Production on The Office has shut down.- Page 2

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 7:15pm

If it lasts as long as the last one, we will be well into April. I don't remember how it effected things back in 88. Anyone remember if there were half seasons? Hollywood lost $500 million back THEN. Imagine what they would lose now.

Some "reality" shows do have writers. I know DWTS does.

Updated On: 11/7/07 at 07:15 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 7:19pm

Wouldn't the main thing with THE OFFICE be that several of the supporting actors - Mindy Kaling (Kelly), Paul Lieberstein (Toby), Oscar Nunez (Oscar - duh!), etc, are also writers for the show?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 7:30pm

Good point, Jon.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 7:31pm

I am sure that is a big part of it. Tina Fey was one of the first ones picketing. She is in the same boat. Shonda Rhimes is an Executive Producer as well as main writer for her shows. She said this:

I have to tell all of you that this email directly reflects the stance I came to over a very long night in New York. I absolutely believed that I would edit our episodes. Until a thought hit me: how can I walk a picket line and then continue to essentially work? How am I supposed to look at myself in the mirror or look at my child years from now and know that I did not have the courage of my convictions to stand up and put myself more at risk than anyone else?

So I choose not to render my services as a producer. I choose to honor the strike. And I am proud that you all stand with me.

Shonda

I am sure many share a similar attitude.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 7:33pm

What about the little faggot, TR, is he honoring the picket line?

(I couldn't resist.)

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 7:36pm

heh. I don't know. There was an episode last season where George wouldn't cross the nurse's picket line. He carried a "Proud To Be A Nurse" sign.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 7:38pm

I LOVE that little faggot!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 7:41pm

Is "Grey's Anatomy" Next to Shut Down? - Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Nikki Finn of LA Weekly is reporting that actors Sandra Oh, T.R. Knight and Katherine Heigl of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" have joined the picket lines and the cast and crew may not be able to complete production on episode #11.

Well, he is marching some, apparently. They aren't crossing lines by working. There is a separate entrance for non-writing employees who are under contract. They are all popping out when taking breaks in filming. I want to go and just watch the strike.

And he loves you, too, Namo.

Updated On: 11/7/07 at 07:41 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 8:59pm

I'm a card carrying member of the WGA (if presently a slightly inactive one), and I can tell you, the issues being fought for are of such magnitude, they will impact the piece of the pie afforded writers for the next century and beyond. The line in the sand being drawn is necessary and if anything overdue. This strike is not a glib, capricious act of a few multi-millionaire auteurs designed to get a raise; it's about fundamental issues of ownership, fair payment for work that exists long after its creation, and the wages -- remember that word? -- of the rank and file. It's being portrayed as a chance for the richest 1% to get more -- but honestly, it's closer to NORMA RAE. To be a working writer -- and only 4% of the WGA works at one time -- hardly means your street will be paved with gold. We just want it paved.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 9:03pm

I remember the word "wages" but I'm pretty sure Ronald Reagan erased the term "rank and file" from all dictionaries.

[matjomae]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 9:06pm

Jon, I was just about to come and post that.

I love me some The Office. It is by far my favorite show on television at the moment.

I really can't imagine NBC would cancel it. If it isn't performing all that hot on Thursday night, then move it to a less competitive night.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 9:09pm

I get it, Auggie. The video that is on Jenna Fischer's blog kind of puts it all in perspective. If you watch a show on a network website, there are ads there. The writers and actors get nothing from that. If short webisodes are aired, the writers and actors don't get anything at all. I didn't realize that they get nothing from the iTunes sales and very little from DVD sales. An iTunes season sells for over $30. And DVD seasons can run over $50. And this strike sets the tone for the SAG strike that could happen in 2008.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 9:14pm

Auggie, I don't think you are going to get much of an argument from many people here, except for the Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives fans who are SO "entitled" to their weekly fix of frivolity no matter who gets screwed.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 9:38pm

Or as Fred Arnisen's producer character put it on last week's Weekend Update:

"What do DVDs cost to make? Sixty cents. And we only charge $29.99 for them. NOBODY makes any money on DVDs."

I had a funny feeling there were no residuals on iTunes sales. It reminds me of Ye Olde Record Clubs, the ones that sold a consumer 10 albums for a penny. There were no, ZERO, residuals paid on those.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 11:12pm

Here ya go, Namo. TR is strikin'!


Grey's On Strike Video