SAG Seeks Strike

[byrdman9802]

Good morning boys and girls,

Hello, and good Saturday to you all. I hope that you are all well, and that your weekends are off to a great start.

Well, I wish I had more positive news this morning, but apparently new talks between SAG and the studios broke down, and now SAG is pursuing a strike. Check out the news here:

SAG Strike Article

Oh man, can you imagine what could happen if the entertainment industry is shut down again?

Again, sorry for the downer today - just thought you all would like to know. Take care today, boys and girls!

[eurache]

oHHH nOOOO Not again...

[TVFan]

This would be devastating for the TV industry. In addition to the obvious economic fallout in the middle of some tougher economic times, there would be the lasting effect that the industry is still trying to battle back from. Primetime television viewership is way down compared to years past, and it seems to have hit the serial dramas the hardest. Shows like Heroes are struggling this season because they haven't been on the air since last December. People move on. They find better things to do with their time. They turn to cable, DVDs, books, etc. and when the shows come back, they no longer care about tuning into them. This is still going on after last season's 100-day writers strike. The actors shutting down production would be a HUGE mistake for the vitality of the scripted television business. Plus, people had sympathy for the writers, but most will not extend the same toward high-paid actors especially since this strike stuff is still fresh on their minds. Bottom line, this is not good for anyone.

[SamIam]

oh no

[eduardodelroice]

=( I hope that does not happen/ This Cold Case season has been so good and a strike would damage it

[riche]

I'd forgotten all about this possible 2nd strike until seeing byrdman's post the other day.

As TVFan says, this is not going to go down as well with the public as the writers strike if it happens. Although there are exceptions it is easy to understand that writers are generally not well paid. We don't see them. With actors it is really the same but it is so much easier to point out the well paid ones, we see them fronting every show. What about the boxman? No, not him! The guy a couple minutes into each episode of CC, putting the case box on the shelf. It's a new guy each week. He's not getting $100,000 or more per episode.

So, if we do get a strike we'll see the well known stars campaigning and it will be easy to dismiss it, but they will be fighting for the little guy as well, the actor they were a few years ago.

I would hope, especially with the current global financial situation, that commonsense prevails and they at least postpone any action, sticking with the deal currently in place (which actually expired months ago) until things settle down.

[eduardodelroice]

Nov 25, 2008 15:23:46 GMT -5 @riche said:

I'd forgotten all about this possible 2nd strike until seeing byrdman's post the other day.

As TVFan says, this is not going to go down as well with the public as the writers strike if it happens. Although there are exceptions it is easy to understand that writers are generally not well paid. We don't see them. With actors it is really the same but it is so much easier to point out the well paid ones, we see them fronting every show. What about the boxman? No, not him! The guy a couple minutes into each episode of CC, putting the case box on the shelf. It's a new guy each week. He's not getting $100,000 or more per episode.

So, if we do get a strike we'll see the well known stars campaigning and it will be easy to dismiss it, but they will be fighting for the little guy as well, the actor they were a few years ago.

I would hope, especially with the current global financial situation, that commonsense prevails and they at least postpone any action, sticking with the deal currently in place (which actually expired months ago) until things settle down.

Well said RichE... I do not know how much they earn but even here in Latin America, some actors get paid up to 100 million Bolivares($45000 per month) which is a really high salary for Latin American standars

[Trublu]

I was all for the writer's strike (being a writer myself and recognizing the position they are in), but I could not be any more against a SAG strike. Yes, actors are talented... but the salaries that some are getting are already through the roof. And especially in a time of economic crisis, I don't know why they could not at least postpone striking. The last thing the country needs is a strike in the industry that fails to fail during times of economic crisis. In the Depression, the movie theaters were some of the only places conducting business.

[eduardodelroice]

Nov 29, 2008 1:28:17 GMT -5 Trublu said:

I was all for the writer's strike (being a writer myself and recognizing the position they are in), but I could not be any more against a SAG strike. Yes, actors are talented... but the salaries that some are getting are already through the roof. And especially in a time of economic crisis, I don't know why they could not at least postpone striking. The last thing the country needs is a strike in the industry that fails to fail during times of economic crisis. In the Depression, the movie theaters were some of the only places conducting business.

trublu, I understand what you mean/I am a writer too and This strike will be the worst thing for the industry right now

[SamIam]

it said in the article that actors on primetime have a contrat until june so that another strike can't happen. this means it wont affect cold case right?

[eduardodelroice]

Nov 29, 2008 9:28:10 GMT -5 SamIam said:

it said in the article that actors on primetime have a contrat until june so that another strike can't happen. this means it wont affect cold case right?

Well Sam, I did not read the article but If it was a good source... Then It is right. I heard the contract was until June 2008 though

[SamIam]

oh not 2009?

[eduardodelroice]

Nov 29, 2008 11:26:14 GMT -5 SamIam said:

oh not 2009?

that's what I have been trying to find in Internet but no info has been found =[

[SamIam]

i really hope they dont vote for it they have to have a 70 % vote to have the strike i think

[eduardodelroice]

Nov 29, 2008 13:27:22 GMT -5 SamIam said:

i really hope they dont vote for it they have to have a 70 % vote to have the strike i think

I'll be looking for info related to this and If I find something I will post it here... Bt what are they asking this time exactly? more money?

[SamIam]

im not exactly sure. i read the article posted in this thread but it was bit confusing. i think they want to be paid for reruns or something. so yes more money.

[riche]

The article says the current contract actually ran out on 30th June 2008.

The reason for possible action is that the studios want to make productions for "new media" (meaning the Internet) without using SAG union members and also not pay residuals (money for repeats).

[eduardodelroice]

Nov 29, 2008 15:25:01 GMT -5 @riche said:

The article says the current contract actually ran out on 30th June 2008.

The reason for possible action is that the studios want to make productions for "new media" (meaning the Internet) without using SAG union members and also not pay residuals (money for repeats).

Oh Riche, I see.... Well, Let's see what wil happen

[byrdman9802]

Good day boys and girls!

Hello, it's the Byrdman just sending a shout-out to you all on this rocking Sunday afternoon. I hope that you are all doing well on this weekend.

Well, I have not heard one word about this story since I posted this article. I'm not sure what is happening with it - I think one thing is sure, it's not going to go away.

I'm just hoping for the best. A strike could be disastrous for many series on the air right now. I remember how viewership dropped dramatically last year.....

Let's hope that SAG can come to a deal that meets their demands.

[eduardodelroice]

Yeah byrdman, Last year was terrible =[