The Minearverse 5: Closer to the Earth, Further from the Ax
[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, The Inside and Drive), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath.
it resulted in the horrid episode that everyone called Riker's Brain
Is that the horrible clip show when Riker was dying and they bombarded him with bad memories and then good memories (like every time he tried to sex up an alien)? Because that was the episode that was on when I finally got my family to watch TNG to see how good it was and should be watched.
More on topic, this morning I was listening to a morning show and the djs were making the argument that the writers aren't in a strong place because of reality shows. I'm not sure if the arguement was the networks would just throw on a bunch of reality shows during the strike, or that the networks would decide to do a way with scripted shows in favor doing unscripted.
Yep, that was one askye. At least I hope to whatever writing gods you care to name that they only had to do that once.
Well, the truth is many reality shows are actually scripted to a degree. Part of the negotiations that lead up to the strike was to bring reality tv show writers under the protection of the WGA. Not sure if that is still an issue, but I assume it is. Someone was to create the situations and challenges for reality TV shows, and suggest storylines and even create the speeches for the hosts...
I think that the reality show writers thing is one of the issues -- that and the new media stuff.
So um, writing for reality isn't really writing? Good grief.
I read an article last week which addressed median salaries and amounts averaged over 10 years and said something along the lines that under those circumstances 90% of WGA members didn't earn over $100k a year and used phrases like "equivalent to a grade school teacher" but of course, I can't find it again now.
I did however, locate these facty links along the search.
The Ins and Outs of TV Series Writer Deals which breaks down the different ways a script can be "paid for" and includes indicative pricing
and
the WGA Contract 2007 - Pattern of Demands
I read an article last week which addressed median salaries and amounts averaged over 10 years and said something along the lines that under those circumstances 90% of WGA members didn't earn over $100k a year and used phrases like "equivalent to a grade school teacher" but of course, I can't find it again now
I have to say, the "equivalent to a grade school teacher" is something that could totally piss me off out of context because (1)I am a grade school teacher (2) the implication is that the level of skill and professionalism necessary to write for TV is greater than the skill and professionalism necessary to teach (3) infers that teachers are less than writers, even though our education and professional credentialling requirements, particularly in california, rival that of other professions that require post-BA/BS work.
I think grade school teachers are commonly regarded as underpaid (for all the reasons you state) or at least not making great money, and Hollywood writers are commonly regarded as raking it in.
I don't know that there is necessarily a value judgment of either profession in the comparison.
I have to say, the "equivalent to a grade school teacher" is something that could totally piss me off out of context because (1)I am a grade school teacher (2) the implication is that the level of skill and professionalism necessary to write for TV is greater than the skill and professionalism necessary to teach (3) infers that teachers are less than writers, even though our education and professional credentialling requirements, particularly in california, rival that of other professions that require post-BA/BS work.
Damn fucking straight.
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...in fact I fear that the frail vehicle of the English language may be inadequate to expressing the strength of my agreement.
Were anyone to suggest that my intellect, education or professionalism were inferior to that of a professional writer, I suspect that I might find myself abandoning decorum and shoving a typewriter into a cavity for which it was not designed.
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I find that I have inadvertently mounted a soapbox, and am in danger of ranting. Rather than subject you to this, though, I shall dismount as gracefully as possible, spit in the general direction of all numbskull disparagers of my profession, and slope off to read some fanfic. Or, you know, go to sleep. (Sleep would be a good plan, really...)
From where I'm standing (as neither a teacher nor a nurse) teaching and nursing are often used as examples of important professions which are direly underpaid. If there's any comparison being made to the worth to society of writers vs. teachers, I'd be very surprised--in either direction, actually.
I read it as "You know who else gets paid crap for no good reason?" and don't see any implied derision.
Yeah, ita, absent the actual article, I'm not sure what the context is. But often when I hear comparisons to teacher's salaries, it seems to be less about look-how-we're-underpaid-just-like-teachers and more this profession which should make more makes something comparable to teachers.
And registered nurses? The NICU nurses make great money, deservedly so. More than average screenwriters, possibly. And they probably have better job security too. Life flight nurses make even more.
