Another One About the WGA

So nobody but Katy liked the bouncing ball I made, huh? S’allright. Here’s another blog — CUMMINATCHA!

Ronald D. Moore, creator/executive producer/head writer of Battlestar Galactica.

Carlton Cuse, executive producer/head writer of Lost.

I finally sat down and figured out what it’s all about. Basically, the thing about writers wanting more money from DVD sales was true, but they dropped that demand in the interest of bargaining. The real issue here is the internet, specifically “new technology,” which currently the writers get nothing from. I didn’t know that. So when you watch an ad-supported version of your favorite show from, say, NBC.com, or download one from iTunes, the only person making money off of them is the studios–not the writers, the actors, not the directors.The studios, or “suits” as I like to call them, claim that the internet is too new and therefore they can’t set up a standard for payment. Their argument is that they might even lose money.

The undeniable logic here is that all the writers are asking for is a percentage of the ad revenue: therefore, if the studios really don’t make anything, the writers, by definition, won’t either.

This SNL skit illustrates it pretty well, because the suits apparently won’t negotiate until the WGA awknowledges that DVDs and “the internet” are the same thing, and that they aren’t making profit from them. You see how crazy they are. I mean, come on, NBC making 15 million from iTunes last year… WHAT PROFIT? Watch this video: The other thing is residuals… every time a show reruns on TV right now, the people involved (actors, writers, etc), get a check in the mail. Under current contracts, that won’t happen with the internet. The danger here is that the future of entertainment lies in the internet, or, more accurately, whatever the internet evolves into in the near future.(My personal belief is that “On Demand” will completely replace broadcast television in the near future. Shows will no longer be scheduled to air at a certain time, they’ll just “become available Mondays at 8!” Networks will become obsolete, and personally I can’t believe they aren’t more scared of that.)

To illustrate this: an article. Since you likely won’t read it, it’s about Google, specifically about how they’ve already proven that ad-revenue can indeed work on the internet. That’s how they make their money, and they are a billion dollar company. It goes on to say that Google could theoretically change the game completely: the writers want a deal, and Google knows how to do it. Google could buy out the ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY right now and put the networks right out of business. If the networks claim that the internet is “too new,” then get with a distributor who actually lives in the 21st century.

Some of the rumors I’ve been hearing lately are quickly turning into facts:Lost will likely only show the 8 episodes they’ve filmed so far. That means, in February, we’ll get 8 weeks of Lost and have to wait another year and 2 months for the next 8.

Battlestar Galactica was supposed to get a final 22 episode season starting in January. Now, only 10 episodes will be shown starting in April. Who knows when the next 10 will air, or, even more depressing, if they’ll even be shot at all.

Heroes is currently filming a different ending to their December episode that will end up being the season finale. The much hyped spin-off, “Heroes: Origins” has been cancelled (this may have more to do with the show sucking this year, though.)

“24″ will likely not be seen at all in 2008. To fill this time, and other primetime slots left open by the strike, FOX will air American Idol (no writers there!) 4 nights in a row, 2 hours each. ::ack::

Reality TV will take over.

I guess the reason I’m into this so much is not because I like TV and am mad my favorite shows are in jeopardy (that’s part of it), but because some small part of me still holds onto the hope that maybe one day I’ll actually write something good that’ll get on TV, and, I’ve been saying for a while that the TV medium is dated, so, this very well might be the turning point where everything changes. (I used to think new TV shows would debut on TV first, and then the rest will be straight-to-DVD. But now, as indicated above, I’m leaning more toward the OnDemand thing merging with the internet.)

At least the possibility of shows hiring scab writers in the interim seems low: many show-runners have refused to go into work until their writers get a fair deal.

Or, they could come to an agreement tomorrow and everything will be fine.

Obama Statement on Writers Guild Strike

“I stand with the writers The Guild’s demand is a test of whether media corporations are going to give writers a fair share of the wealth their work creates or continue concentrating profits in the hands of their executives. I urge the producers to work with the writers so that everyone can get back to work.”

Hillary Clinton Statement On Writers Guild Strike

“I support the Writers Guild’s pursuit of a fair contract that pays them for their work in all mediums. I hope the producers and writers will return to the bargaining table to work out an equitable contract that keeps our entertainment industry strong and recognizes the contributions writers make to the success of the industry.”