Because I've been saying this for years, but I feel like this strike is dramatically opening people's eyes to the fact that creators of all stripes have been getting screwed by production houses, publishers, etc., to the point where most of us simply cannot make a living doing what we do. Even if we are experienced professionals with a long history behind us, the powers-that-be basically expect us to work for pennies, and then when we complain they make public statements about starving us out.
I am not a screenwriter, in the sense that I don't write for television or film. Nor am I a member of either of the two unions currently on strike. However, as someone who's been making my living for years as an author, I want to weigh in and point out that these stories people are hearing about actors getting ripped off for chump change, getting screwed over by contract technicalities, or being told to take pennies and be grateful for it? Yeah... that really is the norm. Not just for actors, but across all creative professions.
Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Lastly, to be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree!
Lastly, don't forget to check out my Vocal archive for additional fiction, articles, explorations of weird history, and more!
Most of Us Aren't Big Earners
If you've been paying attention to what's happening, then you've likely seen a lot of actors sharing their stories about how dramatically underpaid they are, even for iconic roles that still echo in pop culture to this day. Whether it was David Fielding who only made $150 as the face of Zordon in Power Rangers, Mara Wilson stating that she makes so little as an adult actor that she doesn't even qualify for health insurance through the guild, or any of a dozen other stories that have surfaced during the strikes, the public has been reeling from the numbers.
Because, generally speaking, we only see the top earners, and we just assume that even if you're not at the top, then surely you still make enough to survive? Surely you do... but no. No we don't. Regardless of our field or specialty, a large majority of us barely make anything.
 |
| At all, really. |
It doesn't matter what part of the creative industries you're talking about here, either. Because whether we're talking about the movie stars like Dwayne Johnson and Brad Pitt, top billing musicians like Dolly Parton or Taylor Swift, or authors like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, etc., most people only hear about those who are at the top of the heap. You hear about them because they're newsworthy, but for people outside your industry, they become the perspective through which you see all those creatives. After all, if a handful of people at the very top are making millions and millions of dollars, then surely even the folks on the lower end are making enough to comfortably pay rent, and maybe save up for a house. Just like how football and basketball superstars may get $25 million contracts, but even the bench warmers are still pulling down 6 figures just for being there, right?
The strike has put an end to that belief by bringing the receipts... and it's my hope that it causes things to change. Not just in the sense that big studios, publishers, labels, etc., should pay the talent more, but also that the public should side with the artists, and do their part to help us keep making things. Because the unfortunate truth is that as things stand, we all basically depend on our fan base to help us survive. Whether that's helping us market our books, contributing to our Patreon accounts and Kickstarter projects, or just helping us keep our views/reads up so that we can attract sponsorships, the audience is what makes or breaks us.
Because without you all doing your part, none of us make anything. Pure and simple.
How You Can Help
If you want to help the folks currently on the picket lines, here's what you need to do. First and foremost, pay attention to what the guild is asking from the public. At time of writing, there has been no call for a boycott of anything, so by all means go see movies, stream shows you like, etc. This helps make the case that studios need actors, writers, etc., and it can still stimulate residuals for some people (even if those numbers are a joke in a lot of cases, as we've seen from the checks).
Also, consider donating to the Emergency Financial Assistance and Disaster Relief Fund for SAG-AFTRA. This is the fund that's helping people pay their bills while they're on the picket lines, helping them hold out against stonewalling from the corporations. And since some of the suits have come out and said they literally plan on starving out those who are protesting, you can do your part by making those CEOs eat those words.
Support The Literary Mercenary
For folks who just want to do their part to help keep me making more content, please subscribe/follow me in these locations:
- The Azukail Games YouTube Channel (where I contribute video content)
- My Rumble Channel (longer videos that won't show up on YouTube)
And if you happen to have some spare dosh lying around, and you want to be sure my supply doesn't run low, consider become a Patreon patron, or leaving a tip by Buying Me a Ko-Fi!
Like, Follow, and Stay Tuned!
That's all for this week's Business of Writing!
If you'd like to see more of my work, take a look at my Vocal archive, or at My Amazon Author Page where you can find books like my sci fi dystopian thriller Old Soldiers, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife as well as my recent collection The Rejects! You can also check out my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary for free audio dramas!
If you'd like to help support my work, then consider Buying Me A Ko-Fi, or heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page! Lastly, to keep up with my latest, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now on Pinterest as well!
No comments:
Post a Comment