Writers Guild of America going on strike as early as Monday !
By fred | November 2, 2007
It seems inevitable now that the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is going on strike as early as Monday. More info on the whole thing and how it will affect us, TV viewers, will keep flooding in over the next few days, but it’s apparently going to happen.
I’ve already mentioned how a few shows will be affected by such a strike, but it also depends on how long it will last. Hopefully not too long.
Since the strike is likely to occur, here’s a little recap as to why writers are going there, what are they asking, and why they should get it.
Basically, it’s about two main things : Internet, and DVDs (and the likes).
When it comes to Internet and New Media, they asking for two things :
1. Residuals for reuse of content (like replaying TV shows) on the internet.
Right now, when networks are putting TV shows online, writers don’t get a penny. Nothing, nada. Even though networks are getting more and more out there, putting online episodes of current series, as well as those they cancel too fast.
Networks claim that, despite pricing or putting ads when it’s free, they don’t really make any money out if it. All writers are asking of if a percentage, 2.5% of revenue. Meaning that for every dollar networks get paid, they’d get 2 and a half cents. It’s a flat percentage, so if they’re right and never ever make a penny, neither will writers.
2. Coverage and protections for original content (created for the internet)
They’re asking for the obvious : basic protections so that when original content is being made for the internet, writers have rights (health and pension, minimum amounts, credits and separated rights (for example, if they were to create some amazing character or show, they’d get the right to share in its success).
What they want if the same they got when writing for TV or movies, because they’re doing the same work, and whatever the media used to distribute it doesn’t - shouldn’t matter. It’s just the basics, nothing else or superfluous.
Then, we got DVDs and the likes.
Currently they get 0.3% per DVD sold, and they ask for a raise to 0.6% Meaning writers, the ones who came up with a very large part of what makes the show what it is, just ask to get about 8 cents per DVD sold instead of the 4 they right today. Which only seems fair, because they are the ones coming up with those things.
Imagine Lost without writers ? You think some network executives and their rich clueless friends could have done anything close to get that much of a success, interest, and passion amongst us viewers, us who are the ones paying in the first place.
It’s pretty much just like the music industry : big record company wants to get all the money, the want to own rights over the music, and everyone to pay extra cash whenever they use it. Want to buy some music ? Pay for it. And listen to it only twice, on that computer. Got a new computer ? Pay some more! Want to use some MP3 player, get out the credit card again!
And remember that those fat company aren’t doing anything at all. They’re not creating shit, artists are. That’s why more and more artists are getting ride of them, because nowadays they don’t need them to distribute, helped with that thing called Internet they can do it on their own, sell their music 10 times cheaper and still get paid three times what they used to.
Anyways, I digress, but you get the point.
Those are the main points, obviously there is more - like enforcement and expansion of coverage, ie. on some shows (games, documentaries, talk shows, …) companies sometimes just ignore contracts and don’t give health or pension to writers, and fire them if they ask, while on others like animation or reality they aren’t entitled to any. Writers wants this to change.
WGA leaders call for strike
Writers would walk on Monday
By Dave McNaryIn a lively meeting of 3,000 guild members Thursday night, the WGA’s negotiating committee announced its unanimous strike recommendation, a pronouncement that generated an enthusiastic response from the SRO crowd at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The decision also is sure to cause ripple effects within the Directors Guild and the Screen Actors Guild as they negotiate their contracts within coming months.
A final decision on striking could come as early as today via meetings of the WGA West board and the WGA East Council. Leaders stressed throughout Thursday’s meeting that they could not specify how soon a strike will start. Attendees were instructed that they should go to work today and wait for a call or email from strike captains.
But it’s a foregone conclusion that the WGA panels will OK a strike and the consensus is that they’ll probably select Monday as the starting day.
There’s still a chance of re-launching the negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers over the weekend. But that scenario’s doubtful , given the vitriolic rhetoric that’s dominated in recent days.
Source: Variety
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