Happy Writers' Strike Everybody!

[MasqueradeOverture]

Proposals vs. Offers

 

[MasqueradeOverture]

Crux of the issue [Fuck the studios]

 

[Jman]

I posted about this over in Entertainment, but it does fit the breaking news, doesn’t it?

Word on the street is the big tech companies are the holdouts, with Netflix announcing they’re investing $2.5 billion into South Korean film and television as a “fuck you” to the Guild. Whether the Ameri-centric nature of US television tastes forces their hands quickly or these companies pivot to importing and outsourcing is an interesting question.

[MasqueradeOverture]

The biggest "Fuck You" I think is the Artificial Intelligence clause (studios flat out rejecting not replacing writers with AI). This could be the turning point in seeing whether they're scumfuck enough to never come to an agreement because the tech exists (or will exist next month/week/tomorrow with how fast it's advancing).

[1pooh4u]

It’s extremely fucked up how greedy these studios are. If you aren’t some big name well known writer you’re probably gonna get fucked.  The WGA isn’t asking for a lot considering how much these studios and streaming services make. It’s not unrealistic to want fair compensation even if the project never sees the light of day 

several shows are shutting down immediately but the writer still is looked at like not an important piece of the show business puzzle 

Edited May 3, 2023 by 1pooh4u
Fuckin predictive text fail

[Jman]

8 minutes ago, MasqueradeOverture said:

The biggest "Fuck You" I think is the Artificial Intelligence clause (studios flat out rejecting not replacing writers with AI). This could be the turning point in seeing whether they're scumfuck enough to never come to an agreement because the tech exists (or will exist next month/week/tomorrow with how fast it's advancing).

AI + Scabs = A legion of work done to studio specs.  No diversity, no rewrites for sensitivity, but also no creativity whatsoever.  Tucker Carlson would be hailing this as genius, if he had an audience now outside of his golf clubs.

[1pooh4u]

AI is a fuckin disaster for writers because AI can copy the style of any writer and these executives are definitely gonna dabble in it.  Chat gpt wrote part of an episode of South Park so yeah 😬

[André Toulon]

See, this is the part where people start realizing that AI doesn't mean we can all sit on our asses...it means the corporations who have always sought cheaper operating costs while putting out an inferior product just found their new "add a little water to it and jack up the price". 

The thing is, we rely on certain products to live and a lot of us have no business trying to mix shit as alternatives ourselves....but we CAN TOTALLY effect this shit.  Just stop watching garbage....the reason they are confident this will work is because the last big idea television had was reality TV and that was decades ago.....Movies aren't even trying.

The shows will get worse and the service will get more expensive....we can stop this 

[DragonSinger]

5 minutes ago, MasqueradeOverture said:

The biggest "Fuck You" I think is the Artificial Intelligence clause (studios flat out rejecting not replacing writers with AI). This could be the turning point in seeing whether they're scumfuck enough to never come to an agreement because the tech exists (or will exist next month/week/tomorrow with how fast it's advancing).

YUP! Wasn't surprised when I saw this.

[DragonSinger]

10 minutes ago, André Toulon said:

See, this is the part where people start realizing that AI doesn't mean we can all sit on our asses...it means the corporations who have always sought cheaper operating costs while putting out an inferior product just found their new "add a little water to it and jack up the price". 

The thing is, we rely on certain products to live and a lot of us have no business trying to mix shit as alternatives ourselves....but we CAN TOTALLY effect this shit.  Just stop watching garbage....the reason they are confident this will work is because the last big idea television had was reality TV and that was decades ago.....Movies aren't even trying.

The shows will get worse and the service will get more expensive....we can stop this 

"I have to see how bad this is for myself" will win out every time over not watching the terrible thing.

[MasqueradeOverture]

30 minutes ago, André Toulon said:

See, this is the part where people start realizing that AI doesn't mean we can all sit on our asses...it means the corporations who have always sought cheaper operating costs while putting out an inferior product just found their new "add a little water to it and jack up the price". 

The thing is, we rely on certain products to live and a lot of us have no business trying to mix shit as alternatives ourselves....but we CAN TOTALLY effect this shit.  Just stop watching garbage....the reason they are confident this will work is because the last big idea television had was reality TV and that was decades ago.....Movies aren't even trying.

