Actors Strike

"Reuters reports as Hollywood recovers from a tumultuous writers walkout that ended in February, U.S. TV networks are bracing for a possible actors strike that could delay the upcoming fall TV season. Jitters over renewed labor unrest have mounted in recent days as contract talks between the Screen Actors Guild and the major film and TV studios have grown increasingly rancorous with little or no sign that a settlement is near.The three-year labor pact covering film and prime-time TV work for 120,000 SAG members is due to expire in two weeks. "

Writer's Strike: New Video

"Broadcast TV was always the place to go for multicourse banquets of programming -- anywhere from 13 to 20 or more weeks of your favorite dramas and comedies. Thanks to the writers strike, however, network TV is looking like a nibbler's delight: eight snackable episodes of "Lost," just a taste of "Terminator".

he Writers Guild of America action has forced shorter story arcs on networks and viewers; had writers been available, of course, viewers would be watching a full slate of "24," in which each episode represents one hour in a 24-hour day. A sense is evolving, however, that shorter might be better going forward and that the strike could permanently alter the way TV is programmed and sold.

"A new model that has a continuous season with continuous new programming would benefit all," said Chuck Bachrach, exec VP-director of media communications at independent agency RPA."



NEW Video From RubberPoultry

Monster Writer Interview: Matt Federman

Many thanks to Matt for taking time from his busy schedule to do this interview.Not only does he do a wonderful job writing for Jericho but he's a really nice guy.(That's him far left in the photo).


1. You're a writer and producer yet your first job was as a dishwasher? How did the writer in you find his way out?

I totally forgot I put the dishwasher thing on my myspace page. For a second I thought you had done some amazing research. :-)

I started writing in High School because of a class assignment and had that that people talk about when they have found what they want to do for the rest of their life. It just made sense. And I really wasn't good at anything else, so it seemed like the natural direction to go in. Unfortunately, it didn't make me any money. And while I would have been happy to live off my parents, they were less happy with that. Thus, dishwashing and many other jobs that followed. For a long time I was frustrated -- particularly after college. I had set absurd time goals for myself and watched as each one passed and there I was, still not a writer. And finally I had an epiphany: I had nothing to say. No real life experience. So I took a break from trying to write and decided to take as many different jobs as I could. I became a temp, and as soon as I was somewhere long enough to know what I was doing, I switched to a new job. It was a great way of meeting many people and learning a lot of different things.

I think putting the work into myself was as important as putting the work into my writing. Eventually I made my way to L.A. and was much more prepared for the industry than I would have been had I come out right after college. Through assistant work I met up with my writing partner Stephen Scaia. We wrote some stuff that eventually landed us a staff job on Judging Amy where we met Carol Barbee, who brought us to Jericho when it was picked up. We call Carol our "showbiz mom." She's been a great mentor. We were really lucky to land our first job with her because she taught us how to do so many things in the industry, and that you can be a good person and still make it.


2. You've written episodes of Jericho and we all love them. What do you most enjoy about writing for Jericho?

I've always been a fascinated by apocalypse myths and the fact that every culture seems to have one. I've also been a fan of serialized TV shows, and anything with a sociological aspect to it. Also, making things blow up is fun. You can see how Jericho is the perfect show for me. :-) How many shows on TV can you combine so many genres as we do in a given episode: western, mystery, politics, war, romance, action, adventure...there's nothing we can't cover. But the key is, and it took us some time to really learn and apply this, there's something that makes an episode of Jericho what it is: namely, it couldn't work on any other TV show. There needs to be an element of something strange, unexpected...and not just for the purposes of shock but in a way that always expands our world. It's a lot of fun coming up with that stuff. Also scary because we don't have a formula like many shows to fall back on. We just keep at it until we feel like an episode is both entertaining and says something about our characters, and the world we live in today through our Jericho filter. And when we have all that, we trust we're on the right track. Then seeing the fans respond to it, and debate on the boards (and yes, we do read them--so please be nice :-) ), and how those debates are so much like what we were saying in the room months ago when we conceived it--that's a real kick.


3. We've all read about the writer's strike but what makes it an important cause for writers?

It's pretty much our whole future. And it's not just important for writers, it's important for anyone who works in this town. This is because all of the Unions either directly or indirectly (through pension and health funds) receive compensation called residuals (which I'm sure by now you've heard all about). Essentially there are two ways a TV writers gets paid: staff salary and residuals from episodes you wrote being rerun on TV. Residuals, like royalties, patents, etc. reflect a centuries old tradition of creators enjoying profits from the things they create. This gives people an incentive to create and drives industry. But specifically in entertainment, where it is common to not work for a year or two between jobs, residuals support families, pay rent, keep up health insurance, keep people going. And hopefully creating.

