Comments on: Thoughts on the writers strike

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:51:19 +0000

You should read the full interview with Ron Moore about the strike here tv.ign.com/articles/833/833633p1.html as it has a lot more detail about exactly how NBC/Universal were screwing him over.

Also, its nothing to do with the strike, but everything to do with Ron Moore, I suggest if you haven’t that you read this (really really long) interview with him just before Galactica launched tv.ign.com/articles/444/444306p1.html

Some of the stories about what went on at Star Trek are VERY revealing.

By: B van Oppen

B van Oppen — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:56:26 +0000

I support the strike. However, I imagine I’d feel different is BSG didn’t have episode 9 penned by the end of season 3 (which means by now they are nearing the end, most likely), combined with the airing of 4.5 in 2009, and Moore’s promise that if something were to happen (something like this), he himself would write the last episodes (which would be a great thing).

The studios need to start giving the writers what they want. I’ve heard this strike could potentially prevent the Scrubs series finale from being aired (I guess they can’t come up with something good) and instead have it come out on DVD only. That’s not good for anyone.

I’m sure there will are other situations like that, and a happy writer can do nothing but good for a show.

By: Stef

Stef — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:46:14 +0000

In this month’s Empire magazine here in the UK, they listed a bunch of films that the studios greenlighted (greenlit?) in a hurry to get them in before the writers’ strike. There were some very, erm, unusual, films in there.

Personally, I am looking forward to The A-Team.

I admit to not being up to date on how the writer’s pay scheme works.

If they are paid for a project, then surely they signed a contract saying they get XYZ? Are they then getting stiffed on the Z?

What are people’s feelings on actors in DVD commentaries? I know many do NOT get paid, as it is a bonus and incentive to buy the new version of the DVD. It IS promotional. But actors like Schwarzenegger refused to do commentaries unless paid. Is this a similar situation? If the writers get all their demands met, will actors then be next regarding DVD commentaries or their scenes being on the internet etc?

By: philadlj

philadlj — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:54:22 +0000

One could turn it around on the studio execs, and say: “Well, a lot of the work you executives do is not really seen or heard by our advertisers, and much of it could be classified as promotional work, so there really isn’t much point in paying you for…whatever it is studio executives do.”
I don’t think they’d go for it; and it’s no more or less ridiculous than what they’re asking the writers to do. Services are exchanged for compensation in this country.
Nothing is free. I appreciate the dilemma the studios are faced with , but their money-hemorrhaging has nothing to do with the writers.

By: AeC

AeC — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:18:52 +0000

If you haven’t already, check out this excerpt of an interview with Harlan Ellison. It doesn’t pertain directly to the strike, but Ellison does expound on some of the BS Hollywood writers have to wade through as only he can.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:16:38 +0000

Matthew, that second IGN interview you posted was fantastic. I’m sorry I hadn’t come across it before and very glad that you posted it here. It says a lot about the differences between the various Trek series; why TNG was the way it was, why DS9 was so good, and why Voy was so lackluster.

By: Dude

Dude — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:55:14 +0000

I’m a bit neutral on this.

On the one hand the writers aren’t poor, and aren’t being exploited. Strike because you think you are worth it? There are many poorly written shows out there and they get paid A LOT for this crap.

On the other hand the producers aren’t poor either, they could easily give them more money and lower costs somewhere else. Perhaps, the cast? I don’t believe they simply can’t meet the other side even half-way. And when they complain that their aren’t making money off a lot of things, then maybe they should have taken more care earlier on and not greenlight failure movies/TV shows.

In the end it might just be us viewers to lose out on the shows we do like. I won’t miss Cavemen nor Gossip Girls, but if I think about the alternives: it is even worse. Extended Deal or No Deal, more reality, more game shows, more repeats…

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:13:41 +0000

I think the problem is that there are plenty of writers who ARE poor.

By: Matt L

Matt L — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:08:06 +0000

“On the one hand the writers aren’t poor, and aren’t being exploited.”

Yes, writers are ALL rich. I mean seriously, do you really believe that? Yeah, there are the big guys like Ronald D. Moore who are mostly doing this out of principle, but BELIEVE me when I say that the vast majority of writers out there are working job to job. They absolutely rely on residues in order to pay the bills between jobs.

As for not being exploited…well not being paid for work (as it was going to be in the case of the BSG webisodes) IS exploitation.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:03:44 +0000

If you think that BSG webisodes story is ridiculous, you should read up on The Office webisodes - they won an Emmy, and NBC wouldn’t pay the 20$ to actually get a statue for the writers.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:55:14 +0000

You have an excellent point, however I’m not sure you should use the current flashbacks as a good example because those are merely cut scenes that are on the Razor DVD that are not on the broadcast version.

By: Jamahl Epsicokhan

Jamahl Epsicokhan — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:22:17 +0000

^ Yes, I became aware of this after I wrote this. The webisodes this year are indeed simply scenes, some cut, from “Razor” itself. I am correcting the blog post.

By: Gatton

Gatton — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:28:30 +0000

Good god Matthew that was a long interview! But I loved it. Ron Moore was very candid and it was fascinating hearing his thoughts on his years at Trek and how the business works. Thanks for posting the links.

By: Mark Graves

Mark Graves — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:55:03 +0000

Are you giving the writers a fare shake, there are prety good movies out there, that have been writen by these writers that have made plenty of money for the BIG WHEELS of the movie industry, I’m not a writer myself, but I’ve seen quite a few movies in my day, and have enjoyed most of them, coming wrom the well written scripts. Of course the actors play the larger role in making the movie sucessful in its coclusion, and lets not forget all of the other programing on the tube.
Reruns will get old, and the general public might stray away from their favorite programing.
You should know that it’s not healthy to prolong the strike, listen good in what the writers want, in all farness you could all come into some agreement to solve this predicament you all seemed to have fallen in to.
I’m just an average american that enjoys good programing, just a spec of dust amoung the million’s of americans waiting for this to be over.

Sincerly,
MG.