2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike

[Rappy Veteran]

The Screen Actors' Guild, the union which represents Hollywood actors, says its members will boycott next weekend's Golden Globe Awards in the US.

Union president Alan Rosenberg said there was "unanimous agreement" not to cross picket lines set up by writers who are on strike over royalties.

The Golden Globes, awarded to actors in television and film, are second in prestige only to the Oscars.

Without top actors present, TV networks may not bother to screen the event.

It is difficult to imagine a ceremony honouring excellence in film-making, without actors there to accept the awards, says the BBC's Peter Bowes in Los Angeles.

"After considerable outreach to Golden Globe actor nominees and their representatives over the past several weeks, there appears to be unanimous agreement that these actors will not cross WGA (Writers' Guild of America) picket lines," Mr Rosenberg said.

However, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which organises the Golden Globes, said it was continuing talks to find a compromise which would allow the event to take place "with the creative community present".

For its part, the WGA thanked the actors' union for its "solidarity and support".

The Writers' Guild of America has been on strike since early November.

They are in dispute over so-called "residuals" - royalties for work distributed online or released on DVD.

The WGA says it is engaged in a "crucial struggle that will protect our income and intellectual property rights for generations to come".

The dispute has virtually halted the production of TV comedy and drama shows.

However, talk shows resumed this week, with David Letterman's show reaching an "interim agreement" with WGA members.

Jay Leno is still subject to pickets, however.

[Viserov]

I thought Family Guy had no more episodes ready with Seth MacFarlane's voice?

[Rappy Veteran]

In an unusual act of unity emerging from the screenwriters? strike, two of television?s late-night hosts, Jay Leno of NBC and Jimmy Kimmel of ABC, will appear on each other?s shows on Thursday.

The appearances were confirmed by two representatives associated with several of television?s late-night shows. The two hosts and their networks will announce the arrangement on Monday, said the representatives, both of whom asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak for the hosts.

Neither host has appeared on the other?s show, but the two struck up a personal acquaintance in recent weeks, the representatives said. Both returned to television on Wednesday after sitting out two months because of the continuing strike against the networks by the Writers Guild of America.

Mr. Leno and Mr. Kimmel are among the hosts who had to return without their writing staffs and largely without their most prominent guests, film and television actors, who were discouraged from appearing by the writers? guild and their own Screen Actors Guild. Both shows were also picketed on their first night back by the writers.

In the course of meetings with the writers? guild over what the hosts would be permitted to do and telephone discussions between the shows about mutual interests, Mr. Leno and Mr. Kimmel established a relationship, the late-night representatives said. Mr. Kimmel even offered some words of support for Mr. Leno on Wednesday during his first show back.

Mr. Leno, who has been the leading star in late-night television for well over a decade, extended an invitation to Mr. Kimmel, who then reciprocated, the representatives said.

Neither host returned messages left this weekend with his representatives.

[Hurmoth]

Cruise company 'near strike deal'

A film company run by actor Tom Cruise is close to an agreement with the striking Writers Guild of America, news agency Reuters has reported.

The deal with United Artists would be a first for a movie company since writers began their action in November.

TV host David Letterman's production company recently reached a similar deal which enabled his show to return.

Since talks broke down in December, the WGA has been in talks with independent companies to reach interim agreements.

Quoting anonymous sources, Reuters reported the United Artists deal could be announced as early as this week - but that any deal would face opposition from other studios.

An agreement would benefit MGM, which shares ownership of United Artists with Cruise and producer Paula Wagner and distributes its films.

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since 5 November in a dispute over "residuals" - royalties for work distributed online or released on DVD.

The strike has halted the production of nearly all TV comedy, drama shows and many films.

United Artists and the WGA had no immediate comment.

NBC May Not Air Golden Globe Awards

NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. were in talks late on Sunday to try and reach a deal in regards to the Golden Globes as actors stated that they will not cross the picket lines. NBC may not broadcast the show.

There are 100 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. who all take part each year in choosing who wins each award at the Golden Globes. The group is pushing for NBC to put a stop to the broadcast of the show. If they do not broadcast the show the WGA will lift picket lines and allow stars to go to the event on January 13th.

NBC chief Jeff Zucker stated that they will still broadcast the event, but others inside of NBC have stated otherwise.

As of late Sunday, NBC stated that they are close to agreeing with the request by the HFPA to not broadcast the Golden Globes.

