Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with writersstrike

How are Stewart and Colbert back on the air when the strike is still on? (derail follow-up)

paddingtonb — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:07:07 -0800

Piggybacking on the derail in this question, and solipsophistocracy's question therein, why are the Daily Show and Colbert Report making new episodes with the writer's strike still going on? I heard that both Stewart and Colbert are members of the WGA and all the repeated references to the strike during their first shows back on the air lead me to believe that they are both completely sympathetic to the strike. What is going on here? Is it correct to say that they are not violating the strike because they aren't writing anything? How does the Daily Show/Colbert situation differ from the Letterman situation?

I've done a bit of googling, but everything I have come across is so piecemeal. I would love to hear some mefite perspectives on what is going on, especially from folks who are following the ongoing saga more closely then I am.

Should we attend The Daily Show while the strike's still going on?

These Premises Are Alarmed — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:02:39 -0800

Months ago, my wife and I got tickets for the Jan 17th episode of The Daily Show. She's unlikely to cross a picket line - is there likely to be one? Either way, should we go? We live in NYC and could go some other time when the strike is resolved, on the other hand her schedule is very busy and she has this afternoon free. It's also my birthday weekend, and we were going to use this to celebrate.

I'm personally ambivalent about labor economics in general (still resent the union dues I paid at the grocery store in High School) but am very sympathetic to the writer's point of view. On the other hand, it seems like TDS is doing all it can to help the writers.

Anyway, if there's going to be a picket line it may well be a moot point, I'm not going to drag her across it. Will there be?

Why are TV studios and sports teams allowed to colluded in labor negotiations?

mullacc — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:20:55 -0800

Question about the Writer's Guild strike and comparable situations in other industries: why are the studios allowed to negotiate as a single entity, the AMPTP? How does this situation compare to the various US sports leagues and the auto and airline industries? I'm having trouble connecting the dots across the various things I've read.

Here's what I think I know:
1. The AMPTP represents the studios in their negotiations with the WGA. This will likely result in a CBA that determines royalty rates for the entire industry.
2. The various sports leagues have similar arrangements, e.g., the MLBPA negotiates with the MLB, a collective representing all the teams. The MLB has an anti-trust exemption, but that just allows it to fight off competitive leagues. Other US sports leagues have no such exemptions. But all the sports leagues allow things like player trades, which I can't imagine going over too well in other industries.
3. In the auto and airline industries, each individual company negotiates directly with the various unions.

Situations 1 & 2 seem like collusion to me. Just as obvious as if Pepsi and Coke formed a collective entity to negotiate aluminum prices. So why are the studio/sports collectives allowed to negotiate against the unions? Is there a legal principle that makes my analogy inappropriate? Of course, I'm glossing over the fact that unions are themselves a form of collusion among workers, but that's a collusion blessed by law.

And, finally, is there reason that the airline and auto industries couldn't adopt the same strategy as the studio/sports collectives?

Help my kid interview a WGA striker in New York Today.

Divine_Wino — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:25:58 -0800

Does anyone know where my kid could interview one of the striking TV writers, today, in New York? She's just got a few questions and we assumed we could driver her to Silver Cup Studios in Queens, but there is not a giant inflatable rat to be seen anywhere near there. Anyone know where we are more or less sure to run across a striking WGA member today?

Thanks.

How to avoid getting screwed by writer's strike?

PostIronyIsNotaMyth — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:35:03 -0800

How badly will the WGA strike affect a young screenwriter? I'm fresh out of film school and an aspiring screenwriter. Currently I do not have any type of representation. Last week my writing partner and I won best screenplay at a prestigious LA based horror film festival. At the festival I got all kinds of business cards from producers and entertainment lawyers. I'm set to meet with some of these people very soon. My script was also on weekend read at CAA this weekend, so representation is a definite possibility. But I know that the writer's strike is coming up.

My question is, if the writer's strike happens am I required as a non-union writer to stop meeting with all producers and agencies? I know scab writing is an instant ban from the union and union members are prohibited from meeting, but can I meet with people? I know the buzz on me and my script is so limited and is getting smaller by the day, will this strike kill any forward momentum I might be making? Any ideas on how to keep this buzz alive? I'm really freaked that a great opportunity to get my name and my writer's partner name out there is about to be screwed by something I have almost no involvement with. Any industry people out there who know what I can do?

Boo! Now give me those internet residuals, dammit!

np312 — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:26:34 -0800

I'm thinking of being the 2007 Writer's Strike for Halloween (because, you know, November 1st will be pretty scary for us WGA members living paycheck to paycheck.) Now-- how to make this snarky, intangible and in-joke-ridden costume idea a reality? I live in LA and the majority of my friends are screenwriters, so there shouldn't be too much of a problem with people 'getting it.' I just want it to be an awesome costume, with lots of funny little references. (A dartboard with Patrick Verrone's face? A handful of bounced checks to hand out?)

If this is too much of a stretch, I'll go be a sexy {insert any occupation or mythological creature} like 99% of the female population. But I'd prefer to be the 2007 Writer's Strike. (Sexy writer's strike?)

(I'm female, if that helps. And I'm actually pro-strike, not that it matters.)