tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post7268745650798616856..comments2023-08-28T01:47:52.421-07:00Comments on United Hollywood: AMPTP PROMISES TO COME BACK TO THE TABLEUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-64672232272001098112007-11-26T04:32:00.000-08:002007-11-26T04:32:00.000-08:00they need to be paid better, periodthey need to be paid better, periodAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-42571849493966636322007-11-22T15:30:00.000-08:002007-11-22T15:30:00.000-08:00School communications project - I would appreciate...School communications project - I would appreciate it if any of you in the Writer's Guild could post a comment with your opinion addressing any of the following questions:<BR/>1. How best (mediums, arguments, etc.) should writer's communicate their point?<BR/>2. What is a reasonable/feasible outcome to the negotitations?<BR/>3. How should the AMPTP communicated with the Writer's Guild? Are they doing this? <BR/>4. What is most effective for both parties in terms of communicating with other stakeholders (e.g., the public)? Are they doing this?<BR/><BR/>Again, just lookin for some opinions! Thank you very much for your time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-37452731875596380352007-11-19T09:17:00.000-08:002007-11-19T09:17:00.000-08:00Eh, what can you expect, it's hard to get a qualit...Eh, what can you expect, it's hard to get a quality shill with no one to write his banter for him. I'm impressed he's not just quoting Pinkerton slogans.<BR/><BR/>Some of us bystanders are doing all we can to get the word out and get people mad about this: All of us out here in the new media should worry about the stance the AMPTP is taking, because the backhand of this is that it devalues our intellectual property rights in general. If networks can establish that creative content on the web has no monetary value it'll be that much harder for anyone to sue over stolen content, and we'll all see our work repackaged for 'promotional material'. Creativity in general is at threat here, and the guild is fighting for all of us, not just members, to secure a value on creative contributions to online material. The least we can do is support you.<BR/><BR/>Keep up the fight. People are gonna suffer over this, no doubt, but we'll all suffer if talent and craft are starved out of creativity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-82768719203607118522007-11-19T09:14:00.000-08:002007-11-19T09:14:00.000-08:00studios must give an accurate accounting of TV AD ...<I>studios must give an accurate accounting of TV AD sales since 1988. </I><BR/><BR/>Not just a pony, a flying sparkly pony.Doctor Sciencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05460727665734543636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-57654219222811407882007-11-19T08:06:00.000-08:002007-11-19T08:06:00.000-08:00MY RESOLUTION TO THE STRIKEDear WGA and AMPTP,Afte...MY RESOLUTION TO THE STRIKE<BR/><BR/>Dear WGA and AMPTP,<BR/><BR/>After much consideration on both parts, here is a deal that I think you will see is great compromise.<BR/><BR/>DVD Residuals:<BR/><BR/>DVD residuals will remain where they are for the remainder of 2007 and 2008. <BR/><BR/>Starting in 2009, residuals will increase by $.005 (half a cent or .25%) every year for the following 9 years when the contract is up again for renewal. <BR/><BR/>This will bring the full rate up to <BR/>$.085 (or 4.25%) by the end of your contract. <BR/><BR/>For the writers it gets them to the level they want to be at, and for the studios it offsets the amount you are losing every year as DVD sales fall.<BR/><BR/><BR/>INTERNET AND INTERACTIVE RESIDUALS:<BR/><BR/>First, studios must give an accurate accounting of TV AD sales since 1988. <BR/><BR/>Taking an average of the most profitable year in AD sales across all studios, we find the average percentage of profit and set that as a barrier or standard level.<BR/><BR/>Now having that barrier in place, the studios only have to pay out residuals on the internet after that profit barrier is reached, therefore using the internet to offset the losses that are being taken in TV AD sales.<BR/><BR/>The rate of residuals would be tied to the home video rate.<BR/><BR/>The writers would only be paid on original series work (webisode and mobisode series) and rebroadcasts of episodes from TV. <BR/><BR/>Any supportive materials (character blogs, personal blogs, outtakes, behind the scenes materials, featurettes) would not counted.<BR/><BR/><BR/>SIDE NOTE:<BR/><BR/>The WGA should really be pushing for limits against SAG. One of the reasons that studios are so wary to give out more money is the stupid salaries that the top .5% of SAG members demand. I think there should be a $5mil limit on the upfront paycheck to any actor in a movie and a $200K limit to any actor on a series. All other income should be tied to the back end. That way your actors will be motivated to sell your product and not have the option of "acting" like divas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-72443525394793432742007-11-18T21:58:00.000-08:002007-11-18T21:58:00.000-08:00re jake hollywoodRe: "I Love Writers"Here we go, j...re jake hollywood<BR/><BR/>Re: "I Love Writers"<BR/><BR/>Here we go, just another cockroach trying to scam some dollars from the WGA writers.<BR/><BR/>The AMPTP never ceases to amaze me.<BR/><BR/>Really?? You actually believe the AMPTP is behind the I love writers t-shirts??? wow...clueless. That would be someone from your own union trying to make a buck Einstein.