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I thought I'd start up a thread about the looming writer's strike.
As I'm sure most of you know, the WGA sent out a strike authorization req to its members, negotiations with the studios have gotten more and more acrimonious, and the issues on the table are very important to all current and future guild writers. Not only are the producers unwelcome to the idea of revisiting residuals on dvd sales, they want to roll back residuals to a profit-based model, i.e. when a movie makes a profit, the writer will get a piece of the residual action.
The problem as the guild leadership sees it is that under Hollywood accounting practices there will never be a profit on a film.
Long story short, it looks like a strike may cripple the Industry come November 1st.
As I'm sure most of you know, the WGA sent out a strike authorization req to its members, negotiations with the studios have gotten more and more acrimonious, and the issues on the table are very important to all current and future guild writers. Not only are the producers unwelcome to the idea of revisiting residuals on dvd sales, they want to roll back residuals to a profit-based model, i.e. when a movie makes a profit, the writer will get a piece of the residual action.
The problem as the guild leadership sees it is that under Hollywood accounting practices there will never be a profit on a film.
Long story short, it looks like a strike may cripple the Industry come November 1st.
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Los Angeles
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Re: Strike!
Thu, October 11, 2007 - 1:44 PM -
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Re: Strike!
Thu, October 11, 2007 - 5:58 PManyone know how this affects non wga writers? does wga ask everyone not a member to stand in support? -
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Re: Strike!
Thu, October 11, 2007 - 6:42 PMIf you sell to or work for a struck company, you're scabbing.
This will prevent you from ever becoming a member of the WGA, and may make it impossible to work for signatories after the strike.
Don't try to sell material during a strike. Give your drafts another polish, write something new, or do something on your own.
"Stand in support" is sort of vague. Yes, it'd be nice if you didn't cross picket lines, but we only /really/ care if you cross picket lines for the sake of doing writing work or selling a script. -
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Re: Strike!
Fri, October 12, 2007 - 8:30 AMI wasn't talking about scabbing, but developing work during the time of the strike. What about things like meeting with agents, producers? -
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Re: Strike!
Fri, October 12, 2007 - 10:01 AMMeeting with an agent?
That's fine.
Meeting with a producer?
No. If the producer represents a company on the strike list, then you're not allowed to meet with him or her to discuss specific projects, or even to have general meetings. To do so would be considered crossing a picket line.
You may write on spec, but you may not coordinate your spec writing efforts with a producer who may be interested in the finished project. -
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Re: Strike!
Fri, October 12, 2007 - 10:20 AMAgents and managers and specs it is looking like then. Thanks for the info, as i wouldn't have known this from the press. I'm in one of those in-between places...enough credits to make a living and not enough to attract an agent or WGA status.
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Re: Strike!
Sat, October 13, 2007 - 7:05 PMI have this vague recollection that during a strike the WGA makes it easier to join their union. If being WGA is a goal of yours, you should look into that.
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Re: Strike!
Sun, October 14, 2007 - 3:09 PMThere really isn't much point in being a WGA member unless you're working.
If you're working, it sets the working conditions, which, obviously, are good. And if you're working you get health and pension benefits, which are substantial. But those don't accrue unless you're actively working. Membership itself, except for being a small mark of accomplishment on the road to success, doesn't really mean that much.
The WGA is a means towards better compensation and working conditions. It's not an end to itself. (Although you do get lots of invitations to free screenings if you're an active member ...)
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This post was deleted by Allen
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Re: Strike!
Thu, October 11, 2007 - 5:22 PM -
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Re: Strike!
Thu, October 11, 2007 - 6:42 PMDon't cross picket lines or you will get blacklisted. -
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Re: Strike!
Fri, October 12, 2007 - 9:04 AMIt'd be a killer time to pitch a game show or a reality show to the suits if that's your thing. Otherwise it says right there in the "strike rules" on the WGA home page that if you work for/sell to the studios during the strike you will be banned from joining the guild. -
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Re: Strike!
Fri, October 12, 2007 - 7:25 PMagreed! don't cross this strike line. this strike is vital for all writers, not just the tv writers.
producers/studios have stockpiled scripts/treatments/shows/ideas for months in anticipation.
therefore: as of 11/1/07 there will be NO new scripts sales of any kind and NO "writer-for-hire" jobs, until all issues are resolved.
only scripts/treatmenst/ideas/shows that have been optioned or purchased under the current WGA contracts before 11/1/07 will continue to be developed.
if a "producer" or "manager" declares otherwise, then they are blowing smoke up your ass!
i'm in the feature script world.
now the time to work on your craft of writing/storytelling and stockpile you own projects...
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Re: Strike!
Sat, October 13, 2007 - 9:12 AMCan you give me the link? I can't find it...
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