The shows will get worse and the service will get more expensive....we can stop this 

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by MasqueradeOverture

[Jman]

AI prompts are the long term goal.  But the tech isn’t there yet.

Short term I am expecting a lot of imported stuff and reality TV.  If someone greenlights an All Rounder Meguru series from Japan to replace Cobra Kai I will not be surprised.

[katt_goddess]

3 hours ago, 1pooh4u said:

AI is a fuckin disaster for writers because AI can copy the style of any writer and these executives are definitely gonna dabble in it.  Chat gpt wrote part of an episode of South Park so yeah 😬

If you want to burn their idea of going full AI though, make them watch the entire AI generated Seinfeld thing. It was slightly funny for a bit but eventually I guess it turned racist because internet, duh. 

AI anything is still going to require someone with a meatspace brain to read and watch over the weird. 

[SwimOdin]

At least they got Succession done before this

[Gemini]

3 hours ago, DragonSinger said:

"I have to see how bad this is for myself" will win out every time over not watching the terrible thing.

This. Just look at movies like The Room and Manos: The Hands of Fate. They're like a bad trainwreck you want to look away from but for some reason you're captivated by how horrific it is. (Thankfully, there's also RiffTrax and Mystery Science Theater 3000, among other groups that make fun of bad movies.)

[Gemini]

As for the AI thing, well, of course, the studios would probably look to take advantage of it at some point in the future. Besides, I hope the WGA is able to get better compensation for its members. (At the same time, come up with original movies and quit remaking classic ones! Hell, remaking a bad movie and seeing if you can turn it into a good one would be nice as well.)

[Jman]

For reference, the last strike was 16 years ago.

This video about that writers strike at the dawn of internet video is 16 years old.  And yet things seem to have gotten worse for the writers.

[1pooh4u]

3 hours ago, katt_goddess said:

If you want to burn their idea of going full AI though, make them watch the entire AI generated Seinfeld thing. It was slightly funny for a bit but eventually I guess it turned racist because internet, duh. 

AI anything is still going to require someone with a meatspace brain to read and watch over the weird. 

Everything has to get by standards and practices even AI, but eventually standards and practices will be replaced by AI too 

[DragonSinger]

13 hours ago, Gemini said:

As for the AI thing, well, of course, the studios would probably look to take advantage of it at some point in the future. Besides, I hope the WGA is able to get better compensation for its members. (At the same time, come up with original movies and quit remaking classic ones! Hell, remaking a bad movie and seeing if you can turn it into a good one would be nice as well.)

Not so much the future. Now. Since the technology isn't there, they need writers to fix the stories these programs spit out. That's at least 2/3 rewriting to fix that shit, but they'll say the writer isn't the creator and needs to be paid less as an editor or other position. Job titles matter a lot in that industry as far as negotiating contracts.

Edited May 3, 2023 by DragonSinger

[naraku360]

20 hours ago, André Toulon said:

See, this is the part where people start realizing that AI doesn't mean we can all sit on our asses...it means the corporations who have always sought cheaper operating costs while putting out an inferior product just found their new "add a little water to it and jack up the price". 

The thing is, we rely on certain products to live and a lot of us have no business trying to mix shit as alternatives ourselves....but we CAN TOTALLY effect this shit.  Just stop watching garbage....the reason they are confident this will work is because the last big idea television had was reality TV and that was decades ago.....Movies aren't even trying.

The shows will get worse and the service will get more expensive....we can stop this 

Frankly, the fact AI is eventually going to make it possible for anyone to produce art previously unheard of without a multibillion dollar corporation to back them may very well spell the doom of Hollywood as a concept.

Good riddance.

[Jman]

 

[Raptorpat]

1 hour ago, naraku360 said:

Good riddance.

counterpoint is that film and TV is like the highest-unionized industry in existence, so to WGAW's point that's who AI to the masses would be riddancing.

