Hollywood strike immediately affects shows

Richard Alvarez · November 11th, 2007, 10:38 AM

Some animation writers are, but not all of them. (I think Simpsons, Family Guy and such ARE.)

Videogame 'writers' are generally not part of the guild. There is some talk of unionizing the gaming industry... but that's another thread.

Theodore McNeil · November 11th, 2007, 05:47 PM

There is a pretty good wikipedia article about the strike. It's got a list of all the shows effected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Wr..._on_television

And just out of curiosity... Does any one think that this will create a small window of opportunity for Indy productions? I'm wondering if studios and networks will start scooping up some non-union/low budget films to make up for the lull in production.

Heath McKnight · November 11th, 2007, 06:03 PM

I thought about that, too. I don't know; there may be a bigger shot for projects doing well on the web (never thought I'd say that) and/or in fests to get picked up.

Heath

Matt Buys · November 11th, 2007, 06:50 PM

That would be ethically difficult for an Indy production to get picked up during the strike. To know, and everyone else know, that you made it while others were striking would be a shakey way to enter the show. And yet it might be your only chance. I hope I would say no but I'm glad I don't have the temptation.

Heath McKnight · November 11th, 2007, 07:07 PM

It's a slippery slope, that's for sure. Older projects, sure.

I'm not sure how I'll proceed with two projects right now, one with a script that's 90% there, the other with a script that needs a lot of work. None of this is union, but we'd like to have one or two SAG actors onboard. But if SAG strikes next July, that will throw a wrench in things.

Besides, if you're making $20,000 movies, maybe up to $100,000, and if it's non-union, I can't imagine it would be even a small blip on the radar. But, like I said, it's a slippery slope; we want to get into Hollywood desperately (at least the major filmmaking and TV production part of it, if not moving to L.A.), yet it's hard to get in.

Heath

Andrew Kimery · November 11th, 2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathieu Ghekiere

And to get a bit off-topic, if we are talking about studios and internet and artists... look at Radiohead's new cd. Of course it takes a lot more money to produce a show or a movie then making a cd, but Radiohead's move (I know they weren't the first to do such thing, but such a well known group doing it on such a large schale is pretty new) pretty much eliminates the need for the record labels.
As a customer you can pay 5 dollar for the new Radiohead cd, you have payed less then you did before, and Radiohead probably received more, then they did before...

It might eliminate the need for record labels for bands that are already so popular and profitable that they can be self-sustaining, if you will. But for the vast majority of other, lessor known bands that don't have global name recognition and don't have the funds to spend millions for marketing then I don't think the ball game changes too much in the foreseeable future.

Even when you can set your own price, the most popular is apparently $0.00.

http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=1883

-A

Heath McKnight · November 12th, 2007, 12:51 AM

It's like TV then, free TV: everything is paid by ads aired. Speaking of Internet, check this out:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007...usiness.google

Heath

Dave Lammey · November 12th, 2007, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Kimery

It might eliminate the need for record labels for bands that are already so popular and profitable that they can be self-sustaining, if you will. But for the vast majority of other, lessor known bands that don't have global name recognition and don't have the funds to spend millions for marketing then I don't think the ball game changes too much in the foreseeable future.

Even when you can set your own price, the most popular is apparently $0.00.

http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=1883

-A

I was dumbfounded by the commentators who said that having 40% of the downloaders pay was a good sign. That seems pretty low to me. It's depressing to think that 60% of the people downloading are scumbags who feel they are entitled to free music.

Heath McKnight · November 12th, 2007, 10:06 AM

Dave,

To depress you further, they say the amount of people who downloaded it from P2P sites, illegally, rivaled that of those who went to www.inrainbows.com.

Okay, back on topic: the agents may be bringing everyone back to the table. It's a "glimmer of hope."

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.co...back-in-touch/

heath

Harry Hannigan · November 13th, 2007, 12:58 AM

I found this video extremely interesting viewing. Remember, the AMPTP is claiming there is no money to be had yet in digital entertainment. To US that is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a37uqd5vTw

Boyd Ostroff · November 13th, 2007, 08:20 PM

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz...112_509882.htm

Quote:

The average person doesn't realize how many small businesses support these entertainment productions. A mid-budget film costs about $17 million to produce, generates $1.2 million in state and local taxes, and employs more than 300 contractors and subcontractors to support it. A big-budget film costs an average of $70 million and employs an estimated 928 direct and indirect contractors. The bulk of those are independent, small contractors doing lighting, wardrobe, catering, and many other niche jobs.

