HOLIDAY MIRACLE: Prospect Park Back On Track To Revive AMC and OLTL

[EricMontreal22]

Ha he's worked in wrestling as a writer too--this seems to be becoming a trend. I dunno, I'm willing to give him the benefit, but a quick glance of his blog (linked from there) scared me. Still, he was pretty anti Romney, so...

Simmer down. The only person who said he thought we'd have to pay for it was Dragonflies--who has been saying that from the start. I think (or at least hope) PP realize that to get people to give this a chance, especially after all that's gone down, they're gonna have to, at least initially, use a free (with ads) model. If they are doing recap shows maybe that means that after a day or two new eps will go into an archive you have to pay for and you can only watch the recap ep for free. Or not.

At any rate--some people apparently pay $5 a month for two issues of Nelson Branco's Soaps Uncensored--I am sure this would be a bargain in comparison...

[jfung79]

I read an article on Michael Fairman's site that referenced union scale being part of the agreement with SAG-AFTRA according to a source quoted in Soap Opera Digest.

[EricMontreal22]

It easily could mean just putting things in place and begin writing OLTL while AMC is further ahead and they are doing the rotating system.

[EricMontreal22]

I would love Nixon bibles--and could see her having the majority of her input placed in whatever bibles--but I do think that could be too much work for her. In the past when working as a consultant (as Corley mentioned about the Broderick years of AMC for example) she would sit in during many of the story meetings, basically give a firm thumbs up or down and then nearly always come up with a few, according to him (and I have no doubt) brilliant ideas of her own. I suspect it would be more along those lines. With Broderick the last time much of this was done over video conferencing.

While I hope OLTL moves away from camp too, I do hope both soaps find their own tone that complement each other (the way it sounds like they did in the early 70s--along with other eras like the early 90s). I still think having one character or element of a story cross over *if* they do air them in rotating blocks would make some sense--but nothing too major.

Well that sounds pretty official--though helping could mean many things. But they officially said that she had inked a deal to be consultant for both shows--something we weren't told last time around.

[SFK]

Nope, no minimum. I think there should be one. It would save all involved a lot of headache and hurt feelings. The only minimums set are in regards to residuals which are based on the cost per minute of the show, the length of the show, and if viewers must pay to watch the show. From SAG-AFTRA:

What is the minimum pay scale for new media productions?

Initial pay is negotiable under the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement. There are no minimums under this contract; however, local, state and federal minimum wage laws still apply. Payment is due to the performer no later than five business days from the date worked. Pension & Health or Health & Retirement contributions are due on the negotiated initial compensation, at a rate of 16.5% for both principal performers and background actors.

Are there residuals for use in new media?

Residuals will be due for use in new media only if an original, made for new media program’s final total cost, as exhibited, is $25,000 or more per minute and it is exhibited on a consumer-pay-platform beyond 26 weeks.

That would be good, if they just offered them standard SAG-AFTRA rates and worked from there (i.e., more $ for the vets).

[EricMontreal22]

I doubt it, but I'd hope so too--I'd love to be able to read even a handful of early ones. They make it sound like a near complete collection--interesting if true, that Nixon had access and kept even late OLTL scripts.

[EnglishTea]

I believe if they reached a deal with SAG-AFTRA, it means that the minimums for this project have been set. What they are is in question, but I would be surprised if they were the same as broadcast minimums.

[marceline]

That would be good advice for a lot of people in this thread. Some of you folks are going to pull a groin muscle jumping to conclusions. We finally got some solid information. Now there's nothing left to do but see how/if this plays out.

[DRW50]

Didn't they say he worked for WWE? I was just asking because I thought I saw a pretty direct wrestling slam on that Tumblr.

(someone may want to remove the anti-Mormon comment too...)

[marceline]

No. Let Foz be Foz.

Really though, why are folks jumping all over this guy? Give him a chance and let's see what he can do. The usual suspects drove these shows to extinction. Give the wrestling nerd a shot.

[JackPeyton]

I agree!

Sri Rao didnt have a soap background, or even much of one really, and he did wonders for GH night shift.

[DRW50]

I think people just see the name. Or they don't know if he has the right background. But then most of those who have been in daytime in years are rotted from the inside out, so maybe you're right.

I do like the Tebow post...

[marceline]

I have to ask, since I don't follow wrestling but exactly what kind of writing does the WWE require? No I didn't think it was real but I assumed wrestling was choreographed not "written."

[JackPeyton]

a lot!

they come up with long term stories, the fueds/romances/etc, and then how to pace them, and what happens week to week on each show. It works more or less like a soap opera, really. Lots of soap writers have worked for the WWE. Wrestling is a soap opera - fueds, romances, takeovers, heroes vs villians, friendship, family, etc..

[Cheap21]

The athetlics is choreographed, but they act in between matches. They have storylines, love triangles, fake marriages, miscarriages, back from the dead plots, scandals, etc... and other soapy elements. Writers create all that drama