What is the deal with the strike?

Iguana Man · 12-31-2007, 10:07 PM

I'm getting sick and tired of seeing my Tivo record settings say no new shows.

What is their problem and when is it ending?

Pirate · 12-31-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

What is their problem and when is it ending?

Money and never.

Iguana Man · 12-31-2007, 10:21 PM

Wow...I didn't know that. Is all that true Piratehunter?

littlebib · 01-01-2008, 01:31 AM

The slideshow kept mentioning they make $0.04 per DVD. He makes it sound like the studio makes the rest. What's the actual profit of the studio on a DVD after manufacturing costs, retailers, and other residuals (director, actors, etc)? Doubling from 4 cents to 8 might not sound like much, but that would depend on how much the studio is making.

TylerD · 01-01-2008, 01:32 AM

Mo Money, Mo Problems.

Titleist · 01-01-2008, 03:19 AM

I vote for the Viewers Strike.

http://critterology.blogspot.com/200...e-of-2008.html

rixrex · 01-01-2008, 04:42 PM

Well, there's probably enough older films and TV shows you haven't seen out there to keep your viewing going. You just have to maybe go out of your way and rent them or something.

It all does have to do with money, specifically money that comes in from the new areas of show exhibition, like the internet. Writers on strike at this point may have lost more than they'd have gained if they took the old offer, but that doesn't mean I'm saying they are wrong.

The idea of an entitlement, such as a royalty, for continued showings of the same program initially came from acting talent who got tired of seeing their work shown again and again, and not getting something for it. This idea was adopted by other off-screen talent as well. Of course one might argue that once a person is paid for their work, then that's it, but the history of talent union negotiation settlements is against that idea.

For an extended strike, producers have enough shows "in the bank" and in rerun, syndication, etc, to hold out for some time, and if writers want to match them, some writers may have to get other jobs to keep going.

Some of the problem comes from others who are not writers getting laid off, and starting to hurt. Most have unemployment to help out, and since that's paid for by employers, the employers are going to be hurt when they're told by the state that they have to contibute more to that fund, so that's pressure on the producers. The writers and any others on strike or walkout can't get unemployment.

chiprocks1 · 01-01-2008, 09:43 PM

My biggest concern is that the studios start bringing in hacks that would give their right nut to write anything for TV. And when it comes to getting a product out to make money, the studio will start to let the quality slide (thus the hack reference), just to make it a reality.

My concern lays in bringing these scabs in to start writing for our favorite shows: Lost, The Shield, Desperate Housewives, etc... that have a somewhat thoughtout story arc for the entire series created by the shows creator. Im sure I wouldnt be the only one worried that a hack thinks that he/she can come in and start fucking up the shows methology and sending it off track that the creator of the show never intended, just because they are getting paid for "writing" TV.

I didnt mention anything about 24 being fucked up, since it was apparent that hacks wrote Season 6.

limacharliewhiskey · 01-02-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebib

The slideshow kept mentioning they make $0.04 per DVD. He makes it sound like the studio makes the rest. What's the actual profit of the studio on a DVD after manufacturing costs, retailers, and other residuals (director, actors, etc)? Doubling from 4 cents to 8 might not sound like much, but that would depend on how much the studio is making.

I've read articles saying that studios make 70-80% profit off the wholesale price, because the residuals are so low to writers and actors (not sure what the residuals are to directors).

So if a DVD has a $29.95 MSRP, the wholesale price is about $17-18. So the studios make about $12-14 per disc.

Iguana Man · 01-23-2008, 11:02 PM

Is there ANY new news? Come on man...when does it END?

**SilentBob** · 01-24-2008, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

Is there ANY new news? Come on man...when does it END?

They are finally going back to the tables to discuss a deal, but other then that

Who knows when it will officially end

biglyle · 01-24-2008, 11:54 AM

Half the writers out on strike right now should be fired anyways for the drivel they produce.

umainebearman · 01-26-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biglyle

Half the writers out on strike right now should be fired anyways for the drivel they produce.

That's no lie. Some of them shouldn't even get the 4 cents they get.

At least Letterman has his own production company and can get writers.

I think I'll go download a movie from X box live and then one from iTunes.

Moonraker · 01-29-2008, 01:45 PM

Rumors going around that the strike is about to end. I think the rumors originated at E! so take what you will from that.

limacharliewhiskey · 01-29-2008, 03:32 PM

Ever since the Director's Guild reached an agreement with the studios, it's been looking more promising that the Writer's Guild would reach some sort of agreement within a month or two, using the DGA's agreement as a template to reach some compromise.

