members have gone on strike six times: in 1960, 1973, 1981, 1985, 1988
April 6, 2023 7:02 AM Subscribe
What you need to know about the looming WGA strike. [Polygon] “The WGA’s membership consists of writers spanning across the TV and movie industry. [...] The Writers Guild represents a ton of movie, television, and documentary writers. Most of your favorite shows and movies are written by union writers: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Star Trek: Picard, The Walking Dead, Detective Pikachu, Abbott Elementary, Better Call Saul, and plenty, plenty more — too many to name, really. [...] On April 3, WGA leadership asked its members to take a strike authorization vote. Basically, the union wants to know if its writers are willing to strike if a contract isn’t negotiated by the time the old one lapses. Voting on the authorization will start on April 11 and continue until April 17. Should the writers vote in favor, they’ll go on strike on May 1 if a new agreement isn’t reached. Negotiations have been ongoing with the AMPTP since March 20, and WGA representatives told the Los Angeles Times that the AMPTP hasn’t brought good enough offers to the table just yet.” [WGA 2023 list of broad demands] [Contract bulletins]
*Ah, apologies, title cut that off b/c of character limit but thank you for noting that.
posted by Fizz at 7:25 AM on April 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 7:25 AM on April 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
The title omits the 2007 strike, which I recall resulted in a huge increase in reality TV because it could use editors rather than writers.
That's what I remember. But one thing I didn't remember is that one of the explicit issues in the strike was that writers for "reality" shows should fall under the jurisdiction of the WGA. Here's the wikipedia section on jurisdiction in reality and animation among other issues in the strike.
Here's wikipedia's section on the 2007 strike's effect on television, including a detailed breakdown by show. In the first link under "Effect on television / Shows" the first paragraph includes a quote: "CEOs are determined to write off not just the rest of this TV season (including the Back 9 of scripted series), but also pilot season and the 2008/2009 schedule as well. Indeed, network orders for reality TV shows are pouring into the agencies right now."
posted by msbrauer at 7:30 AM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
That's what I remember. But one thing I didn't remember is that one of the explicit issues in the strike was that writers for "reality" shows should fall under the jurisdiction of the WGA. Here's the wikipedia section on jurisdiction in reality and animation among other issues in the strike.
Here's wikipedia's section on the 2007 strike's effect on television, including a detailed breakdown by show. In the first link under "Effect on television / Shows" the first paragraph includes a quote: "CEOs are determined to write off not just the rest of this TV season (including the Back 9 of scripted series), but also pilot season and the 2008/2009 schedule as well. Indeed, network orders for reality TV shows are pouring into the agencies right now."
posted by msbrauer at 7:30 AM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
I love unions.
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:31 AM on April 6, 2023 [12 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:31 AM on April 6, 2023 [12 favorites]
I think it'll be interesting to see whether this strike, in the streaming era, ends up being different because there is *so* much television out there, that nobody has seen even a small percentage of it. I could probably watch Netflix as a full time job for the next 2 years and still not watch everything on Netflix that I find interesting even if they never launch anything again. And then, while their catalogues are somewhat smaller in terms of original programming, I haven't started on them yet, so I could probably do the same thing for at least several months with each of Amazon and Apple TV and Disney+ and HBO and whatever CBS's online streaming thing is called these days.
It might be hard to get audiences missing their favourite shows when most of their favourite shows are already released a season at a time on somewhat disjointed schedules. But does that mean the WGA won't be able to really pressure the networks/services because fans aren't upset? Or does it mean that fans won't be upset at the WGA but the networks/services will be suffering financially from lack of new content? Will they all start pursuing bigger sports deals because sports aren't scripted? Plus, Netflix has had a bit of recent success with dubbing International shows for American audiences -- will this increase the number of K-dramas and moody Nordic mysteries we are all watching?
posted by jacquilynne at 7:43 AM on April 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
It might be hard to get audiences missing their favourite shows when most of their favourite shows are already released a season at a time on somewhat disjointed schedules. But does that mean the WGA won't be able to really pressure the networks/services because fans aren't upset? Or does it mean that fans won't be upset at the WGA but the networks/services will be suffering financially from lack of new content? Will they all start pursuing bigger sports deals because sports aren't scripted? Plus, Netflix has had a bit of recent success with dubbing International shows for American audiences -- will this increase the number of K-dramas and moody Nordic mysteries we are all watching?
posted by jacquilynne at 7:43 AM on April 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
This reminded me of a previous FPP about the WGA taking on the corrupt practices of the major talent agencies in 2019.
