in some cases the writers worked for free on online webisode stuff because supposedly there was no money in it and it was all for promo etc etc…the writers happily did it only to find out the studio did make ad revenue by attaching buffer commercials to the content.so the writers worked for free while the studio made money. anmd they justify it by saying its experimental.

is that fair?

no its not.

again the writers are trying to have something put in place to cover them for the future.

and as for your comparison to the copy you write for people well if the copy you write on your clients web pages is the entire reason the product exists, like, the product they are selling doesn’t exist until you write the copy then you should get the residual.but thats not the case is it. because that is a terrible comparison.

you said “If you don’t like your job, find another one. If you want $$ that comes with being a producer or a distributor – go become a producer or a distributor.”

they don’t want the $$ that producers or distributors get. no one is talking about tipping the balance. the studios will always make more and get a bigger cut.

the writers didn’t just wake up one morning and decide they want more money. that is not what this strike is about at all.

there is currently a residual system in place. a very good system that makes sure that that the people involved in the creative process all get a share of the pie with the studio getting and rightly so the lions share.

there is a new revenue stream …online media and currently the writers get nothing from it at all. it isn’t even about getting money immediately it is about making a deal about the future. everybody knows that online is the future and the writers are looking ahead.

the studios don’t want to give them anything from the online revenue yet…the writers also want to raise their percentage on dvds as well which in a move to help negotiations they took off the table. they were willing to forget about the dvd raise and focus on a deal so that online revenue was to be addressed. the studios walked away from the table so the writers did what they have every right to do..they have gone on strike.

You don’t just walk off a job because you don’t like what you KNEW you were going to be paid.

If you don’t like your job, find another one. If you want $$ that comes with being a producer or a distributor – go become a producer or a distributor.

Also, Hollywood writers need to learn what it is to produce web content. There are huge costs (servers, etc.) and many of us in online marketing (and are writers with STEADY WORK!) DO understand the value of giving away something for free (aka PROMOTIONAL) in order to attract people to premium content.

And there’s no way in the world I would charge my clients a “residual” on every product they sell as a result of my copy for their web pages.

How about this, let’s just change the whole system to eliminate residuals for EVERYONE and then let’s sit back and see what sort of creative people that then attracts to the industry, shall we?

I’d be really curious to see how that turns out.

Oh, and I’m sorry, but the book analogy IS valid. If the book writer doesn’t write: no book. If the screenwriter doesn’t write: no movie.

Creative works are different from other types of work.

And I have yet to see anyone hear refute my patent analogy. Exact same thing: Person creates/invents idea, a company comes along and throws resources at the idea to create a product, patent holder gets paid for his intellectual property. Nothing is done with the patent, no money. Patent turns into the next infomercial hit, inventor gets rich.

Or maybe inventors shouldn’t get paid based on how well the fruits of their idea perform, either.

Vic

Sorry I got back so late to answer, just woke up an hour ago :(

Darren and Alfie have given good answers to that question and also much shorter than I would have ended up writing :)

I see what you’re saying though, since the screenplay isn’t meant to be the finished product, like a novelist, Producers, Directors and Actors also contribute to the film’s creation and, mostly directors, can also share authorship over. But they add to what the screenwriter’s idea was, he/she is still a major creative contributor, not just a function of the production, and has authorship over that, despite what changes they make. The others contribution is in how they tell the story but they do not take away the screenwriter’s authorship while potentially adding their own.

*”Anytime they choose”- still relies on the work of a writer, be it the original writer or another. Also, some writers do have contracts that give them a say in any changes.

I know my name isn’t Chris, but I wanted to chime in on that.

these guys wrote films that went on to make hundreds of millions of dollars. the story they created and told.

taste has nothing to do with it.

for the most part the idea for the film comes from the writer. without the writers idea and work all those people you listed who help make the film wouldn’t have a film to make….they are all important but writer is number one.

there is no film without the script. it could be the biggest piece of shit ever made but if it makes a ton of cash and you came up with the idea why shouldn’t you get a cut? you created it.

john if you sell your script will you turn down all royalties and residuals?
say the script you create…you come up with…you “invent” for lack of a better word went on to become a huge franchsie worth millions. all your idea you don’t think you deserve a piece of that. you’re seriously trying to tell us you would be happy with your flat fee up front while the studio went on to make hundreds of millions off your idea?

oh and chisox if the writers were being paid up front anything close to what actors and directors get then they might have waited but generally writers are not on anything close to pay parity with actors and directors.

Do screenwriters have authorship over there work? A actor, a director, a producer, or another screenwriter can rewrite their work anytime they chose.

It is to be noted that the two other guilds (actors and directors) do not get residuals from DVD’s and internet distribution. They receive residuals from television rebroadcasts. However there is an impending 2008 strike where they will both go on strike simultaneously to fight for the same thing the WGA is fighting for. You would think the WGA would have waited till 2008 make their case and all three guilds go on strike at the same time, but nooooooo they couldn’t wait. The WGA was never the smartest of the three.

As for the studios they have to be very careful because the outcome of this strike will have a big impact on the SAG and the DGA’s. One can only wonder how much residuals they will demand. I doubt it will be the measly .36-.4% that the WGA will most likely get.