Posted on 11/05/2007 1:23:49 AM PST by abb
No offense, but a writer that is an employee is no different than a janitor thats an employee in my book. You do what you were hired for and you get money for said services. Case closed.
I’m not a TV writer, but I know a lot of them. So you can’t offend me.
You’re describing the old studio system, which fell apart under its own weight. It was just too expensive to keep the writers and actors on the payroll. Also comic books back in the day worked that way. Note: one of the guys who created Superman was living on welfare and blind from diabetes during his last years. The comic book company was shamed into paying him a small stipend after a series of news stories on TV.
The model isn’t the janitor, but the book writer who receives a royalty for each book sold.
By the way, this is how Bill Gates got rich. He turned down IBM’s offer of a relatively large flat fee for DOS and settled for a lesser amount plus royalties for each copy sold and the right to sell DOS to other companies. He treated software as intellectual property and not product.
p.s. — The studios and production companies prefer the residual arrangement. Their upfront risk is less under the arrangement. In effect, they are sharing the risk with the writers. If the TV show or movie is a success, then the writers take a cut of the eventual profits. If it fails, then the producers haven’t risked a great deal of money. Otherwise they’d end up paying millions of dollars for each script and not know if the show will be a success.
That is my thinking as well. These writers are compensated for the work they turn in already. They simply want what unions always want, more, more, more. The argument of continuing entitlement means that all workers who produce a product that is used and reused should also get continuing benefits for their initial efforts. I hope that this strike continues thru the coming political season because even the few shows I watch are increasingly inserting sly digs at Republicans, and overtly promoting socialist agendas. They are doing their bit to further the propaganda of global warming and America in crisis over just about anything. Maybe it is not only the writers at fault, but the strike might shake up the whole entertainment industry enough to get some talented people back in to replace the political socialist agenda driven hacks that now apparently dominate the business.
The writer’s union isn’t a “normal” union. Other unions should take a clue from them.
Except for Seinfeld's finale when returning cocreator David turns spiteful, unforgiving moralist, making Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer pay for all their years of ''selfishness, self-absorption, immaturity, and greed.'' Seinfeld: The Lost Episode arguably does a better job of meeting audience expectations for a Seinfeld finale by mocking the show's most sacred cow - the show itself.
I don't disagree with you about film writers, they are like book writers. If it does not sell, no compensation. However, a writer that is employed to write gets paid regardless if the shows flops or not. Big difference.
We’ll see. I don’t think the production companies want to hire a bunch of “staff writers” who want actor-sized salaries in lieu of residuals down the road. That would drive production costs through the roof.
Don’t you love all of those old Gene Autry and John Wayne movies on the Western Channel? Hallmark is another favorite. Who needs new shows? I like the old ones just fine!
“This IS the show, and we’re NOT changing it.” — George Costanza
You think short ‘funny’ home videos on YouTube are equal to cinematic art?
You have obviously never seen a Pauly Shore movie. May I suggest BioDome.
“Once it starts, it’s going to get ugly,”
What, are they going to puncture “scab” tires with Bic ballpoint pens? Make jackrocks out of those little golf course pencils? Misspell words on their picket signs? There’s nothing quite as scary as a unionized television writer :-)
Some companies I have worked for required new employees to sign an agreement giving all inventions to the company. There was even a hold put on the ex employee if he quit the job. I think that hold was for 5 years or so.
Can someone tell me why there is such a long credit list at the end of movies. I don’t really care who the bathroom attendant was.
Look at all these Greedy HollyWhacked Commies. Who would have thought they only thought about $$$.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
If the MSM journalists went on strike nothing would happen at all anywhere in the world.
It would be nice if History Channel started included some actual history shows. Although Modern Marvels is not bad, that's virtually all they show anymore. Or other non history related shows like "human weapon". It used to be my favorite channel but I rarely watch it anymore.
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