Why is all of that endanger now? Because I'm pretty sure my kids will not know what a rerun is. Everything will be On Demand, or Online to your TV/computer. "Convergence" as they have been predicting for years is here. Jericho was very much at the forefront of that, though no one including us knew it until it happened. So many people watched the show online that our ratings were impacted. But for all of those people watching (and yes, ads are run online the same as on TV) we received no compensation. Nor for iTunes sales. And there was no plan to compensate us. That was the vision of our future.

The eventual offer from the AMPTP to compensate us was so low that it actually unified a frequently fractious union. Suddenly, TV and film writers had the same fears, and same demands. And so we went on strike rather than except a de facto paycut of immense proportions.


4. What exactly do the writers want ?

I'm gonna try not to bore you any more than I already have. :-) The biggest issue is a fair compensation formula for work created for, or rerun on the Internet. Yes, there is also the DVD issue (we get 4 cents per DVD sold, we want 8) and other issues of jurisdiction, but new media is the issue that binds us and makes it worth being out of work to protect our future, and the future of all the writers coming after us. If we lose this one, a lot of your future favorite shows will never be created because those writers will have to leave L.A. once they miss a season of work.


5. Many fans support you so is there anything else we can do to assist?

I feel like our fans have already done so much, I'd hate to ask any more of you. If it weren't for you, I (and hundreds of staff and crew) would have been out of work since last April. If I come up with anything that seems worthy of your efforts I'll pass it along. But if history is any indication, you guys will come up with something that we haven't thought of, will brilliantly put it into action, despite even us thinking it can't be done, and will happily prove us all wrong. Just knowing that such passion and intelligence is out there ready to mobilize is very inspiring.



6. Why do you believe the big moguls don't want to pay more and end this strike?

I think it's a basic calculation for them. They think they will make more money in the long run by what they save on this contract by playing hardball then they will lose in the short term by having no product to put out. Morality doesn't play into it, for them. It's simply a bottom line issue.


?. The impact of this strike is felt by actors, writers,hotels, and many other industries. How big is that impact?

There are many estimates from people that know a lot more about this kind of thing then I do. Not only do I have no research, I'm terrible at math. Epically so. It's kind of embarrassing. So for real numbers, you can search on line. What I hear are the stories from people who are in danger of losing their house, who had to cut back on toys for their kids this last Christmas, who have lost their businesses. Honestly, there is a lot of anger in this town at the writers, which emotionally I understand. It seems like we are choosing to hurt people by not working. Unfortunately, the writers did everything they could to avoid this. But the AMPTP calculation was either we will take a bad deal, which is a win, or they can outlast us, and maybe break our union, which is a win. We love our crew and staff and actors, they take words on a page and make them into worlds that people can enjoy. But if we folded at the start, or fold now, we've done no one any favors. They'll just come for more in the next negotiation, from all of us. And one day all of the hard work and sacrifice of those who came before us will be wasted, and the billions of dollars that flow into this industry annually will be concentrated into very few hands.


8. United Artists Entertainment has signed a deal with the Writers Guild of America. How important is this deal to the writers ?

There is no one answer to this. I'm personally in favor of these separate deals. I think anything that puts pressure on the AMPTP is good. Only time will tell really if and how these side deals helped or hurt the cause (as some believe).


9. Is there anything you'd like to add?

Just that we can't say enough about how impressive and inspiring our fans have been, and how much personal gratitude we have towards them for their hard work and time and energy. We take that very seriously and try to put out a show that seems worthy of that effort. I think these next 7 are, and hope you guys will agree. Thanks again, and Happy New Year to you all.




1. "Jericho" (executive story editor) (7 episodes, 2006-2007)
- Heart of Winter (2007) TV episode (executive story editor)
- Black Jack (2007) TV episode (executive story editor)
- The Day Before (2007) TV episode (executive story editor)
- Crossroads (2006) TV episode (executive story editor)
- Rogue River (2006) TV episode (executive story editor)

CBS: Thanking Fans ?

"Man, CBS owes Jericho fans a huge thank-you. Not only are they responsible for bringing the show back from cancellation — making sure the network has another series to show this winter during the ongoing writers' strike — but they also gave the network the perfect tool for marketing the show's return: nuts! Ever since fans inundated CBS headquarters with literally tons of peanuts this spring in an effort to bring the show back, CBS has adopted the nut theme as its own. The network gave out gift bags of nuts during the Jericho panel at this summer's TV press tour, and here's the latest: a tour through the show's first season as hosted by a talking, animated peanut."



"The networks publicly have been insisting that their ratings will not be much hurt by the upcoming glut of reality programming in the wake of the writers' strike. Do you think the public will embrace reality, because that's all there is, or will we see a backlash against this much unscripted programming?"




"Just last week, there was a sense that talks in the Writers Guild of America strike were moving in the direction of a settlement.

This week, the outlook is as bleak as the weather Milwaukeeans have been facing this December: icy, cold and unending.

