People need to take artists into account.

[jasonderoga86]

So you all know about the SAG-AFTRA strike going on right now, right? Strangely enough, I was browsing the web this morning on the current state of the obviously arbitrary state of the comics industry. I learned that back in June, a comics writer/artist named Ian McGinty died at the age of 38 due to extreme overwork due to the demands of his publisher(s). 38 years, that’s YOUNG. I'm only what, 2 years younger?

Obviously, I have a problem with this. I’ve been reading up lately on how the industry is, in the words of Scott McCloud, “screwing the talent”. Black Panther writer and civil rights expert Ta-Nehisi Coates has said that he made pocket change from the Black Panther character while the two Black Panther films raked in so much dough one could get lost swimming in it. Jack Kirby, regarded by many as the King of Comics, famously said, “Kid… don’t do comics. Comics will break your heart.” Wally Wood, known for his work on Marvel’s Daredevil series (and designing/creating what would later be Daredevil’s well-known red costume), had been driven to the brink by all the pressures of the industry that he put a bullet in his head. He was quoted as saying, according to doing comics again, that “If I had to do it all over again, I’d cut off my hands.”

Why is it that the entertainment industry does this to its creators? I read the music/record industry takes the lion’s share of all its artists’ profit for their songs and albums. Makes you wonder if it's really the musicians who're suffering from illegal, free music downloads (not saying those downloads are right or legal, just stating this for this post). For the film industry, well, it’s deliberately and literally stealing profits from its actors with AI. That’s gotta be the biggest bitch-slap I’ve ever seen. That’s essentially saying, “Here’s a one-time payment. Now, by signing this contract, you are literally selling your image – features, voice, and all – to us. Afterwards, your image is stored in our archive, and you’re no longer entitled to any further compensation or profits from then on in. Don’t like it? Well then, there’s always McDonald’s.” When I hear the CEOs of the industry talking shit about the actors on strike, it really makes me angry. It reminds me of a retail job I once had, where people of my position (we were service clerks) agreed that though we portrayed the face of our store, that we were the reason for bringing customers in to make money for the company, we got paid the least. The management (that, in this retail job's case, was extremely incompetent and merciless) that never even so much as STEPPED OUT OF THEIR OFFICES to greet customers, got like what, 20x what we made. How in the hell does that make sense?

I don’t know if this is just due to capitalism dominating damn near everything in this country, but it’s morally wrong, and IMHO, is the very definition of modern-day slavery. I don’t care if people are getting paid. That doesn’t mean jack if the pay is so miniscule they can’t provide for themselves and take care of their health. If they can't be held at the same standard as the higher-ups, well, then I think a major overhaul in the business sense is called for here. You just don’t put money above people, it’s stupid and it’s immoral, period. It confirms the adage that “money is the root of all evil”.

We should all show support for those who work tirelessly to entertain us, because their "employers" sure as hell won't.

Comments

[jazznevermore]

Yeah, Hollywood's a fuckin' trip.

These companies have enough cash to pay EACH of their employees more than enough to live a decent life and still have mountains of dough to spare, and yet their unmitigated avarice tales precedence over basic fucking decency.

To be quite frank, I'm glad these companies are losing hundreds of millions this fiscal quarter. They've been committing a litany of atrocities against both their customers and their employees. From not even paying their employees enough to qualify for life insurance to spitting in the faces of their audiences by cranking out subpar shite not worth anyone's time to nuking entire shows from existence just to get tax breaks, this Hollywood death spiral is but karma in effect.

Disney has learned jack-shit and Netflix has learned jack-shit. Everybody has learned precisely jack-shit. From new AI-related positions to more soulless remakes nobody fucking asked for, they've learned exactly jack-shit. Damn shame, really.

[matt_zimmer]

Preach it, Jazz!

[matt_zimmer]

All this is why I post Gilda And Meek And The Un-Iverse for free online by the way. I make almost nothing besides the occasional coffee tip jar but it's MINE damn it, and no-one can take it away from me!

[jazznevermore]

Amen to that!

Yep!

[jasonderoga86]

This is the attitude I take with Lil' Hero Artists and Sneakers' U-Force as well. I remember a guy named Dave Sim. Despite his controversial actions (I might be wrong, but I think I read somewhere that he was a bit of a misogynist), I do get his sentiment when it comes to comics, and art in general: No one will care as much about your product but you. You can have the sweetest publishing deal in the world, but it means jack if you don't promote the hell out of your work. And even then, you're getting the smallest piece of the pie when all is said and done. You do nearly all the marketing work, and reap the least in return. It's a horrible business practice, I don't know why it's endured for so long.

Re: Yep!

[matt_zimmer]

Just so you know, Dave Sim is an ass. There is a reason he and Jeff Smith had a falling out. It wasn't pretty.

Re: Yep!

[jasonderoga86]

HAH! I KNEW I was on to something. There was something about that guy that made me feel really uncomfortable, indie comic revolution notwithstanding. *shakes head sadly*

Rest assured, though I do agree with the whole "skip the Big Two and do your own thing on your own terms" logic, that doesn't give him permission to be a straight-up dick. And to think a print-on-demand company (it was called Comixpress) had reprints of his stuff before it went belly up. I'm guessing it was mainly three things -- his toxicity leading to a decline in business/bad public image, clients subsequently leaving the site, and the fact that there were other higher quality POD services emerging -- that were the last nails in the coffin.

Like Scott McCloud once said, "Public perception MATTERS." If someone makes an ass of themselves to that kind of degree, that'll dog them for life regardless of their later attempts to turn things around. I guess the least a person like that can do is stop the bleeding, as they say.

Re: Yep!

[matt_zimmer]

Amen, Jason!

[a_natural_beauty]

Wow, like all of your posts I have read so far - this one is very powerful! That is sad about Ian. I that happens in Japan, too. Just recently I have been learning of it here in the U.S.
I completely agree about Money being the root of all evil. That saying is just too true.
Hope you are staying well and healthy!

Yes.

[jasonderoga86]

Thank you, Jess. I just get so appalled with how so many think money buys happiness. It doesn't, and I see people who show that every day. Simple example, Michael Jackson. He was filthy rich, but he lived in torment till his last breath. Fulfillment, honor, love -- and most of all a clear conscience -- are priceless, and worth far more. And sometimes, people who approach life that way actually become far wealthier than the "grumpy rich kids".