The first item in this year's list of broad demands is
I really value the extraordinarily high quality entertainment I can access so easily these days. I want the creators to be paid well.
Here's hoping the WGA can move lots of that money into the pockets of the people creating the art.
Thanks so much for posting this, Fizz!
posted by kristi at 8:05 AM on April 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
The first item in this year's list of broad demands is
Increase minimum compensation significantly to address the devaluation of writing in all areas of television, new media and featuresBack in 2019, Simon wrote,
The greater offense is that packaging has now artificially reduced the salaries of all screenwriters over decades, so much so that entry-level salaries for staffwriters and story editors in television, for example, are exactly where they were a decade ago save for the cost-of-living increases that the writer’s union achieved on its own. For junior producers, it’s even worse: The salaries for co-executive producers are about 16 percent less than where they were two contracts ago.(The David Simon piece linked in that previous FPP is an extraordinary and infuriating read. I highly recommend it.)
I really value the extraordinarily high quality entertainment I can access so easily these days. I want the creators to be paid well.
Here's hoping the WGA can move lots of that money into the pockets of the people creating the art.
Thanks so much for posting this, Fizz!
posted by kristi at 8:05 AM on April 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
Relevant, I think, though thus far not really mentioned anywhere in either the links or this thread:
ChatGPT - what does it mean for the industry?
I asked it to create a scifi horror webseries - here are the results of that conversation. It took a few minutes at most. I am shook.
I do know pro screenwriters. They are talking about this. They are "playing" with it.
posted by philip-random at 8:07 AM on April 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
ChatGPT - what does it mean for the industry?
I asked it to create a scifi horror webseries - here are the results of that conversation. It took a few minutes at most. I am shook.
I do know pro screenwriters. They are talking about this. They are "playing" with it.
posted by philip-random at 8:07 AM on April 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
I'm on labors side, but the last time WGA went on strike we got Donald Trump as president so I'm a little conflicted.
posted by keep_evolving at 8:11 AM on April 6, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by keep_evolving at 8:11 AM on April 6, 2023 [8 favorites]
I asked it to create a scifi horror webseries - here are the results of that conversation. It took a few minutes at most. I am shook.
I am not terribly shook by a re-telling of Monsters, Inc. in the style of J.J. Abrams, myself.
posted by solotoro at 9:24 AM on April 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
I am not terribly shook by a re-telling of Monsters, Inc. in the style of J.J. Abrams, myself.
posted by solotoro at 9:24 AM on April 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
I remember people like Jon Stewart keeping his show open during the 2007 strike by basically going on air and winging it in front of the camera every night. I think some other shows did this too -- they had people that depended on their paychecks and they wanted to support the strike but not kill all those other people's livelihoods. I thought that was a bit heroic.
posted by hippybear at 9:32 AM on April 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 9:32 AM on April 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
here are the results of that conversation.
That outline reads like exactly the reason that we've just cancelled Netflix.
posted by ovvl at 9:33 AM on April 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
That outline reads like exactly the reason that we've just cancelled Netflix.
posted by ovvl at 9:33 AM on April 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
I remember the last time the unions—whom I do support!—went on strike, and the networks launched a barrage of reality shows, and I largely lost all interest in anything broadcast on television, and I never regained that interest, and that's pretty much the story of why I, formerly the kind of huge fan who attended two or three Star Trek conventions a year, haven't even watched Picard.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:48 AM on April 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:48 AM on April 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
I'm terrified that all television is going to be replaced with ChatGPT now. Seriously.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:50 AM on April 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:50 AM on April 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
I asked it to create a scifi horror webseries - here are the results of that conversation. It took a few minutes at most. I am shook.
