The 2023 WGA / SAG-AFTRA strike and other Labor Discussion

[DaveInSeattle]

[Ryan]

Writers:Asia::Very Public Labor Dispute:Land War

[rass]

Like I said earlier I'm dumping HBO next week as soon as my wife finishes Succession, but can someone explain why they're changing the name to Max? I get there was a flurry of mergers, but sometimes you just keep the name for ease. And what entertainment property has a stronger brand-recognition than HBO?

I think it's the addition of Discovery+ stuff. I personally wouldn't rename the service for that, but whatevs.

Discovery Networks purchased Warner Media. It is a new-ish name designed to have retention of customers who think of "HBO Max" while downplaying HBO because it is essentially Discovery Networks in disguise. They shovel the Discovery programming onto HBO's platform to get eyes on it.

Yes, it is stupid to dump the prestige associated with HBO, but, at the same time, if they kept it on and used it to advertise all the crap shows, they'd just be poisoning the well.

Does writing that joke count as crossing the picket line?

[The Sybian]

I didn’t realize this new Max thing made HBOMax end. Went to watch Succession last night and got a screen saying HBOMax is not yet available in my region. WTF is my dad paying for if I can’t watch it anymore?

[govmentchedda]

I didn’t realize this new Max thing made HBOMax end. Went to watch Succession last night and got a screen saying HBOMax is not yet available in my region. WTF is my dad paying for if I can’t watch it anymore?

Ok boomer, just upload the new app.

[A_B]

I didn’t realize this new Max thing made HBOMax end. Went to watch Succession last night and got a screen saying HBOMax is not yet available in my region. WTF is my dad paying for if I can’t watch it anymore?

My apps all updated automatically on my Roku players. It was still HBO Max on my phone yesterday but now I have to download the new app there. But of course, all new hot tech comes to Ky before NJ.

[The Sybian]

I didn’t realize this new Max thing made HBOMax end. Went to watch Succession last night and got a screen saying HBOMax is not yet available in my region. WTF is my dad paying for if I can’t watch it anymore?

Ok boomer, just upload the new app.

Thanks, young whipper snapper. I went to Hulu instead and there are tons of popups to add Max for only an additional $15.99/month.

[A_B]

I didn’t realize this new Max thing made HBOMax end. Went to watch Succession last night and got a screen saying HBOMax is not yet available in my region. WTF is my dad paying for if I can’t watch it anymore?

Ok boomer, just upload the new app.

Thanks, young whipper snapper. I went to Hulu instead and there are tons of popups to add Max for only an additional $15.99/month.

Like Apple, they don't discount and they don't run deals. that's the full freight no matter where you get it, unless some cellular company subsidizes it for users.

[The Sybian]

I didn’t realize this new Max thing made HBOMax end. Went to watch Succession last night and got a screen saying HBOMax is not yet available in my region. WTF is my dad paying for if I can’t watch it anymore?

Ok boomer, just upload the new app.

Thanks, young whipper snapper. I went to Hulu instead and there are tons of popups to add Max for only an additional $15.99/month.

Like Apple, they don't discount and they don't run deals. that's the full freight no matter where you get it, unless some cellular company subsidizes it for users.

My parents have HBO on their cable package and the login is through their cable provider. Hoping the new app will still give me access.

ETA: Thanks gents, it worked! Took 20 minutes to figure out logging in through their cable provider on my phone and getting the password correct. Hopefully it'll be easier on the TV.

[mister d]

Bunch of mini-protests in town at the HS (some show was filming or was supposed to be filming there) and at a house by some Frank Lloyd Wright understudy that I guess is in some shows. I imagine its local creatives who would rather protest from home than go into the city?

[L-Jam3]

Ok, what the fuck is this? Fuck HBO, burn it all to the ground.

[Pruitt IV]

Ok, what the fuck is this? Fuck HBO, burn it all to the ground.

My first job writing for TV was on a comedy/game show up here that ran for a couple of seasons. The company said that they couldn't pay as Guild scale, so they couldn't bill us as writers. Instead, we were credited as "Creative Guys"

(The Creative Producer on the show had been on the Board of Directors of the Guild. Kind of shows you how toothless the Canadian Writers Guild is)

[DSafetyGuy]

Ok, what the fuck is this? Fuck HBO, burn it all to the ground.

Nothing like kicking a hornets' nest.

[Johnnie]

LOL.

Sidenote: of course I leave New Mexico right around the time this becomes an awesome thing in Santa Fe that he co-owns: https://skyrailway.com/

And that's on top of Meow Wolf.

[sancarlos]

I give up. Who is that?

[mister d]

Ilhan Omar, Bill James and the other guy from the Black Keys.

[sancarlos]

Ok. Figured it out.

[+] spoiler

George RR Martin

[Rush2112]

George will do ANYTHING to get out of finishing the damn books.

[Johnnie]

Ilhan Omar, Bill James and the other guy from the Black Keys.

I'm actually laughing out loud, for real.

You need to work the JumboTron at hockey games when they do the lookalike stuff.

