As you might expect, a significant topic among those so blessed as to be allowed to pursue this reckless profession is the ever-growing prospect of a Writers strike. On Friday the evidence became almost unavoidable that the AMPTP's collective cerebral prowess had determined the best strategy is to stall until the last possible minute, then make a low-ball offer in an entirely self-serving attempt to split the Writers into warring factions, who would thus [so the theory goes] be utterly incapable of anything other than fawning acquiescence.
It should come as little surprise this is basically what the Networks' are expecting. Their current offer would impose a working environment even more exploitative and devoid of true recognition than what the Writers already endure. Yet they find it utterly inexplicable why it can't be accepted??
For their side, the WGA's leaders are faced with an unenviable quandary; Option one is to accept a contract that re-casts their members as little more than indentured servants, while the only viable alternative is to withdraw the labor that's so clearly undervalued and thereby cause significant debilitation to the very industry which engendered the powerful love and respect that compelled them to pursue it in the first place.
Make no mistake; The vast majority of what appears on TV is the result of a collective talent far beyond the Actor/s who so 'helpfully' take all the credit. If the WGA does down-tools the immediate fall-out would be small, but the cumulative results could be nothing less than horrific. The Networks have enough shows in the can to last until Christmas. In some cases it could be March before the Cupboard is finally bare. After that, the wheels will come off their wagons at dizzying speeds. Scripted shows could become extinct overnight. Most 'reality' shows would also be stalled. Even the Oscars would finally require its presenters to possess sufficient cranial fortitude to form coherent sentences, rather than merely channeling those penned by others and claiming the applause.
Through it all, of course, the Networks will steer a predictable course; They will helpfully explain to the public - mostly through media they own or control - that they are offering all that is humanly possible, and that is is, in fact, the Writers, the Unions and everyone short of Peppermint Patty whose wanton intransigence has caused this debacle.
One remedy for this upcoming, entirely self-inflicted wound is so glaringly simple, even a Network Manager could discern it; A typical scripted show has one or two Writers, but as many as twelve Producers. Yet none of these shows could be made without someone 'producing' a script; Solution? Re-cast a Writer as a Producer and the entire disarray could be resolved overnight. At no extra cost.
This would not only give the Writers a level of fiscal reward that is both thoroughly warranted and long-overdue, it could also be the first time anyone tagged with the vastly devalued appellation of 'Producer' ever did any actual work! I therefore look forward to the plan's introduction. But if no-one minds, I won't hold my breath.
The talks are on-going. After midnight on Wednesday, we'll know.
It should come as little surprise this is basically what the Networks' are expecting. Their current offer would impose a working environment even more exploitative and devoid of true recognition than what the Writers already endure. Yet they find it utterly inexplicable why it can't be accepted??
For their side, the WGA's leaders are faced with an unenviable quandary; Option one is to accept a contract that re-casts their members as little more than indentured servants, while the only viable alternative is to withdraw the labor that's so clearly undervalued and thereby cause significant debilitation to the very industry which engendered the powerful love and respect that compelled them to pursue it in the first place.
Make no mistake; The vast majority of what appears on TV is the result of a collective talent far beyond the Actor/s who so 'helpfully' take all the credit. If the WGA does down-tools the immediate fall-out would be small, but the cumulative results could be nothing less than horrific. The Networks have enough shows in the can to last until Christmas. In some cases it could be March before the Cupboard is finally bare. After that, the wheels will come off their wagons at dizzying speeds. Scripted shows could become extinct overnight. Most 'reality' shows would also be stalled. Even the Oscars would finally require its presenters to possess sufficient cranial fortitude to form coherent sentences, rather than merely channeling those penned by others and claiming the applause.
Through it all, of course, the Networks will steer a predictable course; They will helpfully explain to the public - mostly through media they own or control - that they are offering all that is humanly possible, and that is is, in fact, the Writers, the Unions and everyone short of Peppermint Patty whose wanton intransigence has caused this debacle.
One remedy for this upcoming, entirely self-inflicted wound is so glaringly simple, even a Network Manager could discern it; A typical scripted show has one or two Writers, but as many as twelve Producers. Yet none of these shows could be made without someone 'producing' a script; Solution? Re-cast a Writer as a Producer and the entire disarray could be resolved overnight. At no extra cost.
This would not only give the Writers a level of fiscal reward that is both thoroughly warranted and long-overdue, it could also be the first time anyone tagged with the vastly devalued appellation of 'Producer' ever did any actual work! I therefore look forward to the plan's introduction. But if no-one minds, I won't hold my breath.
The talks are on-going. After midnight on Wednesday, we'll know.
