Monday 3 December 2018

Week 5 [03-09.12.2018] The Witcher

The Witcher
Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the saga about The Witcher, a Polish fantasy writer, born in Łódź in 1948. If it was not for him, we would not be able to meet the famous Geralt of Riva in books or video games and see his adventures.

When CD Project, a Polish computer game producer, engaged in applying to Sapkowski for the sale of the copyright of Geralt, he decided to sell it for PLN 35 thousand, not believing in its success, although the CD Project offered a percentage of sales profits to the writer. The game turned out to be a phenomenon and a huge international success. In 2015, the company had PLN 798 million in sales revenues and PLN 342,4 million in net profit, in 2016 - PLN 583.9 million in revenues and PLN 250.5 million in profit, and last year PLN 463.2 million of proceeds and PLN 200.3 million of profit. Even a small percentage of these sums translates into millions of incomes.


Polish law has a provision in relation to copyright, which allows you to renegotiate the remuneration for the sold copyright, if the difference between profits and the amount paid for the copyright is grossly large. That's why Andrzej Sapkowski decided he demanded more money. His lawyers have sent a letter to the CD Projekt in which they demand PLN 60 million from the company (6% of profits on the sale of games) and suggest that it is better to settle amicably because the publicity of the case may harm them. The company published the letter, which resulted in a decrease  in the percentage of shares, but after some time the exchange rate normalized. As a result, the value of the company's shares decreased by PLN 300 million.
After the premiere of the last part of the game, he mentioned that he did not play in “Wild Hunt” and he knows few people who played because he "turns among intelligent people" and the game hurt his work more than it helped.
Netflix announced that it is starting production of the series based on the witcher's character. On the Internet, it boiled when it was announced from an unconfirmed source that Ciri, one of the heroines of the Witcher series, could play a black actress. On all portals, users began a discussion about the pros and cons of such adaptation. In my opinion, this rumor has caused everyone to start talking about the show and now the fans are waiting impatiently for the first episode, which is going to be released in 2019.
Netflix invited the author of the novel to collaborate on the show, but he refused. Andrzej Sapkowski says that he prefers nothing to do with the production, explaining that he signed a contract with Netflix, and disclosure of any information about the series would result in gigantic fines.

       Do you think that Andrzej Sapkowski should demand money?
       Do you think that the CD project should give Andrzej Sapkowski money? Why?
       What do you think about the gossip about the actress playing Ciri? Producers should cast a woman from an ethnic minority in this role? Why?
       Did you read the saga or did you play the game about The Witcher? Did you like it?

Sources:

25 comments:

  1. I read his saga when it appeared and as I remember I liked it, however I preferred Tolkien’s stories. It is understandable that the author wants profits from game, especially if law enables it even after the rights were sold. Would you resign getting such amount of money? I don’t know if he really should get it, we don’t have full information about circumstances, but it is not possible for company to pay big amount of money immediately, it may upset its condition.

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    1. Of course I would not give up such money. My goal was to consider whether the writer should get this money, through his attitude towards the CD Project. If it were not for that, I would support the writer to get the money.

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  2. For what I saw and read about Sapkowski he is just a grumpy old man that just criticise everything.
    I don't think that he deserves any on Cd Project RED money. It was a fiar deal and they even wanted to offer him percentage.
    He just needed to beleive is succes of that project but he refused. It was his choice.
    Recently every TV station is soo afraid of shouting minorities so they try to make their shows as much diverse as possible.
    The result is just a farce. When people watch tv show based on a book they read they want to see tv heroes as they imagined them.
    When the book says that Ciri was a white little girl that's the way milions of readers imagined her so I understand the discontent and heated dicussion that this rumour caused.

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    1. I agree with you. Another example of Netflix production can be "Deadh Note", where the famous L is a black man, but in the original production, he had British-Japanese-Russian origin. I liked the original production more.

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  3. Now that is a controversial topic to discuss.
    Do you think that Andrzej Sapkowski should demand money?
    Absolutely not. He didn't think games could turn into such big success and now he is only being greedy. That's my opinion.

    Do you think that the CD project should give Andrzej Sapkowski money? Why?
    No way, like I mentioned before he got paid before and for me case is closed.

    What do you think about the gossip about the actress playing Ciri?
    Netflix likes to change appearance of actors, especially their race. I think that this destroys the story and changes it to the worse.

    Producers should cast a woman from an ethnic minority in this role? Why?
    I don't care what ethnic race the actress is. They shouldn't change it just to keep it diversed. They should stick to the books. Many fans will agree with me.

    Did you read the saga or did you play the game about The Witcher? Did you like it?
    I don't read the books. I only played Wither 2 that I finished and Witcher 3 that I finished maybe 20% and I'm taking my time with it.I love Witcher games and characters in them.

