WGA goes on strike for more compensation

(Article I did about the strike for the Dakota Student.)

Much of the entertainment world is on hiatus as contracts are being negotiated.

If you're like most of America, a WGA strike isn't really news worthy or a cause for much concern to you. As someone who watches television and movies, I am keeping up with as much news about the strike as possible and if it continues it will be something that will cause concern for you.

For those unaware of what's been happening in the entertainment world for the past week, the Writers Guild of America has been on strike as of Monday this week after their contracts expired on October 31 (last Wednesday). What the WGA has asked for in their new contracts (which are still being negotiated at the moment) is to be compensated for DVD and new media entertainment. They have asked for their DVD residuals to be doubled from four cents of every $19.99 made on every DVD to eight cents and to be paid for the new media (which they are currently receiving zero percent, out of the estimated 4.6 billion to be made over the next three years). At this point in time, the WGA has given up the DVD negotiations, but are holding fast on the new media, because that is the future. It's a growing trend, now that some shows are being broadcasted online. The writers of those shows, who are not getting any money from the new media, are asking to be compensated for their work that is now being put out on the internet for free. Take a show like "The Office", for example, you can watch the show online with limited advertising, which is collecting revenue, but not being shared with the writers. The WGA is only asking for a small percentage of the new media, which being sustained by them.

What does this mean to you? For the most part nothing. That is if you don't enjoy watching scripted shows, soaps, or late night television. As of the moment the late night talk shows are in reruns. Late Show host David Letterman is supporting the WGA and has publicly ostracized producers, by calling them "cowards, cutthroats and weasels", for what they are doing, but many late night shows might be forced to make it's way back on the air. It would be interesting to see the late night show's format if they come back when the writers are still on strike.

At the moment most scripted shows like, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, 30 Rock, etc. have enough episodes in the can (already completed) to last until about the year's end. But a growing trend on these shows, since the strike was announced, is that production has stopped completely. Many show-runners on the shows have shut down in support for the writers. Actors are still allowed to film at this time, but with the writers picketing their own shows, many actors and show-runners have refused to cross picket lines to go to work.

What will be interesting to see is the looming end of the contracts of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) (which expire July of 2008). If at that point, the WGA strike was still going on and an agreement couldn't be met, we would have an industry wide strike that would halt everything.

Still don't get it? Judd Apatow, with an interview with IGN, gave this explanation to people who don't understand the reason for the strike. "Here's how I would explain it: If you're a teamster, you get paid to drive a truck. But if someone invents a new kind of truck, and you're still driving it, you should still get paid. We're switching trucks at this point. But if someone comes up with a three wheel truck, you're still driving!"

I hope the WGA's demands are met as swiftly as possible. Although you won't be able to picket the lines with your favorite shows because of our location, you can show your support by sending emails to the networks and network heads to get negotiations done as quickly as possible.

At this point some people are being laid off while the shows are shut down and more will be laid off if the negotiations persist.

This is truly hard for writers to strike financially, because unlike studio heads, many haven't been saving boats full of money for an event like this, but it is important enough for writers to strike now to insure that future writers will be protected. Just like the WGA did in 1988 (the last writers strike which lasted 6 months and spawned reality TV) when they made a stand for writers to be paid residuals on TV shows.

The WGA, are not trying to be selfish now, but looking to the future of writers and entertainment. To understand the strike and to follow current developments visit http://unitedhollywood.com/. Hopefully by the time you see this article the strike would be over, but anything can change.

Link to article.

Improv group's annual 'Rocky Horror' event turns 5

(Article I did for the Dakota Student)

Fishnets and aliens take center stage this Halloween at the Empire Arts Center

It's that time of year again in Grand Forks. No I don't mean when the air turns a ripe odor, or when the tap water gets TB colored. I mean the time of year that is Halloween, but more specifically the "Rocky Horror Picture Show".

For those of you unfamiliar with RHPS as an event, it is a gathering of fans that watch the film, but do more than that. The fans actively participate, by reciting the lines out loud, acting out the scenes in front of the screen and anything else that can bring any kind of joy to the experience. Although the RHPS is not the first film to have audience participation, it has become one of the more popular ones. Never since "Debbie Does Dallas" has there been such a large amount of audience participation during a film. The film itself is a rock opera that parodies sci-fi/horror films of it's time. But like any cult movie, it needs a central pull or something that makes the film what it is. That of course is Tim Curry's cross-dressing portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The costumes alone could sustain the cult life of the film, but it's his performance that really makes it fun for the audience and the actor's portraying him. It's not a perfect movie by any measure, but cult movies usually aren't and being that it's a musical, the acting is over the top, which some might argue makes the audience participation that much more fun.

This Halloween the Nine and Numb will celebrate its 5th year hosting RHPS at the Empire Arts Center. Kelly Clow, the show director, thinks the Empire is what separates this RHPS from the others.

"It's the venue. We're really grateful that the Empire hosts the event. In many places around the country, that hold this type of event, they usually don't have the facilities or equipment that the Empire has. We have a big stage and a huge screen, which just makes this whole thing that much better and easier to do."

The audience participation is the main attraction of the event. Young or old, the RHPS is meant to be an experience that everyone can enjoy.

The Halloween show is meant to be the big night for the RHPS.

"Halloween night, before the film is shown, at 10 p.m., there will be an improv show done by the Nine and Numb comedy troupe." Clow says.

Prop bags, that one can use during the film, will be sold upon arrival at the Empire. Kelly anticipates a large attendance for the night and hopes to give the audience a night that is a little bit different than previous shows.

"This year we have a female Frank-N-Furter and Rocky which is something special we are doing for the 5th anniversary." Clow said.

All though to someone who hasn't seen the RHPS, that might not come off as something special, but I can assure you it is.
If you're looking to enjoy a peaceful, quite and morally correct night on the town, you won't find it at the RHPS. Whether it's yelling at the screen, yelling at the actors, dressing up as a character, or just dressing up, it's a night fun. RHPS is like the Halloween of films.

Clow advice to newcomers to the show, "It's not for the faint of heart, but it's really an opportunity for the outsider to be an insider and to just have a great time."

Link to article.