"One Tree Hill" (OTH): What's going on with its stars?
The young stars (Burton, Murray, Galeotti, Lafferty, and Bush) should read The Wall Street Journal (TWSJ) article of April 2, 2009, entitled: "Hollywood Squeezes Stars' Pay In Slump", before they "hold out" for new contracts, since OTH has already been renewed by The CW Network for Season Seven (S-7). The TWSJ article says that Hollywood studios are now negotiating to pay their movie stars with "last dollars earned" rather than "first dollars earned" as in the past. The studios want to get back their expenses BEFORE they pay the stars with box office revenues earned. Example: If a movie cost $50 Million to make, and the box office receipts were only $25 Million, then there would be no "profits" until after market and overseas DVD sales etc., exceeded $50 Million. The stars would get a lesser "salary" while the movie was being produced, but the box office sales revenues would have to exceed total studio costs before the stars made any additional money.
One of the issues involved in the potential Screen Actors' Guild (SAG) "strike" threat is giving the actors a share of future DVD and Internet "royalties" on the movies in which they star. This is especially important for stars like Hilarie Burton where several of her movies have gone straight (or simultaneously with box office release) to DVD ("The List"; "The Secret Life of Bees") with limited or no "box office" revenues from walk-in theater sales. All actors should get a share of royalties from DVD and Internet (or any media) sales of their works, but the studios have monopolized this source of revenue in the past. This is definitely an issue for "non-Mega" stars ("Mega Stars" usually make most of their money in "up front" payments before or during the production phase of a movie before there are ANY box office revenues), where box office sales are "unpredictable", but revenues over time from DVD and Internet sales could be substantial.
During these stressed economic times, when the general public laborer constantly fears losing their job, the young stars of OTH, with a "hit" TV series which has been renewed for S-7, should seek reasonable contracts, in line with OTH TV ratings and ad revenues, but not "hold out" for overly lucrative contracts which cannot be sustained by revenues present or future. If they want to wait to "sign" a new contract until the SAG strike issue has been settled, and royalty issue discussions have been concluded, that is understandable, but with production of OTH S-7 starting in the Summer of 2009, the "core cast" of OTH for S-7 should NOT BE IN DOUBT, because it affects the whole story line of future OTH episodes.
Based on the career paths of past "young stars" in discontinued prime time TV series (exs: "Roswell"; "Dawson's Creek", "The O.C."), NONE of the OTH major stars are "ready" to pursue individual "leading actor" roles in big production movies. Each of the OTH stars have "unique" opportunities, under the stability of the OTH series' "umbrella", to pursue career "growth" and "broadening" paths without major risk or financial penalty. Chad Michael Murray (CMM) has written and directed episodes of OTH. Bethany Joy Galeotti has directed and sung in episodes, and pursued a separate music career. Hilarie Burton has started her own production company and pursued several career broadening movie opportunities, while advancing her acting talents within OTH. Sophia Bush has starred in at least one movie ("The Hitcher") as well as advanced her literary interests as a journalist, while honing her acting skills within OTH. James Lafferty, the youngest (24 years old) of the OTH stars, has pursued outside charitable interests as well as built acting credentials and experience within OTH.
The bottom line is this: OTH has been "good" for its young stars, and up to this point, the stars have been loyal to OTH. OTH has been renewed for S-7 in 2009-2010. A "logical" OTH story line progression depends on the "retention" of, at least, the five major stars, Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer), CMM (Lucas Scott), James Lafferty (Nathan Scott), Bethany Joy Galeotti ( Haley James Scott), and Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis). The "logical continuity" of the OTH story line depends on the maturation and interaction of these five characters, along with their supporting cast. If Burton "leaves", Peyton's story line "dies", and Lucas' "life long, "soul mate", love interest is gone. If CMM leaves, Lucas' story line "dies", and Peyton is left without her "soul mate" (no more Leyton!). If Bush leaves, Brooke's story line "dies", Peyton loses her best friend, and there is no "Brucas" or companion "love story" to counterbalance the relationships of "Naley" and "Leyton". If Galeotti or Lafferty leaves, the Nathan or Haley story line "dies", and there is no "Naley", no brother, best friend and confidant for Lucas, no mother or father for Jamie (Brundage), and no "basketball" or "teaching" theme for OTH. Like the TV series "Friends", which eventually produced one "Mega Star" (Jennifer Aniston) and five "A/B" level stars, the TV series prospered while all six stars STAYED TOGETHER, and "folded" (ended), when their individual ambitions began to get "too big for the Friend's "pond"". Only one "Friends" cast member has unquestionably succeeded and prospered, Jennifer Aniston, but the other five cast members have only had sporadic success.
