Michael Schur and Jen Celotta visit the OTCR

22:44:10 [Action] Denise (ddker): joins in the huggy hugs
22:44:55 JenCelotta: welcome bobblehead, joe!
22:45:02 MichaelSchur: The whole thing was an elaborate show, aimed at trying to win a PR campaign against us, and for a while they did. But now, thanks to blogs and people like you who are digging for the truth, it’s coming out that they are the greedy ones, and they are the ones who have caused this whole thing, by refusing to do what’s right.
22:45:08 CH: i had broadcast programming class tonight, and my prof was telling us that back in the 80s, in the infamous 22 week strike, networks started producing scripts they’d originally turned down. I laughed to myself at the diea that the networks might start producing fanfic. lord help us.
22:45:19 MichaelSchur: In short: they are greedy jerks.
22:45:43 JenCelotta: I]
22:45:46 JenCelotta: oops.
22:45:48 JenCelotta: answer coming
22:45:55 MichaelSchur: Jen’s toaster is acting up.
22:46:07 Lara: Also: isn’t NBC launching a Fancy New Video Website sometime soon? How can they say they don’t know about the internet?
22:46:12 KKras (GMMR): When I was at the upfront, Kevin Reilly (a moment of silence) spoke openly how everything at NBC was about the internet. Hence Dunder Mifflin Infinity. Interesting how they are changing they tunes now.
22:46:24 MichaelSchur: Lara — exactly.
22:47:06 DestroyPhone: Mike and Jen, we’re all proud of you for sticking to your guns, we know it’s the right thing to do. Screw their stupid meany-head lawyers (told you I need a writer Jen)
22:47:08 MichaelSchur: our show was downloaded from iTunes seven million times. They left iTunes because they wanted to make *more* money. And they claim they don’t know what the deal is with internet downloads? It’s so disingenuous it makes me want to cry.
22:47:27 JenCelotta: It sounds like they’ve got some reality in the works that they’re planning to put on tv. The last strike introduced us to Cops and America’s Most Wanted, I believe. I’m not sure how much of an appetite there is for reality shows now, given that they’ve been all over tv for a while and seemed to have die down.
22:47:32 [Action] tanster: hands mike a tissue
22:47:36 JenCelotta: and my toast is ready!
22:47:51 CH: i think the studios are just trying to edge out the old writers. Y’all should dye your hair with computer ink for the picket lines.
22:47:55 MichaelSchur: KKras — it is insane, isn’t it? They aren’t even trying to hide the hypocrisy.
22:48:02 mickeyrandy3: As CH said: this stike is going to be different because with the advent of blogs et al there is a larger, stronger voice with fans!
22:48:22 JenCelotta: Sometimes a writer’s gotta ride the bull.
22:48:31 MichaelSchur: mickey — absolutely. The blogs will lead us to victory. I am serious.
22:48:41 tanster: VICTORY!
22:48:47 mg714: A lot of the talk has been about the internet issue, but is the DVD issue still part of the negotiations?
22:49:16 MichaelSchur: Jen is handling mg714″s Q.
22:49:29 Denise (ddker): Do they have the British version of The Office lined up to air like I have heard?
22:49:39 attackwithnorth: It is uplifting to see you all standing up. The loss of my favorite show is sad but you all deserve so much for the art you create.
22:49:39 MichaelSchur: I will vamp by saying: OfficeTally is the besterest site on the interwebs. [/pander]
22:49:55 MichaelSchur: Denise — that is a rumor, I believe. I don;t think they would do that. Maybe I’m wrong.
22:50:01 tanster: check’s in the mail mike
22:50:16 MichaelSchur: attack — thank you. All we want to do is go back to work. It’s killing us, too. But this is just too important.
22:50:41 MichaelSchur: Jen still working on DVD question.
22:50:44 MichaelSchur: Stay tuned.
22:50:49 Jim Mosby: I realize this is pure speculation but we know the last strike cost a half a billion dollars I believe, have either of you seen any estimates on what this strike could cost the industry in losses?
22:51:08 CH: my prof said it would be in the billions. easily.
