Comments on: WGA Strike : Lying With Numbers http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:27:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: JJ http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15344 JJ Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:58:10 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15344 The internet makes so many things freely available, I'm not sure why anyone in the media expects to make much money down the road. Newspapers, magazines and books have largely become irrelevant. Next is tv and movies. The monopoly and extremely limited distribution is over. No one on the web should expect that becoming part of guild will make the more money. Those in hollywood should be expecting to be continually making less and less money. The internet makes so many things freely available, I’m not sure why anyone in the media expects to make much money down the road. Newspapers, magazines and books have largely become irrelevant. Next is tv and movies. The monopoly and extremely limited distribution is over. No one on the web should expect that becoming part of guild will make the more money. Those in hollywood should be expecting to be continually making less and less money.

]]> By: fred tam http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15207 fred tam Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:29:30 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15207 "First, when they say "the average writer", they are actually referring to the average employed writer. However, in 2003, the WGA had roughly 7500 members, of whom 4,298 had some were employed at some point in the year. That means that only about 57% of WGA members had any income from film, TV, or other WGA-covered sources during the year. So, if you have a 57% chance of being employed in a given year... and you can expect to earn $93,482 if employed... you have an expected income for that year of $53,284.74. Your agent gets 10% of that, and your lawyer gets 5%, so that's $45,292.03 left over for you. At least, until you have to pay taxes..."http://www.theblankpage.us/archives/2005/07/the_economics_o_1.html “First, when they say “the average writer”, they are actually referring to the average employed writer. However, in 2003, the WGA had roughly 7500 members, of whom 4,298 had some were employed at some point in the year. That means that only about 57% of WGA members had any income from film, TV, or other WGA-covered sources during the year.

So, if you have a 57% chance of being employed in a given year… and you can expect to earn $93,482 if employed… you have an expected income for that year of $53,284.74. Your agent gets 10% of that, and your lawyer gets 5%, so that’s $45,292.03 left over for you. At least, until you have to pay taxes…”http://www.theblankpage.us/archives/2005/07/the_economics_o_1.html

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15075 Kevin Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:42:45 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15075 Eric: Please try actually reading the article THAT YOU POSTED TO so you can disabuse yourself of your incorrect assumptions about the WGA's wages. Eric:

Please try actually reading the article THAT YOU POSTED TO so you can disabuse yourself of your incorrect assumptions about the WGA’s wages.

]]> By: Eric http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15069 Eric Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:25:00 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15069 I'll tell you what... If they are complaining about their pay then I will be glad to trade one months pay with one of the average wga members salaries of 204,000 dollars. That equals about 17000 in one month. Heck, I am a mechanic and they need me to get them back and forth to work (or the picket lines... sorry), and I only make about 2.5 times in one year then they make in a month. Quit your whining wga. I’ll tell you what… If they are complaining about their pay then I will be glad to trade one months pay with one of the average wga members salaries of 204,000 dollars. That equals about 17000 in one month. Heck, I am a mechanic and they need me to get them back and forth to work (or the picket lines… sorry), and I only make about 2.5 times in one year then they make in a month. Quit your whining wga.

]]> By: john http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15016 john Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:34:19 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-15016 I find it some what interesting that dAnimal would sight union developement in auto,steel and mining industries since that union activity for a large part has effectivly eliminated the steel industy in this country, crippled the traditional auto industry, and has mining on is way out here! I find it some what interesting that dAnimal would sight
union developement in auto,steel and mining industries since that union activity for a large part has effectivly eliminated the steel industy in this country, crippled the traditional auto industry, and has mining on is way out here!

]]> By: Alex http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14931 Alex Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:46:33 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14931 It sounds to me that if the WGA workers want "just compensation", they shouldn't be looking at the companies, but at themselves. Companies care more about the bottom line, and it looks to me they're paying out a LOT per person, regardless of how it's distributed. Now, if you want to profit share throughout all writers, with lesser talents mooching off of the work of the superstars, that's your socialist cup of tea. Now, for most in the working world, they give companies the fruits of our labor in exchange for a salary. No residuals for generating an SEC company report, read by tens of thousands! And if you're not making enough? Get a second job. I hear McDonald's is hiring. It sounds to me that if the WGA workers want “just compensation”, they shouldn’t be looking at the companies, but at themselves. Companies care more about the bottom line, and it looks to me they’re paying out a LOT per person, regardless of how it’s distributed. Now, if you want to profit share throughout all writers, with lesser talents mooching off of the work of the superstars, that’s your socialist cup of tea.

Now, for most in the working world, they give companies the fruits of our labor in exchange for a salary. No residuals for generating an SEC company report, read by tens of thousands! And if you’re not making enough? Get a second job. I hear McDonald’s is hiring.

]]> By: Doobie http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14669 Doobie Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:16:29 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14669 Welcome to the Gilded Age, Part II Welcome to the Gilded Age, Part II

]]> By: Mike Meyer http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14665 Mike Meyer Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:15:20 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14665 OT:1-202-225-0100 DEMAND IMPEACHMENT. OT:1-202-225-0100 DEMAND IMPEACHMENT.

]]> By: David Grenier http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14664 David Grenier Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:16:45 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14664 dAnimal, So you think the Hollywood of yore (or the auto industry, or steel industry, or mining industry) was "more enlightened"? No. Everything workers have they had to fight for, tooth and nail. People lost their livlihoods, were jailed, were beaten and even killed for the rights that we've largely whittled away. If you want a union, you need to organize one. I'm sure the WGA will help, but if you wait for them to ride in on a white horse or you wait for your bosses to voluntarily give up money and power, it'll never happen. Right now I doubt the WGA is going to have much time to do new organizing (and even when they do they seem to be strategically incresing their density in an industry where they're strong - i.e. trying to organize workers on reality shows, so they may not have the resources to go into a new industry) but you should give them a call and see what they say. They might be able to at least get you started. dAnimal,

So you think the Hollywood of yore (or the auto industry, or steel industry, or mining industry) was “more enlightened”? No. Everything workers have they had to fight for, tooth and nail. People lost their livlihoods, were jailed, were beaten and even killed for the rights that we’ve largely whittled away.

If you want a union, you need to organize one. I’m sure the WGA will help, but if you wait for them to ride in on a white horse or you wait for your bosses to voluntarily give up money and power, it’ll never happen.

Right now I doubt the WGA is going to have much time to do new organizing (and even when they do they seem to be strategically incresing their density in an industry where they’re strong - i.e. trying to organize workers on reality shows, so they may not have the resources to go into a new industry) but you should give them a call and see what they say. They might be able to at least get you started.

]]> By: Mike Meyer http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14659 Mike Meyer Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:01:34 +0000 http://www.thetalentshow.org/2007/11/16/wga-strike-lying-with-numbers/#comment-14659 Well, gas, groceries, and rent went up. What really pisses me off is cigarettes and whiskey went up too. Damn little pleasures these days. Well, gas, groceries, and rent went up. What really pisses me off is cigarettes and whiskey went up too. Damn little pleasures these days.

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