Roberto Orci discusses the strike & TF2

[nathan alexander]

Uhm, if there's isn't work all year round, then you get another job. Most American actors and writers also have "normal" jobs for a long time before they can live off their art, if ever. That's life. Get with it, Frenchy!

Life in France is not like America... In France, you study one specific subject at University, and you must stick to that profession for your entire career. There is no reconversion possible. The American Liberal system would not work in France. Sarkozy is making a mistake. The SNCF strike because he attacks their basic salary, and the same goes for all the other professional workers in France... C'est ainsi que ça se passe en France

[siwel]

Teacher's pet.

Hey, I liked the TF movie, I'll kiss ass if I want to. I liked Alias and Xena and Hercules. And I'm looking forward to Star Trek too.

But if this strike puts even a single hair out of place on South Park, Battlestar Galactica, House, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Heroes, Scrubs (although it's not as good as it used to be), or Robot Chicken, there will be hell to pay.

[Bumblebee1983]

And there-in lies the disagreement. Every script is not a carbon copy of the pilot, like an assembly line of a car. There is quantifiably unique creative content in each episode of a series, regardless of the initial episode. That is why episodes are being sold individually on the internet. And some sell better than others.

Also, unlike a car, there is no additional cost to selling episodes on the net. It costs just as much to make the first Cadillac as it does to make the second one. But in TV, or even a movie, once the episode is made, it can be resold INFINITELY at no additional cost to the studio.

What people forget is that the STUDIOS also get paid for doing nothing once the movie or show is made. And all they did is front the cash. A studio is like a little bank, but instead of tellers and loan officers, they have executives. And they lend money to people like us and Bay to make our movies and shows, and all they ask for in returns is an interest rate of 99.99 percent on all future earnings of your creation!

Ahh, okay, things are becoming clearer in the fog.

No wonder you have to have unions!

[siwel]

Life in France is not like America... In France, you study one specific subject at University, and you must stick to that profession for your entire career. There is no reconversion possible.

LOL. Would this be the same France in which the University education is 100% free? I also read about a student strike, they barricaded themselves in the school buildings because they found out they might have to start paying for their own text books. The horror!!

[Bumblebee1983]

LOL. Would this be the same France in which the University education is 100% free? I also read about a student strike, they barricaded themselves in the school buildings because they found out they might have to start paying for their own text books. The horror!!

By the by, to pay for all this in France, what exactly is the tax rate?

Free college? DAYUM!! Paying for books should be nothing for them then.

[Bumblebee1983]

Hey, I liked the TF movie, I'll kiss ass if I want to. I liked Alias and Xena and Hercules. And I'm looking forward to Star Trek too.

But if this strike puts even a single hair out of place on South Park, Battlestar Galactica, House, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Heroes, Scrubs (although it's not as good as it used to be), or Robot Chicken, there will be hell to pay.

Seriously, do I know you? My coworker says the same thing!

House is off until next year from what I've heard. Heroes too...along with Prison Break.

But then again, I don't watch any of those shows because I'm damn addicted to the XBox 360 and this board.

[siwel]

And there-in lies the disagreement. Every script is not a carbon copy of the pilot, like an assembly line of a car. There is quantifiably unique creative content in each episode of a series, regardless of the initial episode. That is why episodes are being sold individually on the internet. And some sell better than others.

Also, unlike a car, there is no additional cost to selling episodes on the net. It costs just as much to make the first Cadillac as it does to make the second one. But in TV, or even a movie, once the episode is made, it can be resold INFINITELY at no additional cost to the studio.

I hear you loud and clear, buddy. All I'm saying is, after you get kicked around on a couple TV shows, you can go to your next gig and say, look, I have sales numbers and download numbers that prove that my TV scripts are awesome and I deserve better pay and royalties and thingamabobs than other writers because my content will give you better exposure for your advertizers.

And novelists have to worry about infinite, instant reproduction of their content too. We're all still figuring out how to fit electronic media into a sensible business model.

