I support the Writer's Guild of America because I feel they are doing the right thing in demanding fair compensation for the marketing of their work. Even if I weren't an aspiring author I would take their side.

In every project, be it movie, television or video, there are support persons involved and there are principles. The director, producer and the lead actors are all considered principles. Each receives premium compensation for their work on the project. However, the writer is a principle as well.

Without the writer there is no project. The producer has nothing for which to raise funds. The director has no guiding road map which is the storyline. And most certainly, the actors have no dialog, no motivation and no goal for the characters to strive for. The writer is the creation and inspiration for all of this.

I have a "J.K. Rowling" plan in mind for my future. I write a best selling book that grows into a series of box-office smash hits, video games and generates revenue beyond my life time. However, my future success hinges on the success of this strike.

These people are sacrificing their comfort and in many cases, their health, comfort and future so that they and all writers who follow them will receive fair compensation for their work.

I also feel their demands are fair and adequate. Every other principle received dollars for each DVD sold, for example. As the AMPTP sees it, they deserve it based on having put in their work into the original movie. For some reason they feel the writer should be left out in the cold.

Writers receive approximately four cents per video is a borderline insult; about what a credited extra gets.

I hope the AMPTP gets serious soon. They're losing more money and viewers by the day. Americans can tolerate some inconvenience for a while but they aren't patient forever. If the strike drags on much longer people will tire of reruns, turn off their TVs and start reading books again.

That might not be such a bad thing for the writers.

Learn more about this author, Morgan Johnson.
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