The Writers Guild of America strike is a difficult situation to be sure, and by the time the dust has settled, it will have proven to be about more than whether the writers receive residuals from the sale of television and movies on the Internet market. Residuals, without question, have been the largest issue thus far in the strike. As of now, writers receive a measly 0.3 percent of all DVD sales before the first million copies. After the sale of the first million that number increases to 0.36 percent.
In its infancy, strikers sought to double this number, but they have since abandoned this cause with reluctance. Now leaders are calling for similar residuals from digital media sales and are not receiving them. So the strike continues, now in its 12th week since beginning on Nov. 5. Recent developments in the world of television though, may prove that the Writers Guild of America and its more than 12,000 striking writers are replaceable.
The writers who participate in the strike are trying to make a statement that they, as the creative talent, hold the power when it comes to the actual creation of the art. In their thinking, if they are not properly compensated, they will use that power to take the industry down. But it also seems to me that their power lies in the creation of the art itself. It’s the old adage, “If you don’t use it you lose it.” We are beginning to see, especially from the late-night talk shows, that show creators are rethinking the way they do television. It’s clear that the television pioneers who have chosen to continue on without the writers are making better use of the true power of television as a creative medium. This raises the question: How important are the more than 12,000 striking writers? I sympathize with the Writers Guild strike, honestly I do. It’s wrong for so many writers to pour so many hours of work into their craft, only so others may reap the benefits. But how many individuals who get into the writing business do so because of monetary benefits? I would venture to say that most, including this writer, do not.
I assume many others, like me, get into writing not in hope that we may reap massive dollar amounts, but with the belief that somehow, someway, the words we write will reach people, speak to them and make them think and laugh and change for the better.
Perhaps instead of coming to the table thinking of what their own portion of the meal should be, I believe it’s more important that the writers consider what they can bring to the table. Television and movie writers can reach more people with their art than any other group of professional writers, and they seem now to be squandering not only that opportunity, but the responsibility to the art form and its importance in this society — and they’re doing it for the money. So it boils down to this for me: Which is more important, the money, or the role of the art form? I say it’s the role of the art form and I believe that those who seek only money will find that time will render them obsolete.
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