Comments on: WGA Members Vote Yes To New Contract http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/ Sat, 17 May 2008 11:36:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Anon http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-39121 Anon Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:55:12 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-39121 Patrick blew it, yes, we get paid for first run, not reruns. But downloads and streaming are not first run if they contain ads that constitute an additional revenue stream. If they're running the same commercials that ran on the network and not charging advertisers an additional fee, that's one thing, but I doubt it. And you're right that what we did get we should have gotten automatically, but they fact that we have to beg and strike for peanuts shows what we're up against. Patrick blew it, yes, we get paid for first run, not reruns. But downloads and streaming are not first run if they contain ads that constitute an additional revenue stream. If they’re running the same commercials that ran on the network and not charging advertisers an additional fee, that’s one thing, but I doubt it. And you’re right that what we did get we should have gotten automatically, but they fact that we have to beg and strike for peanuts shows what we’re up against.

]]> By: YouGuysBlewIt http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-39073 YouGuysBlewIt Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:10:26 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-39073 I am with Patrick Blew It. If the writers knew what the other side was saying about the incredible waste of this strike. How the town might not go back to "normal" for quite some time. How crappy the deal is for what it cost. It's a joke. The thing was bungled from the beginning, as evidenced by the DGA having to save the whiny writers' butts. Nice try at saving face. But every producer, studio exec, agent, manager, etc. knows what you got (crap) vs. the damage you are so disgracefully proud of doing. This WILL go down in history as a major joke. Oh, yeah, and at lunch today with a senior exec at a major studio...he reminded me that the studios can't wait for you guys to pull these nonsense strikes so they can unload the dead weight. Never mind that you pulled it at the Holidays, when no one cared. Good job. I hope the craft service people spit in your food, as many have claimed they will. Here's my bet. Behind the scenes the big guys, you know, the ones who sign your frigging paychecks, pushed Pussy Pat's buttons big time and told him that if the Oscars got squashed there was no going back. Otherwise, why the desperation to take the shit deal, when you could have easily waited for SAG? And the WGA lemmings just sat there, called it a victory and didn't question any of it. Wow, smart move. I am with Patrick Blew It. If the writers knew what the other side was saying about the incredible waste of this strike. How the town might not go back to “normal” for quite some time. How crappy the deal is for what it cost. It’s a joke. The thing was bungled from the beginning, as evidenced by the DGA having to save the whiny writers’ butts. Nice try at saving face. But every producer, studio exec, agent, manager, etc. knows what you got (crap) vs. the damage you are so disgracefully proud of doing. This WILL go down in history as a major joke. Oh, yeah, and at lunch today with a senior exec at a major studio…he reminded me that the studios can’t wait for you guys to pull these nonsense strikes so they can unload the dead weight. Never mind that you pulled it at the Holidays, when no one cared. Good job. I hope the craft service people spit in your food, as many have claimed they will. Here’s my bet. Behind the scenes the big guys, you know, the ones who sign your frigging paychecks, pushed Pussy Pat’s buttons big time and told him that if the Oscars got squashed there was no going back. Otherwise, why the desperation to take the shit deal, when you could have easily waited for SAG? And the WGA lemmings just sat there, called it a victory and didn’t question any of it. Wow, smart move.

]]> By: Nick http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-39024 Nick Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:38:36 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-39024 @Patrick blew it: I don't think fighting for a bigger piece of new media was a bad idea in theory. There's going to be money made from that medium in the future, and we all know that by the time it's truly profitable the AMPTP will have a stranglehold on it that makes the DVD rates look generous. Time will tell whether the rate the WGA was able to negotiate -- which is very likely the highest they'll ever get, unless and until they strike again -- will be worthwhile. At this point, no, it doesn't look like it will be. Meanwhile, home video will continue to be a cash cow for at least another decade, probably more, and the writers probably would have been better off making the strike about that -- one demand, no exceptions. Would that have worked? Maybe not. Maybe the studios, after three months, would have grudgingly bumped the formula up by 1 cent and insisted on rollbacks in other areas to compensate for it. All I know is, as it stands, the AMPTP won. And the fact that the majority of the WGA membership stayed home on voting day is pretty appalling. @Patrick blew it:

I don’t think fighting for a bigger piece of new media was a bad idea in theory. There’s going to be money made from that medium in the future, and we all know that by the time it’s truly profitable the AMPTP will have a stranglehold on it that makes the DVD rates look generous.