Maybe you guys need to treat the studios even more like banks. Negotiate that they get a specific ROI, after which you get all the residuals in perpetuity, until some kid puts it on YouTube.

[nathan alexander]

LOL. Would this be the same France in which the University education is 100% free? I also read about a student strike, they barricaded themselves in the school buildings because they found out they might have to start paying for their own text books. The horror!!

We have many major problems in France. This is just the beginning. France is a Latin country, we have hot blood. Life in France was always great, the sunshine, les femmes, a peaceful life, and along comes globalisation, liberalism, and huge corporations. It's our culture to not like change, and we get unhappy when there is too much change.

[Bumblebee1983]

I hear you loud and clear, buddy. All I'm saying is, after you get kicked around on a couple TV shows, you can go to your next gig and say, look, I have sales numbers and download numbers that prove that my TV scripts are awesome and I deserve better pay and royalties and thingamabobs than other writers because my content will give you better exposure for your advertizers.

And novelists have to worry about infinite, instant reproduction of their content too. We're all still figuring out how to fit electronic media into a sensible business model.

Maybe you guys need to treat the studios even more like banks. Negotiate that they get a specific ROI, after which you get all the residuals in perpetuity, until some kid puts it on YouTube.

But then there's the notion of fan cuts: people taking movies and making them their own creation. Those people take credit for that, and don't give the original creators any credit whatsoever.

It's neverending.

[Bumblebee1983]

We have many major problems in France. This is just the beginning. France is a Latin country, we have hot blood. Life in France was always great, the sunshine, les femmes, a peaceful life, and along comes globalisation, liberalism, and huge corporations. It's our culture to not like change, and we get unhappy when there is too much change.

Isn't France somewhat being overrun by Muslims too?

I'm trying to word that in a nonsensitive way, but it seems I heard that the French population has gone down and Muslim population has gone up, and that the government is paying couples to have French blooded kids.

Okay, back on topic. Sorry!

[siwel]

By the by, to pay for all this in France, what exactly is the tax rate?

Free college? DAYUM!! Paying for books should be nothing for them then.

It's something terrifying, around 50%. But they get free healthcare for life, plus free university education. So figure $100,000 for college plus $9,000 per year to insure your family for about 40 years and you get a total of $460,000 of free services...for starters.

[Bumblebee1983]

It's something terrifying, around 50%. But they get free healthcare for life, plus free university education. So figure $100,000 for college plus $9,000 per year to insure your family for about 40 years and you get a total of $460,000 of free services...for starters.

I wouldn't be surprised if my brother stays there just for that....

[nathan alexander]

Isn't France somewhat being overrun by Muslims too?

I'm trying to word that in a nonsensitive way, but it seems I heard that the French population has gone down and Muslim population has gone up, and that the government is paying couples to have French blooded kids.

Okay, back on topic. Sorry!

Spot on my little American friend You are very right.

[siwel]

there was a meat factory next door to my house, now it has been turned into a mosque

You live next to a meat factory....? And now it's a mosque. Isn't that an improvement to the neighborhood...and your noses?

[nathan alexander]

You live next to a meat factory....? And now it's a mosque. Isn't that an improvement to the neighborhood...and your noses?

Whatever you say...

[Bumblebee1983]

Spot on my little American friend You are very right.

*bows*

I thought I paid attention to the news for some reason....

[bliss81]

And there-in lies the disagreement. Every script is not a carbon copy of the pilot, like an assembly line of a car. There is quantifiably unique creative content in each episode of a series, regardless of the initial episode. That is why episodes are being sold individually on the internet. And some sell better than others.

Also, unlike a car, there is no additional cost to selling episodes on the net. It costs just as much to make the first Cadillac as it does to make the second one. But in TV, or even a movie, once the episode is made, it can be resold INFINITELY at no additional cost to the studio.

