consumer wont pay, its that the companies do not want to since they are making all the money off of DVD’s and “new media”.
Daniel (doubledb)
-
Not really. We need fresh new stories.
-
They should be paid more, but then again they know what they’re getting into when they get into that business. They have to know that they wouldn’t get paid that much, right? It’s not like they’re walking into something expecting to be paid as much as the actors and actresses.
-
not really.
-
Yes. A lot of the writers there in Hollywood get paid only $30,000/year.
-
That was a good video. Very informative. I wasn’t aware of how little they get paid!
-
I don’t much care. Now if the writers strike could either somehow force the news to quit artificially amping up the fear of all of their stories and at least attempt an unbiased report or end the careers of people like Tom Cruise, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and a few other celebs I would support them getting three times what they want.
-
Yes, but I do hold them responsible for reallity TV, and that is a horrible transgression.
-
Yes. Absolutely. I miss my late night shows like hell, but the writers are only doing what they have to.
It is not their fault at all that the studios are unreasonable, and they can’t be blamed for the loss of jobs.
I’ve actually heard that a lot of the staff support the writers, also.
I hear they’re meeting again after Thanksgiving, so with any luck this can all be cleared up soon…
-
THAT MEANS EVERYONE HAS TO BUY MORE DVD’S!!!!!
-
Really? So many people aren’t sympathetic? I am.
-
I think what the writers are demanding is fair.
-
some of these people are geniuses. they write the best jokes, they think up the memorable stories, and get little to no credit as a result. of course I’m godamned sympathetic. also I’m sick of all that bad reality TV.
-
I think all unions should be chargd with extortion and broken up as illegal mobs.
-
CBS “Late Show” host
David Letterman
has quietly announced to his staff that he would pay them out of his own pocket over the holidays if the strike continues.
Wow, good for him.
-
Yes. They are responsible for the success for those shows just as much, if not more, than the actors themselves and the network, and they should get a share of the pie for it. The fact that Hollywood shuts down b/c of this strike shows how important they are to the industry. They should get that recognition.
-
My friend in the film arts major just talked about this the other day. I think I am, all the ingenious scripting and jokes come from the writers, they should be paid fairly.
-
The writers make some good points, but I’m largely indifferent to their plight since I don’t watch much TV.
-
strikes are usually demands for more money go getem writers
-
Yep 100%
-
YOU BET YOUR ASS I AM.
If one can say stupid shit like “I understand where they are coming from but still they make a lot of money,” you don’t understand where they’re coming from, because they don’t.
The median yearly income for the writers on strike is $5,000.
That is not a lot of money.
It is not a lot of money.
It is not a lot of money.
It isn’t.
-
Also, Jon Stewart is paying the writers of the Daily Show and Colbert Report himself, because he is an awesome human being.
-
Hell yes…I’m a writer myself, and I pray for them…that they are able to get money to support their families like they deserve. If it wasn’t for writers, as you’ve seen…pretty much all shows would be out of commission. There wouldn’t be any television.
-
A deal is a deal as they say, so the writers definitely need their 80% back. They also should get an increase in the DVD rate, as well as something for the internet downloads and streams.
-
Yes. The writers are the ones who give those little shows their juice. Show after show has proven that when you change writers, the show changes. (Look at the horrendous second season of Desperate Housewives…) Thus, they should be compensated for what they do. Why should they get an initial check and nothing from further sales of their work? Book writers continue to get royalties.
-
I’m in support of the writers strike. however, with NBC firing the SNL writers….I think will be an improvement.
-
what they are asking for is not totally unfair
-
I wasn’t interested enough to view the link. Sorry. I don’t watch much TV.
-
Based solely on that video, yes. But I’d like to see a video from the studios explaining their side because I’m really not interested enough to read about it.
-
JimiRy, unless something’s changed, Jon Stewart’s not paying the staffs of anything during the writer’s strike – he doesn’t need to. Comedy Central has so far been good about it and I think it looks like they’re going to keep their jobs.
He is still an awesome human being though
-
<table x:str=”" border=”0″ cellpadding=”0″ cellspacing=”0″ width=”291″>
<tbody><tr><td class=”xl24″ height=”17″ width=”291″>http://www.spymac.com/details?2300683 -
Is that Elaine from Seinfeld?
