While there’s no word yet on the progress of today’s talks between the WGA and the AMPTP, the union has posted an extensive analysis on its website today about the latest offer from the companies worth $130 million over the next three years and expresses hope that "if the AMPTP is serious about this figure, the WGA is confident we are close to a deal and hopeful that the companies will respond positively to our sincere movement to partner with them."
According to the report, most WGA writers earn "middle class wages" averaging $62,000 annually over a five-year period. Since, 2000, however, revenue for the entertainment companies have grown from $63 billion to $95 billion, the analysis claims. "WGA members have actually fallen behind," the report says. "While entertainment segment
revenue has grown at an annual rate of 7 percent over the last 7 years,
writers’ earnings and residuals have grown only 3.5 percent."
As a result, the union says it has proposed a $151 million deal over three years that doesn’t include a plan to improve the DVD formula, which it claims is equal to $57 million over the life of the contract. The WGA estimates their proposed payout would break down to $1.68 million per year from Sony; $6.25 million per year from Disney; $4.66 million per year for Paramount and CBS each; $11.2 million from Warners; $6.04 million from Fox; $7.44 million from NBC/Universal, and $320K for MGM. All the other companies would assume the remaining cost of about $8.3 million per year.
"We are pleased that the companies have stated their willingness to make a three year deal worth upwards of $130 million," the report concludes. "While we do not see how their proposal adds up to that number, we do know that our proposal is a serious, reasonable, and affordable attempt to bridge the gap between us. If it doesn’t, it will bring into question how serious the companies really are about making a deal."
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I think these Hollywood folks make enuff money as it is. They need to go work at Walmart for just one day then they would appreciate their wages!
They need to be on strike , alright ,more like strike 3-OUT!
America needs more positive, comedy movies than the crap that is out!
I hope this is true! As much as I support the strike, I can’t goo too long without new episodes of my favorite shows! So a good end to the strike would be an amazing Christmas present!
Yeah, and all Wal-Mart workers need to try being a migrant farm hand in California to see what hard work is really like. And all migrant farm hands should try working in Chinese shoe factory. And Chinese shoe workers need to try to scrounge for food in Darfur to see what suffering truly is. And…well, how far do you want to take this argument, Azz off?
True, I’d like see any of the AMPTPT moguls work as a showrunner, writer, grip, craft service employee, truck driver, or any of the other countless jobs that feed their bottom line for a day. Including Wal-Mart folks, who, by selling DVDs, do, too.
The value of a job in a market economy is not measured by the toll it takes on your Azz. Its measured by having a unique skill set that can be utilized to make people money.
I’m a writer, though not WGA. I never worked at Wal-Mart, but I worked at Walgreens. And yeah, it wasn’t fun.
So what? Show me how that’s relevant.
to working your… hollywood types do make alot of money, but the writers don’t get their fair shake. you obviously havent read much about why they are striking. more importantly, it seems as if you think writing a hit comedy, drama, and everything in between is easy to do. there is an obscene amount of money to be had and without the writers, reality tv will rule the tube (gag) and silent movies will make a comeback. feel the excitement!
To those who are frustrated by the Hollywood writer’s purported privilege, I say enough of the sour grapes. It all about your skill set. If you have developed and continue to nurture a unique creative skill for which there is a market demand, than you are entitled to make whatever those market forces allow. Additionally, thanks to the National Labor Relations Act, you are entitled to work collectively with other members in your industry in order to aggregate your market influence. The fact that writers use their minds instead of their brawn to make a living is of no moment. The fact that you resent them for their ambition and abilities speaks to your inadaquecies not their entitlement. The fact that they may sit around in comfortable offices, drinking coffee, and playing foosball during their work day is irrelevant. Their efforts produces a product that makes people lots of money. Those people want to make more of that money and they want to get a bigger piece of that pie.
