Am i the only one who's against the writers in this strike?!
Question: Alright, it seems to me that writing is still one of those few professions that has remained rather artisanal, where the price you can command for your product is directly proportional to its quality. If their work is that damn good, they can ask whatever they want for it when contract negotiations come up. To me, they write it, they sell it, end of transaction. Charge more for your services. But I don't think they should see additional royalties. The hair-dresser should get more royalties then. After all, thats her hair style being played over and over on the internet. The lighting guy should get royalties, thats his lighting on tbs three nights in a row. I should get royalties, since i paid to see it in theators and thus bumped it's worth to networks and marketability on DVD.
Okay, i'm obviously joking, but is anyone with me at all? Kinda? Sees my point? Not really? Wants me to die?
Answers: Alright, it seems to me that writing is still one of those few professions that has remained rather artisanal, where the price you can command for your product is directly proportional to its quality. If their work is that damn good, they can ask whatever they want for it when contract negotiations come up. To me, they write it, they sell it, end of transaction. Charge more for your services. But I don't think they should see additional royalties. The hair-dresser should get more royalties then. After all, thats her hair style being played over and over on the internet. The lighting guy should get royalties, thats his lighting on tbs three nights in a row. I should get royalties, since i paid to see it in theators and thus bumped it's worth to networks and marketability on DVD.
Okay, i'm obviously joking, but is anyone with me at all? Kinda? Sees my point? Not really? Wants me to die?
Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. There are fixed prices for how much a writer gets paid for a script, at least when it comes to TV. Some writers can command more, but studios often don't want to pay them more than scale, no matter how good they are. Residuals and royalties are also standard in both writing and entertainment. When an author sells a book, they get royalties for each sale. When a DVD gets sold, the producers and actors get paid for each copy. The writers are just asking for the same treatment. If they write a hit, they should be paid according to how many people purchase it. This actually works out better for the studios, in a way, since they don't have to worry about paying a fortune for something that turns out to be a dud. If the show flops and nobody is interested in it, they only had to pay the writer scale. The problem is that they don't want to reward the writers for a hit, and that's unfair. Let's face it - it doesn't matter how good your actors and director are, if your script sucks, your production will suck. The writing is the foundation upon which everything else is built. It's how you attract good actors, producers and directors as well.
Sorry, I think the studios are just being greedy, and am 100% behind the WGA. If I lived in NYC or LA I'd join the picket lines to show my support (and maybe get some autographs!)
Nope, sorry, I support the writers 100% on this one. It's only fair that as new avenues of distribution open up, that they get a cut. It's not like they're asking for a lot - just for a bit from DVDs and streaming video! The studios make billions of dollars by releasing the product on the internet or DVD and they would not have a product if it weren't for the writers.
I have to disagree with you as well. Directors get royalties, Producers get royalties, actors get royalties. Anyone can light a set (that's my opinion- though some are better at it then others) anyone can style hair. The product would not be out there if it weren't for the writers. So why should everyone creatively involved get royalties and not the writers? Authors get royalties every time their stories get published. I believe that is fair.
im on their side but ugh i just wish it would end already!! this time next month i will have nothing to watch :(