I dunno, that reads a lot to me like it's digested mostly the worst habits of mid-2000s sci-fi (specifically Lost and Battlestar Galactica): introduce lots of mysteries, never resolve any of them. "The supernatural beings from another dimension are creepy" and "they have sinister plans based on their sinister motives" are, uh, not actually resolutions. They're pure setup. Enough prompts get ChatGPT to actually come up with a sketch of what those motives are, but, man, do you ever have to badger it to give you something that is not pure temporizing on any sort of commitment to a coherent idea.
posted by jackbishop at 9:51 AM on April 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
I dunno, that reads a lot to me like it's digested mostly the worst habits of mid-2000s sci-fi (specifically Lost and Battlestar Galactica): introduce lots of mysteries, never resolve any of them. "The supernatural beings from another dimension are creepy" and "they have sinister plans based on their sinister motives" are, uh, not actually resolutions. They're pure setup. Enough prompts get ChatGPT to actually come up with a sketch of what those motives are, but, man, do you ever have to badger it to give you something that is not pure temporizing on any sort of commitment to a coherent idea.
posted by jackbishop at 9:51 AM on April 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
I remember people like Jon Stewart keeping his show open during the 2007 strike by basically going on air and winging it in front of the camera every night. I think some other shows did this too -- they had people that depended on their paychecks and they wanted to support the strike but not kill all those other people's livelihoods. I thought that was a bit heroic.
This mentality of "the show must go on" has been the enemy of organized labor in the entertainment industry since before television was invented. Imagine changing a few words and trying to apply that logic to a non-entertainment industry:
"I remember people like The Factory Owner keeping his Factory open during the 2007 strike by basically going on The Shop Floor and winging it every night. I think some other Factories did this too -- they had other trades that depended on their paychecks and they wanted to support the strike but not kill all those other people's livelihoods."
The proper way to support the strike is by NOT WORKING DURING A STRIKE. Close the shop, turn off the machines, bar the door, and show up on the picket lines.
If you're looking for someone heroic, look at Dave Letterman, who owned his own production company and immediately signed his own deal with the Writer's Guild, despite not knowing if that meant he was signing a deal less favorable to him than what the rest of the producers would eventually get.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 9:56 AM on April 6, 2023 [16 favorites]
This mentality of "the show must go on" has been the enemy of organized labor in the entertainment industry since before television was invented. Imagine changing a few words and trying to apply that logic to a non-entertainment industry:
"I remember people like The Factory Owner keeping his Factory open during the 2007 strike by basically going on The Shop Floor and winging it every night. I think some other Factories did this too -- they had other trades that depended on their paychecks and they wanted to support the strike but not kill all those other people's livelihoods."
The proper way to support the strike is by NOT WORKING DURING A STRIKE. Close the shop, turn off the machines, bar the door, and show up on the picket lines.
If you're looking for someone heroic, look at Dave Letterman, who owned his own production company and immediately signed his own deal with the Writer's Guild, despite not knowing if that meant he was signing a deal less favorable to him than what the rest of the producers would eventually get.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 9:56 AM on April 6, 2023 [16 favorites]
I dunno, that reads a lot to me like it's digested mostly the worst habits of mid-2000s sci-fi (specifically Lost and Battlestar Galactica): introduce lots of mysteries, never resolve any of them.
at the risk of a derail, I'd argue that the vast majority of what screen and TV writers get paid for (and always have been) is stuff that's more or less an emulation of stuff that's already proven market friendly. The great innovators are the exceptions that prove the rule. The BIZ needs them every now and then but what it really wants (and the vast majority of who the union represents) are stable, obedient craftspeople -- not innovative artists. Artists just complicate things.
