If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#41
|
|||
|
|||
"Jericho"
..Blueskies. wrote: There are no 'writers' for those 'reality' shows; that is one of the perceived cost bonuses as TV gets cheaper and less accountable. What ever happened to the FAA rules about use of public airwaves? Oh, the gov't decided that that doesn't apply to cable. Oh, now we need to level the playing field, the cable folks have an advantage, so over the air gets relief for the rules, OH, the satellite folks need the same benefits... Not much TV worth watching these days....and no, I'm not getting (that) old! US: Reality Show Writers Want to Unionize by Richard Verrier, Orlando Sentinel June 22nd, 2005 LOS ANGELES -- The guild representing Hollywood writers has disclosed that more than 75 percent of the scribes on TV reality shows have signed cards asking to be represented by the union. The campaign sets up a potential showdown with the companies behind such programs as Survivor, The Amazing Race and The Bachelor. The Writers Guild of America, West, said about 1,000 reality TV writers, producers and editors out of an estimated 1,300 have requested since May 7 to join the union. Guild officials said they had sent letters to all the major production companies asking to negotiate, but none responded. Organizing writers on reality TV shows brings to light what has been one of the proliferating genre's open secrets: that so-called unscripted shows often are scripted after all. Behind the scenes of popular reality shows, writers craft game formats, coach contestants and feed lines to such stars as Paris Hilton in Fox's The Simple Life. Writers also splice together comments to create story lines and manufacture drama. In industry parlance, it's an editing process known as "Frankenbite." Because writers are deeply involved in the dozens of reality shows, union leaders argue, they should get similar pay and benefits as writers on conventional programs. "These are issues of justice for these writers," said Daniel Petrie Jr., president of the WGA, West. He described reality TV as a "sweatshop" for writers. "We've heard stories of people working three or four days at a stretch with an hour and a half sleep at night, or 23-hour days in 100-degree heat with no overtime." J. Nicholas Counter, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the industry's negotiating arm, disputed the sweatshop claims. "I know people in the television business generally work long hours," Counter said. "I'm not aware of any exploitation." The popularity of Survivor and other reality shows triggered an explosion of programs on network and cable TV. Production costs usually are cheaper than network dramas and sitcoms, although the amount of money paid in licensing fees for shows from such top producers as Mark Burnett has soared dramatically. Writers who work on prime-time scripted shows receive a guaranteed 13-week pay of $3,477 a week, plus pension, health and residual payments. By contrast, those who work in reality shows typically earn from $700 to $1,200 a week. Unlike other writers, they typically do not receive pension, health insurance or residuals and usually work for two to three months per job, according to the guild. "We're making shows that make these networks millions and we can't afford a middle-class lifestyle," said Rebecca Hertz, a field producer who has worked on The Swan for Fox. "We think it's time for that to end." |
#42
|
|||
|
|||
"Jericho"
I'm shocked! Absolutely SHOCKED! Who'd a thunk it.
-- Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways) "Richard Riley" wrote in message oups.com... US: Reality Show Writers Want to Unionize by Richard Verrier, Orlando Sentinel June 22nd, 2005 snip Organizing writers on reality TV shows brings to light what has been one of the proliferating genre's open secrets: that so-called unscripted shows often are scripted after all. snip |
#43
|
|||
|
|||
"Jericho"
"Matt Barrow" wrote in message ... How stupid can TV writers be? My question is, how stupid can TV audiences be? Why were you wlatching? Maybe to see what the program was like? (How stupid indeed!) A lot of shows take a year or two to find their rhythm and/or replace the weak links. Sometimes they're put on excessive deadlines for the networks and don't have the resources to develop themes and scripts as much as they would like. It's hard to trash a show with at least a semi-decent premise and fair acting in the first season, but Jericho might not make it. What torques me the most is the end of the episodes where everybody's having a big town picnic or the girl is having a party and everybody's having a good time... or somebody looks upset and somebody else says "What's the matter?" Apparently "There's been a nuclear war, my family is dead and nobody knows what's going on" isn't a valid excuse to be a bit irrational now and then. -c |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|