NBC is trying to find the middle-ground here by possibly setting a postponement in motion, but it is looking unlikely.

[Rappy Veteran]

[WGA maintains hard line on Leno]

The WGA is contemplating disciplinary action against "The Tonight Show" host Jay Leno over allegations that he writes some of his material for the show.

"It's premature to speculate what action will be taken in this case," WGA West assistant executive director Jeff Hermanson said Friday.

"We have a constitutionally mandated procedure for dealing with allegations of violation of strike rules, and we don't comment on allegations that have been made but not yet proven."

Hermanson declined comment if Leno is currently being investigated, citing WGA's policy.

In response, NBC issued a statement late Friday: "It is unfortunate that the WGA is contemplating plans to 'investigate' Jay's authorship of his 'Tonight Show' monologue. The WGA agreement clearly permits Jay to create and perform his own monologue. The enforcement of strike rules against Jay in these circumstances would violate the federal labor laws."

The WGA's accusations were ignited by Leno's monologue on his first night back Wednesday, which he admitted on the show he had written.

Reps for WGA West on Thursday met with Leno "to clarify to him that writing for 'The Tonight Show' constitutes a violation of the guild's strike rules."

NBC jumped to Leno's defense, claiming that the host is legally allowed to write his monologue.

The conflict took another turn when word leaked out Thursday about a Dec. 31 meeting between Leno and WGAW president and former "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" writer Patric Verrone and other WGA members, where Leno reportedly informed them that he would perform a monologue and didn't face objections.

Sources close to the talk show host had said that at the meeting, "the WGA said they were going to give him a pass because of his support for the strike."

[Mathachew Veteran]

SOURCES: NBC And Hollywood Foreign Press Association Cancel Televised Golden Globes; Entire Event Will Be Scrapped

The Hollywood writers strike can now claim its first awards show casualty. The latest I'm hearing from my sources as of a few minutes ago is that NBC will not be televising the Golden Globes as planned on January 13th. Insiders tell me also that the entire event, even if it were held untelevised, will be cancelled. And the Hollywood Foreign Press Association instead will merely make an announcement of the winners. I've not yet received any official confirmation of any of this. But insiders tell me that NBC Universal topper Jeff Zucker and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association which bestows the Golden Globes made the decision together.

[Rappy Veteran]

Wow I thought for a second there the whole event wasn't going to take place like there would be no awards.

[Hurmoth]

I really feel bad for Ellen Page. She just got her first Golden Globe nomination for Juno and now she isn't going to be able to enjoy her moment in the spotlight, which she so richly deserves. I still hope she wins, hopefully she can still celebrate, even if it isn't in the spotlight :)

[Hurmoth]

United Artists and WGA Sign Interim Agreement!

The following letter was sent out earlier today by the WGA east and west. We'd have brought it to you sooner, but SOMEONE called us a "spam blog." Nice timing, huh? Anyway. -JA

To Our Fellow Members,

For our first joint communication of 2008, we are pleased to report very good news. This morning, United Artists signed an independent agreement. This company, now co-owned by Paula Wagner and Tom Cruise, has been legendary for its collaborative and cooperative relationships with writers and the talent community, so it is only fitting that it be the first film studio to make an agreement with us.

This agreement is virtually identical to the agreement signed by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants (posted at: http://www.wga.org/contract_07/wwp_exec.pdf). It features all the proposals we were preparing to make when the conglomerates left the bargaining table a month ago. Those proposals include appropriate minimums and residuals for new media (whether streamed or downloaded, as well as original made-for content), along with basic cable and pay-TV increases, feature animation and reality TV coverage, union solidarity language, and important enforcement, auditing, and arbitration considerations.

We expect this deal to encourage other companies, especially large employers, to seek and reach agreements with us. As those deals are announced, we will report them immediately to you. In the meantime, let us maintain our picket line presence and the pressure that it places on the conglomerates. We look forward to more e-mails like this one in the near future.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone

President, WGAW

Michael Winship

President, WGAE

[Hurmoth]

The Weinstein Co. In Talks With The WGA

The Weinstein Co. is in talks with the Writers Guild of America about a deal that would allow the movie studio to hire striking Hollywood scribes for its film projects, sources told The Post.

The studio is said to be waiting for Tom Cruise's United Artists to announce a similar interim pact with union leaders before it agrees to do the same.

