Writer's Guild Strike of 2023 - Fuck these people

[make_it_so]

The Hollywood strike might be over by tomorrow, because the studios will be firing the writters. And I feel sad yet happy at the same time. Sad, because they're are some writers that write good things, but I feel happy because hey maybe the studios will hire younger folk for writers and we will probably get another golden age of TV, streaming, and movies.

You know all those shit and obnoxious hipster writers like Chuck Wendig that Disney hired to write their new Star Wars Expanded Universe for pennies on the the dollar? That's the quality of writer you're going to be getting. Because while they might fucking suck and be obsessed with bizarre shit like periods, they're cheap and do what they're fucking told.

 

[macrodegenerate]

There's a bit of doom and gloom about AI in this thread, but I would say its a net positive. If AI can do the job of the shitters just as well as they do, actual writers will have to do/be better than AI. That might allow the cream to rise to the top. And, since there will be more money around due to not having to prop up (or "pay a living wage to") the bottom 2/3rds of writers, the actual writers might be paid better. This is especially true of investigative reporting, as there is a lot of research involved in doing it well.

It's funny, but journos might actually be the only ones immune to AI. The only problem is they will have to do actual journalism and investigative reporting. I guess I'm the retard after all. I just learned to code.

 

[oh no its pipkun]

I have a theory as to why there are an over saturation of uninspired, unoriginal, writer/directors/and entertainers in Hollywood. It starts with us, the consumer us. There was a time when original movies made bank, however, I argue after the success of The Ring, an American remake of Ringu, was the domino to fall first. How many Japanese movies were remade for the American market? So many that I don't think I could name them all if you asked. Then we have based on true events, which the premise is pretty much set in stone you just need to write a script; this offers a little bit of creative leeway and may even require it. Then you have your based on Novel movies while the original stories and scripts further slid into obscurity and lacked the draw.

Studios thus hired mindless writers, glorified scribes, who could pump out remakes, shoddy "based on true events/history" scripts, and other various forms of derivative material while actively filtering out and probably disenfranchising actually talented writers. We've seen what these writers do when unleashed with unrestrained creativity; it's all bullshit that a college student or a high school student would care about. Because these people lack any actual lived experience, only the experience of a sealed terrarium that is a college or union.

That's how the movie industry works. you get one movie that does well because it told a good story and movie execs elsewhere are saying "DID YOU SEE THAT MOVIE? GENRE XYZ is HOT RIGHT NOW, AUDIENCES LOVE IT, GREENLIGHT 5 MOVIES!" Lloyd Kaufman of Troma mentioned Unforgiven (or was it tombstone?) and the slew of western movies that came out after. Same shit happens in the b-film world.

the oversaturation comes from Streaming Companies and their need to drive subs. Netflix was shoveling cash every to buy up all kinds of schlock in hopes that something would be a standout hit; they paid Prince Harry and his wife $100 Million for a shit documentary. You get your money upfront, you get to make your series or movie and there are little to no consequence regarding quality or ratings. Who cares if you phone it in. or if you never make anything as in Harry and Sparkles' case?

It's funny, but journos might actually be the only ones immune to AI. The only problem is they will have to do actual journalism and investigative reporting. I guess I'm the retard after all. I just learned to code.

Most investigative journalists have a substack to subscribe to. MSN rewrites Press releases (or copies verbatim) which AI can do.

 

[ZMOT]

Looking forward to the new golden age of cinema where 14 year-old dweebs in their basements make edgy Snow White adaptions with big honkers.

literally

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way …”

 

[Stoneheart]

"DID YOU SEE THAT MOVIE? GENRE XYZ is HOT RIGHT NOW, AUDIENCES LOVE IT, GREENLIGHT 5 MOVIES!" Lloyd Kaufman of Troma mentioned Unforgiven (or was it tombstone?) and the slew of western movies that came out after. Same shit happens in the b-film world.

They also jew each others ideas... member when 2 animated movies about ants came out in the same year?

