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Leno and Other Stars Support the Strikers

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Tue Nov 06, 2007 at 01:57:00 AM EST
Tags: writers strike (all tags)
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Jay Leno, Julia Dreyfuss, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey and other big stars are supporting the striking Hollywood writers.

I like the chant the strikers are using:

"Hey, hey, pencils down.
Hollywood's a union town."

Hillary and Barack Obama, who have received $2 million in contributions from those in the entertainment industry, also offered support:

Barack Obama said he stands with the writers and urged producers to work with them to end the strike.

Hillary Rodham Clinton called for a contract that recognizes the contributions writers make to the entertainment industry.

Has John Edwards weighed in yet?

Day One strike news here and here.

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    Leno and Other Stars Support the Strikers | 8 comments (8 topical)

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    But did he say... (none / 0) (#2)
    by mindfulmission on Tue Nov 06, 2007 at 09:11:42 AM EST
    ... that he has been without a job for the last three years, which has enabled him to use labor as a political tool, even though he almost never talked about labor until he and Kerry lost the election?

    Or that he wanted nothing to do with any connection to labor when he was running for Senate in NC?

    Or that he said back in 1998 that he did not support repealing Right to Work in NC?

    Just curious...

    fwiw, in 2005: (none / 0) (#3)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Nov 06, 2007 at 04:19:04 PM EST
    the 4,437 WGA writers employed during the year earned $910,000,000.

    iow, their average salary was $205,000.

    The median earning level was $106,000, ie., 1/2 the writers made more than that, and 1/2 made less.

    The top 25% of the writers made over $250,000, and the top 5% over $685,000.

    For perspective, in 2005 to be in the top 25% in the US you had to earn $62,000. For the top 5%, $145,000.

    Irrelevant numbers (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by DA in LA on Tue Nov 06, 2007 at 08:03:32 PM EST
    If you don't post what the studios made.

    Parent
    See, that's the great thing about debates, (none / 0) (#9)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 11:31:11 AM EST
    we each can decide whether the facts are relevant to us or not.

    While these facts may not be relevant to you, they most assuredly are to the 5-10 blue-collar, $60K/year technicians that are laid off for each striking writer.

    btw, I talked to two teamsters yesterday, both were crossing WGA picket lines. Something about the WGA not supporting the teamsters last time they struck...

    Parent

    Not irrelevant (none / 0) (#5)
    by diogenes on Tue Nov 06, 2007 at 09:20:55 PM EST
    If Microsoft makes billions, does that mean that every worker is entitled to earn one hundred thousand dollars a year?
    There are way too many TV shows and movies already, most of which I haven't seen.  Guess I'll buy DVD's of past seasons of the shows and movies I missed-making the studios even richer!

    It is relevant...... (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 06:12:56 AM EST
    If a program generates say 5 million in profit, and the writer, director, actors, stagehands combined only get 1 million of it...the talent is getting stiffed and is totally justified in walking out.

    If you take a job at a company that profits 1 million a year, and after your first year on the job they double their profit to 2 million due in part to your efforts...you're not gonna ask for a raise?

    Parent

    Would you also take a pay cut (none / 0) (#7)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:30:05 AM EST
    if the profit dropped?? The answer most give is that it wasn't their fault... So was it their fault when it excelled?

    BTW - Management takes the same approach.

    And, will everyone involved in a failed movie/tv show/etc. take a cut on their next project??

    Parent

    Workers do... (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:45:50 AM EST
    sometimes accept pay cuts and/or give back benefits when their employers see a decline in profits.  That or they get laid off.  

    The day I stop helping my boss make money is the day I get laid off....I've got no problem with that.

    If a writer's project flops they do make less money....less sales means less residuals.

    The explosion in dvd revenues have made the studios a ton of cash...time for some of that dough to trickle down to those who help make it possible.

    Parent

    Leno and Other Stars Support the Strikers | 8 comments (8 topical)

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