Could a WGA Strike be a "Death Knell" for Soaps?

[LondonScribe]

This. I absolutely loved the year 2003 and I also believe that 2003 was the last really good year they had.

[RavenWhitney]

It's supposed to be very wrong to go fi core. But notice all the politically active writers on soaps that worked with fi core writers.  Melissa Salmons worked for Gary Tomlin and Dena Higley.  She's very active.  Several other writers joined fi core head writers after the strike so they must have decided it's okay: Maria Bell hired Amanda Beall, Milstein, Shoettle, Dansby just to name a few.  Carlivati, however, got rid of all fi core after the strike (Lisanti, Jean Ford, Fran Myers, Tomlin) and never had fi core writers on staff at GH (he got rid of Wolf and Conforti).  And of course, there are writers who scabbed probably who mysteriously were added to the writer's roster after strike ended.  I know there was big controversy on AMC when Stephen Demorest was fired and replaced by what I heard was scab British writer, Daren Little. I think Amanda Beall was fired too.  Never got the whole story.  

[John]

was Daren Little being groomed as HW of AMC at one point?

 

I rememeber hearing of a story where Bianca and Krystal have sex

 

It is an option that is given,  Fi core but i believe if you chose Fi-core its ether very difficult to go back or impossible.

[DramatistDreamer]

 

Try impossible.

 

One of my professors in grad school was a higher up in the WGAE (the East coast division) and told us that if we ever crossed the picket line, even as non-members, we'd never be able to become members in the future.

 

Even though I'm a theater person (Dramatic artists are in a different union anyway), I have registered my work using the WGA and as a student, I once had an Associate membership.  

 

I've also written one or two screenplays so I'd like to think that in case any screenplay that I write/co-write has the opportunity to be produced, that would qualify me to become a member of the WGA, so me, personally, I'd never cross the line.

 

Like someone said before  though, soap writers aren't really going into any other genres, so this is it for many of them. None of the current soap writers seem to have any aspirations of writing Primetime or for films, so the repercussions for them crossing the line are probably nonexistent at this point.

 

It would be quite different for any writer who has aspirations to write for film or primetime TV. They'd be much more concerned for the future of their career(s).

[Soapsuds]

Film and TV writers are ready to take to the pick lines next week and voted overwhelmingly to call a strike if nothing happens this week!

[DramatistDreamer]

The votes came in.

93% Voted Yes, in favor of authorizing a strike.

 

So now the pressure is on for both sides to come to an agreement by the deadline or a strike will happen.

[Soapsuds]

Now is your chance!  Go write for Y&R!

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[JONNYSBRO]

Oh no Jean and Shelly gone from GH thats bad news. Do u guys want Gary Tomlin?

[DramatistDreamer]

 

I know you're joking but honestly, nope, would never cross that line. Especially not for a soap.

[Sindacco]

If some writers didn't go Fi-core during the strike in 2008, what would have happened to the soaps?

[Soaplovers]

 

AT&T aND GL had the executive producers leading the writing..

 

AMC had front till their head writers went Fi-core 2 weeks into the strike.

 

[victoria foxton]

Fi-core sounds like an obscure comic book superhero team. All this is more exiting then anything going on in any of the 4 soaps. If there is a writer's strike, i wonder if the writing will improve or get even worse?

[John]

According to the latest Daytime Confidential podcast, All soaps will continue if a strike happens. They will use fi-core writers

 

This includes DOOL who according to Jamey still needs to keep on track writing to maintain their current production to stay on budget

 

Thom Racina who was hW at DOOL is Fi-core so maybbe he could get the gig

 

Jamey thinks Gary Tomlin will write GH and Kay Alden Y&R

 

Not sure of B&B

 

Jamry also said that Kay went fi-corre in 2008 so that Brad Bell could strike

[Soaplovers]

Personally...if they truly strike...they're idiots.  Episode counts for most shows outside of soaps are lower..plus reality shows took over during hiatus.

 

If anything..soaps benefit because they still churn out content..and keeps them a float.  

 

The best solution is to not pay actors so much and give that money to the writers and people behind the scenes.

[DramatistDreamer]

 

Outside of soaps (the majority of the WGA), it is much more complicated than this.

 

Again, as I've mentioned before, it is not simply about money.

 

It's also about healthcare benefits as well as exclusivity contracts.