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    1. Thank you for your answers. I also played the first part of The Witcher. The controls were a bit uncomfortable, but the story itself was also interesting. It makes you understand what is happening in the following parts.

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  4. 1 & 2 I am not sure to be honest. Without his books as a foundation, computer games would never be created. Maybe at first he simply did not believe in the success of Witcher computer games, treating videogames industry as something for children, not for serious adult people. CDProject worked on hard to make their product successful -Sapkowski in turn did not help them much, e.g. in scenarios creation, giving pieces of advice - I am pretty sure he did not even congratulate them.
    3) Why? I really like how Ciri appeared in Witcher 3.
    4) I read both books and played all 3 computer games. I really like them. Surprisingly enough, even if Witcher 3 was superb, I rather preferred Witcher 1 - mostly for its Slavic climate (Witcher 2 lacks it, in Witcher 3 it was partially brought back)

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  5. 1. I think it's hypocritical of Sapkowski to demand the money now since he turned down same offer in the past and openly speaks unfavorably against games and the community gathered around them. However, if the law states that he can that, I can only say that is his requests are unethical in my view but he certainly should fight for his cut especially if we are not talking about some petty pennies.
    2. It's in the obvious interest of CD Projekt not to lose 60 millions. Additionally, the fact that they had offered him a percentage of their hypothetical incomes and he refused speaks in their defense.
    3. As we know today, the actress is not a part of ethnic minority. Movies and TV series based on another works in which physical traits of characters were clearly depicted shouldn't freely change those as they wish in order to conform to PC mania visible in USA.
    4.I played the second and third part of games. Witcher 2 didn't impress me that much, it was just an above average game. Witcher 3 grew on me in time as I wasn't big fan of the combat style and movement model at the beginning but when I finished the game I immediately thought that it was one of the best ones I've ever played.

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    1. I agree that the third part is the best. I also saw the cast of the show and I hope that Netflix will not spoil it. Thank you for your comment.

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  6. ● Do you think that Andrzej Sapkowski should demand money?
    I don't know. For sure he should do that before when he was dealing with CD Projekt at first time. Now it is his problem he did unfavorable deal. But if law allows him to fix it and get more money, why coudn't he use that occasion? But at the other hand opinions about him can go down and when additionally CD Projekt has less money they can less promote the Witcher in the world.

    ● Do you think that the CD project should give Andrzej Sapkowski money? Why?
    I thinkg everybody should care for their own business so they shouldn't give Sapkowski any more money if only the law allows them to. The deal is deal and it was done already at the beginning.

    ● What do you think about the gossip about the actress playing Ciri? Producers should cast a woman from an ethnic minority in this role? Why?
    Maybe it was only a catch up to bring people interest to the new serial? But if now, it would be terrible choice. I am not a racist but it is going to some absurdities when the book hero has pale skin and blond hair and some black person would take her role.

    ● Did you read the saga or did you play the game about The Witcher? Did you like it?
    I read all the saga maany years ago and played only the first version of the game.
    I really liked the books and the game as well but my computer doesn't afford the next versions of the game so I must be happy of what I have already ;P I am very curious of how the serial will look like...

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    1. Netflix has already announced the cast of the series. Luckily, Ciri will not be black, so I think it was a rumor that made everyone start talking about the show. If you have the opportunity to play the next part of the game, be sure to try, because they are much better than the first part.

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  8. It is difficult for me to express my opinion on this subject. I didn’t read the book and I never played a game. Nevertheless, Sapkowski created this reality and those characters, I think that he should earn some royalties on this.

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    1. He earned 35,000 when CD Projekt came to him. Nevertheless, I recommend you a series of games if you like fantasy.

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  9. In the add you wrote the sale of copyrights in Poland can be renegotiated so if it's possible I think he should get the 6% of the amount.I think it would be fair because he is the Creator of the character and the game is based on his book. Especially that at the beginning they wanted to share profits with him. As for the black heroine, I don't have any opinion on this subject. Unfortunately, I didn't read the saga. I don't play computer games.

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    1. Sapkowski created the Witcher universe, which is why I think he have right to a lot of money. However, I think that he should not get them through his behavior and greed. He did not want to agree to a sales porocent because he did not believe in success. In addition, now he says that everyone who plays the Witcher series is not very intelligent.

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  10. Indeed, Andrzej Sapkowski should demand his 6% and I think that the law which allows such thing is very reasonable. After all, he's a creator, it's his art and legacy. This is a common behaviour among polish people that we hardly believe in our possible future success, but when it happens, there are no more brave people than us. I've not been following Witcher's gossips recently, but the rumours about actress playing Ciri has been already suppressed, weren't they? I am pretty sure I saw a young slovian girl got hired at this position. I did not read any Witcher's saga nor played the game, so I can't really give my opinion. I promised myself that I will play this game just when I find some time to do so. I am more than sure I will like it ;)

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  11. 1. No, he knew what he's doing. But as many artists, he is just a bad businessman. When it's signed you can't change it, it just makes things worse.
    2. I don't think so, because they accepted the contract so why would they? It was just a bad decision of the writer, nobody is guilty here.
    3. It doesn't matter for me so they can cast a women from any ethinicity.
    4. Yeah I played the game, it's very nice and playable. I enjoyed it.

