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Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

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Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#61

Post by petee »

rndgermandude wrote: post #57
petee wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats the other big issue - we helped streaming get it's feet by allowing lower pay, lower benefits, and longer hours, back in 2007-8 since streaming wasnt yet considered 'viable'. They agreed to revisit it in the future when it was viable. Now they won't even discuss it. Extra money goes right to the companies. Actors dont get the same residuals from streaming either, just look at Scarlett Johansson's lawsuit. Strea…

My soul weeps for poor (net worth: 165 million according to google) Scarlett Johnansson. She was only paid 20 million for that movie, but then scammed out of additional royalties by Disney. How is somebody supposed to get by on a mere 20 million per movie. Making that movie took away half a year of her life! I think it's not just the studios' greed that causes the normal Hollywood workers to get fucked, it's also A-l…

Ignore the quantities - she asked for that pay and they willingly paid it. The issue was they had a deal for this movie, and they broke it, rich or not, they broke contract. And if they break it once, they'll do it again. Many actors rely on royalties and this same situation, but don't have her clout.

The divide between screen and streaming is being abused by the studios, who make far more than the paltry sum for her face across the world and loss of privacy.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#62

Post by not2b »

Aerroon wrote: post #27
petee wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every job in film is highly specialized, even down to construction. These are trades that are taught and passed down through years of on the job experience. It would take them years to replace every department. We do it well, fast, and safe.

But what would happen if they decide to move countries over this? Hollywood and other movie and TV production is obviously a powerful tool to sway the public. I bet there are some other countries itching to have their own media production improve. Eg the people putting money into these productions could take their money to China instead, no? The strike does seem reasonable to me though.

They (big studios and streaming companies) could just make a deal, because any alternative would be worse. With very few exceptions, name actors aren't going to cross the picket line. Squid Game was a success, but I don't think Netflix can get away with subtitled everything.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#63

Post by wildrhythms »

cwkoss wrote: post #53

Is there a page on their website that has a good list of: - What the workers' demands are? - What they want consumers to do to support the strike? Finding it hard to navigate their website, and hearing people on social media say conflicting things, hard to get a read on what the official position of the union is.

https://www.basicagreement.iatse.net/

1) Reasonable rest periods

2) Meal breaks

3) Living wages for workers at the bottom of the wage scale

4) Some other issues that are not publicized during the negotiation process

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#64

Post by wildrhythms »

vncecartersknee wrote: post #32
djbusby wrote: post #2

Wow, 90% voted, 98% in favor of strike. Solidarity!

Amazing! great to see worker solidarity on HN

Meanwhile the top comment here is prefaced with "I'm not super pro-union (plenty of mess there)". I genuinely believe Americans- especially upper-middle class workers like HN visitors- are the subject of a mass disinformation campaign against organized labor.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#65

Post by cwkoss »

wildrhythms wrote: post #63
cwkoss wrote: post #53

Is there a page on their website that has a good list of: - What the workers' demands are? - What they want consumers to do to support the strike? Finding it hard to navigate their website, and hearing people on social media say conflicting things, hard to get a read on what the official position of the union is.

https://www.basicagreement.iatse.net/ 1) Reasonable rest periods 2) Meal breaks 3) Living wages for workers at the bottom of the wage scale 4) Some other issues that are not publicized during the negotiation process

Thanks!

I find the confidentiality around these negotiations interesting. Does anyone have insight into what issues are not being publicized (and why)?

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#66

Post by swearwolf »

rndgermandude wrote: post #57
petee wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats the other big issue - we helped streaming get it's feet by allowing lower pay, lower benefits, and longer hours, back in 2007-8 since streaming wasnt yet considered 'viable'. They agreed to revisit it in the future when it was viable. Now they won't even discuss it. Extra money goes right to the companies. Actors dont get the same residuals from streaming either, just look at Scarlett Johansson's lawsuit. Strea…

My soul weeps for poor (net worth: 165 million according to google) Scarlett Johnansson. She was only paid 20 million for that movie, but then scammed out of additional royalties by Disney. How is somebody supposed to get by on a mere 20 million per movie. Making that movie took away half a year of her life! I think it's not just the studios' greed that causes the normal Hollywood workers to get fucked, it's also A-l…

When you just look at how much she made in isolation, of course it seems like she’ a spoiled brat for suing to get more. But Disney promised her one thing (an exclusively theatrical release) and delivered another (a dual theatrical/streaming simultaneous release), and then they tried to shame her for standing up for herself. I doubt very much they’d have done the same to Chris Evan’s or Robert Downey Jr. They deserved to get sued, and I’m glad they had to pay up.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#68

Post by tzs »

toast0 wrote: post #43
petee wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It happens, but at the end of the day only America looks like America, and they want that look as much as patrons demand it. Shows used to go to Canada until our tax breaks got better. Some things will always shoot here. Many projects are also tied to the whim or contract of the a big name star. Once they get digital movies down pat, they'll likely eliminate all our jobs as fast as possible. Which is why we are slowl…

> It happens, but at the end of the day only America looks like America, and they want that look as much as patrons demand it. Lots of films set in Seattle are or were filmed in Vancouver, and you might not know it unless you live around Seattle.

Plus many shows only have interior shots, with maybe an occasional establishing shot. Worst case they might have to send someone to where the show is set to film the establishing shots, which is likely a one time thing. Everything else can be filmed anywhere.

A good example was "Frasier". I don't think it even had establishing shots, so all we saw was interiors [1]. Even those of us who lived in Seattle when it was on couldn't tell it was filmed in Vancouver.

[1] Except for one episode where they did have significant outdoor action set at various well known Seattle locations, which they did come to Seattle to shoot.

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#69

Post by oceanghost »

BenjiWiebe wrote: post #35
oceanghost wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I worked at a Walmart 20 years ago that would lock employees in at night-- even when their shifts were over, in an attempt to get them to work extra hours. My first gig out of college-- the company said they didn't pay vacations or holidays for the first 6 months. I had no idea this was illegal in California, but one of the other hires did and got them in some major amount of trouble for it. They also asked me to sig…

Apparently Walmart has made some changes for the better then. I worked there for a 2ish years, right up to COVID. You'd get in trouble (and your boss too!) for working very much overtime. Also you'd get in trouble if you didn't take at least a 30 minute lunch break, and you'd get in serious trouble for working off the clock. Walmart probably got too many lawsuits or something.

Here's a better link. I can't edit my post anymore. The whole thing was really greasy. They'd say they had to lock the doors for safety, but could only open them at certain times, which was absolute nonsense.

And it wasn't just janitors. I was a stock boy. Most big box stores even if they aren't open, restock at night.

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4146540

Re: Strike Date Set for 60k Film and Television Workers

#70

Post by spaetzleesser »

AdrianB1 wrote: post #41
petee wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most productions started up in August 2020 with strict Covid protocols; personally I've had 1 week off since then. Crews have been doing full days, with masks. Normal work under harder conditions. They finally offered 10hr turn around after we voted to strike; and its with strings. They cant even give an hour for sleep. Ive done the 14-17hr days, with 9hr turn around, and I live 1hr 20min from set, so thats 6hrs pers…

What is keeping people do this work? I understand medical workers to give all they can during these times, but not in the entertainment industry, it is not a critical sector. Nobody died because of delay of the latest blockbuster or soap opera.

I used to work in a building in an area where they did lots of movies. My impression was that it’s very interesting and diverse work. Sometimes they would build complete houses, next day they would enact a car crash scene. I often envied the people being outside doing something different every day and moving around a lot vs me sitting in the office staring at a screen the whole day.
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