Talks broke down Friday night, and there's no date set for a new round.

The fallout won't really start to hit viewers until after the holiday season ends. The word out of Hollywood is that the last of the dramas still in production will wrap up this week, so fresh episodes will become increasingly sparse once the December rerun / holiday specials season wraps up after the ball drops in Times Square."

Nielsen Numbers

"The writers' strike is about to make the 2007-08 TV schedule look like a really boring week in July. So let's look at some of the more intriguing numbers from Nielsen about prime-time viewing this fall before first-run episodes of your favorite shows go away.

45.2 — The median age for NBC's prime-time audience, down almost two years from last season, making it the youngest of the four major networks. CBS is still the oldest, with half of its viewers aged 52.6 or older. But ABC, thanks to Dancing with the Stars, has seen its audience age the most, going from last season's 47.4 to 49.5.

39 — The median age for viewers who playback ABC shows on their DVRs. That's 11 years younger then the age of those who watch them live. The median age of viewers watching NBC and CBS on their DVRs is 10 years younger then those who watch live. Fox's median age is eight years younger among DVR viewers (35 compared to 43 for those who watch live. The CW fans playing back shows are actually a year older (33) then those who watch live."

WGA Petition: Fans Unite

Please sign:

To: AMPTP and All Major Studios

We, the fans, unite with WGA by supporting their strike. The writers are the backbone of Hollywood. They deserve to receive a share of 8 cents in DVD and internet download sales. If it was not for the writers, there would be no television shows, made for TV movies, and motion pictures to entertain the fans worldwide. We encourage those in charge to do the right thing and come up with a solution to end this dark day in Hollywood as soon as possible.


Please end the strike. If you are a fan of television and do not want your favorite shows to be canceled because of this strike, please sign this petition. We will make sure that this petition will be sent to AMPTP and to ALL major studios.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

http://www.petitiononline.com/f4wga/petition.html


"Pencils Down Means Pencils Down ... BUT don't put them down until you've written to all of the Studios that are making these fantastic people strike so that they can get the compensation that is rightly theirs!"

Addresses here.




Moving into day 3...

Which will end first? The Writers strike or the unexplained and unwarranted bannings of Alpha99Wolf and XWARP. The longer this goes on without being addressed by an ADMIN the more it becomes simple and solid proof of the ramshackle and seemingly devious excuse for moderation we have here. Silence will only be an option for so long and this thread is being documented offboard.

Bring Back XWARP and ALPHA99WOLF!!!

Soldiers On The Street

"CBS has found a way to soldier on as the WGA hits the streets during the writers strike. It seems that the Eye Network realized that one of their bigger shows during the dog days of summer is a thrice-weekly reality show that requires no writers and they already have the set built. Don’t look now, but Big Brother is coming back sooner than planned!"



"As striking screenwriters continued attempts to close down film and TV production, television networks and media companies are calculating they can contain the damage so long as the strike doesn't last much beyond January.

The television networks are seen as the most vulnerable to a strike initially because they rely heavily on members of the Writers Guild of America for scripted programming. But a tight advertising market is expected to provide some cushion, with advertisers seemingly reluctant to make any rash moves at a time when advertising prices are so high.

If the strike runs for several months, the picture could change dramatically. "It could be a downward spiral for the networks if it drags on into the first quarter," says Steve Kalb, director of broadcast media at MediaHub, a unit of Interpublic Group's Mullen."

Striking Scribes

"The writers' strike has started today, and the writers themselves will be picketing studios and making themselves heard. If the Writers Guild of America strike keeps TV scribes off the job for a while, it's going to alter your viewing habits big time. The WGA called for a work stoppage after failing to get a bigger slice of revenue from DVD sales and a piece of what the networks expect to earn from digital downloads of TV shows.

While procedurals such as CSI and Criminal Minds tend to draw viewers in repeats – giving CBS an edge over the competition - the network has been loading up on game shows. Power of 10, a moderate success over the summer, will be back. CBS also has Do You Trust Me and a new version of Password hosted by Regis Philbin.

The network is also ready to let the cameras roll in the Big Brother house if necessary. On the scripted side, you'll definitely see all seven produced episodes of Jericho. The network will also have close to 13 episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine ready to go. The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson will go dark immediately, but the conventional wisdom is that Letterman will return after a few weeks out so that the rest of his staff can remain employed. Once he returns, so will Ferguson."





"Jay Leno rolled up to a picket line on his motorcycle with doughnuts for striking writers at NBC.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus marched with pickets at Warner Bros. in the shadow of a giant billboard advertising her CBS show, "The New Adventures of Old Christine."

Even Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama weighed in with a prepared statement urging producers to work with writers to end the strike.

Writers got a little help from their famous friends on Monday as the Screen Writers Guild launched their strike against movie studios and TV networks."