I'm not sure what that means for this season's TV season, as shows will need some time to re-hire everyone, and prep for shooting, and then the writers have to write new scripts before anything can be shot.

This remainder of this season for scripted shows is probably lost, unless we get maybe 4 episodes during May sweeps.

I am bracing for the possibility of not getting any new scripted shows until September.

But that's OK because I've got a backlog of 70-80 DVDs to watch, and BSG is coming back for 7-8 episodes in March.

***1138*** · 01-30-2008, 07:38 AM

The studios are complete douche bags in this whole thing. The writers are so in the right it's crazy. I await the studios to cave.

EM3 · 01-30-2008, 11:11 AM

Well most of the shows I watch are done for the season thanks to the writers strike. At least right now I have Battlestar Galactica to look forward to and there is Sarah Conner Chronicles. Oh well Nascar will be starting soon.

Moonraker · 01-30-2008, 02:25 PM

a few inside sources report today that they have heard the latest WGA/AMPTP proposed deal has not been accepted.

That is the latest, but I think this represents a failure on both sides of the table here.

Moonraker · 01-30-2008, 04:46 PM

Iguana Man · 01-30-2008, 09:07 PM

BWAH-HAW-HAWHAW!!!!!

(I was hoping the babe....never mind.

)

Moonraker · 02-03-2008, 03:13 AM

Both the New York Times and the AP are reporting that the major roadblocks between the striking Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have been eliminated, paving the way for a tentative agreement as early as next week. Yes, you read that right — as early as next week.

The breakthroughs — reportedly involving the hotly contested matter of revnue from Internet distribution &mdas; came Friday after two weeks of productive (if informal) talks between the two sides.

Source: TVGuide.com

umainebearman · 02-03-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonraker

So someone crossed the picket line and had to write that (way to go Seth!!! Someone need to write something sometime.). I'm sure the actors where just happy to have something to do.

Buffalo Bill · 02-10-2008, 08:04 PM

CNN Headline News Breaking News: Writers have agreed to terms & the strike is over.

They're hoping to be able to salvage May sweeps with season ending episodes & then concentrate on Summer & the new Fall season's programming. Movie writers will begin working again Monday morning.

Iguana Man · 02-10-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffalo Bill

CNN Headline News Breaking News: Writers have agreed to terms & the strike is over.

They're hoping to be able to salvage May sweeps with season ending episodes & then concentrate on Summer & the new Fall season's programming. Movie writers will begin working again Monday morning.

YAY!!! My Tivo can start giving me enjoyment again!

Thanks BB!

chiprocks1 · 02-10-2008, 08:21 PM

I wonder if any of the 22 episode shows would resume filming the remaining seasons worth and have them air during the summer.

From what Im hearing, 3 episodes of Heroes is all we can expect (due to special FX, etc..). Tim Kring doesnt want to air the 3 now, but would rather start with the new season.

But what about the other shows (The Office) that dont rely on FX, etc.. How many can we expect to get to "officially" close the books on this season?

Buffalo Bill · 02-10-2008, 08:52 PM

This'll end Letterman's monopoly on good late night guests. Leno's show has been great for its monologue which Jay wrote just about as well by himself as it was with a full staff. Unfortunately, after the monologue I think his biggest guest was Arsenio Hall. He'd have different members of NBC News (Russert, Gregory, Brokaw...) & presidential candidates but no movie, tv or any other kind of star to promote anything. Letterman got everybody (& to a lesser extent Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show) since Worldwide Pants had made a separate deal with their writers & no one had to cross a picket line.

Iguana Man · 02-10-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffalo Bill

since Worldwide Pants had made a separate deal with their writers & no one had to cross a picket line.

What the hell is Worldwide pants?

EM3 · 02-10-2008, 09:06 PM

This whole season has been a wash. I'm reduced to watching the Pro Bowl.

12-31-2007, 10:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Iguana Man Ex-BadHumor Man Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Jersey, USA	What is the deal with the strike? I'm getting sick and tired of seeing my Tivo record settings say no new shows. What is their problem and when is it ending? __________________ Get outside and have fun! Nacho Website Focus

12-31-2007, 10:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Iguana Man Ex-BadHumor Man Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Jersey, USA	Wow...I didn't know that. Is all that true Piratehunter? __________________ Get outside and have fun! Nacho Website Focus

01-01-2008, 01:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
TylerD Actor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 537 Paper Street	Mo Money, Mo Problems. __________________ Can't stop the signal...