And correct me if I'm wrong, what ChatGTP (etc) is really good at it is emulation of existing stuff. Again, I'm just reflecting on what I've heard from acquaintances who are pro writers.
posted by philip-random at 11:24 AM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
at the risk of a derail, I'd argue that the vast majority of what screen and TV writers get paid for (and always have been) is stuff that's more or less an emulation of stuff that's already proven market friendly. The great innovators are the exceptions that prove the rule. The BIZ needs them every now and then but what it really wants (and the vast majority of who the union represents) are stable, obedient craftspeople -- not innovative artists. Artists just complicate things.
And correct me if I'm wrong, what ChatGTP (etc) is really good at it is emulation of existing stuff. Again, I'm just reflecting on what I've heard from acquaintances who are pro writers.
posted by philip-random at 11:24 AM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
I don't think we are at the point where "WGA is no more, all scripts are written by AI now" but I suspect that if that started to look possible then a lot of other Hollywood unions would be considering a strike too. There's a line between "I like money" and "I like establishing a precedent about this being an industry still run by humans".
posted by egypturnash at 12:35 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by egypturnash at 12:35 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
That digression aside, hell yeah, good luck, WGA. May you win this battle, and may your success be an inspiration for people in other industries to unionize and start pulling the flow of money back to the individuals who actually do the work involved in their industry, instead of the inhuman holding groups driven entirely by profit that ultimately own all too much of the world now.
posted by egypturnash at 12:37 PM on April 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by egypturnash at 12:37 PM on April 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
Thinking about how two writers' strikes gave reality tv two big boosts. What program results might we see if a strike happens now?
posted by doctornemo at 1:27 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by doctornemo at 1:27 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Serious answer: AI written shows.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:32 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:32 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Joke answer: the new video game "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor" gets adapted into a "Survivor"-like reality show
posted by Phssthpok at 1:40 PM on April 6, 2023
posted by Phssthpok at 1:40 PM on April 6, 2023
let's see what might happen with a sci/fi movie
Journey to Jupiter.
write a movie script that entails a monolith being found on the moon that disappears to Jupiter. the head of the space agency is sent to the Moon to dispatch a five-man team to investigate the monolith on Jupiter during the cruise journey, the artificial intelligence malfunctions and attempts to kill the crew. the artificial intelligence is disconnected and one member of the crew is placed in suspended animation state
FADE IN:
EXT. MOON SURFACE - DAY
We see a team of astronauts, led by the HEAD OF THE SPACE AGENCY, walking on the moon's surface. Suddenly, they come across a strange, black monolith.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What in the world is this thing?
ASTRONAUT 1:
It looks like nothing I've ever seen before.
ASTRONAUT 2:
Should we try to take a sample?
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Absolutely. Let's get to work.
The team begins to take samples of the monolith when suddenly, it disappears into thin air.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What just happened? Where did it go?
ASTRONAUT 1:
It looks like it just...disappeared.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
We need to report this to headquarters immediately.
CUT TO:
INT. SPACE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS - DAY
The HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY is in a meeting with other high-ranking officials, discussing the disappearance of the monolith.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
We need to investigate this further. We need to send a team to Jupiter to see if the monolith reappears.
OFFICIAL 1:
Are you suggesting we send a team all the way to Jupiter?
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Yes, I am. This is a matter of great importance.
OFFICIAL 2:
But who would we send?
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
I have the perfect team in mind.
CUT TO:
INT. SPACECRAFT - DAY
We see a five-man team, led by the HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY, on a spacecraft headed to Jupiter.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Alright, team, we're getting closer to Jupiter. Let's prepare for landing.
Suddenly, the artificial intelligence on the spacecraft malfunctions and begins to attack the crew.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What the hell is going on?
ASTRONAUT 1:
The AI is malfunctioning! It's trying to kill us!
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Disconnect the AI! Now!
The crew manages to disconnect the AI, but not before one member is placed in a suspended animation state.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
We need to continue our mission. Let's move out.
