The Writers Strike.

The first thing I want to write about is, the writers strike. This isn't the subject I actually feel the strongest about, but it hits closer to home. My Father and my two uncles are writers and members of the WGA (writers guild of America).

Every three years the WGA negotiates its contract with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers). Last year the negotiations got a little hairy. The AMPTP and the WGA reached an impasse, so the WGA membership voted to give it's board the right to strike, which it did on November 5 2007. Among the key issues of the negotiations were the DVD residuals, and the compensation for "new media" like the Internet. Basically, the amount of money a writer gets every time a show or movie he has written gets shown on TV, and how many DVD's a movie or show sells. The writers argue that the money hey get from DVD's being sold and material getting aired, is what they depend on when they are unemployed. I know at times my father will be pleased when a green envelope comes bearing a check for something he's written that has been re-aired. The amount of money a writer gets for each DVD is 0.3%, and they're asking the AMPTP to double it. Now, is it too much to ask to get paid 0.6% each time a DVD is sold? but, the AMPTP claims that the money from DVD sales is necessary to offset rising production and marketing costs. the night before the strike began, the WGA offered to temporarily removed the request to raise DVD profits off the table in order to avoid a strike, understanding that the AMPTP would make certain concessions(which they didn't). However when the strike began, the membership was angry and disappointed at the proposed removal of the request.

Another critical point of the negotiations, is the money from "new media", or compensation for delivery channels such as Internet downloads,IMPTV(Internet Protocol Television), streaming, and smartphone programming, video on demand on cable and satellite television. They also want to be paid for reality shows. The AMPTP argues that these are mostly if not entirely unscripted, therefore, there is no writer. The WGA counters that the process of creating interesting scenarios, culling raw material, and shaping it into a narrative with conflict, character arc, and storyline constitutes writing and should fall under their contract.

I hate to see people disrespect writers like this. To me one of the most disrespectful things about this strike, is the fact the DGA (directors guild of America) negotiated their contract with the AMPTP and in a record 5 days, managed to get some of the Internet distribution-related fees desired by the WGA! It seems to me almost as if the AMPTP is saying to the WGA, "we don't like you, because your name doesn't show up last on the credits." I'm not denying that the director does a lot of work, he does. It's just that as far as I know, it looks like the writer does as much as the director. if you want an example of hard working, take my father. He's had to work late in the night, and get up early in the morning in order to have something done my his deadline!

I'll admit that I'm probably a little bit prejudiced about this subject, but I can't help it if I feel offended by this kind of thing. It's just human nature.

Okay, this blog is where i give my views on the events of the day. I am not a scientist. I am not a politician. I am not being made to do this. i am a fourtenn year old girl who's very opinionated, who's most true fortune cookie said, "You should be a lawyer, you're good at arguing". If you don't agree with my opinions, you're welcome to post angry, angsty comments. If you do sgree with my opinions, write happy apraising comments. Your choice.