01-01-2008, 03:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
Titleist "Wanna buy a Denon?" Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: In the basement, cuz that's where all the bass went.	I vote for the Viewers Strike. http://critterology.blogspot.com/200...e-of-2008.html __________________ "You know what's interesting? I've only been alive for six weeks, I know nothing of the world beyond this dogs stomach ... and I still find Six Feet Under is pretentious." --My Collection --Titleist's Home Theater--

01-01-2008, 04:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
rixrex Actor Join Date: Jul 2007	Well, there's probably enough older films and TV shows you haven't seen out there to keep your viewing going. You just have to maybe go out of your way and rent them or something. It all does have to do with money, specifically money that comes in from the new areas of show exhibition, like the internet. Writers on strike at this point may have lost more than they'd have gained if they took the old offer, but that doesn't mean I'm saying they are wrong. The idea of an entitlement, such as a royalty, for continued showings of the same program initially came from acting talent who got tired of seeing their work shown again and again, and not getting something for it. This idea was adopted by other off-screen talent as well. Of course one might argue that once a person is paid for their work, then that's it, but the history of talent union negotiation settlements is against that idea. For an extended strike, producers have enough shows "in the bank" and in rerun, syndication, etc, to hold out for some time, and if writers want to match them, some writers may have to get other jobs to keep going. Some of the problem comes from others who are not writers getting laid off, and starting to hurt. Most have unemployment to help out, and since that's paid for by employers, the employers are going to be hurt when they're told by the state that they have to contibute more to that fund, so that's pressure on the producers. The writers and any others on strike or walkout can't get unemployment. __________________ The Eyes of the City are Mine! Anguish - 1987

01-01-2008, 01:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
littlebib Actor Join Date: Feb 2001	The slideshow kept mentioning they make $0.04 per DVD. He makes it sound like the studio makes the rest. What's the actual profit of the studio on a DVD after manufacturing costs, retailers, and other residuals (director, actors, etc)? Doubling from 4 cents to 8 might not sound like much, but that would depend on how much the studio is making.

01-01-2008, 09:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
chiprocks1 Actor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA	My biggest concern is that the studios start bringing in hacks that would give their right nut to write anything for TV. And when it comes to getting a product out to make money, the studio will start to let the quality slide (thus the hack reference), just to make it a reality. My concern lays in bringing these scabs in to start writing for our favorite shows: Lost, The Shield, Desperate Housewives, etc... that have a somewhat thoughtout story arc for the entire series created by the shows creator. Im sure I wouldnt be the only one worried that a hack thinks that he/she can come in and start fucking up the shows methology and sending it off track that the creator of the show never intended, just because they are getting paid for "writing" TV. I didnt mention anything about 24 being fucked up, since it was apparent that hacks wrote Season 6.

01-23-2008, 11:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
Iguana Man Ex-BadHumor Man Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Jersey, USA	Is there ANY new news? Come on man...when does it END? __________________ Get outside and have fun! Nacho Website Focus

01-24-2008, 11:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
biglyle Actor Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada	Half the writers out on strike right now should be fired anyways for the drivel they produce. __________________ http://forums.dvdfile.com/your-home-...w-theater.html I dont want downloads!

01-29-2008, 01:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
Moonraker A Look Inside... Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY	Rumors going around that the strike is about to end. I think the rumors originated at E! so take what you will from that. __________________ "Time, won't leave me as I am, but time won't take the boy out of this man." - U2 "In my dream I was drowning my sorrows, But my sorrows, they learned to swim" - U2 A Look Inside ... ARCHIVES \| XBOX Gamertag: MoonrakerC \| PS3 Network: MoonrakerB \| Twitter: MoonrakerB

01-29-2008, 03:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
limacharliewhiskey FryMaster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The O.C.	Ever since the Director's Guild reached an agreement with the studios, it's been looking more promising that the Writer's Guild would reach some sort of agreement within a month or two, using the DGA's agreement as a template to reach some compromise. I'm not sure what that means for this season's TV season, as shows will need some time to re-hire everyone, and prep for shooting, and then the writers have to write new scripts before anything can be shot. This remainder of this season for scripted shows is probably lost, unless we get maybe 4 episodes during May sweeps. I am bracing for the possibility of not getting any new scripted shows until September. But that's OK because I've got a backlog of 70-80 DVDs to watch, and BSG is coming back for 7-8 episodes in March. __________________ "Believing oneself to be perfect is often a sign of a delusional mind." - Data in Star Trek: First Contact DVD Aficionado collection.

01-30-2008, 07:38 AM	#16 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	The studios are complete douche bags in this whole thing. The writers are so in the right it's crazy. I await the studios to cave. __________________ Administrator I got a rock and roll band. I got a rock and roll life. I got a rock and roll girlfriend. And another ex-wife.

