Hey there guys. Here is the latest installment of The Movie Blog Uncut Podcast in both audio and Video. So join us as we discuss
1) THE WGA STRIKE!!! – John explains why he believes the WGA is striking with the wrong goals, why the residual system is outdated, terminally flawed and ultimately ensures the majority of writers will continue to be treated unfairly. The residual system needs to be replaced by another system that treats writers more fairly and compensates writers properly regardless if the movies they write are hits or failures.
We also discuss…
2) Beowulf
3) McG officially directing the next Terminator film
4) Kevin Smith lands Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks to star in “Zack and Miri Make A Porno”
5) Tom Cruise as Hugh Hefner?
6) Man’s Men in movies
You can check out the video here:
Or you can download the video to your computer by right clicking HERE and selecting “Save Link or Target As”
GET THE AUDIO ONLY VERSION HERE
Did anyone else have a problem with the audio-only version? The first time I downloaded it I get one minute and 37 seconds, the second time I only got 18 seconds…
I have to say, after 5 mins of watching the Video I didnt like it, im sticking with the audio.
I think the video takes away from the podcast a little bit. Obviously i love videos like that WGA one you did, things that you actually need to see. But the podcast as a video for me personally takes away from the content.
Although if people like to watch the talks, thats cool. I get creeped out by watching Doug.
I love the podcast though and always will.
Hi guys, really interesting points made. However, i was waiting for you to come on to the main point of the argument which is about TV writers. I know movie writers are involved too, but i dont think talking about Transformers is a good argument when not too many people know how the system works for TV writers. Like myself. How do you think TV writers should be going about things?
Podcasts, video podcasts and a Transformers commentary…has christmas come early?!?!?!
Nice to see you branching out into new things. I liked seeing the video but I’m gonna stick to the audio feed. The visuals didn’t really add too much and I thought they kind of detracted from something. There’s a lot of personality that comes across in your voices, especially Doug’s, which I think is lost with the video.
I hear what you’re saying about the Writers Guild but I don’t think your chair maker analogy is valid. Every industry has a unique business model. You can’t really compare different industries like that.
John, I liked the points you made on the gross over payment of actors. I’m in utter agreement, and do believe that the script is essentially the backbone of the movie, as well as what determines if a film turns out well. I’m not a big Tarantino fan, but he sold True Romance for thirty thousand dollars, and the film went on to gross…however many million, I’m not sure. I’m sure Christian Slater made something like ten times that amount for his performance (which albeit was good). I’ll end this here, I just wanted you to know that I agree with you in the fullest.
Hey Kip,
No, my point is perfect. You said:
“residuals are to bring them up to what they should have been paid for the value of the work.”
That’s my point. It’s a stupid and ridiculous system. Writers should not be fighting for residuals. They should be fighting to get paid value for their work to start with! Their compensation should be independent from the gross of the project, which is largely dependent on the work of other people.
Writers should be fighting to get rid of an outdated and flawed residual system that does not work. They need to start fighting to get paid their worth upfront.
The producer gets the money, it does not mean it is their money. Your point is flawed, the residuals are to bring them up to what they should have been paid for the value of the work.
Let’s be frank the producers can not be trusted, would you take a percentage of the profits? Knowing that they have in the past fixed the books to turned Coming to America into a loss (Worldwide gross $288,752,301).
Oh, and the 4 cents is per DVD… They consider that $60 heroes box set A DVD, the writers get one payment off of that.
Bottom line:
People set the value with their money. People are idiots. Those idiots don’t support movies for their scripts. They spend their money on flashy crap.
It’s unfortunate, but until people start going to movies for the writers instead of the actors, etc. the writers won’t be as valued by the studios.
Great podcast! A small setback: I wanted to hear John talk about Tim Burton’s next 2 movies.
Off to listen the commentary for Transformers!
Do popcorn movie writers make more money than very well written movies? I wonder if more writers want to write more popcorn movies so that they can expect a bigger pay cut rather than someone who writes let’s say a Shakespeare
movie?
Hey Alfie,
If I was offered $300,000 for my script and all rights to it, I’d accept it and no, i wouldn’t expect to get residuals. And if the movie they make from it bombs… then it’s no skin off my nose, cause I got my $300k
the residual system is unfair to the vast majority of writers. Take for example the illustration I brought up in the podcast
Transformers
American Gangster
The screenwriter who wrote American Gangster wrote the superior script… however, because of the talents of OTHER PEOPLE, Transformers made more money (The success of Transformers financially had MUCH more to do with the work of ILM than it did with Ocri and his partner)
This is an unfair system. The Transformers screenwriters gain all the benefits of the fatal residual system, even though their work had little to do with the success of the film, while the screenwriters who did much better work end up getting the short end of the stick.
Writers need to be paid MORE, independent of the failure or success of the movies they help create. This will never happen, nor be fair as long as a toxic residual system is in place. It’s outdated and horribly flawed. It needs new thinking and a new system that ensures fair compensation to writers. The residual system doesn’t do that.
again I ask you john…..
this script you and doug are writing…when you shop it around will you take a moral stand and refuse to accept any royalties or residuals?
tell me honestly will you seriously be happy to watch the script you wortr and received a one off up front fee go on to become a blockbuster worth millions. the characters and siutations you created go on to become a huge success. yet you only got a flat up front fee and never see another cent even though the studio continues to make money for years and years off your work??you wouldn’t complain about that?
you talk about risk and rewards… and that is fine I do agree but lets remember that is the studios job. they exist to take risks and make films. it is their sole purpose so yes they run the risk of losing if a film bombs but the balance of who gets the bigger cut of a hit is not in jeopardy if the writers get what they are asking for.
If you are a songwriter and you write a hit song. you don’t sing it or record but you write should you get royalties for your work?
of course you should….
i don’t think that the 3D thing is a gimmick but then again I don’t know its still relatively new.
Hopefully the future films that have 3D will have more going on in them than Beowulf.
Here’s to James Cameron’s AVATAR!!!! That movie better be good with 3D technology and its story.
good to have you back guys!
viva la Movie blog! Para Siempre! (Forever!)
Will we be seeing the Transformers commentary soon? (I hope!)
I have Doug’s hoodie:)
Campea’s eyes bugging out at the 13:45 mark made me fall over laughing.
Beowulf is an average movie made better by a 3D gimmick. I watched that thing on a regualr screen on purpose to see if it was a good flick without a gimmick, and it was an above average movie, but it was not nearly as spectacular as some people are trying to say. I believe that people are going to realize how flat this thing is when it hits DVD without the benefit of 3D.
Doug, stop staring into the camera like that you creep lol.
Hey Aaron,
Video feeds and iPod compatible video files are coming next week.
Hey John, do you have a video only feed yet? I am wanting to add it to my video podcatcher. Thanks.
I KNEW the new “suprise” you were talking about would be video-recorded UNCUTs. AWesome shit guys.
Goodie, video editions are back!
I was thinking all along, while you were talking about the strike, that the ILM wizards were more responsble for the success of Transformers than the writers and they don’t get residuals…and then, 20 minutes in, you mentioned that exact point.
Excellent points about the strike guys. Great topic. It’s nice to see the videos back!