Liquid Rantings

If you haven’t heard… as of November 5, the Writer’s Guild of America went on strike. The WGA is striking the major production companies of TV/film for a new contract which would cover the writer’s residuals on DVD sales as well as residuals from internet/other media distribution forms.

Did you know that every time you buy a DVD for $19.99 the writer only receives $.04?! Imagine, if ONLY 1000 copies were sold the production company would make $19,990 on content that has already made them money via advertising during its initial run. The writers would only be entitled to around $40 for that same 1000 DVD’s Sold.  Currently, anything that runs on the internet is classified as “promotional” by the studios and the writers are paid $0 for that content, even though the studios are selling ad space both on their websites, and interspersed within the TV shows being shown on the internet.   This includes special “webisodes” that have been ordered by the studios to be specifically written and filmed for the internet.  Currently writers are receiving NO payment at all for those internet “webisodes”.  How many of us would be willing to work for free while our bosses raked in money for our work product?  

The writers of our favorite TV shows and movies deserve our support! It is anticipated that by the beginning of January all scripted TV shows will be in re-runs. Basically, when all of the pre-strike episodes air, TV shows will be forced to go into re-runs until the strike is over and the writers return. Which could be up to four or more months if the studios continue to insist that they “aren’t sure if the internet is a viable revenue stream”.  If its not a viable way to make money, then why are the studios fighting so hard to keep internet revenues all to themselves?  Why is it even an issue giving the writers a percentage of the revenue for their work product?  Do writers not deserve to be paid for their work?  If the internet truly doesn’t make any money for the studios, then giving the WGA the percentage they are asking for shouldn’t be an issue.  If there really is no money to be made on the internet, then give the WGA the 2.5% they deserve.  Studios cant lose money if its not there to start with.  Which we all know is not the case at all.  Which is why the studios are fighting so hard to not give the WGA anything.

Networks are already preparing for this backlash by lining up unscripted shows and reality TV shows. Just what we need….more reality TV!

Here’s how YOU can make a difference.  You can boycott the internet distribution of your favorite shows, and you can spread the word to the people that you know what the real issues are.  The “media” is not handling coverage of this strike fairly, which makes sense as most news outlets are owned by the same folks that own the studios that are trying to screw the WGA to begin with.  Lets send the studios a message.  As TV viewers, we DO care about our favorite shows.  We would not want to work for free, and its unreasonable to expect the writers to.  This is not about multimillionaires, this is about folks trying to make a living. The Multimillionaires are on the studio side of the negotiating table here. So until the strike is resolved, do not watch your favorite shows on the internet, do not download them from iTunes, or watch them on company websites.  The writers are being paid for the episodes that you watch on TV.  They make nothing on content downloaded from iTunes, other download services, or watching your shows on the studio websites. where the studios are making profits from advertising.  The only way the studios will listen is if we cut into the profits that they are trying so hard to keep all to themselves.  The bottom line is, without the writers, there is no content.

If you want more factual information you can visit one of the following websites:

Thanks for your support!