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-51977467358387018202007-11-18T19:32:00.000-08:002007-11-18T19:32:00.000-08:00Actually, I agree with you completely when it come...Actually, I agree with you completely when it come to citing sorces.<BR/><BR/>No, I was referring to this:<BR/><BR/>"And for all the IATSE members (or those pretending to be) bitching about being out of work - you need to realize that you're lack of solidarity only strengthens the studios hand which will make them less likely to bargain in good faith. In short, your bitching is going to PROLONG THIS ..."<BR/><BR/>Not allowing for honest disagreements between people, telling them to stop their "bitching" because they don't agree with you.<BR/><BR/>That was what I meant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-54635271069694640692007-11-18T17:37:00.000-08:002007-11-18T17:37:00.000-08:00I'm stifling free speech because I'm suggesting th...I'm stifling free speech because I'm suggesting that when someone lifts the text from another source they are supposed to cite that source?<BR/><BR/>Geeza, your arguments really are scraping the bottom of the barrel.David Grenierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07528086449155329742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-66165789729585247632007-11-18T15:16:00.000-08:002007-11-18T15:16:00.000-08:00KUDOS to the WGA. I am so pleased to see others, i...KUDOS to the WGA. I am so pleased to see others, including SAG members, walking the picket lines with you.<BR/><BR/>The power unions, and by extension the power of working Americans, has been diminished for the past few decades. Workers seeking rights like fair payment have been practically demonized by the media -- particularly by the likes of FOX news. We are overdue for a positive portrayal of solidarity. What strengthens united workers benefits us all. Thank you from a union family .. and hang tough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-73612549243064002782007-11-18T12:08:00.000-08:002007-11-18T12:08:00.000-08:00David Grenier: advocate of stiffling free speech!David Grenier: advocate of stiffling free speech!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-57045727450455867092007-11-18T11:28:00.000-08:002007-11-18T11:28:00.000-08:00i work in the new media world and the fact is the ...i work in the new media world and the fact is the line is going to continue to blur between TV and the internet, now is the time to fight for what you deserve before things get too established and the studios will never back down. i'm going to miss some of my favorite shows for a while, but its worth it to know that wonderful people like you will continue to produce great content for us to enjoy! i wish you all the best.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08969782576973852771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-69841036636515863152007-11-18T10:54:00.000-08:002007-11-18T10:54:00.000-08:00Re: "I Love Writers"Here we go, just another cockr...Re: "I Love Writers"<BR/><BR/>Here we go, just another cockroach trying to scam some dollars from the WGA writers.<BR/><BR/>The AMPTP never ceases to amaze me.Jake Hollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04602947558576722328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-77532445572157129312007-11-18T10:03:00.000-08:002007-11-18T10:03:00.000-08:00'I Love Writers' T-Shirts, Hats, Stickers, Mugs, B...<B><I>'I Love Writers'</I> <BR/>T-Shirts, Hats, Stickers, Mugs, Buttons, Magnets, and more are now available at: </B><BR/><BR/><B><I><A HREF="http://www.cafepress.com/ilovethisshirt/4072055" REL="nofollow">******* ILoveThisShirt.net *******</A></I></B><BR/><BR/><B>Show your Support for the Writers Strike!!!</B>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-77115360607546647772007-11-18T07:31:00.000-08:002007-11-18T07:31:00.000-08:00david grenier - fair enough - i'll be in touch aft...david grenier - fair enough - i'll be in touch after this action is over. <BR/>Good luck with getting a fair pay deal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-47653500849962893062007-11-18T07:19:00.000-08:002007-11-18T07:19:00.000-08:00Things writers can do during the strike. Develop a...Things writers can do during the strike. Develop algebraic word problems while substitute teaching math. For example.<BR/>------------------------<BR/>ALGEGBRA:ALMOST LIKE AN EPISODE OF 24.<BR/><BR/>There are 4 politicians who want to go on stage and take their rightful place at the podium before the debate begins. They all begin in the audience (think young and diverse!) shaking hands and smoozing. You have 17 minutes to get all of the candidates on stage before the show goes live or else the terrorist (played by Wolf Blitzer) will set off a canister of nerve gas killing everyone inside, including the diverse, innocent (did I say beautiful and mostly blond?) college students invited by youtube to watch this disaster unfold.<BR/><BR/>The stage is completely dark and the candidates must cross the stage carrying a lighted candle (this represents ETERNAL HOPE and flickers constantly). There is but one FLICKERING CANDLE of HOPE. A maximum of two candidates can cross at one time. Any candidate who crosses, either 1 or 2 people, must have the FLICKERING CANDLE of HOPE with them. The FLICKERING CANDLE of HOPE must be walked back and forth, it cannot be thrown, or rolled on the ground. Each candidate walks at a different speed. A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower candidate's pace.