Spring Break
What was the writer's strike about anyway?
By: Caroline Cox
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Perspectives
It's a regular night at my dorm. I have class tomorrow and flip on the TV before going to bed (because you know, reading is for squares).
As I change channels, it's the same story as it's been for months- rerun after rerun after rerun.
"When will the madness cease!" I wonder to myself in desperation. As soon as I think I may lose it if I have to watch that same episode of Entourage again, my prayers are answered- the Writer's Strike is over!
But I was still left wondering, what was all that craziness about anyway?
So I do some online research, and find out the facts behind this 14-week event that ended up costing the city of Los Angeles an estimated 1.5 billion dollars.
The companies that went on strike were the Writers Guild of America, both east and west divisions.
These unions represent writers who work in film, television, and radio all across the country, about 12,000 members total, according to nytimes.com.
The corporations renegotiate their writer's contracts every three years, and the strike occurred after several months of writers trying to negotiate to receive more payment from the sales of television shows and movies being released on DVD, as well as more compensation for shows now also being broadcast over the Internet.
The corporation they are seeking this pay increase from is the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents companies like CBS, NBC, Warner Brothers, and the Walt Disney Company.
The AMPTP is arguing that the extra revenue they receive from these outlets must go towards various rising costs.
The last major writer's strike was in 1988, due to reduced compensation for hour-long shows as well as shows broadcast in foreign countries.
The 1988 strike lasted a few weeks less but indirectly resulted in two shows going off the air.
The way I see it is, where would shows and movies be without writers?
Aren't they more or less the most essential element to the success of these productions?
As I change channels, it's the same story as it's been for months- rerun after rerun after rerun.
"When will the madness cease!" I wonder to myself in desperation. As soon as I think I may lose it if I have to watch that same episode of Entourage again, my prayers are answered- the Writer's Strike is over!
But I was still left wondering, what was all that craziness about anyway?
So I do some online research, and find out the facts behind this 14-week event that ended up costing the city of Los Angeles an estimated 1.5 billion dollars.
The companies that went on strike were the Writers Guild of America, both east and west divisions.
These unions represent writers who work in film, television, and radio all across the country, about 12,000 members total, according to nytimes.com.
The corporations renegotiate their writer's contracts every three years, and the strike occurred after several months of writers trying to negotiate to receive more payment from the sales of television shows and movies being released on DVD, as well as more compensation for shows now also being broadcast over the Internet.
The corporation they are seeking this pay increase from is the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents companies like CBS, NBC, Warner Brothers, and the Walt Disney Company.
The AMPTP is arguing that the extra revenue they receive from these outlets must go towards various rising costs.
The last major writer's strike was in 1988, due to reduced compensation for hour-long shows as well as shows broadcast in foreign countries.
The 1988 strike lasted a few weeks less but indirectly resulted in two shows going off the air.
The way I see it is, where would shows and movies be without writers?
Aren't they more or less the most essential element to the success of these productions?
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
katelyn
posted 2/25/08 @ 9:10 PM EST
I know what you mean with the whole watching entourage again and again...I've seen all the seasons over and over!
Sadly we'll still have to wait until September (from what I'm told) to see a new season. (Continued…)
Robin Kemp
posted 3/04/08 @ 8:15 PM EST
The writers' strike was about getting paid for what you create. Think of it this way. You come up with a great tune. You lay beats in a studio; you play or sing the music; you record and mix the track. (Continued…)
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