Some animation writers are, but not all of them. (I think Simpsons, Family Guy and such ARE.)

Videogame 'writers' are generally not part of the guild. There is some talk of unionizing the gaming industry... but that's another thread.

There is a pretty good wikipedia article about the strike. It's got a list of all the shows effected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Wr..._on_television

And just out of curiosity... Does any one think that this will create a small window of opportunity for Indy productions? I'm wondering if studios and networks will start scooping up some non-union/low budget films to make up for the lull in production.

I thought about that, too. I don't know; there may be a bigger shot for projects doing well on the web (never thought I'd say that) and/or in fests to get picked up.

Heath

That would be ethically difficult for an Indy production to get picked up during the strike. To know, and everyone else know, that you made it while others were striking would be a shakey way to enter the show. And yet it might be your only chance. I hope I would say no but I'm glad I don't have the temptation.

It's a slippery slope, that's for sure. Older projects, sure.

I'm not sure how I'll proceed with two projects right now, one with a script that's 90% there, the other with a script that needs a lot of work. None of this is union, but we'd like to have one or two SAG actors onboard. But if SAG strikes next July, that will throw a wrench in things.

Besides, if you're making $20,000 movies, maybe up to $100,000, and if it's non-union, I can't imagine it would be even a small blip on the radar. But, like I said, it's a slippery slope; we want to get into Hollywood desperately (at least the major filmmaking and TV production part of it, if not moving to L.A.), yet it's hard to get in.

Heath

It might eliminate the need for record labels for bands that are already so popular and profitable that they can be self-sustaining, if you will. But for the vast majority of other, lessor known bands that don't have global name recognition and don't have the funds to spend millions for marketing then I don't think the ball game changes too much in the foreseeable future.

Even when you can set your own price, the most popular is apparently $0.00.

http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=1883


-A

It's like TV then, free TV: everything is paid by ads aired. Speaking of Internet, check this out:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007...usiness.google

Heath

I was dumbfounded by the commentators who said that having 40% of the downloaders pay was a good sign. That seems pretty low to me. It's depressing to think that 60% of the people downloading are scumbags who feel they are entitled to free music.

Dave,

To depress you further, they say the amount of people who downloaded it from P2P sites, illegally, rivaled that of those who went to www.inrainbows.com.

Okay, back on topic: the agents may be bringing everyone back to the table. It's a "glimmer of hope."

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.co...back-in-touch/

heath

Another video
 

I found this video extremely interesting viewing. Remember, the AMPTP is claiming there is no money to be had yet in digital entertainment. To US that is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a37uqd5vTw

Writers Strike Could Devastate Small Businesses
 

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz...112_509882.htm

This is what I'm worried about, Boyd. Thanks for posting that.

Heath

The strike is going to be disruptive, and is going to cause a lot of people to lose a lot of money, but I have to support their call for fairer residuals.

Writing is the backbone of film/tv content creation, that has to be worth something.

I'm sensing a backlash in the general community, similar to that of how fans felt when sports stars went on strike over the years, most recently with hockey. If actors go on strike, that may cripple EVERYONE, because of the reaction.

Heath

The actors and writers are seeking essentially the same thing in their contracts (there are some creative rights that the WGA is interested in that don't apply to SAG or the DGA), so if we get to the end of the SAG contract without a deal, it would also mean that the writers hadn't come to a deal.

I certainly don't want the WGA strike to go on that long (eight months or so).