I saw this on Twitter and wanted to get your take. I agree with you.

This takes the idea of unions to a new level. If these guys would drop the union in this case and tackle this as a free market, there would be less crap on both sides. These guys would have to produce better material, the producers would have to pay what the project is worth, and the writers could negotiate fees and residuals per job. If they want New Media rights, they would produce an excellent product and negotiate for that job. None of this unionized one size fits all approach.

Of course the downside would be they would have to up their game. Many probably like the one size fits all union approach, less personal responsibilty and more security to produce substandard material. You are right about the crap being produced by these writers. I guess they like things the way they are though.

By Eban Crawford on Nov 16, 2007

Couldn’t agree more.

By Robert Bruce on Nov 16, 2007

Those Hollywood writers have been churning out crap for years.

Eban Crawford makes sense.

By Hollywood Actor on Nov 16, 2007

If you are good enough to warrant a deal, taking a piece of all mediums’ distribution, then the studios/networks will cut the deal..

If the top writers don’t like the terms, then they have the leverage to do direct to web or mobile deals..it’s all about whether the content is good enough

Unions are like calling mommy to take care of you, when you’re not strong enough to fight your own battles

By Tim on Nov 16, 2007

Somebody can sell something you wrote and you don’t see a penny of the revenue? Doesn’t seem remotely fair to me.

By Kevin Murphy on Nov 16, 2007

What’s unfair about it?

Let me give an analogous example:

I work in a company and produce software / databases. If I design a database for that company and they then proceed to sell it to another company, do I make any money?

No.

Of course I don’t.

Why? Because I was paid to make it for the other guy.

Now, if I have a deal in place where I am to get paid for that sale, then so be it, but if I don’t, oh f’ing well. If I produce it for you on your dime, you can do whatever the hell you want with it.

Fair doesn’t even come into the picture.

By Vinny on Nov 16, 2007

right on Vinny.

By Tim on Nov 16, 2007

I think their concerns probably have some merit, but it’s also impossible to ignore the fact that 99% of what they produce is crap. The end result? I don’t give a crap how long this strike lasts. It could last ten years and I still won’t care.

By jvon on Nov 17, 2007