[TrentD (Unverified) Posted Nov 6th 2007 12:58PM]

We should support the striking writers...why?

I don't think we know enough about how they are currently compensated or how they should be compensated to throw support one way or another.

I do know several of my favorite shows are affected, so I'm not happy :)

[zombieflanders (Unverified) Posted Nov 6th 2007 1:04PM]

"We should support the striking writers...why?

I don't think we know enough about how they are currently compensated or how they should be compensated to throw support one way or another."

Wrong. We know exactly how they are currently compensated, as well as their requests. Please read up on the current compensation details available in about a million places online. Ignorance is no excuse for attacking workers.

[The Pepto Pimp (Unverified) Posted Nov 6th 2007 1:31PM]

What are you, ingnorant joe six-packs?

If you don't know enough it's just because you're lazy. The writer's demands are not confidential. The demands that the writer's made (and the producers denied, causing a strike) were public record.

At the time, the royalties off DVD sales were caculated by multipling 0.0075 (0.75%) times 20% of the DVD cost(assuming 80% of the DVD retail price were Manufacturing costs). If the DVD was sold for $20, the writers received $0.03 (3 pennies).

Now, the writers would like to apply their 0.75% to a number that they've calculated to be 40%. You see, DVD manufacturing costs have gone down significantly since the last time the WGA negotiated a contract. As a result, the writers would see a doubling of their royalties to a big whopping 6 pennies.

Additiontally, the writers believe that they should get paid a fraction of the internet sales costs. Internet sales have significantly lower overhead when compared to DVD sales. Last I read they were asking for the 0.75% on the entire internet sales cost. If we look at the iTunes pricing of $2-$13 the writers are asking for amounts ranging from $0.006 (six tenths of a penny) and $0.039 (Almost four pennies) for a downloaded program.

If I go and buy a DVD, I'm buying it because it tells a good story that I want to watch over and over. I believe that the person who wrote that story is entitled to at least $0.06 of my $20 DVD purchase. If I download a tv show I'm happy that the woman (or man) who wrote that show is going to be paid almost a penny. Is that really too much to ask?

If you guys made a living writing you'd probably ask for more.

I predict that the producers and writers will eventually come to an agreement somewhere in the middle. The writers will get $0.04 per DVD sold, and the Producers will raise the costs of DVD sales $2. Then they'll be able to say they're "passing on the cost of the new WGA terms" while still raking in record profits. Of course, not every company or organization runs like an Oil Company...