While there’s no word yet on the progress of today’s talks between the WGA and the AMPTP, the union has posted an extensive analysis on its website today about the latest offer from the companies worth $130 million over the next three years and expresses hope that "if the AMPTP is serious about this figure, the WGA is confident we are close to a deal and hopeful that the companies will respond positively to our sincere movement to partner with them."
According to the report, most WGA writers earn "middle class wages" averaging $62,000 annually over a five-year period. Since, 2000, however, revenue for the entertainment companies have grown from $63 billion to $95 billion, the analysis claims. "WGA members have actually fallen behind," the report says. "While entertainment segment
revenue has grown at an annual rate of 7 percent over the last 7 years,
writers’ earnings and residuals have grown only 3.5 percent."
As a result, the union says it has proposed a $151 million deal over three years that doesn’t include a plan to improve the DVD formula, which it claims is equal to $57 million over the life of the contract. The WGA estimates their proposed payout would break down to $1.68 million per year from Sony; $6.25 million per year from Disney; $4.66 million per year for Paramount and CBS each; $11.2 million from Warners; $6.04 million from Fox; $7.44 million from NBC/Universal, and $320K for MGM. All the other companies would assume the remaining cost of about $8.3 million per year.
"We are pleased that the companies have stated their willingness to make a three year deal worth upwards of $130 million," the report concludes. "While we do not see how their proposal adds up to that number, we do know that our proposal is a serious, reasonable, and affordable attempt to bridge the gap between us. If it doesn’t, it will bring into question how serious the companies really are about making a deal."
I think these Hollywood folks make enuff money as it is. They need to go work at Walmart for just one day then they would appreciate their wages!
They need to be on strike , alright ,more like strike 3-OUT!
America needs more positive, comedy movies than the crap that is out!
I hope this is true! As much as I support the strike, I can’t goo too long without new episodes of my favorite shows! So a good end to the strike would be an amazing Christmas present!
Yeah, and all Wal-Mart workers need to try being a migrant farm hand in California to see what hard work is really like. And all migrant farm hands should try working in Chinese shoe factory. And Chinese shoe workers need to try to scrounge for food in Darfur to see what suffering truly is. And…well, how far do you want to take this argument, Azz off?
True, I’d like see any of the AMPTPT moguls work as a showrunner, writer, grip, craft service employee, truck driver, or any of the other countless jobs that feed their bottom line for a day. Including Wal-Mart folks, who, by selling DVDs, do, too.
The value of a job in a market economy is not measured by the toll it takes on your Azz. Its measured by having a unique skill set that can be utilized to make people money.
I’m a writer, though not WGA. I never worked at Wal-Mart, but I worked at Walgreens. And yeah, it wasn’t fun.
So what? Show me how that’s relevant.
to working your… hollywood types do make alot of money, but the writers don’t get their fair shake. you obviously havent read much about why they are striking. more importantly, it seems as if you think writing a hit comedy, drama, and everything in between is easy to do. there is an obscene amount of money to be had and without the writers, reality tv will rule the tube (gag) and silent movies will make a comeback. feel the excitement!
To those who are frustrated by the Hollywood writer’s purported privilege, I say enough of the sour grapes. It all about your skill set. If you have developed and continue to nurture a unique creative skill for which there is a market demand, than you are entitled to make whatever those market forces allow. Additionally, thanks to the National Labor Relations Act, you are entitled to work collectively with other members in your industry in order to aggregate your market influence. The fact that writers use their minds instead of their brawn to make a living is of no moment. The fact that you resent them for their ambition and abilities speaks to your inadaquecies not their entitlement. The fact that they may sit around in comfortable offices, drinking coffee, and playing foosball during their work day is irrelevant. Their efforts produces a product that makes people lots of money. Those people want to make more of that money and they want to get a bigger piece of that pie.
Well said, Patrick. The writers aren’t trying to make an obscene amount of money compared to other creative development people in the film and television industry (from the actors ot the producers themselves). The writers are trying to ensure that they will get their fair share. Do I like the strike? Not one bit. Does it represent something great about this country? I believe it does.
*blinks* The average writer’s salary is $62,000 a YEAR?! Patrick Dempsey makes $200,000+ an episode and basically became a household name because a writer built his character and gave him the nickname “McDreamy” while making roughly 1/4th of his weekly salary for the entire YEAR?! That’s disgusting.
$62,000 a year? Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t a lot of these writers live in California? $62,000/yr isn’t really much when you consider the cost of living out there.
It sounds more like wishful thinking on the part of the WGA. The studios will play hardball for a long while.
I posted the following writer pay scale last week – here you go! For a 30 min episode a writer makes $20,956 for a 60 min episode a writer makes $30,823.00 for a 120 minute episode $62,367.00. Straight from the WGA 2007/2008 WGA Rates. AND They DO GET THEIR FAIR SHARE! Not only do they get the scale that is posted BUT they get character payments for EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER THEY CREATED, they get paid a program fee for each episode they write AND they also get a reuse/recap for any footage used in future episodes! SO that add’l $6-10k is the extra $$$ they get on top of scale! I’ve always supported union strikes but this is ridiculous!
AND the post above DOES NOT include the weekly term writer staff that is on the production set every day. They make weekly payments of $4k+ a week for about 15 weeks.
I’m just as miffed as everyone from both sides are. I work hand in hand with the writers and the corporate moguls and I see it from both sides. I do respect those who go out and fight for thier $$$ BUT when one side wants an ALL or nothing – to me that’s not negotiating. The other thing is I feel personally they should have waited to strike AFTER the holidays. To me they didn’t strike smart. BUT that is just my opinion. Ok I’m done venting!
Wowzers, no doubt the writers make a whole lot of money, but isn’t that beside the point. The point is that the production companies, studios, etc. make a whole, whole, whole (times, I don’t know, one hundred) lot of money. The writers want to get paid in proportion to the benefit they provide. They have a right to use a work stoppage at a strategically opportune time in order to exert economic pressure on management. Again, they provide a service that is unique and valuable and they deserve the right to work together to maximize their compensation. The fact that it inconveniences us as consumers is the very point. It is an unfortunate reality of labor dynamics. Until the prime time and blockbuster spigot goes dry and we start turning the knob to off (and, God forbid, start reading books) management will have no incentive to honestly examine the balance of the equities. I will miss the Office, I fear for the future of Lost but, as I am sure you know, that is how it works.
Patrick, thanks again for your clear-headed analysis of the issue. The argument that “I make less than them so they have no right to complain” is ridiculous. All the writers want is fair compensation in comparison to what others are making off their work.