Time will tell whether the rate the WGA was able to negotiate — which is very likely the highest they’ll ever get, unless and until they strike again — will be worthwhile. At this point, no, it doesn’t look like it will be. Meanwhile, home video will continue to be a cash cow for at least another decade, probably more, and the writers probably would have been better off making the strike about that — one demand, no exceptions.

Would that have worked? Maybe not. Maybe the studios, after three months, would have grudgingly bumped the formula up by 1 cent and insisted on rollbacks in other areas to compensate for it. All I know is, as it stands, the AMPTP won. And the fact that the majority of the WGA membership stayed home on voting day is pretty appalling.

]]> By: Skip http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38986 Skip Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:42:55 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38986 Where was all this outrage over the deal when it really counted? The WGA membership meeting at the Shrine? One single guy got up to the mic and voiced his anger. One guy. I was at the Studio City contract meeting last week, where anyone and everyone was invited to come voice concerns to the leadership. About 18 people were there. Concerns were raised and I felt honest answers were given. I'm starting to think it's just a bunch of complainers hiding out on the message boards... Where was all this outrage over the deal when it really counted? The WGA membership meeting at the Shrine? One single guy got up to the mic and voiced his anger. One guy. I was at the Studio City contract meeting last week, where anyone and everyone was invited to come voice concerns to the leadership. About 18 people were there. Concerns were raised and I felt honest answers were given.

I’m starting to think it’s just a bunch of complainers hiding out on the message boards…

]]> By: Patrick blew it http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38947 Patrick blew it Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:23:51 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38947 Once again, the 17 day window is not the issue and never was. You get paid residuals for reruns, not first runs -- that you got paid for when you wrote the script. An internet production does not air one time at a specific time -- it plays it's first run over the course of days after it has been put online and people go see it, and most people who go see it online have not seen it on existing media. The problem is everything the writer's did get (new media coverage, new media residuals, etc) was stuff that you should have gotten no matter what, without negotiation. It's not an improvement. Where you got really screwed was DVD rates, where you could have made a LOT of money over the next 3 years. New media is NOT going to bring in a ton of money over the next 3 years, even if you had gotten better rates. It's still a growing medium and does not command anywhere near the money your other income sources will bring. Who screwed you? Not the producers -- they only did the job they were hired to do. Your union screwed you and the public by calling an early strike instead of waiting to go out with SAG and really crush the producers. The insane focus on new media to the exclusion of all else was also your leadership's fault. You started off making this strike about something it never should have been about. Yes new media coverage is important for the future, but in making this strike ALL about that, all your leverage for everything else was taken away and you allowed the producers to say 'see? we gave you new media, so we gave you a good deal.' The truth is new media is a drop in the bucket of overall revenues these companies receive. You got a tiny slice of a tiny pie, instead of increasing your overall slice of the bigger pie. I'm not in a guild, just a close observer of this since it started without a bone to pick in either fight. Once again, the 17 day window is not the issue and never was. You get paid residuals for reruns, not first runs — that you got paid for when you wrote the script. An internet production does not air one time at a specific time — it plays it’s first run over the course of days after it has been put online and people go see it, and most people who go see it online have not seen it on existing media. The problem is everything the writer’s did get (new media coverage, new media residuals, etc) was stuff that you should have gotten no matter what, without negotiation. It’s not an improvement.

Where you got really screwed was DVD rates, where you could have made a LOT of money over the next 3 years. New media is NOT going to bring in a ton of money over the next 3 years, even if you had gotten better rates. It’s still a growing medium and does not command anywhere near the money your other income sources will bring.

Who screwed you? Not the producers — they only did the job they were hired to do. Your union screwed you and the public by calling an early strike instead of waiting to go out with SAG and really crush the producers. The insane focus on new media to the exclusion of all else was also your leadership’s fault. You started off making this strike about something it never should have been about. Yes new media coverage is important for the future, but in making this strike ALL about that, all your leverage for everything else was taken away and you allowed the producers to say ’see? we gave you new media, so we gave you a good deal.’ The truth is new media is a drop in the bucket of overall revenues these companies receive.

You got a tiny slice of a tiny pie, instead of increasing your overall slice of the bigger pie. I’m not in a guild, just a close observer of this since it started without a bone to pick in either fight.

]]> By: Becca http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38943 Becca Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:51:04 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38943 The AMPTP can get back to "highest quality entertainment products" when they stop producing the crap reality shows that are polluting the airwaves now. Yes, this has everything to do with CBS' non-decision about the status of "The Unit" and replacing it (an example of high quality entertainmnent product) with "Big Brother 9". The AMPTP can get back to “highest quality entertainment products” when they stop producing the crap reality shows that are polluting the airwaves now.
Yes, this has everything to do with CBS’ non-decision about the status of “The Unit” and replacing it (an example of high quality entertainmnent product) with “Big Brother 9″.

