ROTTEN TOMATOES: To Strike, Or Not To Strike -- What's The Deal as Hollywood's Clock Runs Down? Comments

To Strike, Or Not To Strike -- What's The Deal as Hollywood's Clock Runs Down?

by Rachel Sandor | November 01, 2007

Summary

To strike, or not to strike? That is the question that Hollywood's writers will be answering Thursday, and from the looks of Wednesday's talks breakdown, it looks likely. We've got the rundown on what that means for your television and movie watching in the future. Back to Article

(21-36 of 36 posts) | Reply

dahluzz writes:
on Nov 01 2007 12:23 PM

In reply to this comment (#1239365)
hmm, i like that comment, too.

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hewpot writes:
on Nov 01 2007 12:39 PM

i cant wait 2 c wut popd

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highdough writes:
on Nov 01 2007 01:27 PM

I find it incredibly ironic that posters like Oedipus&TheMarmishBoys and
nathanpoitras are recycling other posters complaints in complaining about recycling movies. Apparently they can't read very well, either, since they couldn't seem to read the posts directly above them which explains that those types of comments come from a place of ignorance. Or maybe they thought they were being funny, which is even more ironic, since they were neither funny nor original, themselves.

And I have the utmost respect for the fact that the studios should get the most profit since they put up the money. However, the studios also need to show a certain amount of respect when it comes to those who are the actual creators. And it's not the actors or writers or directors that make the most money outside of the studios, it's the producers. They're the one's who are getting first dollar gross deals and percentages of DVD sales. And if you think that raising the residuals of the writers is a problem, then you should take a look at the redundancy of the studio executives. Studios are some of the most inefficiently run companies I've seen. If you guys want to complain about the price of DVD's and movies, you need to look at where the BIG money s being spent.

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renodc writes:
on Nov 01 2007 01:37 PM

Perhaps the solution for the writers, resides with Uwe Boll and his ragtag band of German Businessmen that inexplicably finance his movies.

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harrismonkey writes:
on Nov 01 2007 02:33 PM

Well said Violentgum. You just covered every point I wanted to make!

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Ne0x1ty writes:
on Nov 01 2007 02:47 PM

What it comes down to is, without writers you have no product. period. Yes, you need producers to get financing. Yes, you need actors to star in it. Yes, you need directors to direct it, and you need the studio's money to make it... However, everyone else will just be sitting around with nothing to do if there wasn't the script...

Paraphrase what William Goldman said - If you go to the doctor for surgery, you don't tell him how to operate. If you go to your lawyer, you don't tell him how to represent you. However, everyone has a keyboard. Writing is the only profession where everything thinks they can write.

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highdough writes:
on Nov 01 2007 03:28 PM

Well, writing and being a general manager of a professional sports team.

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Ashron writes:
on Nov 01 2007 03:44 PM

In reply to this comment (#1239227)
I would like to apologize for my comment (yes, I'm one of the few on the internet who will actually do that) I wrote my statement in a bad mood after dealing with issues with another union (I.A.T.S.E., for those interested) so my opinion of unions was not the best at the time. I realize it's not the writers' fault they are made to write the same crap, but as a producer who's always tried to treat everyone fairly (and maybe I'm one of the few) I just sometimes get tired of the never-ending whining that goes on with all the unions. But I'm not going to get on a union bashing rant, because I still have to work with them. And the union members for the most part are good people, it's their higher-ups that I have issues with. But that's a topic for another time. kdbarrett and highdough, you are correct, I spoke out of turn and I'm sorry. I hope this can all come to a happy ending.

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oddjob323 writes:
on Nov 01 2007 04:01 PM

I don't think there is much anyone can do to have actually good, quality movies and television shows. In my opinion, there are about a dozen good television shows and there have been less than ten good movies this year. We all just need to learn to deal with it and enjoy what we can get from television or movies. One thing I like to do is to go back and find an interesting sounding movie or show from the past that I haven't seen yet. People are always looking for new things and sometimes we forget that something doesn't have to be new to be enjoyable and entertaining. I know this is said all of the time, but you don't have to watch a movie or tv show if you don't want to.

Ashron: I was extremely surprised to see someone apologize and admit that they made a mistake, especially on the Internet. Maybe there is hope for humanity.

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Jen Yamato writes:
on Nov 01 2007 04:45 PM

In reply to this comment (#1239907)
I'm impressed, seldom do impassioned commentors retract their hastily-written remarks. Thanks for posting again, Ashron. I'm sure that none of the parties involved in any of the union disputes actually want the quality of films to go down.

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manofthemovie16 writes:
on Nov 01 2007 05:20 PM

Man, what's the deal? I thought any authority, whether political or in entertainment, knew how to pay attention to their employees and their needs. I read a little while back a book on the fast food industry, Chew On This. In that book, unions of factory workers were started over food sanitation, injury insurance, dangerous conditions, and bad behavior given to them. To see that unions over health insurance and pension benefits for writers, that's just crazy. The entertainment business, of all things. Come on entertainement corporations, come up with a solution that writers will agree to and'll not be angry because of it. There's always a solution. You just have to do it fast.

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highdough writes:
on Nov 01 2007 08:11 PM

Ashron, just wanted to also commend you on your retraction. Personally, I'm not a fan of unions in general, probably for many of the same reasons you aren't. That said, many of the issues the WGA is going after simply makes sense. That, and the studios are being a little ludicrous on some issues- claiming internet downloads of television episodes are only promotional, and then NBC chief, Jeff Zucker, complaining that they only made $15 million off iTunes (which is still basically in it's experimental phase for video downloads).

What I have the biggest problem with are a lot of these numskulls blaming writers for the crap that ends up on screens, when it's really a combination of the studios and the audience actually spending their money on it. If the writers were actually given a little bit of power (which a couple of groups of A-list writers recently were able to negotiate for), then you will definitely see a increase of the quality of what goes on the big and small screen.

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goofyfid writes:
on Nov 02 2007 09:26 AM

Just keep giving Quentan Tarantino money and I will be happy :)

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Ashron writes:
on Nov 02 2007 10:05 AM

In reply to this comment (#1240444)
Yes, I probably should have looked a little closer at the issue before I spouted off. The whole new media thing is really confusing to everybody I'm sure. I'd also like to speak to the person who made the comment about the producers making all the money. On big studio films, that's probably true. But keep in mind there are plenty of us in the low budget independent arena who are lucky to make their car payment and afford to live in a reasonable rental unit. Nobody worries about us, do they? Wahhhhnnaa. :-)

Okay, I'm being a little faceious. But I just wanted to point out that not every producer is a Jeffrey Katzenberg. And some of even put our crew's needs ahead of our own. Of course, on low budget films, you have to or they'll lynch you. :-)

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Absurdity writes:
on Nov 02 2007 10:32 AM

It's not the writers or the studios fault for all the crappy movies that come out. It's the consumers. Normal people like to see bad movies. There is a high demand for these kinds of movies. That's why Saw IV is at the top of the box office along with four other rotten movies right now. Most people eat up all this unoriginal crap because the last thing they want to do when they come back from their crummy 10 hour a day job locked in a cubicle is think. Don't blame the studios. Blame yourselves for going out to see Saw IV and Are We Done Yet? and supporting the kinds of movies that are made for the sole reason of making money, rather than an original story or intriguing idea.

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Young Turk writes:
on Nov 02 2007 02:19 PM

Oh no no more desperate house wives..what are we to do......please...no....

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