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(..)that’s not a studio anymore, that’s just a bank, a crappy bank that charges insane interest.

You make a good point there. I hadn't considered it from that perspective.

Whatever the solution, the ratio between executive pay and the pay of the people actually getting their hands dirty should be a lot closer to 1. Right now it is tragically far from that.

I agree they have some serious issues and inequality to work out, but I also concede that the sorts of productions we are talking about (science fiction in particular) tend to be expensive to produce. Having a large entity with deep pockets (like a studio) to foot the bill until money rolls in makes this easier.

We really need to get the powers that be to stop pretending that me consuming media streaming on my phone is somehow different than you consuming the same media OTA on television, or Alice watching on a laserdisc, or Bob on his home IMAX theater. The studios are either making content or they are not. They are either distributing that content, or they are not. And they are either paying the people who generate that content a fair, livable wage....or they are not. It really doesn't have to be any more complicated than that, and anyone who claims it is likely has a profit incentive in the current system to do so.

I'll miss new trek, but it is more important that the people who make it are able to secure a living. Hopefully the studios will get their heads out of their asses soon.

If you are fairly tech savvy, this isn't hard to do.

I have built a few sprinkler valves using an esp8266, relay, solenoid, and esphome. Total cost of each one is less than $15 (US). If you are willing and patient, you could probably get that to under $10 via aliexpress.

The circuit is really simple -

Parts list:

• 12v power supply
• DC to DC converter
• Microcontroller (esp8266 or esp32)
• 5v relay
• 12v solenoid valve
• Plastic enclosure (use old Tupperware or 3d print something)

Outline:

• Run power supply to dc-dc converter, and set converter to output 5v.

• Connect one leg of 12v through switch on relay, then to the solenoid.

• Connect other 12v leg directly to solenoid.

• Run 5v from output of buck converter to input of esp and relay.

• Run data wire from esp pin to data input in relay.

• Put everything but the solenoid in a plastic box.

• Run water source to solenoid inlet and connect sprinkler or drip system to solenoid outlet.

• Flash esp with esphome

• In the esphome code, you will need the home assistant api, a switch, and a sprinkler component.

• In home assistant, set a switch or button on your front end to test everything with and provide manual control

• Write a basic home assistant automation to control via timer, or weather conditions, or soil hydration, or whatever.

You can do all of this without any soldering or any (real) programming - that being said, those two skills will improve the results by quite a bit, and are just useful in general for this sort of work.

It can (of course) get as complex and full featured as you like, but if all you want is a system that can water your flowers every time the ISS passes overhead, the above will get you there pretty cheaply.