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We could have problems in June

"Abrams said he would honor his contractual obligation to work as a director on the pic but would render no writing services."

Key words here: "contractual obligation" - as if he is only doing it now, 'cause he has to :(
 
Go back to what i just said. The Film is Written.

He wanted to do a Star Trek film. I fail to see how or why people are getting so anxious about this. No matter how long the strike lasts, I don't think he's going to just "phone it in" to satisfy a contractual obligation. That's just silly. A hungry young director is certainly not going to give any less than his best, given the opportunity to strut his stuff. I don't believe Abrams is that jaded. The people making this film have forthrightly stated how important it is to "get it right," not only for the fans, but for their own cred.

I don't think this writers' strike will hurt this film in the least. I will humbly eat my words if this turns out otherwise, but I think people are premature in pressing the panic buttons.
 
Number6 said:
Go back to what i just said. The Film is Written.

He wanted to do a Star Trek film. I fail to see how or why people are getting so anxious about this. No matter how long the strike lasts, I don't think he's going to just "phone it in" to satisfy a contractual obligation. That's just silly. A hungry young director is certainly not going to give any less than his best, given the opportunity to strut his stuff. I don't believe Abrams is that jaded. The people making this film have forthrightly stated how important it is to "get it right," not only for the fans, but for their own cred.

I don't think this writers' strike will hurt this film in the least. I will humbly eat my words if this turns out otherwise, but I think people are premature in pressing the panic buttons.
You're totally right. As I have mentioned before, I tend to get way too worked up over these types of things and I really need to chill out. I have let this strike corrupt me a lil' bit and falter my honest belief that the crew behind this film is going to give us a great Star Trek movie. This crew is SO passionate about what they are doing with this film, and I absolutely cannot wait until next December. Abrams is a class act, and I was honestly very wrong to have lost sight of that.
 
Randy1012 said: J.J. Abrams is not a writer on this film; he's a director.

He may not be writing *this* film, but he is a writer. And in his capacity as a writer, he is on strike now. Part of him is there. Isn't that going to be a distraction of the highest order? Somebody should ask him.

He should be professional enough to do the job he's been tasked with, no matter how he feels about the writers' situation.

Yes, of course he *should*. It remains to be seen whether or not he *is*.

Anyone who lets their feelings about the writers' strike affect their work as an actor, or a director, or an editor, and so on, shouldn't have a place to come back to in Hollywood after the strike is over.

Agreed on that.

But how likely is that going to be? Once strike fever catches hold, who knows where (if) it will ever end. These people are all chummy with one another. Once more groups realize how much fun it is to "stick it to The Man" (meaning the studios), it'll spread like a virus. :(

Number6 said:
Go back to what i just said. The Film is Written.

Written, yes. Finished, no. You are aware of how the actors (for example) have been saying how much they will stick by the writers in this strike? What do *you* think that means?


He wanted to do a Star Trek film.

And he still does? Well, that's something, anyway.

I fail to see how or why people are getting so anxious about this.

We're Trek fans. It's what we do. :p

No matter how long the strike lasts, I don't think he's going to just "phone it in" to satisfy a contractual obligation. That's just silly.

You know as well as I do how silly people can be, even when they shouldn't.

A hungry young director is certainly not going to give any less than his best, given the opportunity to strut his stuff.

Well, to be true, Abrams isn't exactly some newbie. He's been around. He seems to have some wiggle room. He can do pretty much whatever he wants (if anything).

I don't believe Abrams is that jaded.

You must have more faith in human nature than I do. Fine. I guess we'll find out soon enough, won't we?

The people making this film have forthrightly stated how important it is to "get it right," not only for the fans, but for their own cred.

Again, that was all before this strike bullshit went down. Who knows what they think now.

I don't think this writers' strike will hurt this film in the least. I will humbly eat my words if this turns out otherwise, but I think people are premature in pressing the panic buttons.

You can't be too careful. :p
 
The way that I am looking at it now is like this: Just because Abrams is a strong supporter of the writers (which I am, too) doesn't mean that he is gonna sabotage the new movie. Why would he do that? It would make the franchise look bad, it would make the studio look bad, and it would make him look bad as well. I highly doubt that he is gonna walk on set and say, "Hey, Quinto... uh, raise an eyebrow or something." and then call it a day. Having thought about it a lot tonight, I see Abrams giving the movie everything that he's got, yet still respecting the union and not doing any revisions, etc. In a Trekmovie.com report, it was reported that Abrams, Orci, and Kurtzman were working late hours to make sure that the script was ready in case the strike happened. So, Abrams has been preparing this movie for a strike and has reportedly been ready for one for months. I doubt he is just going to half-ass direct the movie. After reading many posts and really thinking about it I've seen that we really need to have more faith in him. Besides, there is no guarantee, but who says this strike is going to last as long as the last one? Hollywood wants it resolved!
 
