A Less-enraged Note on the WGA Strike

OK, now that I'm calm, I'm going to rationally spell out my viewpoint on this subject so that it's a little more clear. I'm not sure what all the WGA's demands are concerning getting a take on DVD sales. So, the following viewpoints are -IF- the writer's guild is trying to ask for this compensation across the board for all writers.

As pertains to television writers-> I do believe that television writer's should get residuals just like actors get. In my mind, writers, actors, and directors are the major creative driving forces and in very few cases the producer or director of photography can be. These people have the most creative impact on the final outcome of the project and thus cannot be as easily replaced. All of these people /should/ be entitled to residuals when their shows get replayed on television for decades.

As pertains to film writers-> Heeelllllllls NO! They should not be entitled to a cut of profits. I'll explain. Movie writers all ready have a well worked out system of pay. It's a graduated system where they get paid certain amounts that they contracted for at different stages of production which saves the production companies from shelling out big bucks for a script that never gets completed. So if a movie makes it all the way, chances are the writer got paid pretty decent. Secondly, actors do not get a cut of profits either. They also are contracted to get one pay. It all has to do with the factor of risk. Those who take risk are those who get paid. Usually, producers, studios, distributors, etc. Writers and actors have no risk, because they're contracted to get paid a certain amount and if the movie makes it out there and bombs, they still get paid. There are certain instances where stars with big names will work for less in return for a share of profits. In this case, they should be entitled to a share of profits because they are taking risk. They are risking that the movie might not make enough money to cover their usual pay. This usually happens if a movie doesn't have a big enough budget to pull in big stars without offering such contracts.

If you aren't risking anything, you shouldn't reap rewards equal to those who did put in risk. Simple as that. Simple rule of business.

The WGA has the potential to shoot themselves in the foot right now if they let this drag on too long. Canada and Australia are all ready eating up as much of our production as they can pull in by offering excellent incentives to movie makers. If the unions push to hard production will all move to Canada where they don't have to deal with unions any more. This would seriously boost Canada's economy and seriously fuck our own. I don't think many people realize quite how large the economic impact of having a production in your area is. They bring in a /lot/ of money. Governors and mayors across the country have been screwing over a lot of their states by taking away and/or refusing to offer incentives to filmmakers. This is quite stupid. And now the WGA is risking production not just leaving those stupid states, but leaving the country entirely.

Unions need to die. Seriously.