Writer's Strike Thread

[Jane1978]

Ok, let´s assume Highley is really the scab and someone outs her. Does that mean she will be gone after the strike?

[DaytimeFan]

Good for Kay Alden.

In a way I admire the writers who have gone Fi Core (not B&E, but they're a case in themselves). While I am 100% with the writers I am also 100% with daytime soap operas and their survival. Hiring a hack writer during the strike (like DAYS is doing with Higley) will only hurt the industry. Kay Alden stepped up, she's taking one for the Bell team. Let's face it, in the current climate facing soaps the actions of people like Kay Alden are sort of heroic because they are doing their best to ensure the survival of their individual show. Their careers will undoubtedly suffer but it seems that, at this point, Alden and the others just don't give a damn anymore.

[Toups]

I honestly don't know what's going to happen when the strike ends. Nobody knows for sure.

As for people scabbing, the WGA has to find PROOF that these writers are scabbing beforekicking them out of the Guild.

That's why I was so shocked that Hinsey named Higley. Does Hinsey have proof? Does she have photos of Higley meeting Corday? Did Hinsey tap Dena's phone lines? I don't think so. LOL Also, there's no documents that say "Yes, I'm a scab," like the way you have to say you're going Fi-Core. Still can't believe Hinsey did that. LOL

[Ryan]

If Hinsey outed Higley then good. Lord knows that woman shouldn't be writing for a soap....

[Ryan]

Anyone up creating a monetary award for the person who snaps proof of Higley scabbing for DAYS? I think we would be doing the Guild a favor.

[Sylph]

So all those who had their financial core status revoked - are they now forever banned from the Guild?

[Ryan]

No Sylph.

[Sylph]

I've been working all day on something (never mind what... lots of numbers involved) and now my mind is working at really low capacity so I don't understand a thing.

If it revoked the financial core status, in which status are they now? Either their membership is over or the full one has been reinstalled?

[Ryan]

They did not revoke their core status, they revoked (as in took away) their WGA Writing Award nominations for 2007. If their shows win, they cannot be a part of the award ceremony. And if I'm not mistaken, they can't take home an award.

[Sylph]

Oh...  Silly me - I somehow skipped over the nominations word.

[Chris B]

I think they should be barred from being nominated for work done while FiCore, but for what they've already done they deserve their nominations. The WGA is basically saying now that they'd prefer people outright scab if they can't even catch a break by going FiCore.

[Khan]

Agreed, Chris.

(Didn't see his post before I wrote my own.)

[dragonflies]

ROFLMAO, sad but true

Notice no other returns were mentioned *coughSBDMDWcough* <_<

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I told you they would do that.

[Sylph]

In LA, TV now completely dark

Local feature production amped up as result

By DAVE MCNARY

The writers strike has brought scripted TV production in Los Angeles to a halt, while fears of an actors strike have amped up local feature production.

All 52 skeins in active production before the scribes walkout began in November are dark, according to permitting agency Film LA. And fourth-quarter stats, released Friday, show declines of 37% in sitcoms to 419 days and 6% in scripted dramas to 1,733; meanwhile reality TV activity jumped 34% to 2,478 days.

Local feature production, however, is on the rise with a 31% gain over the same period last year since the strike began on Nov. 5, according to Film LA.

"While reality TV bolstered overall television production numbers, the rise in reality production does not generate the same benefit to the local economy as an increase in scripted television production, since reality-based productions usually employ fewer people and pump far less money into the economy through production-related spending," said agency chief Steve MacDonald.

Los Angeles-based TV production has soared in recent years, thanks partly to the boom in reality and the growth of cable. The past five quarters have all seen well over 5,000 permit days of off-lot production, with a record 6,478 days in the first quarter of this year.

But with the strike leading to production shutdowns as shows began running out of scripts, overall TV production declined from 5,950 days in the third quarter to 5,500 days in the fourth.

As for features, MacDonald noted, activity has been driven by this year's ramped-up pace of greenlighting in anticipation of a possible actors strike in July. But that's still not been enough to prevent year-to-year declines with overall 2007 days falling 4% to 8,247.

"The 2007 data is in line with the decade-long downward trend in local feature film production that has occurred as other locales lure production with attractive economic incentives," MacDonald said.

The final scripted TV production in Los Angeles closed down earlier this month with ABC's "October Road" stopping production. A total of 62 skeins have been shuttered due to the strike, with a direct economic impact of $160 million per week.


www.variety.com/article/VR1117979609. html?categoryId=2821&cs=1