tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post325064989589341474..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: What you should know about a potential WGA strikeBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5810718582316830892017-03-28T17:01:47.132-07:002017-03-28T17:01:47.132-07:00As far as I know, we couldn't take the DGA con...As far as I know, we couldn't take the DGA contract bc the AMPTP didn't even offer us close to what they offered the DGA so far.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21631872606310684642017-03-28T12:06:35.799-07:002017-03-28T12:06:35.799-07:00Generally speaking, you can make limited changes t...Generally speaking, you can make limited changes to scripts for production purposes only. This policy, in recent years, has not, shall we say been fully honored.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39139106303963238492017-03-28T09:37:42.482-07:002017-03-28T09:37:42.482-07:00Can you negotiate for some freedom from management...Can you negotiate for some freedom from management that will help make the shows better? That would be good for the entire industry and, selfishly, for my own viewing pleasure. <br /><br /><br />Sean Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56587957022105176562017-03-27T23:41:21.749-07:002017-03-27T23:41:21.749-07:00I support the writers and think they deserve good ...I support the writers and think they deserve good compensation. Thanks for the updates on past and possibly future strikes. But Ken, what about when you have produced shows? Aren't you on the other side of the coin when you have had to hire writers?Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00760229533287495672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9746143974873544572017-03-27T20:23:05.515-07:002017-03-27T20:23:05.515-07:00Not true regarding paper teams. Studios ABSOLUTELY...Not true regarding paper teams. Studios ABSOLUTELY pressure showrunners into teaming newbie writers as they try to shave budgets. Showrunners should push back, but they're often not as powerful as you'd think. Violations often happen in the Disney Channel / Nickelodeon realm. Better for the WGA to enforce and legislate these awful MBA violations. As to short orders, they are a result of the explosion of distribution channels and being easier to package overseas. Pretty sure most showrunners would gladly produce as many episodes as a network will have!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56774768548930244972017-03-27T18:29:38.499-07:002017-03-27T18:29:38.499-07:00Hi Ken. Long time reader here, but I don't co...Hi Ken. Long time reader here, but I don't comment much. I have a Friday question for you.<br /><br />I was watching this amazingly well done mashup of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song and Last Train to Clarksville (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/05ca6fbf51/fresh-prince-vs-the-monkees-last-train-to-bel-air) and noticed something I haven't ever before because it's been probably two decades since I last watch a TFPoBA episode. Specifically at the 2:20 mark of the video, it shows a credit that reads "Based on a format by Benny Medina & Jeff Pollack".<br /><br />My question for you is, what does "based on a format" mean?<br /><br />I heard a nasty rumor a number of years ago that a lot of the plots of Fresh Prince episodes were based on those of a classic sitcom (I honestly cannot remember which one but it was from either the 50's or 60's and it's definitely one your readership would have heard of), so while I was dismissive of that claim back then, it was the first thing that came to mind. I looked up both those gentlemen up on iMDB and neither are old enough to have credits going back that far.<br /><br />So the question remains, what does that credit mean? And I guess if I could sneak in a second question, have you ever heard about this Fresh Prince plot stealing rumor?Toddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3880351827338087512017-03-27T17:16:06.366-07:002017-03-27T17:16:06.366-07:00There's not much leverage, since the writers c...There's not much leverage, since the writers can't hold out without pay for very long, and without the writers, the networks can still get by with lots of reruns and reality shows(though most of those are 'reality' shows with writers), and there's a surplus of people who are willing to do the job. The only leverage the writers have is the networks lose the top writers, and thus the top shows. However, even this might not be much since the networks might be able to produce a split between top writers, some of whom have special deals already, and the union.<br />The NFL had lots of profits, and they had no problem ending a deal because they wanted to squeeze the players even more. MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48317384956474270652017-03-27T15:38:17.353-07:002017-03-27T15:38:17.353-07:00Matthew, in addition to the tax issues mentioned i...Matthew, in addition to the tax issues mentioned in the Politico article, let's say California does single payer with a set of what's covered equal to a very good employer plan. It then gets flooded by out-of-state people needing non-emergency expensive care establishing residency in and then going to LA/SF/SD for care. It's fairly easy to establish residency in a new state, so unless they can manage to include an amount of time after establishing residency for voting, taxes, etc. before the health care kicks in, the state'd go broke or have to raise taxes to ridiculous levels.<br /><br />Note that I'm not sure if you can establish such a time period. A lot of states have such for getting in-state tuition at state universities, but I'm not clear on how that's leagally different from rights to vote, get driver's licenses, pay taxes, etc. that kick in immediately on establishing residency (usually by doing things like registering to vote, getting a driver's license, etc.)<br />Tom Gallowaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50217882539048481392017-03-27T15:29:30.026-07:002017-03-27T15:29:30.026-07:00I agree with all of this EXCEPT once we give the s...I agree with all of this EXCEPT once we give the strike authorization, there's no second vote. The decision then becomes the board's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82164728989636846092017-03-27T14:47:10.950-07:002017-03-27T14:47:10.950-07:00First a strike story, and then a question.
