I am all for the writers and hope they get what they want.

But, I also believe at some point they are going to start to bite the hand that feeds them - the viewers!

The tide is turning and the viewers are starting to get annoyed, not supportive, of their cause.

The writer’s strike (and the strike back here on the east coast on Broadway) almost feels like we the viewers are being held hostage.

Can you imagine no new tv from February until September?

I will tell you this- viewers will turn their attentions elsewhere. Smart video game and dvd distributors should gearing up to flood the market the “new” materials to keep people busy.

Anyone have an “unscripted” reality show they want to peddle? Nows the time.

Musical Artists should start their tours early- don’t wait for summer.

People will find a way to amuse themselves at night, and, frankly, they might not return in the same numbers in the Fall.

Then, what happens to the residuals and other numbers they are all fighting over?

I agree with a previous poster in getting rid of unions.

Make the writers free agents and then give the writers what they want.

Studios could negotiate based on the writers track record. They could give a really decent percentage to the writer IF the show or movie is a HIT. If it tanks (meaning the public does not like what you have written) then you don’t get squat!

Studios are not THAT GREEDY to not see the logic here.

Hollywood needs to rid itself of the over bloated Unions and Guilds and everything else that sucks the dollars out of creating shows.

GET RID OF ALL OF THE UNIONS and we will see a brighter and leaner Hollywood.

If you supported writers in anyway, or were an actual writer yourself- you would understand the necessity of the strike - and fully support them and the efforts they took (almost delaying the strike for a year!) to ensure that they wouldn’t have to do this.

They have been waiting since 1988 for residuals that are due to them. And yes, it is unfortunate, extremely unfortunate that non-writers are losing their jobs over this aswell but you are blaming the wrong crowd.

Surely, everyone must realize how important it is that unions stand up for the rights of their members. If we don’t support the writers, then we give Producers and companies the Green light to abuse all portions of the entertainment industry.

This is not simply an issue of overdue compensation, free labor and intellectual property rights, but additionally about standing up in an industry where Producers don’t give a damn about those that work for them. An attitude which severly dampens the quality of the product produced.

HBO is consistantly praised for the quality of writing in their shows. They are also the network that gives the creative talent (writers/directors/actors) the most freedom in their work (aka less Producer involvement). Is this a coincidence? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Does this mean that writers can just go off an create great work for the “love of writing’? Um.. no more than a grip can run off and grip for the love of gripping, when they too have a family to support.

HBO pays less than most major networks, yet many writers prefer to work there. Because their work isn’t turned into horrid drivel. And these writers and money-hungry bastards. They have spent a long long time waiting for a fair compensation for their work. And now, after much deliberation and years and years and years of waiting - they are standing up for a wider cause- one that should be embraced by those who have any respect for the moral issues involved.

Or perhaps, you’d prefer a world where there is no union, where producers don’t have to pay a living wage for writing and “where lowest-cost programming will rule; reality TV and UGC.” ( http://www.internetevolution.c....._id=138492 )

I can’t wait. That’d be great fun.

The democratization of the internet is the path to the masses supplanting the studios as the key supplier of entertainment. I think the move is beyond selfish on the part of the writers and while I see their point, the rest of us have everything to lose and nothing to gain in seeing them prevail.

I think breaking the unions is a wise next move. The last WGA strike almost cost me my home and my business. I respect writers, am one myself, but I also have watched many of my friends lose everything during the strikes. I hope the unions go under. As a producer, I feel they have been more instrumental to the downfall of our industry than the 10 percentaries making Jim Carey hit the 20 million dollar payday that would supposedly never be topped. Do the math folks, the inverted pyramid is about to fall, leaving real estate from Malibu to Beverly Hills selling in more than one fire sale.

Cest La Vie

We were running around last week in Hollywood pitching GotCast.com - we are casting for TV shows on-line - particularly non-scripted shows that can you fresh faced talent.

Talk about incredible timing!

Rex

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

Also, does this mean we’ll have more reality TV? Reality TV shouldn’t have writers.