WGA Update: BSG & BIONIC Shut Down

Michelle Ryan as Jamie Sommers in BIONIC WOMAN: Paradise Lost.

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Due to the WGA strike, production has officially shut down for NBC-Universal shows BIONIC WOMAN and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. We knew they would run out of scripts soon and Hollywood Reporter has now confirmed that point of time happened this week. "Bionic" was scheduled to wrap up its current schedule on December 12 but ran out of scripts on November 9, 2007.

Meanwhile, BSG was scheduled to shoot through mid-March and will instead close production today.

Comments

#1 - Kerrith [Nov 16 2007, 3:25 am CST]

That 4th season is going to stretch pretty far. BSG may actually be on the air into the next decade now. Maybe we can milk it for a couple of more minis like Razor during that time.

#2 - ponyboy76 [Nov 16 2007, 4:23 am CST]

This is really starting to suck. I really hope that the strike doesn`t do any permanent damage, but it just doesn`t look good for a lot of shows. Like I said in an earlier post, shows that would have had a chance to last a few seasons may get cut short because people are going to be pissed and not ever come back to watch. Rating will go down and they`ll get cancelled. On the upside though, its not like its just one or two shows. This is effecting every production out there. No one is immune. Looks like its going to be a winter of renting DVDs and playing PS3. Ironically, this strike will cause DVD sales to go up, which will make the studio`s more money that they will not give to the writers. This is twisted.

#3 - Whiskeymovie [Nov 16 2007, 6:49 am CST]

That is a very good point Pony. They are causing their own loss of money in that way. I understand why they are striking, but this is out of control. Also, I don't understadn why the studios just don't walk into any Starbuks in Hollywood and say, "Ok, who wants to write for us, we will pay you X amout of dollars". Give the writers an FU kind of thing. I DO think that the writers should get a prophit from the DVD sales, but if the studios don't cave, what are they gonna do? Just not work? Well, I guess time will tell what happens. I just hope they don't create new reality shows, I hate those.

#4 - jppintar326 [Nov 16 2007, 7:16 am CST]

The real problem is that the Screen Actors Guild and the Director's Guild contracts run out in 2008. If the studios play hard ball with the writers, what will happen when those two more powerful unions strike? Already things are getting nasty. Can you believe how picketers treated Eva Longoria and Ellen DeGeneres for working during the strike. This whole situation will get worse before it gets better.

#5 - TreverT [Nov 16 2007, 7:58 am CST]

I wonder how much of this is just old business models struggling with modern tech. It used to be simple - get paid for your script, and collect some small residuals for re-broadcasts, and that was that. Now, the product is going out by TV, sat, download, watched online, P2P... but how can *anyone* accurately produce a number of owed residuals on an online show? Reruns on TV were easily measured - show runs, pennies trickle out. Online, who knows? Does posting it once count as one rerun? If so, that kills all future residuals for writers. But how can anyone measure their share of all the diverse ways of distributing the media today?

#6 - monkeyfoot [Nov 16 2007, 8:59 am CST]

Here is a funny video done by the writers of the Daily Show that put the ideas of the strike in sharp focus. From seeing this I'm even more on the writer's side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRHlpEmr0w

#7 - fft5305 [Nov 16 2007, 9:34 am CST]

Whiskeymovie, the reason why they don't use scabs is that, once the strike is over, the studios are obligated to use only union writers. The union will shut out anyone who works as a scab. So any wannabe writers are just killing their own potential career if they write during the strike.

TrevorT, the easy way to measure is this: if the studio makes money (through paid download, DVD sales, banner ads, paid subscriptions, *any* means), the writers get their cut. Pretty simple. If the studios only make $0.12 on a show, then the writers only make their percentage of that $0.12.

Ponyboy, you bring up a good point. I hadn't thought about the effect the strike will have on DVD sales and rentals and, consequently, the studio's pockets. This sucks.

#8 - bjjdenver [Nov 16 2007, 9:35 am CST]

TreverT, I think you hit the nail on the head. Our world is full of different ways to access materials, and I think that has a lot to do with the strike.

I really can't believe studios have let this go. The writers are not asking for some extravagant amount, yet the studios are willing to let their productions suffer.

On the other hand, shows like The Bionic Woman, make you wonder what kind of writers are working in Hollywood anyways. Maybe the writers can use their time on the picket line to discuss their convoluted storylines and actually make some improvements, lol.

Bring on the reality drivel. imo, America's willingness to accept and adore reality programming, has made it easy for the studios to not negotiate a new contract.

How bad is it? CBS has been negotiating with the UFC for prime time programming. Now I fully support the world of mma, but it has not been a mainstream sport, and this news was shocking to me. A notoriously conservative network like CBS possibly broadcasting mma?? Didn't see that one coming.

#9 - Watchtower7 [Nov 16 2007, 10:51 am CST]

I just feel bad for all of the OTHER people, like camera dude, all the little peple that will be out of work because of this...... I'm bummed!

#10 - ponyboy76 [Nov 16 2007, 11:09 am CST]

Whiskey, just want to apologize to you about me calling you a "racist" the other day in that post. I jumped the gun, considering like you I have all types of friends and have said much worse in those circles. If one of my friends said that in conversation I would have laughed my ass off. In fact my boy Robbie said that one day and I did laugh my ass off so its not really fair to give you slack for stuff that I also do. So, for getting on you about that, I apologize. Cracker!!

Just kidding!

Oh and Monkey, that youtube clip is great.

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WGA Update: BSG & BIONIC Shut Down