Writer's Strike, That New Studio, and more BS'in

Yes, I'm still alive. If you've come to this blog for any length of time, you'd know that I can go a really long time between posts. I'm probably not the laziest blogger, but I'm in the running.

What's going on? Well, not a whole lot. I've been trying to lay low and enjoy the Winter. Well, enjoy California's version of Winter anyway. Los Angeles is so incredibly pretty this time of year. Really! The air is clear and you can actually see more than a few miles. The Hollywood sign still exists! I saw it with my own eyes.

I don't really have anything much to say. Things have been slowing up around town thanks to the writer's strike. I've heard rumors that Warner Brothers is about to layoff a ton of people because of the work stoppage. What a shame. I'm sure many more studios will follow along. Those of us in the animation business have felt an impact as well. Maybe not as rough as the live action world, but it has put more than a few people on the street.

New whispers have emerged regarding that new rumored studio. The group is still at it after all the turmoil that took place several months ago. They appear to have new traction with an even more impressive management team ready to run the company. This thing is so much larger than just animation. If successful, it will be the biggest news to hit Hollywood in a long time. I'm told they are very close to getting the green light. But we've heard that before. Haven't we?

That's it. I promise to post again before Summer arrives.

Writer's Strike

What makes the writers so special that they deserve better treatment than practically everyone else in the filmmaking process? Shouldn't all of those important to a production be treated the same? I realize writers are an important part of any show, but so are many other people.

Companies and studios should compensate people for their work. However, I'm in the group that believes that if you are paid fairly for your time, then that is it. You are done. Why should residuals keep coming to you? I don't think the designers of a Ford Mustang are getting residuals even though that car is still being sold. Our how about the guy who invented the flavor of a soda or food, should he get residuals? Stupid examples, but you get my point.

There are exceptions to everything out there. And here is my exception. If a writer went to studio XYZ with an already created script and sold it. Then perhaps I can see why residuals should be used. Especially if he wasn't paid standard (whatever that means) rates. However, if the guy is working staff or hired to carry out someone else's idea, I don't believe residuals should come into play. Admittedly, I'm not paying a whole lot of attention to what the writers get and what they want, maybe that is already the case.

I've been keeping quiet on this subject, but I'm sick of seeing the YouTube videos and reading the editorials. The woe-is-me writers are starting to get annoying.