Hollywood writers strike looms

johnnymk · 11-02-2007, 06:22 AM

So?? Does anyone care?

http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13875

p2pnet news | TV:- Unionised Hollywood writers say they’ll go on strike for the first time in 20 years.

The isue? Broadband and Net profits.

The 12,000 Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) members want an increase in their fees when their work shows up on on DVDs, online, mobile phones and other “electronic devices”.

But the producers say the demands are impossible to meet.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers won’t budge and if it happens, it’ll be bad, says E! Online.

It’s effects will be seen to be “trickling down from the likes of executive producers to writers to actors to caterers to dry cleaners to office-supply workers to janitors to the wives and children of all of the above,” says the story.

Does that look familiar? It’s already happening, according to Hollywood’s MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America).

But the cause isn’t striking writers: it’s file sharers, says a Hollywood enforcement organisation, which claims its owners, Time Warner, Viacom, Fox, Sony, NBC Universal and Disney, are being ruined, at the same time reporting record, ‘best-ever’ profits.

“Some of the most popular shows on US television could be forced off the air if writers go ahead with the strike,” says the BBC, going on:

“Hollywood writers fear networks will resort to repeats and reality shows

“Five thousand members of the WGA recently took part in a ballot and 90% voted in favour of industrial action.
“The dispute focuses attention on the rapidly growing market for on-demand entertainment.”

But writer-directors and writer-producers, also called ‘hyphenates” would be allowed to do “non-writing” during a strike, “although there’s considerable disagreement over how this is defined,” says the Los Angeles Times.

Says the New York Times:

In the near term, a writers’ strike will have an immediate impact on more than 200,000 workers in the movie and TV industry here and the thousands more who produce or sell entertainment elsewhere in the United States and abroad. The dispute may also signal more labor trouble to come, as directors and actors face similar issues when their contracts expire next June.

Over the long haul, multiple strikes could lead to a drastic overhaul of the economics of Hollywood. They could redefine the industry’s relationship with its highly unionized work force at a time when DVD sales are cooling and changing movie and TV markets have workers and companies alike vying for their perceived fair share of a yet-to-be-identified next digital bonanza.

But people watching shows such as Pariah Island, which just named mininova as its primary distribution channel, won’t be hit. Writers for commercials, sports programs and reality TV, who are not covered under the guild contract, says the LA Timnes.

Don’t leave your couches.

VTGreg · 11-02-2007, 10:37 AM

I'm sure this would have a big impact to the entertainment industry, but I don't think it would have a huge impact on the greater majority of the US public. Who knows, maybe it will even cause some people to turn off the TV and do something else.

zenbooty · 11-02-2007, 03:40 PM

I just watch sports and movies anyway. And a lot of TV shows are still done in NYC. Are they striking there, too?

Napoleon54 · 11-04-2007, 12:19 PM

I couldn't possibly care less. I don't even own a TV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTGreg

Who knows, maybe it will even cause some people to turn off the TV and do something else.

ArkiStan · 11-04-2007, 04:55 PM

I couldn't care less about the mainstream hollywood film industry. There are more fabulous independent films productions than I could ever watch in my life.

Jenny · 11-04-2007, 06:50 PM

this isn't just movies. or maybe it's not movies at all? Anyway, late night talk shows will be affected first, and it will start hitting mainstream tv in like January, after all the eps that are written already have aired.

jerryf1443 · 11-05-2007, 07:49 AM

This is going to effect my company... We sell to almost all the food production companys here in Los Angeles. The companys who are on the shoots or stuidos with all the food needs for the staff. If they go on strike then all production stops and we don't sell any food items to them and they don't sell any food itmes. Thats a lot of people not working who don't write a thing for tv.

11-02-2007, 06:22 AM	#1
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Hollywood writers strike looms So?? Does anyone care? http://www.p2pnet.net/story/13875 p2pnet news \| TV:- Unionised Hollywood writers say they’ll go on strike for the first time in 20 years. The isue? Broadband and Net profits. The 12,000 Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) members want an increase in their fees when their work shows up on on DVDs, online, mobile phones and other “electronic devices”. But the producers say the demands are impossible to meet. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers won’t budge and if it happens, it’ll be bad, says E! Online. It’s effects will be seen to be “trickling down from the likes of executive producers to writers to actors to caterers to dry cleaners to office-supply workers to janitors to the wives and children of all of the above,” says the story. Does that look familiar? It’s already happening, according to Hollywood’s MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America). But the cause isn’t striking writers: it’s file sharers, says a Hollywood enforcement organisation, which claims its owners, Time Warner, Viacom, Fox, Sony, NBC Universal and Disney, are being ruined, at the same time reporting record, ‘best-ever’ profits. “Some of the most popular shows on US television could be forced off the air if writers go ahead with the strike,” says the BBC, going on: “Hollywood writers fear networks will resort to repeats and reality shows “Five thousand members of the WGA recently took part in a ballot and 90% voted in favour of industrial action. “The dispute focuses attention on the rapidly growing market for on-demand entertainment.” But writer-directors and writer-producers, also called ‘hyphenates” would be allowed to do “non-writing” during a strike, “although there’s considerable disagreement over how this is defined,” says the Los Angeles Times. Says the New York Times: In the near term, a writers’ strike will have an immediate impact on more than 200,000 workers in the movie and TV industry here and the thousands more who produce or sell entertainment elsewhere in the United States and abroad. The dispute may also signal more labor trouble to come, as directors and actors face similar issues when their contracts expire next June. Over the long haul, multiple strikes could lead to a drastic overhaul of the economics of Hollywood. They could redefine the industry’s relationship with its highly unionized work force at a time when DVD sales are cooling and changing movie and TV markets have workers and companies alike vying for their perceived fair share of a yet-to-be-identified next digital bonanza. But people watching shows such as Pariah Island, which just named mininova as its primary distribution channel, won’t be hit. Writers for commercials, sports programs and reality TV, who are not covered under the guild contract, says the LA Timnes. Don’t leave your couches.

11-02-2007, 10:37 AM	#2
VTGreg Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,533	I'm sure this would have a big impact to the entertainment industry, but I don't think it would have a huge impact on the greater majority of the US public. Who knows, maybe it will even cause some people to turn off the TV and do something else. __________________ It only ends once... Anything that happens before that is just progress. Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

11-02-2007, 03:40 PM	#3
zenbooty Admiral Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Prime Material Plane Posts: 7,486	I just watch sports and movies anyway. And a lot of TV shows are still done in NYC. Are they striking there, too? __________________ Common sense is what tells you the Earth is flat.

11-04-2007, 06:50 PM	#6
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	this isn't just movies. or maybe it's not movies at all? Anyway, late night talk shows will be affected first, and it will start hitting mainstream tv in like January, after all the eps that are written already have aired. __________________ Check out my spoilers for over 20 shows @ SpoilerFix.com Check out my TV blog, where I post weekly & daily TV schedules, TV news, interviews with TV stars & more! All new TV forums as well @ TV Is My Pacifier

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11-04-2007, 04:55 PM	#5
ArkiStan Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Recession Central Posts: 5,898	I couldn't care less about the mainstream hollywood film industry. There are more fabulous independent films productions than I could ever watch in my life.

11-05-2007, 07:49 AM	#7
jerryf1443 Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Southern CA Posts: 50	This is going to effect my company... We sell to almost all the food production companys here in Los Angeles. The companys who are on the shoots or stuidos with all the food needs for the staff. If they go on strike then all production stops and we don't sell any food items to them and they don't sell any food itmes. Thats a lot of people not working who don't write a thing for tv.

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