Yodas'stuntman

I think we should all just have ahuge drinking game and the last one standing is king and right about whatever it is they said in all threads!!

To be fair, a lot of people have done that in this section over the last day or two, after Hayden's cancellation and Cristine's announcement. A lot of stuff gets said in the heat of the moment, some people take sides etc, and some things aren't put as eloquently as they could be. It's unfortunate, but it does happen. Everyone calms down eventually However, I really don't understand why you'd choose to not go to another show based on what Lizzy (or anyone else) said. No matter what's said on here between attendees with varying opinions, the majority end up having a great time at events. Well said!! And unfortunately comments and opinions (rightly or wrongly EVERYONES ALLOWED THEM) get misinterpreted when written down on paper or by text/email!!

I agree!!lol

Well, technically, in the truest sense it wasn't even a strike. Their payrates are fixed by an agreement btween their trade association and the studios. So all their individual contracts will not specify a monetary amount but say that you will be paid in accordance with payscale agreed between the Writers Guild Of America and the studios. That agreement expired on 31st October last year. So, technically, after that date, there was no pay set for these people. Arguably their individual contracts were therefore invalid, and equally arguably, if they had continued to work on, they would not have been entitled to any pay at all. They would have a case for arguing continuing custom and practice, but (a) that's a weak position to put yourself in and ( it could be construed as a de facto acceptance of the old contract, which it plainly shouldn't as they wished to negotiate. Legalese aside, from having had to consult employment layers before, working without a full and valid contract of employment can be dodgy, especially if you're in dispute over some of the terms of the now-expired contract. As such, the decision to "strike"was pretty much forced upon them by the industry failing to agree new terms with the WGA for new payscales. So, why did they wish to renegotiate their old central contract payscales? Basically as I understand it, there were two main issues: 1. A poor remuneration rate on DVD sales 2. No remuneration rate from internet showings/downloads The first of these is a nonsense. If your work is worth a certain amount when it's broadcast on TV or sold on VHS tapes, why should it be worth less in a DVD format? It's a complete scam by the studios. (This is not a new trick - for many years after CDs were introduced, the artist's royalty rate from CD was much less than for sales of vinyl. I'll spare you the history lesson, but it was basically big business (the recording labels) gouging a heap of cash off the back of the creative people involved in the process). The no pay for internet viewing situation needed to be addressed on two grounds, principle and practicality. If they were not going to be paid for internet showings of their work, then that sets a precedent. If somebody invents a 3d projection system that comes in via your power supply, then they don't need for writers to be paid for any shows "broadcast" that way either. Or any other new technology. Secondly, on the practicality side of it, you have to consider the changing face of broadcasting. With the huge increase in broadband availability, who can predict what might happen in the next few years? How about special internet only episodes? We're doing 22 episodes this series, but we also want you to write 11 special internet-only episodes. Of course, you won't get any fees for these, but hey, you've got a job so stop complaining. Instantly they're getting another 50% out of you for nothing, or giving you a 33.3% cut in residuals, if you like. Who's to say that they might switch over to "broadcasting" entire series over the internet only Great, the studios decide to do it all over broadband, rake in all the advertising revenue, but only pay you basic rate with no residuals (royalties). That's a huge pay cut for a screenwriter, just to keep some fat cats and shareholders in champagne and cigars. (It's not all that far fetched to think they may switch to broadband if the market saturation of it gets high enough - the alternative, cranking huge quantities of electricity into broadcasting masts or bouncing stuff up to satellites is not cheap. Arguably, broadband transmission may avoid some regulatory restrictions. So basically, the WGA wished to address some anomalous and unfair remuneration practices, and safeguard their members' interests. The inability of the studios to reach agreement before the expiry of the old payscale pretty much forced the writers to strike. Might I suggest that once you've been in the real world for a while*, and perhaps had the misfortune to be bilked out of a substantial amount of money by an employer (several thousand pounds in one case) for work that you have legitimately done, and expenses that you have incurred in the course of that work, you might have a bit more sympathy with people who feel that they should take action to protect "own monetary gain". * Apologies if that sounds patronising - it's not meant to, merely a reflection that you are relatively young and can only have fitted so much experience into your life. It is patronising. This has nothing to do with my age, and I know all of those points that you brought up. None of that is news to me. I know what their excuses are for hurting people. The fact remains that they DID in fact hurt people, many more people than they helped. I am simply looking at this from the point of view that the writers, through their desire for more money, caused many times more people to lose money, to lose jobs, to lose houses. But, hey, they didn't care. As long as they get their own rise, what does it matter about everyone else? But surely like ive said earlier the actors directors etc etc etc who were out of work for a couple of months need a story and the imagination of the writers to do their respective tv and films anyway!! without the writing there wouldnt be any jobs in the first place!!!!!????? so i think a cut of the dvd and downloads is more than due!! (HIDES UNDER TABLE )