 

[DavidS877]

Studios thus hired mindless writers, glorified scribes, who could pump out remakes, shoddy "based on true events/history" scripts, and other various forms of derivative material while actively filtering out and probably disenfranchising actually talented writers.

And when they're given a pretty good story to start, like the Witcher or Wheel of Time, or Lord of the Rings(more or less), which really just needed to be adapted to fit a TV show they still manage to fuck it up.

 

[macrodegenerate]

And when they're given a pretty good story to start, like the Witcher or Wheel of Time, or Lord of the Rings(more or less), which really just needed to be adapted to fit a TV show they still manage to fuck it up.

Well in LOTR they broke the one rule, that even a passing fan knows. You never show Sauron if you can help it.

 

[Random Internet Person]

Not sure when I saw this, but now I'm getting to posting it.

She-Hulk Star Hits Back At Disney CEO After Strike Comments: “Completely Out Of Touch"​

BYTC PHILLIPS

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law star Tatiana Maslany hits back at Disney CEO Bob Iger after his strike comments, labelling him as "completely out of touch."

• Tatiana Maslany criticizes Disney CEO Bob Iger for being "completely out of touch" with the workers who make the shows and bring in viewers and money.
• Maslany highlights the lack of wealth sharing with the crew, cast, and writers, stating that people are taken advantage of within the Disney show system.
• Ongoing strikes by writers and actors could have a severe impact on future Marvel projects, potentially leading to a lack of content for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other major Hollywood properties.

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law star Tatiana Maslany has lashed out at Disney CEO Bob Iger following his comments about Hollywood’s ongoing strike action. Just prior to members of the Screen Actors Guild joining the Writers Guild of America on the picket lines, Iger conducted a televised interview in which he declared the unions’ respective demands were “just not realistic”. The Disney CEO, who reportedly commands an annual paycheck worth $27 million, was quickly condemned for his comments by a range of pundits, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Anson Mount and even Walt Disney’s own great-grandniece Abigail Disney.



Maslany, who helmed the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, is now one of the latest to add her voice to Iger’s list of outspoken critics. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter whilst on the picket lines in New York, the Emmy award-winning actress described her Disney boss as “completely out of touch” with those responsible for making his company’s content. Check out her comments below:

"I think he’s completely out of touch. He’s completely out of touch with the workers who make his shows happen, who make people watch these shows, who bring viewers to him and him money."
"Having worked on a Disney show, I know where people fall through the cracks and where people are taken advantage of and it’s outrageous the amount of wealth that is not shared with the people who actually make the show. That’s crew, cast, writers."

What Hollywood’s Strikes Mean For The Marvel Cinematic Universe​

Since Disney first bought Marvel for $4 billion in 2009, the brand has gone on to deliver the company a string of box office hits and has firmly cemented its place as one of the most profitable IPs of all time. With the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe now the standard against which all other big-budget franchises are judged, there is likely a great deal of internal concern about what impact protracted strike action may have on the property.

Even during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, Marvel Studios were eventually able to find ways to continue productions like Thor: Love and Thunder and Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. However, with both the writers and actors now united on the picket lines, progress on future projects like Deadpool 3 and the Disney+ Daredevil: Born Again series has now come to a halt. If the studios and unions can not find a way to resolve their disputes in a timely fashion, it is possible that Marvel Studios may soon be facing a dearth of content far beyond the kind of disruptions experienced during COVID-19.



Already the MCU is struggling to market upcoming releases like The Marvels without the benefit of its leading stars, but unless the ongoing strikes come to an end there will quickly become a time when there will be nothing left for them to market. While Marvel boss Kevin Feige may be keen for a swift resolution, the very same MCU machinery that She-Hulk: Attorney At Law pokes fun at can only restart if CEOs like Iger return to the negotiating table. Otherwise, the immediate future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will continue to dim alongside many other major Hollywood properties.

https://screenrant.com/shehulk-tatiana-maslany-disney-ceo-strike-statement/

https://archive.ph/dAb5x

 

[DavidS877]

I think it would be good for Marvel and Star Wars and most other Disney properties to take a break.

