Does anyone know why Culliton left and Rayfield was hired?

When the ATWT breakdown team were moved to scripts, they got rid of their most expensive script writers, to make room for Brash, Levinson and Connor. (I believe it was Culliton and Nipkow who were fired. They were both on a one-and-a-half-episode a week contract, and the other three are on a one-episode, I believe. I could be wrong about the details.)

Rayfield was hired because with Laiman and Passanante being the only ones writing breakdowns, they realized they needed someone who can do breakdowns AND scripts for when one of them goes on vacation. Culliton probably could have filled that role just fine, but rumor has it he can be a little hot-headed when it comes to being in the breakdown room, and in Christopher Goutman's world, it's all about keeping your head down and doing what you're told, not rocking the boat.

Culliton probably could have filled that role just fine, but rumor has it he can be a little hot-headed when it comes to being in the breakdown room

Sounds like my kinda guy, lol.

But seriously, they couldn't have fired Cheryl Davis and maybe Lisa Connor or David Levinson (or even both), and held onto Culliton and Nipkow?

Edited August 15, 200817 yr by Khan

(I believe it was Culliton and Nipkow who were fired. They were both on a one-and-a-half-episode a week contract, and the other three are on a one-episode, I believe. I could be wrong about the details.)

And what do you know about Leslie Nipkow's whereabouts?

Sounds like my kinda guy, lol.

But seriously, they couldn't have fired Cheryl Davis and maybe Lisa Connor or David Levinson (or even both), and held onto Culliton and Nipkow?

Not when both come so much cheaper than Culliton and Nipkow. Sadly, that's more important these days.

Sylph, I haven't heard anything about Nipkow. I think she's working on her own projects, but I could be wrong.

Not when both come so much cheaper than Culliton and Nipkow. Sadly, that's more important these days.

Sylph, I haven't heard anything about Nipkow. I think she's working on her own projects, but I could be wrong.

So how much cheaper are these? The percentage will be fine.

And how much more than the minimum does a highly regarded SW make?

I saw a rumor on another board that Goutman was looking trying to lure a BDW and a SW over from OLTL to take over the head writing duties of ATWT.

BDW- Anna Cascio

SW-Carolyn Culliton, or Elizabeth Page?

Nothing is for sure. Could that be why they dumped R.C and L.N?

So how much cheaper are these? The percentage will be fine.

And how much more than the minimum does a highly regarded SW make?

I don't really know the answer to either question. My assumption is that a good script writer can make 30-50% more than the minimum per script. And when they're doubling up sometimes (writing two episodes a week instead of one), that adds up quickly.

I have no idea how much cheaper the other ones are. My sources don't talk numbers.

FYI, I don't agree with this. I think losing Culliton and Nipkow was a huge blow to ATWT. I have nothing against the the three former breakdown writers, but Culliton and Nipkow were definitely the strongest dialogue writers ATWT had. They thought outside the box in terms of the voices and the scene structure. But, budgets are being slashed all over the place. And if you can do the job, and do it cheap, that's clearly Priority Numero Uno.

FYI, I don't agree with this. I think losing Culliton and Nipkow was a huge blow to ATWT. I have nothing against the the three former breakdown writers, but Culliton and Nipkow were definitely the strongest dialogue writers ATWT had. They thought outside the box in terms of the voices and the scene structure. But, budgets are being slashed all over the place. And if you can do the job, and do it cheap, that's clearly Priority Numero Uno.

I don't like the fact that Leslie hasn't been snatched by now. OLTL, for example, is in dire need of good writers. But, as you point out, the budget is the main reason. And probably the executives didn't like her very vocal support of the strike.

Too bad...

I don't like the fact that Leslie hasn't been snatched by now. OLTL, for example, is in dire need of good writers. But, as you point out, the budget is the main reason. And probably the executives didn't like her very vocal support of the strike.

Too bad...

Agreed. Plus, I don't know the circumstances around her being fired as script editor on OLTL. She may be on Valentini's sh!t list. And the strike REALLY doesn't help.

Agreed. Plus, I don't know the circumstances around her being fired as script editor on OLTL. She may be on Valentini's sh!t list. And the strike REALLY doesn't help.

Then if she's on the hit list, Sara Bibel is looking for a job. She has to be better than Elizabeth Page...

Again - the blog doesn't help.

Then if she's on the hit list, Sara Bibel is looking for a job. She has to be better than Elizabeth Page...

Again - the blog doesn't help.

I would LOVE to see Sara at OLTL. But you're right - the blog doesn't help. Then again, she's been pretty safe in her blog. But still - she's "press" now, and it's hard to come back from that.

Sara Bib-EL, Richard Culliton, and Leslie Nipkow. All fantastic writers, to one degree or another; and there's not even a snowball's chance in Hell that any one of 'em will turn up at GL. That's. Just. Sad.

Sounds like my kinda guy, lol.

But seriously, they couldn't have fired Cheryl Davis and maybe Lisa Connor or David Levinson (or even both), and held onto Culliton and Nipkow?

Khan, Cheryl Davis was fired. She is no longer at ATWT.

Khan, Cheryl Davis was fired. She is no longer at ATWT.

So the SW's are now Susan, David, Peter, Lisa and Gordon?

So the SW's are now Susan, David, Peter, Lisa and Gordon?

Yup, that's the SW's. CD is still in the credits. Dont know when her last airdate will be.