Starving artists

BlackBerries in hand, members of the Writer's Guild of America have taken to the streets to protest the grinding poverty in which they languish at the hands of unscrupulous Hollywood executives. Yep, an average salary of $200K per year can sure be a drag. From the New York Times:

Under the previous contract, which expired Wednesday night, the six major studios must pay a minimum of $106,000 for an original screenplay, while networks must pay at least $20,956 for a teleplay for a prime-time comedy and $30,823 for a prime-time drama.

Many working writers earn much more. The writer of a major studio release can expect a paycheck of at least $1 million, according to union members, while “name” screenwriters might earn in the $4 million range per picture. The average working writer in Hollywood takes home about $200,000 a year, according to the studios and networks, which are represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

This blatant exploitation by the studio heads is even more outrageous when you consider the value of screenwriters' contributions to society....