I would suspect that it's primarily a way to prevent the stars from getting a gig on another network.
Zoe: My man would never fall for that. Wash: Most of my head wishes I had.
'Our Mrs. Reynolds'
The Minearverse 3: The Network Is a Harsh Mistress
[NAFDA] "There will be an occasional happy, so that it might be crushed under the boot of the writer." From Zorro to Angel (including Wonderfalls and The Inside), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath.
Tom Scola - Nov 29, 2004 10:48:32 am PST #3098 of 10001
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
Betsy HP - Nov 29, 2004 10:50:12 am PST #3099 of 10001
If I only had a brain...
So, if I sign a contract for "Vineyard" when it's a murder mystery, I have no recourses if the producers turn it into an in-depth story of plastic surgery and pornography?
Polter-Cow - Nov 29, 2004 10:55:10 am PST #3100 of 10001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
So, if I sign a contract for "Vineyard" when it's a murder mystery, I have no recourses if the producers turn it into an in-depth story of plastic surgery and pornography?
Nip/Tuck started out as a murder mystery?
Daisy Jane - Nov 29, 2004 10:57:56 am PST #3101 of 10001
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."
It sounds like sort of what happened with Fear and Loathing. I can't remember how that turned out except that Gilliam made a little short in the style of a 50's newsreel about it.
tommyrot - Nov 29, 2004 10:58:01 am PST #3102 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Nip/Tuck started out as a murder mystery?
Plastic surgeons by day, bad plastic surgeons by night.
DCJensen - Nov 29, 2004 10:58:59 am PST #3103 of 10001
All is well that ends in pizza.
So, if I sign a contract for "Vineyard" when it's a murder mystery, I have no recourses if the producers turn it into an in-depth story of plastic surgery and pornography?
I guess it would depend on the wording in the contract.
Ocipital - Nov 29, 2004 11:02:30 am PST #3104 of 10001
So I just went and looked it up. The WGA rules state that you get the credit if you created the format of the series or received a "Written by" or "Story by" credit on the pilot. Neither of these really apply here to the Kesslers.
unfortunately they have those credits on the origional pilot. I'm fairly sure thats the one that ends up counting, regardless of whether it airs or not, remember Tim has a writer credit on the train job, but only Joss 'created' Firefly as he wrote Serenity.
I think all creator credits go to mandatory arbiration, finacially its worth a lot, and the WGA need to prevent studio execs claiming undue credit.
So, if I sign a contract for "Vineyard" when it's a murder mystery, I have no recourses if the producers turn it into an in-depth story of plastic surgery and pornography?
Not really, though plenty of stars have exited contracts, despite producers wishes (eg Charlies Angels). though contracts can and do specify no skin, or how much can be shown.
libkitty - Nov 29, 2004 11:21:45 am PST #3105 of 10001
Embrace the idea that we are the leaders we've been looking for. Grace Lee Boggs
Poor other guys. Lucky us!
Kristen - Nov 29, 2004 11:51:14 am PST #3106 of 10001
unfortunately they have those credits on the origional pilot. I'm fairly sure thats the one that ends up counting, regardless of whether it airs or not, remember Tim has a writer credit on the train job, but only Joss 'created' Firefly as he wrote Serenity.
Yes but they didn't throw out Serenity pilot and write a new pilot that completely alters every single aspect of the show.
Like, if ABC, had decided they didn't like the pilot for Lost. And they smoked a lot of crack and decided they were going to hire me to rewrite it. So I keep Matthew Fox because I used to have a crush on him and I keep the LotR dude because he brings in the big fanbase but I decide that, instead of a show about people stranded on a desert island after a plane crash, I'm going to make a show about some guy who runs the Lost and Found desk at one of those Swim with the Dolphins places.
I think that the arbitrators would find that I had altered the framework, setting, theme, premise, central characters and tone of the show significantly enough to get me a created credit.
Narrator - Nov 29, 2004 12:34:42 pm PST #3107 of 10001
The evil is this way?
Like, if ABC, had decided they didn't like the pilot for Lost. And they smoked a lot of crack and decided they were going to hire me to rewrite it. So I keep Matthew Fox because I used to have a crush on him and I keep the LotR dude because he brings in the big fanbase but I decide that, instead of a show about people stranded on a desert island after a plane crash, I'm going to make a show about some guy who runs the Lost and Found desk at one of those Swim with the Dolphins places.
Finally, a new show for Nick Brendon!!! (You know, we were just discussing Xander in a Speedo. Wet. on another thread (meaning that I was obsessing over this a wee bit.).)