Be Careful Out There

Two things I noticed this morning that require a brief heads up.

First, the WGA is likely going to strike so as writers be careful about suddenly having your work optioned and being asked to write the script yourself. Or being asked to do so on work previously optioned.

More on that here:

Lest anyone who has "always wanted to write for Hollywood" forgets

Don't be the writer whose first film credit is for a script that is relying on you not understanding the strike. We saw this last time asking writers to adapt their own books. Lotta those projects still languish. https://t.co/8N73Pv5je6

— Lev Mirov (semi-hiatus) (@thelionmachine) April 18, 2023

Basically, it probably won’t go anywhere and you’ll look like an ass to your fellow writers. Not the way to break in.

Second, if you do voiceover work or aspire to, it seems Voices has gone to the dark side in the last year or so. I had debated creating an account there a couple months back and found all sorts of threads talking about very negative changes they’ve made, and then also saw this today, too:

#VO folks, we’ve tried to warn you. Voices is now gleefully entering the AI business, knowing the damage it will cause. PLEASE read your contracts and know that if you work with this company or any others like it, you undermine your own career and your entire community. pic.twitter.com/X5BhSRAvYe

— Steve Blum (@blumspew) April 26, 2023

Be careful what rights you end up signing away with all of these companies.

And keep in mind as a creator that if you embrace the theft of content produced by other creators (which is generally how all of these AI models get trained) that you shouldn’t be surprised when it circles back around on you, too. Even when used for “fun” any support or advertising for these products makes them look that much more desirable and worth investing in. Best to steer clear entirely IMO.