<BR/><BR/>Hillary Clinton: takes 1 minute to cross<BR/>Barack Obama: takes 2 minutes to cross<BR/>John Edwards: takes 5 minutes to cross<BR/>Dennis Kucinich: takes 10 minutes to cross<BR/><BR/>For example, if Hillary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the stage. If Dennis Kucinich then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you have failed the mission and the once and future President is DEAD, as are many, many innocent, beautiful college students, and Anderson Cooper is covering the story 24/7/365. <BR/><BR/>What is the order required to get all candidates across in 17 minutes?<BR/>-------Warrior Ant Press Worldwide Anthill Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15554642043598747892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-86011575305653327762007-11-18T07:05:00.000-08:002007-11-18T07:05:00.000-08:00Dude, you do realize that when you plagarize - eve...Dude, you do realize that when you plagarize - even from miserable bastards like the AMPTP - you're supposed to cite your source and put shit in quotes. <BR/><BR/>Many of the other points have already been debunked, but I'd like to add that the piece deliberately fudges the numbers by referring to "working writers" (by which I think they mean full-time employed writers). That's taking a tiny subset of the WGA. It's no different than when the Maritime bosses try to claim that Longshore workers make 6-figure incomes by only focusing on guys with their A-Card, or that autoworkers make 6 figure incomes by only focusing on guys that have topped out and pick up tons of extra overtime shifts.<BR/><BR/>The fact is that over half the guild in a given year doesn't even make the minumim to get their health insurance (which is $20 or $30K I believe). Yes, there may be a set of writers on hit shows who make a good salary (but not working in the industry I'm not sure how this works? Usually I only see one or two writing credits per episode, so does that writer only get paid for those shows or are they salaried or what?). But there are tons of writers that had a hit show, then the show got cancelled and it takes them a few years to find more work. Or they sell a movie or two, but then it takes them years to write more movies and sell them. <BR/><BR/>A writer may be on a good show that never gets aired, or gets dropped after 4 episodes. <BR/><BR/>And the kicker is, during the time that they're "unemployed" they're still creating content for the studios FOR FREE. They're writing more scripts they hope to sell and coming up with more show ideas to pitch. They don't get paid for any of that. Meanwhile, the studios are still making some money off the work they did on the show that got cancelled or the film that they wrote through DVD sales and such.David Grenierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07528086449155329742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-89859614460185804292007-11-18T05:03:00.000-08:002007-11-18T05:03:00.000-08:00I can sympathize TV Guy ;)I can sympathize TV Guy ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-46142987862780323272007-11-18T01:47:00.000-08:002007-11-18T01:47:00.000-08:00YES YES YES!!!!! I might not have to wait until 20...YES YES YES!!!!! I might not have to wait until 2009 to see 24 after all.TV Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13217833241728099621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-20639234620818498742007-11-18T01:15:00.000-08:002007-11-18T01:15:00.000-08:00Hey, only *two* troll postings on this thread, and...Hey, only *two* troll postings on this thread, and only one on the more recent one! Are the AMPTP trolls getting bored? Or disheartened? Or have they given up after being so easily spotted? One can only hope…Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06602059415719513023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-85742979692891934852007-11-17T21:47:00.000-08:002007-11-17T21:47:00.000-08:00Hey anonymous @ 8:11 PM:At least change the choice...Hey anonymous @ 8:11 PM:<BR/><BR/><BR/>At least change the choice of words around, etc. You're not a very good paid stooge, or actor, when it's clear you're reading your lines from a script.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-54775188314838669372007-11-17T21:45:00.000-08:002007-11-17T21:45:00.000-08:00Anonymous 8:11PM: Like the AMPTP you can't seem to...Anonymous 8:11PM: Like the AMPTP you can't seem to get your facts straight. For instance, the AMPTP has stated that it was they who walked out the negotiations <I>not</I> the WGA.<BR/><BR/>Also, as one of the 4,434 "working" writers in this town, I can assure you were I making the "average" $200K you refer to, I'd be one happy muthaf*cker.<BR/><BR/>And I ain't happy.<BR/><BR/>The truth is the "average" working WGA member makes about what a 5-year veteran LA City cop makes and that's not even every year.<BR/><BR/>In any given year I'm liable to be unemployed and looking for writing work. So, if you "average" or pro-rate my income over the same five year period as that LA City cop, I bring the "average" down even more...<BR/><BR/>Let's just say it's a tough way to make a living. When it's good it's damn good. And when it's bad, it's peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at lunch and lots of Ramen for dinner.<BR/><BR/>Don't cry for me, I love my writing life and wouldn't trade it for anything else. But at least get your facts right, okay?<BR/><BR/>And maybe you should ask your AMPTP friends what their average salary is or how often they've had to eat ramen for dinner.