"Jericho"

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

A little "creative" input perhaps?


I know nothing about TV production. What input would writers have on
unscripted TV shows?

On Thu, 26 Oct 2006 13:16:00 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote in
k.net:

What input would writers have on unscripted TV shows?

What makes you believe those shows are unscripted? You're smarter
than that.


There is no expedient to which a man will not resort
to avoid the real labor of thinking.
-- Sir Joshua Reynolds

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

What makes you believe those shows are unscripted?


I believe they're unscripted because there's nothing about them that
suggests there's a script.

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message

What makes you believe those shows are unscripted?

I believe they're unscripted because there's nothing about them that
suggests there's a script.

Oh, there's a script. It's embarassing for someone to admit that
they are a "writer" on one of those shows, but there's still a script.

Why?

Cost. It's not possible to cost an episode of anything without knowing
exactly how many cameras, lights, sound equipment, wardrobe, makeup,
etc. will be needed. That drives the number of people, which also
drives the quantity of the food...

Actual production - if must be a script in order for the director
to properly place the equipment, set up shots, call the show, etc.
And don't forget the after-recording editing. Placement for commercials,
suspense, etc.

"Blanche" wrote in message
...

Oh, there's a script. It's embarassing for someone to admit that
they are a "writer" on one of those shows, but there's still a script.

Why?

Cost. It's not possible to cost an episode of anything without knowing
exactly how many cameras, lights, sound equipment, wardrobe, makeup,
etc. will be needed. That drives the number of people, which also
drives the quantity of the food...

Actual production - if must be a script in order for the director
to properly place the equipment, set up shots, call the show, etc.
And don't forget the after-recording editing. Placement for commercials,
suspense, etc.


"Script" as it is used here means the written text of the television
broadcast.

I seem to remember that "NYPD Blue" was produced without a script for a
period of time when David Milch (if I remember the name right) was having
substance abuse problems and was never prepared for filming of episodes.
They just made it up as they went along. Rather, Milch made it up as they
went along.


"Blanche" wrote in message
...

Oh, there's a script. It's embarassing for someone to admit that
they are a "writer" on one of those shows, but there's still a script.

Why?

Cost. It's not possible to cost an episode of anything without knowing
exactly how many cameras, lights, sound equipment, wardrobe, makeup,
etc. will be needed. That drives the number of people, which also
drives the quantity of the food...

Actual production - if must be a script in order for the director
to properly place the equipment, set up shots, call the show, etc.
And don't forget the after-recording editing. Placement for commercials,
suspense, etc.

"Blanche" wrote in message ...
: Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
:
: "Larry Dighera" wrote in message
:
: What makes you believe those shows are unscripted?
:
: I believe they're unscripted because there's nothing about them that
: suggests there's a script.
:
: Oh, there's a script. It's embarassing for someone to admit that
: they are a "writer" on one of those shows, but there's still a script.
:
: Why?
:
: Cost. It's not possible to cost an episode of anything without knowing
: exactly how many cameras, lights, sound equipment, wardrobe, makeup,
: etc. will be needed. That drives the number of people, which also
: drives the quantity of the food...
:
: Actual production - if must be a script in order for the director
: to properly place the equipment, set up shots, call the show, etc.
: And don't forget the after-recording editing. Placement for commercials,
: suspense, etc.
:
:


There are no 'writers' for those 'reality' shows; that is one of the perceived cost bonuses as TV gets cheaper and less
accountable.

What ever happened to the FAA rules about use of public airwaves? Oh, the gov't decided that that doesn't apply to
cable. Oh, now we need to level the playing field, the cable folks have an advantage, so over the air gets relief for
the rules, OH, the satellite folks need the same benefits...

Not much TV worth watching these days....and no, I'm not getting (that) old!

".Blueskies." wrote in message
t...

There are no 'writers' for those 'reality' shows; that is one of the
perceived cost bonuses as TV gets cheaper and less
accountable.

From imdb.com
"Survivor" (2000) [TV-Series 2000-????]
Directed by
Mark Burnett

Writing credits
Charlie Parsons (format created by)
Jeff Probst (writer)


------------------------

Big Brother shows no writing credits and neither does "The Amazing Race" but
it did have a metric buttload of producers.

..Blueskies. wrote:
There are no 'writers' for those 'reality' shows; that is one of the perceived cost bonuses as TV gets cheaper and less
accountable.

What ever happened to the FAA rules about use of public airwaves? Oh, the gov't decided that that doesn't apply to
cable. Oh, now we need to level the playing field, the cable folks have an advantage, so over the air gets relief for
the rules, OH, the satellite folks need the same benefits...

Not much TV worth watching these days....and no, I'm not getting (that) old!




US: Reality Show Writers Want to Unionize

by Richard Verrier, Orlando Sentinel
June 22nd, 2005

LOS ANGELES -- The guild representing Hollywood writers has disclosed
that more than 75 percent of the scribes on TV reality shows have
signed cards asking to be represented by the union.

The campaign sets up a potential showdown with the companies behind
such programs as Survivor, The Amazing Race and The Bachelor.

The Writers Guild of America, West, said about 1,000 reality TV
writers, producers and editors out of an estimated 1,300 have requested
since May 7 to join the union. Guild officials said they had sent
letters to all the major production companies asking to negotiate, but
none responded.

Organizing writers on reality TV shows brings to light what has been
one of the proliferating genre's open secrets: that so-called
unscripted shows often are scripted after all.

Behind the scenes of popular reality shows, writers craft game formats,
coach contestants and feed lines to such stars as Paris Hilton in Fox's
The Simple Life.

Writers also splice together comments to create story lines and
manufacture drama. In industry parlance, it's an editing process known
as "Frankenbite."

Because writers are deeply involved in the dozens of reality shows,
union leaders argue, they should get similar pay and benefits as
writers on conventional programs.

"These are issues of justice for these writers," said Daniel Petrie
Jr., president of the WGA, West. He described reality TV as a
"sweatshop" for writers. "We've heard stories of people working three
or four days at a stretch with an hour and a half sleep at night, or
23-hour days in 100-degree heat with no overtime."

J. Nicholas Counter, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and
Television Producers, the industry's negotiating arm, disputed the
sweatshop claims.

"I know people in the television business generally work long hours,"
Counter said. "I'm not aware of any exploitation."

The popularity of Survivor and other reality shows triggered an
explosion of programs on network and cable TV. Production costs usually
are cheaper than network dramas and sitcoms, although the amount of
money paid in licensing fees for shows from such top producers as Mark
Burnett has soared dramatically.

Writers who work on prime-time scripted shows receive a guaranteed
13-week pay of $3,477 a week, plus pension, health and residual
payments. By contrast, those who work in reality shows typically earn
from $700 to $1,200 a week. Unlike other writers, they typically do not
receive pension, health insurance or residuals and usually work for two
to three months per job, according to the guild.

"We're making shows that make these networks millions and we can't
afford a middle-class lifestyle," said Rebecca Hertz, a field producer
who has worked on The Swan for Fox. "We think it's time for that to
end."

I'm shocked! Absolutely SHOCKED! Who'd a thunk it.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Richard Riley" wrote in message
oups.com...


US: Reality Show Writers Want to Unionize

by Richard Verrier, Orlando Sentinel
June 22nd, 2005
snip
Organizing writers on reality TV shows brings to light what has been
one of the proliferating genre's open secrets: that so-called
unscripted shows often are scripted after all.
snip