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.
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God bless you Alex Baldwin!!!
I wish more of the like minded, "visible" people in the industry would speak up.
I have been a working actor for over 20 years.
I just want to do, and, be proud of the work I love, and,... Make a living wage.
That's all.
Silly me.
It seems though, everyone else I come in contact with is about the money, the power and the prestige.
But, can we turn it around?
And, if so, how?
If you find a way,....si
"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."
Please explain, Mr Baldwin. I agree the AMPTA (the producers cabal) doesn't give a damn, but in what way should the writers change their tactics? Are you saying they should be more demanding or less so, or something else entirely?
Interesting summary from a veteran of show biz.
In the beginning when actors/wri
At some point though for some of them it starts becoming more about the money than the love of the work, which is what got them in a place of celebrity (or well paid worker as the case maybe) in the first place. However, sometimes its just dumb luck - I'm thinking Howie Mandel here!
the strike has entered the boring phase, and by that I mean, the time where nothing is happening and people start to freak. but, that's the nature of strikes: time passes. the question is, which side has the capacity NOT to freak? mr. baldwin seems to be leaning, in his oh-so-seen-it-all way, towards the freak side. batten down the hatches al, and don't send public bombs suggesting the negotiators need to be replaced. the issues are straightforward, the demands reasonable and clear; having someone else relay them won't change them or how they're received. the suits need to bleed, and the bleeding simply has to continue. do they want to blow up their own business to prove a point? of course not. money talks, for these sorts, much louder than for all us worker bees who make the product they sell. is it going to get easy soon? are they going to roll over and ask us to scratch their bellies? of course not. it's war. patience. patience. patience. not your strong suit al.
I just heard from my brother, who is a sports Producer for a major network, that all the perks they used to receive are now slowly being withdrawn, including Christmas parties. My brother has chosen to give his production team a party regardless and is happy to pay for it out of his own pocket. People need to be rewarded for their hard work and sacrifices throughout the year.
The networks and studios are making it clear who is in charge and who could be next. This particular network insists they are trying to save money but it’s all crap. They budget for these expenses every year and have chosen to be spiteful.
One problem is that, as always, people do not realise the importance of whodunnit. If there are no actors there is no need of actor agents and so on. If there is no audience/v
But to demand too large a piece of the cake from people who are further down on the scale like f i an agent is nothing but greed, something most of us are getting more and more upset with and tired of nowadays. After all, it is the entertainer we want to see/hear and it is him/her we like to think we are paying the movie ticket/CD/DVD for and therefor it is the entertainer who is to get the lion´s part of our money.
On the other hand I am not sure if Bruce Willis, Will Smith, Brangelina and others who get threenumbermillions of dollars for their effort deserve it or even appreciate it, but if their fans want to pay for their fortunes then a la bonheur. On the other hand I do not think their salaries make the world go round in a better way than it is today, still it is the greed that destroys a lot of what is happening to it.
Of course there is one thing that still is important and I certainly agree to you wish, Alec. I sincerely hope you and everyone else will have a great time now while being in Syracuse and in the future where ever you may be. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We've decided the WGA strike might be a good thing. We all hate reality shows and game shows, so when our regular shows like "House" and "My Name is Earl" are nothing but re runs, we'll just turn off the TV, crank up the Bach, and read.
I totally support the WGA and hope that somehow the money-grubbing greedy bastards that own everything are forced to share the wealth. However . . .
The attack on Bruce Willis sounds a little to me like sour grapes. I'm no fan of Mr. Willis personally; he's a pro-war Republican. But he does consistently do the one thing the box office really needs: he gets asses into movie seats. Consequently, I seem to recall a time when you, Mr. Baldwin, held out for a big paycheck to play Jack Ryan in the first sequel to "The Hunt for Red October". I'm sorry things didn't work for you then, because I would have preferred seeing you in the role than Harrison Ford. You're much more interesting to watch.
There should be easier ways for non-professionals from all fields to be considered by non-insiders. ie a still free but more comprehensive version of Youtube for people with money and connections (such as yourself Alec) to evaluate new writers, actors, directors. Bruce is on recent record confessing that at least 1000 other people in LA can do what he does.
