What the Strike is Costing Us

The television show 30 Rock, that I had been shooting in New York until we shut down this past Friday, has been one of the best professional experiences I have ever had. Obviously, the critical success of the show is a significant part of that. 30 Rock has had the kind of reception that writers can only dream of, and I feel that all of our writers, and especially Tina, deserve everything that has come their way.

But any film, stage play or television show provides the opportunity for the cast and crew to bond into a remarkably fun and cordial unit. On the set of our show, we are blessed to have the best shooting crew of any in New York. However, across the board, everyone seems to recognize that the writers have a valid reason for striking.

We finished our last pre-strike approved script on Friday. The atmosphere the last couple of days was thoughtful and a little sad, as some crew members, and eventually many more, are expected to scatter in search of work. There is other work, no doubt, but maybe not the kind like we have had up until now, with a good group of collegial and talented people working on a show that seemed to be growing, in many ways.

Strikes, and the lack of forward-thinking negotiating that results in them, costs more than money. Sometimes, they cost you friends and family, as well.

Read more about the strike on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.

Comments

[argyle]

01:18 AM on 11/14/2007

I love 30 Rock. Funny as all get out. One of the few good things about television lately. Seriously , seriously funny. Belly hurt, out of breath, tears in the eye funny. Make more.

[wndsides]

05:02 PM on 11/13/2007

Try as I might to be supportive of the writers, I still find it hard to swallow that making the minimum of $200,000 is a hardship. I struggle daily trying to make ends meet, keep food on the table and pay for my son's medication­. I bet these writers have health insurance. The obscene amounts of money these studios make is sickening. To be honest the writing on most primetime shows is really pretty bad and my children are far more creative with their writings for school for heavens sake.

[MadxAsxHell]

06:54 AM on 11/13/2007

I've never understood this hatred for unions. Let's say an "entrepren­eur" founded a company to provide screen writers to Hollywood, and was clever enough to create THE company you had to go to in order to get the best screen writers (Something like George Lucas's Industrial Light&Magi­c as the ONLY place to go for computer effects).

And suppose this company could use its market power to effect the prices for its service it could charge the studios (like IL&M). Conservati­ves and Republican­s would APPLAUD that company as a wonderful case of American entreprene­urial spirit.

But let that company give an equal share in ownership to every writer, and call itself a UNION, and those same conservati­ves SPIT at it!

Yet the WGA and IL&M are functional­ly the same. The only difference is that only a FEW people at IL&M get all the money.

Right now, in NYC, Local 1 of the stage hands unions is on strike for the first time in 121 years. Every other union, starting with Actor's Equity is with them, because the producers see even the actors as a commodity they can out-source from abroad. The producers want a 30+% cut in their stage hands costs, but you better believe ticket prices won't go down a nickel.

Meanwhile, of ALL the trades on Broadway, the stage hands are at or near the bottom. The LOWEST paid musician in the orchestra pit makes more per show than the HIGHEST paid stage hand, and always has been.

The producers' league is lying: There are 8 Broadway shows still running that have NOT been struck against, because THOSE producers have successful­ly reached contract agreements with Local 1 and the other unions. It CAN be done--but the League will try to position Local 1 as "greedy stage hands". That would be like George Steinbrenn­er calling his groundskee­pers "greedy".

[eddiestardust]

07:08 PM on 11/12/2007

As I've said elsewhere, tv today is the pits even with x number of cable and satellite channels..­.

You folks have taken yourself out of the working pool..

Yourselves­...

You haven't been outsourced
and you are not fired.

Sit down and shut up...

before the rest of us decide NOT to watch your program...

And THEN you will lose your job!

[tyla]

05:34 PM on 11/12/2007

Mr. B...Earlie­r this year after being scrutinize­d by the media, you attempted to leave 30 Rock and had NBC granted your request your co-workers and viewers would have in some way been affected as a result from your self imposed strike. It's not that you weren't justified in wanting to put your acting career aside as it is human nature to want to take an emotional vacation until mind and body can co-exist once again, however, it is at such times that we are not always able to see things clearly and unknowingl­y, our actions can affect change in others. NBC's actions of holding you to your contract resulted in a positive outcome for you, your co-workers and the viewers. The writer's strike is a example of how the actions of some can "affect change" in others and we can all learn a lesson from this as I believe that this strike will result in a positive outcome. I for one support the writer's strike as their efforts are making the powers that be accountabl­e for their actions. The powers that be who have control and who have knowingly, negatively affected change in the lives of those directly involved with this strike need to step up to the plate and do the right thing as when it comes to making decisions they have let clarity take a back seat to greed.
30 Rock is one of the best shows ever as it gives the viewer an opportunit­y to have a good laugh. I believe that laughter is one of our most basic needs and the ability to make someone laugh is a powerful god given asset. Some of us have the ability to entertain and others, well we look forward to seeing people like you on shows like 30 Rock which give us a break from the daily chaos that infiltrate­s our lives. Like the day after Thanksgivi­ng, until the strike is over, it will be...30 Rock leftovers for this viewer! Good Luck and God Bless...

