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An interesting thread that @ambersharelle asked my opinion on... so here goes.
She's right to reject this, and this manager sucks. But let's go into why, because as she points out early, it's not super clear cut. Not at first, at least. https://twitter.com/ambersharelle/status/1276229684213059584
She's right to reject this, and this manager sucks. But let's go into why, because as she points out early, it's not super clear cut. Not at first, at least. https://twitter.com/ambersharelle/status/1276229684213059584
So when @johnaugust and I talk about "no work left behind," we're generally talking about work *we can't really own*. Meaning, there's an assignment to rewrite something a studio/network owns... or an assignment to write something based on an underlying property they own.
In those cases, asking writers to write pitches, scenes, script pages... ANYTHING... is a violation of our WGA working rules.
We can *verbally* pitch all day long. But the second we hand writing, well... it's the difference between an actor auditioning, or being filmed on a set.
We can *verbally* pitch all day long. But the second we hand writing, well... it's the difference between an actor auditioning, or being filmed on a set.
Pages are our JOB. It's what we get paid for... so... don't leave writing behind if you are trying to get a JOB.
But what @ambersharelle is talking about is trying to make a SALE, which is different. She owns the material. So the venture here is selling it or setting it up.
But what @ambersharelle is talking about is trying to make a SALE, which is different. She owns the material. So the venture here is selling it or setting it up.
That's an entrepreneurial act, not an act of employment (although once sold, the WGA does some slight-of-hand to retroactively turn it into employment).
So if you're an entrepreneur, can you write up pitch decks?
Yes. Hell, you've already written a script! So keep going!
BUT.
So if you're an entrepreneur, can you write up pitch decks?
Yes. Hell, you've already written a script! So keep going!
BUT.
The amount of material you choose to create in advance of a sale is a classic risk-reward proposition. The more you write, the more you are extending yourself without a guarantee that your labor will be compensated.
I think everyone agrees there's some happy medium, yeah?
I think everyone agrees there's some happy medium, yeah?
I mean, "I am selling you a TV series, but I do not have anything to show you" obviously won't work.
"I am selling you a TV series, and here are all of the scripts for eight seasons" is also insane.
A pilot script and a pitch deck for season 1 feels perfectly reasonable.
"I am selling you a TV series, and here are all of the scripts for eight seasons" is also insane.
A pilot script and a pitch deck for season 1 feels perfectly reasonable.
And "reasonable" means "reasonable for you, the author and seller, who is balancing your desire to land a deal with your desire to be paid for the bulk of the writing to come."
But now we come to the manager, and why managers-as-producers is such a corrosive factor.
But now we come to the manager, and why managers-as-producers is such a corrosive factor.
This manager says the following:
1. I don't read scripts. I look at pitch decks.
2. Give me pitch decks for multiple seasons.
3. Everyone does this.
4. If you don't, you're unprofessional by choice or by inexperience, and not worthy of my representation.
1. I don't read scripts. I look at pitch decks.
2. Give me pitch decks for multiple seasons.
3. Everyone does this.
4. If you don't, you're unprofessional by choice or by inexperience, and not worthy of my representation.
My reponses to these:
1. Fuck you.
2. Fuck you sideways.
3. No they fucking don't.
4. Locate whatever fuckhole you prefer on yourself, and shove yourself in it.
1. Fuck you.
2. Fuck you sideways.
3. No they fucking don't.
4. Locate whatever fuckhole you prefer on yourself, and shove yourself in it.
Intemperate? Sure. But this stuff makes me so angry.
In theory, YES, @ambersharelle *could* do all of that legally, without any violation of WGA rules or contracts, because her material preexists the moment where the WGA becomes applicable (the sale).
In theory, YES, @ambersharelle *could* do all of that legally, without any violation of WGA rules or contracts, because her material preexists the moment where the WGA becomes applicable (the sale).
And so the manager sees that opening and wants to drive their truck through it.
"Truck" in this analogy is their laziness and greed.
WHAT ARE THEY EVEN OFFERING?
"Truck" in this analogy is their laziness and greed.
WHAT ARE THEY EVEN OFFERING?
I mean, who *can't* see four seasons of episode summaries and decide if they want to make it or not?
The manager is simply and obviously attempting to reduce their risk to zero and their reward to maximum.
The manager is simply and obviously attempting to reduce their risk to zero and their reward to maximum.
If the work is good, it's done. Manager attaches him/herself to the show as a producer... FOREVER, btw... then makes some phone calls.
If someone buys it and makes it, the manager gets money for every episode FOREVER.
If someone buys it and makes it, the manager gets money for every episode FOREVER.
If @ambersharelle gets fired off her own show, which can and does happen, the manager will still be the producer.
The manager will still get paid.
But not Amber.
The manager will still get paid.
But not Amber.
Here's what a DECENT manager does.
1. READ A SCRIPT (jesusfuckingchrist)
2. HELP THE WRITER CREATE A SALES TOOL (deck for a season)
3. GET THE WRITER IN ROOMS
4. PUT THE WRITER'S INTERESTS FIRST
1. READ A SCRIPT (jesusfuckingchrist)
2. HELP THE WRITER CREATE A SALES TOOL (deck for a season)
3. GET THE WRITER IN ROOMS
4. PUT THE WRITER'S INTERESTS FIRST
Here's what many of them do instead.
1. NOT READ
2. NOT HELP
3. GET THE WRITER IN ROOMS
4. PUT THEIR OWN INTERESTS FIRST
At that point, they're not MANAGING anything, right?
What they are, in fact, are BOUNCERS. That's it.
BOUNCERS holding a velvet rope.
Fuck that.
1. NOT READ
2. NOT HELP
3. GET THE WRITER IN ROOMS
4. PUT THEIR OWN INTERESTS FIRST
At that point, they're not MANAGING anything, right?
What they are, in fact, are BOUNCERS. That's it.
BOUNCERS holding a velvet rope.
Fuck that.
And this is why I got so angry at the WGA for promoting managers as reps once we launched our campaign against the agencies.
One of the worst agency practices is their self-owned production companies. We do not want our reps to be our bosses.
So what do we tell our members?
One of the worst agency practices is their self-owned production companies. We do not want our reps to be our bosses.
So what do we tell our members?
"Go get a manager," when the entire trick of Hollywood management is that they aren't forbidden by state law to ACT AS PRODUCERS.
Anyway, I've been grouching about managers forever, as most managers will tell you.
Anyway, I've been grouching about managers forever, as most managers will tell you.
Sorry for the crazy long response, @ambersharelle, but it was important to me that:
1. You know that you're right, and
2. You know that you're right about *why* you're right, and
3. Maybe some good, ethical valuable managers see your tweet and reach out
/fin
1. You know that you're right, and
2. You know that you're right about *why* you're right, and
3. Maybe some good, ethical valuable managers see your tweet and reach out
/fin