[1pooh4u]

SNL cut their season short because of the strike. I think Last Week Tonight w John Oliver is also shut down 

writers were never treated well and that shit starts early. I was in college for dramatic writing. Play and screen writing. The drama directing and cinema studies students were such assholes to us. I say this because it’s one of the reasons I’m not surprised about how the WGA is treated. It’s practically culture. Writers breathe life into the ideas of others sometimes but that’s no less important than the writer creating their own works. They’re not treated well either. Once the screenplay is sold, unless you’re a Stephen Spielberg, you have no say after.  
 

writers are probably not gonna get a “no AI” in any contract. Part of the reason the studios come back with no counter or a low counter is because soon they won’t need the writer. Sure actors say “I won’t act in AI written drivel” now but eventually someone will be a first and as AI improves the actor will be made offers they can’t refuse.  For now AI might not be good enough to replace the writer but eventually it will be.  In the not so distant future AI will replace teams of writers and all that will exist is the one human writer needed to make sure the AI didn’t go crazy somewhere. 
 

eventually the media will announce that “critically acclaimed” movie or novel written by AI cuz some corporate overlord will tell them to. It’s like what someone already said, we the individual have to not watch or read  any AI medium 

[Gemini]

5 hours ago, DragonSinger said:

Not so much the future. Now. Since the technology isn't there, they need writers to fix the stories these programs spit out. That's at least 2/3 rewriting to fix that shit, but they'll say the writer isn't the creator and needs to be paid less as an editor or other position. Job titles matter a lot in that industry as far as negotiating contracts.

That's a very good point. Thank you for correcting me.

[naraku360]

5 hours ago, Raptorpat said:

counterpoint is that film and TV is like the highest-unionized industry in existence, so to WGAW's point that's who AI to the masses would be riddancing.

Counter-counterpoint: Unions can still exist with smaller indie companies that are able to produce higher quality work with fewer resources. Companies not constrained to the unreasonable, inethical expectations placed on them by corporate knuckledraggers. Contemporary media, for better or worse, is largely online and able to reach more people easier than ever. And I think more accessibility to create independent art is fundamentally a good thing.

[1pooh4u]

8 hours ago, Jman said:

 

This was infuriating. Wtf “we promise to let you know how close we are to replacing you”. Wow gee thanks 

[Jman]

 

The D-O-GG had some choice words for CEO’s at a panel where he expressed support for the strike.

[1pooh4u]

Any artistic creator not backing this strike is either a dick hole or Kevin Sorbo 

[Jman]

The robots are going to take your JERBS!  Or they would, if it didn’t feel like executives think AI is way ahead of what it actually is.  
 

For fun, I asked ChatGPT to make three pitches, a drama about a race car driver, a black comedy about a female beer brewer, and just for fun, a remake of Kamen Rider set in Hollywood.  And you’ll see the end result is…kind of soulless.

Quote

Prompt - Create an eight episode pitch for a streaming drama about a race car driver who gets an opportunity to join an elite team with a mysterious backer.

Title: Speed Limits

Logline: A promising race car driver is given the chance to join an elite team with a mysterious backer, but as he climbs the ranks of the racing world, he discovers that the stakes are higher than he ever imagined.

Episode 1: "The Rookie"

We meet our protagonist, Max, a young race car driver who dreams of making it to the big leagues. Max is struggling to make ends meet, working at a garage during the day and racing on the weekends. But when he catches the eye of a racing team owner, Max is offered a chance to join an elite team with a mysterious backer.

Episode 2: "The Team"

Max is introduced to his new teammates, including the team's star driver, Sophia, and her mechanic, Alex. Max is excited to be part of such a talented team, but he quickly realizes that there's a lot more to the team than meets the eye. He begins to suspect that their backer is involved in something shady.

Episode 3: "The Rival"

Max faces off against a rival driver, Carlos, who has a personal vendetta against him. As Max struggles to keep up with Carlos on the track, he realizes that he needs to step up his game if he wants to stay on the team.

Episode 4: "The Betrayal"

Max discovers that the team's backer is involved in illegal activities, including fixing races. Max is torn between his loyalty to his new team and his conscience. He decides to confront the backer, but the consequences of his actions are severe.

Episode 5: "The Investigation"

Max starts his own investigation into the backer's illegal activities, teaming up with a journalist who is also interested in exposing the truth. Max risks everything to gather evidence, putting himself and his teammates in danger.

Episode 6: "The Chase"

Max and his team are caught in a high-speed chase with the backer's henchmen, trying to escape with the evidence they've gathered. The chase is intense, and Max's driving skills are put to the test.

