AMC and OLTL Canceled! Part 2!

[John]

AFTRA wouldnt have let it happen, even though many actors like Robin Strasser has said over the years and I heard from local actors too that AFTRA is considered flimsy, I doubt they would give up Jursidiction of the soaps.

[JaneAusten]

None of this makes sense. These people really did not have a clue which is why I wont ever be thankful for getting into something they had no clue about. At that point why not just do a new soap.

[SFK]

Exactly Jane, a new soap or soaps shot in Canada on the cheap with a bunch of new inexpensive faces could have worked. Look at Degrassi as I mentioned, no "stars", no "names" there (the talent admittedly dubious, but no worse than some adults in U.S. daytime). One thing the three Degrassi series have always had going for them is good characters and writing (even when corny and heavy-handed, it was endearingly so).

John, you may remember how Susan Flannery and B&B made news when there were reports that they approached SAG about taking jurisdiction over their show.

[John]

Yes Im not really sure where that stands now that their are plans to merge AFTRA & SAG

[Khan]

I would have hired one or two now-former AMC or OLTL actors, though, in order to bring in guaranteed viewers.

[SFK]

Yes, I said the same thing upthread, and marceline was saying that could even be a consolation prize for the AMC/OLTL actors who did sign on and are now left out in the cold. Of course, we've still got the union issue. Argh!

[R Sinclair]

That, in and of itself, provides enough variables not to be able to guarantee anything significant.

[Max]

Going to Canada is ridiculous, but shooting a soap in a business-friendly state is a good idea. CA & NY are probably the two most expensive states in which to do business, and NJ & CT aren't cheap, either. The South has grown in population over the past 20 years in part because so many businesses have re-located there. (And two big reasons why businesses choose to re-locate there are because taxes are lower and unions are less powerful.) Wilmington, NC has huge studio facilities, and I'm sure there are also plenty of options available in FL, GA, and TX.

[John]

Walt Willey's Blog & Thoughts On It All

http://wildandwilley.blogspot.com/2011/12/pause-for-cause.html

[alexisfan07]

Thanks for the read. I love hearing the actors' sides of things, especially ones that are as intelligent as Walt and Cady.

[Khan]

I think WW's blog entry makes it clear: soaps aren't dying because people are tired of the art form, they're dying because networks and advertisers have not caught up with technology. This is true not just of daytime, but of television across the board. If these people want to keep network television alive, they need to figure out a new way of gauging who's watching which show (and how, and when). Simple as that.

Thanks, John.

[MontyB]

Yep!

[Khan]

To produce soaps, or in general?

[MontyB]

Both. Ha ha.

Seriously, if Canadian production companies wants to produce soap operas, thats cool, but I think it's a silly idea for American productions companies to produce American soaps in another country. Shouldn't those jobs stay here, especially if they're producing shows 52 weeks a year?

[Khan]

I tend to agree. I think there are other ways to keep U.S.-produced soap operas in the U.S. without resorting to leaving the country just to save a few bucks. (But yeah, I'd love to see a Canadian-produced soap opera, too!)