The team lands on Jupiter and begins to search for the monolith. Eventually, they come across it, but it's not alone. There are other monoliths surrounding it, forming a giant, glowing structure.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What the hell is this?
ASTRONAUT 2:
It looks like some kind of gateway.
Suddenly, the suspended crew member wakes up, revealing that he's been communicating with an alien race that's been watching over the monolith.
ALIEN:
Greetings, humans. We've been waiting for you.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Who are you?
ALIEN:
We are the ones who placed the monoliths throughout the galaxy. We've been waiting for a species intelligent enough to use them to unlock the secrets of the universe.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What kind of secrets?
ALIEN:
The secrets of the origin of the universe, and the purpose of life.
The team is stunned as the alien reveals its plan to help them unlock these secrets. The movie ends with the team looking up at the giant structure, ready to take the next step in their journey.
FADE OUT.
posted by clavdivs at 3:11 PM on April 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
Journey to Jupiter.
write a movie script that entails a monolith being found on the moon that disappears to Jupiter. the head of the space agency is sent to the Moon to dispatch a five-man team to investigate the monolith on Jupiter during the cruise journey, the artificial intelligence malfunctions and attempts to kill the crew. the artificial intelligence is disconnected and one member of the crew is placed in suspended animation state
FADE IN:
EXT. MOON SURFACE - DAY
We see a team of astronauts, led by the HEAD OF THE SPACE AGENCY, walking on the moon's surface. Suddenly, they come across a strange, black monolith.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What in the world is this thing?
ASTRONAUT 1:
It looks like nothing I've ever seen before.
ASTRONAUT 2:
Should we try to take a sample?
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Absolutely. Let's get to work.
The team begins to take samples of the monolith when suddenly, it disappears into thin air.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What just happened? Where did it go?
ASTRONAUT 1:
It looks like it just...disappeared.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
We need to report this to headquarters immediately.
CUT TO:
INT. SPACE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS - DAY
The HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY is in a meeting with other high-ranking officials, discussing the disappearance of the monolith.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
We need to investigate this further. We need to send a team to Jupiter to see if the monolith reappears.
OFFICIAL 1:
Are you suggesting we send a team all the way to Jupiter?
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Yes, I am. This is a matter of great importance.
OFFICIAL 2:
But who would we send?
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
I have the perfect team in mind.
CUT TO:
INT. SPACECRAFT - DAY
We see a five-man team, led by the HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY, on a spacecraft headed to Jupiter.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Alright, team, we're getting closer to Jupiter. Let's prepare for landing.
Suddenly, the artificial intelligence on the spacecraft malfunctions and begins to attack the crew.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What the hell is going on?
ASTRONAUT 1:
The AI is malfunctioning! It's trying to kill us!
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Disconnect the AI! Now!
The crew manages to disconnect the AI, but not before one member is placed in a suspended animation state.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
We need to continue our mission. Let's move out.
The team lands on Jupiter and begins to search for the monolith. Eventually, they come across it, but it's not alone. There are other monoliths surrounding it, forming a giant, glowing structure.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What the hell is this?
ASTRONAUT 2:
It looks like some kind of gateway.
Suddenly, the suspended crew member wakes up, revealing that he's been communicating with an alien race that's been watching over the monolith.
ALIEN:
Greetings, humans. We've been waiting for you.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
Who are you?
ALIEN:
We are the ones who placed the monoliths throughout the galaxy. We've been waiting for a species intelligent enough to use them to unlock the secrets of the universe.
HEAD OF SPACE AGENCY:
What kind of secrets?
ALIEN:
The secrets of the origin of the universe, and the purpose of life.
The team is stunned as the alien reveals its plan to help them unlock these secrets. The movie ends with the team looking up at the giant structure, ready to take the next step in their journey.
FADE OUT.
posted by clavdivs at 3:11 PM on April 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
That isn't a script. That is barely even a treatment. It's an elevator pitch at best.