One o...First a strike story, and then a question. <br /><br />One of my first jobs out of college was working on the sports staff of a major daily. If and when our guild called a strike in the fall, our esteemed baseball beat writer would get a doctor's note indicating he couldn't two two-hour strike shifts each week because he had flat feet. This was the same guy who during spring training played doubles tennis every day!<br /><br />Now, the question. Which side of the (picket?) fence do writer/producers like Judd Apatow, Chuck Lorre, Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy stand - the writers or producers? Or do they split the baby in half?MikeKPa.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68105514922263957082017-03-27T13:51:58.234-07:002017-03-27T13:51:58.234-07:00If it happens, then it happens. As a writer, I'...If it happens, then it happens. As a writer, I'm willing to have new episodes and films delayed so hardworking people can achieve better working conditions. And as a viewer, I'm not going to be the selfish consumer who blames striking writers for his/her own woes when we stop getting new content. Hoping for the best possible outcome for all writers out there.<br /><br />P.S. - I still write with a blue pen. Mainly notes, not actual scripts.Eduardo Jencarellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16873808287070632108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20736099522976621692017-03-27T12:18:34.559-07:002017-03-27T12:18:34.559-07:00"Can anyone explain to this ignorant foreigne..."Can anyone explain to this ignorant foreigner why the blue states don't just go ahead and make their own single-payer healthcare systems?"<br /><br />One of our bluest states, Vermont--home of Bernie Sanders--tried. It was a dismal failure, falling victim to pretty much everything that its opponents predicted would happen. See http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/single-payer-vermont-113711 (or Google it). And that's one of our tiniest, most homogenous (economically, demographically, and politically) states, where it would likely have the best shot of succeeding. <br /><br />Bill Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73969619083104116922017-03-27T12:15:26.227-07:002017-03-27T12:15:26.227-07:00Being a union man myself (just a different one tha...Being a union man myself (just a different one than the WGA) I know just what you mean. Anti-union people I have known think unions go out at the drop of a hat, but the company I worked for always played hard ball with us.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50068355960620656782017-03-27T11:44:46.461-07:002017-03-27T11:44:46.461-07:00Where's John McLean when you need him. Actual...Where's John McLean when you need him. Actually he's living in Saticoy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13032218825248788262017-03-27T10:15:29.910-07:002017-03-27T10:15:29.910-07:00Best wishes to my fellow writers, though I sense t...Best wishes to my fellow writers, though I sense this is <i>far</i> more related to television (broadcast, cable, video, etc.) than to my preferred domain of feature films. With luck, this will be settled before anyone has to walk out and jeopardize delaying the shows people love to watch. (Then again, as a "Mom" fan, I'm used to waiting long periods to see my favorite series, thanks to CBS NFL prime-time coverage.)VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22637936051278281382017-03-27T09:25:01.898-07:002017-03-27T09:25:01.898-07:00@fletch and @daniel
Writers are producers for ever...@fletch and @daniel<br />Writers are producers for every TV show<br />Some writers are producers on films<br />The AMPTP (amptp.org) is typically a 'studio' like WB, Sony, etc. You're right, the nomenclature is confusing. But when Ken mentions the 'entities making $51 bil in profits' those are the producers/studios whom writers are against & not themselves. I think the AMPTP name goes further back to before writers were also called and acted as producers, but I'm not really sure. and, yes, writers have their own production companies (or 'shingles' as some call it) but that only makes the explanation murkier. Writers vs Studios are the parties here for the most part (at least to make it easier to understand).