Episode 7: "The Showdown"

Max and his team go head-to-head with Carlos and his team in a high-stakes race. With the evidence against the backer in hand, Max is determined to win the race and expose the truth. But as the race heats up, Max realizes that there's more at stake than just his own career.

Episode 8: "The Aftermath"

Max and his team celebrate their victory, but the fallout from the backer's illegal activities continues. Max is faced with the choice of whether to continue racing or to use his platform to bring about change in the sport. The season ends with Max contemplating his future, wondering what lies ahead.

Quote

Create an eight episode pitch for a black comedy about a twenty something female beer brewer trying to make the perfect beer to make her brewery a success.
 

Title: Brew-haha

Logline: A twenty-something female beer brewer is determined to make the perfect beer that will make her brewery a success, but her quirky and dysfunctional staff and personal life threaten to derail her plans.

Episode 1: "Brewing Dreams"

Our protagonist, Harper, is a twenty-something woman who has just inherited a small brewery from her grandfather. Determined to make it a success, she sets out to create the perfect beer that will put her brewery on the map. But she quickly realizes that the brewery's quirky staff and her personal life might stand in the way.

Episode 2: "Hop to It"

Harper struggles to get her team to take her seriously as a boss and to work together to create the perfect beer. Meanwhile, her personal life is complicated when her ex-boyfriend shows up, wanting to get back together.

Episode 3: "Bitter Truths"

Harper and her team experiment with different ingredients, trying to create the perfect beer. But when the beer turns out horribly bitter, Harper must find a way to salvage it or risk losing the support of her investors.

Episode 4: "The Tasting"

Harper and her team enter a beer tasting competition, hoping to win over some new customers. But when one of her staff members accidentally swaps out a crucial ingredient, Harper must improvise to save the day.

Episode 5: "The Party"

Harper throws a party to celebrate the brewery's one-year anniversary, but things quickly spiral out of control when her staff gets too drunk and causes chaos. Meanwhile, Harper's ex-boyfriend causes drama, putting a strain on her relationship with her current boyfriend.

Episode 6: "The Investor"

A potential investor shows interest in the brewery, but Harper's staff makes a bad impression during the pitch meeting. Harper must convince the investor that she has what it takes to make the brewery a success, even if it means making some tough decisions.

Episode 7: "The Deadline"

Harper's investors give her a deadline to create a new beer that will attract more customers, putting pressure on her and her team. Meanwhile, Harper's personal life continues to cause distractions, including an unexpected pregnancy.

Episode 8: "The Perfect Beer"

Harper and her team finally create the perfect beer, but the brewery's future is still uncertain. Harper must navigate her personal life and her staff's quirks to keep the brewery afloat and make it a success. The season ends with Harper contemplating the ups and downs of the past year, wondering what the future holds.

Now those first two seem kind of…flat, don’t they?  It’s technically correct, but it’s missing a certain something, wouldn’t you say?  That unique energy.

Now here’s the fun one -

Quote

Create a pitch to Prime Video for the first of what will hopefully be a multiple season show - A remake of the original Kamen Rider or Masked Rider set in present day Los Angeles.
 

Title: Kamen Rider LA

Logline: When a young man is chosen to become the next Kamen Rider, he must use his newfound powers to protect Los Angeles from a powerful evil that threatens the city.

Synopsis: Kamen Rider LA is a modern-day adaptation of the classic Japanese superhero series. Set in present-day Los Angeles, the series follows a young man named Jay, who is chosen to become the next Kamen Rider, a powerful hero with special abilities and a powerful motorcycle.

Jay is a struggling musician who is unsure of his place in the world, but when he is given the opportunity to become the next Kamen Rider, he jumps at the chance to make a difference in his city. He is joined by a team of allies, including a scientist who created his powers, a hacker who helps him navigate the digital world, and a police officer who becomes his mentor.

Together, Jay and his team must fight against a powerful evil that threatens the city of Los Angeles. This evil is led by a mysterious figure who is determined to take over the city and bend it to his will. Along the way, Jay must confront his own inner demons and learn to balance his responsibilities as Kamen Rider with his personal life.

With fast-paced action, high-tech gadgets, and a diverse cast of characters, Kamen Rider LA is an exciting and engaging superhero series that will appeal to fans of the genre and newcomers alike. The series has the potential to become a multi-season hit on Prime Video, with a loyal fanbase eager to follow the adventures of Jay and his team as they continue to fight for justice and protect their city from harm.

