Like the 4 blind men whom felt a part of the elephant and described it differently from the others, the writers strike leads people to different opinions about the future of the entertainment industry. Just 100 years ago, technology morphed still photographs into motion pictures and a new industry was born. Movie theaters were built and people hired to produce the films that would fill the movie house. TV came along and became an alternative and more important form of entertainment. Today technology is morphing movies, TV, books and information into the internet for delivery to consumers. And different talents will be needed. Writers will still be in the mix just as they always have been. But new kinds of talent may become the most important. The new virtual entertainment center will be part movie house, movie set, TV set, publisher, teacher and maybe, to some extent, writer. The writers union leadership made a mistake by striking. Their efforts should have focused on preserving what they have left and building for what could be had tomorrow.