[L-Jam3]

Wanted to put D-Safe's post here:

So we’re just gonna ignore the union busting benefits for the Times. They’re not being called layoffs but this will certainly result in a reduction of force when the sportswriter doing an expose on FIFA is not allowed to work on that because now they’ve been assigned to different desks and are asked stick around to do pieces covering the Met Gala and Eric Adams homeless crisis.

It’s the way papers every industry wants to go. Fuck the unions, fuck the standards. (Even though the Athletic is pretty damn solid, it will be done with worse outlets in the future.)

Just nudging you over the finish line, cerrano.



Exciting breakthrough for this guy, who needs to send an email to check on if a non-union project this fall is happening.

[P.D.X.]

Ok. Figured it out.

[+] spoiler

George RR Martin

+ neil gaiman on the right?

[Reaper]

Yeah, this isn't ending anytime soon, as outlined in thisDeadline article.

“The endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses,” a studio executive told Deadline. Acknowledging the cold-as-ice approach, several other sources reiterated the statement. One insider called it “a cruel but necessary evil.”

The studios and streamers’ next think financially strapped writers would go to WGA leadership and demand they restart talks before what could be a very cold Christmas. In that context, the studios and streamers feel they would be in a position to dictate most of the terms of any possible deal.

[L-Jam3]

We're about 12 hours from the SAG-AFTRA deadline of Friday at midnight. If the actors guild goes in lockstep with the writers, I think that could only strengthen their combined position. I read that Deadline article earlier this morning and the Studios are going into siege mode. But the rank-and-file of actors just everyday randos with other jobs; if anything, this would seem more like an extended time away from casting calls.

And in addition to the mediocrity at the head of studios, fuck Kim K for crossing the picket lines. Fucking asshole.


ETA: One strategy the streamers could use to keep the content pipes on his to start focusing on foreign series. But for every Squid Game, isn't there like 100 series no one would bother with? I only watched one non US language series on streaming (the Parisian Real Estate family show called The Agency), and I don't think it'd be good enough that I'd feel my life would be incomplete without it.

[DaveInSeattle]

And here's Bob Iger...saying the writers/actors going on strike is going to put thousands of hard-working normal folks out of work...



The best part is that he said this...while being interviewed from his vacation home in Sun Valley.

[Nonlinear FC]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-ent ... sag-aftra/

Actors join the cause.

[Pruitt IV]

We're about 12 hours from the SAG-AFTRA deadline of Friday at midnight. If the actors guild goes in lockstep with the writers, I think that could only strengthen their combined position. I read that Deadline article earlier this morning and the Studios are going into siege mode. But the rank-and-file of actors just everyday randos with other jobs; if anything, this would seem more like an extended time away from casting calls.

And in addition to the mediocrity at the head of studios, fuck Kim K for crossing the picket lines. Fucking asshole.


ETA: One strategy the streamers could use to keep the content pipes on his to start focusing on foreign series. But for every Squid Game, isn't there like 100 series no one would bother with? I only watched one non US language series on streaming (the Parisian Real Estate family show called The Agency), and I don't think it'd be good enough that I'd feel my life would be incomplete without it.

This goes on for a few more months, you'll be seeing a bunch of British shows on the networks as well as even more game shows in prime time on the networks. And a whole shit ton of sports in prime time.

Animation production was chugging along, but without the voice actors that'll shut down as well. (USA not Canada)

Have to think that IATSE and the other tech unions in the film/TV business will support the writers and actors. AI doesn't need electricians and audio and staging guys.

[The Sybian]

I'm hoping this drags out for a couple years. It'll give me some time to cross must watch shows off my list. There is just so much damned content now, I add more to my list than I cross off.

[degenerasian]

you guys can catch up on korean and chinese dramas (which is all i watch)

[DSafetyGuy]

I'm hoping this drags out for a couple years.

I hope you're wrong. I have kids to feed.

[The Sybian]

I'm hoping this drags out for a couple years.

I hope you're wrong. I have kids to feed.

Sorry, I shouldn’t make jokes when so many people’s careers are at stake.

[cerranoredux]

I'm hoping this drags out for a couple years.

I hope you're wrong. I have kids to feed.

So Dsafe, serious question, how do media consumers come out for the unions in this battle? Not putting it on you to have the answers, but this can be impacted by what audiences do and I’d like to do what’s right and that doesn’t involve helping management.

[sancarlos]

I'm hoping this drags out for a couple years.

I hope you're wrong. I have kids to feed.

So Dsafe, serious question, how do media consumers come out for the unions in this battle? Not putting it on you to have the answers, but this can be impacted by what audiences do and I’d like to do what’s right and that doesn’t involve helping management.

Blow up your TV.

[tennbengal]

Sorry for you being caught in the crosshairs, DSafe.

As for Igor - didn't Disney JUST literally deleted a ton of programming as a write-off without letting it see the light of day? Maybe they should have, I dunno, NOT done that? Kept it around for just this moment?

[DSafetyGuy]

I'm hoping this drags out for a couple years.