[mick3]

05:28 PM on 11/12/2007

Where is that good programmin­g? Well, I get only fifty channels, so maybe I missed something. But except for CBC, C-Span, a couple of shows on the Comedy Channel, and an old film somewhere, about all I find are cheapo "reality" shows, cheapo game shows, contestant shows (dance, ice-skatin­g, etc.), sports and male "toys" up the yin yang, "law and order" shows glorifying cops as if they were the second coming when we know better (where are the cops who plant evidence, who suppress or destroy evidence, who will do anything to incarcerat­e yet another person of color?), reruns, and "news" programs comprising scandal, gossip, and government propaganda­. Maybe I live in a different universe from you. Hope yours doesn't stink, too.

[ARBOC2]

05:24 PM on 11/12/2007

I am a great fan of Alec Baldwin and am pleased to find him supporting those without whom their would be little left of show business; at least good show business.

All arguments on the merits of the strike aside, there is one thing that I would like to explore among comedy critics; what in the hell makes 30 Rock funny, interestin­g, clever or anything else worth watching?

Out of loyalty to Baldwin and a continuing expectatio­n of a comedic breakthrou­gh I look at the program off and on, but seldom maintain enough interest to stay with it for the entire offering.

I have had a lifelong interest in comedy and
have, at less than a profession­al level, written,di­rected and acted in comedic plays, skits and other public offerings, which gives me at least a limited feel for what writers endure and for their product. However, I honest to god can't figure out why 30 Rock stays on the air. At the same time I hope it lives and prospers because of my respect for Baldwin and genuine concern for the creative staff and writers who need to make a living.

[VastRightWingConspiracy]

05:24 PM on 11/12/2007

.
The WGA has given TV executives and TV viewers a GREAT opportunit­y. The best TV shows ever were made during the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. Bring them back. Ernie Kovacs, Steve Allen, Mary Tyler Moore, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Jack Paar's Tonight, Sid Caesar, The Bob Newhart Show, Johnny Carson's Tonight, The Wild, Wild West, The Jack Benny Program, That Girl, The Avengers, Carol Burnett, Sonny and Cher, Jackie Gleason, Kraft Television Theater, Studio One, Philco Playhouse, Playhouse 90, Armstrong Television Theater, Rowan & Martin's Laugh In, The Ed Wynn Show, The Saint, The Rifleman, Knight Rider, The Six Million Dollar Man, Mission Impossible­, Superman, and on and on. Nothing created since even comes close (except Seinfeld). Make these classics the new stable for prime time TV on all networks. Bring back the best TV ever produced - and everybody wins, both young and old. After several months of seeing these classics, maybe, just maybe, the standard for acceptable TV will increase from its current toilet-lev­el.
.

[sucrets]

04:40 PM on 11/12/2007

Lets not forget the long term costs to the consumer..­.

If the writers are awarded the additional residuals, the costs could be passed on to the consumers. Networks will charge cable and satellite companies more to carry programmin­g and cable and satellite companies will pass the charge on to consumers in the form of higher monthly fees. The price of broadband internet could see an increase if these same companies decide to add the cost of writer residuals into online distributi­on. Movie prices could go up, books, etc.

Being an independen­t software developer, I am all for protecting and rewarding intellectu­al property but there is the sense of where will this end?

[wrabbitt]

02:35 PM on 11/12/2007

Strike to get a fair deal? well, lets strike the whole US. same problem all the suits get all the money hell, they don't even have the same retirement as "WE THE PEOPLE". they are better than us right? they deserve a raise every year right? they need to make more promises they won't keep right? the sheep need to be woke up before its too late, never mind it is too late Vote for the same crooks and you get the same crooks!!!!­!!

[Dolphin]

02:18 PM on 11/12/2007

What else is there to do than to strike when negotiatio­ns do not work and you have been unjustly treated for a long time?

Sadly enough we are more and more reaching the phase in more countries than one that it is the employers market i.e. the bosses do not give a damn about neither the Union nor the employees and try to work against all forms of strikes and other protests.

In a business climate like that the friends and families sure will be affected in different ways too. If we do not watch out we will soon be back into the 1920s or even earlier and if that happens it will be even harder for the people who deserve the credit to get it, both in words and pay check.

Hopefully it will not come to that and we certainly hope for a quick and just result of the ongoing strike. After all, people like me have to wait, strike or no strike, for Season 2 of 30 Rock until next fall anyway (sigh!).

[NotaBeliever]

01:33 PM on 11/12/2007

I am kind of hoping that the writers' strike re-awakens the unions around the country. Too many of them are vague shadows of their former selves with little power, lost to management strategies like off-shorin­g all the jobs.
Walk with me down memory lane ... and Look for the union label ...

[Collielady]

01:23 PM on 11/12/2007

The strike doesn't cost me anything because I don't watch idiot TV.

It's about the only thing left in this world that you don't HAVE to pay for, whether you use it or not.

[Brikena]

01:23 PM on 11/12/2007

Alas, fair treatment is not always easily dispensed. Good shows suffer along with the mind-boggl­ingly weak ones. 30 Rock delivers primarily because of its good writing. Writing comes first. Without a good 'script' there cannot be a good show. I hope, like you, that the writers are given their just due. Intellectu­al work needs to be recognized for its actual value and rewarded accordingl­y.

[Bocababs]

01:09 PM on 11/12/2007

Mr. Baldwin...­I for one take the Writers Strike seriously. I live in a "Right To Work" State in FL and group or segment of workers that can go on strike for the "right reasons" I will back.