Doesn't it take 3 weeks for a cup of coffee to get done on a soap?
Seriously though, I hope the writers get a better deal because they are getting a bad deal right now with respect to DVD sales and online downloads.
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tv and movie writers on strike
- Thread starter furcalchick
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Doesn't it take 3 weeks for a cup of coffee to get done on a soap?
Seriously though, I hope the writers get a better deal because they are getting a bad deal right now with respect to DVD sales and online downloads.
I think we may see a shift to 'mini-seasons' - not unlike the UK.
We will have 12-13 episodes finishing up around Christmas with March/April seeing the return of the 2nd half.
I know that many people complained about the scheduling of shows like Lost and Heroes last season where there were repeats intermingled between new episodes. This won't happen with 2 'mini-seasons' because the episodes will not be interminged - they will start and finish each 12 episode block with other shows (probably reality) squeezed between (I guess Fox are at an advantage already with American Idol steamroling its way to the screen soon - no scripts, or talent!, there!)
I guess we will have to see. But I am sure the Writers Guild want to resolve this ASAP as they will not be well liked as others within the industry face possible lay-offs as there may not be shows to produce. And I read somewhere that the last strike and major contract doscussions was 20 years ago? They deserve a better deal after 20 years.
We will have 12-13 episodes finishing up around Christmas with March/April seeing the return of the 2nd half.
I know that many people complained about the scheduling of shows like Lost and Heroes last season where there were repeats intermingled between new episodes. This won't happen with 2 'mini-seasons' because the episodes will not be interminged - they will start and finish each 12 episode block with other shows (probably reality) squeezed between (I guess Fox are at an advantage already with American Idol steamroling its way to the screen soon - no scripts, or talent!, there!)
I guess we will have to see. But I am sure the Writers Guild want to resolve this ASAP as they will not be well liked as others within the industry face possible lay-offs as there may not be shows to produce. And I read somewhere that the last strike and major contract doscussions was 20 years ago? They deserve a better deal after 20 years.
I had heard that the Teamsters said they won't cross any picket lines.
The studios have some time to work something out with the writers, but if it is true that the Teamsters won't cross any picket lines, then Hollywood is going to shut down in about 10 minutes.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117974949.html?categoryId=2821&cs=1
EDIT: As individuals, Teamsters can choose to cross picket lines or not cross them. The union itself isn't able to join the WGA officially on strike, but I think we're going to see the studios cave in pretty quick with none of the Teamsters showing up for work.
The studios have some time to work something out with the writers, but if it is true that the Teamsters won't cross any picket lines, then Hollywood is going to shut down in about 10 minutes.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117974949.html?categoryId=2821&cs=1
EDIT: As individuals, Teamsters can choose to cross picket lines or not cross them. The union itself isn't able to join the WGA officially on strike, but I think we're going to see the studios cave in pretty quick with none of the Teamsters showing up for work.
Being from the southern US and living in a right-to-work state, I generally dislike unions... however, I'm backing the WGA in this case. The writers' previous contract was apparently negotiated in the 1980s, and writers now get only 4 or 5 cents per DVD sold. This was before DVDs really took off, so writers really feel like they've been ripped off for decades -- and now the producers have the chutzpah to open new negotiations by saying, we'd like to only pay you guys any residuals after our creative accountants have gotten through making sure we've shown a "profit" (as if)! Wow, such a deal!
Sorry if Lost and 24 are delayed, but I'm backing the writers.
Sorry if Lost and 24 are delayed, but I'm backing the writers.
i would rather have writers being fairly paid, even if that means the few shows i watch go off for a while (if they are cancelled, we have a problem). strike as long as you like, i really want to see what happens if this strike goes past june when the other unions contracts run out, then it's goodbye hollywood.
It's not just about the writers. There are hundreds of people staffed at some of these shows (Leno, Letterman, etc) that are not guild members. These people are facing potential layoffs if those shows remain dark for more than a week or so.
The networks and production companies are not going to pay people to sit around and do nothing, and I doubt many of these workers could sustain multiple weeks or months (like the late 80's) of no new episodes.
The networks and production companies are not going to pay people to sit around and do nothing, and I doubt many of these workers could sustain multiple weeks or months (like the late 80's) of no new episodes.
This strike is a big deal for the writers. The DVD situation is bad enough, but not having to pay writers anything for streaming internet views is horrible.
I wonder if this was a big factor in NBC bailing on iTunes and going to their own streaming? There was much discussion about the reasons behind it, but I don't think I ever heard mention of the fact that the switch lets them weasel out of paying the writers of those shows.
They could hire non-union writers, but any young aspiring writer who worked as a scab would likely be banned from joining the union. They could pick up some work now, but after the strike ends, they'd probably never be able to work on any mainstream tv or film ever again.
It sounds like Lost will have about 8-10 episodes in the can. Even if more are written, they're probably pretty rough drafts of the later episodes, and with a show like that I bet they do a LOT of rewriting up until the last minute. Even if they could film more episodes, I bet the producers would be very reluctant to shoot scripts that aren't top notch, or could potentially have plot holes or problems that could mess up their grand plan.
Lost is currently scheduled to run three more years of 16 episodes each. Assuming the strike goes on for a few months, I wouldn't be surprised if they broadcast 8 or so this spring then held the remaining 8 until next year and made it a season of 24 episodes or so. It probably depends on how the story arc is going when the episodes run out, whether it could make a satisfying cliffhanger or just annoy viewers by stopping in a random spot.
