 |
|
Sections
Front Page
News
Opinion
Features
Entertainment
Sports
Web Features
Search
FlyerPhoto.com
Links
Submit a Letter
Submit Story Idea
PilotNews.net
About Us
Advertise
Editorial Policy
Staff
Archives
Contact Us
LHS Online
Main
Alumni Association
Announcements
Clubs
Sports Zone
Faculty Listing
|
|
|
|
PilotNews > Entertainment
> Writers refuse to write their own endings
Writers refuse to write their own endings
Television industry continues losing millions of dollars each day
Stephanie Lindauer
Mar 19, 2008
Oh, the horror of it all is unimaginable: life without Jay Leno, Desperate Housewives, Heroes, or The Office. One is then threatened to resort to lame reality television and, oh no, the dreadful news. This situation, however, is quite a reality now that many of Hollywood’s writers are on strike.
The strike consists of union writers, whose jobs have been eroded by reality TV and advancing technology. The writers are up against studios and networks that are backed by big corporations, like General Electric. The writers also want a cut of the profits of DVD sales.
“I think the writers should get paid more, especially the comedy writers,” said Tristan Stolz (12).
It’s not just writers on the picket lines either. Broadway theater stagehands, Local 1, decided to strike as well on Nov. 10. As many as 27 Broadway productions have been shut down. The theater and related businesses have lost as much as $17 million dollars a day.
The Broadway stagehands ended their strike on Nov. 30 after 19 days, and voted on a new agreement on Dec. 9. The new deal includes raises from 4 - 4.5% within the next five years. It was passed with overwhelming approval.
So, what does this mean for actors, hairdressers, caterers, and others? Unemployment. Because of the strike, careers that go alongside that of a writer’s will suffer as well.
The potential consequences are disastrous. It’s not just living without good television; hundreds of people will be laid off, and the television industry will loose millions of dollars.
“The last writers’ walkout in 1988 lasted 22 weeks and cost the industry $500 million,” said the Associated Press.
Yet the ubiquitous question remains: when will it end?
So far, the writers haven’t budged, and neither has the studios or networks. While the Broadway stagehands head back to work with compromise, the feuding between these two have not even started to mend. The networks are not ready to strike a deal, and the writers say they will continue to strike until they do.
In result of the strike, many shows have been cancelled, and some movie sets have been suspended until the writers return to work.
“It infuriates me that The Office, the greatest show on earth, is put on reruns,” said Mike Butler (11).
Everyone is hoping the writers will return soon. After all, what will students do without all these shows, study for finals? Yeah right.
|
|
|
|
|
Article Tools
Upcoming Events
Advertising
|
|
|
Print this article
E-mail to a friend
Tell us what you think
digg this article