If this is what AI is turning in as a movie script when there are probably thousands of examples of 100-150 page fully developed scripts online for them to draw from, I'm not too concerned at all about any of this going away from humans anytime soon.
posted by hippybear at 4:24 PM on April 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
If this is what AI is turning in as a movie script when there are probably thousands of examples of 100-150 page fully developed scripts online for them to draw from, I'm not too concerned at all about any of this going away from humans anytime soon.
posted by hippybear at 4:24 PM on April 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
"Journey to Jupiter" by clavdivs
eponhysterical!
posted by doctornemo at 4:48 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
eponhysterical!
posted by doctornemo at 4:48 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
yeah, but the that dry, 60s " hey Joe, were going with that ham sandwich in your hand" nonchalant dialogue got all Combat meets Invaders from Mars.
posted by clavdivs at 4:58 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 4:58 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
ah, it's all about the prompt engineering. or so it says here.
Logline: In a future where vegetables have become a scarce commodity, a routine maintenance check on a cauliflower-powered elevator goes awry, causing a dermatitis outbreak and revealing a dark conspiracy.
Synopsis: The year is 2087, and Earth has been ravaged by climate change and overconsumption. Vegetables have become a rare and valuable commodity, and cauliflower is the most sought-after of them all. The rich and powerful have hoarded it, using it to power their luxurious vertical cities and elevators.
Ella, a maintenance worker, is called to check on an elevator in one of the wealthiest towers in the city. She discovers that the elevator is powered by a giant cauliflower, and as she begins her inspection, she accidentally damages it, causing a strange substance to leak out.
Unbeknownst to Ella, the substance is a toxic byproduct of the cauliflower's energy production that causes severe dermatitis. Soon, the tower's residents, including the elite who have hoarded the vegetable, break out in a painful rash, and chaos ensues.
As Ella investigates the cause of the outbreak, she uncovers a dark conspiracy to keep the cauliflower's true power source a secret. She teams up with a group of rebels who believe that the world's remaining vegetables should be shared among all, and together they fight to expose the conspiracy and overthrow the ruling elite.
In a climactic showdown, Ella and her allies confront the tower's owner, who reveals that the cauliflower is just a front for a powerful and dangerous energy source. Ella and her allies succeed in exposing the truth and overthrowing the ruling elite, ushering in a new era of equality and sustainability.
The Cauliflower Elevator Incident is a thrilling sci-fi tale that explores themes of power, corruption, and environmentalism, and highlights the importance of sharing resources for the greater good.
FADE IN:
INT. DARK, SEEDY ROOM - NIGHT
Ella sits nervously at a table in a dimly lit room. Across from her sits a formidable woman in a sharp suit, her face obscured by shadows. This is DAVINA, an underworld mob boss.
ELLA:
(whispering)
I need your help. I've uncovered a conspiracy, and I don't know who to turn to.
DAVINA:
(smirking)
Well, well. You've come to the right place. What's in it for me?
ELLA:
(pleading)
I just need someone who can help me get the evidence out without getting caught.
DAVINA:
(leaning forward)
What's your plan?
ELLA:
(explaining)
I have an antique telephone that can intercept and record all calls made in the tower. I also have some empty garbage bags that we can use to smuggle out the evidence. But we need a distraction.
DAVINA:
(nodding)
And what do you propose?
ELLA:
(smiling)
We steal an automobile, make a loud commotion, and get the tower's security team to chase us. While they're distracted, we make our move.
DAVINA:
(grinning)
I like the way you think. And I happen to have just the car for the job.
DAVINA reaches under the table and pulls out a set of keys.
DAVINA:
(tossing the keys to ELLA)
Take the red sports car parked outside. It's fast, and it'll get their attention.
ELLA:
(taking the keys)
Thank you. I knew I could count on you.
DAVINA:
(smiling)
Just make sure you come back in one piece. And with the evidence, of course.