My "advice" to the major stars of OTH is to continue to "dance with the girl whom you brought". Stay with OTH as long as you have a loyal fan base (3 million plus fans), the OTH story lines are challenging and rewarding personally and professionally, you are growing within the profession and are pursuing interests which bring you personal satisfaction, for as long as The CW Network (or some other network) wants you, and you are compensated commensurately with your age, talent, and comparative "worth" in the profession. In an economic recession, if you have a job, stay with it. The "grass" on the other side of the fence is NOT "greener", it is just "different", and the "animals" on the other side of the fence already have "first choice" on the "grass" you can only "see". You are all 26-28 years old, or younger, and that is "immature" for your profession. No major film producer, studio, or TV executive is going to "risk" their "capital" in this economic environment on "unproven" (new and unfamiliar) "leading actors", and no new TV series, if you could get one, is going to be as "nurturing" as OTH has been, and probably will continue to be. Negotiate fairly and, as a group, if you need to do so, but do not leave this "horse" (OTH) in "mid stream", when the "bank" (S-7) is within your "grasp".
I have been a Brucaser since i started watching OTH in the middle of the 3rd season. I always thought they had the best chemestry and were the perfect couple. Now though, i have to say that i dont want Brucas to be together. Lucas isnt the best guy in some ways anyway. (cheater, cheater) If he left peyton when he was engaged to her and she was pregnant, he would be a total slime and the his character would just be ruined. I think Brucaser should jusat accept that leyton is what Mark has planned to happen. Leyton will never be my favorite tv couple, but i would HATE lucas if he left peyton, and her being pregnant. I hoped for it before, but now it would just be to sleezy.
ok so tonights show was freaking EPIC because it was the best show so far besides the one last week
so this show was mainly about peyton and luke being put to the test to see if they can handle two 5 year old boys to show they can become good parents since our little P.Sawyer is expecting a little bundle of joy. so since Leyton is so meant to be and is definetly endgame at this point i have officially given up on Brucas to happen in the near future. (but they are still my Fave couple)
now onto my new couple obsession Brooke and Julian i kinda started liking them last year with the final episode before christmas where sam went missing and he showed his non jerk side when he tried to help look for sam i kinda started to fall for him right then. last weeks episode just reinforced how much chemictry there is between him and our favorite fashionista. but with this episode the only thing i was waiting for was for them to make out already and just get rid of that sexual tension that they clearly had. also i love the fact that sam is so accepting of them being together that she totally roots for them and gives them both that extra push they need and calling there "meeting" what is really was which was clearly a freakin date duh. so since there is clearly no Brucas and i am totally on board for Brooke and Julian (haven't thaught of a good way to combine those two names just yet XD) to happen. i think they make a good couple i mean he even said so himself when he told brooke that he related to her more from the book and i hope since he knows about P being preggers he will finally move on and start anew and what better way than with Brooke Davis whom he has actually helped out and shown his sweet side. and also on the final note that he is so much better than Owen. and i know owen and brooke had a thing but he missed his shot when he ran out on brooke and angie because that was the test of potential boyfriend material and he obviously failed. and julian "test" in my opinion was the whole sam search and the whole believing in Brooke and her work and what not so i totally think he passed with flying colors. So bottom line on this subject is that if mark schwan doesn't at least let brooke be with julian i seriously will hate him because first he took away my Brucas muse and if he takes this away he definetly doesn't want brooke to be happy.