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  12. I think that Andrzej Sapkowski could demand some money if he wouldn't be that toxic about computer games, he is calling players as stupid people and now wants to get money from them. Also CD Projekt was trying to work with him during production of Witcher 1 and fun fact is that you can read part of his email in game when they asked him if the names of characters in game are correct for witcher world that he created, part of his reply is in the Professor's report, as it is in Polish and contains some swearing I won't post it here. To add more spice to it, books were sold a lot better after games coming out and even Sapkowski wrote one additional book during that time. Dmitry Glukhovsky creator of Metro 2033 said that games gave him a big increase in sales, so first question is how much did Sapokowski get from increase in books sales? Brandon Sanderson a fantasy novels writer called Andrzej Sapkowski selfish and is willing to give rights to his books for CD Projekt for free.
    Ofcourse CD Projekt should resist and try to win in it in court, as it is really unfair to get that amount of money when saying so bad things about games itself. Witcher series is showing the racism problem in it's book, by dwarves, elves and humans in it, so it could be ok to cast black actress as Ciri because it could be a meaningful, but as books were pretty exact that there was a land Zerrikania where poeple have darker skin and it is really exotic land, they should only choose black actors for those characters. I'm exact person to completely destroy Andrzej Sapkowski's thoughts that games didn't give him anything as I bought first game and after finishing first chapter of it I decided to stop playing and I bought all books, read everything and then switched back to games. I really liked games, marking first and third part as really good and second as decent. If it comes to books, stories that were prelude to saga was superb and first three books of saga really good, but last two books were really boring. However new book Storm Season was also nice.

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  13. Hm, I am surprised about this provision in Polish law, I didn’t know about it before… If it’s there, then I can really see a point of Sapkowski’s view. I’ve seen him as a greedy, embittered old man before, but this sheds a new light on that topic for me I think, that initially CD Project should have pay him a cut – but that was then, now it’s too late. They lost more than they might have had. Sapkowski should now fight, he has nothing to lose now. Yeah, I played every Red’s Witcher game, they were great, but I can’t imagine Ciri as a black woman, nope.. It would kill it for me.

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  14. 1. In my opinion, of course. He created such a brilliant world and he owes him a large percentage.

    3. I have never been interested in the witcher's world so closely. Nevertheless, I like new faces on the screen and when the directors do not limit themselves to the same actors. I support the idea of ​​an unknown actress playing Ciri.

    4. No, I didn't. I will play and definitely read. Great interest in the saga also interested me.

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  15. Sapkowski is incredibly toxic toward Witcher games and he have countless arogant and insulting comments about the gaming industry. CDP Witcher series have massively increase Geralt's popularity. Even now, 3 years after it's debiut, people compare new games to it. I really think that he is just a bitter and greedy man. However I can understand his actions. If he can actually win the lawsuit than why shouldn't he try? He could potentially win millions while not doing anything. It's not ethical but dura lex sed lex. As for Ciri it is already confirmed that she will be played by a white girl, Freya Allan. I think the BAME leak was just to make people talk about the TV series.

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  16. This law is just stupid. And as for paying "Dura lex sed lex", so even if it's stupid they don't have much of option. Putting actors that represent minorities (any of them) for the role just because they represent minorities, even if they don't fit in position isn't wise as well. I've read whole saga, three or four times by now and I love it. It's my personal favorite when it comes to fantasy literature.

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  17. Article 44 of Polish authors law treats that author can demand an appropriate increase in remuneration by the court. Of course, under condition that there is a disproportion between remuneration for the author and buyer benefit. So, if we have a law regulation, I don’t see a problem. Especially when CD Project earn a fortune. Why 6 %? I think I know ;) The biggest polish collective management organization ZAIKS (Their main activity is paying royalties to the music and scenario rightsholders) has regulation of repartition where we can find an information about proportions between co-authors. There is explicit shown that rate for author pre-existing work is 6 %. I think 60 million is too much but 6, why not? I didn’t read this book and I didn’t play the game but I think I will do both in the future.

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  18. The additional payments for Mr. Sapkowski is an interesting topic. I believe that in this case money is not all. We have to remember how disrespectful Mr. Sapkowski was towards the game and its authors. Over the years he was criticizing and mocking them. With that in mind it seems understandable that all the good will towards the author is long gone.

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