Writers Guild Strike Favors Writers
November 1st Strike Rules
There are also specific notice requirements for writers who has written spec scripts for certain producers or studios. They must return any introduced scripts or spec scripts and filed copies already written for a company. The traditional activities of a strike will not be ruled out. Studio companies must basically allow for demonstrations against their business practices as it is a writer's right to do so. Freedom of speech will come into play if there are any objections by any owners of a studio or production company the Guild is striking against. People will be assigned strike duties during this unspecified time and those who are will be instructed of any strike breaks by the studios or production companies.
Other aspects of the rules have been put in place to cover more areas of the strike. Hyphenates, which are people who play a dual role between the Guild and studios, are not to sale, buy, negotiate, produce, or write anything relating to film of any kind. Animation may have the worse of the deal. The rules state that for any animation future or current must adhere to all the rules if they are connected with any of the studio companies the Guild is striking against. This may affect further production for any animated series already in progress for the 2007 fall season. Writers are asked to make sure that it's okay with a Guild staff member before submitting any works for animation.
Non-traditional formats of media such as the Internet or cellular phones are also included in the strikes against writers using studio companies in conjunction with this medium. In case you're not getting the point, for any media format with any studio that is being struck against by the Guild, they can no longer use writers' work until they can make a decent agreement with the Guild to stop ripping off writers in their crooked contracts. This rule includes any scripts that are potentially optioned for production with companies involved in the strike.
Many ask the question about studios who are not apart of the Guild or not apart of the strike. For one thing, those studio companies that are not apart of the Guild are known as independents and they aren't all that affected by the Guild's works or what they represent for writers. Writers who deal with independents deal with them at their own risk. Personally as a screenwriter, I wouldn't deal with an independent unless I had absolutely no choice in the matter. Come to think of it this might be one of those situations where it is totally out of my hands.
Anyway, the main rules of the strike are more strict and must be adhered to. The consequence of going against the guild is the inability to have their backing when you have need for them to strike the industry in your favor. As a writer I would definitely want to have someone with the experience of negotiation to stick up for me. The Guild represents the mediator writers need to protect them from shiest producers, agents, and studio company owners who don't want to pay us what we're worth. DVD sales and royalties from network and cable television viewing of blockbuster movies is what has caused this strike along with shady dealings with new writers selling their material.
There may be, however, a break in the strike to keep it from not having to take place. Apparently the studio companies are considering to change their practices of hiring writers for new material. If this is true then it will definitely be a break because we wouldn't want to have to abide by any of these rules below:
1. No writing for struck studio production companies
2. Do not deliver or sign any documents pertaining to writer for a struck company
3. Do not notify agents to cease negotiations on your behalf as a writer and don't negotiate with struck companies for writing services
4. Notify struck companies to return writer owned 'spec' scripts literary material or sample works
5. Do not discuss future writing assignments or sale or option of literary material with any struck company
6. Do not negotiate with a struck company the development, financing or production of a project
7. Honor all Guild picket lines and do not enter the structured premises of all struck companies
8. File copies of all introduced scripts with the Guild
9. Inform the Guild about any writer engaging in any strike breaking activity
10. You must perform strike duties as a member with Guild staff members (I can see why this is so since they are striking on our behalf...writers!)
11. Do not attempt to negotiate a settlement of the strike with any struck company
Published by KyhaTheWriter
I am no longer an aspiring screenwriter, I am a screenwriter! I will be a published author of an erotic thriller entitled "A Witness to Charm" on November 30, 2008. I've also decided to go back to school and... View profile
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21 Comments
Post a CommentLorenzo Argyle are you serious with your response or are you joking? Kind of tough to tell when you actually made it to the violating human rights part. I'm hoping you are joking but there are some serious nut jobs out there that would feel that way.
