What is Digg?48 Comments
- fantasticFlan, on 11/14/2007, -2/+12That's a pseudonym.
- fantasticFlan, on 11/15/2007, -1/+9Did anyone ever?
- edstate, on 11/15/2007, -2/+10Yes, they're getting screwed. But I would be so much more in favor of their collective bargaining if every writer wasn't forced to be in this union.
- weeeezzll, on 11/14/2007, -1/+8I think what Ellen decided was that she is under contract and thus legally obligated to perform the duties outlined in her contract.
- weeeezzll, on 11/14/2007, -0/+7I sure wish that as a developer I got residuals for the code I write.
- fantasticFlan, on 11/14/2007, -1/+7No, I think there have been interviews before.
- RetlawST, on 11/14/2007, -6/+12The writers are probably getting the biggest shaft in the industry. Without their script a movie (good or bad) won't even be conceived in many cases. I respect gaffers and other crew members, but anybody can be trained to do their work. Not everybody can write a good movie script.
- chkdg8, on 11/15/2007, -2/+7Ha! Wait until the networks and studios start hiring British writers on a massive scale where they don't fall under WGA jurisdiction. If that ***** picks up and gains momentum, WGA members better take whatever they can get. There's only so much that someone can take before you have to make a decision between saving face or putting food on the table. The proof will be evident in a couple of months when we'll start seeing more reality shows and the first wave of British programming. And if it's funny, people will watch it and become fans. Advertisers could give two ***** about what's on television as long as it brings viewership.
As a SAG member myself, I support the writers in all of their efforts but no one is telling you that the actors are the most bottom of the barrel position in show business. Grips, gaffers, lighting, hair, wardrobe and so on, can get a job anywhere anytime. Anyone remember when SAG went on strike some years ago? Well when that happened, guess where everyone who worked behind the scenes went looking for employment? The porn industry. Work is work and people had to eat and pay their bills. Now SAG is telling us to stay strong with our brothers and sisters in the WGA and not go to work on a WGA sanctioned set? We can't even work on a non WGA sanctioned set because that would be a non-union job. Actors can be found just about anywhere and willing to sell out for a little cash and limelight. The whole situation is a cluster. I could go on but I'd rather blog about it. - ZenMojo, on 11/15/2007, -0/+4They're not forced to be in the union. You can sell a movie script without being in the WGA, but the WGA basically gives the fingers to studios for consistently going outside of the WGA. The collective bargaining power of an army of writers is enough to demand that studios give them their fair share and this insures that writers later on get what the WGA gets in negotiations.
It levels the field and provides insurance.
Furthermore, you don't have to be a WGA writer to work, studios only request WGA-registered scripts, which costs about 20 bucks and the WGA keeps a copy on file for five years. - davewashere, on 11/14/2007, -4/+8I guess Ellen has decided she won't need writers anymore, even after the strike is over. Good thing she's so funny on her own.
- weeeezzll, on 11/14/2007, -1/+4Since they are not writing scripts the are spending all of their free time writing articles....LOTS of them...lol
- jgtg32a, on 11/14/2007, -2/+5/sarcasm
You forgot something - mbelleghem, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3The Moby thing should be a proper article in its own right. Excellent news, Mr. Hall.
- itchie, on 11/15/2007, -5/+8Maybe they should punch a clock like most of us to understand how good they have it...
- bastardprince, on 11/14/2007, -4/+6does anyone care who's first anymore?
- hockey, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2You know I actually do support the WGA and their efforts but I gotta tell ya. This strike really hasn't effected me one bit. I guess I don't watch enough TV or something but my viewing habits really haven't changed much, and to be honest my evenings aren't suffering in the slightest because of the strike.
- sHockz, on 11/15/2007, -1/+3wow, contractors work by the job to! and guess what! we arent bitching!
- theutopian, on 11/14/2007, -1/+3Wow, I don't think I've ever read a more ignorant comment. Until you've been a writer on a network TV show or gone through the process of writing a script, selling it and watch it get made into a movie or TV show, you really have no right to call an anyone's career lazy. Writing is a lot harder than you think. I'm sick and tired of people claiming it's an easy job that anyone can do. Not everyone can do it. Just like not everyone can fix a computer. Really, I think everyone owes their sympathy to writers. These people provided you with hours and hours of entertainment for free (at least on TV) and you have the nerve to devalue them and call them lazy. If their so lazy, then don't be lazy yourself and watch the hours of drivel coming through your TV, all the time demanding more and showing no respect. We don't ask for salaries becuase that's not the way the entertainment industry works. You get paid per project. When there is a long stretch of time with no project, residuals are your lifeblood.
- DangerDee, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2It was http://www.digg.com/music/Moby_Gives_His_Music_Awa ...
- Corrosionx, on 11/15/2007, -0/+1If he's not talking about when the strike is ending, I don't want to know it.
- unbreakable, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2Man I clicked thinking "Striking" meant "Hot"
- inactive, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2Seriously...I watch a lot of TV, and am not happy about The Office ending after tomorrow..but unless there is something nw to report, like that the strike is possibly going to end, or at least that they are both negotiating again...WHO THE HELL CARES! WE don't need to keep reading the same crap ovr and over again every day.
We get it! The writers want a piece internet. We are supposed to automatically take their side becuause of this, despite the fact that we have no idea HOW MUCH of the internet they demanded. - ZenMojo, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1Why digg him down? A movie from 1978 nails our current sociopolitical climate, which pretty much shows us how stupid we are that we fell into the trap despite it winning an Oscar.
- DangerDee, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2Good question. Do cameramen get residuals as well? After all, the show couldn't happen with out them and not just anyone can be a cameraman!
- Gerz1219, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2If there weren't a billion people in India willing to do your job for a third of the money, you might have some leverage there.