01-30-2008, 11:11 AM	#17 (permalink)
EM3 "Suspended" Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Southern WV	Well most of the shows I watch are done for the season thanks to the writers strike. At least right now I have Battlestar Galactica to look forward to and there is Sarah Conner Chronicles. Oh well Nascar will be starting soon. __________________ The beatings will continue until morale improves!

01-30-2008, 02:25 PM	#18 (permalink)
Moonraker A Look Inside... Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY	a few inside sources report today that they have heard the latest WGA/AMPTP proposed deal has not been accepted. That is the latest, but I think this represents a failure on both sides of the table here. __________________ "Time, won't leave me as I am, but time won't take the boy out of this man." - U2 "In my dream I was drowning my sorrows, But my sorrows, they learned to swim" - U2 A Look Inside ... ARCHIVES \| XBOX Gamertag: MoonrakerC \| PS3 Network: MoonrakerB \| Twitter: MoonrakerB

01-30-2008, 04:46 PM	#19 (permalink)
Moonraker A Look Inside... Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY	__________________ "Time, won't leave me as I am, but time won't take the boy out of this man." - U2 "In my dream I was drowning my sorrows, But my sorrows, they learned to swim" - U2 A Look Inside ... ARCHIVES \| XBOX Gamertag: MoonrakerC \| PS3 Network: MoonrakerB \| Twitter: MoonrakerB

01-30-2008, 09:07 PM	#20 (permalink)
Iguana Man Ex-BadHumor Man Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Jersey, USA	BWAH-HAW-HAWHAW!!!!! (I was hoping the babe....never mind. ) __________________ Get outside and have fun! Nacho Website Focus

02-03-2008, 03:13 AM	#21 (permalink)
Moonraker A Look Inside... Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY	Both the New York Times and the AP are reporting that the major roadblocks between the striking Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have been eliminated, paving the way for a tentative agreement as early as next week. Yes, you read that right — as early as next week. The breakthroughs — reportedly involving the hotly contested matter of revnue from Internet distribution &mdas; came Friday after two weeks of productive (if informal) talks between the two sides. Source: TVGuide.com __________________ "Time, won't leave me as I am, but time won't take the boy out of this man." - U2 "In my dream I was drowning my sorrows, But my sorrows, they learned to swim" - U2 A Look Inside ... ARCHIVES \| XBOX Gamertag: MoonrakerC \| PS3 Network: MoonrakerB \| Twitter: MoonrakerB

02-10-2008, 08:04 PM	#23 (permalink)
Buffalo Bill Hapless Actor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Walden Puddle.	CNN Headline News Breaking News: Writers have agreed to terms & the strike is over. They're hoping to be able to salvage May sweeps with season ending episodes & then concentrate on Summer & the new Fall season's programming. Movie writers will begin working again Monday morning. __________________ "Brick Tamland is married with 11 children and is one of the top political advisors to the Bush White House." (now everything makes sense) "The fundamentals of the economy are sound" John McHoover.

02-10-2008, 08:21 PM	#25 (permalink)
chiprocks1 Actor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA	I wonder if any of the 22 episode shows would resume filming the remaining seasons worth and have them air during the summer. From what Im hearing, 3 episodes of Heroes is all we can expect (due to special FX, etc..). Tim Kring doesnt want to air the 3 now, but would rather start with the new season. But what about the other shows (The Office) that dont rely on FX, etc.. How many can we expect to get to "officially" close the books on this season?

02-10-2008, 08:52 PM	#26 (permalink)
Buffalo Bill Hapless Actor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Walden Puddle.	This'll end Letterman's monopoly on good late night guests. Leno's show has been great for its monologue which Jay wrote just about as well by himself as it was with a full staff. Unfortunately, after the monologue I think his biggest guest was Arsenio Hall. He'd have different members of NBC News (Russert, Gregory, Brokaw...) & presidential candidates but no movie, tv or any other kind of star to promote anything. Letterman got everybody (& to a lesser extent Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show) since Worldwide Pants had made a separate deal with their writers & no one had to cross a picket line. __________________ "Brick Tamland is married with 11 children and is one of the top political advisors to the Bush White House." (now everything makes sense) "The fundamentals of the economy are sound" John McHoover.

02-10-2008, 09:06 PM	#28 (permalink)
EM3 "Suspended" Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Southern WV	This whole season has been a wash. I'm reduced to watching the Pro Bowl. __________________ The beatings will continue until morale improves!

02-10-2008, 09:07 PM	#29 (permalink)
Buffalo Bill Hapless Actor