Comments on: Adopt A Writer: Eric Estrin

By: Mikey Likes TV » Linkin’ Blogs: The TV Blog Coalition, Feb. 10

Mikey Likes TV » Linkin’ Blogs: The TV Blog Coalition, Feb. 10 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:39:49 +0000

[...] Pop Vultures interviewed writer Eric Estrin and got his perspective on the WGA strike. (Pop Vultures) [...]

By: TV Blog Coalition - Link Time! Feb. 8-10 | Daemon's TV

TV Blog Coalition - Link Time! Feb. 8-10 | Daemon's TV — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:26:59 +0000

[...] Pop Vultures interviewed writer Eric Estrin and got his perspective on the WGA strike. (Pop Vultures) [...]

By: TV Blog Coalition: Feb. 8-10 | Pop Vultures

TV Blog Coalition: Feb. 8-10 | Pop Vultures — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:42:22 +0000

[...] We interviewed writer Eric Estrin and got his perspective on the WGA strike. (Pop Vultures) [...]

By: Zoje George

Zoje George — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:44:37 +0000

Eric, thanks for taking the time to talk with PV. It’s been heartening to see SAG supporting WGA so thoroughly this time around.

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:11:56 +0000

Eric, this was super-interesting, thanks for sharing your experiences!

I add my voice to those saying that I support the WGA 100%!

(As well, TV on DVD is one of the best inventions EVER, but everyone needs to get paid for it, for sure!)

By: Fergus

Fergus — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:50:38 +0000

All good points. Practically every TV show that we’ve watched online and on DVD has already made it’s money back in some way, either on commercial, public or subscription channels.

Many of the strengths of the internet as a broadcasting platform are actually the things that make it less attractive to big advertisers…geographically dispersed viewers, relatively small audiences and the lack of outlet control. None of this would matter if TV was getting cheaper to produce, but in fact the opposite is happening.

In the short term at least, internet-only TV is going to the realm of the enthusiastic amateur.

By: Jess

Jess — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:45:32 +0000

I think Kyle makes a very good point about DVD box-sets and like making television less ephemeral, and, possibly, making it more widely recognised as the art form it can be at its best – compare the lovingly-presented box-sets for cult programmes (for a British example, I’m thinking of the Mighty Boosh) to the fact that so many of the early Dr Who episodes were simply wiped. I do wonder how much writing goes on with an eye towards the eventual box-set (as Kyle says, allowing writers to put forward more complex and nuanced storylines, based on the assumption that each episode will be watched and rewatched) – in general, screen-writing seems to be such a constantly-evolving process and I’ll be very interested to see how it changes as a result of the strike and the issues that led up to it.

Eric, I hope the strike is over soon and you can get back to doing what you evidently love! The WGA has my full support – it’s really enraged me to see so many British writers (well, I say ’so many’; I’ve probably only read about two articles) who are criticising the WGA for being greedy – like you say, it does show a total misunderstanding of the situation.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:42:09 +0000

Eric, thanks very much for the insight into both your work and the current strike.

I was especially interested in the ideas about how the industry might be changed by the strike. As with Kyle above, DVD in particular has changed my viewing. In fact, for largely practical reasons, I probably watch more DVDs than I do either broadcast or cable. But the programmes that I’m watching are still the ones written and produced for the networks, with the budgets, production teams and actors that come with them. I wonder to what extent the writer-controlled, low-cost, straight-to-Internet programming that Eric describes will ever be a direct alternative for either writers or viewers. It’s a hugely exciting new opportunity, and I’m sure that it will develop in parallel with existing channels, but it’s never going to be exactly the same?

Personally, I’m hoping for a future that includes both – and with a fair deal for all involved.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:41:26 +0000

That’s a really interesting comment about writers becoming producers and writing directly for the internet. I feel like digital distribution of TV shows (downloads but also DVD box sets and the like) has really changed the way I watch TV — and seems to be changing the way TV is written as well. As we’ve gotten the opportunity to own our own copies of the shows, TV shows have become less ephemeral and more re-watchable, which I think allows writers to make them more complex. I wonder whether the same forms that have been flourishing on TV will do as well on the internet or if it’s going to require a whole new evolution of the medium.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:24:52 +0000

I would happily see a change in the way tv shows are made. I’m not American but watch mainly American shows, and it is frustrating to have those shows cancelled on what seems to be a whim a lot of the time. Am I right in thinking advertisers wield a lot of power over there, and that if a show loses viewers, it’s the advertising revenue that becomes the main focus? I think that’s an awful way to make television, because then you are catering for the lowest common denominator of viewers. Which may be why reality tv does so well. I guess us viewers are our own worst enemy.

I would much rather watch quality shows with no ad breaks, and if that means turning to the internet for them, well then that’s fine.