You have been already paid for your writing.
Implying that you did it for free is just demagogy.
Nobody is holding a gun to your head.
If you are truly doing it for free, then find another job.
I just wrote something on your blog.
A site where you sold ads.
I want part of that money.
Josh,
There's nothing I love more than a passionate man, (okay, except a well informed man) but I must say, I don't understand your comments. I wish you would look at things from another angle.
When writers write and those shows are produced (let's say "Friends) with repeats, syndicationm DVD sales, on airplanes, and soon to be On Demand) the studios makes millions. In the case of Friends, it's probably in the billions. Why shouldn't the writer get a small piece of that? (And I mean, it's REALLY SMALL). The show wouldn't be anything if it weren't funny. Okay, let's say your stance is still "The writer got paid up front, isn't that enough?" Well, a little known fact, that I wish was a huger (I like to make up words) known fact is that when a residual is paid to the Writer's Guild - IT'S NOT JUST THE WRITER THAT GETS PAID.
The following unions also get paid - I.A.T.S.E., IBT Local 399, Studio Utility Employees Local 724, IBEW Local 40, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 78, and the Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 755… ALL RECEIVE RESIDUALS. These residual payments go directly into their PENSION AND HEALTH FUND. RESIDUALS earned working on shows CONSTITUTE 55% OF THEIR Pension & Health.
So even if you think writers are a bunch of spoiled rich brats (P.S. 65% of our guild is unemployed) and the the writers I hang with are certainly not - in fact the ones I hang with are banking on their residuals to make it through the year and need to reach a certain amount of residual money in ORDER TO GET THEIR HEALTH CARE. Don't begrudge me my health care, Josh! I'm going to need access to a doc 'cause all this strike stress is killing me...
But even if you have a certain opinion about writers, you really want to take residuals from the other hard working members of the crew? We're not just striking for ourselves and generations to come. We're stiking for them.
Writers by the score have been ordered by their employers to write "webisodes," original scripts for which they do not get paid, but which generate paid advertising when webcast. I'm not saying these writers receive no residuals from their work. I'm saying they are writing FOR FREE. Their employers claim the material is "promotional" and threaten the writers with being fired if they do not cooperate. In our capitalist society, that is in effect a gun to the head.
Now personally, I have never claimed, nor have I implied, that I have professionally written anything for free. I and others involved in this job action are arguing that we are not being paid ENOUGH. So little, in fact, compared to the profits made from our writing, that it's grossly unfair.
As for your other post, I never legally contracted with you, nor did I enter into negotiations with you, to write for me. So sorry, no share of the eight dollars I've made from this blog.
Given the courage of your convictions, however, I suggest you scrawl a graffito atop a billboard for Sprite, then show up at the door of the Coca-Cola company for your fair share. I think you've got a real shot.
Commenting by HaloScan
