[Dean's World] Kevin D.: WGA On Strike

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Kevin D.:
WGA On Strike
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1194274219.shtml


   As some of you may already know that WGA (Writers Guild of America)
   has gone on strike. I'm not going to link any articles because a quick
   search using the title of this post alone will bring up all you need.

   This is the first time the guild has gone on strike since 1988 and
   that was over "[1]a dispute over residuals from repeat airings and
   foreign/home video use of scripted shows and made-for-TV movies. This
   time [it's] over writers' share of revenues from DVD releases and from
   Internet, cell-phone network and other new-media uses of programs and
   films written by members."

   One of the gains of the 1988 strike was that the WGA agreed to a $0.04
   cut of video sales, tending to believe production companies when they
   said that the cost of making and marketing the tapes were of a huge
   cost and there was little profit to be made. The WGA has regretted the
   decision ever since and has vowed not to repeat the mistakes of the
   past.

   It's hardly news that DVD sales are a huge boon to productions
   companies, many times pulling a box office failure out of the red and
   into the black. Sometimes even going so far as to rationalize sequels.
   Kevin Smith is just one example of this trend. His films tend to do
   weakly in the theater but remarkable well on DVD.

   Internet-based markets make selling films and television programs even
   more profitable to networks and production companies as it removes
   manufacturing costs and the outlets that sell these items see very
   little profit while charging close to retail prices for the product.

   It may not be hard to tell but I tend to side with the WGA on this
   issue. As an aspiring screenwriter (I've written two feature-length
   screenplays, two short film scripts, a spec script for Stargate:
   Atlantis, and I'm currently working on additional spec scripts for
   Smallville, Supernatural, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent) I try to
   keep an eye on how writers are treated and perceived in the industry
   and it's downright depressing. If something fails it's typically
   blamed on the script (or, at least, in addition to the script) and if
   something succeeds it's because of the vision of the director, or hard
   work of the crew, or the actors. Rarely is the script given
   consideration. Unless written by the director, producer, or an actor
   in the piece.

   So, what does this strike mean for you common folk? Depends how long
   the strike lasts. Late night talk programs will be hit first. Leno,
   Letterman, O'Brian... they'll either go off the air or repeat segments
   from previous episodes. You should see the effects, well, today. Soaps
   will get hit next. Network and cable television programming may take a
   bit of time to show any signs that something is amiss. Production
   companies for television typically stockpile scripts in case of such
   occurrences. Still repeats may become more common.

   We may see more reality-based programming getting aired to fill the
   void.

   Any effects to film we may not see until next year or the year after
   given the long development cycle involved with them. Any films that
   are currently in production will continue however no new films will
   begin production until the strike is resolved.

   The strike of 1988 cost the industry $500 million. That may not sound
   like too much (maybe the price of two summer blockbusters) but
   adjusted to 2007 dollars we're talking about almost $1 billion.
   Nothing to sneeze at. And some industry analysts say Hollywood never
   recovered from it.

References

   1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writers_Guild_of_America%2C_west