So the Writer’s Guild is on strike. So what? I bring it up only because I heard on the radio yesterday, they were talking about it and saying “poor them”, but I don’t think so for a number of reasons and therefore, I am not remotely sympathetic.
Therefore, let’s talk about it.
I’ll be honest up front. I think people need to EARN their money. Nobody just deserves to get paid because they woke up in the morning. A lot of the complaints that I heard yesterday seem to revolve around that and that’s where I want to start.
The guy on the radio was saying “but TV seasons are a lot shorter these days!” Okay, so what? If the show that you write for has 10 episodes a season, you get paid for 10 episodes of writing. Why should you get more? If you want to get paid for 20 episodes, go work on another show too. Stop whining. You get paid for the work that you do. Deal with it.
“Oh, but most Hollywood writers are only making the minimum allowed by the Guild!” Okay, so what? If you want more, EARN IT! I’m sure there is some process in there whereby you get an increase in pay. Maybe you have to be around for a while. Maybe you have to write better shows. I have no idea and I don’t really care. In either case, either put in your time or, here’s a suggestion, STOP WRITING CRAP!
Because that’s really why I am so unsympathetic. Have you seen the garbage coming out of Hollywood these days? Movies and TV shows are crap. I might not say if they were producing high-quality output but they’re not.
It’s the same reason I am not sympathetic to a lot of teachers. Yes, you’re not paid a lot, but look at what is coming out of the other end of the educational system. You haven’t earned it! This is a meritocracy, not a charity. Get better at it! Show results, then we’ll talk.
In neither case are these people actually producing anything of substance. If you want to make more money, go get another job. That is, if you don’t want to up your game and prove that you’re worth it. You don’t deserve more money because you bother to show up. EARN IT!
They also complained that they are making less money on residuals because of the advent of streaming. Have you looked at streaming lately? It’s losing money hand over fist! Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t care about the likes of Disney or Netflix because they’re doing it to themselves, but it isn’t like streaming has been profitable. It’s a losing proposition.
Besides, who says you deserve to keep making money on things you already got paid for? I don’t get paid for things I did two years ago. I have to keep working to earn more money! You should too. I think that also goes for actors. Go make something else, stop whining that you’re not getting paid for something you’re doing no additional labor for. Get to work!
I am ever so tired of listening to people whine about what they “deserve”. It’s why America is in trouble. Too many people with their hands out. Screw ’em all.