What did you think of the Writer's Guild strike against Hollywood studios that just ended?

[msc545]

The Writers Guild of America is the joint efforts of two different American labor unions representing writers in film, television, radio, and online media. The strike began when negotiations over pay and the use of technology could not be settled.

The strike began in May 2023, and ended in September 2023.

The new contract guarantees regulations on artificial intelligence use, minimum staff numbers for writers rooms, and residual compensation for writers that work on streaming shows and movies.

[exitseven]

People who want show biz jobs need to understand that for every one of these jobs , there is a thousand people that want it. Most people have to settle for being accountants or carpenters to earn a living. Usually only rich kids and kids of politicians get these jobs. Most of them do not pay a living wage but most people have trust funds anyway. I really do not have much sympathy for them.

[msc545]

This is not "showbiz" - this is just simple hard work.

[exitseven]

These people all work in showbiz, right?

[msc545]

Not really. I don't call writing scripts "showbiz".

[msc545]

There is no glamour in this and writing is very difficult and hard work. Try it some time if you think it is easy.

[exitseven]

Then why are all the shows unable to continue? I saw these people on TV. They would never even think about working as a laborer or a store clerk. They are a bunch of snowflakes. Everyone would like a fun job but most end up having a soul sucking job. It is just the way the world works.

[msc545]

The shows have trouble continuing because they need scripts for the new episodes, but the studios don't want to pay the people who produce the scripts with their LABOR a decent wage. The studios make billions of $ off this!

Why is this too hard for you to understand? Do you think people who do work and spend their non-replaceable time doing it are supposed to work for free?

[msc545]

People want to do work like this until they actually do it, and then they find out how hard it really is and don't want it.

[exitseven]

Economics works on a supply and demand system. Like a said, everyone wants to work in showbiz. This is why the studios can gat away with not paying these people a living wage. Who the hell would want to be a network engineer? It is a hard job and it takes a lot of advanced training to qualify. you have to keep your skills current and some times it can be a high pressure job. That is why I make the big bucks

[msc545]

Everyone wants to be a performer, not a technician.

[exitseven]

Yes, everyone does want to be a performer. Usually you have to be related to Tom Hanks or Dennis Quaid or John Ritter so after all these guys get the plum jobs the rest of the folks have to come up with the scripts.

[msc545]

Where the heck are you getting this crazy information?

[exitseven]

Look at a lot of TV shows today abandoned you see the offspring of many famous actors. It's nice work if you can get it

[msc545]

I know a lot of people in the entertainment business. The vast majority of them are NOT related to other entertainment industry people at all. You are simply fantasizing again.

[exitseven]

I just watched an episode of the new Star Trek and Dennis Quaids kid was in it. I gave seen quite a few others

[msc545]

Your personal experience is not a representation of the overall situation.

[exitseven]

That is true.

[lightbulb27]

haven't paid much attention, not my world. I was thinking I could pickup a writer for a script idea cheap, but I guess no luck...

the part on AI is an interesting and probably valid point... to protect their jobs. The minimum part... sounds questionable.

It all means your cable bill is going north.

[goaded]

I think it's about time the people who work to produce billions of dollars worth of entertainment got their fair share.

[goaded]

Same as people who work to produce billions of dollars of cars.

[msc545]

exactly!

[RealMarek]

Given that what we are calling AI (ChatGPT and the like) functions by taking existing content and mimicking its form, I think they have a valid concern that it benefits from their labor without them being compensated.

[Drewtate]

Good for them. Though it's hard to give a shit from how going by their writing they think ordinary are scum. Think the studios should be asking some of them for their paycheck back for bad writing

[Snakeyes7]

Honestly I barely noticed that the strike even began. I don't really care for the modern film industry.

[Iron_Man]

I’m not familiar with it are you going to theJimmy Kimmel show now that they’re back