Deal Reportedly Reached In Writers' Strike 333
BlueshiftVFX writes to let us know that the writers' strike may be over. CNBC and other media are quoting former Disney CEO Michael Eisner: "It's over. They made the deal, they shook hands on the deal. It's going on Saturday to the writers in general... A deal has been made, and they'll be back to work very soon."
Re:Terms? (Score:1, Interesting)
The real question is if the writers were able to force Guild members into cartoons and reality shows - two aspects of the strike that weren't quite as widely publicized, and the real sticking point.
I need only three words to explain this (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Was that still going on? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Was that still going on? (Score:3, Interesting)
Congratulations! But it's too late! (Score:1, Interesting)
However I am sad to say, it's too late. I acquired another hobby to take up my time.
I am now a welder as well as a seamstress; I've been sewing for the last 15 years because movies were bad enough.
Now, with the dearth of good entertainment because of the strike, I decided, in desparation, to run out and get a tig welding machine from Miller Electric and am self teaching myself welding to make jewelry to accent my home made clothing.
Now, I am hooked. It will be difficult to make me go back to the movies.
Check out my welding and sewing journal at www.clearplastic.com
Re:So... (Score:5, Interesting)
And based on your comment, "mathamatitions" are not "writters," either.
Actually, a lot of the people on the WGA negotiating committee are "show runners"--IE, writer/producers with a huge amount of responsibility. One of the negotiators, for example, is Carlton Cuse [imdb.com], one of the two guys who runs LOST; as you can imagine, you don't end up running a multi-million-dollar enterprise unless you have a lot of financial savvy.
So why would a bunch of smart people recommend a strike under these circumstances? Two main reasons.
First, writing careers can be very short-lived, and they are usually sporadic, with many periods of unemployment. (In fact, in any given year, nearly half of WGA members are unemployed.) The major issue in this strike was "residuals"--the royalties that writers get every time a TV show they wrote is broadcast, or a movie they wrote is sold. So, it's not entirely foolish to give up your 50% chance of employment this year to get a good deal on royalties that might be feeding your family for the next two decades.
Second, believe it or not, this was not strictly a selfish action. WGA members are very conscious of the fact that a lot of the stuff that makes it possible for us to earn our livings was won by previous generations of writers. Obviously a desire to have a good living is the main incentive in any business negotiation, but in the back of all our minds, we don't want to be the generation that let the studios roll back several decades of labor gains.
DISCLAIMER: I am an individual WGA member. These are just my opinions. I don't speak for the union.
Wow (Score:5, Interesting)
1. There is so much money flowing through the distribution cartel, that unions are the only way to wrestle it out of the Producers/Studios. I'm old enough to remember a blockbuster low-budget movie called "My big fat greek wedding" has, to date, not turned a profit. Now, I could see a bad movie not turning a profit, but that movie was and still is INSANELY popular. Hell, my wife still gets residuals from a commercial that appeared in a big-budget movie made 20 years ago. That's how shady Hollywood accounting is.
2. Writers are about the least respected guild in Hollywood. Seriously, food craft gets more respect. (probably because they aren't a union)
5. Producers routinely turn great stories/scripts into trash. Once they own the rights to the script, let the destruction begin!!! This is why good books rarely make good movies. Once the writer gives up control it's all downhill. Notable exceptions usually have the writer having final say on the script.
You, and the idiots who modded you up have no clue.
the relevant quote from Michael Caine (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Was that still going on? (Score:2, Interesting)