Kokomo said:
The way that I am looking at it now is like this: Just because Abrams is a strong supporter of the writers (which I am, too) doesn't mean that he is gonna sabotage the new movie. Why would he do that?

Like I said, people who strike are angry. They're angry at the studios, they want to stick it to them in any way they can. Why should Abrams be any different? He's only human.

How can he help the studios as a director, but screw them as a writer? You can't serve two masters. :p

It would make the franchise look bad, it would make the studio look bad, and it would make him look bad as well.

They *want* to make the studio look bad. That's why they're striking!

I highly doubt that he is gonna walk on set and say, "Hey, Quinto... uh, raise an eyebrow or something." and then call it a day.

We'll see.

After reading many posts and really thinking about it I've seen that we really need to have more faith in him.

I've had the opposite reaction, really. The more I think about this, the madder I get (I have one mother of a headache right now, and I would have probably thrown my keyboard against the wall if it didn't have a cord), and what little sympathy I have for these people is starting to erode really fucking fast. :mad:

Besides, there is no guarantee, but who says this strike is going to last as long as the last one?

When was the last time a strike ended quickly?

Hollywood wants it resolved!

There may not even *be* a Hollywood once this shit ends (if it does). :(
 
I highly doubt that Abrams wants to be the man that everyone thinks of when people ask, "Why did Star Trek XI suck?" He supports the writers, but I don't believe that there is some underlying scam he is working on to destroy the Star Trek movie. Why in the hell would he do that? We have NO evidence to say that he is gonna do a crappy job - none. Filming starts tomorrow, I think it is a little late to be worrying about all this now... I just have to have faith that he is gonna do his best. Worrying about it isn't gonna make it better...
 
Kokomo said:
I highly doubt that Abrams wants to be the man that everyone thinks of when people ask, "Why did Star Trek XI suck?" He supports the writers, but I don't believe that there is some underlying scam he is working on to destroy the Star Trek movie. Why in the hell would he do that?

Because strike fever is catching. One group strikes, then others start thinking of the ways *they* can bleed the studios dry. Where does it end?

And it's an either-or situation, really. It's not like the HHGTTG computer game, where at one point you can have "tea" and "no tea" at the same time. Sooner or later he is going to have to make a decision: where do his loyalties truly lie?

I mean, if he's standing there trying to direct, but thinking all the time "why am I not on the picket line with my fellow writers," how the hell good a job could he possibly do?

We have NO evidence to say that he is gonna do a crappy job - none.

We both heard his admission that he will 'honor his contractual obligation'. You yourself pointed that out. That doesn't sound like a very encouraging phrase.

Filming starts tomorrow, I think it is a little late to be worrying about all this now... I just have to have faith that he is gonna do his best. Worrying about it isn't gonna make it better...

Things can hardly get much WORSE at this stage. :(
 
Babaganoosh said:
Things can hardly get much WORSE at this stage. :(
Oh believe me, they can. They can get so much worse I don't even wanna think about it. Problems arise all the time with movie productions - let's just hope it's smooth sailing from here on out.
 
^ With all these TV show runners jumping ship and going down to the picket lines, I fear for the entire future of TV and film. Who knows if even ST XI can survive if things keep getting worse and worse? Remember what I just said about actors who say they will stand by the writers and all that. Even if, by some miracle, Abrams does his best as a director, can we trust the *actors* to do *their* best?

Fuck this. With all this talk about strikes and bringing down the studios and all that, I am so mad right now I could punch the damn WALL. I need to watch a funny TV show, dammit. :( :mad:
 
cannot believe how readily some of you are questioning a persons integrity on the flimsiest of pretexts tbh.
 
This movie is Abram's movie in the eyes of the studio, the industry and the public. Abrams would have to be an idiot to risk his name and status by doing an half ass job. Same goes foe the actors, most of whom are relative unknowns and need this movie to make it to the big league.
 