Otherwise, they could skip this season entirely if they don't have enough in the can and switch to two seasons of 24 episodes each to end the series.
I wonder if this was a big factor in NBC bailing on iTunes and going to their own streaming? There was much discussion about the reasons behind it, but I don't think I ever heard mention of the fact that the switch lets them weasel out of paying the writers of those shows.
They could hire non-union writers, but any young aspiring writer who worked as a scab would likely be banned from joining the union. They could pick up some work now, but after the strike ends, they'd probably never be able to work on any mainstream tv or film ever again.
It sounds like Lost will have about 8-10 episodes in the can. Even if more are written, they're probably pretty rough drafts of the later episodes, and with a show like that I bet they do a LOT of rewriting up until the last minute. Even if they could film more episodes, I bet the producers would be very reluctant to shoot scripts that aren't top notch, or could potentially have plot holes or problems that could mess up their grand plan.
Lost is currently scheduled to run three more years of 16 episodes each. Assuming the strike goes on for a few months, I wouldn't be surprised if they broadcast 8 or so this spring then held the remaining 8 until next year and made it a season of 24 episodes or so. It probably depends on how the story arc is going when the episodes run out, whether it could make a satisfying cliffhanger or just annoy viewers by stopping in a random spot.
Otherwise, they could skip this season entirely if they don't have enough in the can and switch to two seasons of 24 episodes each to end the series.
Heroes Update: I heard that the crew is currently filming two versions of what was originally going to be the mid-season mini-cliffhanger in December: one version as originally written and a second the ties up all the loose ends for the season (essentially treating the episode as a season finale).
This episodes was supposed to be followed by a 4 week break, similar to what they did last year, but now looks like it may be the last we see of Heroes until next season...
This episodes was supposed to be followed by a 4 week break, similar to what they did last year, but now looks like it may be the last we see of Heroes until next season...
It is even better than I though. Of the list of shows I like to watch only one is minorly effected and it not even one I care about.
All my more favorite shows will not be effects. Either this entire seasons scripts are written/filmed.
I don't care much if my favorite shows don't have any new episodes for a long while. I support the WGA fully, and would much rather have writers getting treated fairly than my desire to see television shows satisfied.
Gives me plenty of time to catch up on my Netflix queue and read some books I've been wanting to read.
Gives me plenty of time to catch up on my Netflix queue and read some books I've been wanting to read.
All I really watch is 'Stargate Atlantis' but I've been growing found of "Pushing Daisy's" and "Chuck". I have season 1 and 2 of Lost on DVD and still have not watched beyound the pilot. In fact I have such a backlog of DVDs that need to be watched I think I can go a good 6 months, easy, without new TV.
strike news
recent strike news from variety. here are some of the highlights.
first off, good chance this strike goes into next year.
second, most tv shows have shut down and late show crews are on notice (meaning layoffs in two weeks if the strike is still on).
recent strike news from variety. here are some of the highlights.
first off, good chance this strike goes into next year.
second, most tv shows have shut down and late show crews are on notice (meaning layoffs in two weeks if the strike is still on).
You know what really happened? I moved to London and was looking forward to watching Heroes and The Office on the NBC website, but it's blocked for international users. Then, I thought that I could get them on iTunes, but no more NBC on iTunes. So, I called my friends in the WGA and the rest is history. If I can't watch my programs, no one can.
Heh, well there's a law here that states (related to the recording law or something) you can even download torrents of TV shows so long as they're not on a puchasable medium. TV torrent sites here are legal but when they're released on DVD they have to pull them.
Just thought you'd might like to know that
Just thought you'd might like to know that
Make no mistake about it...if this drags on even another week, EVERY show will be affected. TV season 2007 and 2008.
Less episodes, delayed, or crappier quality (because they didn't give it a re-write).
It has been confirmed that Lost only has scripts finished to finish shooting the first eight episodes. The producers would like to hold them all until the full season is done, but it's up to ABC so they may just show those this spring.
Supposedly there's a pretty big cliffhanger at the end of that episode (but it wasn't written with the intention of being an end point).
With heroes, they wrote two endings to the december 3 episode, one for if there was no strike or a short one, and one that would work as a season finale if the strike happened.
Supposedly there's a pretty big cliffhanger at the end of that episode (but it wasn't written with the intention of being an end point).
With heroes, they wrote two endings to the december 3 episode, one for if there was no strike or a short one, and one that would work as a season finale if the strike happened.
Heh, well there's a law here that states (related to the recording law or something) you can even download torrents of TV shows so long as they're not on a puchasable medium. TV torrent sites here are legal but when they're released on DVD they have to pull them.
Just thought you'd might like to know that
Good to know, but it's too late. The strike is on and there's no turning back now.
i know of a couple of shows that have completed their seasons, everybody hates chris is finished for the year and a few others won't have problems airing shows through may, so they won't have problems unless we have an extended strike (or joint strike by the actor and director unions).
but that probably accounts for less than 2% of all written shows, so if the strike isn't resolved by thanksgiving, every other show that uses union writers is in huge trouble.
All the new pilots for next season are written and filmed now, if those are not done next falls season will not look good.
All new shows are ordered in the spring for the fall season. Without those shows written there is nothing to sell to advertisers.
All new shows are ordered in the spring for the fall season. Without those shows written there is nothing to sell to advertisers.
they can just restart the shows they have this year instead, since most of them are getting cut short, give them a second chance since they don't have new shows. we don't need new shows...
