Striking Numbers

What do you think would have been the economic impact of not having the strike?
In the short run the writers and everybody who got hurt by the strike would be better off. But the network television business itself and even the motion picture business, these are not good businesses to be in. And the way money is made in the movie industry is primarily right now through international sales and most definitely through the DVD market. Some people have quipped that theatrical runs are commercials for the DVD. Only one in about 50 movies makes money … The major lesson learned from the strike is one that's kind of fundamental to human nature: if the writers, the actors and the directors feel that the companies that they work for are doing well, it's in the companies' best interest to treat everybody well, because ultimately that will motivate them to produce better and better product.

So, after nearly four months off, how long before things go back to normal?
It's going to be interesting to see. You can't just expect new television shows to come out in the next couple weeks. There's probably going to be a five-to-eight-week lag. Who knows if the crews of these shows are still intact? Who knows how many folks moved out of California? Or moved to greener pastures to get work? We're going to see an abbreviated season of some popular shows that have big ensemble casts. For a show like "Heroes," that's very hard to get back together quickly; everyone has to get back into the mind-set of the show, and the writing has to be high-quality. Coming back with a rushed episode is not going to help the show at all. So as far as television goes, I don't think we'll really see something relatively normal until next season.

© 2008