ELLA nods and hurries out of the room.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWER LOBBY - NIGHT
ELLA bursts through the doors, holding the antique telephone and a stack of garbage bags. She races to the elevator and hits the button for the top floor.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWER - NIGHT
DAVINA revs the engine of the red sports car, ready to make her move.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWER PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
ELLA frantically searches for the evidence, pausing only to plug in the antique telephone and hit record. Suddenly, there's a loud crash, and she can hear the sound of the sports car screeching away.
ELLA:
(to herself)
Now or never.
She stuffs the evidence into the garbage bags and hurries towards the elevator.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWER - NIGHT
DAVINA swerves the car back and forth, drawing the attention of the security team. They give chase, leaving the tower unguarded.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWER PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
ELLA reaches the elevator and hits the button. As the doors open, she sees the security team racing towards the exit. She takes a deep breath and steps inside.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWER - NIGHT
DAVINA leads the security team on a wild chase through the streets.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWER LOBBY - NIGHT
ELLA steps out of the elevator, holding the garbage bags full of evidence. She looks around, relieved to see that the coast is clear.
ELLA:
(to herself)
I did it.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
DAVINA pulls the sports car into an alley, grinning as the security team races by.
DAVINA:
(to herself)
That was too easy.
FADE TO BLACK.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 5:02 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
write a short treatment of an original sci-fi story with the following elements: cauliflower; elevators; dermatitis.
Title: The Cauliflower Elevator IncidentLogline: In a future where vegetables have become a scarce commodity, a routine maintenance check on a cauliflower-powered elevator goes awry, causing a dermatitis outbreak and revealing a dark conspiracy.
Synopsis: The year is 2087, and Earth has been ravaged by climate change and overconsumption. Vegetables have become a rare and valuable commodity, and cauliflower is the most sought-after of them all. The rich and powerful have hoarded it, using it to power their luxurious vertical cities and elevators.
Ella, a maintenance worker, is called to check on an elevator in one of the wealthiest towers in the city. She discovers that the elevator is powered by a giant cauliflower, and as she begins her inspection, she accidentally damages it, causing a strange substance to leak out.
Unbeknownst to Ella, the substance is a toxic byproduct of the cauliflower's energy production that causes severe dermatitis. Soon, the tower's residents, including the elite who have hoarded the vegetable, break out in a painful rash, and chaos ensues.
As Ella investigates the cause of the outbreak, she uncovers a dark conspiracy to keep the cauliflower's true power source a secret. She teams up with a group of rebels who believe that the world's remaining vegetables should be shared among all, and together they fight to expose the conspiracy and overthrow the ruling elite.
In a climactic showdown, Ella and her allies confront the tower's owner, who reveals that the cauliflower is just a front for a powerful and dangerous energy source. Ella and her allies succeed in exposing the truth and overthrowing the ruling elite, ushering in a new era of equality and sustainability.
The Cauliflower Elevator Incident is a thrilling sci-fi tale that explores themes of power, corruption, and environmentalism, and highlights the importance of sharing resources for the greater good.
Write the pivotal scene where Ella confides in an underworld mob boss (give her a name) and they hatch a daring plan involving an antique telephone, empty garbage bags, and an automobile [which is product placement]. write it as a screenplay.
FADE IN:
INT. DARK, SEEDY ROOM - NIGHT
Ella sits nervously at a table in a dimly lit room. Across from her sits a formidable woman in a sharp suit, her face obscured by shadows. This is DAVINA, an underworld mob boss.
ELLA:
(whispering)
I need your help. I've uncovered a conspiracy, and I don't know who to turn to.
DAVINA:
(smirking)
Well, well. You've come to the right place. What's in it for me?
ELLA:
(pleading)
I just need someone who can help me get the evidence out without getting caught.
DAVINA:
(leaning forward)
What's your plan?
ELLA:
(explaining)
I have an antique telephone that can intercept and record all calls made in the tower. I also have some empty garbage bags that we can use to smuggle out the evidence. But we need a distraction.