The Post first reported on Friday that United Artists, run by Cruise and producing partner Paula Wagner, was in negotiations with the union leaders and is expected to announce a deal soon.

Like United Artists, the Weinstein Co. is a smaller, independent studio - as opposed to the traditional Hollywood heavyweights - with Wall Street backers and pressure to produce results for investors.

The Weinstein Co., run by Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob, held talks with the guild around Christmas and is weighing a proposal from union leaders that would allow writers to resume work, according to sources.

The deal is said to be a "me-too" agreement, meaning the Weinsteins would agree to adopt whatever terms the writers and the producers ultimately reach.

"They've always had a good relationship with [the writers] and are in a unique position to address the issue" as an independent studio, said a source close to the Weinsteins. It could also be a catalyst for ending the strike," the source added.

A spokesman for the Weinsteins declined to comment.

Writers walked off the job Nov. 5 after failing to reach an agreement with the studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, for the use of writers? work on the Internet among other things.

The guild?s leadership is pursuing a strategy of making side deals with independent production companies in hopes of ending the stalemate with the major networks and studios.

The guild is betting that such deals would break down the resistance of the large Hollywood conglomerates, which have shown no signs of backing away from their position.

A spokesman for the WGA didn?t return messages seeking comment by press time.

Meanwhile, Crain?s New York Business is reporting that the strike has left the city?s busy film and television production industry reeling, closing down some 4,000 film related businesses and putting 78,000 local production workers out of work.

That includes people who run all aspects of making movies and television shows, such as prop managers, caterers, studio mechanics and more.

"The situation has gone into a tailspin," John Ford, president of the studio mechanics union, told Crain?s. "Everyone is out of work now."

The city is feeling the drain, as well.

While officials numbers have not been reported, the Mayor?s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting estimated in 2001 that the city would lose a minimum of $625 million every three months in the event of a Writers Guild strike.

[Hurmoth]

Jon Stewart Says WGA Nixed Side Deal

Sources who attended Jon Stewart's The Daily Show taping today got an earful of complaining from the comic host about his dealings with the Writers Guild. This was his show's first day back after its strike hiatus and Jon's jawing came prior to taping. That's when audience coordinator Teri Abrams, and then Stewart in more detail, talked about how they joined with cable channel Comedy Central to lobby the WGA to accept the same deal that the writers guild made with David Letterman's Worldwide Pants. Stewart told the audience that he was turned down by the WGA last Thursday.

It was apparent that Stewart was completely flummoxed by the Guild's decision and questioned the logic behind the rejection. But what the audience wasn't told, however, is that the two situations are very different: Comedy Central, a division of Viacom, owns Stewart's show, whereas Worldwide Pants owns The Late Show with David Letterman as well as the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Viacom is one of the 8 biggest members of the AMPTP which is refusing to bargain with the WGA at present. During the pre-show, Stewart said he believed what the writers wanted was important and he supported them all the way. He looked serious when talking about this, and had he not had a show to do he might have gone on longer. He took several questions, none of which were all that revealing. But, asked what he did during the strike, he said he realized that without the show he's just an old guy yelling at the TV. The mood lightened up greatly from there.

[kylejn]

I don't know what to think about the strike. Generally speaking, I support the writers, but part of me is particularly angry at them for striking and thus putting a lot of the non-writing staff on these shows out of a job. *sigh*

I did find The Daily Show and The Colbert Report (so far) surprisingly funny, tonight, so that's nice.

[Hurmoth]

I know it has already been posted, but I found this article funny and thought I'd offer it up :)

Golden Globes go silent

Before the sun sank over the real O.C. Monday, NBC apparently hit the do-not-resuscitate button and canceled Sunday night's scheduled telecast of the Golden Globes.

Now there, was that so hard?

The only trouble is, the network is replacing the regular telecast of the event, run by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, with a beyond-bizarre patchwork that will combine a "press conference" to announce the winners with perhaps some sort of film-clip presentation.

It feels like the butler dropped dinner en route to the table, then scraped it all up and tried to serve it anyway, as if nothing were amiss.

It's not that NBC didn't have a genuine problem. Once the striking Writers' Guild convinced all the star nominees not to show up, the only live "show" NBC had left looked to be an empty podium and several dozen statuettes with tags reading "Ship To."

The Al Capone's vault of awards shows.

Given that the strike is two months old, you'd think NBC would have formulated a Plan B before yesterday. But the network was obviously hoping for a settlement or, failing that, an ad hoc deal.

