A light at the end of the tunnel........

...but is it the end of the tunnel or is it a train?

There IS some good news (we THINK!) for the first time since the strike started. We were all worried about the DGA and what kind of deal they'd make. If it's a bad one, then there will be more pressure on the WGA and SAG to agree to similar deals, and the DGA has a history of caving BIG time to the studios. This time, it appears they MIGHT not have.

From what we KNOW (which, granted, is not a lot), it looks like it might be fairly decent. Two BIG things they've gotten is jurisdiction over (at least some) internet original material and a much higher residual on electronic streaming/downloads. There may be restrictions which make it worthless, but we'll have to see, and it's still not what the writers asked for, but the studios seem to have granted the directors concessions they REFUSED to give the writers (and, in fact, WALKED OUT of negotiations rather than even DISCUSS).

The biggest of these is basing payments on distributor's gross. That is a LOT more than producers gross (after they deduct their 'expenses,' which basically means what they CHOOSE to allow).

My question is WHY would they absolutely REFUSE to even DISCUSS these things with the writers, but give them to the directors?

My guess is that this strike has had a much larger effect on the studios than they're willing to admit. They tried to make everyone believe that they had material AT LEAST until the beginning of the year, when they didn't. They didn't bank on the film side being so heavily affected so quickly, nor that they would run out of television scripts so quickly. The reruns they've been reduced to showing have been doing MISERABLY in the ratings, and in another two weeks, it's going to be Sweeps weeks, when their advertising rates are going to be set.... and they cannot afford to lose the money they will lose if they are showing reruns and getting the horrible ratings they've been getting... not to mention, their viewers are getting annoyed with the reruns (I know I am!), and are putting pressure on the studios to do something about it.

At this point, it's going to take close to a month to get most of the shows back into production and back on the air. If they push it, and have some scripts close to ready to go, maybe 2-3 weeks. And if this strike goes on much longer, pilot season will be a wash, which means they'll lose at least part of NEXT season... and, that, they REALLY can't afford. An entire calendar year without new episodes??? That would be death! Not to mention that SAG has shown MAJOR support, and we will not hesitate to go out on strike when our contract is up. Won't do them much good to have directors without any writers or actors, and a long strike by the actors would mean at least half of next season (if they even had any pilots at all) would be shot.

So let's HOPE that this deal is a decent one, the writers are able to go back to work, and that when we begin to negotiate, we have a good starting place!! PLEASE!!!!! We want to get back to work!

Where are we.......

and why are we in this handbasket??

WHAT is happening? It seems that just in the last week or so, the whole world is suddenly collapsing. We have the situation in Pakistan, where at least 1500 people have been arrested for DARING to protest the martial law imposed by a dictator they didn't ask for... and Bush's response is, "I would hope he would take off his uniform." @@ I mean, seriously????? What the heck is THAT about? And he's STILL giving him aid and STILL says this person (absolutely not any better than Saddam Hussein) is a 'partner in the war on terror.' ::SIGH::

Gas prices have jumped THIRTY CENTS in just the last couple of weeks-- and they say it is only going to go higher-- another 20 cents or more! Very worrisome, especially with the SEVENTY FIVE percent increase in electricity costs in the last couple of years, and now they're asking for MORE! That apparently just wasn't enough!

And, now, the writer's strike, which is actually hitting much closer to home right now. With my friends in the Guild who are being hit hard by this immediately, it worries me, with the SAG contract coming up soon, and the possibility that SAG may go out sooner in support of the WGA, this could last for a LONG, LONG time. We're talking through the fall of next year. Last time, it was 22 weeks... that's going to impact me and a LOT of my friends. :*( But, the thing is that the WGA is NOT asking for unreasonable concessions, and SAG is going to be asking for the same for us actors. If they don't get it, neither will we. But, this is going to devastate a LOT of people, not just writers, actors, directors, etc.... but all of the tech crews, the catering crews, and everyone else who supplies goods or services to the film/television industry. All over the COUNTRY. But, the producers are acting like they're asking for the moon, and as if THEY have been SO accommodating. PLEASE. They never even made a COUNTER proposal to the proposal of EIGHT LOUSY CENTS per DVD. HOW is that asking for something unreasonable??? And if it is, why not make a counter? That IS what negotiating is supposed to be about, isn't it?

I'm truly starting to get a little scared about the future...... may God truly bless us right now, and protect us from our own mistakes.

....And so it begins....

WGA has decided to strike. This is going to impact pilot season BIG time. The studios are so greedy.... the agreement they have right now with regards to dvds, downloads, etc... all the 'new' media... was reached in the 1980s, LONG before they had the impact they have now. Yet ANOTHER indication that studios (and thus the entertainment industry) are now run by 'suits' who care ONLY about the bottom line, and couldn't care LESS about the creativity or the quality of the product.

The last time this happened, they mad reruns of old shows (like Dark Shadows)... just reused scripts. Not going to happen this time... the entire sets are going to be shut down.

And whatever the agreement is with WGA is going to impact the negotiations with SAG and determine whether we actors strike this summer. I can only hope this is a very short strike. As both an actor and someone who loves tv and movies. ::SIGH::

Me, I have to worry about the workshop tomorrow... I REALLY want to nail these scenes and hope that she will call me for pilot season (if there IS one at this point!)..... or have some good advice on how to take my career to the next stage. Not to mention improve my booking rate re: film/tv. And, most of all, I think it will be fun!!!!!