WGA Strike Talks Collapse

oh please, will you all stop being so damn greedy and make a deal, end the strike, and bring our damn tv shows back!! also get started on our highly anticipated movies. what happened to film/tv being an art form. now its taken over by greedy businessman!!

Remember that scene in 9 to 5 during the Snow White dream sequence when the secretary's chains break, the doors open, and everyone walks out into the light?

That is what's going to happen when TV stops. Everyone who is chained to their TV sets will walk out of their house and rediscover what life is like without one.

That, or everyone will end up like Peter in Family Guy and walk around with a piece of cardboard in the form of a TV screen hanging from their stomach pretending that what they're watching through it is a TV show.

One or the other...

They need to pay these people what they are worth.I mean,they pay some actors a ridiculous amount to do stupid movies.....

Hire outside of those beholden to their prehistoric systems. You'll probably find more capable, creative people in doing so anyhow.

"what happened to film/tv being an art form. now its taken over by greedy businessman!!"

First, it's businessMEN -- plural -- not "businessman," and questions require question marks (which look like this: ?). You use only exclamation points. As for film being an art form, I have to ask how many movies you've made because this "art form" practically requires that it be approached like a business because it costs so much to do. In any case, if it weren't appraoched like a business (which it IS), writers probably wouldn't get paid much at all -- if at all. It's an ignorant knee-jerk reaction to look at two parties feuding and automatically assume that whichever has the most money or the most control over the money in the situation that they must be the ones solely responsible for the problem. Do you think these writers could put movies out on their own without the studios? If not for the studios, these people probably wouldn't even have jobs. It's true -- writers should get their share of returns from the new media, but AMPTP's statement about the particular union not having concluded one accord in what is now 25+ years seems less than flattering and respectable for the WGA. Frankly, I couldn't care less when these negotiations end. Almost everything we get on TV and movies is a remake (or "reimagining") or some veiled piece of political propaganda, usually left-wing but sometimes right, especially in sci-fi, horror and fantasy. Horrors are mostly remakes or retoolings of impotent formulas, usually relying on the same glamorized vampires and / or zombies over and over and over and over again. Sci-fi usually consists of "Star Wars" or "Star Trek" rip-offs where the villains are almost always a "greedy" corporation or agents of some militant, oppressive group or government. And fantasy, well... maybe I shouldn't address that since I've never been a big fan of what passes as "fantasy" fare in the first place, though I do like sci-fi and horror -- at least the original stuff from a few decades ago. In any case, it's never going to be enough for either the studios or the union people, even if an agreement is reached (for a while, at least), and I suspect that if the industry does have to go on partial-hiatus for a while, it might be for the best in terms of what's made post-hiatus and in terms of audience appreciation of what is out there -- or, at least, what's worth being appreciated.

Start grooming new writers and let the union writers sit out. Let them see how easily they can be replaced. The industry would go through some growing pains, but it would pay off at the end. I'm willing to put up with novices while they get their feet wet and yes I'll pay at the movies just to support them. Hell, don't most of us complain about the hack writers and lack of originality any way. If witers can't make a living wage then find another line of work. It's not a constitutional right to be able to make a living doing what you want. If there were less writers wages would go up. The market always adjusts to supply and demand. Too many shitty writers right now hurts their bottom line.
One last thing that I feel is that most people in the creative side in this industry should be freelancers and negotiate each agrreement separately. That way the quality of eachg work would be payed accordingly instead of imposing a number on something that isn't worth shit. Maybe then we might see some good writing.

Amen, WISEGUY562! Besides, I doubt any freelancers that could get work would be "novices" anyway, so having to put up with novices probably wouldn't be an issue. In any case, too much of whether or not someone gets employed in Hollywood depends upon who they know versus what they can do and how well, and I suspect that applies to the writers as much as anyone -- maybe moreso. Thousands spend a fortune entering contests, hoping to get discovered as a writer -- many of them well worth their salt -- while a few producers just have friends that they think can write so those friends get jobs without ever really competing. It certainly hasn't been conducive to quality writing and production. Here's hoping this strike teaches both sides some valuable lessons.

You all are forgetting one small detail. The Unions and the companies are the old mobs in new form strong arming the business. It is the way in entertainment overall that will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

Besides, everyone knows what happens when you cross a strike line... So, who wants to be the first independent writer to take a job from the WGA during this strike?

Hey jorson28 and WISEGUY562...You guys are SPOT ON!!! Unions served a very important role at their inceptions. Folks were getting screwed! I believe in the world of entertainment, you should sink or swim independently (with the assistance of your agent, of course). Negotiate your own deal(s). If you can't make it without "mob" (mentality, not organized crime) assistance, then find something else to do for a living.

I would absolutely LOVE to see some fresh takes and original ideas flying about. Too many remakes. Too many reimaginings.

If only it were an issue of public safety/welfare, the president could step in and fire their asses (aka Reagan vs air traffic controllers).

Not 100% certain where I sit on this issue. I mean, it's a free society and all. Except there aint nothing free, ya know. Because you're on your own with no guarentees. Law of the jungle and all.
Outside of that, they say that slavery has been abolished. Except of course for the convicted felon... yo I'll have to think about that.