Well said, Patrick. The writers aren’t trying to make an obscene amount of money compared to other creative development people in the film and television industry (from the actors ot the producers themselves). The writers are trying to ensure that they will get their fair share. Do I like the strike? Not one bit. Does it represent something great about this country? I believe it does.
*blinks* The average writer’s salary is $62,000 a YEAR?! Patrick Dempsey makes $200,000+ an episode and basically became a household name because a writer built his character and gave him the nickname “McDreamy” while making roughly 1/4th of his weekly salary for the entire YEAR?! That’s disgusting.
$62,000 a year? Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t a lot of these writers live in California? $62,000/yr isn’t really much when you consider the cost of living out there.
It sounds more like wishful thinking on the part of the WGA. The studios will play hardball for a long while.
I posted the following writer pay scale last week – here you go! For a 30 min episode a writer makes $20,956 for a 60 min episode a writer makes $30,823.00 for a 120 minute episode $62,367.00. Straight from the WGA 2007/2008 WGA Rates. AND They DO GET THEIR FAIR SHARE! Not only do they get the scale that is posted BUT they get character payments for EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER THEY CREATED, they get paid a program fee for each episode they write AND they also get a reuse/recap for any footage used in future episodes! SO that add’l $6-10k is the extra $$$ they get on top of scale! I’ve always supported union strikes but this is ridiculous!
AND the post above DOES NOT include the weekly term writer staff that is on the production set every day. They make weekly payments of $4k+ a week for about 15 weeks.
I’m just as miffed as everyone from both sides are. I work hand in hand with the writers and the corporate moguls and I see it from both sides. I do respect those who go out and fight for thier $$$ BUT when one side wants an ALL or nothing – to me that’s not negotiating. The other thing is I feel personally they should have waited to strike AFTER the holidays. To me they didn’t strike smart. BUT that is just my opinion. Ok I’m done venting!
Wowzers, no doubt the writers make a whole lot of money, but isn’t that beside the point. The point is that the production companies, studios, etc. make a whole, whole, whole (times, I don’t know, one hundred) lot of money. The writers want to get paid in proportion to the benefit they provide. They have a right to use a work stoppage at a strategically opportune time in order to exert economic pressure on management. Again, they provide a service that is unique and valuable and they deserve the right to work together to maximize their compensation. The fact that it inconveniences us as consumers is the very point. It is an unfortunate reality of labor dynamics. Until the prime time and blockbuster spigot goes dry and we start turning the knob to off (and, God forbid, start reading books) management will have no incentive to honestly examine the balance of the equities. I will miss the Office, I fear for the future of Lost but, as I am sure you know, that is how it works.
Patrick, thanks again for your clear-headed analysis of the issue. The argument that “I make less than them so they have no right to complain” is ridiculous. All the writers want is fair compensation in comparison to what others are making off their work.
“Workin my Azz off…… ” if you quit working there are 4 people ready to take your place, the writers are the best at what they do, and want to recieve their fair share of profits.
I love the fact that we have people saying that the writers make enough already. Here’s a couple of things to consider. ANYONE CAN WORK AT WAL MART! Not anyone can write a movie or TV show. It is an art, not just a skill.
Also, the cost of living in L.A. is insaine. I make more than that, and I live in Arizona.
Let’s be honest. People outside of the industry don’t understand the work that writers do. It’s not as simple as: write a script, get paid. The writers have to constantly work with Directors, Actors, and Producers that all like your idea, but then want to change it. That’s stress that a Wal Mart employee couldn’t handle.
Think before you open your mouth, or touch a keyboard.
I really believe that the writers should have our support.
While I support the WGA and the writers’ earning their fair share… that figure of an avg of 62k for year is a clear manipulation of figures. That includes all the members who live in Peoria and Kansas who earn maybe $1,000 a year – when combined with all the successful writers in CA writing for TV and movies who earn 500,000K/year, the combined average may be $62k, sure! Don’t think for a minute they are ALL poor! Think about the math of an “averge” number!
