The Writer's Strike

Moose, I think it was billions of dollars if the strike lasts 6 months, not weeks. At least thats what I heard.

My bad. I'll limit myself to tweens only for the next week as penance.

Still, as you said, interesting to see what comes of this....

I pretty much had a job lined up as a subcontractor to animate a segment for a BET variety show. All of the scripts were done, so we were in the clear. But since the rest of the show wasn't scripted, BET pulled the plug on the project indefinitely. It's debatable whether they'll even pick it back up after the strike. As far as I'm concerned, the timing was just incredibly bad. That deal was really going to help bail me out!

Don't get me wrong, I'm sympathetic with the WGA. I'm glad actors are starting to strike, so the studios can't even shoot the scripts they have stock-piled. Now Arnie's getting involved. I really don't think this one'll go five months. I hope not, anyway.

One thing that it WILL do is accelerate the growth of internet programming. With nothing but reruns and reality shows, a lot of people are going to be drifting away from their TV sets and towards their computers. The trouble is, I'm way too far in debt to do anything about it.

Well, I guess it is affecting animation.
http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=21467
Aloha,
the Ape

Well new media is not so new that the studios aren't making money from it. I believe the writers are asking for a percentage which means if the studios make nothing, then the writers make nothing as well.

Contract negotiations like these happen every 3 or 4 years, so as technology improves and more money is made, the writers (and actors and directors) will be able to renegotiate the terms. Hopefully for the better.

I'm sure a lot of shows that are already walking that fine line between another season and cancellation will get hurt. I think Ugly Betty is popular enough to sustain itself. The industry is so crazy, I can't imagine what the outcome will be.

I just hope it doesn't go on for six months.

New media is, well… its new.

in response to that, i submit to you a video of Jon Stewart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S719_NtAaZI

Actors, animators, and film directors need to learn how to write. Seriously. It's kind of funny how powerless Hollywood can be at times like this. :D

Animation writers aren't part of the WGA, and therefore this strike doesn't affect them, unless they choose to go out in sympathy for the WGA members. Since relations between WGA and TAG (the union that has jurisdiction over animation writers) are strained at best, you might see a animation scribe or two walking pickets in their spare time, but they'll be showing up for work.

Yup, animation writers aren't affected. If anything, WGA writers might get into animation. I don't see animation writers supporting the WGA either. I thought I read, but I'm not sure, that the WGA wouldn't let animation writers into the WGA so I don't see them being friends.

As for what they are asking, this is what I understand talking to a few of my friends and co-workers. Orignally the writers were asking for 8 cents residuals on DVD sales instead of the 4 cents the get now, as well as residual on new media. New media being internet downloads from sites like Netflix and iTunes as well as future technology.

I think there are other demands as well, but these are the biggest ones.

The studios are making money off of internet downloads now, so the writers want a percentage as well. I'm not sure of the percentage they are asking for.

Just before the WGA went on strike, they withdrew the raise to 8 cents on DVD sales and are just focusing on new media.

Now well see how long it'll last. The last time they went on strike about 5 years ago the studios out waited them and the WGA got nothing, and we got reality programing. Yay! :(

Personally, I think they should get a percentage of download money, esspecially since they already get residuals on DVDs.

We'll see what comes of this soon. Remember that it's not just the writers that this affects. It's also the lighters, camera men, set builders, caterers, coffee houses around the studios and on and on.

Aloha,
the Ape

The exceptions that prove the rule. Those writers are probably in WGA thanks to other projects, not animation, since WGA has no authority over animation writers whatsoever.

And it's beside the point of your original statement, which was...

And what about animators!! No scripts means no work… unless you’re an independent.

Clearly, not the case.

I dug the picture of Tina Fey on the picket lines in NY though... ;)

I don't get what's with the miserable tone that some people are taking over the WGA strike (not just on this board, but elsewhere too). If you don't like it, turn off the TV and read a book.
Sure there's some animosity on the part of the WGA against TAG, and between animators and animation writers (though they apparently aren't involved in this, so that issue's really a moot point for now) - but how can anybody (but a boss) bemoan a union doing good for its members?
In the entertainment industry, everybody's ultimately working for the same people, and so everyone's in the same boat - and ought to support one-another.
And unless I'm mistaken, the last TAG strikes were in the 80's and 70's - but with the outsourcing and dismantling that's been done since that time, it sure seems to me like strikes have been warranted. So any instance of any union in the entertainment industry taking action should be applauded as an example - not disparaged.

