Writer's block

My other blog for today is about the Writer’s Guild Strike. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/business/media/05writers.html?ref=business
This is important because they are going on strike and according to the article, starting picket lines starting tomorrow.

The reason that this is important is because this has already happened. In the late 80s the Writer’s Guild went on strike, and it caused the rise in popularity in cable television, giving rise to HBO and other stations. If this strike continues for an extended period of time, it could cause the exact same thing and seriously effect television and movies for the rest of the year and television season.

The demands that they are making I believe are fairly reasonable. The major studios have drastically decreased the amount of work that is given to the union and they have exception when it comes to the internet. The talent unions are given residuals for the work that is done, sometimes going for years. However, the Writer’s Union does not have the same rights.

The Writer’s Union has a big difference in the amount of wages that its members earn. Some earn millions and some earn practically nothing. The residuals will help the lower wage earners to make a livable wage. But it will also make it so that the studios do not get a free ride when it comes to the internet.

Much of this stems from the residuals but also from the fact that the studios have been getting a free ride with internet entertainment. The studios have also been using more outside, independent sources for their writing, and have been trying to avoid using the union. It is the same thing that happened with the actor’s strike. We saw a proliferation of reality TV and bad programming. Unfortunately, this will most likely happen again if the strike takes too long. I hope for a swift resolution that goes in the favor of the Writer’s Guild.