Seems like they're seriously diluting the brand by shitting out things nearly monthly. Old Disney was good at this with their limited releases from the "Vault" for purchases of their movies. Now they just seem to be throwing stuff at the wall.

And the actors and writers coping and seething is nice too.

 

[Absurdist Laughter]

And when they're given a pretty good story to start, like the Witcher or Wheel of Time, or Lord of the Rings(more or less), which really just needed to be adapted to fit a TV show they still manage to fuck it up.

That's the thing, you gotta put yourself into the shoes of the show writers. Young, inexperienced, looking to leave their mark after thousands of dollars wasted. They aren't satisfied with being just a name/just a number or transcriber. It is why ideology continues to leach into media and fuck up perfectly good stories. They want to tell there own stories but have never been told no or faced/listened to any meaningful criticism. That is what the culture of the young is, they can do no wrong.

 

[TrainWreckWatcher]

That's the thing, you gotta put yourself into the shoes of the show writers. Young, inexperienced, looking to leave their mark after thousands of dollars wasted. They aren't satisfied with being just a name/just a number or transcriber. It is why ideology continues to leach into media and fuck up perfectly good stories. They want to tell there own stories but have never been told no or faced/listened to any meaningful criticism. That is what the culture of the young is, they can do no wrong.

Amazing that they can't understand all they have to do is create content faithful to the works. That's what people want and people will adore them for it and begin to build trust in them with handling IPs and eventually doing their own.

 

[Random Internet Person]

https://twitter.com/endwokeness/status/1686803635802435608

 

[Ralph Barnhardt]

Background actors, the people who are literal bodies to fill space, deserve a living wage and health care!

https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1686818485534343180

Mike Stoklasa of Red Letter Media once told a story about how he and Rich Evans were background extras for some romcom. They were bodies in a crowd to make a carnival look packed.

Simu Liu, whose name sounds like me making up a rhymey racist name, is saying that people like Mike and Rich should've gotten living wages and insurance. lol

In other news, a happening might be happening.

https://twitter.com/joerussotweets/status/1686570436287774720

Joe is so sure that this is in the writers' favor to the point of gloating.


Remember that scene in The Big Short where the two small time capital investors get called in to do their sales pitch to the big bank at 4:50PM on a Friday and it was scheduled at that time specifically so the bank could laugh at them and hand wave them away when all of their real work was completed? I have no idea if this will be the case but I root for the writers to get their shit kicked in. Why else would they call a meeting with WAG 4PM on a Friday? I'm sure they'll get sooooooooooooo much done before the weekend.

If you're wondering, this Russo is not one of the two Russo brother writing duo. He some asshole who's done three movies, one of which was one of those God awful Bruce Willis movies that Bruce did so he could get as much money as possible before his sickness overtook him.

All of Hollywood should die and these writers should be the first to go followed by the actors, talk show fuckwads, producers, directors, and then the execs. Fuck these people.

 

[Xenomorphs Are Cute]

Apparently Stephen Amell (Green Arrow on CW's Green Arrow) just doubled down on TMZ about not voting for the strike.

View attachment 5247966

https://twitter.com/endwokeness/status/1686803635802435608

I knew it, Jenna Ortega is the superior Latina starlet after all.

Background actors, the people who are literal bodies to fill space, deserve a living wage and health care!

https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1686818485534343180

View attachment 5247878
Mike Stoklasa of Red Letter Media once told a story about how he and Rich Evans were background extras for some romcom. They were bodies in a crowd to make a carnival look packed.

