Spoilers - Gilmore Girls S&S #163 ~ I'd Rather be a Kayak than a Writer - Page 5

Mag13 · 02-16-2007, 10:40 AM

What's new?

Quote:

Originally Posted by caf123

We still don't know the real story why ASP left. She and Dan put one spin on it in their "exit interview" with Ausiello, but then LG said those weren't the reasons she'd heard for the Palladions leaving.

Talking about contract negotiations and possible deadlines.... I'm not sure, but when did we get the news about ASP leaving the show last year? Mid April? Maybe it's the time for WB/CW to take a decision on season 8 too?

Canuck Girl2 · 02-16-2007, 10:58 AM

God, it what Sassy said is true, no wonder the set is tense...I'd be peeved if two people were stalling for more money and my job hung in the balance.

It seems that stars forget that it takes a helluva lot of people to make a show. It's one thing if your decision only affects you...it's another when some many people's livelihood is involved. I used to work in film production. At least 100 people would be on crew of every production I worked on. That doesn't include the cast members.

What a letdown if we find they only care about the money and not the show.

It's time for them to make a decision out of courtesy to everyone else.

These are strong words but, my estimation of LG and AB's character will be lowered if these rumours are true.

Mag13 · 02-16-2007, 11:03 AM

Money makes the world go around, the world go around, the world go around....

Found this:

Quote:

A typical one-hour drama on one of the six American commercial television networks averages around $2 million an episode. Studios often lose money on the first run of a show, but recoup that cost by selling the show for syndication.

GG is 45-minutes show, maybe it costs less, but it's still a lot of money....

Riska · 02-16-2007, 11:09 AM

^^ Gilmore Girls is considered to be a 1 hour show as well, 1 hour means one hour on the air with commercials.

Talking of production-costs: The way they do GG - with one camera only - is very time-consuming and costly.

Mag13 · 02-16-2007, 11:24 AM

^^^
You're right. But the set is not so expensive, like "West Wing" par example.
Here’s a quote from John Wells, the producer of the show:

Quote:

The entire show has been under a financial freeze for the last four or five months,” said Wells, who has a $35 million deal with Warner Bros. and also earns millions from producing “ER.” “This is the most expensive show I’ve ever been involved in. When you build a senator’s office on ‘West Wing’ it costs $80,000. You have to put in marble, windows — there is a pomp and opulence surrounding our presidency, which is expensive.
According to Wells, NBC pays Warner Bros. $1.6 million per episode, while the cost is $2.7 million per episode.”

An interesting article about TV shows (from Broadcasting&Cable)
Here only a small part of it:

Quote:

The recovery is important to U.S. studios. Producers generally sell primetime shows to U.S. networks at a loss, hoping to offset part of the deficit with overseas deals. An hour-long drama might run up to $2 million per episode in production costs and up to $1 million more in allocated studio overhead and financing costs. That adds up to $45 million-$55 million per season, plus another $15 million-$20 million in studio overhead. The initial sale to a U.S. network might cover only 75% of the production costs.

damselfly · 02-16-2007, 11:24 AM

I'm a bit baffled by this passing judgement on LG and AB. They're in the middle of contract negotiations, their reps have presented their terms, and they're waiting for Warner Brothers to either counter or accept. That's how I understood Sassy's post. LG and AB aren't holding things up, Warner Brothers Studios is. (eta: Or maybe I misunderstood it, and they've already made a counter offer, and are waiting to hear back from LG & AB?)

Are they supposed to go forward for another year without negotiating the terms of renewing their contracts? They're not doing this show out of the goodness of their hearts, and whether we agree with the size of their salaries or not -- which is nobody's business but their's -- it's nothing more than a business transaction. That doesn't mean they don't care about the show, but like everyone else in the business world, they're looking out for number one. They don't owe us anything.

I was surprised by the details posted about those contract negotiations. That's surely confidential stuff, and I can't help but wonder what the mystery contact's angle is. Trying to bring attention to it by generating some noise?

Spikette · 02-16-2007, 12:18 PM

The career of actors and actresses can be very short-lived. I can't blame AB and LG for trying to "strike while the iron is hot." It is a very fickle business and they need to look out for their future. There have been many great actors/actresses who were on successful programs only to vanish after their shows left the air.

MickeyJr3000 · 02-16-2007, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riska (View Post)

Authors entertain us, too. Do they earn millions? No. (Well, JKR does with all the merchandise and movie rights and stuff

) I honestly find a good book just as entertaining, if not more entertaining, than an episode of any series.

How about producers, and writers, and directors?

Without WRITERS, there would be no script. There would be no show. Without the writers, the actors are NOTHING. I wonder how much money a writer makes for their work in writing an episode, in contrast to how much the actor gets. IMO, the writer is the one doing all the dirty work, the big work that includes significant research, writing and rewriting of dialogue, preparing the story arc, cutting the episode into it's respective 44 minute storyline... I think creating something out of almost nothing is a heck of a lot more work than what the actors do (which may be annoying at times, reciting lines a dozen times to get it just right. Still, actors are chosen according to how best they fit the mould of what the writers envision in their heads.)

I dunno..I just really feel as though the actors bring a story to life...but it's not like the story can't live without the actors. The entertainment industry is so skewed in that way...how actors end up living rich and the writers are still in moderately sized homes typing away on their computer to write what we see...and writers are barely recognized except for the odd award.