<BR/><BR/>I bet they average more than $200K and never eat Ramen.Jake Hollywoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04602947558576722328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-51000942648634136892007-11-17T21:04:00.000-08:002007-11-17T21:04:00.000-08:00For the Anonymous Sock Puppet who posted at 8:11, ...For the Anonymous Sock Puppet who posted at 8:11, here's a bit of the WGA's response to the AMPTP's "open letter" that you trolls in the boiler room are using as your talking points.<BR/><BR/>Nice try, AMPTP. In the words of the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. The AMPTP's paid and patronizing advertisement in today's New York Times and Los Angeles Times is guilty of what most charitably could be called sins of omission.<BR/><BR/>The AMPTP maintains, “It is important to make clear that writers currently do receive residuals for digital downloading (regardless of whether the download is temporary or permanent)... The Guild is seeking at least a 700 percent increase over what writers currently receive, and more than a 200 percent increase over what they receive for Internet 'pay per view.'”<BR/><BR/>FACT: In our abandoned negotiations, the AMPTP insisted that the residual rate for digital downloading be pegged to the current rate for DVDs, a penurious third of one cent on the dollar. Let's repeat that: A THIRD OF A PENNY!!<BR/><BR/>The 700 percent increase they refer to roughly translates as 2.1 cents, the 200 percent as 2.5 cents. The AMPTP, as the saying goes, uses numbers the way a drunk uses a lamppost - more for support than illumination. Do the math and you'll see what we're asking for is nothing more than a small, fair respectful share of revenues.<BR/><BR/>The AMPTP states that it “has offered to pay writers a percentage of the revenues the producer receives from licensing streamed content on the Internet.”<BR/><BR/>FACT: The AMPTP “offer” would allow them to continue to air the streamed content FOR FREE for the first six weeks after its initial broadcast release. In other words, the time period during which there would be the most demand from the public and the most bang for the advertising buck. After that time is over, they would throw us a fraction of the bone of whatever's left.<BR/><BR/>According to the AMPTP, “No labor agreement in history has given writers, actors or directors a portion of advertising dollars.”<BR/><BR/>FACT: As their own ad notes, technology is rapidly changing the way our business works. They themselves admit, “There's a paradigm shift in how entertainment is distributed and consumed.” They offer streaming video for free, but make millions for the copious advertising that accompanies the content. It's only fair that the creators, the storytellers that make those revenues possible, get a tiny taste of the pie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-35663591229676349232007-11-17T20:43:00.000-08:002007-11-17T20:43:00.000-08:00Two Words:Cautiously OptimisticTwo Words:<BR/>Cautiously OptimisticTony Figueroahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02277491059818528829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-43943314359973366012007-11-17T20:11:00.000-08:002007-11-17T20:11:00.000-08:00What do you want exactly? Earlier I read that In s...What do you want exactly? <BR/><BR/>Earlier I read that In short, the guild is demanding an unjustifiable increase in the residual rate that writers receive for downloads, money they receive in addition to the salary they were paid in the first place (the WGA’s 4,434 working members make an average of $200,000 per year). They are also demanding a percentage of the advertising revenue earned by the networks from -supported streaming.<BR/><BR/>and that on Nov. 4, the producers proposed a residual rate for streaming shows and offered WGA members exclusivity in writing derivative programming made for new media — two proposals that were of utmost importance to WGA members — in order to make a deal that was fair to all. Unfortunately, the WGA leadership went on strike while that offer was on the table, ending negotiations. <BR/><BR/>basically you walked out of negotiations, they didnt, ofcourse they will come back, it was you who walked out in the first place, you people make everything so confusing, sounds like you just want a blank check, Regardless of whether a show or a movie is a hit or a flop, the writer is paid. <BR/><BR/>its Producers are faced with soaring production and marketing costs, a DVD business that is to the Internet, a softening syndication market and an increasingly fragmented advertising and viewing landscape — all of which are creating real challenges that everyone in this business is facing.<BR/><BR/>It’s unfortunate that this wholly unnecessary strike is threatening to financially devastate the hundreds of thousands of people in the Southland whose livelihoods depend on a thriving and working industry. and the WGA does have the power to end it quickly rather than next year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2462026865900537983.post-34664891168833162142007-11-17T16:48:00.000-08:002007-11-17T16:48:00.000-08:00Let's hope that this time the AMPTP either negotia...Let's hope that this time the AMPTP either negotiates seriously, or Nick Counter resigns and someone with some clout and guts and willingness to give us what we want, knowing that the WGAw and WGAE are the major forces in the industry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com