-
I am sympathetic. Writing is hard work and it should be paid for fairly. 4 cents is not a fair amount at all.
-
I understand their position but they’ve screwed the public. This was the first season I’ve followed any shows. Why’d it have to be now?
Personally, I think they shouldn’t have striked. It’s Hollywood. Strikes aren’t going to accomplish much . . . IMO.
-
Yes, I am. They are people…with families, and bills to pay- Just like us. They dont seem to be asking for too much- Just what they wre promised years ago.
-
Yes I am. My niece’s husband is a writer so it hits close to home for me.
-
The writer’s demands are very fair. Though I don’t think SNL has had much of any good writing in the last few years, what they’re protesting for in general makes a lot of sense.
-
that was a reallygood video, informative. i’m sympathetic towards the writers
-
Mhmm
-
Absolutely in agreement with the writers. Yes, I’m a writer too, so I know how hard it can be sometimes. And whoever said writers make a lot of good money, I’d love to know where you get your information from.
And to those who say their unsympathetic because of the large amount of crap on tv, think about this: tv studios don’t put out tv shows because they think they’re new, edgy, and sensational. They put out stuff that they know works. What makes them money. So if you see a lot of the same boring stuff over and over again on tv, don’t blame the writers, blame the studios for not being willing to embrace new ideas. You probably have no idea how many new script ideas are chopped down each and every year.
And also to the person who blamed writers for reality tv….. wow. In case you didn’t know, the reason why reality tv shows are such a big hit nowadays, at least in the studios’ eyes, are because it takes minimal work, with less staff, to run the show. As in, there are no writers, because there is no script. Remember, reality tv is UNSCRIPTED. Which also means, as a sad indirect of this strike, that there will be more reality tv shows for the time being, because that’s all the studios will be able to put out.
So for the striking writers, strike on. Get what you’ve earned and deserve. People, this is a strike actually worth supporting. This isn’t some stupid waste of time like the grocers’ union (“wah! i don’t want to have to pay an extra dime for my health insurance!”).
-
“Not really. We need fresh new stories”
Pray tell, when was the last time some of you actually watched something other than summer movies? Last year was a banner year for film, this year is showing some strong TV, and honestly… it’s not that bad. There’s dreck, but it’s not nearly all of it.I am sympathetic, by the way. Not many shows survive without a script.
-
I wanna watch the office
. And 24. -
totally.
-
As a writer, yes.
-
While I don’t 100% agree with them, the writers ARE being screwed. Totally. No ifs and or buts about it. So yeah I support them and I hope they are very successful. It’s also generally a good thing when unions are effective. It’s important for all of our freedom that they continue to be so.
-
I am!
-
Yep.. they are getting screwed.
-
Writers deserve fair pay and treatment for what they do. If it takes going on strike to get that, then I support them.
-
I understand why they are doing what they are doing, but trust me, they get paid more than I do, and are much better off than I am, and this strike is just going to make me pay more for DVD’s and what not. So I don’t care at all. But if I were them, I’d probably do it too.
-
I’m sympathetic to almost anything that will punish greedy corporations.
-
Sympathy is when one can understand what they’re going through..I really don’t.When I get a job that has terms and conditions written are twenty years ago….then I’ll change my story.
So, a better question would be, “Do I support their cause?” And, I do. Seriously….It’s entertainment people! You’re not going to die if you see another re-run.
-
Especially after watching this vid, I am.
-
I don’t know, but hey, maybe SNL will get better now…
-
Yeah, for the most part
-
yes
-
Yes and no.
Yes because they’re getting screwed by their employers.
No because I don’t get paid for writing bad jokes.
-
Without writers there would be no shows, not everyone can come up with a good product, yeah some of the things are crappy, but still.. It’s about a 50/50 thing on that…
-
As long as I have my Jeopardy and Family Fued, it’s all good in the hood.
-
I don’t know, but hey, maybe SNL will get better now…
11/18/2007 3:43 PM KyohakuMegami
Hahahahahahahaha amen to that. Maybe this strike was needed. -
I’m very sympathetic towards them – they should get compensation for their work and their contracts/ agreements should include a right to get paid for their work being translated into “new media” clause.
