What the Strike is Costing Us
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.
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I have never heard of 30roc, thanks for the info. I will have to check it out.
Suppose they gave a strike and nobody cared?
TV is SOOOOOO bad, much of America hasn't noticed the strike. And, sorry, but 30 Rock sure isn't racking up any great ratings, strike or no strike. It's only still on because left-leaning critics like the jabs in it, incoherent as they may be. The cartoonish silliness of 30 Rock steals what could have been a funny premise.
Three cheers jordan 1980!
Strikes are always a last resort but they come because of intransigence on the part of management. Strikes are very hard on those that strike, usually much harder on them than management. When people strike, we should all realize that it is a serious situation.
Creative people should not be taken advantage of any more. The MBA's who couldn't make television interesting for five minutes are trying to steal the money of the people who write the words the entertain and enlighten us.
We should all stand with the writers.
Anyone who's ever worked on a non-union film or tv show will understand the value of unions in the entertainment industry.
On a non-union set, you may work 20 hour shifts which you may or may not be paid for (in the case of spec work). Things like bathroom facilities may not be available. If you get hurt on the set, you have to rely on the insurance that the filmmaker bought for the film, and good luck. This is from my own personal experience.
Maybe if movie stars and star directors did not take such a HUGE slice of things there would be money left over for writers! Talents puts up NO money for the shows they are in or movies that are made, yet you demand an ownership position. I agree that writers should be paid for their work that may be used in new media down the line, but talent (writer/actor/dir) are NOT owners. Why not take a shot at a new United Artists (not Tom's and Paulas), and make your own product and then you will own ALL the new media rev streams? And Alec, I think you are great so I am not some anti-Alec Republican, but how much will YOU see from 30 Rock DVDs etc? My guess is that its more then .04!
It's ironic that the great wits of our time can't function without a battalion of writers. Colbert and his ilk are frauds.
I do not discount the value of negotiation and of meeting needs of those around us. I am not an Alec Baldwin fan, but appreciate the value of his last sentence, "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. "
Regarding the costs the view pays, like re-runs: Oh my...life as we know it is coming to an end! I may have to read a book, play a game with the kids, go for a walk in the park or visit a neighbor and share popcorn. We are babies sucking on the t___ of the entertainment industry when we need to learn to generate some for ourselves. We are over-dependent on others to provide for us. I suppose that is part of an entitlement society.
Alec,
I don't know alot about what is going with the writer's strike, but from what I understand they deserve whatever they are asking for.
The thing that bothers me about it, is that we need them all right now, it is also threatening our Democracy. I am not much of a Prime time TV watcher because the product we are watching has stooped so low, I can't bear to watch it. In the times we live in right now, we need some of them like The Daily Show - Bill Maher - Jay Leno - David Letterman - Conan Obrien - etc...
What is going in our Country, has many people angry, upset, frustrated, and waiting for the elections to come and end, so maybe we will have chance to undo all the damage that has been done in the past six years.
Its nice to have some shows to watch, that can at least, give it some comedy, and an opportunity to laugh.
It's hard for me to take the writers' strike seriously. It view it as similar to a sports players' strike: fairly well paid people demanding to be paid more. The strikes that take place in my neck of the woods usually involve people trying to make ends meet and/or trying to fight off another pay cut.
I'm impressed with Baldiwn's piece and the way Hollywood actors are standing behind the writers. I don't know too much about the strike or what the demands the Writers are asking, but one thing is certain. The product that Hollywood puts out is a collaboration of many talented people. Just acknowledging one's co-workers needs is as important as any other aspect of producing the final product.
-No telly...
-No theatre in New York...
-No movies.
-Commercials after every clip on Yahoo!
-Bloated models showing money made from untested advertising models that would crumble if folks had the choice to opt out.
-Super Bowl and World Series ad rates through the roof again for a declining audience (What if the baseball finale was Cleveland v. Denver?).
-Prime time telly (sorry Mr. Baldwin) numbers that show less and less people get their entertainment and/or news from the big three.
-Blinders to global audiences and a media world that Tivo's or Sky+'s their way around the dial to avoid commercials.
New media mavens predict folks will watch telly on their shining new ipod, forgetting the £1,000+ invested in a flat screen telly and home theatre system, hey you can watch 30 Rock anywhere though, on a 4" screen through a tinny earpiece baby! Wow....
People busily talking at each other because we've fallen through the looking glass and the world is crazy with but one thing GREED... on ALL sides.
Ten years ago we proposed a compilation CD machine that would have revolutionised choice in music stores selling 1 track at a time. Now the industries that fought audio tape, VHS and any innovation that they did not themselves control are facing a massive crisis because they could not figure out how to make money at it whilst newcomers continue to shock and awe one title at a time!
Seems like all is situation normal in the media world. In this economy, who will blink first?
This issue of the WGA strike really bothers me. Not just because it's annoying to settle for re-runs. Writers definately do deserve a lot more than they get, but in today's reality obsessed television climate, is it dangerous to halt scripted television?
Networks want an excuse to fill the prime time line-up with the cheaper reality junk that has become so popular nowadays. This trend is largely why writers have to fight so hard for their fair share of the profit they deserve. Is it really a smart move to let the real enemy of written television saturate the market for the next while as people with the funding get more invested in it? I can live through watching this garbage, but can quality television?
The character Kenneth said on your show, "More than jazz, or musical theatre, or morbid obesity- television is the true American art form. Think of all the shared experiences televison has provided for us." People need something to turn to other than frightening news, and people eatting testicles for money. Television reaches a wide audience and it needs to matter. It has more effect on popular culture than the box office ever could because the everyman knows television.
Say what you will about the writers getting their due, with news programs questioning so timidly these days, people need their fictional characters more than ever. It's important characters like Liz Lemon be allowed to discuss our problems in her world while we sit back and watch in ours. Ultimately she's immune to being criticized and being held accountable to the same extent a real person would be. She's safe, so we feel safe having a character like that to put our feelings into while they're championed. With facts so diluted and partisan in modern talk shows and news, there needs to be something to give us hope. When I think of the importance of scripted television these days, I can't help but remember what Pablo Picasso once said. "Art is the lie that tells the truth."
Too bad people even need to resort to actions such as "striking " and "protesting " in order to get their just rewards for their work.
NBC has laid off all the production folks on their hit show The Office — grips, costume folks, make-up artists, drivers, caterers, etc. These are people who make less than the writers and will not receive residuals while reruns air.
The last contract was in 1988 - since then the last agreement no longer fit the needs of the strikers. The strikers have a valid reason to renegotiate Royalties - residuals and Internet downloads. The industry is constantly changing, and in this case, the old agreement on the residuals does not meet the new standards.
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The company executives are making out like a bandit. So share the wealth and bring the writers back. It gives some tint of security. It's only fair.
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Life now a days is just too difficult, and a break of 30 Rock can bring some laughter. I miss 30 Rock, Bionic Woman and Shark. The last one I just happened to stumble upon, and I sure do like it alot.
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