Writer Strike 2023

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by Poya

Is it bad for me to say there are more important elements that go into a work than just the writing? For example: editing. Editing can do anything. It can make a bad script good. A bad actor good. Bad direction good. It can change the entire dynamic of a motion picture or television series. Think of how many movies that have been saved by editing.

Script editing or film editing?

[Poya]

Originally Posted by mwynn

Script editing or film editing?

Script editing still involves the writer to an extent. Film editing could cut out scenes/dialogue from the script that simply aren't needed. Ex: Star Wars:

Originally Posted by Obi-Wan Kenobi (Script)

This is a fight you cannot win, Darth. I have grown much since our parting. If my blade finds its mark, you will cease to exist. But, if you cut me down, I will only become more powerful. Heed my words.

Originally Posted by Obi-Wan Kenobi (Shooting)

You can't win, Darth. If my blade finds its mark, you will cease to exist. But, if you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

Originally Posted by Obi-Wan Kenobi (Final)

You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

What could have been verbose and dull becomes powerful and terse with simple cuts. I highly recommend this video for more:

How Star Wars was saved in the edit - YouTube

[BudBaxter]

True, but none of that would even exist without the writer...

[mwynn]

There are also Ghost and Script doctors.

[mwynn]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bu..._term=10028177

WGA Tells Members to Get Ready to Picket If a Deal Isn’t Reached
The guild continues to negotiate with the AMPTP on a new contract ahead of the May 1 deadline.

[BluGalaxy]

Originally Posted by BudBaxter

Given the quality of most recent movies, would anyone notice?

I came here to say the same. The quality of writing in the last few years has been so bad that it's possible that movie and TV quality could actually improve!

[mwynn]

https://www.wgacontract2023.org/

[John1701D]

The last strike killed Heroes. Hopefully they will come to a deal.

[mwynn]

“Everyone Is Just Scrambling”: Hollywood on Edge as Writers Guild Talks Go Down to the Wire
As the clock runs down to the Monday night expiration of the union's current contract, writers are hurrying to turn in work and other industry players feel resigned to a potential strike.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bu...0f0740c6f56c40

[mwynn]

https://www.wgacontract2023.org/upda...not-keeping-up

While company profits have remained high and spending on content has grown, writers are falling behind.

The companies have used the transition to streaming to cut writer pay and separate writing from production, worsening working conditions for series writers at all levels. On TV staffs, more writers are working at minimum regardless of experience, often for fewer weeks, or in mini-rooms, while showrunners are left without a writing staff to complete the season. And while series budgets have soared over the past decade, median writer-producer pay has fallen.

In comedy-variety, writers working for streaming services—which are now the primary platforms for entertainment content—lack the most basic protection of MBA minimums.

For screenwriters, compensation has also stagnated over the past four years. Their pay is often stretched out over many months and can be held hostage by producers’ demands for free work. Particularly for screenwriters working at or near MBA minimum, these conditions are untenable.

Cooked books?

[Lee A Stewart]

What do writers want?

Money, for starters. Writers are seeking a “sea change” in their compensation, starting with a significant hike in guild weekly minimums. They also want to rewrite the formula for streaming residuals to pay writers more for hit shows and to pay more with the growth in international subscribers. They want to expand “span protection,” a contractual provision that limits the time period that studios can retain writers for their episodic fee to 2.4 weeks, so that it covers writers making $400,000 and above, which would increase their “overscale” pay substantially. The guild has estimated that the total cost of its proposals is $600 million. They also want changes to working conditions. They want a minimum staffing level for TV writers rooms. They want writers to work for a guaranteed minimum number of weeks per show. They want provisions that would require that writers be involved in production and post-production of shows, so that writers get producing experience. They want a provision that would protect writers’ compensation and credits from encroachment by AI, though they are not seeking to forbid the use of AI in screenwriting. If the writers go on strike, it would likely not be for any one or two of these issues, but rather for all of the above.

What do the studios want?

“A fair and reasonable agreement.” There is no sign, as yet, that they are open to a TV staffing minimum or a streaming residual formula that would incorporate viewership data, which they view as top secret. They are likely more flexible about pay hikes, especially on minimums, as employers across the country are agreeing to union contracts with first-year raises of 5% to 7%, due to high inflation. The WGA has acknowledged that the studios have made “small moves” in a “few areas,” though not what would be needed to get a deal.

https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/wg...ng-1235598343/

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/wg...ng-1235598343/

The streaming data is a bit much. Are there deals in place for points based on ratings? Not sure how that works when Nielsen's is based on scaled up percentages.

[Ruined]

Last one ****ed up Heroes, one of the few modern TV shows I cared about

[mwynn]

Strike has been called.

[BluBonnet]

[Joey9775]

Heroes was a mercy killing. TERRIBLE show.

Everything has been affected by this all year industry wise. I wrapped my show in mid March and am still looking for work. I have NEVER gone more than two weeks in between gigs in 12 years. I know people that haven't worked at all this year. The big companies are very skittish at paying for anything right now plus the streamers have built themselves a nice little backlog. This is going to get nasty.

Deadline said the job market in LA is down 40 percent from last year. Honestly it might be more.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Joey9775

Heroes was a mercy killing. TERRIBLE show.

Everything has been affected by this all year industry wise. I wrapped my show in mid March and am still looking for work. I have NEVER gone more than two weeks in between gigs in 12 years. I know people that haven't worked at all this year. The big companies are very skittish at paying for anything right now plus the streamers have built themselves a nice little backlog. This is going to get nasty.

Deadline said the job market in LA is down 40 percent from last year. Honestly it might be more.

But…. But… the economy is great! . So says some people.

As for Heroes, I thought the show was actually pretty good. It got worse though, no doubt. First season was great.

I guess I hope that everyone makes out OK with all of this. I’m not a union fan at all and feel that great writers would be in demand and conendated very well without a union. But, it is what it is. They’ll probably come to terms. Curious if the most talented of the bunch might go independent?

[Joey9775]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Curious if the most talented of the bunch might go independent?

That'll be a good way to get blacklisted even if you're Aaron Sorkin.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Joey9775

That'll be a good way to get blacklisted even if you're Aaron Sorkin.

Really? Is the union thuggery/power that prevalent? Too bad. So, one can’t simply let their talents speak for themselves. That kind of sucks, right?

[Joey9775]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Really? Is the union thuggery/power that prevalent? Too bad. So, one can’t simply let their talents speak for themselves. That kind of sucks, right?

Nope. I'm in the Editor's Guild and they're the sole reason I have a pension and health insurance.