Simu Liu, whose name sounds like me making up a rhymey racist name, is saying that people like Mike and Rich should've gotten living wages and insurance. lol

In other news, a happening might be happening.

https://twitter.com/joerussotweets/status/1686570436287774720

View attachment 5247907
Joe is so sure that this is in the writers' favor to the point of gloating.
View attachment 5247923
View attachment 5247937
Remember that scene in The Big Short where the two small time capital investors get called in to do their sales pitch to the big bank at 4:50PM on a Friday and it was scheduled at that time specifically so the bank could laugh at them and hand wave them away when all of their real work was completed? I have no idea if this will be the case but I root for the writers to get their shit kicked in. Why else would they call a meeting with WAG 4PM on a Friday? I'm sure they'll get sooooooooooooo much done before the weekend.

If you're wondering, this Russo is not one of the two Russo brother writing duo. He some asshole who's done three movies, one of which was one of those God awful Bruce Willis movies that Bruce did so he could get as much money as possible before his sickness overtook him.
View attachment 5247953
All of Hollywood should die and these writers should be the first to go followed by the actors, talk show fuckwads, producers, directors, and then the execs. Fuck these people.

If we had a celebrity lolcow central (Hollywood celebs, not internet e-celebs), Simu Liu would be a goddamn regular in it. That said, despite knowing this is said for clout, I have to appreciate the sentiment of doing something for the background actors.

Also, what the fuck is that Joe retard's problem? Does he realise that publicly asking for blacklisting people for calling out your hackery as a writer & suggesting AIbefore you even have a position to do so [A] , while calling said detractors a "MAGA, Flat Earthier [A]" is not really a good PR of any sorts & makes him look like an insecure, power-hungry, soyboy, instead of the supposed underdog he & the other writers are supposed to look like? I get he's a soyboy with his PFP & that Trump bitching [A], but still.

That 4:00 PM Friday meeting, which he's really [A], deeply [A] , absolutely [A] coping about, is the true highlight. After that tree incident, the studios might just mock them even more.

 

[Terrifik]

From the Pipeline as of today or tomorrow talks are declared.
Day 90

New York (CNN) — Hollywood studios on Tuesday asked the Writers Guild back to the negotiating table in the first known talks since the nearly 100-day strike brought production of most television shows and movies to a halt.

The meeting, sought by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and scheduled for Friday, is the first potential sign of a thaw between the two sides and could offer a glimmer of hope for an end to the work stoppage. The Writers Guild represents more than 11,000 writers.

There are no talks scheduled yet with SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 actors who also went on strike last month. The two sides have not met since the strike started late on the night of July 12.

“We are ready, willing and able to return to the table at any time,” said a statement from Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator. “We have not heard from the AMPTP since July 12 when they told us they would not be willing to continue talks for quite some [time]. The only way a strike comes to an end is through the parties talking and we urge them to return to the table so that we can get the industry back to work as soon as possible.”

A spokesman for AMPTP could not provide any information about when talks might resume with the actors.

“We remain committed to finding a path to mutually beneficial deals with both unions,” said a statement from the management group.

A settlement would need to be reached with both unions before most movie and television production could resume. Late night television shows stopped airing new episodes with the start of the writers strike on May 2. And the traditional fall television season will be delayed at this point even if the both strikes ended immediately. But there have been concerns in the industries that the strikes could drag through to the end of the year.

This has been the best summer for movie ticket sales since the start of the pandemic. But many of the media and tech companies that make up AMPTP, including Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), CBS (VIAC), Disney (DIS), NBC Universal, Netflix (NFLX), Paramount Global, Sony (SNE) and CNN parent Warner Bros. Discovery, have been engaged in cost-cutting and deep job cuts even ahead of the two strikes, as they place a new emphasis to reach profitability on streaming services that many have started in recent years, rather than simply grow subscribers.

This is the first time that both unions have been on strikes together since 1960, so long ago that Ronald Reagan was then president of SAG, a predecessor of SAG-AFTRA. Both unions are making similar demands at the negotiating table, seeking better pay, improved residual payments, especially when shows air on streaming platforms, and protections against job losses due to the use of artificial intelligence.