22:51:15 Denise (ddker): That toaster must be giving Jen a bunch of trouble since it’s taking so long :)
22:51:18 JenCelotta: During the Sunday negotiations the DVD issue was taken off the table — in an attempt to try and avoid the strike — it’s something that’s very important to members, but they were willing to take it off the table in order to secure a better deal in new media. From what I’m hearing now, the issue is back on the table and we would like to be compensated fairly for any dvd’s sold — for a 20 dollar dvd, the studios receive about 9 dollars and we get 4 cents.
22:51:23 attackwithnorth: In the meantime, I am looking forward to seeing Survivor Man and The Deposition.
22:51:29 MichaelSchur: Jim — no one knows. If 22 weeks was $500 million in 1988, I would imagine it would be like $1.5-$2 billion at least.
22:51:40 MichaelSchur: attack — they are funny episodes.
22:51:54 mg714: As you can tell by all the people on this chat, I’m sure there are so many fans that will make their voices heard on all this and hopefully that will help move negotiations along as well.
22:52:04 mickeyrandy3: I was just talking to Andilynn earlier about how we are going to mail postcards in support of the WGA this weekend and if we could walk the lines with you we would….
22:52:21 JenCelotta: mg714, thans! That would be great. Our fans are a powerful group
22:52:30 JenCelotta: edited to say thanks, not thank
22:52:40 MichaelSchur: mickey — that’s awesome. If there are any other ways we think you can help, we will ask tanster to post them.
22:52:42 JenCelotta: not thans. I CAN’T type!!
22:52:51 tanster: i’m at your service :)
22:53:02 CH: so tell me this: the studios’ pigheadedness is prolonging the strike. Does that mean they’re also costing us a PB&J Christmas wedding? ;)
22:53:04 MichaelSchur: tanster = goodtimes
22:53:07 domzor: i think you need a new toaster jen
22:53:14 tanster: slander!
22:53:23 tanster: ok, i’ll take it
22:53:27 JenCelotta: I will try to type on my oven now.
22:53:42 domzor: dont forget to preheat
22:53:55 MichaelSchur: CH - if we had Jim and Pam get married this Christmas, I think the show would be over. I will say that Justin Spitzer wrote a draft of a XMas episode before the strike went down, and it’s super funny. I hope we get back in time to shoot it.
22:53:58 KKras (GMMR): ARe there picket lines just in LA and NYC or are there others? I’ll walk the line in Boston if I can :)
22:54:22 JenCelotta: Only in LA and NY, unfortunately. but we feel your support :)
22:54:30 Clare: We must never acquiese, for it is together, together that we prevail!!
22:54:51 mg714: We have to have a Christmas episode - it’s a tradition! :)
22:55:02 [Action] CH: will feel officially ditched by Santa if there’s no Christmas episode
22:55:07 MichaelSchur: TOo many emoticons.
22:55:10 officelover: “live together die alone”
22:55:10 MichaelSchur: My brain hurts.
22:55:38 MichaelSchur: Jen has something to say about “Lost.” Thanks to officelover’s quote
22:55:50 tanster: that it’s a good promotion?
22:56:04 MichaelSchur: She’s now somehow put on boxing gloves and is pounding on a toy piano.
22:56:14 tanster: talented!
22:56:17 [Disconnect] KKras (GMMR)
22:56:19 MichaelSchur: I am slowly guiding her back to the computer.
22:56:25 MichaelSchur: KKras! We hardly knew ye.
22:56:36 MichaelSchur: Nice.
22:56:38 MichaelSchur: Welcome back.
22:56:51 CH: we’ll just get together as fans and film a poorly-acted Christmas ep for youtube. I nominate Mosby to play Michael.
22:57:05 KKras (GMMR): Thanks. Damn internet.
22:57:07 JenCelotta: Officelover, - we learned recently that Lost only airs once on tv and then their episodes go right to streaming online with ads. So, writers, actors, directors used to make a residual for the repeat — a part of their calculated salary — and now they get nothing. But there are ads on these online episodes, so it’s all very unfair.