Without those, its other options included simply canceling the telecast - which wouldn't have been the end of the world. The Golden Globes aren't the Super Bowl. But apparently the network felt it needed some sort of buzz at a time when, frankly, it's not doing so well.

This apparently led to Monday's compromise.

There was also no doubt some pressure from the Globes side, since everyone benefits from their relationship.

TV gets stars in fancy clothes, the stars get free stuff (even if they lose), and the Globes get to be on TV. That's important, because without the TV production, the Globes wouldn't get much more attention than participation certificates from the Coney Island Polar Bear Club.

That's not to say the Hollywood Foreign Press Association shouldn't give out awards, or that its members, who number fewer than 100, don't take those awards seriously.

But in the larger, esthetic sense, they rarely tell us anything we don't get from Hollywood's own Oscars or television's own Emmys.

If they had a markedly different perspective, if they consistently recognized quality work ignored elsewhere, that would be one thing. But they don't, which means they're really just one more awards show that gets attention because it happens to come first.

It's no accident that on their first night back last week, both David Letterman and Jay Leno joked about how the writers' strike could hurt awards shows. If it cancels a few, said Letterman, "then something good will have come from it."

Most awards shows some time ago became a mutual back rub, pretending to honor artistic achievement when in fact they are style, fashion and celebrity parades.

Some people may like those. But when "awards" exist primarily to gather well-dressed celebrities, and when half the viewers would be perfectly happy if the celebs walked in the front door and right out the back, it just seems, oh, inefficient.

Of all the things we might lose in 2008, the Golden Globes rate somewhere around that piece of celery that jumped out of the blue cheese dip and got scarfed up by the dog.

[gaspah_temp]

All professions/jobs have their pros and cons, have you ever heard the term “starving artist” (I’ve heard it a lot being one myself). Yes I’m sure you have, and I bet long before you decided to do it for a profession. But, I’m sure you guys aren’t starving, how else could you hold up them heavy signs?

If you’re a famous actor, sure you’ve got loads of cash, sex falls at your feet and everybody knows your name, but then you have to deal with paparazzi photographing you every time you go to the toilet. No thanks not worth it to me. If you’re a bigwig you’ve got cash, you get to control and manipulate the masses but everybody probably including your family (if you have one) hates you either publicly or secretly. If you’re a volunteer/caregiver/public servant you get little or no money and have sordid work, but you get fulfillment and a feeling of real self-worth. If you’re a wino, sure you get to drink all day and enjoy your insanity, but you smell like pee and it gets cold in winter.

If you’re an artist, you get to express your inner most thoughts and feelings to the masses and make a real impact on so many peoples lives as you see your expressions come to life. Isn’t that why you started writing in the first place? If you wanted loads of cash, maybe you should have left your soul in your childhood, gotten a business degree, bought an orphanage, kicked them all out on the street and turned it into a lucrative racket dealing in human misery.

But, if you’re like the rest of us, you have to leave your dream at home, work hard, deal with irrational complaints and don’t ask too many questions. Then after your two jobs you get to come home, feed the cat, sit down and enjoy a few hours of television and escape from your boring normal life.

This is the way the world works, so next time you want your burger flipped or computer fixed, don’t ask me, because I should be on strike until I get my simple pleasures back. So suck it up and play the game like the rest of us. I do. You think you’re better than me?

Remember, even if you’re Hiro, you can’t quit your job and Adam is out to destroy your entire life.

oh BTW ... WE the viewer are suffering alot more than the bigwigs.

Edited January 8, 2008 by gaspah_temp

[Rappy Veteran]

They are saying on the news over here we may have the biggest BAFTA bash ever because the Actors and Actresses can come over to the UK to receive their awards with picketing.

[Hurmoth]

UA Already Reaping Benefits of Side Deal

Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper is reporting that UA wasted no time and has a tentative deal with Paul Haggis to co-write an adaptation of the Ranger's Apprentice series of young-adult adventure novels.