The-CNN-Wire

https://www.news8000.com/lifestyle/money/writers-union-and-hollywood-will-resume-talks-aiming-to-end-the-strike/article_90d4c613-a953-5810-927c-33b044427165.html

https://archive.ph/wip/jqnAO

 

[Mr. Zed da Robot Poon Fed]

Looks like the strikes may have actually helped executives save money for themselves.

--

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/david-zaslav-sag-aftra-wga-strike-1235686260/

Warner Bros. Discovery Says Strikes Saved It More Than $100 Million in Q2, David Zaslav Hopes Negotiating Resumes Soon​

By Jennifer Maas

Warner Bros. Discovery execs reported the Hollywood writers and actors’ ongoing work stoppage had brought the company savings in the “low $100 million range” during its Q2 earnings results call Thursday.

Though negotiations have yet to resume between the unions and the studios, WBD says it is currently projecting an “early September” end to the strikes and return to TV and film production.

“We’re in the business of storytelling. Our goal is to tell great stories, stories with the power to entertain and, when we’re at our best, inspire with stories that come to life on screens big and small,” CEO David Zaslav said on the call with analysts. “We cannot do any of that without the entirety of the creative community, the great creative community. Without the writers, directors, editors, producers, actors, the whole below-the-line crew. Our job is to enable and empower them to do their best work. We’re hopeful that all sides will get back to the negotiating room soon and that these strikes get resolved in a way that the writers and actors feel they are fairly compensated and their efforts and contributions are fully valued.”
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-office-actor-returns-fan-donations-stnaley-spinoff-1235687187/
The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May 2, as a result of being unable to reach a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) before the clock ran out on the previous one May 1. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined them July 14, after failing to ink a new agreement with the AMPTP as well.

“It’s critically important that everybody, the writers, the directors, the actors and producers… everyone needs to be fairly compensated and they need to feel valued and feel that they’re fairly compensated in order to do their best work,” Zaslav said. “And we have to focus on getting that done. I’m hopeful that it’s going to happen soon. I think all of us in this business are very keen to figure out a solution as quickly as possible. We are in some uncharted waters, in terms of the world as it is today and measuring it all. And so I think, in good faith, we all got to fight to get this resolved. And it needs to be resolved in a way that the creative community feels fairly compensated and fully valued.”
Also during the Q2 earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels stated that WBD had saved more than $100 million due to the strikes in Q2, which ran April 1-June 30. Only WGA was actually on strike during that time, but TV and film productions were already severely impacted by the solo work stoppage.

Wiedenfels added that “uncertainty” in the studio segment as a result of the strikes “may have implications for the timing and performance of the remainder of the film slate, as well as our ability to produce and deliver content.”

“While we are hoping for a fast resolution, our modeling assumes a return to work date in early September, should the strikes run through the end of the year, I would expect several $100 million upside to our free cash flow guidance and some incremental downside for adjusted EBITDA,” the CFO said.
As Variety reported Tuesday, AMPTP president Carol Lombardini recently reached out to her counterpart at the WGA in an effort to restart negotiations, marking the first communication between the two sides since talks collapsed and the WGA voted to go on strike.

Writers and actors are demanding studios raise pay rates and residuals for streaming content and develop rules and guardrails around the use of AI in TV and film. The simultaneous strikes by the writers and performers unions — the first dual work stoppage to hit Hollywood since 1960 — have shuttered most TV and film production.

When Zaslav was asked about WBD’s position on content licensing, he once again brought up the potential impacts of the strike on the business.

“The content licensing we have, we have one of the one of the best TV and motion picture libraries in the world,” Zaslav said. “If you look at the overall economics, I think we’re actually below the last couple of years, in terms of what we’re selling. If the strike continues, there may be more demand. We’re always looking to maximize. We’re hoping the strike gets settled as soon as possible. It’s important. It’s important that we get going and that we get back to work doing what we love. And we’re hoping that both of these strikes get resolved soon. That’s our focus.”