Even if you don’t know anything about Kamen Rider, it sounds…generic as all hell, doesn’t it?

Edited May 4, 2023 by Jman

[1pooh4u]

Fuckin scumbags. Paying writers to rework the scripts written by the exact thing that will have them out of a job in 10 years or less. 
 

and yeah those shows weren’t great but the titles and log lines are pretty good. Execs would probably jump all over this drivel especially “Brew-Ha ha” Netflix is definitely stealing your Kamen Rider results 

[katt_goddess]

"Not bad.."

Now do one where a guy's brewery is failing in LA but before he can figure out a way to save it, he gets picked to be the next Kamen Rider but then he decides to race motorcycles to make the money to save his brewery while also having to save the world from monsters that all mysteriously decide to attack LA.

 

Or don't. Probably don't.  

[tsar4]

Doesn't matter to me.  Someone took out a phone pole a few blocks away and we've got no internet, no house phone, no IoT, and no streaming service.

[1pooh4u]

17 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

Doesn't matter to me.  Someone took out a phone pole a few blocks away and we've got no internet, no house phone, no IoT, and no streaming service.

How’d you get here? Mobile data?

[MasqueradeOverture]

20 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

Doesn't matter to me.  Someone took out a phone pole a few blocks away and we've got no internet, no house phone, no IoT, and no streaming service.

Sometimes collateral damage is necessary.

Watch How To Blow Up A Pipeline.

[Neubauten]

23 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

Doesn't matter to me.  Someone took out a phone pole a few blocks away and we've got no internet, no house phone, no IoT, and no streaming service.

Google "mobile hotspot" grampa

[tsar4]

1 hour ago, 1pooh4u said:

How’d you get here? Mobile data?

Yup

[1pooh4u]

Just now, tsar4 said:

Yup

At least you won’t be bored unless you have an ancient phone with no streaming apps 

[Jman]

I’m thinking about making a separate thread where I go over ChatGPT pitches and summaries, so this stays open for the news.

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by Jman

[tsar4]

5 minutes ago, 1pooh4u said:

At least you won’t be bored unless you have an ancient phone with no streaming apps 

Have antenna, get (ugh) networks.

[tsar4]

1 hour ago, Neubauten said:

Google "mobile hotspot" grampa

Bite me!  The Mobile service has been spotty today (figures).

[katt_goddess]

1 hour ago, 1pooh4u said:

At least you won’t be bored unless you have an ancient phone with no streaming apps 

I'm in this post and I don't like it.  

Leave me and the tatorfone alone!

[1pooh4u]

18 minutes ago, katt_goddess said:

I'm in this post and I don't like it.  

Leave me and the tatorfone alone!

Let the tatorphone go. Join us here in the 21st century 😛

[1pooh4u]

I like how tsar was basically like

[Jman]

Did you really expect the heartless corporation to not squeeze every last cent out of what it can?  

[1pooh4u]

35 minutes ago, Jman said:

Did you really expect the heartless corporation to not squeeze every last cent out of what it can?  

not even surprised 

 

 

[PenguinBoss]

I was going to say that I feel like Disney doesn't get the point of a strike, then realize they just don't care. I feel like they know people are chomping at the bit to work there.

[tsar4]

22 hours ago, 1pooh4u said:

I like how tsar was basically like

I get annoyed when someone expects this outta me...

[naraku360]

On 5/4/2023 at 2:47 PM, 1pooh4u said:

Fuckin scumbags. Paying writers to rework the scripts written by the exact thing that will have them out of a job in 10 years or less. 
 

and yeah those shows weren’t great but the titles and log lines are pretty good. Execs would probably jump all over this drivel especially “Brew-Ha ha” Netflix is definitely stealing your Kamen Rider results 

That's the thing, though. There has to be a limit and these suits don't have a concept of restraint. Eventually everyone will be gone and working in conditions set by real humans with things like a conscience.

At some point nobody is going to want to work for a place that puts all their eggs in a basket that can't figure out if Alucard could beat Dio.

[Jman]

Not a good look.

[Top Gun]

Gee I sure wish someone would increase my salary by 20-30% for being complete shit at my job.