What are the implications of Conan, Stewart, Colbert, Leno, Letterman and the rest of the 'Gang' coming back sans writers? I need someone to spell it out for me please. I think I'm beginning to see how it ties in with the Media Conglomerates buying 'blocks' of programming.
Various Star Trek actors speak up for those on the writers strike and why:
http://www
I have strong feelings on the subject of income. I earn a comfortable income (top 10%) because the services I render make other people much richer than I'll ever become. And yet Bruce Willis made more money from one film than I'll make in a working lifetime of say 40 years. I suppose some would argue that there's no harm in that; after all, we live in a free market and people can sell their services for what the market will bare.
The problem with this line of thinking should be obvious. If as most economists seem to agree that the total economic pie is finite (it does grow but growth best occurs over time), then the more money sent in the direction of celebrities, Fortune 500 executives, various fund managers, and sports personalities simply means there is less money available for others who quite possibly contribute a Hell of a lot more to society and country. How much money is held by say the top 100 richest people in the US and what have they done to earn their wealth? While entertaining is important in the overall scheme of things it isn't much of a contribution. I'm not saying that talented people shouldn't make a decent or even an above average income. All I'm saying is that when any individual or group of individuals receives obscene compensation, it ultimately hurts the whole of society. Of course, such thinking is not capitalistic but I make no apologies for it. I don't think our society can afford to have some pea wit like Britany Spears worth $100 million dollars, various sports personalities making $20 millions a year, or actors making $5 million dollars per movie. I don't have a solution for this issue but I do think a graduated income tax with the top bracket in the 60% or more range for people making more than $1 million dollars annual would be a grand start. If celebrity income was capped, wouldn't it would it then be easier to share total wealth with everyone who contributes to the success of a project?
As long as there are new media formats there will always be a battle over compensation. With content delivery systems ranging from cell phones, pay-per-view, video-on-demand it’s impossible to strike a deal that will satisfy producers, conglomerates, distributors and writers alike. Personally, I think the system is deliberately designed this way, shelling out drips and drabs to those whom profit the least by padding those who profit the most. The most reserve the right to say the costs for investing in new technology hamstring them fromn devising a reasonable formula. As we all know they fatten their paychecks with ad revenue money anyway.
Many people laughed at Prince when he etched the word “slave” on the side of his face and changed his name when he was battling Warner Brothers over his contract deal So, he continued to make money on his works by publishing under another identity, turned to the internet and the people and told WB to “f – off”. It was a ground-breaking strategy for an artist. Hopefully, a new frontier can be had for all creative talent across the board.
Putting all that aside, I’d like to say “Thank You” to Arianna, Alec and to all those who grease the Huffington Post wheels for their informative and entertaining, blogs, posts and comments. And now, another year is due to arrive, marking the final point of a deep transitional and preparatory period. So to all, which ever way you celebrate, have a magical and Happy Hanukah, Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year!
Alec,
You are correct on all points, and the need for professional and competent negotiation is a must for Writers if they are to survive, or they will be eaten alive.
I dare suggest there will be a tipping point and if a first class negotiating team is not put in place who can reason with both sides, then the writers will lose. Period.
Your point about the amounts of money asked for and earned is germane. Shows like Letterman, Leno,Stewa
I feel strongly about unions and am pro union, but we are coming out of a time of class war on unions, and we see Hollywoodland and TV who are hardly under rewarded in this standoff.
Paul Krugman in todays NYTimes speaks to the attack by corporate america on unions, and since Reagan declared deregulation there has been a successful muzzling of workers to unionize.
I would like to see someone of influence talk to the union heads and implore them to meet with their rank and file and start realistic negotiations.
Alec,
Nobody even considers it "art" anymore so why bother? My actor friends now think of themselves as mere grist to satisfy the whims of a taste challenged society. A society that doesn't even value a heartfelt performance but would rather watch CGI of the world being blown up. But that doesn't seem to stop those eager to break into the business, it's always like a moth to the flame. But it doesn't burn as bright these days as you have so splendidly observed. But we do have an ace in the hole...the internet. Could it really turn the biz into a cottage industry? Could an actor or a writer make a living in Anytown, U.S.A.? Should they? You tell me.
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