SassyPaws · 02-16-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damselfly (View Post)

I'm a bit baffled by this passing judgement on LG and AB. They're in the middle of contract negotiations, their reps have presented their terms, and they're waiting for Warner Brothers to either counter or accept. That's how I understood Sassy's post. LG and AB aren't holding things up, Warner Brothers Studios is. (eta: Or maybe I misunderstood it, and they've already made a counter offer, and are waiting to hear back from LG & AB?)

Actually I posted the opposite. The studio is waiting for the response from LG and AG reps but so far nothing.

Quote:

Are they supposed to go forward for another year without negotiating the terms of renewing their contracts? They're not doing this show out of the goodness of their hearts, and whether we agree with the size of their salaries or not -- which is nobody's business but their's -- it's nothing more than a business transaction. That doesn't mean they don't care about the show, but like everyone else in the business world, they're looking out for number one. They don't owe us anything.

Of course they should get the best deal possible. My friend (MF) is very pissed Warner Brothers and the CW because they did not start the negotiations sooner and feels they should be held responsible for much of the tension and uncertainty that permeates the set today.

Though, the studio waited until recently to start the negotiations with LG and AB. the girls are now appear to be the ones stalling. MF knows that this is a common tactic that is used in contract negotiations and is effective. Unfortunately, the repercussion for the rest of the cast and crew is it leaves them in a precarious position.

Quote:

I was surprised by the details posted about those contract negotiations. That's surely confidential stuff, and I can't help but wonder what the mystery contact's angle is. Trying to bring attention to it by generating some noise?

Of course My Friend (MF) has an angle. They like their job and they want an eighth season. MF is also a fan of the show and actually watches it (which is very rare since very few associated with GG or any TV show takes the time to watch). MF likes and respects LG and AB but is not really an intimate of the girls and is not in a position to tell them what this void of uncertainty is doing to everyone.

MF is hoping that the angst of the fans will act as a catalyst to bring a close to this stalemate before we loose some of the rest of the cast like SP.

lancer1993 · 02-16-2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorelaisgirl (View Post)

As far as I know, a phone call scene is 2 scenes, for example a phonecall-scene between Rory and Lorelai could be like this:
scene 31pt is Rory on the phone
scene 32pt is Lorelai on the phone.

The 'pt' stands for partially, so it's part of something bigger (a phone call). They shoot phone calls separatly from each other; the other person doesn't even have to be on set that day, it could be shot on entirely different times. They use other people's voices to read the stuff from the 2nd person to get the timing right.

I sound confusing.

Thanks I though that might be the case, so from their POV what would change is AB did that for a couple of hours each week or two and bingo she gets paid and is in the ep.

I agree some actors get paid way too much but take out the tax and agent fees and what do they get maybe 40% of the original amount but 40% of say $50k is still a lot of money for a weeks work even with 15 hour days. (I don't know the real numbers) And remember the may be out of work in the next couple of months and next get a job that pays so well again, plus remember the millions the studio and network makes from the product and unless they have residual rights the actors will never see money from that product again.

ETA - thanks Mag13 for the extra info and links.

SassyPaws · 02-16-2007, 01:26 PM

If anyone would like the current address for Dawn Ostroff (President of Etertainment for The CW) and for Peter Roth (President of Warner Borthers Televison), send me a PM

gjoni · 02-16-2007, 01:34 PM

I don't believe the network would agree to take on a new season if the show is missing any of its main characters/actors - LG, AB, SP, MC (for me the elder Gilmores, Paris, Sookie, the townies are also crucial for making the show enjoyable, not sure the network sees them as important, though). Surely the studio realizes this about the network, especially after the rocky times the show has had lately which led DO to state that they were aware of the problems in the first half of the season.

If WB went in late to negotiations, it sounds to me like they're not really interested in another year (or perhaps they know the network isn't). It sounds too much like last year with the Palladinos, which left me feeling that as much as they themselves possibly wanted out or to still be given complete free reign (with a new regime - CW - which perhaps wouldn't allow it) or more free time to pursue other projects, that in reality, it was the studio that really wanted to get rid of them.

I want a season eight with all characters aboard - both girls, both their men, both parents, both inn colleagues, both gossips and all the rest. I think many fans feel the same, surely not all, but many .... at least I hope. I also hope against hope, that TPTB feel the same and do something about it to make it materialize, before it's too late.

fox24 · 02-16-2007, 01:43 PM

Well I am sure that LG and Ab don't make as much money as a star on a big network like ABC make.

lancer1993 · 02-16-2007, 01:44 PM

I agree about the cast, removing any of the cast in the main credits or the townies would change to show to much in the 8th season and is often the cause for may a show to fail in it's final year. They change too much in an effort to revitalize a show for one reason or another.

GGMinn · 02-16-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SassyPaws (View Post)

If anyone would like the current address for Dawn Ostroff (President of Etertainment for The CW) and for Peter Roth (President of Warner Borthers Televison), send me a PM

Actually, that is public information, so you could make it easier on yourself and just post it here:

Quote:

Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment
The CW Television Network
4000 Warner Boulevard, Bldg #168
Burbank, CA 91522

Quote:

Peter Roth, President,
Warner Bros Television,
300 Television Plaza, Building 140, Room 229,
Burbank, CA, 91505