Heath McKnight · November 13th, 2007, 08:26 PM

This is what I'm worried about, Boyd. Thanks for posting that.

Heath

Mark Kenfield · November 13th, 2007, 10:42 PM

The strike is going to be disruptive, and is going to cause a lot of people to lose a lot of money, but I have to support their call for fairer residuals.

Writing is the backbone of film/tv content creation, that has to be worth something.

Heath McKnight · November 13th, 2007, 11:00 PM

I'm sensing a backlash in the general community, similar to that of how fans felt when sports stars went on strike over the years, most recently with hockey. If actors go on strike, that may cripple EVERYONE, because of the reaction.

Heath

Ryan Paige · November 14th, 2007, 09:48 AM

The actors and writers are seeking essentially the same thing in their contracts (there are some creative rights that the WGA is interested in that don't apply to SAG or the DGA), so if we get to the end of the SAG contract without a deal, it would also mean that the writers hadn't come to a deal.

I certainly don't want the WGA strike to go on that long (eight months or so).

November 11th, 2007, 05:47 PM	#32
Theodore McNeil Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Centreville, Maryland Posts: 258	There is a pretty good wikipedia article about the strike. It's got a list of all the shows effected. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Wr..._on_television And just out of curiosity... Does any one think that this will create a small window of opportunity for Indy productions? I'm wondering if studios and networks will start scooping up some non-union/low budget films to make up for the lull in production. __________________ http://twitter.com/tedmcneil

November 11th, 2007, 06:03 PM	#33
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I thought about that, too. I don't know; there may be a bigger shot for projects doing well on the web (never thought I'd say that) and/or in fests to get picked up. Heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 11th, 2007, 07:07 PM	#35
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	It's a slippery slope, that's for sure. Older projects, sure. I'm not sure how I'll proceed with two projects right now, one with a script that's 90% there, the other with a script that needs a lot of work. None of this is union, but we'd like to have one or two SAG actors onboard. But if SAG strikes next July, that will throw a wrench in things. Besides, if you're making $20,000 movies, maybe up to $100,000, and if it's non-union, I can't imagine it would be even a small blip on the radar. But, like I said, it's a slippery slope; we want to get into Hollywood desperately (at least the major filmmaking and TV production part of it, if not moving to L.A.), yet it's hard to get in. Heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 12th, 2007, 12:51 AM	#37
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	It's like TV then, free TV: everything is paid by ads aired. Speaking of Internet, check this out: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007...usiness.google Heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 12th, 2007, 10:06 AM	#39
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Dave, To depress you further, they say the amount of people who downloaded it from P2P sites, illegally, rivaled that of those who went to www.inrainbows.com. Okay, back on topic: the agents may be bringing everyone back to the table. It's a "glimmer of hope." http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.co...back-in-touch/ heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 11th, 2007, 10:38 AM	#31
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Some animation writers are, but not all of them. (I think Simpsons, Family Guy and such ARE.) Videogame 'writers' are generally not part of the guild. There is some talk of unionizing the gaming industry... but that's another thread.

November 11th, 2007, 06:50 PM	#34
Matt Buys Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 426	That would be ethically difficult for an Indy production to get picked up during the strike. To know, and everyone else know, that you made it while others were striking would be a shakey way to enter the show. And yet it might be your only chance. I hope I would say no but I'm glad I don't have the temptation.

November 13th, 2007, 12:58 AM	#40
Harry Hannigan New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 9	Another video I found this video extremely interesting viewing. Remember, the AMPTP is claiming there is no money to be had yet in digital entertainment. To US that is... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a37uqd5vTw

November 13th, 2007, 08:26 PM	#42
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	This is what I'm worried about, Boyd. Thanks for posting that. Heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 13th, 2007, 10:42 PM	#43
Mark Kenfield Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 470	The strike is going to be disruptive, and is going to cause a lot of people to lose a lot of money, but I have to support their call for fairer residuals. Writing is the backbone of film/tv content creation, that has to be worth something.

November 13th, 2007, 11:00 PM	#44
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I'm sensing a backlash in the general community, similar to that of how fans felt when sports stars went on strike over the years, most recently with hockey. If actors go on strike, that may cripple EVERYONE, because of the reaction. Heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 14th, 2007, 09:48 AM	#45
Ryan Paige Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 44	The actors and writers are seeking essentially the same thing in their contracts (there are some creative rights that the WGA is interested in that don't apply to SAG or the DGA), so if we get to the end of the SAG contract without a deal, it would also mean that the writers hadn't come to a deal. I certainly don't want the WGA strike to go on that long (eight months or so).