| choirsoftheeye said: Though yes, there are a decent number of them who make a decent bit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriter's_salary But to put it in perspective: M. Night Shyamalan was paid 2.5 million for the script to one of the most successful movies of the 90s. It made... 672 million dollars. He made less than 1/200th (given that the budget was about 60 million) of the profit for the movie, for fucking writing it. He probably made a bit more for directing it - but this money mostly ends up in corporate pockets. And according to wikipedia (yes, i know, wikipedia) that was amongst the 40 or so highest amounts paid for a script. There have been thousands and thousands of scripts made and produced that didn't make close to that much. Like I said, though, the issue of too much money being funneled into hollywood is a different one, with different grounds to fight on. If you want to fight that battle, do, but if you're willing to support hollywood by watching its movies and shows, than don't complain when the people who actually make the shows want a fair share of that money. |
How about this one for you?
Company "A" make $50 million in profit a year and gives it's employees a 4% raise each year. Due to a change in the market Company "A" suddenly sees profits of $100 million. The employees of Company "A" decied to strike unless they get an additional 4% raise on top of the original 4% raise because the company is making twice as much money now. Although it would be nice if the company gave them bonuses, it doesn't mean the workers are in the right to strike.
Just because the networks make more money then the writters is the reason they are right to strike is a poor excuse. The reason that the networks make the extra profits is because they take the finacial risks. If show "A" fail's and cost the network money, the writter for show "A" still gets paid for his script and royalties on any DVD sales. Even if the producer continues to loss money on the show, the script writter does not share in the fiscal loss.
There may be other reasons that the writters are correct in striking, but please do not continue to use the difference in profits as a reason because it is a very poor one.
