Struck by the Strike

by

It has been interesting viewing the strike from across the Atlantic. For the last week, I have been keeping up on things from Munich by reading the International Herald-Tribune, USA Today, and whatever British newspapers I’ve stumbled across. The contrast between how the British press is covering the walk-out and our U.S. news media is, well, striking.

The British press, which has no pretense of objectivity, appears to be solidly behind the writers. More than one article portrayed our demands as  reasonable and the AMPTP’s reaction as greedy and bewildering.

But the U.S. press, which does pride itself on objectivity, seems to be siding with the networks and studios. Virtually article mentions how highly paid some screenwriters are, or  makes some  snide aside about strikers arriving in their BMWs and Mercedes or going from the picket lines to their Malibu beach homes. An article in the Herald Tribune even portrayed striking writers as espresso-sipping dandies wearing "arty sunglasses" and colorful scarves. It’s obvious that more than a few print journalists suffer from an inferiority complex and are  jealous of screenwriters.

On top of that, trade publications like Variety and newspapers like the Los Angeles Times depend heavily on studio and network advertising revenue, so it’s hardly a surprise that screenwriters aren’t getting a fair shake. L.A. is an industry town, and it isn’t screenwriters who are keeping the lights on at the Hollywood Reporter.

I did get a kick out of the article in Variety a week or so back, where their editors whined that the WGA refused to be baited by each and every negative comment from the AMPTP. They warned that we were going to be "swift-boated" if we didn’t respond whenever one of their so-called reporters, who don’t know how to write without being spoon-fed a press release, asked for a statement from the Guild. I’m proud that our leaders are, for the most part, taking the high road when it comes to responding to the baiting or in characterizing the state of negotiations.

What has also been interesting to me is the feedback I have been getting from German writers, producers, studio execs and network execs regarding the strike. Much to my surprise, they all seemed to be solidly behind the writers. Why was I surprised? Because writers there don’t have a guild or a union and don’t enjoy the protections, creative writers, standard pay, and other benefits that come from having a strictly-enforced, Minimum Basic Agreement. They also don’t have the  financial benefit of residuals (unless they work for the state-owned networks, where they do get some rerun money).  I kind of expected them to resent us. But even more surprising to me was the supportive comments I heard from studio execs, most of whom provide shows to the networks on a work-for-hire basis and don’t share in any of the revenues. Considering how immensely popular U.S. shows are in Europe, the execs were shocked that writers are only getting a barely measureable percentage of the windfall profits.

Me, too.

I got home last night. I will be walking the picket line tomorrow.

Why We Are Striking

by

Here’s a short video that explains very clearly one of the big reasons why the WGA is on strike.

I strongly support the Guild, but I was angry when I learned that we’d pulled the demand to double our DVD residuals off the table. I am hoping that doesn’t mean that the WGA doesn’t intend to seek a meaningful increase of our current rate (which is about 4 cents per DVD).

The Flight from Hell on Air India

by

I flew to Germany on Halloween night and, perhaps fittingly, it was a nightmare. Never, ever, EVER fly on Air India. When I got on the plane, the first thing I saw were the torn carpets. Not a good sign. When I got into business class, the first thing I saw were two broken seats. Again, not a good sign.

The overhead luggage bins were full of dirt and crumbs. The walls were stained and, in many places, held together with masking tape. The seats were torn and stained.  The two big televisions hanging from the ceiling were cracked and held together with duct tape. My assigned seat turned out to be broken, so they moved me to another one.I thought about running out of the plane but they’d already sealed the doors and my luggage was in the hold.

I settled in for the long haul. The individual entertainment units are broken, so you have to watch movies on the two TV’s hanging from the ceiling, one of which shows everything in yellow.  If Bollywood musicals are your thing, you’ll love Air India. Luckily, I had my video iPod and it was full of shows to watch.

The snacks and meals are Indian, which is to be expected, but your silverware comes wrapped in a dirty napkin, which is not. I had to request a clean napkin. Amazingly, they had one.

Midway through the flight, my seat collapsed on to the woman behind me. It went completely flat, smacking into her lap. I climbed out of my seat. I tried to lift the seat, but it just fell back onto the poor passenger. The stewardess came over to help…and kept pressing the volume control button on my armrest. Clearly, she had no idea how the seats worked. But we finally managed to get the seat up and folded completely forward (that’s how broken it was). I was moved to yet another seat…my third one of  the flight.

I asked the stewardess why they don’t repair the seats…she said it’s because the plane is so old, they don’t have replacement parts. It made me wonder what condition the rest of the plane was in…particular the parts that make the damn thing fly.