 

[Anonitolia]

Warner Bros. Discovery Says Strikes Saved It More Than $100 Million in Q2​

KEK IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER

 

[Elwood P. Dowd]

Apparently Stephen Amell (Green Arrow on CW's Green Arrow) just doubled down on TMZ about not voting for the strike.

He pussied out.

The odd part was all he did was complain about the Union's tactics, he said nothing bad about the Union itself nor did he do something like cross picket lines. You'd think that would be taken as reasonable criticism.

 

[Xenomorphs Are Cute]

WGA was actually on strike during that time, but TV and film productions were already severely impacted by the solo work stoppage.

Wiedenfels added that “uncertainty” in the studio segment as a result of the strikes “may have implications for the timing and performance of the remainder of the film slate, as well as our ability to produce and deliver content.”

“While we are hoping for a fast resolution, our modeling assumes a return to work date in early September, should the strikes run through the end of the year, I would expect several $100 million upside to our free cash flow guidance and some incremental downside for adjusted EBITDA,” the CFO said.
As Variety reported Tuesday, AMPTP president Carol Lombardini recently reached out to her counterpart at the WGA in an effort to restart negotiations, marking the first communication between the two sides since talks collapsed and the WGA voted to go on strike.

Writers and actors are demanding studios raise pay rates and residuals for streaming content and develop rules and guardrails around the use of AI in TV and film. The simultaneous strikes by the writers and performers unions — the first dual work stoppage to hit Hollywood since 1960 — have shuttered most TV and film production.

When Zaslav was asked about WBD’s position on content licensing, he once again brought up the potential impacts of the strike on the business.

“The content licensing we have, we have one of the one of the best TV and motion picture libraries in the world,” Zaslav said. “If you look at the overall economics, I think we’re actually below the last couple of years, in terms of what we’re selling. If the strike continues, there may be more demand. We’re always looking to maximize. We’re hoping the strike gets settled as soon as possible. It’s important. It’s important that we get going and that we get back to work doing what we love. And we’re hoping that both of these strikes get resolved soon. That’s our focus.”

KEK IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER

The funniest thing is, literally everyone with a brain & common sense called this would happen. Hell, right now is the most retarded time to go on a strike with that even without that AI boogeyman these people are trying to sell as a big evil.

I myself fucking called it before that all the studios will happily use this as an excuse to not put out more content. Hell, I can tell that after this happening that Disney is jumping for joy right now, since they can not only cancel the rest of their Star Wars content, but also blame it on dumb actors and writers, instead of on their own mismanagement of the franchise. They’ll save billions just not producing anything for a few years & investing their cash somewhere else.

 

[Super-Chevy454]

Sorry for the off-topic sidenote but the UAW(United Auto Workers) should take note of what currently happen with the guild strike because they ask for a similar nonsense.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2023/08/03/uaw-demands-46-percent-pay-hike-in-talks-with-detroit-three-automakers/70525605007/

https://archive.ph/6hO2W

The United Auto Workers is seeking a 46% wage increase over four years as a part of its negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers, according to a page of the union's written demands.
The proposal would be the largest pay increase in recent memory. The proposal from the Detroit-based union that represents approximately 150,000 workers making Chevrolets, Fords, Jeeps and more calls for a 20% general wage increase upon ratification of a new contract "to offset severe impact of inflation" over the past few years, according to the write-up obtained by The Detroit News.

After that, the union demands a 5% wage increase every September through the life of the agreement through 2027.
The UAW's top wage is $32.32 per hour after two 3% wage increases since 2019. The union's proposal would bring that to $47.14, nearing the $49 per hour average top rate recently achieved in a tentative agreement by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters with United Parcel Service Inc.
Meanwhile, pay would be well above estimated averages of wages for workers at nonunion competitors manufacturing in the United States.
UAW President Shawn Fain on Tuesday shared an overview of the "members' demands" that called for "double-digit" wage increases, a cost-of-living allowance, pensions for all, a jobs bank-like Working Families Protection Program and more paid time off. Fain also suggested the union would fight for a 32-hour work week.