The Tail Section

The Unexpected Post - Time for US to end this strike

Lost News — November 6, 2007 at 7:15 pm by John

I know I said I wouldn’t be back, but the issue with the WGA strike, and the upset amongst television fans has forced to make one last post, and at the same time call to action the Lost fandom, and fandom anywhere.  The WGA strike spawns from the way the world has changed, and part of that change is that the voice of the fan population has gotten MUCH more audible.

So here is one last theory for you Lost fans out there, and if you like it pass it on to fans of other shows if you will:  We can stop this strike.   How?  The same way the WGA is working right now, we can pull a strike against the tight-wads running the networks and hit them where it hurts.

I propose a bit of activism.  A media buying black out  amongst all fans who are disgusted by Hollywood’s cronyism; treating creators like they are line items instead of valued assets that deserve a piece of every dollar made off their work.

How will it work?  It’s simple.  Here is the call:

Fansites - Remove all links to the sale of DVD sets, block networks from buying space in your google blocks.  (I cannot control that here, or I would)

Fans - Cancel any orders you have for pending DVD set releases.  I canceled my order for Lost Season 3 this morning.   If enough of us do this, the message will ring loud and clear.  You will say that this is a jab at the writers since they do receive DVD residuals.  You are right.  However, it is the executives that will be hurt by this.

Any other ideas?  I’m essentially falling into silence as far as specific media reporting goes, but I’m not beyond a little activism to show that the strength of the online community can be more compelling than even the Mayor of LA when it comes to compelling the studios that they MUST act now to do what is fair for the writers so that everybody can get back to work.  If you are interested in joining this effort, or have ideas, email me:

doctorarzt@gmail.com

When creators walk because the studios are screwing them, it’s time for the grass roots of the fan community to dry up and go to flame.  Those are OUR writers out there.  Let’s show the world how quickly the fan communities of the world can change things.

The WGA strike is all about the change in the way entertainment is delivered, and all creators making their ‘fair’ share.  One issue that is being overlooked is that we, the consumers, have also risen in power along with the technological changes that have flourished in the entertainment industry.  Let’s not forget that it is was highly organized fans, using the same core technology at the center of this debate: the Internet, that forced ABC to consider ditching reruns for Lost.  We even got a pair of characters killed.

Outside of what Lost fans have done with their solidarity on issues impacting our show, television fans in general have saved shows like Jericho from being cancelled, and influenced major changes on other shows as well.

The point is, that much of what we hear about the WGA strike is that it is ‘bad for business,’  but the fact is it is bad for us, and at the end of the day we are all that matters because without an audience to air advertising to, the networks have no business.  There seems to be this cronyism functioning in the industry where a bunch of board members and executives are “sticking to their guns” and not giving in to the writers on “business” principles.   Well I say: screw them.

We, the fans, are the ultimate power in this dispute.  I doubt there is a single fan out there who would say that they think it is unfair to the networks for them to give even 10% of the profits from online distribution of programming to the writers who make it entertaining in the first place, and that is a hell of a lot more than what the writers are asking for.

It is clearly unfair, however, for the fruits of the writer’s creative labors to be rung of every dollar of profit in the name of corporate greed.  The networks imposing their greed and lack of respect for artistry has been a common complaint amongst the fandom for some time.  

We, the fans, have the ability to stop this strike in its tracks right now by showing our own power to the networks, by refusing to partake of substitute programming, by vowing  not to purchase DVD sets, and by joining behind a central doctrine of belief that the will and satisfaction of the audiences should be the number one consideration on the side of both the unions and the networks when it comes to negotiations, and that audiences are not ‘demographic segments,’ but free thinking individuals who know that art is produced by artists, and that the artists deserve their fair share, and that 0% is not fair.

They have not given us a seat at the table, so we need to take one.  We can end this strike now.

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