Hollywood strike: "It's On"

[villager]

"29 Minutes to Go"

Does that sound like the lyric to the Johnny Cash song, “25 Minutes To Go,” about the inevitability of an execution?

You bet it does.

From Craig Mazin’s “Artful Writer” website:

Either way, I think a strike is in the cards. Nothing will change my mind about this: we didn’t have to be here. There was a way to play this game that would have avoided a strike and gotten us a deal. We didn’t play it right, and they didn’t play it right.

Both sides failed.

I’m angry at both of them.

Twenty-nine minutes to go.

Does either side even have the will to try anymore?

Don’t hold your breath.

From a “Variety” post, earlier this evening, written by Dave McNary:

In an ominous sign, WGA strike captains have been told to instruct guild members to take their personal items home from offices at the end of work today.

To quote Ice T, from a different era:

“It’s on.”

It’d be nice to be wrong, though.

http://btlnews.com/blog/archives/45

[Chovexani]

1. Like Donkey Kong?

:hide:

[Beerboy]

2. Hollywood?

A bunch of rich pampered fucks want to duke it out between themselves, that's cool. I hope they film all the for-real sweet beat-downs.

[Trajan]

3. Why do I see ....

Projected aggression against an imagtinary image of what Hollywood is REALLY like for the regular joes who work behind the scenes ?

Writers arent rich and pampered .... This is a falsehood ....

I stand with my union brothers ... more power to ya's .....

[Javaman]

20. Here here!!

Right with you.

I was in the cameraman's union and believe me, I was very very far from rich. I like to call it, living on impulse power. LOL

never the less, the union did well by me and I support the writers.

the nation has been brain washed into thinking that everyone who works in film are wealthy. Man, if I had a dime for every time someone said that, yes, I would be wealthy too, but it wouldn't be because of the film industry. LOL

90% of the film industry happens because of working folks, like you and I, that do all the behind the scenes stuff that virtually no one has a clue about.

All the public ever sees is the sneak peaks or the "behind the scenes footage". That footage shows people having a good time, they never show you the crappy stuff, but keep this in mind, most people who do work behind the scenes in film actually enjoy their jobs. That is where I think the jealousy comes from.

I loved it. there was a saying out in L.A., "The worst day on the set, is better than the best day in the real world". It's very true.

So cut the "wealthy" writers a break. Believe me, they are just talented people that have families, mortgages and worries to make ends meet just like the rest of us.

[Tunkamerica]

4. yeah evrybodys a millionaire in hollywood

[Goat or Panic]

5. Sound Editor here..

and I'm not a "rich pampered fuck." I'm at the bottom of the production totem pole. The last strike lasted about six months. People lost their homes, careers and/or life savings.

I'm not looking forward to this.

What's happening in Hollywood is similar to what's happening in the rest of corporate America.

And BTW, I know working writers who would love to be a "rich pampered fuck" but can't afford to be because they keep getting screwed by producers.

[Az]

8. Um... uncool dude

Hollywood is made up of Corporations. And this means that people are being screwed left and right. Every once in a while they have to stand up and demand better treatment.

The work of Hollywood is not just the actors. There is an army of people behind the scenes making everything work that go unappreciated and underpaid. And that is who is going on strike.

[BadgerLaw2010]

12. Except for the little fact that most of "Hollywood" is medium wage working people, writers included.

[symbolman]

6. How much "scabbing" do you think will be going on?

Puts me in a bad position. I've been working on a book for about five years and just finished my final edit, and it's going out to some A and B list actors for them to have a look at, I hope that's not considered as going against fellow writers when it's just Spec anyway?

Been a Union activist many times, lost a job over it..

I'm broke too btw :)

This strike is going to hurt a lot of people, hope it's over with Quick.

[mitchum]

35. Probably have meth freak scabs replace the blow hounds...

since they'll work cheaper

[symbolman]

39. Reminds me of the old SatNiteLive crowd

One of them was at the News desk segment weighing the benefits of How much worse it could Be to be "A Crack Ho", when someone chimed in, that there's always, "ASSISTANT Crack Ho.." ...

That jibe got Me out of the chair, or off the floor. .. :)

[Az]

7. This means more reality TV shows

Somebody save us.

[stlsaxman]

9. So will tonight's 30 Rock still air? Will the strike fuck it up?

Al's gonna be on tonight.

[Blue_Roses]

32. I think shows tape way in advance so many will go on unnoticed,

however, if it drags out, then there might be some major problems. Hopefully, it will be over soon.

[MetaTrope]

10. If this goes on a few years, maybe it can pave the way for some creativity in Hollywood again

Or at least halt the horrible Hollywoodization of Asia's film industries.

[Snarkturian Clone]

11. Last time they struck

we got Star Trek 5.



not good.

[Az]

14. The last strike is what brought us reality shows

Producers figured out they could put on cheaper shows by not hiring any writers and just using the skills they developed finding idiots to fight on talk shows to gather dysfunctional people for reality shows and watching them beat the crap out of each other.

[annabanana]

13. Daily Show and Colbert Report? Ohh Noooo

Two of the three outlets of sanity on the tube....

Keith will be truly ALONE out there.....

[Me.]

15. I Hear Arnuld Has Gotten Involved

And told producers to get back to the table. LA is suffering from big financial problems from the fires and he's saying a strike would be a disaster.

[RB TexLa]

16. Hope it goes well for the. But I don't think anyone is going to notice or miss new dribble coming

out of hollywood.

[raccoon]

17. Does that mean we'll be seeing Bollywood stuff on TV/local movies? nt

[Chovexani]

38. I hope so

I need more Shah Rukh Khan in my day.



:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[MetaTrope]

18. An awful thought just occurred to me

Is this going to affect the remakes of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, LONG WEEKEND, THE BIRDS, THE BROOD, THE WILD GEESE, THE STEPFATHER, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, ENTER THE DRAGON, THE ANDERSON TAPES, FOOTLOOSE, THE DIRTY DOZEN, DRESSED TO KILL, THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY, BARBARELLA, TAPS, ALL OF ME, COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT, LOGAN'S RUN, GET SMART, WORKING GIRL, FANTASTIC VOYAGE, DAY OF THE DEAD, FAME, and SCANNERS?

If it doesn't, we may get them sooner rather than later!

[Blaze Diem]

19. This will only affect Late Nite Talk Shows..according to CNN

just now. Colbert can easily ad-lib the entire show.

Maybe gives him time to work on his campaign.

[vireo]

21. Isn't Colbert a Guild member?

I would guess he is.

[Blaze Diem]

23. Probably . I don't know too much about how it works.

Hope it doesn't affect him, he's the best thing on TV, and about the only show I actually wait for each day.

[KharmaTrain]

22. Will Other Unions Cross??

Dave Letterman has given his writers the chance to plug the contract dispute all week and made mention last night that this could be the last night he'd have writers.

What I always find curious in these disputes is if other unions will honor the picket lines...especially with my background in the "media world". Will the Musicians cross a WGA picket line or NABET or AFTRA members? If none of the other unions show solidarity, the late night shows will go on, but if the other unions follow suit, be prepared for reruns.

Here's showing my solidarity with the writers...this deal shoulda/coulda been done over the past two years and the WGA is taking this action reluctantly. Many of these people don't bring in the big coin and a strike will be a big financial drain. Here's hoping other line up with the WGA and they get a better deal from the large corporates who have made billions on their hard work.

[Blaze Diem]

24. Ain't THAT a mouthful..a sad sign of the times.

..."large corporates who have made billions on their hard work."

[villager]

26. Teamsters local indicated individual members have "permission" to honor lines...

Local 399...

[villager]

25. "How Big Media Wants to Steal From Its Workers:"

For all those folks who aren’t writers and get a regular paycheck, it’s really important to understand the plantation-like economic model that powers—and enriches—Big Media. At any given time, 95 percent of WGA members aren’t being paid a salary by Big Media. Instead, thousands of writers churn out scripts and ideas for content—most of which is never bought. You might sell a script or an idea one year and, then, not sell another product for the next 5 or 7 years. It’s not because of a lack of talent. It is simply because Big Media has set up a brilliant system—it keeps a whole workforce turning out its products and doesn’t have to keep them on any payroll, or pay their health care or pensions if Big Media decides not to buy what they produce.

And, so, the way writers try to survive is over that stream—in most cases, quite modest stream—of royalties that come every time a DVD is sold which contains their creative output. Remember this: the vast majority of writers do not—do not—live in mansions or fly in private jets. They are mostly trying to live a middle-class life—and that isn’t easy.

And, as important, Big Media is engaging in the fairly familiar anti-union posture that is in vogue: it is refusing to agree to include writers for reality television in the jurisdiction of the WGA. Translation: Big Media wants to deny people basic rights on the job...


http://www.workinglife.org/blogs/view_post.php?content_id=7268

[Cha]

27. Thank you, villager!

I think most people on DU know how Big Media does their business(see War On Iraq & coming War On Iran) but this is important to go know.

[villager]

29. yr welcome!

:thumbsup:

[Deja Q]

41. I will admit I am saddened that the material written for mannequins like Tom Cruise are overlooked

when it comes to pay.

Plus, big media only wants fluff that caters to the lowest common denominator. It may be crap, but if it sells it stays. Anything with a shred of decency or intellect is typically pulled or branded "politically incorrect" so that people will summarily hate it without so much a second thought. Besides, it's television/music/newspaper/telepathy. Who wants to enjoy having to think?

[Whisp]

28. kick for support for the writers. nt

[villager]

30. on the picket lines with the next couple of business days, it appears....

n/t

[Whisp]

31. make sure you pack yourself some caviar and

dom perignon for lunch! are you taking your Jag to the line? What will the 'help' think if they see you there?

:sarcasm:

best of luck to you, and all, villager!

[villager]

33. I'm not WGA -- actually an area journalist ("Onion" phrasing?)

who covers this scene.

Oh, I have my creative outlet, but it's not TV or movies, at present.

Still, I'm here in that certain Town South of Bakersfield.

And yes, TV writers make a fuck of a lot more than I do, per episode.

But they are up against the same multinationals -- Murdoch, GE, etc. -- that we are in other areas, here at DU. It's not accidental that union-busting is happening in Hollywood, too...

[me b zola]

34. kick for support of our unions

United we stand.... :grouphug:

[mitchum]

36. And later, we'll see the sitcom episodes...

someone is dating a striking writer...BUT DOESN'T KNOW SHE HAS A TWIN!
"Honey...I'm bringing the negotiator home for dinner!"
"Help! I think I've fallen in love with a scab!"

and hilarity will resume

[geomon666]

37. I knew that days ago...

When networks started canceling previously greenlit shows. They have no intention of giving the writers what they want. There will be a strike.

[Deja Q]

40. Last I checked, the most creative endeavor was a maudlin remake of "Bionic Woman".

So-called "Reality shows" are lame and devaluing of people, but compared to empty remakes and expletive-laden shows (being able to say "Douche bag" 20 times each sitcom episode is not creativity), reality shows are benign.