The Writers Strike - Greed is the Moral of the Story

Posted by Matt on December 4, 2007 11:30 PM PST

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I've had a chance to talk to a number of journalists lately about the writers strike in Hollywood (in case you don't know about this, film and TV writers are on strike because they think the studios and networks are not paying them enough when films and TV episodes are made available on the Internet and other digital devices like mobile phones and iPods). The journalists are interested in my perspective because I'm an Internet entrepreneur who started a site that features a lot of video (you're lookin' at it!), and I also happen to have a background in film and television.

When considering this seemingly ever-more intractable conflict, I don't focus on who may be right or wrong. Ultimately both sides will have been right AND wrong, since both sides will get some - but not all - of what they want.

More at stake in my mind is that both sides have made this argument about nothing more than money, i.e. GREED. Obviously, money is what drives business, and salaries pay the bills, so if it weren't about money, it wouldn't be worth this very public fight. But the result is that both sides are coming off as GREEDY more than anything else, which makes the whole affair about as deplorable as knowing that Larry King gave a FULL HOUR to Paris Hilton so she could talk about the lousy food in prison (at least that means the guy who's done 40,000 interviews and is just warming up has probably already hit his low point).

Greed sucks. Greed is a negative across the board. The only false positive that greed can deliver is riches, but those are riches that come at the expense of someone (or of a lot of people). What a horrible way to live, to wake up in the morning excited about the size of your wallet, but knowing you've trampled people to fill it.

Wouldn't it have been great if greed were not the dominant theme of this conflict? What if ambition had been the prevailing emotion? What if ambitions had guided the early discussions - ambitions that both sides clearly have to be partners in driving the growth of new media?

These two groups are more responsible than any others in our society for the lessons that are learned through film and TV. So many of those lessons are inspiring, thoughtful and positive. But not this time. The moral of the story being told through this strike is that greed is good, which is why the other greedy guys are wrong.

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3 Comments

In my mind, writers are usually those poor souls too broke to afford any ink. Finally, after arduous years, they make it big and some stiff suit (who's not as creative) wants to jilt them anew so more capitalists get even wealthier?! It doesn't sound fair. You're right, greed can wear any mask it wants, but it'll still be all twisted and ugly. The outcome of this strike would set a precedent and as all precedents, it's made worthy of attention by its very nature.

I wonder what the numbers are. Perhaps knowing exact figures and what's at stake would change my mind, but I doubt it. As a writer, I wouldn't like anyone cutting extra deals, extra lucrative deals, off my work without my permission. It doesn't sound right.

I don't know that the moral of this story is as black and white as you see it. If it is, then it's simply another reflection of our greedy society, where whiny writers and callous capitalists are just the tip of the iceberg.

Posted by Amanda on December 5, 2007 12:16 AM PST

Your post is making me think, and I think you're right - it's all about the money. No "work rules" here, like the stagehands strike in NY. And it's not about status or recognition because, unfortunately, I think the writer is less visible than ever when it comes to digital media. Maybe it's a power struggle? Can't let the creative people get too much! To the extent that a writer's success is measured by what he/she earns, it seems to me this is a matter of dignity. A relative of mine is a writer of mystery novels and short stories, and she's been published and pretty widely recognized in her genre. But it eats at her dignity that she's not earning very much.

Posted by Deane on December 5, 2007 3:10 PM PST

Gordon Gecko may think so, but I tend to agree with your notion that greed is bad.

Actually, I think this writers strike comes down to an issue of fairness. It's clear that new media channels and profits are growing fast. There is opportunity here. Those who create the product which generates revenue should get to share in that revenue.

In 1988 the strike was about the home video, market, with the big guns saying the same thing.. unproven market, expensive, no profits yet, etc. Look at the DVD industry now! And guess, what... DVD will eventually become an obsolete platform the same way CD's are losing out to MP3's. Online and mobile distribution is here to stay and the writers and studios know it.

So, new media will thrive, and sites like PeopleJam will connect people to new types of content in new ways... content created by people who do it for love, for fame, and yes for money.