NBC Plays The Dirtiest
The real effects of the writers' strike is starting to be felt in Hollywood.
NBC has just fired all the production people on their hit show The Office.
While the writers rightfully demand an equal share of the pie, 102 people are now out of work on The Office. People that don't make as much money as the writers.
And when the networks air repeats because of this strike, the writers will get paid residuals. No such luck for the out of work crew.
Now we understand the difficult decision Ellen had to make this week.
All the networks will soon be firing people, to guilt the writers to come back to work.
Why can't they just go back to the bargaining table and reach a fair new deal????
The LA Times just published the following email from Dale Alexander, a key grip on The Office, which puts the severity of this strike into clear perspective.
It reads:
"Our show was shut down and we were all laid off this week. I've been watching the news since the WGA strike was announced and I have yet to see any coverage dedicated to the effect that this strike will have on the below the line employees.
I respect the WGA's position. They probably do deserve a larger percentage of profit participation, but a lengthy strike will affect more than just the writers and studios. On my show we had 14 writers. There were also 2 cameramen, 2 camera assistants, 4 hair stylists, 4 makeup artists, 7 wardrobe people, 4 grips, 4 electricians, 2 craft service, 4 props people, 6 construction, 1 medic, 3 art department, 5 set dressers, 3 sound men, 3 stand-ins, 2 set PAs, 4 assistant directors, 1 DGA trainee, 1 unit manager, 6 production office personnel, 3 casting people, 4 writers assistants, 1 script supervisor, 2 editors, 2 editors assistants, 3 post production personnel, 1 facilities manager, 8 drivers, 2 location managers, 3 accountants, 4 caterers and a producer who's not a writer. All 102 of us are now out of work.
I have been in the motion picture business for 33 years and have survived three major strikes. None of which have been by any of the below the line unions. During the 1988 WGA strike many of my friends lost their homes, cars and even spouses. Many actors are publicly backing the writers, some have even said that they would find a way to help pay bills for the striking writers. When the networks run out of new shows and they air repeats the writers will be paid residuals. The lowest paid writer in television makes roughly twice the salary than the below the line crewmember makes. Everyone should be paid their fair share, but does it have to be at the expense of the other 90% of the crewmembers. Nobody ever recoups from a strike, lost wages are just that, lost.
We all know that the strike will be resolved. Eventually both sides will return to the bargaining table and make a deal. The only uncertainty is how many of our houses, livelihoods, college educations and retirement funds will pay for it."
[Image via Celebrity Babylon.]
Elizabitch Pops It Out
Broadway On Strike Too!!!
The studio fired those people as a guilt trip, a low blow, a publicity stunt, and to get everyone who is uneducated about Strikes and Labor Agreements to post ignorant comments all over blogs to get others all steamed up.
While the writers are on strike, there are no actors to put make up on, no lights to put on, no stages to build. Theres no need to write checks to them so theres NO NEED TO FIRE THEM!
Its just a ploy to get you all thinking that its the writers strikes' fault. Those folks weren't costing them a dime.
Now they'll be costing the studios Unemployment Insurance.
TJ,
I assure you that a script (feature) IS a years work. A pilot is 6 months. If you write them on spec (without getting paid) you could crank out a feature in 5 months, a pilot in 2… depends how fast you write. The reason PAYING scripts take so long is because there are also producer notes, studio notes, director notes and sometimes, star notes. Did you know the average studio film has been rewritten by several writers by the time it hits the big screen? 7 to 16 drafts?
A script is a few weeks work… no no no no no!
Now you know.
Re: j – That doesn't even make sense. Writers have particular styles (I know, it's hard, but try to get this through your thick skull) which are part of the reason many of us watch the show. I like the writers. I like the show. It would be as recognizable as changing an actor….just wouldn't be the same. NBC is to blame…not the writers. NBC is trying to use the crew as a bargining chip… almost like hostages.
Shows and movies today are not that great anyway, I only watch documentaries. I am happy to turn off my tv and read a book. Both sides are wrong and can do better.
There is a reason why mediators are so successful. Please call one of my colleagues and let us do our jobs for you so that you can do yours.