Hear Hear Neillfilm!
I work in the industry and after reading all of these comments, I am baffled. The ‘wanting your fair share’ claim IS the same as a wallmart employee complaining that the execs make way more money than them. Given the opportunity, the average joe probably COULD write better things than what’s out there. We ALL are replaceable. The writer’s market is no different. The unfortunate reality is that faces sell films/tv more than writing. Just like atheletes sell sports more than coaching. Due to a lack of ‘Hollywood Human Resources’ the need for a strike is unfortunately necessary but please don’t say both sides are not greedy because I am sure that a wallmart worker would love the opportunity to write for a show and could do it. They just are not in the right networks to do it. Hell a poor child in Africa could write better stuff than what’s out there and it would actually mean something. The fact that writers are ‘Employees’ means a need to compromise and have humility.
One other thing that I would like to add is maybe this is good for the population to recognize their dependence on media. We all may lead more fulfilling lives outside of our homes if this strike continues. Less distractions and hey, maybe even a revolution against real problems out there like health care, equality of pay, the huge defecit that the U.S. has (which by the way it requires reading to really find out how bad it is that is not written by hollywood writers), a cleaner planet, education, polarity of wealth, obesity and the welfare of our children. This shows how much media defines and controls our lives. The concept of the Amero (look it up while you are not watching new t.v.)is a bigger threat than this.
Therealsit, your point is well taken, but I think it falls under the weight of its central premise, namely that anyone can write a film or television show. It is undeniable that just about anyone (with a strong work ethic) can be a sales professional. The fact that you apparently find the content of popular shows to be vapid does not lead to the conclusion that anyone can write it. Writing, like all artistic endeavors, seems to be a lot easier than it is. A writers skill is not acquired out of the ether, it is developed. Furthermore, few writers come to the industry with their “networks” in place. They leave their day jobs and take a chance on their desire. Finally, a big box employee is but one (fairly easily replaced) cog in a production and distribution machine. Though writers are a part of larger industry, they represent a much bigger piece of the line of production than a stock boy, or a line worker, or a desk jockey.
PS- I will second Therealist point about the benefit we could all find from taking a breather from mass media and thinking about what we can do to improve our quality of life. While I do not find the prospect of a unified North America (al la the Amero) either realistic or especially threatening, I do agree that we could benefit from taking this opportunity to step away from the noise of our media in order to find new things about which to be passionate. This is not to belittle film or television, I love both, but some perspective is always a good thing.
Thanks for your support of my second point Patrick. I agree it requires a skill that not everyone can do. I was merely instigating that they should get over themselves and that things could be a lot worse. Many others just like them have more difficult struggles. Given that I work in the industry as well (film/video editor) I understand the need to step away from day jobs and chase desire as I do it everyday but I do not think for a second that I could not be replaced. It makes me grateful for every job opportunity I recieve that allows me to feed my desire even if it is something I may not like. As long as I am not working for free nor treated like a slave I am happy. Fortune can be nothing more than loving what you do and just like the words NEED and WANT have become synonymous in modern society FORTUNE and WEALTH have the same misguided philosophy to them. With musicians struggling amongst other artists these writers come off as a little spoiled.
one can argue that the writers are coming off as a little spoiled because they’re not showing up for work in order to augment their relatively comfortable salaries. but in reality i think it’s the corporate suits who have caused this work stoppage and have jeopardized the future of our favorite scripted shows. by sacrificing what to them is peanuts compared to what the writers make now, the suits could easily avert this strike–but they’d rather buckle down and feed us reality t.v. swill, which might not make nearly as much but will still keep them fat and happy, while the comparatively poor writers miss their car payments and mortgage payments in defense of a noble principle–the collective strike–which has been exercised for decades and has made workplaces around the world far more fair and equitable. the writers may not be “poor” by global standards but they are paupers compared to the corporate suits. i think we all need to keep that in perspective.
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