But I'll also add that even though I think the creative teams behind software development *should* be paid residuals, most software doesn't have the same kind of shelf life as film and television content. Underlying concepts might be used in subsequent iterations or sequels, but new work has to be done for new software constantly, which means a significant new investment of capital. Whereas a writer's script for a television episode results in content which can be sold and re-sold and re-aired for 50 years, constantly bringing in new money, with absolutely no new investment or work being required to keep the cash flowing. Importantly, if people stop watching the television episode, the writer stops getting a check. - ZenMojo, on 11/15/2007, -3/+3Half of all WGA members are unemployed at any given time. Many of those that work work 10-12 hour days. Before you actually start talking about a subject, it's probably a good idea to actually know something about that subject.
- ZenMojo, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1Why is "donate" in quotes? I'm using Moby's music right now.
- jayb1rd, on 11/14/2007, -3/+3Watch the movie "Network". That's all I'm gonna say.
It predicts everything that is happening right now. - sHockz, on 11/14/2007, -2/+2why dont you just ask for salaries? is it that hard? why make things so complicated?
i mean, i fixed this computer at work. should i get 4 cents for everytime someone uses it? no, people just use it as it was meant to be used, and i got paid for fixing it. if it breaks or needs something added to it, ill get paid more for the time i put in.
it seems to me, that these writers want to preserve their way of laziness. i mean, *****, if i could do the same thing, and fix a computer and everytime someone uses it i get 4 cents, you bet your sweet ass ill be fixing every computer i can as quick as i can so i can sit back for years until that cash machine needs to be replaced or worked on again.
it could just be me, but it really seems like ya'll just want an easy way to not work. consider each movie in which you earn residuals on as an "asset" that generates PURE PROFIT. Man, your guys got it sweet with 4 cents. So sit down, shut up, and write something good that I will want to pay for. - sHockz, on 11/14/2007, -2/+2look, im not calling you lazy, i am calling the concept your fighting for lazy.
"When there is a long stretch of time with no project, residuals are your lifeblood."
man, this comment got to me. you are so ***** idiotic it is irritating with this comment. since you are doing work by job, you are contracting yourself. do you know how many contractors in all industries there are? do you know that WE dont get residuals for those times WE dont have projects and jobs to work on? we have to save our low ass income just to scrape by. even though i just fixed 2000 computers at a chiller plant so the electricity could stay on so you could write and then produce your writings, i still get my electricity turned off, and no 'residuals' for everyone using the power i just saved.
btw - i have written and directed and produced and animated hours of my own film. i almost went into the industry full time, but i could not get into college for financial reasons. i have a full appreciation for writers.
me? i dont watch much TV, not much is on worth watching. I would say south park is about the only thing i watch, and those writers need a raise. they are genious. the office is good too, but this dancing with the stars ***** and 24, cmon, cant you come up with anything better? also, your shows very much so are NOT free. I have to pay for cable, otherwise I get all of 2 fuzzy channels....the tv guide channel and channel 98 fuzzy porn.
frankly, quit bitching. ya'll got it great. - duffblue, on 11/14/2007, -2/+2Why?
- zdiddy85, on 11/14/2007, -2/+2Whoa hang on a sec!
Ellen STILL has a show?!? Next thing you guys are going to tell me is Rosie still has hers too! - jayb1rd, on 11/19/2007, -0/+0Actually, I'm a girl :) But you're right.
- itchie, on 11/15/2007, -0/+0So, this is the field they choose to be in. I'm sure when they work they aren't making minimum wage.
Please save the violin music for someone else, kthx. - inactive, on 11/15/2007, -1/+1This is what I have to say about it:
http://darrellkern.blogspot.com/
Either pay writer's for each dollar they earn or write your own ***** scripts! - Konrad9, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1752858
- ZenMojo, on 11/14/2007, -2/+2Sounds interesting, until you realize that Brits have at least one writer's union. I doubt they would approve their union turning into a scab factory, especially considering the same exact thing would happen to THEM if they ever went on strike. Not gonna happen, it's bad form and it's too much of a risk (US writers would flood a British market in a SECOND with cheap work if the Brits pulled this.)
- PistolSO, on 11/14/2007, -2/+1I acknowledge there is a dilemma for show-runners(writer/producers), but Ellen essentially threw her fellow writers under the bus for her own sake.
- davewashere, on 11/14/2007, -2/+1Would her contract force her to work if the cameramen left as well? There are expectations that you will have certain staff members helping to make each show possible, and that includes writers.
- DangerDee, on 11/14/2007, -4/+2Do the hair and make up artist and production and costume designers on shows get residuals? Didn't think so. And those jobs take just as much if not more in some cases as a writer, and the production couldn't happen with out them either.
- PistolSO, on 11/14/2007, -5/+2I can't wait under Ellen's show goes under, and she has to move to Europe to find work. Scab!
- orangester, on 11/14/2007, -8/+4"an interview with anonymous WGA blogger, A.E. Vogler."
Kinda ruins the point of being anonymous. - GodIsntReal, on 11/14/2007, -9/+4Oh No! Ellen decided to not be selfish and go on with her show and not bow down to the selfish writers who are only thinking of themselves.
- LeRenard, on 11/14/2007, -13/+8I wish they'd just fire these douche bags and get on with things. If they were really on strike, they'd refuse the checks they have coming in from prior work and starve like the families of the crew they are inconveniencing.
- airdish, on 11/14/2007, -10/+4Does every article about the writer’s strike need to reach the front page? We get it already, they are on strike. Lets move on.
- hazyspring, on 11/14/2007, -7/+1This interview is lame. Why are people digging this? These guys don't even know what they are talking about.
- Dokument, on 11/15/2007, -23/+1First?
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