I voted `Best Picture` not Atonement, but couldn't select only `Best Picture`. since I haven't seen iether movie.

I think with the strike, what are we France? The only Acadamy Award should be awarded to best film. Actors, Actresses and Directors supporting the strike shuold not get an Oscar this year.

Michael

for the record I do agree that the writers should get more for the scripts they write. Without them we, the movie lovers of the world, would only see movies like Spiderman and Cloverfield and AvP2. Eyecandy to watch, depending on the actresses, your personal choice and whatever.
But I disagree with the way they try to get more money, striking.

Quoting JP_S:

Quote:

But I disagree with the way they try to get more money, striking.

what would be your alternative?

Quoting JP_S:

Quote:
Good one Paul
I have no idea, but I striking is IMHO never the way to get something done.

Tell this to the engine-drivers of the German railway company. They were underpaid as well and the company refused to give them more money, after some smaller strikes the company gave in.

Quoting bbursiek:

Quote:
In my opinion the one thing no one is thinking about is how this strike is affecting the crew members of the film & TV industries -- these men & women are the camera operatiors, production assistants, sound guys etc. and they're the ones getting scrwed by this.

I don't think striking is the way to get positive results for everyone -- it's kind of like extortion to me. The people who benefit most are the workers who can't cut it on their own.

However to be honest I don't much care for unions in general having had to deal with them and having been briefly part of one. They are anti-competitive and anti-merit -- if a bunch of companies that sell widgets were to get together and agree on a price for their product it would be called collusion or a monopoly but when workers do it it its considered an acceptable thing.

I hope this gets resolved soon but maybe the writer(s) of Kangaroo Jack should have to pay back their fee. 

Brian

At first when I read your post I thought it was well written and made some valid points and I was going to agree with you, but then I thought about it and realized that there are 2 sides to this story!!! 

While you are right that the Writers strike is greatly hurting the livelihood of many people in the film and television industry, it is wrong to think of them as being selfish and uncaring of those other people.  The blame needs to be levied at the studios as well, who make millions of money off the shows and movies they produce and the writers write.  These studios are just as guilty of not settling this strike and therefore just as guilty of keeping all the workers in the industry currently out of work!!!  In the end the studios can argue extortion all they want, while I certainly don't know the financial aspects or demands of the writers, I am however fairly certain that the studios can most likely afford to pay the writers what they deserve. 

The studios, like all companies who go through strikes, hate to concede not because the demands are unreasonable but because they fear future such strikes from other workers within the industry!!!  It is time they make amends and end this strike since I feel that the actors support the writers and the actors are the true bread and butter of this industry!!!

Calidain,

  I appreciate your thoughts and you make some good points. Obviously both the employer(s) and the union involved in a strike are each at least partly to blame when a strike or lockout happens. However I think that the % of blame that can be fairly attributed to each side will vary depending on the particular circumstances of that strike/lockout.

  In this case (the writers strike) I am inclined to blame the writers more b/c I think they went the strike route b/c they knew it would inflict maximum pressure on the studios - they of course subject to the law have the right to do this - but it doesn't mean it's the fairest or most reasonable approach. I won't argue that the writers don't care about their colleagues but they certainly chose the approach that benefits them the most and inconveniences their colleagues the most as well. That fact suggests, to me at least, that they don't have the well being of their lower paid co-workers as a priority.

  As far as the studios and the demands they got from the writers I can't address in great detail - nor can I dispute your argument that the studios can afford it (I simply don't know) but I can say that based on my experiences (which include involvement on both sides of union discussions) that unions are not bound by logic or fairness in their demands -- to the contrary -- they need to make demands and "get something" for their members in each contract regardless of their industry situation, countries economy status, or their specific employer's situation. This problem is compounded by the fact that the courts and arbitrators that hear these cases are also bound by the assumption that the employees should get something each time they negotiate. This leads to ever escalating wages, pension, and benefit costs (that can't easily be reversed or taken back if the situation worsens) which can strain employers struggling to compete in the marketplace. This has happened time and time again in various industries -- most recently in the airline industry in the US and leads to bankrupty and job loss.

Long story short -- I think unions were perhaps a necessary evil  50 years ago but with now with the protections all employees have (union and non-union alike) there is no pressing need for labor monopoly power and legalized extortion. If someone doesn't like what their employer is offering they are always free to take their skills and experience elsewhere.

Brian

Quoting JP_S:

Quote:
Good one Paul
I have no idea, but I striking is IMHO never the way to get something done.

there is an example in the Uk now with the Police force where the organisation cannot strike. The govt and Police Federation went to arbitration over a pay rise. The Government then decided to refuse to backdate a 2.5% pay rise which was recommended by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal.

Instead they have only backdated it to 1st December which means the pay rise for this year is only 1.9%.

Of course, the police don't go on strike. And of course the govt don't backdate the pay.

These script writers have only 1 thing they can do - withhold their labour. And that is the only thing which the employers (studio's) will listen to.

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Getting back to the Oscar's. The only film I've seen is atonement. Sweeney Todd is only now going out to cinema's here.

I wish all the films could be seen before the Oscar's but usually there are always some which in the UK have never arrived here.