Hey dont think like that, the problem is that posting on here is sometimes the same as texting someone it doesnt always come across how you want to say something so dont worry!! And if your going on your own come meet me, im going with a couple of other people too, theres no need to be on your own Thanks, im only 17 my mumma is coming down with me but shes going shopping =P all day for the 3 days Are you there just for the day or staying for the party on sat night also?? your more than welcome to meet up with us i dont really like the 2 people im going with anyway!lol Awww sure! Thanks so much! Hi if you still wanna meet up just send us your email or go to my myspace www.myspace.com/mi_chiamo_tony and leave a message.

You do a great job which im sure everyone appreciates, and im sure are not aiming personally at yourselves but that people just get frustrated when some guests theyre looking forward to arent available but realise its out of your hands. I wont deny im gutted at some guests not going ut am looking forward to meeting the others and the parties anyway

i want to get drunk now mate worked all night and could do with loosing my mind sometimes as to the show if you need me i will be in my office which will be located in the bar we all needed to get this of our chests its good to have a rant i just wish it was not in this thread i will have to "clean" it up in the next two days guys or maybe just drop it of the pined topic as i know Hayden has been on here before and i do not want here to see this stuff it may put her of all together commting to any event if we are not all cearfull that why i "clean" up some of the threads sometimes well i leve it for now but the Cristine Rose thread realy has to be cleared out i think you all can see why too see you all soon jason Oh dear now ive just looked at christines thread and some comments are a little wrong!!

I agree its just annoying when you get grief or bombarded for just leaving a general comment/opinion! Like i say i wouldnt want your stress and hassles you're never going to please evryone and thats a fact you do a magnificent job and i appreciatte the guests ive met through the many cons you guys have organised ive been to.

Hey dont think like that, the problem is that posting on here is sometimes the same as texting someone it doesnt always come across how you want to say something so dont worry!! And if your going on your own come meet me, im going with a couple of other people too, theres no need to be on your own Thanks, im only 17 my mumma is coming down with me but shes going shopping =P all day for the 3 days Are you there just for the day or staying for the party on sat night also?? your more than welcome to meet up with us i dont really like the 2 people im going with anyway!lol

Well im now considering taking some mud and jelly now just incase!! thats just incase some ladies start fighting by the way just to get that right

Blimey careful!! You will get a barrage of flack for that!! LOL Seriously people are gonna start looking out for me at eclipse and try and throw stuff at me! Is that where the "Attendee picture thread" secretly really is for? Yeah im beginning to regret putting mine on there now :yoda: ROFLMAO I am afraid it's too late, everyone will be with their noses in a huge pile of printed off pictures the entire weekend now, quickly checking their lists to see if the person approaching them in the hall of the hotel is someone they might ever disagreed with on the forum. If the other person is carrying eggs and rotten tomatoes with them it might also be a clue to watch out LOL Yeah think ill pop to the joke shop on my way and get one of those combined fake glasses,nose and moustache things !! Thanks for the head's up, I'll make sure to photoshop you're picture to match your new look Damn!!!

Blimey careful!! You will get a barrage of flack for that!! LOL Seriously people are gonna start looking out for me at eclipse and try and throw stuff at me! Is that where the "Attendee picture thread" secretly really is for? Yeah im beginning to regret putting mine on there now :yoda: ROFLMAO I am afraid it's too late, everyone will be with their noses in a huge pile of printed off pictures the entire weekend now, quickly checking their lists to see if the person approaching them in the hall of the hotel is someone they might ever disagreed with on the forum. If the other person is carrying eggs and rotten tomatoes with them it might also be a clue to watch out LOL Yeah think ill pop to the joke shop on my way and get one of those combined fake glasses,nose and moustache things !!

Hey dont think like that, the problem is that posting on here is sometimes the same as texting someone it doesnt always come across how you want to say something so dont worry!! And if your going on your own come meet me, im going with a couple of other people too, theres no need to be on your own

Blimey careful!! You will get a barrage of flack for that!! LOL Seriously people are gonna start looking out for me at eclipse and try and throw stuff at me! Is that where the "Attendee picture thread" secretly really is for? Yeah im beginning to regret putting mine on there now

I agree and its obvious you didnt mean it but i dont think TommyT did either i think he was being sarcastic, but look at the flack i got for having an opinion too!! Im sure we'll ALL have a great weekend anyway

Blimey careful!! You will get a barrage of flack for that!! LOL

Again its peoples opinions!!! Yours or TommyT neither is right or wrong only in your own opinions. But without the imagination of the writers where would the films come from and where would those "people out of work" for a little while get jobs if not in the films or series invented by those writers!!