What people forget is that the STUDIOS also get paid for doing nothing once the movie or show is made. And all they did is front the cash. A studio is like a little bank, but instead of tellers and loan officers, they have executives. And they lend money to people like us and Bay to make our movies and shows, and all they ask for in returns is an interest rate of 99.99 percent on all future earnings of your creation!

that clears a lot of things up. great post.

[siwel]

Writers want to write, they want to create. It's not just work, it's a life and a passion. You're lucky to get paid doing something you love. You have to get some joy from work or working just to work to pay the bills is a dismal existance. And as for working any other job, I have three. Yep, I'm lucky to have the opportunity to have three jobs, but the employers are lucky to have me and my expertise. But do I want to do nothing but work, no living? What's the differnece in working non-stop and being a slave, or dead? The opportunity that things will change. But for change to happen, you have to take a stand. That's what the WGA is doing right now. Taking that stand. You either support them, or you don't. That's all I'm saying and it is IMHO of course.

I support them as human beings and workers trying to defend their rights and their livelihood. But I don't believe "artists" deserve special treatment so they can live the dream and be arty all day. Again, authors. Authors write when they can and publish when they con and hope and dream that one day they will be able to write full time and become the next Stephen King, or whoever you want to be.

The WGA isn't taking a stand for change, they're taking a stand to slightly modify the status quo to make more money. If they got everything they want (and they should!), the system would go on being exactly the same and in five years when some new technology or some YouTube kids get out of control we'll all be right back here again, "negotiating."

If we scrapped this union system tomorrow, the media world would go through a brief dark age as the studios tried to get away with murder, taking advantage of the lone writers. But eventually, declining sales and audience interest would force them to recognize the fact that they need to respect and compensate artists as working professionals and things would eventually reach a new, better place.

[sora]

Nice to meet you, Bob.
Thank you for your amazing scripts. Every single line in them deserves to be memorized.

They could only get away with paying you 500 bucks for something if you accepted that
and signed away the rights. It's why we negotiate and have agents..

I know what it is like exactly. That's the reason our Gaming/Animation industries are slowly dying.
We Japanese creators have to relinquish all the rights, even the moral right, to sign the contract.
If we deny, studios just hire workers from other countries. (It might sound silly to you Americans.
Sure, we should learn how to negotiate.)

And Bob, It's a real pleasure to hear from you about the present condition of American filming industry. It's very enlightening.

[siwel]

Well, I know that copyright law can vary a great deal from country to country. It's unfortunate that Japan's studios are also crushing the talent that drives the creative media. It's almost hard to believe after the success of something like Blair Witch and the failure of something like Hulk, they still don't understand that the general audience appreceiates cleverly conceived and executed content over mindless expensive crap.

[sora]

Well, I know that copyright law can vary a great deal from country to country. It's unfortunate that Japan's studios are also crushing the talent that drives the creative media.

Thanks for your kind understanding. We must learn to fight.

BTW, I was wondering if I could ask Bob a question. But this is the strike thread, so I post it on Official welcome-thread for Roberto Orci.

[MitP]

Pardon my ignorance if this sounds like a stupid question, but...is there any law that states Michael can't hire Canadian writers to pen the screenplay?

[Bumblebee1983]

Thanks for your kind understanding. We must learn to fight.

BTW, I was wondering if I could ask Bob a question. But this is the strike thread, so I post it on Official welcome-thread for Roberto Orci.

Sora vs. Swivel!!!

I got tickets!! Who wants some?

As for a Canadian writer......if it sucks, then we can blame Canada! HAHA!!

[sora]

Sora vs. Swivel!!!
I got tickets!! Who wants some?
As for a Canadian writer......if it sucks, then we can blame Canada! HAHA!!

Whom we (Japanese writers) must learn to fight against or negotiate with are studios, not siwel. (His opinion is interesting to hear.) Sorry for low quality of my linguistic capacity.

[Bumblebee1983]

Whom we (Japanese writers) must learn to fight against or negotiate with are studios, not siwel. (His opinion is interesting to hear.) Sorry for low quality of my linguistic capacity.

Ohhh.....teehee...I gotcha now.