Making the Movie

13Nov/070

I got an anonymous email from wga.advocate@gmail.com that is apparently making the rounds:

This email is going everywhere in Hollywood - every studio lot - almost every person I know. This was not sent to you by mistake. This entertainment labor strike touches everyone, as does TV and film (in "the business" or not). The rest is of this email is a personal shout out into the abyss, on behalf of Hollywood, for which I have worked for many years, whether for agents, managers, producers, studios, even talent including writers and directors... This is going to everyone I worked with everywhere, and everyone else I know too. It's time to cover the real news that media networks are not, because media is owned by the same people with which the writers are negotiating.

[...]

I worked for producers and learned so much. As someone who has also worked as a writer, I loved working with all the producers I have in this town, and they are fair and decent people. Even if we disagreed on story, the same Development Execs feeling a pinch right now are a writer's teammates and story allies. Writers are weakened without their perspective. But instead of talking with these co-workers at the table, writers are negotiating with lawyers.

No one is happy on either side of the table here, and if this continues, it will only get worse. The lawyers are only looking out
for the giant conglomerates that have gobbled up Hollywood over the past fifteen years, and I fear they have forced writers to strike for a reason. And yes, there is no other term that fits outside of "forced". Unless the writers want to cut their income from 2.5% on residuals to .3% as new media and television merges (resulting an an 80% paycut), writers have no choice but to strike. And the AMPTP would not force a strike without an agenda.

I doubt it's as simple as trying to bust the union, because writers will never give up minimums or the leverage of standing together (I wouldn't have), no matter how long this takes. Nor is this about those four cents on DVDs. Let's face it, instead of charging $15 a DVD, they could simply charge $15.20 (giving ALL artists double the
current rate), and STILL sell the same number of DVDs. Would twenty cents stop you from buying one? I also doubt it's all about the small percentage from downloads as an issue either - because even if the studios make no money, neither would writers. So, if that ain't it... And those are the big issues on the table... So, why force writers to walk out?

More like a lockout. This is what has been bothering me too. I wondered if the writers might be collateral damage in a battle against the agencies. The WGA Advocate takes it a step further:

Here's my far-fetched theory that over half the people I have spoken with are stunned that they actually believe it... Could be this Machiavellian? For your consideration:

Since "Big Business" (multi-national conglomerate organizations) bought out the studios, they have not had the chance to do what they normally do when buying major companies, and that is to: fire almost everyone, give middle management promotions (without raises) to fill the gaps of the fired bosses and their big salaries, then integrate a production pipeline with a simple, efficient, NORMAL business model. This is only possible NOW because until recently there were still independent movie studios who accepted the film business model norms. In short, they are forcing writers (and soon actors) to strike so they have an excuse to fire the people who work behind the gates, not the artists. They just want to blame the artists for firing half of L.A. over the span of the strike. Think about how much money they will save.

Big Business can now force majeure more than writers, but expensive producers and their entire teams as well. Why not streamline production and run all projects directly through studio personnel only? One simple pipeline of product and production run by story editors and savvy accountants (the new studio producer/executive)? It would save these studios a fortune. No more independent producer deals, instead strictly studio production teams. We ALL know that this is what Big Business does best. So they force the artists to hike to they can clean house and redesign studio lot efficiancy.

If it takes too long, as a perk, they'd love to bankrupt agencies and managers by keeping talent out of work - deals without so many middle men - no managers and their producer fees - perhaps direct deals with talent just like in the '30s.

A lot of people will be fired on every side the longer this strike goes, and it will happen. Hell, I almost see the appeal of it... It
would simplify everything... Sever all those hands reaching into the cash register. Worst case scenari: can you see studio emblumed Polo style shirts everyone wears and don't forget Hawaiian shirt Fridays? I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

In short, I fear for everyone in town. I don't think the producers see the writing on the wall that the AMPTP (supposedly a producer's alliance, yet no producers are involved nor oversee these negotiations) is going to get most producers laid off as their offices are shut down when product diminishes. Even if it went a year or so, those fiscal losses wouldn't equal the TRILLIONS in saved revenue long term. And for Big Business, these losses are a drop in the bucket - acceptable in exchange for the future cost cuts. We all know this is how these companies have always operated.

This gives the studios a lot of credit for being forward-thinking. I'd say Big Business is more focussed on short-term goosing of stock prices. Mass firings, however, do tend to do that...

Unless producers like Bruckheimer, Silver, Grazer, and Rudin take over and stop letting the corporation lawyers negotiate in their name, we're ALL in trouble. People will be fired in waves. Deals flushed. It's only a matter of time. If Producers and Writers would just sit in a room together instead of writers and lawyers... Or even better, business affairs guys sit down with a few top agents, this could be over in a few hours! But sadly, that will not happen, UNLESS producers unite and intervene on their own behalf. Because in a year, the AMPTP can replace Nick Counter with a giant parachute, and then they'll cut the deal with the unions once studio pipelines are sorted and ready for new product. And nobody will know the truth, just like the strike is starting to be swiftly brushed under the rug in news reports by the networks.

Maybe this strike has made me a little crazy - too much time to consider conspiracy theories. I'm just urging everyone I know to make a deal. The longer it takes, the worse it will get for everyone. Everyone. We all must work together.

I pray for a swift resolution, for all of us.

Thank you all.

Best,

The WGA Advocate