Writer's Guild of America strike

[titanfan]

Wouldn't happen. If the strike lasts a long time, reality TV will take over, ratings won't be as good, but with the money they save on actors and writers and all the extras that go into scripted television they eventually make just as much money as before and slowly gain ratings anyway because American's have the attention span of ferrets anyway and will watch anything. Therefore, when the strike finally is over, they don't need as many writers for original programming because they proved that reality TV can buoy them just fine and the exact opposite of what you want happens.

Yup, if a show is not on the air long enough--sooner or laters viewers don't miss it. And when shows like Temptation Island and "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire" draw decent ratings again--we'll see that they'll be missed less than they think.

Oh well, I'm a big college basketball junkie so I suppose I'll be watching a lot more ESPN.

[DonC]

And the strike is on.

[Titan76]

So how long do you think it will last? I'm going to say one month.

[Shellhead]

So how long do you think it will last? I'm going to say one month.

The last strike lasted 22 weeks. So I assume that both sides are ready to hold out at least that long this time around. And I bet that the writers cave first, because reality tv is a plausible way for the networks to tread water during the strike. I'm betting that this strike last 25 weeks.

[Titan76]

The last strike lasted 22 weeks. So I assume that both sides are ready to hold out at least that long this time around. And I bet that the writers cave first, because reality tv is a plausible way for the networks to tread water during the strike. I'm betting that this strike last 25 weeks.

Well unlike last time the WGA is much more organized then they were in 88 or 89. And unlike last time when they did allow the Studios to get their way with them(the writers) getting less money from movies on VHS because the Studios weren't sure yet they would be huge. The writers aren't buying this with DVD and Internet downloading with the Studios this time with them making the same claim they did 20 years ago.

[Magneto_X]

The last strike lasted 22 weeks. So I assume that both sides are ready to hold out at least that long this time around. And I bet that the writers cave first, because reality tv is a plausible way for the networks to tread water during the strike. I'm betting that this strike last 25 weeks.

Reality tv isn't except from being hurt by this. I've heard networks have been using ghost writers for some, if not all, of said shows so they're going to be a lot worse shape if they don't have any scripts to fall back on.

MTV's The Hills has been exposed as scripted, for example.

Titanfan:

Just because a show is cancelled or on permanent haitius doesn't mean everyone will forget it existed. Firefly and Star Trek: TOS and who knows how many others less high profile still have their fans (even low profile shows, too).

Frankly I never understood why networks wouldn't pick up said shows after something like this. If something was a hit mere months before a strike why wouldn't it be after the strike ends?!?

[StoneGold]

Truth is, if all the other related unions strike, there might not be any reality shows, either. Teamsters are supposed to be going with the writers. And if that happens, production pretty much shuts down, except for totally non-union gigs.

[GRANT!]

If the writers do strike but the actors and and directors are still working for months afterward, is anybody allowed to polish or complete a script that's already been turned in?

No, if they are in the WGA they can not. I think the rule is you can only take stuff out not add anything. That also goes for post production as well.

They could get non WGA writers to do rewrites but that could get messy for Studios and the writers involved (if they ever want to join the WGA in the future doing scab work would probably prevent it).

[GRANT!]

Truth is, if all the other related unions strike, there might not be any reality shows, either. Teamsters are supposed to be going with the writers. And if that happens, production pretty much shuts down, except for totally non-union gigs.

This is true. Even though most reality shows don't have contracts with the WGA and SAG they do have contracts with other Unions. I'm not sure my Union is doing but I do work on a reality show that has Union contracts and we could easily join the strike (I don't know if we are or not).

[GRANT!]

Reality tv isn't except from being hurt by this. I've heard networks have been using ghost writers for some, if not all, of said shows so they're going to be a lot worse shape if they don't have any scripts to fall back on.

MTV's The Hills has been exposed as scripted, for example.

True. but they probably don't have a WGA contract. Lot of the writing on reality shows is done by producers.

There have been attempts by the WGA to get a contract with reality shows but it hasn't happened yet. Not to say other Unions couldn't join in like the Teamsters.

[kalorama]

True. but they probably don't have a WGA contract. Lot of the writing on reality shows is done by producers.

More precisely, it's done by writers who are credited as "producers" precisely so their work doesn't fall under WGA's auspices, thus allowing the networks to continue to foster the illusion of reality shows as "real" and "unscripted."

[CBR News]

Brian K. Vaughan, Marc Guggenheim, Daniel Knauf and more sound off on what the WGA strike means for their comics work and for the comic book industry in general.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/ne...m.cgi?id=12287

[IamtheRock3]

you know I dont think wanting cut of the DVD's that unreasonble

[G. Wayne]

So how long do you think it will last? I'm going to say one month.

No idea, personally, but in Brian K. Vaughn's blog he repeatedly says "when/if" in regards to the end of the strike, which is kind of almost a little scary.

[GRANT!]

More precisely, it's done by writers who are credited as "producers" precisely so their work doesn't fall under WGA's auspices, thus allowing the networks to continue to foster the illusion of reality shows as "real" and "unscripted."

They still do producer work (and some cases directing and camera work). At least on the shows I've worked on. I wouldn't call them writers though.