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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
November 20, 2007
By Alex Weprin
[Has This Guy Ever Seen “Skateboarding Dog?”] The old model of studios paying writers to produce content is dead, so says the LA Times. The future is in “writer-entrepreneurs.”
If a writer can secure independent financing, and edit the movie or show on their Mac (or PC, but probably a Mac) and find an independent distributor or, gasp, release through the Internet, what is stopping them from hitting it big? I could point out the tremendous influence and reach that the studios still have, but I will restrain myself.
[Lost in the Series of Tubes] Speaking of Internet distribution, ABC’s Lost is unveiling a series of Webisodes on ABC.com. Called Lost: Missing Pieces, the mini episodes will provide fans with background information on characters from the show.
Unlike other wesbisodes (I’m looking at you, The Office accountants) ABC struck a deal with the writers to get them paid for their work online. Could the Lost deal serve as a template for a future Internet residual formula?
[A Black Eye for the Eye] CBS News writers voted to authorize a strike last week, with the results posted Monday. All of CBS’ news programs would be affected, and the network would probably rely on non-union staffers to handle the writing duties.
Despite the strike vote, a walkout is not yet imminent. The vote just allows the union to call for a strike when they deem fit.
[Damn, Thought They Would Never Notice] The Red Hot Chili Peppers are suing Showtime over their series Californication, starring David Duchovny. Californication was also the name of the band’s flagship album, released in 1999, and a single on the album. Not helping Showtime’s case is that a character on the show is named Dani California, which is the name of a single from the band’s most recent album… coincidence? Or Chili Peppers fan?
[Why I Could Never be FCC Commish: Reason # 874] Kevin Martin is taking heat, again, this time from FCC member Robert McDowell. McDowell is critical of Martin’s claims regarding the “70/70 test” which would potentially allow the FCC to have more power to regulate cable when 70% of households have cable.
Says Multichannel News: “McDowell said he would not now support Martin’s finding because of the controversy surrounding the credibility of Martin’s data. Martin’s one source is data culled from the Television and Cable Factbook, published annually by Warren Communications News. Warren’s top official insisted last week the data could not be used to verify Martin’s 70/70 test finding because not all cable operators submitted their subscriber and homes-passed totals.”
Posted by BC Crawler on November 20, 2007 | Comments (1)
