Television is increasingly taking advantage of tax regulations to save money by scrapping shows that have already been completed.
Pioneered by Warner Bros. Discovery, which scrapped the series like the second season of nation and reality competition Big DAnd followed by AMC Networks, which has axed shows such as: Demascus, invitation to fire And the second season of 61 Street And PantheonWhich is mostly done.
Others like Netflix, with the second season of the animated series Inside the jobAlso rejected the decision to renew, which is a separation but nevertheless, as well, the trend makes creativity.
In a lengthy social media post, Roswell, New Mexico Carina creator Adly MacKenzie spoke about why the move hurt TV writers.
She called it “a direct betrayal of the promise that was made.”
She wrote on Twitter that “this trend” of killing completed projects for corporate tax breaks is not only sad, it is a direct betrayal of the promises made when the agreement was signed on Twitter. “We’re going to have to start requiring language in our contracts, or sanctions maybe, to change this — but it’s going to be very difficult.”
MacKenzie, who wrote for the series Original And The FlashEmphasize that the movement has been going on for decades but that it is very rare and linear networks used to burn episodes on weekends.
But she pointed out that when buying new projects, networks and streamers make a case for why the creators should go with them. However, upon registration, this relationship changes, and these companies become employers.
“You do your job, hold up your end of the deal, the way they ask you to do it,” she added. “Then they decide they don’t want to do their job – for a tax break. And suddenly you get paid, but you don’t get the support you promised as part of the deal.”
MacKenzie, who is currently working on an adaptation of E. Lockhart’s YA suspense thriller We are liars With Julie Plec for Amazon, pointed out that this trend is happening at the same time that the compensation of the writers has been reduced due to the order of the episodes.
She said the WGA will address the issue but it’s another thing to add to the “very long list of things we’ve had to fight for this year” and “we’re never going to win them all.”
“Your landlord/mortgage/mouth to feed is not paid by the episode,” she added.
