Writers Strike: Good Intentions, Bad Outcome

So the title makes the intention of this post clear. The WGA (Writers Guild of America) has been on strike since November 1st. Basically for those who haven't heard the gist of the strike is that members of the WGA, (which number in the thousands) are refusing to work because they aren't receiving any money for modern media residuals like DVD sales, and internet downloads. The Strike has caused numerous popular TV shows to shut down including my favorite TV show "The Office"

I was totally stunned when I heard about the strike. Next Thursday "The Office" will show it's final new episode and then most likely will get overtaken by re-runs. This really irks me because they had like 20 more upcoming episodes.

I feel like the writers have a valid point. New media platforms like the internet are becoming ever more viable sources of watching TV and Movies. However what really bothers me is that because the writers are on strike around 90% of the other employees that work on the TV shows are getting laid off. The writers make more money than the rest of the crew and yet they have decided to take the entire ship down with them. I just have a hard time seeing how that isn't a selfish initiative.

I also dislike how Hollywood is being utterly stupid with this situation though too. It's estimated that Hollywood makes Billions of dollars. Thats right BILLIONS of dollars off the "New Media" platforms, and yet is unwilling to share even a modicum amount of that with the people who created the content in the first place. On top of that Hollywood also believes that by just showing re-runs and reality TV they will put an end to the strike on their own terms. It's so arrogant and stupid in my opinion that Hollywood thinks that the general American public will be indefinitely satisfied by watching whatever crap they put on TV. Plus, I think it is impossible for them to win this strike. They will lose incredible sums of money when eventually the movie industry goes dead. The actors might want to work, but without professional writers to write scripts there will be no movies to act in.

For the sake of decent entertainment I hope both sides get off their collectivly selfish asses and reach an agreement. Because the way I see it right now it's a lose-lose-lose situation. The writers don't get paid, Hollywood doesn't make money, and the American public has to watch crap.