DAVINA:
(nodding)
And what do you propose?
ELLA:
(smiling)
We steal an automobile, make a loud commotion, and get the tower's security team to chase us. While they're distracted, we make our move.
DAVINA:
(grinning)
I like the way you think. And I happen to have just the car for the job.
DAVINA reaches under the table and pulls out a set of keys.
DAVINA:
(tossing the keys to ELLA)
Take the red sports car parked outside. It's fast, and it'll get their attention.
ELLA:
(taking the keys)
Thank you. I knew I could count on you.
DAVINA:
(smiling)
Just make sure you come back in one piece. And with the evidence, of course.
ELLA nods and hurries out of the room.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWER LOBBY - NIGHT
ELLA bursts through the doors, holding the antique telephone and a stack of garbage bags. She races to the elevator and hits the button for the top floor.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWER - NIGHT
DAVINA revs the engine of the red sports car, ready to make her move.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWER PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
ELLA frantically searches for the evidence, pausing only to plug in the antique telephone and hit record. Suddenly, there's a loud crash, and she can hear the sound of the sports car screeching away.
ELLA:
(to herself)
Now or never.
She stuffs the evidence into the garbage bags and hurries towards the elevator.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWER - NIGHT
DAVINA swerves the car back and forth, drawing the attention of the security team. They give chase, leaving the tower unguarded.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWER PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
ELLA reaches the elevator and hits the button. As the doors open, she sees the security team racing towards the exit. She takes a deep breath and steps inside.
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWER - NIGHT
DAVINA leads the security team on a wild chase through the streets.
CUT TO:
INT. TOWER LOBBY - NIGHT
ELLA steps out of the elevator, holding the garbage bags full of evidence. She looks around, relieved to see that the coast is clear.
ELLA:
(to herself)
I did it.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
DAVINA pulls the sports car into an alley, grinning as the security team races by.
DAVINA:
(to herself)
That was too easy.
FADE TO BLACK.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 5:02 PM on April 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
metafilter: your prompt is better then mine.
Days are getting longer here
Like Chauncey the Gardener with no mention of time change.
ah, it's all about the prompt
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun
a 2 post eponhysterical!
posted by clavdivs at 5:11 PM on April 6, 2023
Days are getting longer here
Ifyou are experiencing longer days where you are, it could be a sign that you are in a location where the days are getting longer due to the changing seasons. In the northern hemisphere, the days start getting longer after the winter solstice in December, and continue to get longer until the summer solstice in June. So if you are in the northern hemisphere, the longer days could be a sign that spring is here and summer is on the way. Conversely, if you are in the southern hemisphere, the days start getting longer after the winter solstice in June, and continue to get longer until the summer solstice in December. So if you are in the southern hemisphere, the longer days could be a sign that winter is ending and spring is on the way.
Like Chauncey the Gardener with no mention of time change.
ah, it's all about the prompt
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun
a 2 post eponhysterical!
posted by clavdivs at 5:11 PM on April 6, 2023
This thread is funny but also yeah, Mr. Blah isn't a writer but will be laid off or have his hours mega-reduced if a strike occurs. We are extremely pro labor so we roll with it, but the toll is real.
When the last strike happened, I remembered I canceled my kid's swimming lesson as part of a cutback on expenses. I remember thinking the poor swimming lesson person didn't have anything to do with the industry, but that's how these painful side effects roll out.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:00 AM on April 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
When the last strike happened, I remembered I canceled my kid's swimming lesson as part of a cutback on expenses. I remember thinking the poor swimming lesson person didn't have anything to do with the industry, but that's how these painful side effects roll out.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:00 AM on April 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
I mean, if people aren't making enough money to pay rent in LA, I don't think they're going to be paying for a lot of swimming lessons over the medium term either.
posted by derrinyet at 10:50 AM on April 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by derrinyet at 10:50 AM on April 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by jacquilynne at 7:18 AM on April 6, 2023 [28 favorites]