other things that happen on the show were the whole mia and chace hooking up thing and i think that it wasn't that weird at all and hopefully something more will develop for them. the other thing was the millie and mouth aftermath of the confession deal. well first off what millie did was pretty wrong i mean sleeping with owen come on that wasn't a good enough reason to do that just because mouth had a thing with gigi or whatever she was clearly in the wrong but still mouth was at fault too. it takes two to flirt around and whatnot. so i am just waiting for that to get resolved between them two
also i really liked the scene with nate and chace; jamie and Q's lil bro doing karaoke. i though that was hilarious and truth be told the lil kids definetly had more singing and dancing skills than the adults:D (sorry nate but you still can't bust a move; your son pwned you)
so that is all for this week and maybe i will write again next week and it all depends on the amount of comments i get cuz i really appreciate the feedback
I love how each season gets more and more dramatic. It makes for a much better show. Good job Mark, your brilliance never seizes to amaze me! So to talk about Monday's episode. It was definitely worth the 2 to 3 week wait, which I always hate. I mean, from Sam getting held hostage to Peyton being pregnant with Lucas's baby, was definitely great to come back to, as twisted as that may sound.
So, what I am about to say may upset some of you "Brucas" fans, but I am so happy "Leyton" is starting a family of their own. Guaranteed, "Naley" is the best family of the show, there's always room for a second great family! Toward the end of the episode when Peyton and Lucas were together in the room, the way Lucas looked at her showed he cared for her so much. It was the look all the girls in the world wished a guy would give them. Lucas is finally stepping up his game, with no girl drama or heart drama. Go "Leyton!"
I found it really funny how Julian and Brooke are getting close, when I just watched an old episode from way back when, where Brooke and Peyton got into a fight over Brooke sleeping with Nathan and Peyton kissing Lucas. I think Brooke and Peyton take their friendship to a whole other level, instead of sharing clothes they share boys! It was really weird seeing Julian go from a cocky jerk, to a guy who had Brooke's back. Speaking of Brooke, she's a BEAST. I only wish I could handle and stand up to others like she does. Most people wouldn't have remembered what a guy said to them while they were being attacked. When he said "have a nice night" the only thing I thought of was when he said that to Q and then shot him. I didn't know he had said that to Brooke, but regardless he's the stupidest thief, murderer, and kidnapper..... ever.
Okay, so Milly and Owen? I saw it coming, but when Milly had said she had sex, common sense it was with Owen, it was crazy. She had gotten so upset with Mouth, because another girl was all over him and he didn't exactly push her away, but she slept with someone else. It must suck waiting so long to make losing your virginity special and it end up being some drunken hook up with a bartender. I wish some people would think. Now, for Milly to confess to Brooke, although Brooke was guilty of those sorts of things in the past. That should be a crazy catfight in itself. Hopefully both of them handle themselves like women and don't go all Brooke and Peyton on each other, egging one another's houses and writing [...] on a dress.
Next week's episode should be great, full of confessions and boy drama! It's an episode us OTH fans should be anticipating. Oh and by the way, I don't think Brooke saying "Get out" in the preview was toward Peyton. I think Brooke has become a better person and that she wouldn't get upset with Peyton for having a baby. I know Brooke is better then that. But, we shall see! Oh & I love Skillz! :) "Don't have to take out all your anger on these defenseless pencils."
- Sam
They make the perfect family.
For the past 2 days I have been putting together a website dedicated to One Tree Hill fan fiction. I finally got it live on the net last night and need some advice about how I can get the public aware of its existence. There will be no point to keeping the site going if I can't get loads of ppl submitting their stories. So any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I love doing fan fictions. I currently do them for the official Harry Potter site and they are very popular. I started thinking what can I do next and thought about submitting my own tree hill stories. When I was looking for somewhere to post them I expected to find a site dedicated to this alone as there are so many for other shows and films out there. I couldnt find one and if there is one I sure as hell couldnt see it.
That is when I had the idea to create a website where all OTH fans and fellow writers can post and read all in one place. I know it is early days and no doubt I will get some postings soon, but please if you are reading this blog then please keep posting your stories on my site in mind and if you know other writers please direct them to my site www.treehillfanfiction.com