I agree with Kjevonay, it is not a matter of copyright , you people must realize that the TV industry now flows inside the people of America as their life blood and violating their rights to take pleasure from the sight of their favourite programs is nothing more than a violation of human rights. You guys are no worse than cold blooded murderers and blackmailers and thiefs and I hear this show of yours that you call a strike also happened a while back so it seems like a habit for you guys doesnt it :) Well stop playing with people's emotions and get serious about writing , if you cant then just dont bother to write anything else again for you dont know the first thing about knowing what responsibility is .
Regards
An angry and violated fan of the TV industry
To Bryan, writing is a real job! This is a serious issue with the WGA. Who is going to protect us other than the copyright office? They cost more than joining the WGA and that is why most people, including me, join their organization. As for my other writers, especially freelance, we need a resolution to this problem real quick! Does anyone have a solution to this problem? I don't mind selling my current screenplays to independent film companies but writing is my livelihood and I need to make money. If anyone reading this has a solution to ending the strike please get in touch with the guild!
The most important thing about this blog is to let people know that there are rules involving the strike. Most of what has been typed is merely a copy of what is on the wga website. I switched it up so that it wouldn't be an exact copy of their words. For those who criticized my writing....where is your report on the strike? If you're so much better where is your pulitzer for blogging? I did do spell check and editing and had other people do the same (who were pulitzer nominees) and they said it was fine for a blog. What is you all's problem?
The sole reason that The Office was shut down before shooting the final script is due to Steve Carell not crossing the WGA picket line. He is truly a stand up guy with great convictions and a high moral standard. I understand that actors face huge financial penalties for not showing up and honoring their contract but if they really want to help end this strike as quickly as possible then the rest of SAG should follow his lead. An actor offering financial aid to out of work writers is a bad joke that only a narcissistic thespian could tell with a straight face. If SAG wants to lend some financial assistance to this situation then do it by walking out and pay the fines (and not just on your lunch break ER). Show some solidarity, some courage and some real character, what you will lose short term financially you will gain ten fold in respect and gratitude from the WGA and the rest of the below the line crafts. As for the WGA, you guys suck at striking. The writers of The Office did
Maybe if the studios don't want to pay back end they should look at paying front end. Pay the big bucks that way and get rid of residuals. That might be an interesting route.
As far as getting paid residuals for hospital work. Seriously? Life and death is a lot different than writing. If you're fine with going on strike as a 9-1-1 dispatcher then do it.
Just after a long day of saving lives it's always nice to come home and be able to flop down in front of the T.V. and relax now isn't it?
For those who think T.V. Writers and Screenplay writers are whiners I say this, "Turn off your T.V. and stop watching movies. Find another way to entertain yourselves. Read a book."
As far as getting a real job? Wouldn't a real job be any job that is based on working in reality? Which is the present.
Obviously, a real job is a job that helps support the economy.
Being a 9-1-1 Dispatcher I should be entitled to a share of the money the ambulance makes from a medical transport, the money the hospital makes from an admittance and so on.
I did my job, I got paid, bottom line. The writers did their job, got paid, bottom line. They are not entitled to anything else. Big whiners!
Justin, you do realize that for Donald Trump's there were writters involved and if it wasn't for them there might not be a "You're fired" to watch. Just because you are replaceable doen't mean everybody else is you don't have the skill to write a successful show and the people who do are trying to get fair treatment so go off to work before you get fired and let those with passion and motivation fight for what they deserve.
Grammatical issues aside, this strike isn't needed. These people already make a bundle and while there is a big gap between what the 'big wigs' and actors make compared to the writers, its all part of life's game. I can spend eight years in the army as in enlisted soldier and still not make as much as a 2LT in her first year. It's a job, and if you wanted to get paid ANYTHING you should be working, not striking and getting 'big name' celebrities to put their faces out there just to garner support. These people are ridiculous, they should be fired. I'd get a court martial if I went on strike.
It is a disgrace to the craft of writing to be a blogger who doesn't use correct grammar. Please do all of your readers on the web the honor of proofreading everything you type before you post. Seriously, this is pathetic. Richard - I am right there with you.