Kokomo said:
Randy1012 said:
J.J. Abrams is not a writer on this film; he's a director. He should be professional enough to do the job he's been tasked with, no matter how he feels about the writers' situation. Anyone who lets their feelings about the writers' strike affect their work as an actor, or a director, or an editor, and so on, shouldn't have a place to come back to in Hollywood after the strike is over.
I really hope that you are right - I want this film to be awesome! I have been waiting waaaaaay too long for it ;)

^^^
Yes, my god - TWO WHOLE YEARS! ;)
 
Noname Given said:
Kokomo said:
Randy1012 said:
J.J. Abrams is not a writer on this film; he's a director. He should be professional enough to do the job he's been tasked with, no matter how he feels about the writers' situation. Anyone who lets their feelings about the writers' strike affect their work as an actor, or a director, or an editor, and so on, shouldn't have a place to come back to in Hollywood after the strike is over.
I really hope that you are right - I want this film to be awesome! I have been waiting waaaaaay too long for it ;)

^^^
Yes, my god - TWO WHOLE YEARS! ;)
I meant a TOS movie ;)
 
Babaganoosh said:
^ With all these TV show runners jumping ship and going down to the picket lines, I fear for the entire future of TV and film. Who knows if even ST XI can survive if things keep getting worse and worse? Remember what I just said about actors who say they will stand by the writers and all that. Even if, by some miracle, Abrams does his best as a director, can we trust the *actors* to do *their* best?

Fuck this. With all this talk about strikes and bringing down the studios and all that, I am so mad right now I could punch the damn WALL. I need to watch a funny TV show, dammit. :( :mad:

The work ethic is pretty strong for this kind of work. The people involved will work hard to get as much done before they have to join the picket line. The writers allegedly worked around the clock to make sure Abrams had a shootable script before the strike started. Filming has begun. I have worked on set many times and I am very aware of the work ethic of those involved.
 
Number6 said:
Babaganoosh said:
^ With all these TV show runners jumping ship and going down to the picket lines, I fear for the entire future of TV and film. Who knows if even ST XI can survive if things keep getting worse and worse? Remember what I just said about actors who say they will stand by the writers and all that. Even if, by some miracle, Abrams does his best as a director, can we trust the *actors* to do *their* best?

Fuck this. With all this talk about strikes and bringing down the studios and all that, I am so mad right now I could punch the damn WALL. I need to watch a funny TV show, dammit. :( :mad:

The work ethic is pretty strong for this kind of work. The people involved will work hard to get as much done before they have to join the picket line. The writers allegedly worked around the clock to make sure Abrams had a shootable script before the strike started. Filming has begun. I have worked on set many times and I am very aware of the work ethic of those involved.
That is to say that the Directors and Actors even go on strike in June. I have a strong feeling that they won't.
 
I certainly doubt that the writers' strike will go nearly as long as it did in '88.

This negotiation should be a no-brainer and I am sure that no one in Hollywood will want this strike to go on for to long.

I am sure that there are those who would play devil's advocate and try to paint a bleak, cynical picture of how much this movie is going to be soooo horrible and a waste of potential, but OTOH, it may be well worth the wait.

I'd prefer to be optimistic and leave the parade pissing to someone else.
 
Number6, I asked this in another thread, but do you think that the picket lines will have a negative affect on the filming of Star Trek XI? Do you think they will cause some problems for the cast and crew?
 
My guess is no. They are also doing some location shooting. As far as picket lines..not everyone wants to picket. Some people genuinely want to work, but go picket, because the union tells them to. Some even put in over time to be sure that they won't be to far behind once the strike is over. The only problems caused by picket lines are if other writers try to cross them. Certainly the people picketing have no quarrel about actors, directors, stage people, gaffers, etc. This dispute is with the suits.
 
Okay chill.

SAG and the DGA are as entities goin gto see what happens. If before tehir contracts runout the WGA gets their issues resolved, most likely teh Studios will give the same type of thing to both those guilds.

As for this film. THe only real thing to harbor concerns over (on a production side) is if a situation arises that makes the written script not work. For example say they write a scene that depends on something that the production just simply isn't able to do (which on occasion does happen, for many different reasons), then rewrites come into play.

That wouldn't be able to fix or woud cause a significant production delay.

Now those types of issues miht come up.

As for after their contracts are up and JJ is unable to full fill his post production duties, then the studio would hire production people to handle it (thats something that has happened before for both this type of situation and over differences between what a studio wants and what a director wants.
 
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