UPDATE
Today, we got new news about StrikeTV.com, so I have moved this comment, originally posted on December 17 back to the top of the page.
StrikeTV will apparently be a clearinghouse channel for new content created by WGA members for web distribution. StrikeTV will raise money via advertising and the funds will be donated to a WGA strike fund that gives money to financially distressed crew members from other unions.
StrikeTV will merely be "the channel" on which these new programs will be available. It is neither the producer of the shows, nor "the network" for the shows (the shows will be hosted on youtube).
WGA are hoping that their members will use union crew and talent, but that the crew and talent will donate their time.
At the same time, they are quick to point out that the creators of the content (WGA members) will own the shows and can sell or otherwise distribute them for profit anywhere they would like.
So here's the problem:
While I applaud any initiative by the Writers which will help those who are in financial turmoil because of the walkout, I am concerned by the hypocrisy of the idea that the Writers who create the shows own them and can make money off of them, but that the crew should work out of the goodness of their hearts (especially as this is a primary reason why they are on strike - and we are out of work - in the first place).
So for crew members considering working on one of these shows, I encourage you to do whatever you would like, but, as always, go in with your eyes wide open. The Writers are potentially making money off your work. If the show creator makes money, what do you get? Make sure that is spelled out ahead of time.
Volunteering your time to help out your fellow below the line workers is noble. But if the Writer (who is now a producer) is going to personally profit, you should, too.
Also, be clear on what your work will do to your unemployment benefits. You may not legally be able to claim during a week when you work on one of these productions. I point this out not to dissuade anyone, but to protect those who might see their bennies cut off just when they need them the most (ie, if the strike is still going in July).
Below is the original post:
Interesting development.
The big question now: will the writers be using union crews at union rates to create their content? If so, bravo. If not, the hypocrisy would be astounding.
Reserving judgement until details emerge.
12 comments:
THIS IS A COMMENT REPOST
ANONYMOUS from the thread proposing a Cease-Fire said:
Update on "Strike TV". The MySpace page indicates that they're hoping that DGA, SAG and IA crews will work under union contracts, but essentially donating their time since these projects will be financed out of the pockets of the writers creating them. And the new shows are being tagged as an "internet fundraiser". To which I must ask, in all seriousness, HAVE THESE PEOPLE LOST THEIR MINDS?
I'll add to a comment on I made on UH, where I suggested that the Writers who turn producer and decide to create contant for StrikeTV should set things up in one of two ways.
1) All-volunteer. In this version, everyone volunteers their time and all proceeds go to the fund set up for it. After the strike is over, any additional income goes to the Actors Fund (which is an ongoing concern which takes care of members of all unions in financial or physical distress).
2) For-profit. In this case, any crew member should get paid up front or receive some sort of back end deal.
To expand upon my original post, anyone working on a for-profit show who is only getting back end money, make sure your deal is based on distributor's gross (not producer's gross). This is the same language that WGA is using with the AMPTP, so they should be more than willing to use the same language with you.
As always, please make sure you understand what costs and benefits will fall to you, if any. Make sure you clearly understand whether or not you are allowed to apply for unemployment benefits during a week when you work on any production, including for the internet.
Sorry guys, this sounds more like a maverick studio start up than a fundraiser. Asking the various unions to participate with lower rate scales or "volenteer" their time sounds like a non-union show. As it states in the MySpace "we're calling in some favors". I doubt that any contributions to Pension or Health plans will be made either - so what is it REALLY other than another cheap taunt at the AMPTP?
This does not sound like the WGA writer/producers are planning for this to be a temporary thing either, but rather an ongoing internet channel COMPETING with any new model the contract may come up with. I just can't see this as a good thing overall
YMMV - TB
Huh, sounds like this "startup" is more like AMPTP than they realize, perhaps they should become a signatory.
Put up the money, keep all the money.
Hey folks, all the proceeds are going to the Solidarity Fund to help non-WGAers affected by the strike. All the production money is coming out of pocket from the writers. And we are trying to work with the unions to get waivers because working with union crews is extremely important to us as a statement and a model for the future.
This is no AMPTP shill project. We're trying to show there's a way to do this that can be more fair to all the workers behind the scenes.
Writerboy,
I think most people realize that this project is designed to put money in the hands of out of work crew (the people who are hardest hit by the strike), and for that effort, we applaud you.
The question that arises is the issue of ownership of the material -- which StrikeTV claims will continue to be owned by the Writer-Producer, who can keep any outside money he makes from the project.
It is in this case -- the for-profit motivation of some of the writer-producers -- that has many of us concerned.
If the Writer-Producer has the potential to personally earn money from the project, then the cast and crew should also share in this potential.
Folks in this case should either be paid up front or they should share in distributor's gross revenue for the project (less, of course, any money donated to the Solidarity Fund or, after the strike, to the Actors Fund).
While the intent is honorable and appreciated, there appears to be a few loopholes in the StrikeTV setup which could allow for some dubious profit off the back of volunteer crew. We just wish to ensure, as I'm sure you do, that these issues are addressed prior to production of any StrikeTV shows.
Let me restate: This is being tried as a one-time experimental thing, with two goals:
1) demonstrate to the AMPTP that writer-producers can create Internet content without them,
2) raise money for the Solidarity Fund
I'm one of the participants, and we're only asking people to work free or discounted for this startup. If someone wants to option our videos or pilots after that, the idea is to hire our union crews with proper contracts to continue working on them.
Alternately, we could be just doing this on the cheap with whomever we could find. But we're all very much committed to using union folks and paying them fairly, just as we'd like to be ourselves.
I don't think it's fair to start attributing nefarious "motivations" to anyone without any evidence.
Writerboy,
I'm not trying to claim anyone's got "motivations" one way or the other. The issue which is raising concerns is that StrikeTV is pointing out that the Writer-Producers behind the shows will own the shows' copyright and can earn future profits off of the projects.
In the case of shows where the Writer-Producers will retain future profits, it is only fair that cast and crew who work on these projects will also share in these future profits, on distributor's gross percentage to be negotiated.
Certainly you would never want a writer working on an AMPTP production that was deemed "experimental" without some sort of back-end protection.
We're merely looking out for the cast and crew of these productions, and helping to ensure that they, too, are covered in the event that a StrikeTV show earns a profit beyond what is paid into the Solidarity Fund.
As I stated above, the goals and intentions of StrikeTV are undoubtedly good. As the productions are currently set up, however, there are concerns which need to be addressed prior to the commencement of shooting.
Everyone simply needs to know where they stand.
BTL guy and others:
Just wanted you to know I brought up your suggestions w/the Strike TV folks, and they were received very positively. They certainly never meant to shut anybody out of the financial picture, but at the same time they don't want to dictate how ownership of individual shows should be handled. It's still a loose model we're trying to figure out. But everyone agrees it's absolutely in everybody's best interests if BTL crews are able to participate financially in the success of a show they worked on, and are working on creating a structure where that is possible.
Writerboy,
Thanks for the update; we're glad to hear it.
As I've said from the get-go, the ideas behind StrikeTV seem great.
And clearly anything where all profits - present and future - go towards Solidarity Fund or Actors Fund is a no-brainer. Anyone who's interested and available should have no compunctions about working on such a project.
Certainly, we'd all love to see some for-profit projects get off the ground too. If writers can out-maneuver producers in this regard (which is no small feat), so much the better for all of us, so long as they promote the fair compensation as producers that they are fighting for as writers.
It's just that these for-profit projects can get a little tricky in terms of how they are set up.
It's great to hear that the issue is being addressed, and we look forward to hearing more details.
Thanks again for the update, and Happy New Year!
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