Comments on: The Impact of the Writers Strike http://www.edrants.com/the-impact-of-the-writers-strike/ a blog in ever-shifting standing Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:27:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: May Barber http://www.edrants.com/the-impact-of-the-writers-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-238246 May Barber Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:49:25 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=6961#comment-238246 I guess I was reacting to the "shut out by the WGA system" part, which I took as you sort of actively wishing for people to circumvent the union. I'm curious as to what might happen if this sort of meltdown happens, but it seems like it would mean the end of the WGA as the non-union talent eager to get noticed happily signs for perhaps substandard deals. Though, maybe the scabs then become eligible for WGA membership and everything will be forgotten in five years. How does one actually become a member if you have to have sold a script, but you can't sell a script without joining the WGA? The unions I'm familiar with try to swallow up as many members as possible, for in numbers there is strength. I guess I was reacting to the “shut out by the WGA system” part, which I took as you sort of actively wishing for people to circumvent the union. I’m curious as to what might happen if this sort of meltdown happens, but it seems like it would mean the end of the WGA as the non-union talent eager to get noticed happily signs for perhaps substandard deals. Though, maybe the scabs then become eligible for WGA membership and everything will be forgotten in five years.

How does one actually become a member if you have to have sold a script, but you can’t sell a script without joining the WGA? The unions I’m familiar with try to swallow up as many members as possible, for in numbers there is strength.

]]> By: DrMabuse http://www.edrants.com/the-impact-of-the-writers-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-238245 DrMabuse Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:42:50 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=6961#comment-238245 Incidentally, SAG has even more austere standards, if you're an independent filmmaker. See http://www.rewindvideo.com/RVM/Articles/Harmon/Latest.html Incidentally, SAG has even more austere standards, if you’re an independent filmmaker.

See http://www.rewindvideo.com/RVM/Articles/Harmon/Latest.html

]]> By: DrMabuse http://www.edrants.com/the-impact-of-the-writers-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-238244 DrMabuse Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:37:26 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=6961#comment-238244 May: What makes you think that I find the WGA unpalatable? If anything, I think the timing here is a organizational masterstroke. The question I raise here is whether the WGA's fight to get more revenue from digital offerings will possibly deepen the divide and have the networks scouring the likes of YouTube for scabs. If I have any problems with the WGA, it is with the "you can't sell a script unless you're a WGA member/you can't join the WGA unless you've sold a script" catch-22, which seems remarkably exclusive for a union that allegedly stands for the people. May: What makes you think that I find the WGA unpalatable? If anything, I think the timing here is a organizational masterstroke. The question I raise here is whether the WGA’s fight to get more revenue from digital offerings will possibly deepen the divide and have the networks scouring the likes of YouTube for scabs. If I have any problems with the WGA, it is with the “you can’t sell a script unless you’re a WGA member/you can’t join the WGA unless you’ve sold a script” catch-22, which seems remarkably exclusive for a union that allegedly stands for the people.

]]> By: May Barber http://www.edrants.com/the-impact-of-the-writers-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-238243 May Barber Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:29:49 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=6961#comment-238243 I confess total ignorance to the nuances of the issues here. I was hoping someone with a more inside take could explain the dispute. As a union member, I tend to be reflexively supportive of unions, even while recognizing the occasionaly terrible stances they take. In this case, it seems like people (such as Ed) who I would think would be generally supportive of labor unions find the WGA unpalatable. I guess, summing up, my question is, what's wrong with the WGA? I confess total ignorance to the nuances of the issues here. I was hoping someone with a more inside take could explain the dispute. As a union member, I tend to be reflexively supportive of unions, even while recognizing the occasionaly terrible stances they take. In this case, it seems like people (such as Ed) who I would think would be generally supportive of labor unions find the WGA unpalatable. I guess, summing up, my question is, what’s wrong with the WGA?

]]> By: chewbee http://www.edrants.com/the-impact-of-the-writers-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-238241 chewbee Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:12:37 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=6961#comment-238241 a strike would also screw up the movie business, so even if reality and the internet step in to distract people from TV reruns, there's a feature film void coming and no real alternative system a strike would also screw up the movie business, so even if reality and the internet step in to distract people from TV reruns, there’s a feature film void coming and no real alternative system

]]> By: Stephen http://www.edrants.com/the-impact-of-the-writers-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-238240 Stephen Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:30:42 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=6961#comment-238240 It's already been planned for. In the event of a writers strike, Jay Leno, David Letterman and all the rest are to rectite monologues from the great dramatists such as Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen and Strindberg on their shows. The theory behind this is that the audiences won't really notice and will continue to laugh when instructed. It’s already been planned for. In the event of a writers strike, Jay Leno, David Letterman and all the rest are to rectite monologues from the great dramatists such as Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen and Strindberg on their shows.
The theory behind this is that the audiences won’t really notice and will continue to laugh when instructed.

]]> By: Dan Wickett http://www.edrants.com/the-impact-of-the-writers-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-238238 Dan Wickett Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:48:36 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=6961#comment-238238 "whether the late-night television titans might at long last be revealed as mimetic melonheads desperately reliant they are upon their writers." Don't you think that's already happened? When The Daily Show wins the emmy and Jon Stewart goes up on stage with 24 ivy leaguers standing behind him? “whether the late-night television titans might at long last be revealed as mimetic melonheads desperately reliant they are upon their writers.”

Don’t you think that’s already happened? When The Daily Show wins the emmy and Jon Stewart goes up on stage with 24 ivy leaguers standing behind him?

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