Writer's Guild Authorize Strike, Could Begin Next Week if Negotiations Fail - Sensationalist Headlines

[quote]In a sign of rising labor tensions in Hollywood, members of the Writers Guild of America voted overwhelmingly Monday to authorize a strike just a week before the union’s contract is set to expire May 1. Although the vote is largely seen as a negotiating tactic to put pressure on the studios, it moves the union one step closer to a work stoppage that would have widespread repercussions throughout the film and TV industry. The guild said 96.3% of the 6,310 writers who cast ballots voted in favor of the measure, which gives leaders the authority to call a strike if negotiations fail. The union said 67.5% of eligible WGA members voted, describing it as “a historic turnout.” The union has nearly 13,000 members. During the last writers walkout in 2007, members voted 90% in favor of granting a strike authorization. Though a strike authorization was widely anticipated, the near unanimous support from guild members could give negotiators more leverage in negotiations with the major studios. “We thank you for your resolve and your faith in us as your representatives. We are determined to achieve a fair contract,” the union’s negotiating committee said in an email to members Monday. A strike could still be avoided if the two sides reach an agreement by the deadline next week.[/quote] [quote]The WGA has asked for increases in compensation, including a 3% increase in minimums and the payment of script fees for its lowest-paid members. But the guild said the studios have said ‘no’ to almost all of its demands. In addition, the union says that the studios have proposed cuts to its health plan and have balked at increasing employer contributions.[/quote] [url=http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-writers-guild-strike-authorization-20170424-story.html]LA Times[/url]

Didn't the Writers Strike in America in 2007 cause a lot of cancellations of shows / huge problems? Weren't video games also affected?

The last strike ruined a Scrubs season in it's hayday. I'll never forgive the WGA for that... never.

Welp, there goes any chance of good original TV/films for at least a year or so. I hope Westworld doesn't get fucked too hard

Well, thank goodness all the TV shows that I love are already dead.

[QUOTE=DogGunn;52148335]The last strike ruined a Scrubs season in it's hayday. I'll never forgive the WGA for that... never.[/QUOTE] Is that why one of the seasons just randomly ends?

[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;52148326]Didn't the Writers Strike in America in 2007 cause a lot of cancellations of shows / huge problems? Weren't video games also affected?[/QUOTE] Wasn't the show "Heroes" one of the few affected? I recall reading something involving a writers strike during or after the first season.

good

[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;52148326]Didn't the Writers Strike in America in 2007 cause a lot of cancellations of shows / huge problems? Weren't video games also affected?[/QUOTE] Can't find much on videogames, but a lot of TV shows of all varieties were effected somewhat severely.

For some reason a drone strike popped into my head when I was reading that title. Remind me to never piss off the writers guild.

[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;52148326]Didn't the Writers Strike in America in 2007 cause a lot of cancellations of shows / huge problems? Weren't video games also affected?[/QUOTE] It's also how I discovered the Trailer Park Boys.

Being a writer pretty much sucks in Hollywood. I think a user on this or another forum once pointed it out. You pretty much have to write speculation scripts without any payment in advance (they just expect you to do it for free), then there is a chance that they will reject your script but take ideas from it and get some other writer to simply do it. If you happen to sell a script the payment may be not very good either or when you get attached to a movie there is always a good chance that they will just drop you in favor of some other writer (if you don't do as they say). Situation should be clearly improved for the future for writers. But it's Hollywood after all. [QUOTE=Zeos;52148371]Is that why one of the seasons just randomly ends?[/QUOTE] Season 7 was missing half of its originally planned episodes due to the strike.

[QUOTE=Exploders;52148375]Wasn't the show "Heroes" one of the few affected? I recall reading something involving a writers strike during or after the first season.[/QUOTE] Yeah I recall the show never recovering from that mess. :|

On the bright side, the last time this happened we got a great season of Conan.

[QUOTE=DogGunn;52148335]The last strike ruined a Scrubs season in it's hayday. I'll never forgive the WGA for that... never.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Exploders;52148375]Wasn't the show "Heroes" one of the few affected? I recall reading something involving a writers strike during or after the first season.[/QUOTE] Good. Obviously, not good that the shows got their seasons ruined, but good that the strikes are actually having a noticeable impact on the show's quality. The worse the shows turn out to be without writers, the more power the union has, and that's a good thing.

Somehow absurd to think that shows en masse are authored by faceless guild writers

[QUOTE=Talishmar;52149108]Somehow absurd to think that shows en masse are authored by faceless guild writers[/QUOTE] they're faceless because the studios don't give them a face. i think writers deserve far more credit and recognition than they get, good writing is practically half of a good show or movie

[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;52148326]Didn't the Writers Strike in America in 2007 cause a lot of cancellations of shows / huge problems? Weren't video games also affected?[/QUOTE] Yes and yes.

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_the_2007%E2%80%9308_Writers_Guild_of_America_strike_on_television[/url] Reminder of what effects it had on the movie and game industry when it happened last time

[QUOTE=Takuat;52148362]Welp, there goes any chance of good original TV/films for at least a year or so. I hope Westworld doesn't get fucked too hard[/QUOTE] Just watch movies from other countries.

[QUOTE=Takuat;52148362]Welp, there goes any chance of good original TV/films for at least a year or so. I hope Westworld doesn't get fucked too hard[/QUOTE] The story was told in season 1. Season 2 was doomed from the start to be a katana gimmick, much like the sequels to the original Westworld.

Please no Quantum of Solace again

Good, they deserve better

[QUOTE=DogGunn;52148335]The last strike ruined a Scrubs season in it's hayday. I'll never forgive the WGA for that... never.[/QUOTE] yeah it's not like they write the damn show or anything

Rip pushing up daisies never forget But seriously I hope nothing gets too fucked by this

[QUOTE=Samiam22;52148859]Good. Obviously, not good that the shows got their seasons ruined, but good that the strikes are actually having a noticeable impact on the show's quality. The worse the shows turn out to be without writers, the more power the union has, and that's a good thing.[/QUOTE] Sadly Heroes never managed to recover in quality after the strike from what I remember, with each season getting worse. I dont know much about Scrubs however.

the talents in the field of creatives / arts, from design to writing, are definitely in the right when it comes to striking against this kind of thing. people always underestimate and undervalue creative work.

[QUOTE=DogGunn;52148335]The last strike ruined a Scrubs season in it's hayday. I'll never forgive the WGA for that... never.[/QUOTE] They're striking because their getting a shitty deal. In this case, the studio's are making more money than they were a few years ago, but the writers are making less. Their pensions and healthcare plans are on the verge of collapsing, and their pay sucks. A lot of TV writers are paid per-episode, and since seasons are getting shorter, it means they're being paid less often. Some have even seen their actual pay go down, despite the studio's increased profits. They have a damn good reason to strike.

[QUOTE=Jund;52149700]yeah it's not like they write the damn show or anything[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure that was partially a joke. [editline]26th April 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=AXidenT;52148600]Yeah I recall the show never recovering from that mess. :|[/QUOTE] It would most likely have gotten weird anyway, judging by some commentary and how they planned to end it before it was cancelled.

I'm curious if this will affect Netflix shows too.