[Mayhem]

i once supported the strike but now i dont, is out of hand, too many problems for non-writers ones, i know that how the shows are huge success that they deserve some more money on their contracts for the Internet streaming but... face it

1. they made a contract to write the scripts and get payed for that and nobody here can say that they dont get payed now for ALOT, maybe the writers can go work on civil construction at hard work and receiving only 1% or even less of their current money by making the series and see if them are getting low money for what they do

2. people around the series are getting fired, now payed, etc, also the business like restaurants, etc are getting also affected but the all the ppl getting fired is a real issue and for what? for the writers having some more money? they even care about the workers?

the point is, the writers still get payed with the re runs of the shows, so how about the rest of the people ? like i said i was for the writers strike, many of them deserve for the really great shows but now? think of the issues, think if you were one of the persons involved in the shows and not getting payed or getting fire because of this LONG strike

think about it and if you still agree that is still positive

[Mathachew Veteran]

i once supported the strike but now i dont, is out of hand, too many problems for non-writers ones, i know that how the shows are huge success that they deserve some more money on their contracts for the Internet streaming but... face it

1. they made a contract to write the scripts and get payed for that and nobody here can say that they dont get payed now for ALOT, maybe the writers can go work on civil construction at hard work and receiving only 1% or even less of their current money by making the series and see if them are getting low money for what they do

2. people around the series are getting fired, now payed, etc, also the business like restaurants, etc are getting also affected but the all the ppl getting fired is a real issue and for what? for the writers having some more money? they even care about the workers?

the point is, the writers still get payed with the re runs of the shows, so how about the rest of the people ? like i said i was for the writers strike, many of them deserve for the really great shows but now? think of the issues, think if you were one of the persons involved in the shows and not getting payed or getting fire because of this LONG strike

think about it and if you still agree that is still positive

Eh.... have you read any of what people backing the writers have said? The problem for the writers is that TV isn't the only medium used to get their work out there, and studios are capitalizing on emerging mediums that they are delivered on, while at the same time not compensating or giving very little to those who created those works. It's a no brainer and yes, I agree the strike is a positive move. Of course there's collateral damage, but those things happen and it's unfortunate. Who's to blame? In this situation, partly the writers, mostly the studios for letting greed get in the way of fairness.

[Hurmoth]

1. they made a contract to write the scripts and get payed for that and nobody here can say that they dont get payed now for ALOT, maybe the writers can go work on civil construction at hard work and receiving only 1% or even less of their current money by making the series and see if them are getting low money for what they do

They're contracts were up before they went on strike, so that negates your premise. Furthermore, most writers (the WGA has 12,000 members) don't make but between $30 and 40 thousand a year. They're required to make at least somewhere in between $35 and 38 thousand before they qualify for health benefits.

2. people around the series are getting fired, now payed, etc, also the business like restaurants, etc are getting also affected but the all the ppl getting fired is a real issue and for what? for the writers having some more money? they even care about the workers?

Of course the writers care, but that is a casualty of any strike. There's always going to be people who suffer. The writers are suffering themselves right now.

There's an easy solution though. Get the AMPTP back to the negotiating table. They're the ones who walked out, not the writers.

The writers care, they've been doing charity work for non-writers since the strike began. What has the AMPTP been doing?

Every single one of us who support the writers feel for the non-writing staff, but that doesn't mean the writers should just give up. The AMPTP doesn't want the writers to win, but the fact is they are. The proof is in the fact that UA and Worldwide Pants have signed interim agreements with the WGA, the same agreement that the WGA offered to the AMPTP and was turned down. In fact, the AMPTP stated that unless new media was taken off the table, they weren't coming back to negotiate.

The WGA is being more than fair, it is the AMPTP that we should be blaming for the non-writing staff being fired. Nick Counter is Counter productive.

[Mayhem]

ok fair enough

and basically now who can get luck is the lower/unknown writers that the AMPTP may call them to make some series to be in place of the WGA ones

lets see what happens and for the good of everyone that this is finish soon

[gigapixels Veteran]

ok fair enough

and basically now who can get luck is the lower/unknown writers that the AMPTP may call them to make some series to be in place of the WGA ones

lets see what happens and for the good of everyone that this is finish soon

Nobody will do that. In order to be a professional writer that works in Hollywood you must be a part of the WGA as far as I know. Besides, I doubt that anybody would do that even if they could.

[Hurmoth]

Nobody will do that. In order to be a professional writer that works in Hollywood you must be a part of the WGA as far as I know. Besides, I doubt that anybody would do that even if they could.

Exactly. If they do they can face being expelled from the WGA which means they'll lose any rights that the WGA grants their members (losing thousands of dollars).

The writers voted for this strike, I doubt they're going to go back now that they've come this far when everyone knew this was going to happen when the strike began.

