WGA Strike: How Things Have Changed
Speculation about the WGA strike, when it will end and how, seems like such a waste. An understandable one, but a waste nonetheless. What's important is understanding how things have changed.
Corporations that once controlled so much of the movie, television and record industries could afford to lavish their talent, craftspeople and themselves with generous, if not mind-boggling, compensation. When three networks called all of the shots, when movies were made with more of an eye toward content than marketing, when popular music uplifted the soul rather than deadened it, it seemed that everyone was paid a lot of money, from the grips to the drivers to the stars to the studio heads.
However, when Bruce Willis was paid $5 million for a movie, things began to change. We entered a period wherein everyone wanted, and got, more. You knew that things were distorted when agents started getting rich. Not the owners of the agencies, not the Norman Brokaws on the scene. Regular Ten Percenters began making seven figures. That was a big change. Once agents saw salaries rise and their own income potential with it, the old school practices of developing clients began to die. If you want to get repped by a good agency today, you have to walk in the door printing money.
Willis' salary seems modest by today's Hollywood standards, and that may be the problem. The writers deserve a piece of the digital pie, but how much? How much do any of the elements who work in the industry deserve, management included? There will always be bidding for services of stars, great directors and gifted writers. But does the suit who follows the fashion and signs the $20 million star also deserve $20 million?
Pressures to maintain high salaries, industry-wide, in such diverse sectors as commercial aviation, entertainment and automobiles are taking their toll. I predict that in the next ten years, a major auto manufacturer or a major airline or a major television network will fold. Perhaps, one of each. In the meantime, the Writer's Guild needs to replace their negotiators and now. The AMPTA does not give a damn about what is on the screen or what happens off of it. The men who run Hollywood now do not call the shots. The Jeff Zuckers and Brad Greys of the world ultimately answer to men who do not even live in Los Angeles. They live on yachts or in the clouds. They don't know how painters and costumers are suffering, because they've never met one. Get rid of Verrone. And try to have a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday/Happy New Year.
Read more about the strike on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Just curious. Does anyone know the names of any actors who acted in William Shakespeare's works in the 1590's? And what were they paid?
We are so backward these days.
You know Alec, there is another article on Huffpost about the punk, appointed by Bush, Mark Martin, from the FCC, passing Media Consolidation rules, to allow more companies to buy up more media outlets in the same cities.
We have the Writers strike that jeopardize freedom of Speech on the airwaves, and a bunch of filthy rich people that care nothing anyone as long as they get richer, no matter whom they hurt.
Sounds very similar to what we have in our Government, my point is this. Do you ever wonder if this isn't a Conspiracy by the very rich and powerful, to attack media from all directions, jeopardizing our Democracy, with what little we have left, turning our Country into an Orwellian Book or the movie V for Vendetta? The difference is it won't be a Movie anymore, it will be a new way of life in America.
Alec, I am not expert on the writers situation at all, nor do I understand it fully, but I believe that the writers deserve more money period. I also know you are very politcal, and this Adminstration has attacked every Government institution America has had over the years, disgracing it and ripping it apart. So whom is to say the people on the Yachts aren't just as involved as what we have in the White House. Think about it.
What if a $20 million per movie actor were to take half of that salary and redistribute it among the below-the-line people? That would be one happy, motivated crew of people and could possibly set a precedent.
Or what if they took that money and made an independent film that they really believed in?
Or what if the big stars who are already financially set for life would just refuse to work for the major studios until they work out fair deals with all of the unions? What if these types of stars started doing only independent films for a while? Would that shake up the studios?
I'm not saying, I'm just saying...
There's a lot of truth in your words, and you have a distinct advantage from resting smack in the middle of the Hollywood grist mill. But it isn't really new. What is new is the exponential explosion in popular awareness of these issues along with the exponential rate of accelerating change. Moore's law applies to everything, not just technology. The fact remains that the people calling the shots globally are so far above the clouds that everyone still believes that a CEO bailing with his $100 million parachute is anything more than a servant to a still wealthier cabal with global interests. A new age has begun in which the United States of Ambivalence will be a third world country, and the dollar will no longer be the central unit of exchange by fiat.
I suspect that the writer's strike will eventually starve to death. Not the writers - the strike itself. As more and more of the "talent" caves in and goes back on the air without writers (Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert come to mind, as well as the other late-night show hosts), fewer and fewer people will even see the effects of the strike.
How long do you think it will be before the Big Guys start asking high school and college kids to just give them material for free, in exchange for "exposure?" Don't think it can't happen - my whole computer science class once had to write a program for a friend of the prof's. The friend (a prof in a different department) looked over the programs and picked the one he liked the best - and nobody in the class was compensated a cent. The excuse was that it was part of the class, just that one semester. Do you think that poorly-paid profs won't send scripts in? Do you believe that not one graduate, undergraduate, or not-yet-collegiate person will do the same thing?
