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« WGA Post-Strike Watch: News About Returning Shows
Lost's Damon Lindelof: "Things Have Gotten Ugly"
In a 1,095-word op-ed piece for the New York Times, Lost cocreator/head writer Damon Lindelof weighs in on the WGA strike and "the guild's desire for a portion of revenues derived from the Internet." Lost, for example, "has been streamed hundreds of millions of times [on ABC.com], yet the writers get 'nothing' from the sale of surrounding ad content. We're also a hit on iTunes. Again, we get nothing."
Lindelof warns, "If this strike lasts longer than three months, an entire season of television will end this December," and any new series won't arrive until 2009. He describes himself as "angry because I am accused of being greedy by studios that are being greedy. [My] greed is fair and reasonable.... The studios' greed, on the other hand, is hidden behind... claims that they make nothing on the Web, that the streaming and downloading of our shows is purely 'promotional.'"
So is there any hope for resolution and a return to how things were a week and a half ago? "Things have gotten ugly," Lindelof opines, "and the lines of communication have broken down completely.... Perhaps it's not too late, though, for both sides to rally around the one thing we still have in common: our mourning for the way things used to be."
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Nov 12, 2007 4:51 PM
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Promotional? Really? I guess if they're promoting Target, Sears, or AT&T that makes sense.
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Nov 12, 2007 5:39 PM
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Nice article from Damon. It basically just comes down to the studios not wanting to pay, and using the fact that people are watching on a screen connected to different electronic guts as an excuse.
Sadly, I'm not optimistic and I think it will take months of striking and not just the loss of this season, but the threat of losing next fall as well before the studios finally cave. It also may take the actors joining in with their own strike next summer.
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Nov 12, 2007 5:49 PM
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Lets hope that common sense prevails here. What I mean by that is that yes, the writers certainly DO deserve their fair share. It is the works of their imaginations that captivate us, stimulate our imaginations and entertain us. The writers rate every single dollar paid to them and more.
The studio heads deserve to live in cardboard boxes and eat from garbage cans.
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Nov 12, 2007 6:04 PM
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He describes himself as "angry because I amaccused of being greedy by studios that are being greedy. [My] greed is fair and reasonable.... The studios' greed, on the other hand, is hidden behind... claims that they make nothing on the Web, that the streaming and downloading of our shows is purely 'promotional.'"
I would venture to say that Damon's & the WGA's "greed" isn't that at all. Do I enjoy the collateral damage that's being done by the strike? No. But it could all be solved if the AMPTP would get off their high horses and come back to the bargaining table and at least try to come to some sort of compromise and work out an acceptible equation on how to share the wealth, so to speak.
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Nov 12, 2007 6:52 PM
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As I understand it, the writers are requesting a minute percentage of the profits from digital media.
If the networks aren't MAKING any money, as they say, what do they CARE if they give 2% of that "nothing" away?
Obviously, they covet every last penny of current and potential profit.
In the case of the "powers that be" I would say "greedy" doesn't even begin to cover it.
Pathetic.
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Nov 12, 2007 7:16 PM
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BOO FRIGGIN HOO
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Nov 12, 2007 7:23 PM
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It's funny, the number of words added up equals 15 (one of THE Numbers) (1+0+9+5)
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Nov 12, 2007 8:01 PM
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Thank goodness the writers of Heroes and Life aren't on strike. Grow up and get on with it.
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Nov 12, 2007 9:19 PM
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If the writers of Heroes and Life aren't on strike they must not be members of the WGA.
The WGA deserve to be compensated for their work and the studios need to make sure it happens. In my book, THEY'RE the ones who are greedy.
I'll miss my favorite show (NCIS) when it runs out of new episodes but I'll come back to it as soon as the strike is settled and new episodes air.
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Nov 12, 2007 9:54 PM
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The writers of Heroes and Life are on strike. As other areas of this site have said, you'll be seeing reruns of them as well in a month or two if things aren't resolved soon.
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Nov 12, 2007 10:05 PM
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I do believe that the writers deserve something from the DVD sales. But the one thing I'm not 100% certain of... hopefully someone can answer for me... who is the WGA striking AGAINST? Who exactly is/are the person/people who make the final decisions about what the writers will get or not get from the DVD sales?
Is there anything that we as fans can do to help out the writers? If the fans could help bring back Jericho, am I just being WAY too naive to think that we can't contact networks or someone and pummel them with mail? Something tells me the answer to my question is yes... 
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Nov 12, 2007 10:40 PM
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I have watched videos online to sample a show at my convenience, I assume that is what the studios mean by promotion. But I have two shows, one on ABC, that I exclusively watch online. I sit through the commercials included with these shows online and I wouldn't if I bought a DVR or used my overworked VCR. So just what do the companies think this income is for - just a little extra pop for them that they don't have to share? Eventually all TV and Internet may be merged; eventually all TV will be at our convenience/schedule. If the writers don't get this now they never will. I fully support this strike and will not pick up more brain crap to pollute my thinking in the form of reality or game shows. Some people may think it's fine that fat cats can find nothing better to do with their money than light their illegal cuban cigars. I think the families depending on the income the writers make - 48% of the time - deserve more. As badly as I will miss Lost (and I really will) - this is so much more important.
The writers aren't striking against anything - they're striking for fairness. They are all on strike - read Michael Ausiello's count down to see how many new episodes are left. This is just entertainment to us. It is the income and therefore the lives of these families. It isn't helpful for anyone to spout off ignorantly about missing your shows unless you are informed.
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Nov 12, 2007 11:09 PM
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This whole thing smacks of all that is wrong with business today. The top "owners" make 95% of the revenue but do 5% of the work, and vice versa. It does seem that many many people at the top seem to be more greedy than they were, say, 20 years ago, and are convinced that they need to make their percentage even higher. That said, I do know that the internet ad sales are extremely small. (I used to work in advertising). But if what PJ Sander said is true, and the writers only want 2% of that revenue, than there should be no argument on that point. The writers should receive a percentage of the revenue from DVRs, DVDs, iTunes, etc., but they need to see that this is a slippery slope and not easily rectified. I don't pretend to know what went on during their negotiations, but do know that ALWAYS in these cases both sides are "at fault." If writers like Lindehof sees the other side as venemously as the producers see the writers, this will never be resolved. They need to be forced to find a creative (if complicated) solution soon to make sure that all those affected don't starve. Hello Washington?
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Nov 13, 2007 7:27 AM
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Ok here is what I love, if the studios are not making any money of the internet showings of their shows then why do they throw a fit when they are put on youtube??? If they weren't making money they would see it as free advertising. Makes you think doesn't it.
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Nov 13, 2007 9:02 AM
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