[Rappy Veteran]

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Up to 1,000 employees on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank could be laid off anytime after Friday as a result of the Hollywood writers strike.

The studio distributed legally mandated warning notices on November 12, five days after the Writers Guild of America walkout began, stating that recipients could be subject to layoff after 60 days. The notices represent the first concrete sign that the strike could trigger massive job cuts across Hollywood.

A Warner Bros. spokeswoman declined to say when or how many pink slips might eventually fly. She said the notices were mandated under the U.S. Department of Labor's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN) regulations, which are designed to give employees some advance notice of possible job eliminations in the event of a strike.

"These WARN notices were sent because, in certain circumstances, federal and California law can require employers to give notice of staffing changes," Warners spokeswoman Stacey Hoppe said. "Due to the ongoing WGA work stoppage, some studio divisions will have to lay off employees. We regret the impact this will have on our employees, and we hope to bring them back to work once the WGA strike ends."

Those receiving WARN notices are employees of Warner Bros. Studios Facilities, primarily production workers and others involved in lot maintenance and facility management.

News of the development circulated Tuesday, the 65th day of the writers strike. It wasn't immediately clear if any other major studios have issued similar notifications.

But there already have been widespread cost-cutting moves on most studio lots. At Fox and elsewhere, overtime pay has been curtailed for many positions, and industryites coast to coast have been finding their department budgets scrutinized more thoroughly than usual.

Elsewhere, TV production companies have shed workers as show after show has run out of scripts and shut down operations, and now film producers with overall deals on the various lots are coming under similar scrutiny.

Some TV studios, including Warner Bros. TV, are expected to send out letters shortly to terminate deals with select writer-producers. And on the film side, Universal recently parted ways with Vertigo Entertainment, the company behind the "Ring" and "Grudge" horror movies, upon the expiration of their production pact.

In the 1988 WGA strike, almost every studio eventually laid off scores of workers during the five-month work stoppage.

[gaspah_temp]

well filesharing is going to bring it all down anyways and a new age of artists whom want nothing more than to share their creativity will dominate. so you'll all be able to stop complaining about the bigwigs getting all the money (envy is a sin). sure the collapse of hollywood means no more big budgets, but thats ok because it's a sinful place and the world will overall benefit from its demise. could you imagine it, people could relax about over-obsessive body image, paparazzi parasites will be squashed. I think its funny a device america designed (internet) to protect itself will ultimately deal a massive blow to (nearly exclusively) its own interests, leaving only one two things that america can do well, steal oil and make weapons. I reckon China (who are internet masters how else did they copy everything) can figure out how to make those by the time hollywood has crumbled (5-20 years its hard to say because technology moves so fast now). sheesh, you guys are screwwd, you're becoming a third world nation as we speak right? how many people live below the poverty line? not just for black people anymore huh.. how much does america owe to china in foreign debt? Over 48 trillion you say ($160,000pp)! i'd love to see the USA settle that problem with millitary force.

So now is probably not the right time to have a strike you've probably only got a few really good years in the film industry. i'd save every penny you can get your hands on, invest in some foreign currency and move to a country without foreign debt... but thats right.. .. . . you turned the rest of the world against you and without big-daddy USA any city you go to worldwide you're going to get treated like second-class citizens for at least a few generations.. ok ok get plastic surgery, learn chinese and try to integrate. they wont notice the lazy people with streched faces...

you've got a lot bigger money issues to worry about than 8 cents a dvd... that means only 600 trillion dvds and you can buy your way out of debt.. but wait, where would you buy the blank discs from????

holy crap, i'm going to start learning chinese tomorrow, i just scared myself..... does anyone know 'yes sir' in chinese??

that kinda blew out well off-topic.. i shouldn't let myself freak out like that... omg omg omg im not going to be able to sleep tonight...

[Hurmoth]

^^ That's terrible and I feel really bad for those workers, but this doesn't take away from what the writers are trying to accomplish here.

United we fight for the writers!

well filesharing is going to bring it all down anyways and a new age of artists whom want nothing more than to share their creativity will dominate.

That's utter bull**** right there. No one wants to just give their creativity away. Go to YouTube, you see anything like Heroes or Lost there? People who do a good job with their work want to get paid for it. Plain and simple.

As for filesharing, you're wrong there too. To many people are getting sued now days for that to "bring it all down." Why do you think iTunes does such a good business. That's what this will be going to and that's what the strike is all about. That and the free streaming offered on the networks' websites.