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"The striking writers are losing patience. Some are so irritated by the two-month-plus impasse over negotiations concerning revenue sharing for Web-based content between themselves and television networks (say that five times fast) that a number have started planning for the establishment of a new production company all their own.\nThe group of disaffected WGA members, led by Aaron Mendelsohn, are now pushing for an independent, writer-owned venture, called \u201CVirtual Artists,\u201D to be launched sometime later this year. The NewTeeVee blog reports that the new coalition is currently seek startup capital of $30+ million to begin the development of film features and television programming.\nI dare say Mendelsohn &amp; Co will get their wish from the VC world.\nThough it has long been the case that the largest of financiers of media (and the multi-faceted workforce which creates said media) have held majority ownership and control over what occurs in the realm of entertainment, the growth and proliferation of cracks in their once-secure fortresses has resulted in widespread talk of their diminished importance. Whereas in years past, independent producers would have virtually no choice but to work through restrictive channels and relinquish much authority over their respective creations, today the Internet allows for those producers to experience unparalleled autonomy. And such liberty is hugely alluring at present.\nOf course, it\u2019s not entirely clear whether anything will come of the Virtual Artists concept. It may partly be an idea WGA members are promoting to use solely as weapon to obtain the percentages of revenue they seek in their dispute with television networks. But, truth be told, if I look at the union writers\u2019 current situation, I\u2019m quite convinced that this new effort is the real deal. What do you think?"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2008/01/11/wga-collective-to-start-independent-virtual-artists-venture/>