$200k a year in LA isn't exactly rolling in the dough though, is it?

Nope, it isn't. Not to say I would complain about making that much, but it certainly isn't much to the Hollywood crowd.

But again, successful writers work in an incredibly lucrative industry. The issue isn't how much people in TV/movies make in general; it's about fairness in dividing the profits overall.

ETA: x-post with Allyson--in case I wasn't clear, yes, $200K is rolling in dough for most of us. It isn't over the top for Hollywood, was what I meant. And honestly, I think that's beside the point anyway if all we're talking is residuals--not to mention that most writers make nowhere near that much.

heh. thanks, Allyson. it would be here, but i know the cost of living in LA is vastly different from tennessee. what does the average person in LA make a year, i wonder?

Los Angeles County, CA financial year 2007 median income $56,500

As James Gunn said:

This strike is absolutely not a matter of the rich getting richer. We're not striking because of guys like me who have made numerous feature films, or guys like Greg Daniels who have created popular TV shows. This is for middle-class writers – your regular TV staff writers and people who may have done one or two small feature films. Residuals are a way they can make perhaps a few thousand dollars a year between gigs. This is a way they can put food on the table and pay the rent during downtime – and downtime is something almost all writers (and actors and directors) have.

I saw somebody from the WGA saying the $200k thing is absolutely well off the mark. Apparently -- I have no idea if this is true -- the average script for a show sells for $3k or so. I really can't see HOW that is true, as you'd have to write a lot of stuff to survive.

It's not as if they're taking from the "little guy" or whatever anyway. They're just asking for their fair share of profit*

*I tend to think they're asking for less than their fair share, but that's because I am the writers' bitch.

I remember the last writer's strike. I think I might have been in high school or college for some of it. I just remember the terrible General Hospital storylines during that time. Oh how they sucked. Something about a villain having a weather machine and Luke & Laura on a yacht?

thanks, Daisy! this thread is a fount of knowledge today.

It's a lucrative industry, and the union is perfectly justified in taking measures to get their share-- just like pro players. But there's no need to start playing like this is Harlan County, USA. Come on.

Yes and yes and yes. I agree with all of you. I especially think that it's ridiculous to imply that all writers are "rolling in dough" given the fact that the vast majority are very much not.

One of the men I work with at school is really having a tough time with this whole issue. Apparently his father was one of the founding members of WGA, and my coworker has been writing WGA begging them not to give in since he watched his dad fight and starve to get the initial contracts.