Love Love Love you Alec and hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday. You truly deserve every dollar because your talent is exceptional. I do hope the suits get their act together and pay those writers what they deserve. NBC seems to be hurting the most right now, so maybe they will lead the charge.
Okay, someone who knows stuff has finally said what I've been thinking all along: that over-paying the talent is robbing the rest of the team. This seems especially evident in television. It annoys me no end that a wonderful TV show like Studio 60 couldn't stick around long enough to get its legs. Was this because the actors were making too much for it to be feasible to continue producing episodes?
Bruce Willis? Isn't he a stanch right winger? I care less what he makes. I do care if someone crosses a picket line. All these celebs that cross the picket line? Are on my shit list. (Though I didn't give a rats ass about them before...) Until I see real change? Such as the wealthy building and housing the poor? And demanding oil companies go to solar, geo thermal and wave turbine? I'm going to keep my pissed off attitude. Trust no one. And alway be prepared for the worse.
I really question The WGA's leadership ...going out before the Holidays w/the sofenting housing mkt. and erroding economy,with no regard for the thousands of crew people they are absolutely screwing is beyond me!they're not known for thier support of any other Locals,guilds when we've struck and on every show i've ever worked on the catered lunches for a week could pay a Scenics salary for a mnth!we all know w/out "The Product" story ,script you have nothing.. and there should be fair internet and residual compensation (which thnx to the Teamsters foresight we enjoy a tiny peice of in our I.A.P.s)bu
He makes some interesting points here. But one thing that he didn't mention is somebody being willing to be the first to say no and take less money.
Is any sane person going to turn down $20 million for a movie? No. But also, what about the studios, agents and others that all have a piece of the pie? I've yet to hear a Big Name (fill in job title here) say, I'm going to start something new and take less money. And hopefully others will follow suit. The reality is until that person does that, nothing will change. The profit margin is so huge that anytime someone talks about less, the counter argument is as long as somebody's willing to pay you, it's not too much. Which means the strike and speculation will continue.
I don't just think one studio/network will fold but I think we will see them all go down. The studio system, just like records, are dinosaurs and will be replaced. The technology to make your own films, music, tv shows and put them up on the web is making the WGA negotiations look like slow mo. Cell phone stores can't write policies fast enough to sell the new devices. Before they figure out the iphone, there will be the zphone. Lets hope it morphs into something better than what we have now.
Your series, 30 Rock, shows both extremes of the TV/movie writer's importance. The episodes Tina Fey writes are for the ages, the rest are television. On the other hand, your ability to project your character through brilliant dialog and mundane shows how great acting can cover for a multitude of writing sins.
Why don't YOU write a script for a movie or
something, Alec? You've been in enough of these
things, do a Last Action Hero there, and
step through the silver screen into real life,
get a seat in the front row, and get your
creative freak on. How about a sci-fi movie,
and not one with laser guns etc? YOU CAN DO
EEEEEET! I'd pay money to see a good sci-fi
show without the CGI aliens and fake blood.
If an industry has to get hit, personally, I'm voting for an airline. I travel several times a month for work. Flying commercial air is the most detestable part of my job. I'm not a large person (5'5", 122 lbs), but if they make the seats any narrower, I'll have to sit sideways. If the guy in front of me reclines his seat, I get to hold his head in my lap until food service starts or we land.
My city is HQ to an intn'l airline. This company has, over the last several years and through a couple mergers, systematically decimated employee perks and benefits. They have shrunk health care, slashed retirement programs and employee travel privileges, and pay the very people who keep the planes in the air just above minimum wage. Then they wondered why they were unionized last year. But all's well, the CEO (who got arrested/convicted for drunk driving because he wasn't bright enough to use a hired car) is still getting his multi-millions in salary and bonus.
Automobiles? I haven't ridden in a car I felt safe in since my Dad's '84 Olds 98 LS when I was 6. (Nothing like whipping down the freeway at 65 mph in something that's mostly plastic. I know, I know... think Green. *SPLAT*
Back on point, I don't mind the higher paydays on the creative end. Actors, in particular, probably spend a chunk of it just on security and fending off paparazzi. I don't buy the argument about keeping abreast of tech advances either. It should be built in. The non-creatives in the food chain should make a decent income, but, buddy, if your face isn't on the screen and you didn't write the script, direct, or work the camera, get your hand out of my pocket. I'm not here to see YOU!
I hope the writers stick with it. If they need new negotiators with better game, then go for it.
the bottom line....ov
perhaps we have ourselves to blame for agreeing to insane talent, producing and even writing increases over the last few years. but whatever the case, those of you who continue to label the networks as "rich corporate fat cats" are really drinking some kind of sixties socialist kool aid.
there's decent living to be made for all of us. it will require both sides to be a little forward thinking and realize the current model is broken, not generating untold billions in profits at the expense of "the working man."
the uaw went to the big 3 autoworkers with a plan to save union jobs and restore the health of the industry for the long haul. the wga should consider a similar tact.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