Re: WGAstands –
You were also talking about an episode, not just a pilot, and the money you earn for that. I know pilots and features take far longer and go through many drafts as do episodic scripts but in far less time. And as YOU said, a feature brings in 78k min (a damn sight more then 30k!) so let's not confuse the issue and stick to ONE example. The simple fact of the matter is, writers take big risks for the big paychecks, its part of the game and you except those risks when you get into it or you find a different career. I'm sure the writers who have established themselves are sitting smug knowing when this is over, they have lost nothing and made some more $$$ but at what cost to everyone else? Acting comes with similar risks. Theres only so much space irregardless of talent. Staff positions on tv shows are hard to come by because theres only so many hours in the day, channels to broadcast on, studios to fund and therefore there can only be so many writing positions. Not everyone will make it and the rest of the fine people who make these shows should not be punished for that. Those conditions breed competition, competition pushes everyone to be better, another part of the game
Re: Nichole Snow –
There is a MASSIVE difference between 'firing' & 'laid off' dictated by the CAUSE, its not semantics. In any industory, if factorys runs out of orders, they lay off the staff. They have no choice, its simple economics. You do not keep paying a work force to have them sitting around. The writers stopped writing, therefore there is nothing to produce, therefore just like any industry, the staff is laid off. And dont tell me NBC can afford it because thats millions not going into new productions, and that will eventually affect 'writers'. I'm sure NBC will rehire those staff when the strike is over. That's IF they dont cancel the show which WILL be as a result of the strike…a risk I'm sure every writer affected was well aware off. And while the WGA has strike funds & support, the crews have nothing but their savings so you're putting their retirements and kid's educations at risk. Its not like they have other productions to seek employment on. And thats IF they have any savings. Dont demonise the studio over this, this is BOTH sides fault. You can think that if you like to satifsy your conscience but anyone with half a brain can see BOTH sides of the story.
Get back to work you fucking whiny assholes! Be grateful that you have a job.
nbc sux
nbc sux
I love The Office. All other shows should hire new writers because I am tired of hearing one-sided liberal views being projected from tv shows. Now if only tabloid tv would go off the air then the world would be perfect.
Re: TJ –
TJ -
I really appreciate your comments. While, on one hand, I support the writers, I also feel they are being well paid to do something they enjoy. So they take home 30 grand a year at the start of a career? That's well above minimum wage, and some in LA have to support families on minimum wage. I've worked 40-hour-plus weeks (even 70 hour weeks) in the industry and made less.
Most writers are well educated, smart individuals. There is an element for me of, "If you don't like it, don't do it, or just do it for fun." In no other industry would you count on work you did ten years ago to pay the bills. Just because someone wrote a few episodes of Friends in the early 90's does NOT really mean that person should be set for life.
Hope this is resolved soon.
Re: TJ –
Oh, ok, I didn't know the difference between laying off and firing people. Always happy to learn new things:-) Still, the contracts of those NBC employees should specify the risk of being laid off, right?
Re: nes from belgium –
Everyone who gets into this industry knows that it is a fickle and unpredictable animal be they a writer, producer or even a lowly runner. A smart person is always looking ahead and planning their next move, or finding alternate ways to pay the bills. Contracts wise, it really is as simple as, if there's no show to produce be it cancelled or otherwise, you're not going to get paid and that's no different in any other industry. You dont pay people not to work, there's nothing unfair or malicious about that. The big problem right now is where its a fact of life and people have figured out their options, with a strike there are no options. It's not just the 'Office' out of production, there are a hell of a lot more affected. What do you do when there's no work to seek?
Strikes should be an absolutely last resort because they always affect many more then those striking. It's being used as a quick and dirty way to get what they want (for reasons I can totally appreciate even if I dont agree with them all). But its unfairly and selfishly affecting a huge MAJORITY of people in and frankly, unemployment isn't a nice way to spend the holiday season now is it?
maybe instead of being mad at the networks they should be mad at the writers for being greedy little bastards
Writers deserve more money. It's not about greed, it's about principle and fairness. If they don't get more, this may lead to a change of events that will greatly affect quality TV.
And, laid off is not the same as fired. Still, it's a very low blow from NBC. A form of terrorism.
Who are you, big business? Unions help to create living wages and safety regulations. Unions help to create health care plans and pensions. Unions are a good thing for the USA. Cheap ass stores like Wal-mart are what drives manufacturing out to places like China and Indonesia, where there are no regulations or standards. Buy USA and then maybe so many jobs wouldn't disappear.Re: a – Re: a –
Everyone in hollywood is nuts anyway.
Since the writers seem to care about no one but themselves, the Execs seem to care about no one but themselves, and innocent people who just want to WORK are losing their jobs, possibly their homes, and maybe even their families– I say WE fight back!
STRIKE THEM! We're the ones who pay their salaries! We watch the shows, buy the products advertised, buy their merchandise, etc. STOP IT! Show them that they're not the only ones who can throw a hissy fit! STOP WATCHING THEIR SHOWS and STICK TO IT! I guarantee once they resolve this if everyone TRULY strikes them, they'll think twice before they EVER pull the shit again!
Re: Tiffany Said WHAT?! –
Nice idea, but how about starting a fundraiser to support the 'below the line' staff and the rest of the innocent people who are being unfairly forced into financial difficulty and possible ruin by this strike? Unemployment isn't a very nice way to spend the holiday season now is it?
That includes the actors, rather then supporting your rich writer/producer types because the WGA should do that (and 90% of the WGA members voted for the strike). How about giving some support to the 102 people from the office and the countless others affected!
That includes the writers! Be nice PR for you and if you're so concerned about 'the little guy' put your money where your mouth is. It may force a little hardship on some'baby writers', but at least it will be voluntary and show you're not completely selfish!
Screw the writers!