Robert A. Flutie

Stalking Horse - You’ve heard the term before, and who would have ever imagined that we would be using the term in the context of the WGA strike and what is currently occurring in the entertainment business.

Simply so that we are all on the same page, the term Stalking Horse is defined as “someone or something whose role is to become the focal point for, or the initiator of, a debate or challenge. In reality, however, their leadership role may be an illusion, and the stalking horse is really working to promote a challenge or debate that will benefit a third party whose identity remains a secret.”

Given what we know, and have discussed, about the Advertising community and Advertising model (relative to the Broadcast world), the question that begs to be asked is “who benefits most by maintaining the status quo?”

Jay Leno, David Letterman and other high profile talk show hosts like them, have become a Stalking Horse, I believe, and have been played into the position of being a focal point so that efforts being made to achieve certain business advantages by one of the sides are not easily or readily revealed or discovered.

Yes, the battle between the WGA and the AMPTP is about compensation. Both sides have squared off on issues that are important to them. But I submit to you that there is also the probability that one, or maybe both, sides have also engaged in a behind the scenes covert campaign that ultimately will yield an outcome that is outside of the key issues of the strike.

Today’s headline in Daily Variety and plastered across the CNBC and other news outlets is the news about how Studio’s are ending many “first look” deals to trim costs. Yes this is a byproduct of the strike, but it can also can be the result of different plan.

Generally speaking, I am not a conspiracy theory person. That is not to imply that conspiracy’s do not exist. But as I look at the landscape of the entertainment industry and watch the days roll into weeks, and the weeks roll into months, I begin to wonder what forces are at work that are PREVENTING progress towards resolution.

Both the WGA and AMPTP have leadership and negotiating committees that are made of executives that negotiate billions of dollars of deals on any given year. They each represent the individual and collective interests of thousands of people. Some of these deals have tremendous intricacies and complexities and can make the most astute legal mind beg for mercy. Yet with all of the Ivy League and Thoroughbred gray matter involved we can’t seem to find a way to reach compromise and sound business ideas?

A recent news report suggests that the total sum of lost economic opportunity is now 3 times greater than the richest WGA - AMPTP deal. If this is true, then it would take the entertainment (and it’s supporting) industry half a decade (maybe longer) to recover from this strike.

In a climate where the health of our national economy is beginning to show signs of a runny nose and cough, the idea of a continued and protracted strike makes little sense. Unless of course, ” …this may be an illusion, and the stalking horse is really working to promote a challenge or debate that will benefit a third party whose identity remains a secret.”

* FLUTIE *

Ah, the strike. People know if it, hear of it, talk of it. How many are living it? In the close knit entertainment community the effects of the WGA strike are being felt on many levels. Sure, there is the obvious “actors are out of work” aspects, but what people across the great plains of America don’t know or realize is the deeper impact that this is having on local communities and families.

The economy surrounding the LA landscape is supported by the entertainment community. It’s hard to fathom, but expert estimate’s peg the daily loss of revenue to between $20,000,000 and $25,000,000 A DAY. Some reports claim that the losses are aggregate - meaning that as each day passes the daily number rises with along with it. So on day 5 of the WGA strike, the loss may be $20,000,000, but by day 229 (which we are in now), the impact could be as high as $40,000,000 A DAY. Although the complexity of this claim is rather daunting, suffice it to say that as each day passes with revenue declining at the local coffee shop, the ability that your favorite espresso or cappuccino guy or gal has to do things like buy gas, get a new pair of sneakers, or splurge on an ice cream cone for their kids also diminishes. So whose hurt? Yes, coffee shop’s are hurt, as are managers, agents, lawyers, accountants. But so are tailors, mechanics, housekeepers, nanny’s, teachers, church’s, temple’s and yes, ice cream shops.

A bit dramatic? Some would argue yes, but that’s not my view. I see and hear, first hand, of the sacrifices that people are making now. At the start of the WGA strike many of us went into “conserve” mode. Let’s trim back, take it easy and wait to “see how it plays out.” Breakfasts with studio honcho’s turned into mid-day M & M chomping chat sessions, lunches became tea & coffee and Dinner has become replaced by drinks. However, that is the tip of the iceberg. Should I dry clean that suit? Probably not, it’s not been worn with the same degree of use. Come to think of it, I really don’t need to fill my car up as much because I’m not going to the valley to meet with NBC, CBS, ABC, CW execs.

Sure, it’s important and vital for Writers to get what they deserve. They work hard and without them, we really wouldn’t have much to talk about, let alone entertain with. When I first got in the entertainment business a very prominent agent said to me “it starts on the page.” He was right. We need the craftsmanship and brilliance of a wordsmith to give life to the virgin canvas of a script. TV, Featutre FILM or otherwise. But we also need the willingness, desire and motivation to acknowledge the worth that a writer brings to the party. Conversely, we also have to understand and respect the economics of free enterprise and the requirement  (desire / need) to be profitable. That is, after all, what this fine country of ours is about. Capitalism.

But at what cost? I won’t profess to know the answer to this, but I can say that I don’t think it’s worth not being able to have a scoop of ice cream. It seems Un-American to me.

* FLUTIE *