Pens and Swords

5 November 2007



Writers’ Strike Shuts Down TV, Movie Production

The Writers Guild of America has announced a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. At issue is the question of residual payments for content sold on the internet and on DVD. Both sides are blaming the other for the strike, but one this is certain: TV is going to hit rerun season early. And movies that aren’t in the can by now, won’t be for quite a while

AMPTP said that just 67%-- 64 of 96 -- television series this season are scripted, down from 81% just two seasons ago. The first programs to be affected are the late night shows that rely on topical and timely humor. Networks stockpile most other sorts of programs. For example, there’s probably a month supply of each daytime soap opera. The last to be affected will be the “reality” shows that have very little scripting.

The strike is the first of its kind in the last 20 years. In 1988, the writers were off the job for almost 6 months, and estimates are that the entertainment business lost about $500 million during that strike. This time around, the damage may be just a severe. “Once it starts, it’s going to get ugly,” said one of the guild’s strike captains Sunday.

It will also prove difficult for people who write and act or direct. Writer-directors or writer-actors (known as hyphenates for obvious reasons) can continue with their non-writing work. The Los Angeles Times notes, “The guild says ‘writing services’ include cutting a production for time, making changes in technical or stage directions, reassigning lines because of cast changes and making casual, minor adjustments in dialogue or narration just before or during a shoot. But the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios and networks, say all of those are ‘non-writing services’.”

The Writers Guild can ban a writer who doesn’t drop his or her pencil. The Guild “can and will bar that writer from future Guild membership.” However, a writer who gives up voting rights in the Guild can’t be punished. There’s a lot of wiggle room here. It would be a lot better if the Directors would pay for the work and everyone could move on.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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