<br /><br />That's the quick and dirty answer that's probably worth an entry itself by a more expert Ken.<br /><br /><br />Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35459232894514875952017-03-27T09:02:59.696-07:002017-03-27T09:02:59.696-07:00I am not in the industry and, full disclosure, am ...I am not in the industry and, full disclosure, am not generally sympathetic to unions (although I completely understand their purpose; I tend to think that a few unions--particularly public-sector unions--have given the rest of them a bad name). Nevertheless, I am very interested to read more about this as it unfolds, as I have always been interested in the business side of the industry. Although I recognize that you are obviously very pro-WGA (as well you should be), I hope you can provide objective descriptions of the circumstances to your loyal readers, and then provide your take on it--thus allowing us to understand the issues more fully and, hey, maybe be convinced that this particular union is right :)<br />Bill Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76192217521758801772017-03-27T08:58:49.641-07:002017-03-27T08:58:49.641-07:00It's so stupid that a health plan has to be pa...It's so stupid that a health plan has to be part of an employment agreement. It should be something provided by the state - and in this case, I mean the State of California. Can anyone explain to this ignorant foreigner why the blue states don't just go ahead and make their own single-payer healthcare systems? That's how it works in places like Denmark, Sweden, Finland etc. Matthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16621256036167969162017-03-27T08:36:08.232-07:002017-03-27T08:36:08.232-07:00Danny DeVito was on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday. ...Danny DeVito was on CBS Sunday Morning yesterday. He and Rhea are not together but the=y're not getting divorced either. Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42488552581304678402017-03-27T08:33:53.174-07:002017-03-27T08:33:53.174-07:00The AMPTP has nothing to do with paper teams. Youn...The AMPTP has nothing to do with paper teams. Young writers are usually paired not by the studio, but by an EP on the show where they work as assistants. And for those young writers, that paper team is a much easier way to break in than waiting for their own individual breaks. By striking over that issue, we're basically asking the AMPTP to do a better job of policing our own bad behavior. Similarly, more shows do short orders because it increases their chances of existing. Legion wouldn't work for 22 episodes. Game of Thrones would be prohibitively expensive if they did that many per season. If they had to do 22, they would never have been greenlit. We (EPs making shows) agree to short orders because it increases the chances that a studio will say yes to our new show. So again, who are we trying to manage with this strike? The pension and healthcare issues are legit. The rest are problematic at best, flawed logic at worst.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59303897383089414012017-03-27T08:02:08.944-07:002017-03-27T08:02:08.944-07:00fletch
I am also wondering about the writer/produc...fletch<br />I am also wondering about the writer/producer thing....some clarity would be appreciated, thanksfletchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10293318956098966482017-03-27T07:39:25.138-07:002017-03-27T07:39:25.138-07:00Since I'm a viewer with a TV, not an industry ...Since I'm a viewer with a TV, not an industry insider, I only see results based on what All-New! stuff is there. The increasingly sparse series episodes make them all seem like Tom Jones specials. That networks eagerly preempt new fall shows for sportsball for ad revenue is a shot across the bow.Bill Avenanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49609204998271922522017-03-27T06:07:54.593-07:002017-03-27T06:07:54.593-07:00In a future post can you comment on what happens w...In a future post can you comment on what happens when someone is both a writer AND a producer? It would seem like there is the potential for conflicts of interest.Danielnoreply@blogger.com