As as a union member myself, this little gem pisses me off:
“I think all unions should be chargd with extortion and broken up as illegal mobs.
<li class=”itemtimestamp”>11/18/2007 1:49 AM
<li class=”itemsubmitter”>ProudToBeAChristianFruitcake (message”
So fruitcake, should I be charged with exortion because I support the writers union? Should I be charged with being a member of an illegal mob? That last part is rather stupid and honestly quite ignorant because despite the best efforts of the Chimp in Cheif and the republican party in general, unions and union membership is not in fact illegal. -
More so than to the whole fiasco on Broadway, but not entirely sympathetic. While I do sort of agree with SiXELA_onCRACK, it bothers me how far people need to take things just to get their complaints heard, that, and this is more true for B’way, they need to threaten the status of other people’s careers and incomes (and the city, peh). Seems a little selfish, even if their complaints are totally justified.
-
> Put the shoe on the other foot…. How would YOU all like not getting paid for work you did that lead to HUGE money for someone else? I reckon that as many of us that shop the lotto and lotteries wouldn’t like it all that much if it was our problem. The problem of course is the thought of residuals never entered anyones mind until very recently, and the fact that contracts are binding, so I don’t think there is much resolution except the unemployment line for the writers.
Peace -
YES TOTALLY,
cause you have to think about the little guy. NOT all writers are big multi-million dollar workers, and IF the NETWORKS are showing me commercials when I stream my shows online (mostly ALL my shows I watch online, i have no cable)… the writers should get paid.IF we humans keep funding the entertainment industries the BILLIONS of dollars we do, it should get spread around to all the workers!
Kim
-
I wasn’t a supporter until I looked at what they were actually getting paid, and I think I changed my mind. It really isn’t fair to work and not get paid through all of the avenues that the studio is getting paid from.
-
I probably don’t know enough about it to say. But that video makes a pretty good argument. So I guess I’d say that I am somewhat sympathetic. . .as of 2 minutes ago.
-
I think people would be more sympathetic if you put up a show worth saving. SNL hasn’t been good since.. well, since they writers lost their residuals back in the 80′s, apparently.
I’d also like to see where the entirety of the pie chart is going to, not just one little slice to the writers.
Course, they were pretty fucking dumb for taking an 80% cut in the first place. Morality and Business often nod in passing, but have little of substance to say to each other.
-
somewhat
-
I can really care less… Don’t watch T.V. during the school year =
I do, however, watch House… So this stuff had better all be cleared up by summer because if the fourth season doesn’t get finished so I can buy the next box set, I’ll be pissed.
-
completely and totally.
-
Thanks for posting that, Dan. I wanted to know a bit more about it without actually looking it up. :)
-
I’m sympathetic, but I don’t know that I’d help them if I could.
Reality TV, by the way, sucks.
-
Since I’ve had interesting in writing for film for years, yeah, I’m very sympathetic. . .
writers of hollywood don’t make a lot. . .most screenplays aren’t sold, they’re optioned (you get 10% of the purchasing price of the screenplay and the producer tries to get the screenplay made) and so if we’re talking say 100,000 for a movie script a 10% that’s like, if you’re real lucky getting an option of 10,000. . .which may very well not come to fruition. . .and in a year when the rights revert back to you if you’re lucky maybe you can get another option of 10%. . .or maybe not. . .
I don’t see what’s so ridiculous at asking people to be paid for their work. Hollywood has been doing the anti-piracy adds for several years now. . but that’s excactly what they’re doing with the artists! The stealers! !
-
People keep blasting reality tv. . .I don’t like it either. . so I DON’T WATCH IT {gasp} but seriously folks, how many of the writers of that do you think acutally like it? More like a writer who wants to write whatever shows for television or film instead being stuck writing reality shows that they despise. . .I would go bonkers. . .so don’t be blasting the writers for having to take up that as a paycheck. . .most anything to your resume is better then none, right? And L.A./Hollywood is an expensive place to live, right?
-
I would have been a lot more sympathetic had they not screwed up all the traffic in LA when I was there.
So annoying.
-
Uh, no. Why is it that virtually every photographer manages to get a shot of Julia “Louis-Dreyfus”? She’s not even a writer! She’s whining along with the others because her HUSBAND is a writer.
-
Post a Comment