]]> By: tom reynolds http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38941 tom reynolds Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:26:28 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38941 Let me show you how effective this strike was. A friend of mine (a WGA emeritus member) was contacted last week by Ashton Kutcher's production company to write for a hidden camera show for CBS. It's for prime time. They needed writers to create scenarios for the series. The pay was $1000 a week. For two weeks. In that two weeks of time, the writers came up with enough material to sustain an entire season. The writers were then all laid off. No benefits, no pension, no insurance, no overtime. That's your future. Congratulations. Let me show you how effective this strike was.

A friend of mine (a WGA emeritus member) was contacted last week by Ashton Kutcher’s production company to write for a hidden camera show for CBS. It’s for prime time. They needed writers to create scenarios for the series.

The pay was $1000 a week. For two weeks.

In that two weeks of time, the writers came up with enough material to sustain an entire season.

The writers were then all laid off. No benefits, no pension, no insurance, no overtime.

That’s your future.

Congratulations.

]]> By: Anon http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38898 Anon Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:23:55 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38898 I really hope the AMPTP decides to be nice to us from now on because there isn't a damn thing we'll be able to do about it. We had one shot and we blew it, they've got us right where they want us and they know it. I really hope the AMPTP decides to be nice to us from now on because there isn’t a damn thing we’ll be able to do about it. We had one shot and we blew it, they’ve got us right where they want us and they know it.

]]> By: Steve http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38889 Steve Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:29:26 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38889 I think a larger percentage of people voted for the president 4 years ago than the percentage of WGA members who voted on the contract that they are stuck with for the next 3 years. Thats really just plain sad. Whether you were voting for or against the ratification it makes no sense at all that you would not make the effort to be heard on what will effect your lively hood. I think a larger percentage of people voted for the president 4 years ago than the percentage of WGA members who voted on the contract that they are stuck with for the next 3 years. Thats really just plain sad. Whether you were voting for or against the ratification it makes no sense at all that you would not make the effort to be heard on what will effect your lively hood.

]]> By: Jake Hollywood http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38887 Jake Hollywood Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:18:44 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38887 @Bob I'm already cursing. My question is, how do they do the math on this thing? 4060 votes cate 93.6 votes "yes" ------------- 294. 84 vote "no" Who was the .84 "no" voter? or Who was the .16 "yes" voter? And how the hell did they do it? @Bob

I’m already cursing.

My question is, how do they do the math on this thing?

4060 votes cate
93.6 votes “yes”
————-
294. 84 vote “no”

Who was the .84 “no” voter?

or

Who was the .16 “yes” voter?

And how the hell did they do it?

]]> By: Can't Take it Anymore http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38871 Can't Take it Anymore Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:01:49 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38871 So apparently every WGA member who voted against ratification must have been posting their moronic screeds here. That, or, as I suspected all along, the strike threads were infested with people who weren't WGA members at all, but were just playing us for fun... So apparently every WGA member who voted against ratification must have been posting their moronic screeds here. That, or, as I suspected all along, the strike threads were infested with people who weren’t WGA members at all, but were just playing us for fun…

]]> By: A between the liner http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38867 A between the liner Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:34:24 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38867 93.6% of 4,060 votes?? I thought there was 12,000 members in both guilds. 9,000 in LA alone. 93.6% of 4,060 votes?? I thought there was 12,000 members in both guilds. 9,000 in LA alone.

]]> By: Sad Writer http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38858 Sad Writer Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:55:22 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38858 17 day window of doom. 17 day window of doom.

]]> By: Jon Raymond http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38857 Jon Raymond Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:54:10 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38857 93.6% of the 4,060 translated into English means 93.6% of the 40% or 37% of the mebership, which like me, don't give a shit. 93.6% of the 4,060

translated into English means 93.6% of the 40% or 37% of the mebership, which like me, don’t give a shit.

]]> By: SpouseIsNonPro http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38854 SpouseIsNonPro Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:37:26 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-members-vote-yes-to-new-contract/#comment-38854 Posted these same questions at United Hollywood, but maybe someone here can answer quicker: How many TOTAL WGA members are there? How many of those are eligible to vote? That would put the 4,060 in context. Posted these same questions at United Hollywood, but maybe someone here can answer quicker:

How many TOTAL WGA members are there?
How many of those are eligible to vote?

That would put the 4,060 in context.

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