I don't understand that, DSB. Even if they did write for other projects (what does Matt Groening and Seth MacFarlane write for other than animation?), that wouldn't make them animation writers?

And it is besides the point of my original statement, you're right. I was responding to another statement. :D

They'd be animation writers when they were writing for animation. They can write all the animation they like during the WGA strike; they just can't write live action.

I don't know what they write besides animation, but the answer must be "something". Otherwise there'd be no point in being WGA, as the union doesn't cover animation.

It looked to me like you were splitting hairs on animation writers being in WGA, which is why I quoted you:

You: Without the writers, animators won't have any work
Me and Ape: Not true; WGA doesn't cover animation writers, so it's all cool
You: Well, some people in animation are WGA...

Addlepate, I don't see the conversation here as inherently negative about the strike. Frankly, I agree with the writers - why shouldn't they get royalties on every form of media their work appears in? Actors, directors, and producers do. Without the writers, there'd be lots of pretty people standing around not doing much.

I'm glad to see a number of high-profile actors walking the pickets with the writers. They've got the clout to maybe get something done a lot sooner.

I don't get what's with the miserable tone that some people are taking over the WGA strike (not just on this board, but elsewhere too). If you don't like it, turn off the TV and read a book.
Sure there's some animosity on the part of the WGA against TAG, and between animators and animation writers (though they apparently aren't involved in this, so that issue's really a moot point for now) - but how can anybody (but a boss) bemoan a union doing good for its members?
In the entertainment industry, everybody's ultimately working for the same people, and so everyone's in the same boat - and ought to support one-another.
And unless I'm mistaken, the last TAG strikes were in the 80's and 70's - but with the outsourcing and dismantling that's been done since that time, it sure seems to me like strikes have been warranted. So any instance of any union in the entertainment industry taking action should be applauded as an example - not disparaged.

I'm not a big fan of unions from the get go. I do agree that they should get paid for new media downloads. The think I don't like about unions and strikes, esspecially now with globalization, is that it tends to send the work else where. The animation strikes in the 70's and 80's helped push if not caused most of TV animation to be sent overseas, and it has never come back. The last writers strike brought about a ton of "reality TV" where they don't need writers and these shows end up being many of the network's huge money makers.

My expericence with the Animation Guild has been that it's the old boy network, not in male female, but in that if your not a traditional animator you're poo pooed on. Then it's like, oh there are a lot of 3D animators, we'd better let them in now, but not game animators. Oh no, Eisner said 2D is dead and we just lost 200-400 traditional animators, hey game animators you want to be in our union? They will protect there own, but they have a very narrow view of their own.

Sorry about that rant, it has nothing really to do with the WGA.

Aloha,
the Ape.

Question: Is there any GOOD reason for animation writers and live-action writers having seperate unions? I mean, it's the same skill. Really. It's not that different. :rolleyes:

No good reason, no. Live-action writers view animation writing as a step below what they do... except for now, of course, where they will probably try to scrounge up some TAG work during the strike.

It's kinda the same way 2D animators look down their nose at the 3D guys, generally speaking.

but how can anybody (but a boss) bemoan a union doing good for its members?

A point you might be missing out on is that the strike will affect many people and businesses not even related to entertainment. A lot of restaurants and cafeterias are already feeling a major crunch bc of slowed down business. I heard a quote on some news show that if the strike goes on for 6 weeks, it could mean a billion dollar loss to the local economy. Probably a bit of an exaggeration, but still...

Chaos, the most recent date in the page you posted was seven years ago, and many of the shows mentioned there are no longer in production. Go to the TAG blog; you'll see much more up-to-date information there.

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/

Today's post speaks directly to what jurisdictions each type of writing are under. A short quote:

"Most animated shows are covered by a different union from the Writers Guild and are unaffected by the WGA strike."

If there are a handful of animated shows under WGA authority, then I stand corrected. The bulk of animation writing is under TAG jurisdiction, however.

Chaos, the Fox show's are covered by the WGA. Most other animation writers are under TAG. I'm sure there are other exceptions.

As for the writers strike affecting animation, you have to remember, animation more than any other media is writen waaaaaaaaay in advance. Usually an episode script is written several months before pre-production is started. Then the pre-production packet is sent over seas for animation. So show's like the Simpsons probably won't be affected, even if the strike goes on for several months like it seems it will.

Moose, I think it was billions of dollars if the strike lasts 6 months, not weeks. At least thats what I heard.

It's a pretty big trickle down. People will buy less presents for the holidays. Studios most likely won't have Christmas parties. People won't take as many vacations. Interesting to see what happens.

Aloha,
the Ape