[Air-L] writers striking for internet payment?

Fri Jan 4 11:11:25 PST 2008

Stephanie:

I believe that the writers would be smart to develop their own deals
directly with Apple, Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon, and Amazon. This
would enable them actually produce and write and control more of their
work and set the stage for future writers getting fees. The networks and
the studios are trying to get content distribution out of the hands of
Google and Apple especially because of the power of YouTube and iTunes.
Apple and Google could stream,market and create downloads of original
content on their platforms. Apple has not trotted out a social network
site, but I can see one coming now to support AppleTv sales and use.
Moreover, can you imagine all of the iPod owners and iTunes owners and
Mac owners with their own version of Facebook with Google ads and
YouTube video. All Apple and Google need is first rate content from
writers and independent producers.The new technology has evened out the
production field. I know because I am a producer/director/writer and I
work in the Washington area on national industrials, commercials with
Hollywood types in LA, and independent work nationally. I wrote about
this on my sites some time ago, but next week I will be writing a series
of articles because my research had been leading me to comment. Now that
the music industry is contesting your ability to rip DVDs after planting
root kits did not work and suing did not work, I believe the film
industry will follow this disgusting legal trend. It will have to take
Congressional action from enraged consumers because the courts are
bought and paid for on this issue after years of pro-industry political
appointees on the bench who seem to have forgotten who really owns the
PUBLIC AIRWAVES. The writers joining forces with the progressive and
innovative technology companies is a match made out of mutual necessity,
and both sides are smart (and often more principle-driven than money
driven). 

-----Original Message-----
From: air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org
[mailto:air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Tuszynski,
Stephanie
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 2:39 PM
To: air-l at listserv.aoir.org
Subject: Re: [Air-L] writers striking for internet payment?

Marcela -

As a writer/director myself, I've been following the WGA strike very
closely. 

Screenwriters are compensated at the rate of one-third of a penny for
every digital download (i.e. iTunes), and nothing for streaming video.
The networks are claiming when they stream a television show on their
websites it's a "promotion" and therefore the current contract doesn't
require them to pay the writers/actors/etc. The television writers feel
they are not being fairly compensated. Neither are the actors or
directors, for that matter.

This is only one of the issues at stake, however. Residuals for DVD
sales (which are currently at $.04 per disc) and other terms of the
contract which expired in October are also on the table. 

I don't really see how the EFF would have any interest in this, as this
is a business practice issue, not a legal one. There's no law requiring
the AMPTP to pay anyone any specific rate for digital content. There's
no question of access or legal activity, just corporations behaving
badly because they think they can. 

I can tell you that the SEIU, the teamsters local in LA and both the
Screen Actor's Guild and Director's Guilds are all supporting the WGA.
The actors and directors have as much a stake in this as the writers,
obviously. 

A completely partisan site on behalf of the WGA is
www.unitedhollywood.com 

Also, for those of you who heard about the strike and like me
immediately thought of all the craftspeople and below the line crew who
are now out of work while the strike goes on, The Motion Picture &
Television Fund has set up a Work Stoppage relief fund to help those
people. You can donate online here:

http://new.mptvfund.org/cm/Foundation/Donate%20Online.html

Stephanie Tuszynski
Visiting Assistant Professor
Department of Theatre and Film
University of Toledo
www.dlfilms.com

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:58:38 -0500
From: "Marcela Musgrove" <mmusgrove at gmail.com>
Subject: [Air-L] writers striking for internet payment?
To: air-l at listserv.aoir.org
Message-ID:
	<a000d0c60712311758v70bc62b9t5bafe3eb197c9041 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I hadn't really been paying attention to the writer's strike going on
but just found out today that it's over writers wanting to be paid
residuals when their TV shows are shown on the internet. So now I'm
surprised that there hasn't been more online
discussion/activism/petitions though I was able to see some videos on
YouTube that explained what was going on. Has anyone been following this
closely?  Would this be relevant to EFF or any of the other advocacy
groups?

Happy new year!

Marcela
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