Report: Major studios nix writers' contracts

[KeepItReal]

Source: CNN/AP

"Four major studios have canceled dozens of writers' contracts in a possible concession that the current television season cannot be saved, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The move means the two-month old writers strike may also endanger next season's new shows, the Times said.

January is usually the beginning of pilot season, when networks order new scripted shows. But the strike leaves networks without a pool of comedy and drama scripts from which to choose.

20th Century Fox Television, CBS Paramount Network Television, NBC Universal and Warner Bros. Television told the Times they have terminated development and production agreements."

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/15/news/companies/bc.hollywoodlabor.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008011508

[C_U_L8R]

1. At this point...

some writers might be better off to join forces and start their own studio.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. United Artists?

Now owned by Sony, Comcast, et. al.

[Dhalgren]

3. That's what I was thinking.

Also, companies like World Wide Pants that have already signed new contracts with the writers' union should pull out all the stops and create a ton of shows for pilots. If the other companies don't want to produce new shows, let WWP do it. Dave makes lots of money, the writers who work for him make lots of money, he has to hire a whole bunch of new writers to work on his new shows so a lot of out of work writers get picked up by a union shop. This sounds good to me...

[ramapo]

6. Why only WWP?

It sounded like Jon Stewart was willing to settle but has been rebuffed. I don't get it.

[Dhalgren]

7. Jon Stewart doesn't own his production company.

WWP is owned by David Letterman and he went ahead and settled with the writers, he "manned-up", as they say. The other production companies are either corporate owned or owned by "wannabes"...

[Hellenic_Pagan]

17. Ive thought about that myself.

Fuck the industry and unite together to form a writers front.

Then they could control what they get paid at least.

I think plenty of producers and talent would back them... and thats more than the studios can say right now.

And John Stewart is popular enough, he could start a company!

[pattmarty]

4. For the quality of TV nowadays, who the fuck cares????

[asthmaticeog]

9. About half of the people employed in L.A. care rather a lot. nt

[pattmarty]

11. That was SARCASM!!! the comment was meant for what is on TV nowadays.

I am a retired Teamster and you won't find a stronger union supporter than me. What is on TV nowadays (how many channels, a gazillion?) is pure shit, and I'm using very mild language to describe it.

[asthmaticeog]

12. Gotcha.

And agreed, TV is shite, but I'd say the popularity of some of the higher-quality (better written, better produced) cable offerings has started to drag broadcast to better places. For what it's worth. Then again, for every imaginitive premise like "Chuck" or "Heroes," there's a few dozen steamers like "Joey," so maybe I oughtta just shut up. ;)

[katty]

19. yes, we do - this is a company town, many many people out

of jobs because of the strike-not just writers.

[soleft]

5. Sadly, the writer's strike will probably factor into the election

News programs will try and ratchet up the melo-drama as they see the opportunity to draw in viewers.

[KamaAina]

16. Not only that, some younger voters actually rely on TDS and Colbert

as sources of information.

Sure, they're back, but are they any good without writers? Is anybody watching?

This could impact the Obama campaign in particular, which has targeted younger voters. 8,000 more of them in NH, and what's-her-face would be on the ropes...

[Javaman]

8. If there were any creativity out there, people would take advantage of this

and start producing content in earnest for Youtube, instead of jackass videos.

Don't get me wrong, I support the writers but this is also an opportunity to make lemons out of lemonade.

And in the long run, if something does well on Youtube, it works in the writers favor because that is basically what they are protesting about. Getting a cut from internet revenues.

[closeupready]

14. I often wonder this myself. Obviously, production values are going to be lower, but

it's a way to bring their work to life.

[MilesColtrane]

10. I expect to see the networks fill in the schedule with non-union Central Asian replacement shows.

Get ready for:

Everbody Loves Saodat
Goat or No Goat
Desperate Boyvuchchas
Extreme Makeover: Hovel Edition
Mykolaiv Legal
Oxpoolers

[Joe Bacon]

13. Just blow the dust off the reruns

Watch the networks blow the dust off of old shows that have been sitting in the archives for years. Wow, I can't wait to see more reruns of Hawaiian Eye, My Living Doll, My Mother The Car, THe Bailey's of Balboa and Land of the Giants...

:sarcasm: mode now off....

[ckramer]

15. Major networks - please re-run these shows

Three's company

Nanny

Night Court

Marry with Children

[IndianaGreen]

18. The networks have years of programming in the can: Jackie Gleason, Ed Sullivan

I wonder what the old black & white shows would look like on HD TV?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

20. Writers are the single most important element in a film and often the least paid

The producer can't shoot the pile of money he provides and put it on the screen. The director can't direct a bunch of actors standing around with no lines to read. The cinematographer can't shoot an empty set. The composer of the film's score would have no action to set his music to, if there were no script for actors to act out.

I know, movies are a collaborative art where many professions are required to come together and where the whole somehow becomes greater than the sum of its parts, especially when a truly great movie is created. But it all starts with the writer and with that script. Reading scripts, piles of scripts looking for that gem is probably where all of Hollywood spends most of its time. And from my years at UCLA film school and working in the industry during the 1980s, I know that writers are usually the least respected, the most underpaid, and the most important elements in the film. It all starts with them.

[C_U_L8R]

21. Blessed are the storymakers

: - ))))