Stephanie: The Internet cinema has already become a reality. Have you checked out the Morgan Freeman and Intel partnership (Clickstar) where you can view, buy or rent first run films that premier on the web first with mainstream actors. Freeman and some A list actors and directors even have their own "channels." In fact, Amazon was actually working with independent producer/writer types to place first run content on Amazon. You have to remember that the future is all about independence for the writer/actor/director/independent producer outside of the networks and studios who have yet to grab the real power of the web. My research has already seen this connection because I actually interviewed several people in the business on the record for the study throughout the country (and Hollywood of course and some see the Apple v. NBC and Google v. Viacom and Microsoft v. Google fights turning into a better deal for writers, independent producers and creative types). The HD mandate next February will speed up this trend of home viewing on big screens of first run features. The potential of white space technology that enables one to view the Internet on blank broadcast channels is close to becoming reality. If the WGA is smart (and I have a few friends in LA who belong to WGA) they will cut some content deals directly with Apple, Google, Amazon and even Microsoft. These folks need more content that is free from the control of the studios and networks for their digital platforms. The writers can then deal with the studios and the networks from a position of strength because the future of TV will involve the web to a large degree and the demographics are on the side of the writers and the technology firms. -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Tuszynski, Stephanie Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 5:33 PM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-L] WGA strike Michael - I'm not following your connection between people who write for the web and the WGA. The WGA only represents film and tv writers. You can't become a Guild member until you meet certain thresholds of working in the film and tv industry. People who write "for the web" in general would never be part of the WGA. It's only for screenwriters who work on scripts and teleplays. And for years the studios have assumed that they can get unknowns in to fill the place of the more experience writers if they have to, but I think that's bunk. That's where all those "story editors" on reality shows come from. But again, the talent pool is limited (screenwriting is the single hardest branch of creative writing to do well) and it's going to run dry. (This is why the Guild has been fighting for years to get the reality show writers under their umbrella.) Stephanie Tuszynski Visiting Assistant Professor Department of Theatre and Film University of Toledo Message: 2 Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 09:07:19 +1100 From: "Michael Baron" <webbaron@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Air-L] WGA strike To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Cc: aoir list <air-l@aoir.org> Message-ID: <c78ecacf0801031407s5d85b7c7x5fdf48dc7c750a7d@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 While, I do agree with Barry on the entitlements issue and find the strike to be fully justifiable, to be honest i doubt it is going to be successful. There are currently many Web writers who do not happen to be memebers of the Writers Guild. Chances are they will be prepared to work for little money just to "put their foot in" and get published. Unfortunately, the perception of the Web writing as non-commercial still appears to be very strong in the writers' community. Hopefully, this will turn around one day (and the strike may make this day come sooner rather than later). _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/