Writers Strike? Why do people feel sorry for them? They make $200K a year!!?

Question

And why are the other staffers getting fired when it's not their fault that the writers are striking?

Some of you doubt that they make $200K a year.. or even corrected me by stating they make $30K a year..actually they make $30K an episode. Check out this link
http://digg.com/television/How_Much_Do_Television_Writers_Earn

Answer 1

I think that the writers strike is very good thing. Why? It allows TV watchers, to go outside and do something other than sit infront of their lazy asses and watching tv. I don't have cable but I'll tell you what, my family is up in arms about the re-runs and all I do is laugh.

Answer 2

Not all the writers make that much. Most writers out there barely make ends meet. They are lucky to sell a script a year. And unless they are VERY lucky, they are not making 200k+ a year. Plus, Its not just about the money. Look at the studios, they are making hundreds of millions every year, and if there were no writers, there would be no tv. They are also not asking for a lot, just 4 cents more, then the 4 cents they already make for every dvd sold, and a percentage of the new media revenues. If they wanted to be greedy don't you think they would want a flat rate for new media? For ex. "Every time sombody watches one of the shows I wrote on the internet, I want $5." Well if nobody watched it, and the studio didn't make money they would go into debt. But all the writers are asking for is a percentage. I don't know exactly what that is, but if the studios are making money, shouldn't the people that keep the studios in business make money too? Or should the big cats that own the studios, and the actors make all the money?

Its not the writers fault that staffers are loosing their jobs. The studios aren't budging either. In fact, if you look at whats going on, many of the people that have been laid off, were to black mail the writers.

Answer 3

Those writers are probably making as much as they are because they are helping the studios make many millions. My understanding is that they want to get their fair share from new forms of media, such as the internet. Why should the studios keep all the advertising revenue from on line viewing and not pay the writers any portion of this? That is what the studios are doing now.

I suspect that only the most successful writers make a lot of money, and most are probably struggling, just as most actors work as waiters between jobs and only a few hit it big.

Don't assume that the fault of all disputes are greedy overpaid workers. Most likely it is the fault of greedy corporations who don't want to pay the workers a fair share of what they contribute. That is why our country is in such a sorry state, our unions are being decimated, and jobs are being shipped off to low paid workers in China and India. The lead in toys is just a small sign of what is to come from all this.

Also, don't blame the striking writers for what is happening to the other staff. Blame the greedy studios who don't want to settle the strike, and they can certainly carry these low paid staffers for a lot longer if they wanted to.

Answer 4

The only ones feeling sorry for them are themselves. Some make more the $200K, some less. It depends on how good they are and how successful the show is for which they are writing. A lot of it is greed, just like it is in the rest of the entertainment industry and professional sports (which is really just entertainment now). When they see the producers and owners making so much, they feel they deserve a bigger cut themselves.

Staffers are getting fired because they are not producing new shows, so they have nothing to do. Everything is Reruns. They were being paid just to sit around.

Answer 5

I'm kinda in the middle on this one. I agree with what you're saying, they make more money than most people, but if you think about it, THEY are writing the Oscar winning movies, they're writing the Emmy winning shows, they're writing the Tony Award winning plays. It's hard to write something worthwhile, so when a movie, show, or Broadway play hits the big time, and they don't get the recognition, or the pay for their hard work, I can imagine they'd be upset. Now seeing as the other staffers are getting, fired, it kinda tiffs me off. I wasn't too happy about that. Hopefully all of them will get their jobs back. On a personal level, I hope the strike ends soon. I'm worried my shows'll run out before they reach a settlement and I'll be forced to watch reruns. But, this is a "war" far above myself. Good day to you!
Bee

Answer 6

I don't feel sorry for them. Like a typical Union, they would rather bully people around than do what is right. Everyone who belongs to the Guild is forced to strike, whether they want to or not. The reason why they are striking is ridiculous, and their demand that shows not use non-Guild writers, close down production, and financially hurt people who have nothing do with their greedy ambition (staffers) makes me that much more unsympathetic.

Back where I come from, if you don't feel like you are getting paid what you deserve from a job, you quit and find one that will. If enough writers quit, the people who pay their bills won't be able to hire any new ones unless the more reasonable price will be met. Or they won't have to, they will hire new and/or non-guild talent that hasn't caught a break because the Union monopoly keeps them from getting hired.

Answer 7

Most writers dont make $200k a year....far from it...they're lucky if they pull in $35k. You get paid for every episode you write and thats it. Whereas almost everyone else thats part of the show gets royalties on top of their salary...everytime there's a repeat, it plays on line, DVD sales, etc. Writers get the flat fee for writing, and thats it. Without them, we'd have no shows (not that the shows have been getting any better). I think its fair for the writers to ask for royalties (or whatever the proper term is).

As for the others losing their jobs, they're not getting fired, they're being laid off...what I find more astounding is that they're being told that they're jobs aren't guaranteed once the strike is settled. The strike isn't their fault, and they shouldn't lose their jobs.

Answer 8

I'm curious where you get your salary facts. A very select few are getting rich from writing. They are striking because the tv and movie studios get rich from internet sales (those annoying promos you see when watching a "free" show online), but the people that wrote those shows are getting nothing from it. Wouldn't you be mad if you did all the hard work, and someone else got the money?
The other staffers are getting fired because there is no work for them to do. They are employed to run the lighting, sound, wardrobe, etc, etc. Why would someone want to pay them for work that isn't being done currently?

Answer 9

I actually read that they make 62K a year, but I don't feel sorry for them, cause thats WAY more then me AND my husband make!

I don't understand why the stars are striking with them, because they could just cut out 20K an episode and give it to the writers and everyone would be happy!

Answer 10

because writers are human and greedy and whenever their work (even if its fully paid for, copyright and all) is used where a possible profit can be made... they will ***** and moan to get their share.. when it was technically already bought from them..

staffers are probably getting fired because they either support them, or the company needs to ease down on the budget