We landed in Frankfurt (and my old seat smacked into the poor passenger again) and then I switched over to a Lufthansa flight to Munich. As soon as I got on the clean, beautiful, new plane…my stomach started doing somersaults. The instant we were at cruising altitude I ran into the restroom and stayed there for the rest of the flight. It was a much better seat than I had on Air India…the airline that had poisoned me.  I spent my first night in Munich in the bathroom of my wonderful hotel.

Aside from the travel hell, the rest of my trip has been great. I had the day to myself on Friday to explore Munich. I have been here many times before, but usually only for the day…and this was the first time I’ve visited when it wasn’t pouring rain or snowing. It was the first time i’d seen the city in the sunshine, thought it was still very cold out (at least for this Southern Californian).

I’ve been consulting with the head writer, producers, and network execs who are working on a new show. I’ve been helping them to find and refine their franchise by teaching them about the different kinds of conflict, the four-act structure and how to use all of that to generate stories that could only be told on their series. I’m essentially teaching an advanced TV writing class and it’s been a lot of fun. Today the writers join us  and I will begin walking  them all through how a writer’s room is run…and the relationship between writers, the studio and the network (at least how it is in the U.S.)

The only downside to this trip is that I haven’t been able to lick my jet lag. I fall asleep around 9:30-10 pm each night and wake up at 3:30-4am each morning. Hopefully that will pass in another day or two…

I’m Boldly Going

by

I am heading to Munich this afternoon for ten days to do some consulting for one of the German TV networks, so I may not be posting very often until I return.  I’ve just figured out how to update my blog using my Crackberry, so you may be seeing some  posts with a  Blackberry tag on them. Forgive me if they are awkwardly formatted or typo-ridden.

She Boldly Went

by

Genevieve Bujold was supposed to be the star of STAR TREK VOYAGER, but a week into shooting, she was fired…or she quit… and was replaced with Kate Mulgrew. I’ve always wondered why. Thanks to the miracle of YouTube, the mystery is solved. You can see how uncomfortable she was in the role. Here is a scene with Bujold and then the same scene re-shot with Mulgrew (catch it now before it’s inevitably yanked).


Here is another scene with Bujold.

My lucky streak continues

by

I am blessed. Now people from all over the world are seeking out my wisdom and experience. The money is falling on me like rain:

From Mrs Aluwa Cabenca  Williams & Son Benjamin.
Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire.
West Afrique .
 
Good Day.
 
My Name is MRS. ALUWA CABENCA WILLIAMS a citizen of Sierra-Leone. A widow being that I lost my late husband couple of months ago. When my late husband was alive he was dealing with international REAL ESTATE agency until his death. My late husband CHIEF CABENCA B. WILLIAMS left behind a total sum of (US$ 18.500.000 EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE HOUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS)  My late husband package this money in one trunk box and deposited it in the Security Company here in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire,  and the Content was mentioned as a family valuable. He told me to look for a good foreign partnership and ship the trunk box for foreign investment. He advice me to invest this money on real estate or transport industry business.
 
Through I have not met with you before but I believe, one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life.  Me and my only Son Benjamin have visited the Security Company and approached to to the director and presented to him the entire document my late husband left to us, bears with the name of my son Benjamin as the next of kin and including his death certificate.   
I want to follow the instruction of my late husband to invest the money with my only son in your country, I will like to invest part of the money into any of these three investments plan in your Country as bellow. But if there is any other business with good profit, that is better than what I am suggesting, we will be very glad to follow your advice. Please come up with your idea. 
1). Real estate
2). Transport industry
3). Hotel

I humbly request you to participate in this transaction and also give me professional directives If you are in interested and willing to assistance us.  We will be pleased to offer you 25% of the total sum as compensation for your effort /input for the successful shipment of this Trunk box to your destinations address for the Investment Project.
 
Thank you for your understanding.
I await your soonest response.   
Respectfully yours.
Mrs Aluwa Cabenca Williams & Son Benjamin.

You would have to be born with only a brain stem to fall for a scam like this. I have no sympathy for anyone that stupid.

Mr. Monk in Outer Space landing in Bookstores Everywhere

by

Monk_outer_space_2
Today is the official publication date for MR. MONK IN OUTER SPACE, my fifth MONK novel. You should be able to find it at bookstores nationwide and, of course, at your favorite internet retailer. The book was more than a little inspired by my own experiences as a writer for Starlog magazine, a supervising producer on SEAQUEST  and my, um, "debates" with fanficcers here (you might also notice a nod to my comic novel BEYOND THE BEYOND). I hope you enjoy it!