What the Writers Strike Means For Me

November 10, 2007 by Dave.

As an aspiring screenwriter, the script affects me in some ways and as an aspiring screenwriter it doesn’t affect me in others. No, I don’t have to walk picket lines holding a placard; no, I don’t have to stop writing. Since I have not yet sold a screenplay or am working on a network, cable, or syndicated TV sitcom, I am not a member of the Writer’s Guild of America and do not have a job as a paid/employed writer. Like many other wannabe writers, I have a day job that pays my salary and benefits and I write on my own time hoping to make a big splash (nee sell script for a lot of money) in the industry.

How the strike does affect me is that while I have many scripts I can sell, I can’t sell them to a struck signatory production company— which is basically most prodocos in the industry. I also couldn’t try to solicit an agent in any agency that is a Guild signatory—which is also most of the agencies in the business. Anyone who sells work to a struck company or to an agency will be barred from joining the Guild in the future, or be expelled if they are a member. Since it’s in my career interest to be a Guild member, I’m abiding by the rule. Granted I’m abiding by the rule more because I support the union.

I probably should be writing short stories or my novella instead of any script, but I’m still writing my own web series, which since I’m not a Guild member I can do. This series idea has been in my head since May and is probably my best chance to make it in the business. Also because it’s a web series, no one is getting paid at all including me, and that can only come if we actually are able to package this into DVD sales—and that is WAY further down the road. As such I’m willing to abide by whatever contract agreements both parties agree to eventually. Plus I’m very excited about the prospects for this kind of writing—writing content for the web/new media. That’s part of what the strike is about to begin with.

Not a lot of people know what the debate is about. Years ago when the burgeoning video market was starting to grab hold, the writers negotiated slashing their request of a residual rate to allow the market to grow; they agreed to four cents for each video sold. They were supposed to get their rate raised up to a regular rate later. That was back in the ’80s. Now with the DVD market and the internet, writers want to double their current residual rate to eight cents; the producers want to eliminate writer residuals. I’ve always felt that there’s enough money to go around for people, but some people want to hoard more of it than others.

For some background information, you can watch this:

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