I hope you're wrong. I have kids to feed.

So Dsafe, serious question, how do media consumers come out for the unions in this battle? Not putting it on you to have the answers, but this can be impacted by what audiences do and I’d like to do what’s right and that doesn’t involve helping management.

First, Syb, I know you were joking and I wasn't actually upset about your post. Cerrano...

You don't have to actually blow up your TV, as suggested, and I'm not going to tell anyone to not watch TV in any form. Aside from services like Netflix, so many conglomerates have streaming services, also. Bob Iger is a piece of shit, but I'm not going to suggest anyone not watch ESPN (and so on).

If you want to cancel a streaming service, cool. If you decide to not go see a movie in a theater and will wait until after the strikes, also cool.

I would ask that you not watch unscripted (reality) shows of all varieties, regardless of network/streaming service. I would ask that you not subscribe to any services until the strikes are over. I know TV ratings include a lot of inaccuracies because they've never really had a good way of getting strong data. I suspect streams, whether measured by number of streams or time watched, are more accurately measured because it's a direct line between provider and consumer.

Support the active voices on social media by amplifying their messages, not just liking them. I saw yesterday a list of things SAG-AFTRA members are supposed to do as part of their strike, which included stay off social media. I suspect that means just as far as promoting their projects. I follow Dave Anthony (writer, comedian, podcast host - The Dollop, The Audit, West Wing Thing). He is very far on the left. Many of you will not like him. But, he does not fuck around with this stuff.

And this one is very important: Support unions.

UPS is about to go on strike. If they do, please use another delivery service, if possible. USPS is unionized. If people are striking at your local Starbucks, go somewhere else for coffee. Don't use the self-check to lane at the grocery store because, while it's "for your convenience", it also allows the store to not pay a union employee to run a register (if you have one or two items, fine, but don't bring your half-cart of shit there and do it all yourself). If you drive by a business where employees are on a picket line, show support in some way, even if it's just honking your horn.

I am not a union member. What I do for work (let's call it worker bee middle management) will never be unionized in my lifetime. But, I work with a lot of people who are in unions. A lot of my work is because of people in unions.

It is important to support unions because management is coming for everyone in every industry, and I mean everyone in every industry. People are being kept poor so they have to go to work. This is absolutely done by design by management. Unions fight management. Support them.

[DSafetyGuy]

Sorry for you being caught in the crosshairs, DSafe.

As for Igor - didn't Disney JUST literally deleted a ton of programming as a write-off without letting it see the light of day? Maybe they should have, I dunno, NOT done that? Kept it around for just this moment?

Warner Brothers was a much bigger one. Batgirl, which was completed, was shelved. There were other projects where WB simply pulled the plug mid-stream, in some cases allowing the creators to finish if they were in the editing process (a sequel to "Scoob", which was a hit in our house, was one of them).

But, yes, the tax write-off benefits to Discovery Networks were viewed as more valuable to the company than releasing the actual content.

[tennbengal]

Sorry for you being caught in the crosshairs, DSafe.

As for Igor - didn't Disney JUST literally deleted a ton of programming as a write-off without letting it see the light of day? Maybe they should have, I dunno, NOT done that? Kept it around for just this moment?

Warner Brothers was a much bigger one. Batgirl, which was completed, was shelved. There were other projects where WB simply pulled the plug mid-stream, in some cases allowing the creators to finish if they were in the editing process (a sequel to "Scoob", which was a hit in our house, was one of them).

But, yes, the tax write-off benefits to Discovery Networks were viewed as more valuable to the company than releasing the actual content.

Yeah, fucking Zaslov was a bigger offender, that's right. Just penny wise/pound foolish.

[tennbengal]

[Nonlinear FC]

I'm hoping this drags out for a couple years.

I hope you're wrong. I have kids to feed.

So Dsafe, serious question, how do media consumers come out for the unions in this battle? Not putting it on you to have the answers, but this can be impacted by what audiences do and I’d like to do what’s right and that doesn’t involve helping management.

Great question.

[Nonlinear FC]

I'm hoping this drags out for a couple years.

I hope you're wrong. I have kids to feed.

So Dsafe, serious question, how do media consumers come out for the unions in this battle? Not putting it on you to have the answers, but this can be impacted by what audiences do and I’d like to do what’s right and that doesn’t involve helping management.

Don't use the self-check to lane at the grocery store because, while it's "for your convenience", it also allows the store to not pay a union employee to run a register (if you have one or two items, fine, but don't bring your half-cart of shit there and do it all yourself).

This shit drives me CRAZY. And the clearest sign that this shit isn't really about customer convenience. I've actually gone up to the desk at Harris Teeter after having 3 of the 4 self checkout registers clogged up with ppl with 40-50 items (full ass carts) taking 15 minutes to check themselves out. The fact that they very rarely have an item limit is very telling.

[A_B]

I use the self checkout for medium sized orders if I'm shopping at lunch and need to split my bags into refrigerator, freezer, and dry goods. Our main grocery store still seems to have more cashiers than most, but I'm sure that's just a matter of time.