Yes, how dare they have the temerity to stand up and demand fair remuneration for all the subsequent sales of their work! Good lord, they should have just shut up, sat down, got on with their work and continued to be ripped off. Indeed, all the screenwriters should be forcibly enslaved and made to work for nothing, and all their homes and possession sold and the proceeds given to angiepie02 so she can buy some more tissues to weep into about having been so inconvenienced by them. LOL

Yeah i hear what your saying and do agree on the whole but im just trying to make some people (who clearly dont like other people having opinions) aware that "SOME" people do go for the guests. Im gutted about some of the cancellations yes and thats why im having my opinion too but i am on the whole going for the weekend experience the parties and cos i love heroes, but some people ARE rightly or wrongly (again its peoples opinions which they are entitled to) going for the guests. I would personally hate to have the stress and moans that showmasters go through in which alot of the time must be a thankless task as you can never please everyone!

I have not said im not looking forward to the whole experience and am happy with the guests going im just gutted like alot of other people and giving my opinion that 3 of the ones i wanted to see arent going! And that SOME people cant afford it we all have reasons for WHY we go to these things and some go for the guests! Just to reiturate im going for the weekend experience but am gutted some guests arent going but am happy with the ones that are still but just thought i was able to give an opinion (as its a forum) which isnt just mine but clearly from some other posts and emails othere peoples too!!!

Yeah thanks for that! Im just giving my opinion on the matter that not everone has money to waste and i was fine about the fact that out of the 3 i wanted to see that with cancelations i might only get to see 1 maybe but now its none! I fully understand the "non-refundable" point!! The difference between weekend events and signing events are this: you go to a signing event for the specific guests who are going so you can get things signed by them; you go to a weekend event for the evet based around a show and not for the guests, the whole point of a weekend event is that you'll be there to celebrate one specific show, and you'll have a certain number of guests from that series, who can change at any given time, but you are paying for your ticket based on the presumption that you are a fan of that series and are booking for that reason, not purely for SPECIFIC guests, it is always advised that you don't book for specific guests, no matter how many there are booked that you like. A weekend event has talks going on all day, little extras like the auctions, and of course the main attractions for a lot of people are the parties and all staying one hotel to get to meet new people and make great friends, and celebrate the show, not the specific guests. So if you're saying that you didn't have the money to waste, perhaps you shouldn't have booked for a weekend event and stuck to the signings if that's the sort of thing that you prefer. I understand there have been a number of changes, but as mentioned by yourself, it's no one's fault, so while you might be disappointed that someone might have cancelled, can you not just be happy that you are still going to the event, are going to have an awesome time at the parties and events, and are still going to meet 6 fantastic guests from Heroes? I mean surely if you booked this event it is because you are a Heroes fan, and I'm not sure of any Heroes fan who could be really all that gutted by the line-up that we have! I do truly believe it's fanastic. Obviously you are entitled to your opinion, and if you want to stay disappointed that's fne, but I'm just saying look on this as an event and not as guests, and try to think of positives about going to this event, rather than coming on here and sharing your opinion with everyone telling us how disappointed you are after all that money you spent, and putting a downer on this thread when everyone else is still trying to look on the brighter side. SJ xox Yeah just like its your own opinion about the "you go to a weekend event for the event not necessarily the guests" alot of people would disagree with that too. We all have opinions and it wasnt just me who was disappointed and gutted about the guests, all im saying is not everone sees it as just an event and some people ARE going for their favourite guests. Now im still happy to go and like the guests going although im very gutted about the ones who arent and ive not once slated showmasters ive been to the majority of their events the past few years and they do a hard job very well indeed, just saying its not like a normal event where you turn up and pay for autos your paying £78 before you even start and some people cant afford that and probably wouldnt have paid it for the guests that are on now.

You can ask Jola. But it maybe that you'll have to have a refund and re-book the other ticket. I don't know you'll have to ask Jola on the e-mail address above. Thanks for the info

Yeah thanks for that! Im just giving my opinion on the matter that not everone has money to waste and i was fine about the fact that out of the 3 i wanted to see that with cancelations i might only get to see 1 maybe but now its none! I fully understand the "non-refundable" point!!

What about if i want to swap it for a photo op with someone else??

The point is its not ONE "SPECIFIC GUEST" its 3!!